I am sorry if this offended anyone.
Debbie Neustadt wrote:
> Tom has started and its seems that every comment made keeps him going.
>
> Thomas Mathews wrote:
>> Spot-on metaphors there regarding the ideological pew and
>> Clintonitis, Bill.
>>
>> So, how do we mobilize the amazing outpouring of grassroots support
>> for Obama that we saw during the campaign and put it to work to
>> vaccinate the Obama administration against Clintonitis? That's not a
>> rhetorical question.
>>
>> As for Ken's complaint that my single issue has not registered with
>> the general public, well I do have to apologize for that. I am not a
>> very good activist. I'm too busy earning a living to have much time
>> or energy left when I get home from work to do much organizing or
>> educating. I'm on winter break now, so I can e-mail during the day.
>> (And by the way, I'm concerned with many issues, most of which
>> Vilsack is bad on. Let's hope Obama proves to be better on those
>> issues than he appears just now. He hasn't even been inaugurated,
>> after all.)
>>
>> But the fact is, we as environmentalists should be concerned about
>> the release of genetically engineered organisms into the environment.
>> Life may not exist anywhere else in the Universe. If it does, it's
>> safe to say the life forms on Earth are unique and irreplaceable.
>> Genetic engineering mutilates life at the molecular level. And the
>> transgenes introduced into organisms by genetic engineering are
>> passed on to future generations.
>>
>> (Genetically engineered organisms are now commonly referred to as
>> genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Transgenes are sections of
>> DNA (genes) transplanted from one organism into another of a
>> different species. Genes from a fish have been engineered into a
>> strawberry plant, for example.)
>>
>> If General Motors puts bad brake pads in some of its vehicles, those
>> products can be recalled and the mistakes corrected. No recalls are
>> possible for transgenes from GMOs released into the environment.
>> Transgenes from GMO corn have been found in native corn in Mexico in
>> the region of origin for maize. This could ultimately mean that the
>> entire species that we call corn (Zea mays) will be contaminated with
>> transgenes.
>> This is a very serious health concern, as Gov. Vilsack and others
>> support using corn as a "pharm" crop, that is, to engineer genes into
>> corn plants that cause the plant to produce pharmaceutical
>> substances. If these pharm genes spread into corn grown for food
>> there could be toxic or allergenic effects on people eating that
>> corn. If the pharm genes spread widely, corn would no longer be
>> available as a food crop.
>>
>> Corn is only one species, but the supporters of GMO agriculture see
>> no limits to the number of different crop species that could be
>> "improved" by genetic engineering.
>>
>> It is simply wrong in a moral sense for humans to inflict this
>> genetic damage on other species. There is even an effort to produce
>> GMO trees. This must be stopped and it is Sierra Club that should
>> play a leading role-- THE leading role--in stopping it. (Current
>> national Sierra Club policy calls for a moratorium on the release of
>> GMOs into the environment.)
>>
>> Genetic engineering, confined to a laboratory or factory, is being
>> used to do important research and to make useful substances for
>> medicine and other fields. All GMOs should be confined. Releasing
>> them into the environment is an action that has grave moral,
>> environmental, and safety implications. All pharm crops should be
>> confined in greenhouses.
>>
>> For about the past two decades, the federal government, through the
>> EPA, USDA, and FDA, has taken the role of promoter of genetic
>> engineering in agriculture, when they should have been strictly
>> regulating it. We must convince the Obama administration to reverse
>> this pattern. Early indications are that this will be a daunting
>> task. After 100 days I hope to be proven wrong. That's as positive an
>> attitude as I can manage now, Ken.
>>
>> Space does not permit my discussing in this note other issues of
>> concern to me.
>>
>> Tom
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 12/19/2008 11:48:59 A.M. Central Standard Time,
>> [log in to unmask] writes:
>>
>> I for one don't intend to apologize for voting for Obama, nor for
>> that
>> matter am I sorry that my wife and I supported him financially (with
>> more $$ by at least an order of magnitude than we've ever given
>> another candidate); we also housed an Obama staffer, gratis, for 7
>> months; and we volunteered many days of effort. I am concerned,
>> however, that Obama may be developing a more serious case of
>> Clintonitis than I'd expected, and that it should be treated early.
>>
>> I'm bothered by the Vilsack appointment--Tom Matthews is right
>> that Vilsack panders to the corporate imperators,
>> while paying loftysounding lip service to us non-rich,
>> non-influential, plebeian
>> types. SC's concerns about his "truthiness" were conveyed in the
>> tone of the news release,
>> which expressed "congratulations." Compare that to the release
>> on the
>> Solis appointment, in which Carl Pope uses the word "overjoyed".
>>
>> I'm also bothered by the naming of Rick Warren to give the
>> invocation at the Inauguration. This is a symbolic and
>> momentary appointment
>> of course, but it is also high-profile. I have gay and
>> lesbian friends who are thunderstruck that such a prominent
>> homophobe will be
>> first on the podium on the Capitol porch. Obama may see this
>> as reaching across the ideological aisle, but he can reach
>> without falling out
>> of the pew.
>>
>> BW
>>
>>
>>
>> Quoting KENNETH LARSON <[log in to unmask]>:
>>
>> > Some need to get "real" and give the Obama administration a
>> > chance... Maybe a positive attitude would go a long way to
>> success > when advocating for your seemingly single issue
>> that has not > registered with the general population...
>> >
>> > When you look at the trouble the US is in and list the top 6
>> > problems.. Like The Economy, Foreign Policy (War), Energy
>> > independence, Education, Health Care, Global Warming... where
>> are > some of the issues that in a perfect world would be more
>> important > at this point of history ...?
>> >
>> > In the election, SC really had only one choice ... We got
>> that > choice...We won! Now it is our role to support it and
>> work with
>> it, > or run for office the next election. The SC does not
>> want to
>> find > itself in the same position of the Republicans who
>> had the
>> single > issues of "abortion" or the "danger" of Gay
>> Marriage.. They are > "out of influence" and "out of Power.."
>> with few friends in high > places. We are so much better off
>> ... No apology is necessary
>> at > this point ....can you contemplate a McCain Palin
>> Administration
>> and > those appointments.. Let's hold off evaluations for
>> at least a > 100 days after January 20th.
>> >
>> > Ken Larson, Ph.D.
>> > Ames, Iowa..
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: Thomas Mathews<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>> > To: >
>>
>> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>>
>> > Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 8:17 AM
>> > Subject: New Sec. of Labor
>> >
>> >
>> > Maybe Ms. Solis can help us guide the new administration in
>> the > right direction. Goodness knows we need a ray of
>> hope, from this
>> new > administration that led us to believe it would be all
>> about
>> Hope. > Maybe I won't have to apologize to people because I
>> voted for > Obama. Maybe.
>> > Tom
>> >
>> > >
>>
>> http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=83221.0<http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=83221.0>
>>
>> >
>> > ( FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December, 18, 2008
>> > CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384
>> >
>> >
>> > Obama Picks Major Green Jobs
>> > Advocate to Head Labor Dept.
>> > Sierra Club Congratulates Rep. Hilda Solis
>> >
>> >
>> > Washington, D.C.?Media reports indicate that President-Elect
>> Barack
>> > Obama has chosen Representative Hilda Solis of California to
>> head the
>> > Department of Labor. Rep. Solis has been a preeminent
>> advocate for
>> > green jobs and environmental justice during her career in the
>> House.
>> > She has a lifetime League of Conservation Voters score of 97.
>> >
>> >
>> > Representative Solis co-authored the Green Jobs Act, which
>> later became
>> > part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007,
>> which became
>> > law December 19, 2007. The Green Jobs Act authorized $125
>> million for
>> > workforce training programs. The training will be targeted to
>> > veterans, displaced workers, at risk youth, and individuals
>> in families
>> > under 200% of the federal poverty line. It could benefit
>> programs such
>> > as the one at the East Los Angeles Skills Center where
>> workers are
>> > trained to install solar panels. Upon the signing,
>> Congresswoman Solis
>> > stated: "The bill is a message for all workers across our
>> nation that
>> > there is a place for them in the clean energy future."
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director
>> >
>> >
>> > "The Sierra Club is overjoyed at the news of Hilda Solis'
>> selection as
>> > Secretary of Labor. She has been a tireless advocate for
>> environmental
>> > issues, environmental justice, worker's rights, and green
>> jobs. We send
>> > our deepest congratulations to Representative Solis.
>> >
>> >
>> > "Representative Solis was one of the earliest and most vocal
>> supporters
>> > of green jobs in the House of Representatives. We can think
>> of no
>> > better person to help President-Elect Obama implement his
>> plans for an
>> > economic recovery fueled by the creation of millions of new
>> green
>> > jobs. Hilda Solis also understands that green jobs must also
>> be good
>> > jobs and has worked to make sure that the clean energy economy
>> is one
>> > that lifts up all workers.
>> >
>> >
>> > "This latest pick underscores the strong commitment of the
>> > administration to action on clean energy, global warming, and
>> a green
>> > economic recovery. President-Elect Obama has assembled a
>> team of
>> > unprecedented strength to advise him on energy, environmental,
>> science,
>> > and climate issues. This extraordinary team is poised to
>> help the
>> > President-Elect implement his ambitious agenda to put America
>> back to
>> > work by tackling the significant climate and energy challenges
>> facing
>> > our country.
>> >
>> >
>> > "One of our other top legislative priorities is passage of
>> the Employee
>> > Free Choice Act. We are very pleased that a strong supporter
>> of this
>> > essential legislation has been tapped to head up the
>> Deparment of
>> > Labor, yet another agency that has been gravely damaged
>> during the
>> > past eight years.
>> >
>> >
>> > "Hilda Solis has been a strong ally of the Sierra Club and we
>> very much
>> > look forward to working with her in her new position."
>> >
>> >
>> > # # #
>> >
>> > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>> - To > unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any
>> message to: > [log in to unmask]
>> Check out our > Listserv Lists support site for more
>> information: > http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view
>> the Sierra Club
>> List > Terms & Conditions, see:
>> http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> > One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail,
>> Gmail, > and Yahoo Mail. Try it >
>>
>> now<http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025>.
>>
>> > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>> - To > unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any
>> message to: > [log in to unmask]
>> Check out our > Listserv Lists support site for more
>> information: > http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up
>> to receive
>> Sierra > Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out
>> twice a month,
>> it > features the Club's latest news and activities.
>> Subscribe and
>> view > recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/
>> >
>> > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>> > To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
>> > [log in to unmask]
>> >
>> > Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
>> > http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp
>> >
>> > Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship
>> > e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's
>> > latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent
>> > editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>> To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>> Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
>> http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp
>>
>> Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship
>> e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's
>> latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent
>> editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail, Gmail, and
>> Yahoo Mail. Try it now
>> <http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025>.
>>
>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To
>> unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
>> [log in to unmask] Check out our
>> Listserv Lists support site for more information:
>> http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra
>> Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it
>> features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view
>> recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
> http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp
>
> Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship
> e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's
> latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent
> editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/
>
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]
Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp
Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship
e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's
latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent
editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/
|
