The following is a message from John Adams, president of National Resources Defense Council

September 19, 2001
>
> Dear NRDC Earth Activist,
>
> Our hearts go out to those of you in our extended family of 600,000
> Members and online activists who have suffered the loss of loved ones
> or colleagues in the terrible events of September 11th.
>
> As you may know, NRDC is headquartered in New York City, with one of
> our field offices in Washington, D.C. Thankfully, our staff and
> immediate families are all safe and accounted for. But we have friends
> who are missing, and we share in the grief that has stricken all
> Americans in the aftermath of this tragedy.
>
> I wanted to share a few thoughts with you about the work that lies
> ahead for NRDC. With your ongoing help, we are determined to put our
> unique expertise to work for the common good in this time of crisis.
>
> As Americans, we must now join together in shaping a strong response
> to terrorism. For NRDC that means advocating policies that will
> immediately begin reducing our nation's dependence on oil, whether
> imported or domestic. That is the single most important thing that we,
> as environmentalists, can do to ensure America's national security and
> environmental security.
>
> America's unchecked consumption of oil has become a national Achilles
> heel. It constrains our military options in the face of terror. It
> leaves our economy dangerously vulnerable to price shocks. It invites
> environmental degradation, ecological disasters, and potentially
> catastrophic climate change.
>
> Don't be surprised in the days ahead to hear some in Washington call
> for a massive increase in domestic oil drilling in order to achieve
> national security. They ignore one crucial fact: our nation simply
> doesn't have enough oil reserves to drill our way to self-sufficiency
> or to affect oil prices, which are set on the world market. We control
> only 3 percent of the world's oil reserves -- a mere drop in the
> bucket -- but we consume a staggering 25 percent of the world's oil
> supply.
>
> Even if we developed every potential oil deposit in America --
> including the Arctic Wildlife Refuge -- we'd still be importing oil,
> still be paying worldwide prices for domestic oil, and still be
> leaving ourselves vulnerable to supply disruptions.
>
> Is there an alternative? Yes. We can reduce our out-of-control
> appetite for fossil fuels. We can rely on smarter and cleaner ways to
> power our economy. For 30 years, NRDC has been proving that energy
> efficiency and alternative energy technologies can save billions of
> barrels of oil, while benefiting our health, our pocketbooks and our
> environment.
>
> I want you to know that, in the months to come, NRDC will be a leading
> advocate for an energy future that reduces this dangerous addiction to
> oil and increases our reliance on cleaner alternatives spawned by
> American ingenuity. That is our very best hope -- our only hope --
> for getting us on a self-reliant energy path toward lasting national
> and environmental security.
>
> In the meantime, I hope you are able to take extra time with those you
> love, and to begin the healing we all so urgently need.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> John H. Adams
> President
> NRDC
>
>
> ==========
> About NRDC
> ==========
>
> The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit environmental
> organization with over 500,000 members nationwide and a staff of
> scientists, attorneys and environmental experts. Our mission is to
> protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and
> healthy environment for all living things.
>
> For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of NRDC,
> please contact us at:
>
> Natural Resources Defense Council
> 40 West 20th Street
> New York, NY 10011
> 212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
> General email: [log in to unmask]
> Earth Action email: [log in to unmask]
> http://www.nrdc.org
>