1. Farm Bill Aids Polluters, Punishes Family Farmers and the Environment The gap between large agribusinesses and small family farms is already wide enough. Now the House is close to making it even wider, by approving a farm bill that hands out $73.5 billion in federal subsidies, much of it to massive agribusinesses with shameful environmental records. The bill does little to help farmers safeguard wetlands, protect clean water, and set aside areas for wildlife habitat. It gives billions of taxpayer dollars to industrial livestock operations to deal with their animal manure. For hog factories, that means dumping liquefied manure into a hole in the ground, causing water pollution, killing fish, and contaminating drinking water. "Industrial livestock production is an environmental disaster," said Sierra Club's Ed Hopkins, "and the federal government shouldn't be funding it." To see the Sierra Club's response to the Farm Bill, go to http://lists.sierraclub.org/SCRIPTS/WA.EXE?A2=ind0204&L=ce-scnews-releases&D=1 &T=0&H=1&O=D&F &S=&P=3112 If this link does not work for you, click on the link for "Sierra Club Calls on Congress to Reject Farm Bill Conference Report" at: http://lists.sierraclub.org/SCRIPTS/WA.EXE?A1=ind0204&L=ce-scnews-releases 3. Aloha Clean Environment: Hawaii Passes Bottle Bill Join the club! Hawaii eased its landfill crisis, created jobs in the recycling industry, and vastly reduced bottle and can litter in one fell swoop this week. It became the 11th state to pass a bottle bill, placing a nickel deposit on all glass, plastic, and aluminum beverage containers. Bottle bills have virtually eliminated bottle and can litter wherever they've been tried. It's an especially smart move in Hawaii, where the economy depends on tourism, and therefore a clean environment. The bill, which was passed despite intense lobbying from the beverage industry, will also help protect the safety of the state's beaches, and its unique ocean ecosystem. "Hawaii is paradise," said Sierra Club's Jeff Mikulina. "We want to keep it that way." To see the Sierra Club's response to this great news from Hawaii, go to http://lists.sierraclub.org/SCRIPTS/WA.EXE?A2=ind0205&L=ce-scnews-releases&D=1 &T=0&H=1&O=D&F &S=&P=196 If this link does not work for you, click on the link for "Sierra Club Congratulates Hawaii Legislature For Passing Bottle Bill" at: http://lists.sierraclub.org/SCRIPTS/WA.EXE?A1=ind0205&L=ce-scnews-releases 4. Take Action to Protect Millions of Americans from Nuclear Waste The Department of Energy wants to transport thousands of tons of highly radioactive nuclear waste across the country, and dump it at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The shipments would pass through 44 states, exposing millions of Americans to the risk of a horrific nuclear disaster in the event of an accident or a terrorist attack. Act now to help stop this risky scheme. Congress could vote on this plan as early as next week. Contact your representative and urge him or her to oppose the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump plan. Instead, he or she should support and co-sponsor Rep. Dennis Kucinich's Nuclear Waste Transportation Amendments Act. Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202 224 3121. Ask for your representative. Deliver the message above. Then click below to send an email directly to your representative. http://www.sierraclub.org/action/?alid=122&st=curr ---- To take action on all your favorite Sierra Club issues, please visit: http://www.sierraclub.org/action Erin Jordahl Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club 3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280 Des Moines, IA 50310 515-277-8868 [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask]