Dear Friends, Francis Thicke requested I share the letter that was published in the DM Register on Wed May 28th. I haven't seen what they put in yet but will try to locate it. In the meantime here is the full text of what I sent them. This appeared in the Fairfield Ledger on Thur. May 22. Dear Editor: As the military action in Iraq comes to a close the President and lawmakers are turning their attention to domestic issues such as the economy. One issue, however, which is being largely ignored even by Democratic contenders for the White House is that of the environment. While U.S. soldiers were fighting and they, along with Iraqis were dying, the Bush administration was quietly continuing its assault on many environmental protections which legislators in both parties worked hard to establish decades ago. This assault has taken many forms, from cutting of funding for clean water programs to drilling for natural gas and other fuels in previously protected natural areas including sites sacred to Native American tribes, to the President's refusal to renew taxes on toxic waste polluters. Often announcements about changes in environmental rules are made on Fridays or other days when media attention is scant. At other times, however, industry-friendly but environmentally-toxic programs are promoted which have deceptively reassuring names. President Bush's "Clear Skies" program is a prime example. This plan, which relaxes key pollution controls on power plants will actually make our skies less clear and our lungs more irritated, sometimes with fatal consequences. According to the Physicians for Social Responsibility, the Bush plan would allow 450,000 more tons of nitrous oxide to be released than is currently allowed under existing Clean Air Act provisions and three times more pollution by mercury, a metal known to be highly toxic, especially to developing human fetuses and children. The plan would also fuel global warming by allowing the oldest, dirtiest plants to continue operating without pollution reduction upgrades. We supposedly went to war in Iraq to protect Americans, but according to a report by the Rockefeller Family Fund (www.rffund.org)in 2001,, U.S. power plants were responsible for the death of about 5,000 people, more than those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks on the World TradeCenter. The "Clear Skies" proposal is expected to greatly increase the number of air-pollution related deaths due to asthma, cancer, and cardiopulmonary disease. Industry lobbyists which, not surprisingly, support the Bush plan are also vigorously opposing bi-partisan legislation introduced into Congress which would strengthen pollution control and would dramatically reduce major power plant pollutants. They are hoping warm and fuzzy names like "Clear Skies" will either not be noticed by most Americans, or accepted on face value. Well, now you know. And we shouldn't let them get away with it. Call your Congressman in Washington, D.C. at 1-800-839-5276 and ask them to support a plan which will make our air cleaner not dirtier, a bill called the Clean Power Act which is being introduced by James Jeffords (I-Vt) and Susan Collins (R-Me). Sincerely, James L. Fleming, M.D. 51 E. Broadway, Ste. 203 Fairfield, Iowa 52556 __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM). http://calendar.yahoo.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp