Hello Arctic friends,

This is a report on our Sept. trip to DC for Arctic Rally and Action Day
that was written by Glenn Phillips Sorry for the delay!


From: Glenn Philips <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: DC Trip Report


Republican idealogues like to work in secrecy and scatter like
cockroaches 
when the light is shown on them!!!!! To these ends we Enviro's had the 
largest single issue lobby day in history.  Five to seven thousand
activists 
traveled to Washington DC on Sept 20th to attend a rally on the West Lawn
of 
the Capitol.  The crowd included over two dozen activists from the "other

Washington" plus a group of students from UW who participated in a
special 
Arctic studies course last summer.  Luminaries such as Robert F.
KennedyJr., 
Senator Hillary Clinton, and John Kerry all rallied the troops.  Senator 
Clinton told us we had already a disaster known as Katrina; we don't need

another one in Alaska!!!   Senator Kerry characterized Arctic oil
reserves 
as inconsequential. He said it's like taking a cup of water, pouring it
into 
the ocean, and pretending you're raising the tide.  The rally included 
significant represenation by members of the Gwich'in Nation, from both
sides 
of the border.

After the rally, a sea of blue shirts descended upon Congressonal
offices.  
Were we noticed? Listen to Rep. Jim Mc Dermott (D): "These people are 
everywhrere!!!!! "  A group of us were lucky to have a Brown bag lunch
with 
Rep. Mc Dermott.  He gave us 30 minutes of his time.  We were fortunate
to 
have in our group two Alaskan  Natives who spoke passionately about the 
impact of global warming on the Arctic.  Structures in thir villages are 
sinking, for the permafrost which has been  in place for tens of
thousands 
of years is melting.  Rep. Mc Dermott was very impressed with our 
presentation.

On Wednesday, at 8:30 AM, a group  of us met for coffee with Senator
Patty  
Murray.  Anyone who attended was able to have their picture taken with
the 
Seanator.  We later gave her a standing ovation for her outstanding 
leadership in protecting the Refuge.  She was quite moved.

Thursday morning a smaller group had coffee with Senator Maria Cantwell. 

She spoke at great length on how our economy must shift to alternate
forms 
of energy.  She gave us a great example that Brazil only uses 10 % of its

energy from oil.  Afterwards her aide, Amit Ronan, met with us for half
an 
hour.  He told us that among other strategies the Senator hopes to
challenge 
the Arctic provision being included in the Budget Reconciliation Act by 
invoking the Byrd Rule. This parlimentary maneuver simply states that any

provision that is not germane must be taken out.

Other in-person visits were to Rep. Dave Reichart (R),  Rep. Rick Larsen 
(D),  Rep. Norm Dicks (D), Rep. Adam Smith (D), Rep Jay Inslee (D), Rep. 
Brian Baird (D), Rep Cathy Mc Morris (R), and an info drop was made to
Rep. 
Doc Hastings (R).

We can count on all the D's in our state to vote down the Budget 
Reconciliation bill because of its proposed cuts in social sevices while
at the 
time giving a $7 Billion tax cut to the wealthy.  Rep. Reichart, however,
is 
critical for our chances of saving the Refuge.  He is a swing vote 
Republican.  The budget passed last March in the house.

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