Eco-Logic Action Blog

Letter-Writing Makes A Difference In Government

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:57:00 -0800

Dear Jadene,

Thank you for contacting me with your ideas concerning support for green agriculture . It is an honor to serve as your Senator, and I appreciate your thoughtful comments.

The advice and comments I receive from the people of Oregon are very important to me. I believe that the involvement of citizens in government is vital to its success. If we all get involved, we can affect real change in our country. I pursued a career in public service out of my passion to build a better America. Working together and participating in ongoing dialogue with citizens and elected officials alike are key to developing innovative solutions to resolve the many challenges facing our nation.

Again, thank you for contacting me. I hope you will continue to keep me informed on matters important to you.

All my best,

Jeff Merkley
United States Senate

Senator Merkley Responds: Clean Water Restoration Act (S.787)

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:56:00 -0800

Dear Jadene,

Thank you for contacting me to share your support for the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2009 (S.787). You will be pleased to know that I am an original cosponsor of this important legislation.

I am committed to protecting rivers, lakes, and streams in Oregon and across the country. Access to clean water is critical for millions of Americans' supply of drinking water, as well as for recreation and wildlife habitat. For years, the Clean Water Act of 1972 provided common-sense protections for our nation's water resources. Since 2001, two Supreme Court decisions have undermined the Clean Water Act, significantly restricting what waters can be protected and putting many of the places where millions of Americans get their drinking water at risk. The Clean Water Restoration Act of 2009 was drafted to restore the ability of the Clean Water Act, to protect our waterways and maintain the health of our nation's water sources.

I was pleased to join with a majority of my colleagues on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to vote in support of this important legislation on June 18th. I am hopeful that this legislation will now be quickly considered and passed by the full Senate.

Thank you, again, for sharing your thoughts with me. I hope you will continue to keep me informed about the issues that matter most to you.

All my best,

Jeff Merkley
United States Senate
Senator_Merkley@merkley.senate.gov

Representative Ben Cannon's Response - Battery Cages

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:09:00 -0800

On Sat, Jan 2, 2010 at 10:17 PM, Rep Cannon wrote:

Jadene,
I serve on both the Environment and Water committee, which I chair, and the Health Care committee. Bills on animal issues tend to go to the Consumer Protection committee. Rep. Paul Holvey of Eugene has taken a particular interest in animal rights. The Humane Society of the United States has a strong lobby in the Capitol and has passed several pieces of legislation since I have been in office. I will have my assistant, Christy, check in to see if they are working on anything related to chicken cages. She will get back to you with what she finds out. It might take awhile depending on whether or not people are working next week.
-ben

Next Question - Mailed February 16, 2010
Representative Cannon,
I was glad to find your letter in my inbox. It is great to know that you care about the issue of animal welfare and humane treatment for farm animals. I eagerly look forward to hearing from Christy, your assistant, about potential battery cage legislation. I will also send correspondence to Rep. Paul Holvey in Eugene and to the Consumer Protection Committee.
I wonder how the Environment and Water Committee, on which you serve, sees the frequent major spills of factory farm waste into natural waterways? I would think that factory farms and C.A.F.O.s would be one of the main concerns of the Environment and Water Committee, considering these pollution events resulting directly from their operation.
Thank you so much,
Jadene Fourman

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19820729&id=q-YPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Bo8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3595,2315532
http://istpp.org/pdf/istpp_cafo.pdf
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pdf/em/em8597.pdf
http://egov.oregon.gov/ODA/NRD/cafo_front.shtml
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http://eco-logic-action.blogspot.com/

New Seasons Response - Humane Animal Products

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:15:00 -0800

Reply sent January 4, 2010

Jadene,

Thank you so much for contacting us with your questions! We think it’s important that our customers have the resources they need to make informed decisions about the food they purchase. Because we feel so strongly about the farm to table connection we are always happy when our customers take the time to learn more about the foods they purchase and the wide variety of options we as consumers have. It’s one of the reasons we host farmers and ranchers in our stores. We want our customers and ranchers to meet each other and learn more about how each one feels about the animals or plants that eventually end up in our meals. This desire to provide information is also why we enjoy answering emails like this one.

All the meat and poultry in the New Seasons Market Meat Departments comes to us from the partnerships that Alan, our Meat and Seafood Director, has developed over the years (the same is true for our seafood). Alan, our buyer, knows our ranchers and farmers and their operations intimately. Humane animal treatment is an important factor in Alan’s decision to enter into a partnership and to renew it over the years. Alan visits our farm and ranch partners as frequently as possible, and nearly all of our meat department staff have had the chance to stay (and even work) with Country Natural Beef, Pacific Village Beef and/or Umpqua Valley Lamb ranchers.

Food Alliance currently offers certification for Beef, Lamb and Pork. All Country Natural Beef and Pacific Village Beef ranchers are Food Alliance certified, as are the Umpqua Valley Lamb ranchers and the Oregon families who raise our Pacific Village Pork. You can learn more about the farmers and ranchers on our website: click here. The left hand margins contain many videos, interviews, and information about the specific farms and ranchers our meat products come from.
Our Country Natural Beef is raised and finished on a diet of grain and pasture while our Pacific Village Beef is 100% grass fed and never grain finished. We offer the Pacific Village Grass Fed Beef in the spring through the fall, but in the winter we have a limited supply since it’s difficult for cows to sustain themselves entirely on pasture during the cold winter months.

Slaughter is often one of the most difficult aspects of animal farming, and while the question is rare, it is an important one that we are more than happy to discuss with our customers. It is important to New Seasons Market to establish relationships with ranchers and growers who are committed to humane farming practices, and humane slaughter is not the least of the significant criteria that our partnerships require. To our Meat Merchandisers, humane slaughter includes a low stress environment for the animals; a quick and painless kill; and a processing facility that is top quality, USDA certified, and relatively small-scale. None of the animals in our meat cases have been tortured at any time, including the time of their slaughter. If you are interested in further details about the slaughter of our animals, I can provide that for you.

Thanks again for being in touch with us, Jadene, and I hope you won’t hesitate to stay in touch with me if you have any further questions for us!

Warmly,
Chenoa

Chenoa Philabaum
Customer Advocate
New Seasons Market

Inquiry Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 6:56 PM
To: Talk To Us
Subject: inquiry about meat products

hello,
i'm interested in finding out about how animals are treated on farms that new seasons stocks its meat counter from. do new seasons suppliers allow their livestock regular access to fresh outdoor air, green grass, and sunlight? are farm animals that new seasons buys from raised and slaughtered humanely? does new seasons buy from any confined animal feeding operations (cafos)?
thank you,
jadene f

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YOUR VOICE MATTERS:
http://eco-logic-action.blogspot.com/

Reversal of Supreme Court Decision - Campaign Underway

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Tue, 2 Feb 2010 16:17:00 -0800

My housemate sent this to me today from MoveOn.org from a January 28th announcement:

"Last time, far-right Congressman Joe Wilson shouted "You Lie." Last night, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was only slightly more graceful.1

It's never been more clear that the current Supreme Court is dominated by right-wing partisans, and last week, they issued the most scandalous decision since Bush v. Gore by opening the floodgates to unlimited campaign spending by corporations.2

Today we're launching a massive new campaign to end corporate domination of American politics.

We'll demand a constitutional amendment to directly reverse the Supreme Court decision, and we'll fight for essential changes like the Fair Elections Now Act, to give small-donor-backed populist candidates a chance against the corporate big guns.

It'll be a huge fight and we need to know if we'll have the resources to proceed. It'll take $200,000 right away to start strong, and that'll take 62 donations from Portland. Are you in? Please help with a contribution of $5 today. Click here:

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/sotu_2010.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=18760-4049365-78dO2xx&t=3

This new tsunami of corporate money in elections is on top of the tremendous power corporate lobbyists already have on Capitol Hill—just look at health care reform to see what a few hundred million dollars from big corporations can do.3

With this Court decision, Big Insurance could spend as much as they want to support Joe Lieberman in his efforts to keep watering down health care reform. And ExxonMobil or BP can spend millions to elect candidates who oppose clean energy. It's a disastrous decision with a disastrous outcome.

That's why we're launching a major new campaign to break the stranglehold that corporate influence has over our politics, and over all of President Obama's agenda, and we're going really big.

We'll push Congress to pass a real "fair elections" bill that will make sure politicians rely on money from real people in their home districts instead of major multi-national corporations. We'll fight to kick lobbyists out of the back room negotiations on Capitol Hill. And together we'll tackle the single biggest and best solution to the corporate corruption problem: A constitutional amendment to undo the damage of the horrible Supreme Court decision.4

Over the course of the next year we'll:

* Expose the ties between big oil, insurance and Wall Street CEOs and politicians who stand in the way of the change Americans want
* Invest in a major organizing effort to rally voters in every district to hold their representatives accountable for taking corporate money and then watering down critical reform
* Launch tough ads that shine a light on the corrupting influence of corporate interests on crucial public priorities.

This is obviously an enormous challenge and, honestly, it'll take a lot of resources to run a truly strong effort. It's going to take 62 folks from Portland today to make sure we can kick off the campaign. Can you chip in $5 today?

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/sotu_2010.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=18760-4049365-78dO2xx&t=4

Nothing less than our democracy is at stake. But together, we can begin to turn the tide.

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Kat, Adam, Ilya, and the rest of the team

P.S. Last week, MoveOn.org President Eli Pariser wrote an opinion column for The Wall Street Journal showing how corporate control of politics has dramatically limited progress in President Obama's first year—and explaining how we can fight back. Click here to read it:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86341&id=18760-4049365-78dO2xx&t=5

Sources:

1. "Justice Samuel Alito Mouths 'Not True' During State of the Union," Politics Daily, January 28, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86336&id=18760-4049365-78dO2xx&t=7

"Justice Samuel Alito channels Joe Wilson during State of the Union," Daily Kos, January 27, 2010
http://www.dailykos.com/tv/w/002512/

2. "Justices Overturn Key Campaign Limits," The New York Times, January 21, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86098&id=&t=5&id=18760-4049365-78dO2xx&t=8

"Lobbyists Get Potent Weapon in Campaign Finance Ruling," The New York Times, January 21, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86104&id=&t=6&id=18760-4049365-78dO2xx&t=9

3. "New Lobbying Reports Show Big Business Keeps Spending to Influence Politics," Center for Responsive Politics, January 21, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86337&id=18760-4049365-78dO2xx&t=10

4. "The Solutions: Three Ways to Curb Excessive Corporate Money in Politics," Public Citizen, accessed January 28, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86338&id=18760-4049365-78dO2xx&t=11

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

URGENT - Corporations Are Not People

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 12:32:00 -0800

The United States Supreme Court is allowing corporations to be considered natural persons by law. This is very bad and very important.
The decision is ludicrous, but it affects everything, from our drinking water to our basic human rights. It must not be ignored. If there was a time to take a stand, it is now.
Please please take five minutes to contact your senators and representatives. Make them aware that you do not support the new legal designation. Tell them that corporations are not people. Tell them that you will not tolerate the decision and that it must be reversed immediately.
It is quite easy to make contact with elected officials in America. Contrary to popular belief, they listen and respond. The following website had direct email, phone, and mailing addresses for each state's government officials. A letter counts as two thousand citizen voices, and email and phone are counted below that number somewhere. It is up to us to stop total corporate domination over ecosystems and communities, which has been steadily growing, but this right here is the big one. We can't allow this.
Capitol Switchboard:
202-224-3121
Mailing Addresses & Emails:
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.uspirg.org/consumer-blog/consumer-blog/pirg-to-supreme-court-corporations-are-not-people

Sample Letter

Dear Member of Congress,

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United vs. FEC would allow corporations to spend money directly on attack ads supporting or opposing Congressional candidates.

This decision was made under the pretext that because a corporation is a “person,” they should be allowed to spend their massive aggregated wealth to influence elections.

A corporation is not a person with voting rights. Giving corporations the rights of people would fundamentally change our democracy.

Rep. Van Hollen, Sen. Schumer and the White House are working protect our democracy from the implications of this decision.

I urge you to take swift action in support of this effort.

Sincerely,

_________________________(your name)

MORE INFORMATION:

Stop the corporate takeover of democracy - OSPIRG

Clean Water & Air Is a Basic Right We Have to Protect - Here's What You Can Do

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:04:00 -0800

So I work at a nonprofit office, and I'm daily made aware of shifts and achievements in the Environmental movement. Today it was announced that Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski has put forward an amendment to the Clean Air Act that was written by industry lobbyists representing air polluters! It's obvious that she's been paid off, but by letting our Senators know we are aware of and opposed to the amendment she's been paid to propose, our clout can (is usually what) put a stop to big destruction of Clean Air Act protections. If you call 202-224-3121 you can tell your Senator's office that you want her or him to oppose the Murkowski amendment to the Clean Air Act. Actions like this do make the difference! Please take two minutes out of your busy day to make this call. Also on the chopping block is the Clean Water Act! In 2001 and 2006 two Supreme Court decisions created a loophole that has since then allowed major polluters to pour toxins into waterways not classified as "navigable." The obvious thing here is that streams and other waterways not navigable by ships are source feeders to major water bodies. The impetus for action is that millions of people get their drinking water from lakes and rivers fed by the tributaries being polluted. Please take a minute or five out of your packed schedule to voice your support for the Clean Water Restoration Act. You can call the number above and ask for the offices of your Representatives and Senators. This legislation restores the original 1970's Clean Water Act to protect all water in the United States. It is our only protection for drinking water in the country, so it's vital we restore its protections. Thank you so much.

Representative Ben Cannon Writes Back

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:09:00 -0800

Hi Jadene,
Thank you for your email about farm animal welfare. I support sustainable agriculture, which includes the humane treatment of farm animals.

While Oregon has not enacted all of the policies that you suggest, we have adopted at least one. In 2007, the state banned the use of gestation crates for pregnant pigs. Here is a link that bill as passed: http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measures/sb0600.dir/sb0694.en.html. That bill was introduced with a ban on veal crates also included, but because there is no veal industry in Oregon, that piece was removed.

In 2009, we also passed legislation on behalf of horses. Horses were treated like livestock and not eligible for protections under anti-animal abandonment laws. The economic downturn had led to an increase in horse abandonment and neglect, so we changed the law to make it illegal to abandon or fail to provide minimum care for horses. Here is a link to that bill, if you are interested: http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measures/sb0300.dir/sb0398.en.html.

On my commute on I-5 to and from Salem, I oftentimes see the trucks filled with chickens packed together like sardines. Every time, it reminds me why I try my best to only eat free range poultry, and rarely. While I am not the best person to the take the lead on a bill banning battery cages because of my committee assignments, I would most likely support such a concept.

I appreciate your email and hope that you will continue to be in touch on this and other issues.
-ben

---
Ben Cannon
State Representative - District 46
900 Court Street NE, Room H-487
Salem, OR 97301
(503) 236-3351
rep.bencannon@state.or.us
www.repbencannon.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Site Administrator [mailto:webmaster@farmsanctuary.org] On Behalf Of Jadene Fourman
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 9:17 PM
To: Rep Cannon
Subject: Farm Animal Welfare

Dec 7, 2009

Representative Ben Cannon
State Capitol, Room H-484
900 Court Street, NE
Salem, OR 97301

Dear Representative Cannon,

Farm animal welfare is of increasing concern to members of the public, including myself, and my friends, family and neighbors. We have been happy to see laws passed in several states to eliminate the cruel confinement of farm animals, and to allow them at least enough room to stand up, lie down, turn around, and extend their limbs.
I'm writing to encourage you to please consider introducing similar legislation this session to ban battery cages for egg-laying hens, gestation crates for pregnant pigs, and veal crates for young calves.
Such legislation would help prevent needless animal suffering, and please the majority of your constituents.
For further information, I encourage you to read Farm Sanctuary's Legislator Brief and their Resource Guide for drafting such legislation. You can find both at www.farmsanctuary.org/get_involved/alert_cruel_confinement

Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Ms. Jadene Fourman

Asking the White House to Protect Downed Animals

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Wed, 9 Dec 2009 14:25:00 -0800

Greetings Mr. President and Administration Staff,
I appreciated Mr. Obama's compassionate and responsible action to protect downed cows from being further abused in Confined Animal Feeding Operations. I am deeply concerned about other factory farm animals being excluded from these protections. Pigs, chickens, turkeys, and all other animals feel pain and emotional stress. While I strongly support humane reform for all CAFOs in the United States, I am writing today to urge the current administration to extend protection and compassionate care for all downed factory farm animals.
This issue is very important to me. I would really appreciate hearing back from the White House as soon as you are free to get back to me. Thanks so much for your attention to this key matter.
Sincerely,
Jadene Fourman

Earl Blumenauer Writes Back

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Tue, 8 Dec 2009 18:31:00 -0800

Dear Ms. Fourman,

Thank you for writing me regarding H.R. 1326, "The Great Ape Protection Act". I am a co-sponsor of this legislation, which would end the use of chimpanzees in medical research and retires those currently in federally-owned medical laboratories to permanent sanctuaries.

The decision to continue to use animals such as Apes in medical research is difficult both for the medical and moral concerns. I have consistently supported legislation that requires that animals not be used in research, when other research options are available. I was a co-sponsor of the ICCVAM Authorization Act (Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Method), legislation that established, wherever feasible, guidelines, recommendations, and regulations that promote the regulatory acceptance of new and revised toxicological tests that protect human and animal health and the environment while reducing, refining, or replacing animal tests and ensuring human safety and product effectiveness. It is important to continue to reduce and replace animal tests whenever possible, while still ensuring continued safety and effectiveness of our medicine.

I'm proud to be a member of the Congressional Friends of Animals. I am a strong supporter of the Endangered Species Act and am committed to protecting both domestic and wild animals from harm. I was voted Humane Society Legislator of the Year, reflecting my strong support for legislative initiatives for animals, from banning steel jaw leg hold traps, to ending the suffering of downed animals, to preventing the cruel and inhumane practice of dog and cockfighting.

Thank you again for writing with your thoughts on animal testing and the use of Great Apes. I will follow this legislation closely and keep your thoughts in mind should it come up for a vote on the House floor.

Sincerely,
Earl Blumenauer
Member of Congress

Does Trader Joe's Source Any of Its Animal Products from CAFOs?

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Tue, 1 Dec 2009 20:50:00 -0800

Hello,
I am writing to inquire about the source of Trader Joe's animal products. In particular I would like to know if TJs gets any animal products, specifically meats and milk products, from Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).
I am alarmed at the treatment of animals in these facilities as well as the significant food safety dangers they pose. If TJs does procure some of its supply from CAFOs, I would like to strongly urge TJs to immediately replace its contracts with farmers who use humane animal rearing and slaughtering procedures, allow animals to eat green grass and breathe fresh air, see the sun, move about naturally, and receive adequate treatment if ill or injured.
Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. I will gladly continue to patronize TJs and encourage my social network to do so if TJs has or makes a commitment to sustainable and humane animal product sourcing.
Sincerely,
Jadene Fourman

What Is the USDA's Responsibility Regarding CAFOs & Their Effect On the Environment?

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Tue, 1 Dec 2009 19:57:00 -0800

To the USDA,
I am writing because I'm alarmed about Confined Animal Feeding Operations. The USDA is allowing animal abuse in the millions. These places brutally harm and create disease and suffering in animals used for food. Why is this allowed? I understand that there are laws for humane animal treatment that do not "cover" animals used for food, and that the USDA does not make laws. However, it is a huge food safety issue that CAFOs confine animals in their own fecal waste for extended periods. It is a serious pollution of the food supply that animals in CAFOs are fed "corn" that is not actually corn anymore, and forced medicines to try and keep them alive on the unnatural "food" they are fattened on. Infections that go untreated for the life of food animals isn't healthy as far as food production goes. Cages that do not allow natural movement do not constitute healthy and safe food production conditions. Animals not allowed to breathe dust and particulate free air, see the sun, or eat green grass are not healthy or natural, and they do not make a healthy or safe food product. Also, environmental pollution is heavy, with livestock waste pouring overland and into waterways from these facilities. Pollution on this scale affects other food sources negatively.
I feel these facts should be obvious to the USDA. I furthermore would like to hear the USDA's explanation for its inaction regarding the issues of food safety posed by CAFOs. Third, if the USDA feels that conditions in CAFOs are outside of its responsibility, I want to know what governmental or private body the USDA leaves this responsibility to.
Sincerely,
Jadene Fourman

What is the FDA's responsibility in CAFOs?

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Tue, 1 Dec 2009 04:29:00 -0800

Dear Food and Drug Administration,
I am writing to find out what the FDA's responsibility is in allowing Confined Animal Feeding Operations to continue to brutally abuse, neglect, and kill cows, pigs, chickens, and other animals used for food.
Here are my questions:
What is the FDA's position regarding the fact that citizens and journalists are not allowed to visit inside the facilities where these animals are raised and slaughtered?
CAFOs provide the major source of the United States meat supply, so what explanation does the FDA have for allowing what goes on inside the facilities to remain hidden from public scrutiny?
Does the FDA's acceptance of CAFOs mean that the FDA considers animal abuse, neglect, disease, confinement, pain, suffering, and slaughter without access to sunlight and green grass healthy and safe for the American public?
If the FDA does not accept responsibility for the regulation and sweeping reform of CAFOs, what governmental or private organization does the FDA officially defer to on the matter of their reform?
I honestly submit these questions in anticipation of honest answers. I don't understand how the FDA allows CAFOs, based on the dangers they present to public safety, environmental sustainability, consumer protection, and animal welfare. I am also submitting this letter to many organizations as an outcry towards legislation that extends animal cruelty legislation to animals used for food. I am extremely concerned about this issue and urge the FDA to consider the impact of CAFOs on food safety.
Sincerely,
Jadene F

(also sent to the following organizations from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_animal_rights_groups#Animal_rights_organizations:
info@upc-online.org,
info@farmusa.org,
info@farmsanctuary.org,
info@veganoutreach.org,
lobby@aspca.org,
sapl@saplonline.org,
alive@alive-net.net,
info@certifiedhumane.org,
info@animalaid.org.uk,
sharonn@animalequality.net,
Campaigns@peta.org,
animal liberation front ,
aish_hitman@rediffmail.com,
afr00001@students.stir.ac,
asmodeous383@yahoo.com,
info@anonymous.org.il,
chenrezig@shaw.ca,
Kr1st1n4_V@hotmail.com,
info@cala-online.org,
idainfo@idausa.org,
info@massanimalrights.org,
nrdcinfo@nrdc.org,
wwuwarn@gmail.com)

Mainstream Media on Wikipedia

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:58:00 -0700

In the United States of America, all mainstream media is owned by the following corporations as of 2002 (possible further mergers have since taken place, reducing the number of media houses in control of all news and television programming even further): AOL/Time Warner, AT&T, General Electric, Viacom, Walt Disney, Liberty Media Corp., Sony, Vivendi Universal, Bertelsmann, and (Murdoch) News Corporation.

What does this mean? It means that American citizens are receiving a daily dose of news and entertainment from companies, not investigative journalists, not independent journalists or media houses. Why is this important? It is important because by definition corporations are created and run to make a profit. If American citizens and foreign citizens tuning in to American news programs and newspapers are getting daily news reports from profit-motivated media houses, many stories are being left out, and spins are being incorporated into the stories that are printed and reported on television; namely to the effect of supporting and promoting the profit motive of the corporations that operate the media houses in question.

It is relatively easy to step out of this box of manufactured news by looking for investigative journalism, magazines like Yes! and Rachel's Environment & Health Weekly are good starting points for finding alternatives to the mega corporate news.

Wikipedia

Boycott of McDonald's corporation

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Mon, 5 Oct 2009 19:47:00 -0700

Submitted via McDonald's website:
I am writing to let McDonald's know that I pledge not to ever purchase or consume anything made by your company. If McDonald's corporation seeks to reverse my pledge it must actively halt its support of big corporate beef and chicken producers that treat animals horribly. To gain my patronage and that of my entire network, which I am actively advising a permanent boycott of McDonald's, McDonald's must stop abetting the rapid fattening of cows on corn in lots where they stand ankle deep in their own fecal waste and do not have green grass to eat. McDonald's must demand that the chickens used in its restaurants be treated humanely instead of being fattened rapidly in houses that lack windows and in which the birds cannot walk but must sit and lie in their own fecal waste and often die horribly. Your statement that: "Customers can trust McDonald's to provide them with food that is real and made with high quality ingredients. Our high quality food choices are made with fresh ingredients from the most trusted suppliers." is an outright lie, and I for one am disgusted at McDonald's irresponsible practices and will spread the word to my network about who McDonald's buys meat from and ask my network to spread the word to their network until McDonald's makes a necessary and major change in support of humane animal treatment and sustainable farming practices that include crop diversity, organic standards, and fair and legal treatment of workers.

The White House Responds

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:28:00 -0700

I received the following two letters about the issue of Great Whales and other marine life being damaged irrevocably by military testing in the ocean. I also received a form response letter from Barack Obama's office, which is to be expected at least at first, on the issue of health care reform. The envelope from the White House was addressed by hand and both the Senator and the Representative to whom I wrote replied personally. I am sharing their responses to provide a resource and on-going demonstration of the power of citizen letter-writing.

"Dear Jadene,
Thank you for contacting me with your views. I always appreciate hearing from my constituents about the issues that matter to them most.
I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts regarding military testing off of the Oregon Coast. Protecting the environment and wildlife are two of my top priorities in Congress and I am disturbed by an action that threatens the health of either precious resources. You can be sure that I will continue to monitor this situation closely. I appreciate your advocacy on this important issue. Your opinions are important, and you can be sure that I will keep them in mind as I continue my work in Congress.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me with your concerns.
Sincerely,
Earl Blumenauer
Member of Congress"

"Dear Ms. Fourman,
Thank you for contacting me about the Navy's proposed Northwest Training Range Complex (NWTRC) expansion. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue. As you know, the proposed expansion of the NWTRC would include exercises with guided missile submarines and unmanned aerial systems. The military would implement new air and sea surface targets, new electronic signal emitters and development of a small-scale underweter training minefield. I was disappointed that the Navy initially appeared to intend to expand the NWTRC with minimal public input. I was joined by the Oregon Congressional delegation in February in requesting that the Navy extend the public comment period on their proposal, and that they schedule additional public meetings. The Navy agreed to extend their comment deadline until April 13, 2009, and held an additional meeting on their proposal in Tillamook.
While I am pleased that the Navy took these steps to provide the opportunity for greater public input, I still have many concerns about the environmental and economic impacts expansion of the NWTRC will have. On April 9, 2009, Senator Jeff Merkley and I sent a letter to the Navy outlining our concerns, including the economic health of fishing communities and the potential impacts on marine mammals and endangered species. I believe that these concerns must be balanced with our national defense needs, and I am hopeful the Navy will strike the appropriate balance. I look forward to hearing back from the Navy about our concerns. Please know that as I continue to follow the issue, I will keep your views in mind.
Thank you again for keeping me apprised of the issues that are important to you. If I may ever be of further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Ron Wyden
United States Senator"

These letters are encouraging examples of typical responses from elected officials to citizen letters. I find it interesting how each official educates and invites further dialogue.

Health Care Legislation

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Fri, 5 Jun 2009 13:25:00 -0700

The following letter was handwritten three times and is being sent to President Obama, Senator Max Baucus, and Senator Edward Kennedy (the two chairmen of Senate committees writing health care legislation):

"Rather than mandate health coverage for those who can afford it, and thus STILL leave uncovered those without resources to pay for health care, America needs AFFORDABLE health coverage for ALL citizens. Good health and a government that demonstrates its concern will allow and encourage the impoverished to contribute as productive citizens.

The individual mandate favored in Congress by Democrats would offer Federal subsidies or tax credits to help defray the cost of insurance for people with low to moderate incomes. Better, though, is the "Blue Dog Coalition" idea that private insurers should be required to charge affordable rates so everyone can pay for coverage."

Power of Citizenship

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Sun, 31 May 2009 13:01:00 -0700

in the office where i work, we receive daily announcements of the successes won by the environmental movement. i have recently been inspired by the current administration to take up writing letters again to elected officials, after a 10 year hiatus. i used to write to representative darlene hooley, rep for corvallis, when i was in college, and she always wrote me back. we talked about kenaf paper and other forest-related issues and solutions.
my last post reminded me that my sense of humor isn't easily accessible to strangers, or even acquaintances, which are basically the same thing, so i'll include the tidbit that the u.s. government counts a letter written and sent via snail (or regular) mail as the equivalent of two thousand citizens who concur with the author of the letter. the government's rationale is that two thousand of us feel the same way or would if we knew about the issue, knew how to compose an informed letter on the issue, or had any idea that writing a letter to an elected official meant something. it may seem like the simplest of things, sticking a self-adhesive stamp on an envelope and writing out the addresses, then walking to the mailbox. but for some reason* for many of us, the mind groans at the idea of such effort. this doesn't even include the composition of the letter, nor the research that must go into it. the internet allows comparatively quick research if one knows where to look. i suggest the websites of the major environmental groups as a start. you can use these to find out about atrocities around the world and begin forming what you would like to say about the issues you care most about. for those addicted to getting lost in minutia instead of acting, such as questioning the motivations of large environmental groups, you can still go further than their sites in your research and formulate your own letter; the point is to say something in writing and send it to an elected official, now, while there are still forests and whales.
having said that, i'm making a case again for writing letters to elected officials; now more than ever the administration in office is receptive, intelligent, and aware. as that fact stands, we bohemians, environmentalists, radicals, artists, etc. have a grand opportunity to let those serving in office know how we want them to handle the issues brought to the fore by greedy, mindless corporate polluters and destroyers. just think of the mega-million-dollar lobbying budgets (think it should be illegal? well there's your first letter!) the car, oil, gas, and logging industry (to name a few) have if you need a reason to get out of bed in the morning and write.
essentially, your voice counts, so please use it this month, year, whatever; just consider the natural resources, the purity of the fresh water supply, the undiscovered medicines, the dying native tribal survival wisdom, the stirring up of natural disasters by crazy resource and ecosystem destruction.
ok, so here is a direct link to finding the addresses of our reps and senators, and mr. obama himself. if you live in another state you can also find your elected officials by starting there.

*oh yeah, urban sprawl and the car insanity problem; but that's another story.

The Great Whales & Military Sonar Tests

jadene@ecologiclandscape.com (Jadene Fourman) — Sat, 23 May 2009 16:55:00 -0700

May 23, 2009

President Barack Obama

The White House,
District of Columbia 20500

Dear Mr. President,

A few years ago, I became aware of military testing of sound frequencies in the ocean. I am writing because that kind of testing endangers the natural life cycle of whales and other cetaceans by disrupting the vibrations of their calls across the ocean. They can't communicate with each other or find their way. In many reports, their communication organs, the parts of their bodies that they use to talk to and hear each other, are destroyed by the ultra low and other frequencies used undersea by the military in these tests.

It is important to me that something like this technology be scrutinized and regulated or halted immediately, because of the violent damage it does to marine organisms. It is unethical for our military to use technology that disables this inherently valuable species of life. Whales are amazing natural creatures who have a place in the ecosystem of Planet Earth. In fact, we do not know the role that they might play in the natural balance of things.

Please immediately do what you can to halt undersea tests that hurt cetaceans.

Sincerely,

Jadene F.