2020 Action

To Bomb or to Deal? That is the Question.

JANUARY: In 2015, the "Iran Deal" was ratified by Iran, the U.S., the U.K., France, Russia and China.  Basically, it limited Iran to enriching uranium to 20%, while 90% would be needed to make a nuclear bomb. In 2018 then-Pres. Trump withdrew from the treaty, saying it was a bad deal. Since then, Iran and its allies Syria and Hezbollah have been militarily weakened.  Also since then, Iran has enriched its uranium to 60% which means it is much closer to having material for making nuclear weapons.

Israel, meanwhile, we are told, has been considering bombing Iran's nuclear sites, like it bombed Iraq's nuclear program in 1981. The US also bombed Iraq in 2003, again due to nuclear fears. A future attack on Iran’s nuclear sites might not even work, since much of Iran's program is deep inside a mountain.  Better to have an airtight treaty, with on-site inspections, and layers of security.

ACTION:

Urge Marco Rubio, the Trump-nominee for Secretary of State, to see to it that we get a good, credible deal and sign a treaty with Iran. This would help avoid attacks in all directions.  Fortunately, Iran's new President, Masoud Pezeshkian, has signaled an interest in a treaty. And Pres.-elect Trump is quoted: "We have to make a deal."

CONTACT: Email Marco Rubio, the nominee to be Secretary of State: [email protected]

Please use the info in this Action Alert to write a letter-to-the-editor of your local paper.

Get Your EV & Heat Pump Incentives Before They’re Shut Down

DECEMBER: Currently, the federal government offers up to $7,500 in rebates in support of Americans buying an electric vehicle. In addition, Massachusetts and many other states offer up to $16,000 to help residents switch from fossil fuel heating systems to much cleaner heat pump systems which provide both cooling and heating. Some of these are known as ‘mini-splits’. Consult Federal and State government websites for rebates in your area. Most of these incentives are funded through the Inflation Reduction Act which incoming Pres. Trump has vowed to shut down. 

Trump also has said he would "slap" 20% tariffs on heat pumps from Japan and South Korea where many heat pumps are manufactured, which can be expected to raise their prices by 20%. 

ACTION:

Revoking existing incentives to buy and install heat pumps and to purchase electric vehicles has in the past, required congressional action, which after January 20 could be swift. Tariffs on heat pumps and all other imported items can be imposed quickly by the President. Trump says he will revoke the incentives and impose tariffs by executive action as soon as he takes office. Don't delay to purchase a heat pump system and an electric vehicle! 

Act before the rebates are pulled off the table! 

Use the info in this Action Alert to write a letter-to-the-editor of your local paper.

Do You Want Trump Negotiating Nuclear Policy?

NOVEMBER: When Trump was President, he removed the US from the IRAN Deal which has meant that Iran has proceeded with developing their nuclear capacity. When the U.S. and Iran were complying with the Deal, it was estimated that it would take Iran about one year to produce enough fissile material (weapons grade uranium) for a nuclear bomb. Today, Tehran is believed to be not one year but just weeks from being able to produce a bomb. The declining security situation in the Middle East has greatly raised the stakes on Iran’s nuclear capacity.

Also while Trump was President, he removed the US from the INF (Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces) Treaty, an agreement between the US and the former Soviet Union that eliminated an entire category of nuclear weapons. The treaty banned ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500–5,500 kilometers. These missiles are considered destabilizing because they can reach their targets quickly, leaving little time for decision-making. As a result of ending this treaty, Putin now has these nuclear forces to threaten Ukraine and the world. 

If Trump were again President, the terrifying situations in the Middle East and Ukraine would become even more dangerous and deadly. 

ACTION:

Turn your worry over the fall elections into action. Go to The Environmental Voter Project, https://www.environmentalvoter.org/  for a list of immediate actions you can take. Also, email, text, call and/or visit your family, friends and contacts in any of the swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Encourage them to vote by Nov. 5^th and support candidates that will lessen our reliance on nuclear weapons.

Use the info in this Action Alert to write a letter-to-the-editor of your local paper.

Concerned about what a Trump Presidency would mean for the Environment and our struggle against Climate Change?

OCTOBER: Project 2025 provides a detailed description of what a Trump Presidency would mean for environmental concerns.  Although not yet official policy, Project 2025 was written by high-level Trump team members to guide policy under a Trump Presidency.  The document is crystal clear in its goal of dismantling environmental regulations and prioritizing fossil fuel use.  A Trump Presidency would pursue these goals and aim to:

• Weaken environmental regulations: Project 2025 proposes weakening or repealing regulations that limit air and water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and endangered species protections.
• Reduce funding for environmental agencies: The project suggests cutting funds for agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
• Increase fossil fuel development: Project 2025 advocates opening up public lands for oil and gas drilling and expediting permits for pipelines.
• Shift us away from a focus on clean energy: The project downplays the importance of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.

ACTION: If you want to help prevent four years of backsliding on the environment, go to the website of The Environmental Voter Project, a highly effective organization that will give you precise tasks to help identify inactive environmentalists and transform them into consistent voters.  Turn your worry over the fall elections into action.  Do your part to build a powerful environmental movement.

CONTACT:

• Website: The Environmental Voter Project https://www.environmentalvoter.org/
• Email: [email protected]

 Writing a letter-to-the-editor in your local paper will help inform others

Project 2025 Includes Dangerous Nuclear Weapons Policies

SEPTEMBER: Written by the Heritage Foundation, with staffers and supporters of former President Trump, Project 2025 calls for nuclear weapons to become a dramatically larger part of our national defense posture. The writers state that more nuclear weapons would guarantee our freedom and prosperity, unlike President Reagan, who acknowledged this as a myth when he said that nuclear weapons offered only a “war that couldn’t be won and must never be fought.”

Project 2025 calls for the elimination of all nuclear treaties and for the US to restart nuclear testing in Nevada. It also calls for us to expand and modernize our nuclear arsenal and increase funding for more Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles armed with multiple warheads, instead of reducing the number of deployed weapons. Project 2025 calls for us to position more nuclear weapons in Europe and Asia and to focus our deterrence on Russia and China.

Project 2025 states that nuclear weapons should be prioritized over other security programs, and that the National Nuclear Security Administration should transition to a wartime footing. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists warns that this dramatic build up could increase the global nuclear arms race.

ACTION: Let others know of these alarmingly dangerous policies in Project 2025. Write a letter to the editor of your local or regional newspaper, and to your Representatives and Senators.

CONTACT:

• Newspaper Editor: You can submit a letter-to-the-editor electronically from your newspaper’s website. Cut and paste from text above.

• Your Representative and Senators
  •  Web: Find their names and links to their websites at senate.gov, www.house.gov; send an email or leave a message via ‘Contact’ on his/her website
  • Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard-ask for his/her office & leave a message)
  • Mail: Senator or Representative (first & last name) S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510
    or U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515

Planet Earth is Heating Up Faster all the Time

AUGUST: It does not just seem to be getting hotter; it actually is. Each of the last 11 months was the hottest month globally for that calendar month. This year is on track to break our US and global heat records.   

Until now, most wildfires in Western North America are much reduced at night because the temperature decreases while the humidity increases, thus giving the firefighters a chance to rest. But now, the number of high-intensity fires where that cool-off does not occur, has gone from 6 in 2003 to 67 last year. The human heat death toll is staggering. At this year's Hajj in Mecca, 1,300 people collapsed on the sidewalks and died from the heat.

We need to act now to prevent the looming "hell on earth." Former Pres. Trump has called for "Drill, baby, drill." This will increase our burning of fossil fuels, escalate greenhouse gases, and speed-up the global ‘heat-up’. With the enthusiastic support of VP Kamala Harris, Pres. Biden signed a bill with an estimated $450 billion over 10 years to allow the US to shift from fossil fuels to wind and solar energy. Make your choice as to what seems best to you, then get involved in educating and engaging others to vote.

ACTION: Contact The Environmental Voter Project and join their effort to tell people about the global heat threat, and the critical need to vote in November to stabilize our still livable Earth.

CONTACT: The Environmental Voter Project

• Web:  https://www.environmentalvoter.org/
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: Environmental Voter Project, PO Box 962002, Boston, MA 02196

Please write a letter-to-the-editor on this important issue.
It is a good way to educate others and build support for needed policies.

Expanding Recreational Opportunities on our Beautiful Public Lands

JULY: America is incredibly blessed with wonders of nature for all to enjoy.  A new Act before Congress, the “Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act,” or the “EXPLORE Act,” calls for the making and publishing of a formal list of these natural treasures on our public lands. The list will include information on how to access each location.

The Act also calls for assessing what trails and natural features need more protection from public wear and tear, and for recommendations for repairs and improvements needed to safeguard these beautiful treasures. If passed, this Act will allow us all to take full advantage of America’s natural splendors while safeguarding them for future generations: Our legacy!

The House has already passed its version of this bill, H.R. 6492 with 27 Democrat and 24 Republican co-sponsors! On April 10, 2024, they sent the bill to the Senate for a vote.

ACTION: Urge your senators to support and vote for the EXPLORE Act which will open more of America’s natural bounty and build support for protection of our public lands. It may also draw some eyes from social media screens and out into nature where folks may meet ‘strangers’ on ‘common ground’ and discover that even people with different political views can be amazingly nice.

CONTACT: Your Senators

• Web: Find their names and links to their websites at senate.gov, send an email or leave a message via ‘Contact’ on his/her website
• Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard-ask for his/her office & leave a message)
• Mail: Senator (first & last name) S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510

Click here to read more about the EXPLORE Act

Please write a letter-to-the-editor on this important issue.
It is a good way to educate others and build support for needed policies.

The Threat Posed by Nuclear Weapons is Expanding. What can we do to Counteract it?

June - The world is slipping deeper into the nuclear weapons death spiral. Must we wait for nuclear catastrophe before we decide that nuclear weapons are the ultimate threat to human life? The spread of these weapons, and their modernization, is only making things worse. 

Two House bills H. Res. 77 and H. R. 3472 address these mortal dangers. The first, H.R. 77, opposes the vast costs of modernization planned for the whole U.S. nuclear arsenal. The second, H.R. 3472, calls for the reduction of some programs that were pushed by Pres. Trump but found to be unnecessary by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). We have enough nuclear weapons subs, and enough plutonium pits (triggering devices for H-bombs) for the next 60 years.

ACTION: Urge your representative to co-sponsor H. Res. 77 and H. R. 3472. Now, 54 years after the U.S. committed to work to eliminate nuclear weapons, are we not finally obligated to take these steps?  It's time to climb back out of the nuclear death spiral of human extinction and make life safer for our kids and grandkids.

CONTACT: Your Representative in Congress

• Web: Find their names and links to their websites at house.gov; send an email or leave a message via ‘Contact’ on his/her website
• Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard-ask for his/her office & leave a message)
• Mail: Representative (first & last name)
  S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515

Please write a letter-to-the-editor on this important issue.
It is a good way to educate others and build support for needed policies.

Ban Bee-killing Chemicals

May - The EPA is currently undertaking a major policy review concerning regulation of harmful chemicals, including two chemicals that threaten bee populations.  Bees are essential pollinators that play a vital role in most of our food supply and the health of the environment, yet many species of bees are headed for extinction. There is a vast body of research showing that neonicotinoids can cause irreparable harm to bee populations even at low levels of exposure, including brain damage, paralysis, and death.  Chlorpyrifos, a second chemical linked to pollinator harm, is acutely toxic to bees, and to humans as well.  Exposure to chlorpyrifos is linked to increased risk of a range of serious health problems in humans, including autism spectrum disorder, attention disorders, and reduced IQ and working memory in children. Both chlorpyrifos and nicotinoids have been banned or restricted in the European Union, Canada and in several US states.  Unfortunately, a recent EPA ban on chlorpyrifos was overturned in the courts but can be reinstated with more EPA attention to detail.

ACTION:

Bees cannot wait. Their survival, and the future of our food supply, depend on us acting now to get neonicotinoids and chlorpyrifos out of the environment.  There are effective alternatives for pest management that are less toxic for bees, farmworkers, children, and rural communities. Contact EPA Administrator Michael Regan and urge the EPA to ban the use of neonicotinoid pesticides and take the necessary action to reinstate the EPA ban on chlorpyrifos.

CONTACT:

• Email: [email protected]
• Mail:   Michael Regan, Administrator, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20460

Please write a letter-to-the-editor on this important issue.
It is a good way to educate others and build support for needed policies.

Stop Selling Weapons & Military Supplies to Israel that are Killing Gazans

April - “US uses loophole to keep 100 arms sales to Israel under the radar. . .” This was the startling March 6^th headline in the Guardian. Each of these 100 arms sales escaped US Congressional oversight--and public knowledge--because each sale was under the dollar amount - $100 million - requiring Congressional approval. The weapons sold are reported to have included precision-guided munitions, small diameter bombs, bunker busters, small arms, and other lethal supplies.

The Washington Post reported the administration did inform Congress of the 100 foreign military sales to Israel in a classified briefing, but few details were released because, keeping each sale ‘small’--under $100 million--meant their contents remained secret. These American made weapons and bombs are what Israel has dropped on Gaza that have killed over 32,000 people and injured over 70,000, mostly innocent women and children. The Guardian reported that this has been one of the most intense bombing campaigns in all of military history!

These under-the-radar deliveries made by the Biden administration to Israel were in addition to the three major military sales worth $573 million that were made public since the start of the war. Sales of tank and artillery shells made in December, also sidestepped congressional scrutiny because they were made under ‘emergency authority.’

ACTION:

Urge Pres. Biden to immediately stop selling military supplies and weapons to Israel. Let him know your disapproval and disgust that the US is providing Israel with these weapons of death and destruction, and your outrage that he is using legal loopholes, emergency authority, and ‘under-the-radar’ tactics to keep many of these sales secret from the American people. Even if you have written to him before, please send him a message again using the White House website below.

 

CONTACT: President Biden

• Web: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/  (leave a message)
• Tel: 1-202-456-1111 (leave a message)
• Mail: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC 20500

Please write a letter-to-the-editor on this important issue.
It is a good way to educate others and build support for needed policies.