Wildflower Stew

The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near San Antonio Bay on the Texas coast is the only wintering ground for the world’s 236 remaining whooping cranes. Now the Army Corps of Engineers is considering a development permit for that area, which has been designated as Critical Habitat under the Endangered Species Act. The development threatens the birds’ already fragile existence. Please take a moment to sign a letter urging the Corps to reject the permit application.
http://action.wilderness.org/campaign/texas_cranes/86in3suzhbdnnn7?

Hurricanes and other natural disasters can bring chaos to coastal regions, and many people find themselves homeless and separated from their families, including many children. Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to helping those in need obtain decent affordable homes. Sign this petition to the US Senate to improve the post-disaster housing support that’s critical for low-income families and their children.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/301943234?z00m=9456232

Your senators and representatives have the opportunity to help clean up contaminated beaches and to make sure sources of beach pollution are identified and addressed. Urge them to co-sponsor the Beach Protection Act.
http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/nrdcaction_080607

Speaking of beaches, here are some surfers talking about the state of the ocean these days:

That’s really gross. But then consider this – there’s a proper place for everything:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlIOI3fDz5c

Or – as Texas populist Jim Hightower is fond of saying “money is like manure, you have to spread it around.”

This is a new action post that I hope to be able to put up here once a week or so. I am a petition signer. One of the quickest ways almost anyone can make a difference is to join up with other people to petition for the things we want to see happen. I’m going to give a quick write-up and a link to the petitions. If you only have a few moments, you can still help make a big difference. I have seen many good things happen because enough people took a minute to sign a petition for something they believed in.

The first one on today’s list is The Clean Water Restoration Act. Unfortunately we have to petition to restore safeguards that have long been in place but have been disregarded. Sixty percent of our water is now in jeopardy. This petition is an opportunity to ask your representative in Congress to co-sponsor this act. On the Earth Justice petitions after you sign one of them, all you have to do is put in your email address to sign another.
http://action.earthjustice.org/campaign/CWRA_CoSponsor_July_2007

The next one is another Earth Justice campaign. Typical of the Bush administration the Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a “recovery plan” for the northern spotted owl that would actually increase logging by weakening protections for salmon, clean water and old-growth forest ecosystems.
http://action.earthjustice.org/campaign/Owl_Recovery_August_2007

On August 9, a cloud of the fumigant metam sodium drifted over two Kern County, California businesses, sickening eleven workers with vomiting and dizziness. Metam sodium is an acutely toxic fumigant pesticide, a carcinogen, and linked to developmental problems. It is being reviewed by both the EPA and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Public health advocates say fumigants contribute to smog and pose such high risk of respiratory illness that they should be phased out as quickly as possible. To demand the EPA protect people from fumigant pesticides sign this Pesticide Action Network petition:
http://action.panna.org/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=693

Many farm workers must labor outdoors in unhealthy conditions. But for some the exposure does not stop there. After completing a 10 to 12 hour work day, too many San Joaquin Valley farm workers go home and live in some of the most heavily polluted areas in the country. The small farm worker town of Arvin lies in a rich agricultural area filled with vineyards and orange groves. It also has the dubious distinction of being the town with the most polluted air in America. You can sign this United Farm Workers petition to help ensure the air in this town is cleaned up.
http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/smog/swwn874435b8ek?

Finally you may, if you wish, go to this delightful site and join the movement – for free – to support organic dairies. Power to the people – and the critters, too.