Oct 15, 2008 -- Fight the Right-Wing Wackos Links of the Day.

** The PEW Environment Group **
On August 25, 2008, President Bush signed a memorandum directing his administration to develop a plan for protecting the U.S. waters around the Northern Mariana Islands, including the Mariana Trench; Rose Atoll in American Samoa; and seven remote islands in the Central Pacific Ocean. Designating these areas as marine national monuments with permanent, full protection would establish the largest conservation area in history - larger than all our national parks combined - and make the U.S. the world leader in ocean conservation!

Unfortunately, the final designation of these areas may allow some fishing and mineral extraction. Declaring these monuments as fully-protected no-take reserves designated for conservation, research and education only is crucial for meaningful stewardship of our imperiled oceans.

Before the October 26, 2008 deadline, thank the President's Council on Environmental Quality for considering protection and ask them to grant comprehensive protection and marine national monument status to these remarkable places.

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** Earth Justice **
The Federal Office of Surface Mining (OSM) is poised to finalize a rule that would allow thousands of natural streams and valleys in Appalachia to be buried by waste from mountaintop removal coal mining. OSM's plan directly conflicts with the decades-old Stream Buffer Zone Rule, which prohibits surface coal mining activities from disturbing areas within 100 feet of permanent and seasonal streams.

For years, federal agencies have looked the other way as the coal industry has been allowed to blast away the tops of mountains to reach thin seams of coal. Already, mountaintop removal mining has flattened more than 500,000 acres and permanently buried 2,000 miles of streams, destroying sources that feed drinking water. These actions were taken in defiance of the existing Stream Buffer Zone Rule. Now, OSM wants to legalize this destruction, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must first give its approval for the change in rules to become law.

Please take action by telling the EPA that the destruction of Appalachia's valleys and streams is unacceptable. Tell EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson to protect these valuable resources by keeping the Stream Buffer Zone Rule in place!

Sept 16, 2008 -- Fight the Right-Wing Wackos Links of the Day.

** Public Citizen **

The auto industry has created a nice little mess for itself.

For years, Detroit automakers have fought tooth and nail against federal measures to improve the fuel economy of their fleets. They disregarded rising gas prices and lessons learned from the oil embargoes and shortages of the 1970s.

Now these corporate giants are descending on Washington, D.C., hat in hand to request that the taxpayers bail them out. They want as much as $50 billion in loan guarantees, making us pay for their past mistakes.

Don't let the auto industry get its way with no strings attached!

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** Apollo Alliance **

Don't Let Big Oil Control Energy Reform!

Congress is on the verge of passing a new energy bill that begins to move us toward a clean energy-good jobs future, but oil companies are trying to stop the energy reform America so desperately needs.

Despite record-breaking profits and a landmark agreement from Congress to allow offshore drilling, Big Oil wants even more. They're trying to kill the new energy bill to protect tax giveaways that have helped their profits reach into the billions.

We need to act immediately – the new energy bill will come to a vote this week.

America can't wait! Tell your Senator to stay strong and pass the bill.

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** The PEW Environment Group **

Now is our chance to set the rules to permanently end overfishing. In December 2006, with broad public support from people like you, Congress passed a law that requires an end to overfishing by 2011.

In June 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposed rules to put this law into effect and achieve its bold goal.

While the NMFS proposal takes great strides toward meeting this important goal, critical loopholes remain.

Before the September 22nd deadline, ask NMFS to close the overfishing loopholes!

Your Fight the Right Activist links for June 11, 2008

** Natural Resources Defense Council **
Although lead causes brain, kidney, developmental and cardiovascular damage in children, the EPA has proposed new airborne lead standards that are weaker than scientists recommend. Send a comment by the July 21st deadline telling the EPA to strengthen the standards to levels that will protect children from this dangerous toxin.

Tell the EPA to protect children from dangerous airborne lead
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** Human Rights First **
Can you imagine the U.S. government leaving soldiers behind in Iraq, giving them little or no chance to return to safety?

That's not unlike U.S. treatment of thousands of Iraqi citizens who risked life and limb to act as translators for the U.S. military.

Thanks in part to the voices of concerned individuals like you, the Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act became law earlier this year, making 5,000 special visas available each year for the next five years to Iraqi translators and other Iraqis who helped the U.S. And in May, Congress passed a second law clarifying that these visas should be made available immediately.

But while these translators struggle to stay alive, bureaucratic red tape - shamefully – is delaying the resettlement process.

Send a letter to be delivered to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff! Urge them to make the visas available without delay.
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** True Majority **
The Monkey King George Bush's self-styled junta will come to an end less than eight months from now. Unfortunately he still has the power to appoint federal judges -- who would serve for a lifetime, carrying out his right-wing agenda far beyond the end of his term.

One man can block these nominations: Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy.

Judicial appointments are subject to confirmation by the United States Senate -- so the Senate has the power to put an end to Bush's practice of stacking our nation's courts with ultraconservative ideologues. Our friends at Credo Action are running a campaign to simply say no to any more of his judicial nominations and they need our help. Can you take a minute to help them by sending a message to Senator Leahy?

Click here to tell Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy: No more Bush judges.
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** The PEW Environment Group **
Our oceans are in trouble. Fish stocks are being overfished to the point of collapse, runoff pollution is creating vast dead zones, and global warming is causing the death of corals. Now the Bush Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has proposed a rule that would gut the environmental review process for fishery management actions and limit the public’s right to participate in those decisions.

Tell the NMFS to go back to the drawing board! Our oceans deserve better.
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** Free Press **
Faux News owner and right-wing whore Rupert Murdoch launched a laughable attack against you, the media reform movement, and journalism itself.

His on-air bully, right-wing wacko whore Bill O'Reilly called us "crazy" and "fascist" --- you, me, and the millions of others who want media reform. These people are "doing a lot of damage to America," O'Reilly yelled. Our crime? Calling for journalism that's more honest, just and accountable to the public.

When Bill O'Reilly goes after you, you must be doing something right. So we've decided to return the favor, and tell him two things: (1) Thanks so much for the compliment and (2) please stop pretending to be a journalist.

Tell fascist pig whore Bill O'Reilly: Stop Pretending to Be a Journalist