The beauty of the FOE Action radio ad in Iowa is that it combines issue activism on the Lieberman-Warner bill with electoral politics regarding John Edwards. There is perfect synergy here, because Edwards also opposes Lieberman-Warner.
Here's some background on FOE Action:
Founded by David Brower in 1967, Friends of the Earth Action has established a 35-year record of not only fighting the tough battles, but winning them too. FoE Action provides extra political muscle on legislative battles here in the U.S. for to our sister organization, Friends of the Earth, which is part of a network of affiliates in over 70 nations around the world.
snip
FoE Action looks beyond the symptoms of environmental degredation, to the systemic causes.
FOE Action
On October 14, FOE Action became the first major environmental organization to endorse a candidate for president, and they endorsed John Edwards:
WASHINGTON, DC -- Friends of the Earth Action (FOE Action), one of the longest-standing, national environmental organizations in the country, today announced its endorsement of Senator John Edwards for President, citing his leadership on real solutions to combat global warming and his unequivocal position against dangerous and expensive nuclear power.
"Friends of the Earth Action enthusiastically endorses John Edwards for President," said Brent Blackwelder, president of FOE Action.
Friends of the Earth Action Endorses John Edwards
I interviewed Dr. Blackwelder about FOE Action's endorsement of John Edwards. The interview is in two separate diaries:
My Interview of Friends of the Earth Action President Blackwelder Re Edwards Endorsement
John Edwards will be our First Green President
Q: What most differentiates John Edwards from the other Democratic presidential candidates with respect to environmental issues?
A: Of the leading Democratic candidates for president, John Edwards is most committed, and best prepared, to halt global warming and promote a healthy, livable planet for our families and our future. Friends of the Earth Action feels John Edwards has set the paces among all of the Democratic candidates by putting forth a plan that provides real action to combat global warming.
We encourage people to visit our web site, www.foeaction.org. to learn more about why we endorsed Edwards and facts about his environmental record.
My Interview of Friends of the Earth Action President Blackwelder Re Edwards Endorsement
Dr. Blackwelder told me of FOE Action's plans to run an independent campaign for Edwards in New Hampshire:
A: We plan to be especially active in New Hampshire, establishing an independent campaign and organization to carry the message about John Edwards' global warming plan and his vision for a healthy environment. There is a powerful, untapped environmental constituency out there that is up for grabs in this country and we are here to lend our voice to push that constituency toward Edwards. We believe he has the right vision and record to tap that constituency.
In New Hampshire, there are a lot of Democratic primary voters who care deeply about the quality of their environment and cite it as a top concern when choosing a nominee for president. In particular, voters in the Granite State are looking for real action to combat global warming. We plan to spend the next 3 months letting these voters know that John Edwards is the candidate best qualified and most committed to help achieve this big and bold goal.
Please visit the FoE Action website to find out how you can get involved in our campaign to elect John Edwards as president: www.foeaction.org.
My Interview of Friends of the Earth Action President Blackwelder Re Edwards Endorsement
Then, in late October, FOE Action put on this radio ad in New Hampshire (put on a video by an Edwards supporter who blogs)
Meanwhile, Friends of the Earth and FOE Action are deeply involved in environmental issue activism. Friends of the Earth has been working on climate change issues literally for decades, so when there was a bill proposed by Liebrman and Warner on climate change, they took a hard look at it, and did not like what they saw. On October 30, 2007, Friends of the Earth announced the results of their analysis of the Lieberman-Warner bill:
Corporate polluters will hit the jackpot if global warming legislation proposed by Sens. Joe Lieberman and John Warner becomes law. The Lieberman-Warner bill will reward corporate polluters by handing them pollution permits worth almost half a trillion dollars, and that's just one part of this bill. The levels of pollution-rewarding giveaways in this bill are truly obscene.
Friends of the Earth quantifies the giveaways here.
Friends of the Earth has information about the bill online. A one-page factsheet is available here, and a longer analysis of the corporate giveaways can be found here.
Dr. Blackwelder came to Daily Kos to ask for help from kossaks to make this bad bill better or defeat it:
Thanks Ellinorianne
and everyone else for your comments and support. We're doing what we can. But we won't get anywhere if senators don't hear from their constituents that this bill needs to get better.
I would encourage all members DailyKos community to call your senators with two key requests:
* This legislation should ratchet down emissions to get us to a minimum cut of 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The current bill falls far short of this goal -- which is what scientists tell us is needed.
* 100 percent of pollution permits should be auctioned and giveaways to corporate polluters should be eliminated.
The Lieberman-Warner bill is not good enough. The laws of nature don't compromise and we must have legislation that does the minimum that scientists tell us is necessary to avoid catastrophe. Emissions are rising more quickly than almost anyone has predicted and we may not have a second chance to get this right.
by Brent Blackwelder on Thu Nov 01, 2007 at 12:42:52 PM PDT
http://www.dailykos.com/...
John Edwards also opposes Lieberman-Warner:
At long last, global warming legislation is moving in the Senate.
"But we cannot be limited in our approach by the armies of lobbyists from big oil companies and other special interests. The critical question is simple: are we going to do everything climate science says is needed to save our planet? The Lieberman-Warner bill says no. Worst of all, it gives away pollution permits to industry for free – a massive corporate windfall – instead of doing what is right and selling them so that we can use these resources to invest in clean energy research and help regular families go green.
Edwards Statement On Global Warming Legislation In The Senate
Now FOE Action brilliantly is combining its opposition to the Lieberman-Warner Polluter Giveaway Bill with its support for John Edwards by running a radio ad in iowa on this very issue:
--
New ad calls on Clinton to fix or ditch global warming bill
Ad to run in Iowa challenges Hillary Clinton to join John Edwards in taking a stand against the special interest giveaways in Lieberman-Warner legislation
Friends of the Earth Action (FoE Action; www.foeaction.org), today released a new radio ad to run in Iowa called, "Clinton Fix or Ditch." The ad challenges Senator Hillary Clinton to join John Edwards in taking a firm stand against billions in special interest giveaways to polluting industries included the Lieberman-Warner global warming bill being considered by the U.S. Senate.
"As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Clinton has the opportunity to take a firm stance against the more than $750 billion in giveaways to global warming polluters currently included in the Lieberman-Warner bill," said Brent Blackwelder, president of FoE Action. "As our ad states, 'John Edwards has already taken a courageous stand against the bill and the special interests backing it.' Senator Clinton should join him and the growing movement against this deeply flawed bill by fixing or ditching it."
Friends of the Earth Action
"Hillary Clinton recently announced a plan on energy and global warming. It’s a good plan. But now, it’s time for more than talk.
In the Senate Clinton’s committee is considering a bill that’s a breathtaking giveaway to corporate polluters. The Lieberman-Warner bill gives away $750 billion to oil, gas, and utility companies ... the very companies polluting our air and causing global warming.
One candidate, John Edwards, has already taken a courageous stand against the bill and the special interests backing it. For too long the lobbyists and corporate polluters have set our nation’s energy policy.
Call Senator Clinton and tell her we’ve had enough of corporate polluters and billion dollar giveaways. Tell her its time to fix – or ditch – Lieberman-Warner."
Issue Activism and Electoral Politics: it's how we make real change. You cannot have one without the other and make a difference. FOE Action is showing the way.
To make a difference on global warming, call your Senators and tell them to "Fix or Ditch" Lieberman-Warner. I think FOE Action is right in supporting John Edwards to make real change that is necessary to save us and our planet, but if you support another candidate, let them know that you want them to:
FIX OR DITCH LIEBERMAN-WARNER!
Sorry I cannot stay long this morning. I'm driving to Iowa today with some folks and will help canvass voters for JOHN EDWARDS! (which is why this diary is so early -- I cannot drive and blog. :-) I'm good, but not that good) I will be knocking on doors, talking, and handing out Edwards literature. Hope I get lots of "recommends" and no troll ratings in Iowa!
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