: #Plant #biodiversity and animal species decline - #bats #bees #fungus #infection #plants #gmo #pesticides

Here are some notes that emerged from weekend discussion of bee hive
collape. It appears that the collapse results directly from a paired
virus and fungus, and further research is clearly indicated in order
to prevent collapse of valuable bee colonies, which are also crucial
to the ecosystem and human food production. Personally, I intend to
look further into the viral mechanism, but there is already something
that I can say about this, and about the fungus as well. Plant
biodiversity loss can result directly in an upsurge in viral and
fungal infections in animal populations.

I was disturbed to learn this morning from
http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/ that eastern bats are also
suffering a decline which may prove catastrophic, and that this
decline is the result of an emergent fungal infection. We need to
remember that a wide range of plants provide flavonoids and other
molecules which have been demostrated to impede fungal and viral
infections. When plant biodiversity declines, one can expect an
upsurge in such infections. This is observable in human populations
as well. When adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables decline,
an increase in disease and infection is observed.

In researching declines in animal population, it is of concern that
the agent which prevented infections may be endangered itself, so that
the connection is difficult to observe, but it is crucial that we
observe it and prevent species and biodiversity collapse. In fact, we
may indeed be preventing the collapse of our very own species.
Clearly, addressing the problem of climate change and global warming,
will help us to preserve ourselves by protecting the ecosystem and
biodiversity that we depend upon for our very survival. Bee colony
collapse provides an elegant example of this fact, since we require
bee pollenation for so much of our food production. It should be
noted that bat pollenation is required for many species of plants.

The conclusion is obvious. The observation of viral and fungal
pathogens in species collapse is an argument for biodiversity, not
against it. Moreover, plant biodiversity has not received the
attention that it deserves, but if we do not address it, loss of plant
biodiversity may become a species-level threat for humans as well. We
need to look far more carefully at the use of pesticides and
genetically modified organisms in light of these facts. Biodiversity
loss has already been observed in some areas where such measures have
been deployed.

In an age of climate change and global warming we must give more
attention to plant biodiversity, for it is the plants that are best
suited to repair the damage from accumulation of greenhouse gases in
the atmosphere. Moreover, it is now becoming quite evident that life
itself depends on plant diversity for protection from various
infections and other maladies.

Regards,
proclus
http://www.gnu-darwin.org/

BTW, if you want to take action on the situation with the bats, here
is the link. It is a wonderful halloween activity!

For Bats, the Future Is Spooky
http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5067

For Bats, the Future Is Spooky

This Halloween, what's spookier than ghosts, zombies or hordes of eager trick-or-treaters headed for your front door?

Try this real-life horror: white-nose syndrome, the disease that is wiping out America's bats. While bats are quintessential symbols of Halloween, these night-flying mammals are actually vital to keeping bug populations in check and protecting farm crops and forests from insect pests.

White-nose syndrome has been decimating bats for the past four winters, from the Northeast to the Mississippi River, and scientists fear it is headed for the West this coming winter. The fungus associated with the disease was already found on bats in western Oklahoma this spring!

Please join us in calling for Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to declare the extreme decline of bats an emergency necessitating urgent action. With nine bat species already affected and the disease racing across the country into new caves and new populations, it's time for a real plan and real action. This isn't a late-night horror flick: This wildlife die-off is the real thing -- and without bats, we'll really have something to be scared of.

Visit http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5067 to take action now.

Robert Fisk: The shaming of America

Robert Fisk: The shaming of America

via The Independent - Robert Fisk RSS Feed on 10/23/10

As usual, the Arabs knew. They knew all about the mass torture, the promiscuous shooting of civilians, the outrageous use of air power against family homes, the vicious American and British mercenaries, the cemeteries of the innocent dead. All of Iraq knew. Because they were the victims.

Failed accountability, #WikiLeaks show true cost of war

Failed accountability, WikiLeaks show true cost of war

via Human Rights Now - Amnesty International USA Blog by Corporate Action Network on 10/26/10

The release by WikiLeaks late last week of 391,832 secret documents on the Iraq War has been said to be “…the most comprehensive and detailed account of any war ever to have entered the public record.” The revelations emerging from these documents showcase the culture of impunity that has plagued this war effort, including the U.S. government’s failure to adequately address rights violations linked to the corporations and contractors used to fight our wars.

As an August 22, 2006 report released by WikiLeaks stated

AFTER THE IED STRIKE A WITNESS REPORTS THE BLACKWATER EMPLOYEES FIRED INDISCRIMINATELY AT THE SCENE.

More than one year later, on September 16, 2007, Blackwater (now renamed Xe) guards, still benefiting from huge government contracts, shot and killed 17 Iraqi civilians in Nisour Square, Baghdad. This is just one example of many that can be found in the leaked documents.

It is clear that the record of unjustified killings and violence by PSCs is far beyond what had previously been released to the public. As it stands, none of these incidents has resulted in prosecution, and even those cases that have moved forward have resulted in dismissal or failure to indict.  Recently, a case against Andrew J. Moonen, a former Blackwater guard who was accused of killing a guard assigned to an Iraqi VP while wandering drunk in the Green Zone, was dropped by the Justice Department, citing difficulties in obtaining evidence in war zones, and the granting of immunities to the defendant by American officials at the scene.

Even the most public of cases, including that against Blackwater guards for the shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians in Nisour Square, have resulted in dismissals in US courts.  This culture of impunity extends across PSC activities.  On September 11th, 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in a 2 to 1 ruling dismissed a lawsuit brought against CACI International that alleged CACI personnel participated in torture and abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison.

By creating complex legal hurdles, issuing on the scene immunities, and failing to ensure an environment of transparency, oversight and accountability, we are shielding the true costs of our wars, not only financially but in human terms as well.  The release of these documents showcases just how terrible that cost is.

Let’s continue to call for accountability in conflict zones. Tell President Obama and Congress to respect human rights and counter terror with justice.

Amnesty: US Must Investigate Detainee Abuse Claims in #Wikileaks Files

US Must Investigate Detainee Abuse Claims in Wikileaks Files

via Human Rights Now - Amnesty International USA Blog by The Editors on 10/22/10

The US government must investigate how much US officials knew about the torture and other ill-treatment of detainees held by Iraqi security forces after new evidence emerged in files released today by Wikileaks.

We have not yet had an opportunity to study the leaked files in detail but they add to our concern that the US authorities committed a serious breach of international law when they summarily handed over thousands of detainees to Iraqi security forces who, they knew, were continuing to torture and abuse detainees on a truly shocking scale.

The new disclosures appear to closely match the findings of New Order, Same Abuses: Unlawful Detentions and Torture in Iraq, a report we published last month detailing the widespread torture and other ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi forces, committed with impunity. Thousands of Iraqis who had been detained by US forces were transferred from US to Iraqi custody between early 2009 and July 2010 under an agreement between the USA and Iraq that contains no provisions for ensuring protection of the detainees’ human rights.

These documents apparently provide further evidence that the US authorities have been aware of this systematic abuse for years, yet they went ahead and handed over thousands of Iraqis they had detained to the Iraqi security forces.

The United States is a party to the UN Convention against Torture, the main international treaty prohibiting torture, which requires all states to prohibit torture and to refrain from transferring detainees to the authorities of another state at whose hands they face torture.

Amnesty International continues to campaign for full accountability for those detainees tortured and ill-treated by USA military personnel in Iraq, such as those in Abu Ghraib prison.

The US authorities, like all governments, have an obligation under international law not only to ensure that their own forces do not use torture, but also that people who were detained and are being held by US forces are not handed over to other authorities who are likely to torture them.

The USA failed to respect this obligation in Iraq, despite the great volume of evidence, available from many different quarters, showing that the Iraqi security forces use torture widely and are allowed to do so with impunity.

The information said to be in these documents also underscores the urgent need for the Iraqi government to take concrete measures to end torture, ensure the safety of all detainees, and root out and bring to justice those responsible for torture and other serious human rights abuses, however senior their position.

Join us in calling on President Obama and Congress to respect human rights and counter terror with justice.

BarackObama.com | VOTE 2010 - Help get the vote out!

Hi,

I just signed up to talk with voters during the final stretch before Election Day and make sure they get to the polls this year.

Want to join in?

Sign up for a shift from October 30th-November 2nd.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/GOTVolunteer2/

Regards,
proclus
http://www.gnu-darwin.org/

---------
A user has sent this message from BarackObama.com. The sender's name, email address, subject and message have not been verified.

You're invited to participate in 15/25 - COP 10 Biodiversity meeting

		Join me at this pivotal moment in history to protect life on Earth       I've added my name to an international group of individuals supporting a very simple goal at the 2010 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) negotiations in Nagoya, Japan this October: We must protect and effectively manage at least 25 percent of Earth's land and inland waters and 15 percent of marine ecosystems by 2020. We can't protect life without also protecting the places where it lives. Currently, only 12.9% of the world's terrestrial areas are under formal protection. Less than 1% of the oceans are protected. We can do better. We must urge global leaders to take a powerful stand. This October, world leaders will gather in Nagoya, Japan, for negotiations on the global Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The attendees of this meeting have the power to take binding action to preserve life around the world. What can you do? Support Conservation International’s goal to protect and effectively manage at least 25% of Earth’s land and inland waters and 15% of marine ecosystems by 2020. I hope you'll join me at this important moment in time to set a better course for Earth's future.
OUR MISSION Building upon a strong foundation of science, partnership and field demonstration, CI empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature, our global biodiversity, for the well-being of humanity.   OUR VISION We imagine a healthy prosperous world in which societies are forever committed to caring for and valuing nature, our global biodiversity, for the long-term benefit of people and all life on Earth. conservation.org donate now   get the newsletter send an eCard
Photos: left, © Norbert Wu/Minden Pictures; right, © Robin Moore/iLCP

Click here to view a printable version of this eCard.

Click here to send your own eCard.

If you no longer wish to receive email messages sent from your friends on behalf of this organization, please click here or paste this URL into your browser: http://getinvolved.conservation.org/site/TellFriendOpt?action=optout&toe=...

Stop the Internet Blacklist! - #drm #law #acta #dmca #coica #music #freedom #downloads #internet #software #technology

Hey -- have you heard about this new Internet blacklist bill? It would allow the Attorney General to censor entire websites in the United States -- even if the site hasn't been convicted of any crime!

President Obama has been denouncing countries like China and Iran for censoring the Internet -- but now the U.S. Senate is about to do the same thing here at home. And they're trying to rush the bill through right after the election without having any debate.

Can you take a second to sign a petition opposing this bill? Click here.
http://act.demandprogress.org/go/4?akid=6.45919.J_5eKt&t=2

Already over 200,000 people have signed and they're trying to hit 250,000 before they start delivering petitions at the end of this week. Adding your name could make a real difference.

Please forward this email far and wide -- people need to hear about this bill.

Thanks!

Regards,
proclus
http://ww.gnu-darwin.org/

DEMAND PROGRESS Sign our urgent petition: Fill out the required fields below: (leave blank if outside the US) Sign The Petition Over 170,000 have signed! Help us hit 200,000! We do not share your email address without your permission. We will send yo

Hey -- have you heard about this new Internet blacklist bill? It would allow the Attorney General to censor entire websites in the United States -- even if the site hasn't been convicted of any crime!

President Obama has been denouncing countries like China and Iran for censoring the Internet -- but now the U.S. Senate is about to do the same thing here at home. And they're trying to rush the bill through right after the election without having any debate.

Can you take a second to sign a petition opposing this bill? Click here.
http://act.demandprogress.org/go/4?akid=6.45919.J_5eKt&t=2

Already over 200,000 people have signed and they're trying to hit 250,000 before they start delivering petitions at the end of this week. Adding your name could make a real difference.

Please forward this email far and wide -- people need to hear about this bill.

Thanks!

Regards,
proclus
http://ww.gnu-darwin.org/

Tides: Dear Fox Advertiser

Dear Fox Advertiser

via tides.org News on 10/15/10

Dear Fox Advertiser,

I am writing to ask your company to take a simple step that may well save lives in the future. And it is not unimportant that taking this action will remove your company and its products from any connection to what could very likely be an unpleasant tragedy, should things remain as they are today. On behalf of my organization, and many others like it, I ask that you cease advertising on the Fox News Channel.

Read more at

tides.org News

 

Brilliant piece of work.  I loved it.

 

Regards,
proclus
http://www.gnu-darwin.org/

Support Muslim Objector Nasser Abdo; Operation Recovery Launched; Alliance for Global Justice; Bradley Manning

Hello GNU-Darwin Action Group,
Michael L. Love has forwarded this e-mail newsletter to you:

Support US Army Muslim objector Fort Bragg infantry soldier Nasser Abdo has applied for discharge as a conscientious objector based on his Muslim faith; however, his unit may attempt to deploy him anyway. Operation Recovery launched "Military commanders are pushing service members far past human limits for the sake of 'combat readiness.' There is a problem, a basic right is being denied, and we will organize to get it back," declares Iraq Veterans Against the War. Alliance for Global Justice We're now a program of the Alliance for Global Justice, a nonprofit 501(c)(3).This allows us to focus on our mission--and less on non-profit administrative paperwork. Free Bradley Manning Alleged Wikileaks whistle-blower Army PFC Bradley Manning remains at the center of our daily work. We'll be launching a public declaration and petition "We Stand with Brad!" soon. Check out "20+ Cities rally support for Bradley Manning" if you missed it.   Support US Army Muslim objector Nasser Abdo By Courage to Resist October 12, 2010 Please consider a donation to Nasser's defense via Courage to Resist. We hope to raise at least $1,000 towards his civilian legal representation. Nasser faces deployment, and likely jail if he refuses. "To a soldier the association of terror and Islam serves the purpose of falsely justifying ones actions in combat by stripping Muslims of their humanity. The association of terror and Islam is what we now refer to as Islamaphobia, and furthermore that it is as if the US public is just recently following a trend that has been rampant in the military for years. Only when the military and America can disassociate Muslims with terror can we move onto a brighter future of the religious collaboration and dialogue that defines America and makes me proud to be an American.” --PFC Nasser Abdo As Chuck Fager, Director of Quaker House, Fayetteville, NC, explains in support of Nasser, “A Muslim soldier whose interpretation of his faith leads him to the conviction that he can’t participate in war deserves the same respect from the Army as does a Quaker, a Mennonite, or any other person following their conscience.” A handful of past Courage to Resist donors have expressed objections to our support of PFC Nasser Abdo. There are always a couple of folks that have problems with any particular objector and their reasons for refusing to fight or speak out. However, in Nasser's case, it's been far more than usual. For Courage to Resist, we help objectors tell their stories and support them when they come into conflict with the military as a result of reasons of conscience. For audio and video interviews with Nasser, visit www.freenasserabdo.org Operation Recovery launched to resist repeated deployments By Iraq Veterans Against the War October 7, 2010 Thousands of troops are being sent to war despite suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Many of us within IVAW have faced or are currently facing deployment as we try to recover from the severe trauma we have already experienced. While we recognize that we must stop the deployment of all soldiers in order to end the occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan, we see the deployment of soldiers with PTSD, TBI, and MST as particularly cruel, inhumane, and dangerous. Military commanders across all branches are pushing service members far past human limits for the sake of 'combat readiness.' We cannot allow those commanders to continue to ignore the welfare of their troops who are, after all, human beings. Read more... Operation Recovery web page and resources Making the Pledge of Support Now a program of Alliance for Global Justice By Courage to Resist. October 12, 2010 Courage to Resist is now a program of the Alliance for Global Justice (AfGJ)! We would like to thank the International Humanities Center (IHC) for their fiscal sponsorship during the first five years of our collective. Like IHC, AfGJ is a nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. This relationship allows Courage to Resist to focus more on our mission of supporting the troops who refuse to fight--and less on the administrative paperwork required to keep a non-profit running. Like most fiscal sponsors, AfGJ hosts a number of projects. However, Courage to Resist is autonomous from and independent of any political organization, party, group, or other AfGJ-sponsored project. Read more... Please click here to forward this to a friend who might also be interested in supporting GI resisters.

Speak Up for Wolves in the Great Lakes Region

Republican and Democratic members of Congress in the House and Senate have introduced four bills to remove gray wolves from the endangered species list before they have fully recovered.

The bills would remove Endangered Species Act protections from wolves in Montana and Idaho, portions of surrounding states, or possibly the entire country.

The bills would legislatively overturn the August 2010 ruling in the Center's latest successful lawsuit that restored Endangered Species Act protections to wolves throughout Montana and Idaho, and parts of Washington, Oregon and Utah. Each bill would permit a renewed extermination program against wolves, unfettered by federal law.

Please tell your members of Congress: Protect our wolves, and hands off the Endangered Species Act.

Visit http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4995 to take action now.

Divest From #BP - The Petition Site - BP #Oil Spill #boycottbp #petroleum #oilspill #blacktide

Dear Friends,

I have just read and signed the petition:
"Divest From BP".

Please take a moment to read about this important
issue, and join me in signing the petition. It takes
just 30 seconds, but can truly make a difference. We
are trying to reach
10000 signatures
- please sign here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/885/006/964/

Once you have signed, you can help even more by asking
your friends and family to sign as well.

Regards,
proclus
http://www.gnu-darwin.org/

Oxfam: Tell President Obama to Support Oil Transparency in Ghana - Care2

Dear Friends,

I have just read and signed the petition:
"Tell President Obama to Support Oil Transparency in Ghana".

Please take a moment to read about this important
issue, and join me in signing the petition. It takes
just 30 seconds, but can truly make a difference. We
are trying to reach
25000 signatures
- please sign here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/362/472/969/

Regards,
proclus
http://www.gnu-darwin.org/

proclus: #ACTA notes - #drm #dmca #coica #music #downloads #technology

• ACTA
• activism
• COICA
• copyright
• dmca
• downloads
• ecommerce
• eff
• free software
• freedom
• fsf
• geek
• internet
• internet technology
• music
• open source
• piracy
• politics
• radical
• technology
• weblogs

October 8, 2010

 

proclus: #ACTA notes - #drm #dmca #coica #music #downloads #technology

Activists may wish to go straight to Section 5, which deals with digital enforcement and explicitly stipulates that the provisions preserve fundamental principles, such as free speech rights.  A caveat would be that these stipulations are not present in the first part of the document, which deals primarily with non-digital property.  Section 5 is about the restriction of access to knowledge.
The treaty uses a peculiar term which I have not encountered before, fair process.  This principle appears to be similar to fair use, but it is best thought of in another way.  For example, If I put your logo on the top of a document, I am free to list the reasons why I don't like your organization under the logo as long as I don't say the communication is from you.  That is my understanding of fair process, which is essentially the clear right to use your logo as a designator to make comments, comparisons to competitors and so forth.  If this is not a correct conception of fair process, then someone please clue me.
As I noted previously with respect to the onerous COICA legistlation, it is far too tempting for corporations to use trademark enforcement to quell unfavorable expression, and they should NOT be encouraged to do so.  This is a MAJOR problem with ACTA as well, and the trademark provisions are among the most controversial perhaps for this reason.
It is no surprise to see such stipulations of basic rights spelled out explicitly in the digital enforcement section, because such provisions are often so problematic.  For example, ACTA says effectively in this section that governments shall promote the adoption of DRM by corporations. It is simply a contradiction in terms to promote DRM at the same time as free speech, fair use, and privacy rights, which are basic principles and protected liberties.   The fact that people don't seem to see this contradiction is a huge problem which transcends the ACTA treaty.
The fallacy that DRM is compatible with fundamental rights is what makes ACTA so onerous, and this fallacy blooms full in the anti-circumvention provisions.  They are legal sophistry and an offence to basic liberties, while at the same time claiming to support such liberties.  It is the same problem with the DMCA.  Saying that you support free speech, fair use, and privacy is different than actually supporting them, and neglect of this fact has led to many problems.  There will be more and more problems until the DRM fallacy is recognized.  DRM and liberty are incompatible, and the anti-circumvention provisions of ACTA make this OBVIOUS.  Attempts to enforce such provisions constitute an illegitimate authority.
In the case of ACTA, sections subsequent to section 5 are tainted with this fallacy and illegitimate notion of authority which violates the very basic principles that it claims to uphold.  It is really quite a power grab.  As such, the document is very troubling indeed, and will no doubt continue to receive vociferous opposition.  Although the problems with trademark infringement are troubling, in actuality, the document is deeply flawed. If the ACTA treaty is ratified, I am predicting that many parties will withdraw from it. 
Regards,
proclus
http://www.gnu-darwin.org/

U.S. Intel Agencies Catching al-Qaeda in its own Web

Wikileaks rulz! Are you really a journalist?
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

U.S. Intel Agencies Catching al-Qaeda in its own Web

Wikileaks rulz! Are you really a journalist?
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Don't Let Congress Kill Wolves

Republican and Democratic members of Congress in the House and Senate have introduced four bills to remove gray wolves from the endangered species list before they have fully recovered.

The bills would remove Endangered Species Act protections from wolves in Montana and Idaho, portions of surrounding states, or possibly the entire country.

The bills would legislatively overturn the August 2010 ruling in the Center's latest successful lawsuit that restored Endangered Species Act protections to wolves throughout Montana and Idaho, and parts of Washington, Oregon and Utah. Each bill would permit a renewed extermination program against wolves, unfettered by federal law.

Please tell your members of Congress: Protect our wolves, and hands off the Endangered Species Act.

Visit http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4965 to take action now.

You're invited to participate in 15/25 - #conservation #biodiversity #global #warming #climate

		Join me at this pivotal moment in history to protect life on Earth       I discovered this organization thanks to @seachele420. She is a great follow, BTW. Biodiversity and conservation targets deserve more attention, because as I have written before in the extinction article in this blog, green spaces are possibly the best way to combat global warming and climate change. Other measures are necessary as well, but if we continue to allow our green spaces to shrink instead of grow, we are simply doomed. This planet cannot sustain life without them. I have not yet carefully evaluated the 15/25 target, but I am delighted to learn that someone is thinking about these things and doing something. The Conservation.org proposal definitely deserves more attention. Here below is their intended message. I've just added my name to an international group of individuals supporting a very simple goal at the 2010 Convention on Biological Diversity negotiations in Nagoya, Japan this October. Every corner of the world is home to critical ecosystems like tropical forests and oceans that are home to so many of the world's species. These ecosystems are at risk as the result of human development, and the pressure is mounting like never before. We can't protect life without also protecting the places where it lives. Currently, only 13.9% of the world's terrestrial areas are under formal protection. Less than 1% of the oceans are protected and inland waters ecosystems have been almost entirely neglected by conservation efforts to date. We can do better. We must urge global leaders to take a powerful stand. This October, world leaders will gather in Nagoya, Japan, for negotiations on the global Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The attendees of this meeting have the power to take binding action to preserve life around the world. Regards, proclus http://www.gnu-darwin.org/ What can you do? Support Conservation International’s goal to protect and effectively manage at least 25% of Earth’s land and inland waters and 15% of marine ecosystems by 2020. I hope you'll join me at this important moment in time to set a better course for Earth's future.
OUR MISSION Building upon a strong foundation of science, partnership and field demonstration, CI empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature, our global biodiversity, for the well-being of humanity.   OUR VISION We imagine a healthy prosperous world in which societies are forever committed to caring for and valuing nature, our global biodiversity, for the long-term benefit of people and all life on Earth. conservation.org donate now   get the newsletter send an eCard
Photos: left, © Norbert Wu/Minden Pictures; right, © Robin Moore/iLCP

Click here to view a printable version of this eCard.

Click here to send your own eCard.

If you no longer wish to receive email messages sent from your friends on behalf of this organization, please click here or paste this URL into your browser: http://getinvolved.conservation.org/site/TellFriendOpt?action=optout&toe=...

Join me and tell President Obama no to untested ethanol

Hello,

I just took action and asked President Obama to instruct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to wait until testing of all engines is complete before increasing the allowance of ethanol levels in our gasoline.

Will you join me and tell the Obama administration to complete testing before pumping more ethanol?

Powerful lobbyists from the corn ethanol industry are working behind the scenes at the Environmental Protection Agency to influence the EPA’s decision to increase the ethanol content of gasoline from 10 percent ethanol (E10) to 15 percent ethanol (E15) – even though critical safety tests and environmental impact studies required by Congress have not been completed.

The EPA should not approve this decision without adequate studies on the environmental impacts of ethanol, including the emissions accounting process of increased fuel blends as mandated by the Clean Air Act, or substantial proof this would not negatively affect human health.

Take action now, and encourage the Obama administration to keep the EPA from hastily approving this decision.

Regards,
proclus
http://www.gnu-darwin.org/