Now it starts. On Friday 11/19, Congress plans to pass a massive appropriations bill that will significantly deprive schools of promised funding. They put off passing this bill until after the election so that they didn't outrage voters - and lose votes - by creating funding cuts in programs that Americans consider priority. But under-funding education is exactly what they're planning to do.

Already there is talk about cutting back on pre-election commitments to education - and even these commitments shortchanged the President's own No Child Left Behind program by $9 billion and cut the federal share of special education funding by over $10 billion.

To stop this folly will require an unprecedented public mobilization over the months ahead. But we must take a stand right now!

http://action.ourfuture.org/ctt.asp?u=1742757&l=68065

Please contact your members of Congress immediately and put them on notice. Let them know that under-funding our children's schools -- while we spend $75 billion more in Iraq and cut taxes for multi-millionaires - makes no sense whatsoever. Tell them that you plan to fight them every step of the way until they get their priorities straight.

http://action.ourfuture.org/ctt.asp?u=1742757&l=68065

Friday's expected roll-backs on education commitments are only the beginning of the horror show. The White House is circulating budget documents calling for long term cuts in education funding. The president who campaigned on a pledge to "invest in education," is now planning deep cuts over the next five years. [1]

In the coming months, we'll join together and challenge lawmakers face to face in their own offices. By writing now though we take a stand against false promises and remind our leaders that we will continue to hold them accountable if they undercut our schools.

The education of our children is only 3% of the federal budget, but it's 100% of our future. We can't let our children's education be victimized by the right-wing's wrong-headed priorities. Please take action right now to stop the education budget back-tracking!

http://action.ourfuture.org/ctt.asp?u=1742757&l=68065

Thank you for your continued vigilance.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Borosage, Co-Director
Campaign for America's Future

[1] "OMB Account-level Data on Government Spending, 2005-2009," OMB Watch 2004.

http://action.ourfuture.org/ctt.asp?u=1742757&l=68066

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has just completed the largest consultation process ever undertaken relating to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Futureye was appointed through a tender process, to review and evaluate GBRMPA's community engagement efforts and provide advice on a way forward.

Futureye is conducting this review at a number of levels - interviews, forums and web-surveys. We are engaging with internal and external stakeholders across a wide range of interest groups to gain a thorough perspective of the process to date. We would be extremely interested in your views on GBRMPA's efforts and ask that you complete the following survey.

The survey has been divided into three sections, Demographics, Culture and Capacity and Community Expectations. It should take approximately 25 minutes to complete. We ask that you answer each question.
Your feedback will be treated confidentially and any comments that you make won't be used without your permission. Futureye will not pass onto a third party any of the information that you have given.

Please take some time to complete this survey as soon as possible. It can be accessed from the Futureye website from the link below.

http://www.futureye.biz/survey/extsurvey.htm

The survey will be available until 4:00pm, Friday 26 November.

If you have any questions, please contact Caroline Baxter from Futureye on (03) 9642 2088 or e-mail caroline@futureye.biz.

Thank-you for participating in the survey.


Informant: Cathy McKeller

http://www.stopfcc.com/


Informant: Terry L Parker

Umweltorganisationen protestieren gegen Weltbank-Pläne

In der Demokratischen Republik Congo nimmt der Druck auf die Regenwälder dramatisch zu. Mit Unterstützung der Weltbank sollen neue Konzessionen an Holzkonzerne vergeben werden. Bedroht sind bis zu 60 Millionen Hektar Regenwald - eine Fläche so groß wie Frankreich.

Mitte November 2004 haben internationale Umweltorganisationen ein sofortiges Moratorium für den kongolesischen Holzsektor gefordert.

Über unsere Homepage
http://www.regenwald.org

können Sie mit einer Protestmail an den Weltbank-Präsidenten die Forderung nach einem Moratorium unterstützen.

Bitte leiten Sie diese Nachricht an möglichst viele Freunde und Bekannte weiter!

Vielen Dank für Ihre Hilfe.

Reinhard Behrend
Rettet den Regenwald e. V.
http://www.regenwald.org

As many of you likely know, yesterday, NJ Courts cleared the way to the 2nd NJ Bear Hunt. Please take a minute to vote on this newspaper on-line poll, to ask the new NJ Gov. to stop the bear hunt:

http://www.dailyrecord.com/

If you would like to learn more about the court decision and the battle to stop the hunt take a look at:

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-7/110067449369690.xml

WAR will be issuing a press release and a recruiting call for Bear Defenders within the next 24 hours. If you want to help please stay tuned and watch for our e-mail: "Operation: Take Back The Woods"

Or you can contact WAR at: centcom@war-online.org or visit the Win Animal Rights website: http://war-online.org (Take Back the Woods information will be posted to website by Nov. 18th)

For any of you that still believe you can make a difference using the political system below is information being distributed by NJARA:

As many of you likely know, yesterday, NJ Courts cleared the way to the 2nd NJ Bear Hunt. Please take a minute to vote on this newspaper on-line poll, to ask the new NJ Gov. to stop the bear hunt:

http://www.dailyrecord.com/

If you would like to learn more about the court decision and the battle to stop the hunt take a look at:

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-7/110067449369690.xml

WAR will be issuing a press release and a recruiting call for Bear Defenders within the next 24 hours. If you want to help please stay tuned and watch for our e-mail: "Operation: Take Back The Woods"

Reprinted below is the text from an action alert forward from NJARA and SaveNJBears. For those of you that still believe in the political process, consider writing, calling and faxing the addresses listed
below.

STOP THE 2004 BEAR HUNT

Please contact the following Senators and ask them to stop the 2004 bear hunt, and request that they ask Governor Codey to do the same.

In a court decision issued today, Commissioner Campbell has been told by the court that he must start issuing bear permits. This means we have a mere two and a half weeks before the bear hunt begins. We must move quickly and with all the strength we have if we are to stop another brutal and vile bear slaughter.

Over the course of this week, you will receive three alerts asking you to contact key legislators who can act to stop the hunt. Starting Wednesday, contact the following Senators and ask them to please stop the bear hunt for this year. Please use ALL THREE forms of communication: phone, fax, and email.

There are only 5 legislative sessions left before the hunt begins. ACT NOW!!

Senator Bernard F. Kenny Jr.
235 Hudson Street, Suite 1
Hoboken, NJ 07030
Phone (201) 653-1466
Fax (201) 714-9825
Email: senkenny@njleg.org

Senator Shirley K. Turner
1440 Pennington Rd.
Ewing, NJ 08618
Phone (609) 530-3277
Fax (609) 530-3292
Email: senturner@njleg.org

Senator Byron M. Baer
125 State St.
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone (201) 343-3333
Fax (201) 343-1594
Email: senbaer@njleg.org

Senator Joseph F. Vitale
87 Main Street
Woodbridge, NJ 07095
Phone (732) 855-7441
Fax (732) 855-7558
Email: senbaer@njleg.org

Please also contact our NJ Federal Senators -

U.S. Senator Jon S. Corzine
Phone (202) 224-4744
FAX: (202) 228-2197
Website: http://corzine.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Use website for email

U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg
Phone: (202) 224-3224
Fax: (202) 228-4054
Website: http://lautenberg.senate.gov/webform.html
Use website for email


Informant: Ima Vegan

As many of you may know, one of our last great wild places, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, is under a fresh attack from the oil industry and their allies in Congress and the Administration. This looming threat is more serious, and more dangerous, than ever before. That's why The Wilderness Society has launched an all-out campaign to protect the Arctic wilderness. We are encouraging everyone to take action now at: http://www.wilderness.org/arctic

Anti-wilderness forces in Congress hope to use a backdoor budget process to sneak this giveaway onto the same federal budget the government needs to function. They know that they don't have the votes necessary to enact this ill-conceived plan through the normal legislative process that requires 60 votes to pass such highly controversial measures in the U.S. Senate. The decision to circumvent the normal rules is being made NOW.

Just last week, Rep. Richard Pombo (R-California), a vocal drilling advocate and chairman of the House Resources Committee, claimed that now is "The best chance we've had" to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (CNN.com, 11/10/2004)

We need to send Congress and the Administration a strong early message that we're NOT going to stand by and watch as America's wild places are sold off to the highest bidder. Send a letter to your U.S. Senator at http://www.wilderness.org/arctic today!

Thanks for your help,

Cory Davies


Informant: ItalysBadBoy

http://www.stoptheftaa.org/default.html

Timing is important: you do want to write letters to the L.A. Times
opposing the FTAA. They are at letters@latimes.com -- PaulB


Informant: savefreedom2003

http://www.epa.gov/cheers/

EPA WILL USE POOR KIDS AS GUINEA PIGS IN NEW STUDY ON PESTICIDES

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bytes/111204.cfm

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), led by Bush appointees, plans to launch a new study in which participating low income families will have their children exposed to toxic pesticides over the course of two years. For taking part in these studies, each family will receive $970, a free video camera, a T-shirt, and a framed certificate of appreciation. In October, the EPA received $2 million to do the study from the American Chemistry Council, a chemical industry front group that includes members such as Dow, Exxon, and Monsanto. The EPA's Linda Sheldon says the study is vital, because so little is known about how small children's bodies absorb harmful chemicals. As of press time, none of the EPA's employees are offering to have their own children take part in this research project. The Organic Consumers Association is calling on the nation's citizens to demand the EPA forgo this project before its scheduled launch in early 2005. Sign petition by clicking here and forward this email to family and friends...

http://www.organicconsumers.org/epa-alert.htm

And:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/epa-alert.htm

EPA WILL USE POOR KIDS AS GUINEA PIGS IN NEW STUDY ON PESTICIDES

Study Launch Date Suspended Until Early 2005
Offers Public Comment Period

Sign Petition to Stop Pesticide Study on Kids!

11/12/2004: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), led by Bush appointees, plans to launch a new study in which participating low income families will have their children exposed to toxic pesticides over the course of two years. The study entitled CHEERS (Children's

Environmental Exposure Research Study) will look at how chemicals can be ingested, inhaled or absorbed by children ranging from babies to 3 years old.

For taking part in these studies, each family will receive $970, a free video camera, a T-shirt, and a framed certificate of appreciation.

In October, the EPA received $2 million to do the study from the American Chemistry Council, a chemical industry front group that includes members such as Dow, Exxon, and Monsanto (see full list of members on sidebar of this page). Critics of the research claim the study's funders guarantee the results will be biased in favor of the chemical industry, at the expense of the health of the impoverished children serving as test subjects.

Participants for the study were chosen from 6 health clinics and three hospitals in Jacksonville, FL. These medical facilities report that 51% of their births are to non-white mothers and 62% of mothers have only received an elementary or secondary education.

The EPA's Linda Sheldon says the study is vital, because so little is known about how small children's bodies absorb harmful chemicals.

Important Note on Participants of Study: The study layout does not require that participants increase their chemical use, but does mandate that chosen applicants will need to demonstrate that they do regularly use toxic chemicals in and around the home. The concern here is that low income applicants may increase their toxic chemical use for the sake of applying and being eligible for the funding.

Important Note on Suspension of the Study: On November 11th, the EPA announced suspension of the study's launch until early 2005 for the sake of "final review." The Organic Consumers Association is taking this opportunity to call on the nation's citizens to demand the EPA permanently terminate this abuse of low income children by the chemical industry.

Forward this alert to friends and colleagues!

Sign Petition to Stop Pesticide Study on Kids!

http://tinyurl.com/467h4

Rally Against Japanese Dolphin and Whale Slaughter
16-11-2004 18:00
http://newswire.indymedia.org/de/newswire/2004/11/814461.shtml