As a member and employee of the League of Conservation Voters, I'd like to
highly encourage you all to take a look at our web site at www.lcv.org. Beyond
that, I'd like to encourage you to join the League of Conservation Voters as a
member for $35, which you can do on the web site. You can sign up for a weekly
email about what is going on regarding national politics as it relates to the
environment without becoming a member as well. The newsletter suggests how to
make your voice heard. It is also important to note that we are a non-partisan
group, so we will bash and praise both Democrats and Republicans, depending on
their actions towards the environment.
LCV is the political voice of the environmental community. We are a watchdog
group holding Congress and the Executive Branch accountable for their votes and
actions. Check out the Scorecard. It has a rating for every member of
congress. 100% score is the best. Look at your member of congress for their
scores.
I'd also like to point out that we are rolling-out our famous Dirty Dozen. We
select the 12 most unfriendly candidates/incumbents for the Senate and House of
Representatives and spend money to campaign either against them or for their
opponent to get them kicked out of congress. In the 2000 election, 7 of the 12
Dirty Dozen lost their races. We also have our Environmental Champions as
well.
I work for the President and the Board of Directors of this organization.
Theodore Roosevelt IV, Great-grandson of President Roosevelt is the Chairman of
our Board and he continues the family's emphasis on protecting the environment.
If you have any questions, you are welcome to give me a call or send and email
to savetheocean@xxxxxxxxx or denise_ryan@xxxxxxx. Val, thanks for the opening.
VBKitchens@xxxxxxx wrote: Jerry,
You make a lot of interesting points, but one that has always frustrated
me is that we don't have a large group of conservationist/birders, or even
preservationists, who can speak with one voice when the need arises. In
Monday's Washington Post is an obituary and tribute to Annie Snyder, the
woman who led the fight which stopped Marriott, Disney, and "Til" Hazel from
desecrating the land around Manassas Battlefield. We need more like her!
Perhaps a greater emphasis on environmental education, as well as history and
civics, in our schools would help, but I'm not optimistic that will happen
any time soon.
I realize that you are involved with Audubon, and I have great respect
for Richmond Audubon and what it has done, but frankly, I think the American
Birding Association (to which I trust you belong as well, since you were
commenting on an article from Birding) is the organization doing the most for
bird conservation now. I still remember Kenn (yes, he spells it "Kenn,")
Kaufman getting up at an ABA Convention not too long ago and waving an issue
of Audubon Magazine and saying something like "Look, can you believe they
actually have a bird on the cover again?"! Among the things that ABA is
doing are: promoting the economic benefits of birding tourism and birding
festivals (which encourage Chambers of Commerce and others to save habitat,
because if they don't, they won't have any birds to attract birders to come
and bring money), and donating part of all registration fees for its annual
conventions to support local projects to conserve and protect birds and bird
habitat. They are doing many other things as well. In fact, I think ABA has
probably done more to promote birding than anyone except Roger Tory Peterson
(altho I realize that, unfortunately, in spite of ABA's Code of Ethics, this
sometimes leads to excesses by some birders).
My other 2 favorite environmental groups which contribute to bird
conservation are The Nature Conservancy and RARE.
Perhaps it's because I'm a political animal as well as a birder, but
another thing that bothers me is that few birders seem to pay attention to
the environmental records of candidates for whom they vote. How can any
serious birder vote for any candidate who wants to drill in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge? Kenn Kaufman had a wonderful article in a recent
issue of Bird Watcher's Digest about what is really in the so-called barren
wasteland there, which I wish could have national circulation for every
birder, everyone interested in the environment, and every member of Congress
to read!
Finally, I hope you are aware of and supporting the state park bond
referendum which will be on the ballot in November. If the referendum is
approved by the voters, it will allow the state to issue bonds to acquire
additional parkland, while there is still some land left to preserve. This
will also help to preserve bird habitat in the state which is threatened by
development. Birders could do a lot to help win support for this bond issue.
Val
Val Kitchens
Arlington, VA
Denise Ryan, League of Conservation Voters
(202) 785-8683
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