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Dear Senator Jeffords,
We congratulate you on your recent
decision to take an independent course. We
understand that a significant reason for your
decision was your concern about recent
efforts to to weaken environmental standards
and increase energy supply through drilling
for oil in nature reserves, as well as
expanding coal and nuclear capacities. We,
Friends of the Earth International,
representing more than 1 million people all
over the world, share your disquiet at these
plans.
The US, with 4% of the world´s population
produces 25% of the world´s climate-changing
gases. President Bush´s energy plan would
certainly increase these emissions further
and thus speed up catastrophic climate
change. The rest of the world therefore
cannot but take an interest in the US´s
energy and climate policies. We need the US
to support international efforts to protect
our climate, polls show that US citizens
support action and the future of the planet
demands it.
As you will be aware, international
climate talks resume in Bonn, Germany in
July. Bonn will be the last chance to agree
on rules for the Kyoto Protocol, the only
international agreement aimed at reducing
climate-damaging emissions. As the future
head of the Senate Environment Committee, we
urge you to call on the Bush administration
to reverse its position on the Kyoto Protocol
(as announced on March 13th). The US must
come to the UN climate negotiations willing
to negotiate in good faith. Obstructive
counter-proposals may spoil international
efforts against the most urgent environmental
issue of our times.
We call on you to ensure that the Senate´s
Environment Committee clearly states its
support for the Kyoto Protocol. The Senate
Environment Committee should call on
President Bush to return to the negotiations
and ensure that an effective Kyoto Protocol
is agreed upon in Bonn.
If you are intending to participate in the
negotiations yourself, Friends of the Earth
also invites you to the construction by
thousands of concerned citizens from all over
the world of a huge symbolic lifeboat for the
climate treaty on July 21st outside the UN
conference centre (see
http://www.foeeurope.org/lifeboat). Climate
change is the most urgent environmental issue
of our time. We hope that you will take a
principled stance on this important
international issue, just as you have done in
national policy.
We wish you all the best in your new role
and hope that you will help us preserve our
climate and planet for the well being of
future generations.
Yours sincerely
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