Kucinich Still Wants To Influence Dems' Platform


Saturday, March 13, 2004, 6:30 p.m.

By Bob Roberts
WBBM Newsradio 780

(Chicago) -- Although John Kerry appears to have sewn up the Democratic presidential nomination, don't tell that to Dennis Kucinich, who is campaigning across Illinois until Tuesday's primary.

Kucinich tells voters he's not worried so much about attracting delegates as he is influencing the Democratic platform.

"While the nomination may be a foregone conclusion, what we stand for as a Democratic Party is not a foregone conclusion," Kucinich said.

In a highly-charged speech Saturday to the Rainbow-PUSH weekly forum, the Ohio congressman said he has "dragons to slay" and issues to present.

"I could have helped George Bush find those weapons of mass destruction," Kucinich said. "He could have just come to the neighborhoods of any city in America. We could have helped him find the weapons of mass destruction because poverty is a weapon of mass destruction."

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 10:54 PM

 
The World Still Says No To War!

DENNIS IS BACK IN ACTION!

Dennis appreciates all the letters, e-cards, thoughts and prayers he received this week while he was ill. Your outpouring of love and support has been incredible. Financial contributions have been coming in steady as well. Thank you for all you do to keep this campaign going both spiritually and fiscally!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

After a brief pause in his campaign schedule, Dennis will resume his normal pace beginning tomorrow in Illinois. He'll be in Illinois through Tuesday before heading home to Ohio to take care of some Congressional business. On Thursday and Friday the Congressman will take his campaign to Alaska, before heading to New York for the rally observing the one-year anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq. [schedule]

DENNIS TALKS ABOUT EDUCATION

Earlier this month in Gainesville, Florida, Kucinich was asked: "Do you have a plan to increase the quality and quantity of incoming teachers into public schools, and has legislation like the No Child Left Behind Act been effective in improving schools' conditions?" Watch Kucinich discuss these issues and more in our new "Dennis Talks About" feature located in the top right corner of the home page. [Dennis Talks About Public Education]

KUCITIZENS GEARING UP FOR MARCH 20TH GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION



On Saturday, March 20, people all around the globe will take to the streets to say YES to peace and NO to pre-emptive war and occupation. A number of leading peace groups and coalitions have recognized this day as a Global Day of Action to protest against the invasion, occupation and corporate control of Iraq. The Kucinich for President Campaign has endorsed the national action on March 20th. Dennis has been invited to speak at one of the largest of these rallies, in New York City. The cause of peace has been central to our campaign from the beginning. We urge all supporters to rise up, be seen and be heard at this large event and at other events being held around the world on March 20th. [more]

NEW HIP HOP PAGE



Check out the new Hip Hop page here. In a letter to the Hip Hop community, Dennis wrote: "I do not claim to know the names of the top ten greatest MCs of all time or who has the hottest Hip Hop album on Billboard at this moment. I do know what it is like to live on the wrong side of American society." [ Read more]

AP ARTICLE: DENNIS A FACTOR IN THE RACE

Read this AP article which discusses how if Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry wins the Democratic Party's nomination, as expected, he still may need Kucinich's help to win Ohio and win over liberal Democrats in November. [ Read Article]

FRIEND OR FOE?

Dennis received praise from an unlikely source in Conservative pundit Pat Buchanan. In his criticism of the Bush Administration's track record on jobs, the former Reform Party presidential candidate noted how almost all the Democrats ended their campaigns sounding like Dennis Kucinich on trade.

[Read "The Jobs Crisis and the GOP" by Pat Buchanan.]

LAST CHANCE TO SEE DALAI LAMA AND FARM AID SHOWS

Don't miss these two programs which air this weekend. Farm Aid will air Saturday on CMT at 1 pm Eastern and Pacific. Also to air Saturday, see Dennis and other spiritual and political leaders in "Ethics and World Crisis: A Dialogue with the Dalai Lama" at 2 pm and 8 pm ET. Be sure to check local listings.

Contact us:
Kucinich for President
11808 Lorain Avenue - Cleveland, OH 44111
216-889-2004 / 866-413-3664 (toll-free)
http://www.kucinich.us
- posted by Daniel @ 5:34 AM

 
In Response to Major Fax Campaign by TrueMajority.org,
Three More States Protect Voters from Pitfalls of Computer Voting

Americans in seven states - up from three states less than a month ago - can now be assured that their votes will not be lost by unreliable computer voting machines.

That's because the secretaries of state of Vermont, Missouri, and West Virginia - in response to TrueMajority.org's "Computer Ate My Vote" campaign - recently pledged to require all computer voting machines in their states to produce a voter-verified paper ballot trail. Those states join California, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Oregon, which already require a paper trail.

The Computer Ate My Vote campaign is urging secretaries of state nationwide to safeguard democracy as a growing number of their colleagues are doing.


In the past three weeks, our campaign has

* staged a national press event in Washington, D.C., that generated coverage on National Public Radio, on CNN, in Wired magazine, and by local outlets across the country;
* helped 35,577 TrueMajority members send faxes to their secretaries of state;
* held news conferences addressing secretaries of state in Colorado and Florida, with Pennsylvania scheduled this week and others soon thereafter;
* promoted a Super Tuesday protest at polling places in Maryland, and
* testified against paperless voting at a hearing held by Pennsylvania legislators.


Letters to the editor, op-eds, and paid advertising will follow in succession to generate sustained pressure.

Check out the Computer Ate My Vote campaign materials at http://www.truemajority.org/ComputerAteMyVote/index.cfm.

For more detailed information about computer voting, visit www.verifiedvoting.org or www.calvoter.org/votingtechnology.html#resources.

We'll keep you posted.

Yours in Stopping Computers from Eating Our Votes,


Ben Cohen
President, TrueMajority.org

PS: If you'd like to contact us, go here: http://www.truemajority.org/contact.cfm/
- posted by Daniel @ 6:29 PM

 
Mufflespeak:

When did it become so onerous,
To speak of the issues that affect all our lives,
When did it become impossible to discourse,
Without fighting to stop a dissenting mouth,
How much ear wax is there,
In the social hive,
Sing me the song of America,
Home of the FREE and brave,
Feed me no Mufflespeak,
When fascists wish to leaven and rise,
Place no hand over my mouth,
Don't cover your eyes with sand,
Look at the blue sky of love,
When we return to hearing each other,
Without raising hands in anger,
Mufflespeak will be off the menu.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
(C) 03/12/2004

Author's Comments:
People have treated political discussion like it's dirty - and yet they fall under the political thumb. Burying the discussion buries the power of the people to change this. Opening discussion allows no shadows to hide. We need everyone to speak and hear each other more than ever. This cultural imperative to shy away from the subject or fly into anger when such opinions are expressed needs to be changed. Doing so is the only thing that will keep power in the hands of the populace in reality. Open ears and open minds, unclenched fists open palms for handshakes.
- posted by Daniel @ 6:24 PM

 
Alachua County Democrats favor Kerry
Area gives Kucinich more votes than rest of state

By JARED LEONE
Alligator Staff Writers

Although Sen. John Kerry may have easily cinched the Florida Democratic presidential primary Tuesday, Rep. Dennis Kucinich had a strong showing at many student-heavy voting precincts in Alachua County.

Still, it was not enough to bring him closer to the party’s nomination for president.

Kucinich, who made a campaign stop at the Steven C. O’Connell Center Thursday, bagged nearly 10 percent of the vote in the county while only receiving 2 percent through the state.

The liberal tenets Kucinich spoke about at UF and throughout his campaign were aimed at influencing voters, such as Gainesville resident Tim Martin.
“Once [Howard Dean] dropped out, Kucinich was probably the most liberal,” Martin said.

Kucinich’s liberal lean influenced other voters, as well.
“It influenced me to vote for Kucinich because I believe he is the spiritual spokesman for politics,” said Virginia Seacrist, who donned a “Bush/ Orwell 2004” pin. “I wanted to vote my heart because this man (Kucinich) has the message this country needs to hear.”

(Full Story)

- posted by Daniel @ 5:24 PM

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3/12/2004
CONTACT: Tania Banak, (608) 263-6914, banakt@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu

FREE SEMINAR TO ADDRESS PRODUCTION ANIMAL WELL-BEING

MADISON - Understanding animal behavior can help farmers provide livestock with an environment that encourages top production levels.

Producers, veterinarians, and the interested public are invited to learn more about this issue during the third annual "Farm Animal Wellness Seminar," a free event at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine on Saturday, April 3.

The seminar, sponsored by students in the School of Veterinary Medicine's Production Animal Medicine and Ethics Clubs, features experts in measuring and improving animal welfare.

Presenters include:

* Daniel Weary, a well-known expert in animal welfare from the University of British Columbia, will discuss his pioneering efforts to evaluate animal vocalizations and other behaviors as indicators of wellbeing;

* Ken Nordlund, a production medicine veterinarian at UW-Madison who is heavily involved in educating dairy farmers about environmental changes that can be made on the farm to improve production levels, will be talking about basic cow behavior, pen moves and stocking density.

* Neil Anderson, senior veterinary scientist and cattle health consultant for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, will address bovine behavior. He has developed a unique video-tracking system to better understand cow's needs.

* Karen Davis, of United Poultry Concerns, will discuss how knowing more about natural poultry behavior can lead to better care.

The program will be held at the School of Veterinary Medicine from 9:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m. The school is located at 2015 Linden Drive on the west end of the UW-Madison campus, just east of Walnut Street and south of Observatory Drive. Free parking is available in Lot 62, just north of the veterinary medicine building.

For details, contact the organizers at faws2004@yahoo.com. Pre-registration is required, even though the seminar is free, because a head count is needed for a free lunch. E-mail registration is preferred, but those without computer access can call the veterinary school's public relations office at (608) 263-6914 to register. Please be sure to provide your name, a way to contact you, and whether you are a veterinarian or a producer.

Continuing education credits will be offered for veterinarians.
###





****************************************************
For questions or comments about UW-Madison's email
news release system, please send an email to:
releases@news.wisc.edu

For more UW-Madison news, please visit:
http://www.news.wisc.edu/

University Communications
University of Wisconsin-Madison
27 Bascom Hall
500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Phone: (608) 262-3571
Fax: (608) 262-2331
- posted by Daniel @ 5:09 PM

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3/12/2004
CONTACT: Robert Dott Jr. (608) 262-1856, rdott@geology.wisc.edu; John Attig (608) 262-6131, jwattig@facstaff.wisc.edu

NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A high-resolution graphic of the book's cover is available at http://www.news.wisc.edu/newsphotos/dott.html

NEW BOOK OFFERS ROAD GUIDE TO WISCONSIN GEOLOGY

MADISON - When the glaciers moved across Wisconsin as late as 15,000 years ago, they carved out one of the most notable features of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus - Bascom Hill.

This geological landmark and many others throughout the state are described in a new book written with the traveling public in mind. Called "Roadside Geology of Wisconsin," this understandable guide includes everything from a primer on geology to driving routes that include geological points of interest, some of which are in state parks.

"There are a lot of people in Wisconsin with outdoor interests and who are environmentally conscious," says Robert Dott Jr., a UW-Madison emeritus professor of geology and one of the book's authors. "Geology forms the roots of it all."

Despite this popular interest in the history of the Earth, very few books about geology have been written for a general audience, says co-author John Attig, a professor in the UW-Extension Department of Environmental Sciences and a staff member at the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey.

"Hundreds of scientific papers have been written, but this information is inaccessible to those of the general public who may take an interest in knowing more about how land forms developed," he says.

The authors, who both frequently give public talks about geology and lead fieldtrips for groups such as the Nature Conservancy, Audubon and Friends of the University Arboretum, teamed up to create a resource for the people who are curious about what they see as they cruise the roads of Wisconsin. The authors spent five intensive years traveling throughout the state, searching for geological formations and noting the mile markers so others could find them, too.

"We took our wives on week-long camping trips looping across the state," says Dott. "Even though John and I have worked and lived in this state for more than 20 years, we visited places we had never explored or had even heard of before."

After putting together these geological travel narratives, they had written a book neatly divided into the different regions of Wisconsin based primarily on differing landscapes. Each part mentions important events that changed the look of the state throughout time. For example, there's evidence of active volcanoes in the northern part of the state more than one billion years ago, ancient oceanic coral reefs in the eastern part 400 million years ago and a great flood of glacial meltwater that gouged out the Wisconsin Dells only 14,000 years ago.

But as the authors note in the book, Wisconsin geology has influenced more than the topography of the land - it has shaped the lives of the people who ultimately developed it. Geological differences over time, they write, have played a role in what areas were settled, farmed and mined; how groundwater has reached those who need it and where the roads we travel were constructed.

The 360-page book, complete with a glossary of terms and many maps, takes the reader across the state to observe some of the finest examples of geology, says Dott. "It is a resource people can take with them on a trip as they drive throughout Wisconsin."

Released this March, "Roadside Geology of Wisconsin" is available for $20 at most bookstores and can also be purchased from the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, located at 3817 Mineral Point Rd. or reachable by phone at (608) 263-7389. The book is part of the "Roadside" series published by the Mountain Press Publishing Company in Montana.

The authors' share of proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the UW-Madison geology and geophysics department to help support the department's library, the Geology Museum, research and fieldtrips in Wisconsin.
###
-- Emily Carlson (608) 262-9772, emilycarlson@wisc.edu





****************************************************
For questions or comments about UW-Madison's email
news release system, please send an email to:
releases@news.wisc.edu

For more UW-Madison news, please visit:
http://www.news.wisc.edu/

University Communications
University of Wisconsin-Madison
27 Bascom Hall
500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Phone: (608) 262-3571
Fax: (608) 262-2331
- posted by Daniel @ 5:07 PM

 
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Great Lakes News: 12 March 2004
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium.

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

EDITORIAL: Don't ease up on sewage treatment
----------------------------------------
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking an unwise gamble with
public health by proposing to give its blessing to a controversial sewage
treatment method. Source: The Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette (3/12)


Judge orders ferry line, Marblehead officials to seek agreement
----------------------------------------
A judge has ordered the Kelleys Island ferry line and Marblehead village
officials to meet early next week and try to reach a compromise that will
restore ferry service to the island of nearly 400 year-round residents.
Source: The Plain Dealer (3/12)


A wasteland that could be a wonderland
----------------------------------------
Though frustration about the slow pace of progress is mounting both inside
and outside Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corp., the corporation's
proposed $17-billion overhaul of Toronto's dilapidated industrial shoreline
moved a step closer to reality this week. Source: The Globe and Mail (3/12)


Report criticizes environmental record in Pennsylvania
----------------------------------------
The Pennsylvania Consortium for Interdisciplinary Environmental Policy, a
group composed of academics and environmental policy makers, will release a
report today that is critical of the state's environmental and social
efforts. Source: Erie Times-News (3/12)


Development plans proposed for Detroit riverfront
----------------------------------------
A 1.5-mile stretch of the Detroit River, running from Joe Louis Arena to the
Ambassador Bridge, would include a riverside park, two marinas, condominiums
and retail stores, according to a proposed development plan for the area.
Source: Detroit Free Press (3/12)


New CWD findings worry hunters
----------------------------------------
A new test that found preliminary indicators of chronic wasting disease in
wild deer in more than a dozen additional Wisconsin counties could lead to a
new wave of fear about the disease among hunters. Source: Green Bay
Press-Gazette (3/12)


Michigan pollution inspections could halt
----------------------------------------
Republican legislators want to write the rules that Michigan uses to enforce
water-pollution laws, saying the state agency that has been doing it is
trampling on property owner rights. Source: Detroit Free Press (3/12)


EDITORIAL: Not-so-Superfund
----------------------------------------
The Superfund, once a self-replenishing pot of $4 billion, went bankrupt
last fall, leaving taxpayers with the bill for cleaning up America's
abandoned, poisoned lands. Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press (3/12)


Canada, Ontario plan improvements to Windsor-Detroit crossing
----------------------------------------
The federal and Ontario governments announced a $230-million plan Thursday
to improve the flow of traffic over the Canada-United States border at
Windsor-Detroit. Source: Detroit Free Press (3/11)


Lake Michigan community divided over proposed electric plant
----------------------------------------
The plant, which would be the state's first new coal-fired power plant to
open since 1990, would occupy an abandoned industrial site on Manistee Lake,
an inland waterway linked to Lake Michigan by a river that flows through
downtown. Source: The Associated Press (3/11)

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Did you miss a day of Daily News? Remember to use our searchable story
archive at http://www.great-lakes.net/news/inthenews.html


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- posted by Daniel @ 4:51 PM

 
Aurora Rallies to Get Out the Vote, Presidential Peace Candidate Is Special Guest


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PHOTO Opportunity

March 10, 2004

Contact: Ruben Kanhai-Zamora, 630.859.1030, kanhaizamora@sbcglobal.net



Aurora, IL—The western suburbs are gearing up for the Illinois’ primary election on March 16.
To make the civic duty of voting fun, the community is invited to the Prisco Community Center,
150 W. Illinois Street, in Aurora, this Saturday, March 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. This rally is also
a chance to meet and mingle with local community representatives, some running for office and
some just reminding people to get out and vote. The rally’s special guest speaker is Ohio
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D), the peace candidate.



Local speakers include Illinois State Rep. Linda Chapa La Via, Kane County Democrats Chair
Mark Guetle, the Rev. John Nabors of Greater Love Baptist Church, and the Rev. Geri Solomon,
Illinois state coordinator for the Kucinich campaign. Special guests who join Kucinich include
U.S. Senatorial candidate Dan Hynes and Dr. Tad Daley, Kucinich’s own national issues director
and senior policy advisor, in his native Illinois this week to campaign for Kucinich.



The Get out the Vote Rally will also offer local entertainment and snacks. Come meet and greet
the candidates, including pro-union Kucinich, the candidate insightful enough to vote against the
Iraq War and the Patriot Act. He plans to provide jobs by first repealing NAFTA and WTO and proposes
a health plan that covers medical, dental, and prescription benefits for everyone. This progressive
candidate also calls for pre-kindergarten through college education for all and promises to get
"The U.N. in, and the U.S. out" of Iraq in 90 days, as president.



For more information, contact Ruben Kanhai-Zamora at 630-859-1030, www.IL4Kucinich.org, or www.kucinich.us.
- posted by Daniel @ 8:50 AM

 
Kucinich will address issues in campus visit
By Garth Johnston
March 12, 2004 in News

Dennis Kucinich, the four-term Democratic Ohio congressman running for the Democratic presidential nomination, will address supporters at a rally in Rockefeller Chapel on Saturday, March 13 at 7 p.m., where he plans to discuss issues such as health care, unemployment, and recalling troops from Iraq.

Kucinich has run on an unabashedly progressive platform since entering the Democratic primary race, and he currently garners support from only 23 delegates for the Democratic National Convention next summer. Though Democratic primary leader John Kerry has all but clinched the nomination, Kucinich vows to campaign until the end to articulate his platform and draw America’s attention to his ideas.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 8:11 AM

 
ENN Environmental News Network
E-mail Edition 03/12/04

The Bush administration packs the courts with anti-environmental judges
For more than 30 years, environmental laws ranging from the Clean Air Act to the Endangered Species Act have provided a formidable weapon for activists and ordinary citizens trying to protect the environment. While the environment does not always prevail in court, litigation has become an essential protection tool.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-12/s_12995.asp

Genetically modified corn threatens Mexico's native species, says NAFTA study
If left unchecked, modified genes spread by imported U.S. biotech corn threaten to displace or contaminate native varieties in Mexico, the birthplace of corn, a NAFTA watchdog panel said Thursday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-12/s_13975.asp

U.K. is hub of thriving illegal ivory trade, said activists
Britain is at the center of a thriving trade in illegal ivory, a business that is likely to boom if, as expected, limited sales of stockpiled tusks are approved next week, environment activists said on Thursday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-12/s_13969.asp

Nevada gold mine plan raises prospect of polluting in perpetuity
On a high-desert mountain where prospectors first struck it rich in the 1860s, the world's largest gold mining company plans a major expansion that critics say could pollute the environment for tens of thousands of years.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-12/s_13976.asp

Feds ban U.S. commercial swordfish fishing in much of Pacific to save turtles
The federal government banned commercial fishing for swordfish in a large swath of the Pacific Ocean on Thursday in a move to protect endangered sea turtles who were being killed or injured by the hooks.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-12/s_13973.asp

Conservation works: United States' water use is holding steady
Water use in the United States has been stable since the mid-1980s despite population growth, a sign that conservation works, researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey said Thursday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-12/s_13974.asp

FDA says details on U.S. mad cow blood ban is weeks away
A U.S. government rule banning the use of animal blood in cattle feed could take as long as two months until publication, acting Food and Drug Administration commissioner Lester Crawford said on Thursday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-12/s_13971.asp

Mercenary intrigue spotlights West Africa's oil curse
Oil should have brought wealth and development to bitterly poor West Africa, but instead it has fueled wars, coup plots, and even mercenary intrigue.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-12/s_13970.asp

Canada passes bill to ban human cloning
Controversial Canadian legislation designed to ban human cloning while permitting research on stem cells from embryos received final parliamentary approval Thursday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-12/s_13972.asp



Environmental Marketplace Updates (Become a Member)

We'd like to encourage you to visit our Environmental Marketplace where you'll learn about some amazing environmentally-focused businesses. A few examples:

Alternative Energy Store, retailer for solar panels, windmills/wind turbines, inverters, solar water pumps, solar home heating systems and other solar and wind electric power systems for your home or business. If you'd like to learn about powering your home with solar and wind energy, their recent article offers a wealth of information. Read their story

Bullfrog Films, the oldest and largest publisher of videos and films about the environment in the United States. Bullfrog Films is pleased to present "Deconstructing Supper", a film that explores the phenomenon of industrial agriculture and genetically-modified organisms. Learn more

Chelsea Green Publishing, founded in 1984, has become known as the preeminent publisher of Books for Sustainable Living. One such book is "Seeds of Deception," which presents overwhelming evidence documenting serious potential health problems associated with the hi-tech foods that Americans eat every day. "Seeds of Deception"

Garden Kids, a leading manufacturer of fair wage organic cotton clothing for kids, celebrating ten years in business this spring! Their line of clothing can be viewed and purchased online. Learn more about Garden Kids

Grounds for Change, a specialty coffee business, roasting 100% organic, shade-grown, fair trade coffee beans fresh to order. All of their products are purchased under fair trade standards. Why is buying certified organic coffee so important?

Today's Press Releases (Become an Affiliate)
Direct from non-profit environmental and educational organizations.

Wildlife Conservation Society:
Grizzly Bears Expanding In Southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

National Audubon Society:
AUDUBON PUBLISHES "IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS OF CALIFORNIA"

Earth Policy Institute:
China's Shrinking Grain Harvest: Effect on World Food Prices

World Resources Institute:
Russia's Call on Global Warming

Redefining Progress:
US Economic Health overstated by $7 trillion

World Resources Institute:
WRI Warns of Worsening Warming as Climate Treaty Celebrates Tenth Year

Sea Turtle Restoration Project:
Online Calculator Helps Consumers Prevent Mercury Poisoning

International Fund for Animal Welfare:
IFAW Commends China's Ivory Seizure, Illegal Trade Continues

Rainforest Action Network:
RAN Issues Earth Day Deadline To US Mega-banks

International Fund for Animal Welfare:
Illegal sale of ivory out of control in the UK

Earthjustice:
California Law Under Attack in NAFTA Case

National Center for Policy Analysis:
Climate Change Research Program is a Good Step

Alliance to Save Energy:
Alliance to Save Energy Summit on Energy Efficiency - Building a Competitive Advantage - 11/5/03

Alliance to Save Energy:
Efficiency Tax Incentives, Appliance Standards Positive Steps, Says Alliance to Save Energy, But Fails To Fully Tap Efficiency

Alliance to Save Energy:
Alliance to Save Energy Lauds Toyota for Making Fuel-Efficient Hybrid Prius Trendy Award-Winner

Alliance to Save Energy:
U.S. Appeals Court Upholds Higher Air Conditioner Energy Efficiency - Standard Will Save Consumers $1.1 Billion a Year, Says Alliance to Save Energy

Alliance to Save Energy:
State of the Union Fails to Recognize Energy Efficiency as Path To Economic, National Security, Says Alliance to Save Energy

Alliance to Save Energy:
Consumers Can Ease Pain of High Gas Prices with Tips from Alliance to Save Energy
- posted by Daniel @ 8:10 AM

 
Posted on Fri, Mar. 12, 2004

PERSPECTIVE: Kucinich still could be factor in presidential race

MALIA RULON

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - A long shot in the presidential race, Rep. Dennis Kucinich may yet be a player in the Democratic Party's bid for the White House.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 7:54 AM

 
Dear Kucinich Supporters,

Do you remember the first time you heard Dennis speak? If you're like me, hearing Dennis speak out on issues important to you inspired you to get involved with the Kucinich campaign. How wonderful to finally have a candidate willing to take a stand for peace, justice and equality, with Kucinich's astonishing depth of knowledge and humanity!

There are still many people in remaining primary states who haven't had the opportunity to hear Dennis's message. The Illinois primary comes up on Tuesday, March 16th and I'm hoping that you'll help us get Dennis's message out in Illinois. By making phone calls to Illinois residents, you can share your enthusiasm for Dennis and help others learn why his message is so important. With your help we can encourage voters in Illinois to go hear Dennis speak in their communities where he can inspire them, just as he's inspired you and me.

We've set up a user-friendly phone-banking system that can be accessed at www.kucinich.us. Simply click on the red “Call Voters” link at the top of the page and follow the instructions. A call list and a script are provided.

Our goal is to complete a minimum of 20,000 phone calls by the March 16th Illinois primary, and we cannot reach this goal without your help. Remember that what we're doing is so important: we're working to help build a movement and provide progressive thinkers everywhere a voice for change.

Thanks for your help!

Sincerely,
Katherine Scott
Deputy National Field Director
Kucinich for President
http://www.kucinich.us
- posted by Daniel @ 7:51 AM

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3/11/2004
CONTACT: Gelsomina De Stasio, (608) 877-2000, pupa@src.wisc.edu; Jillian F. Banfield, jill@eps.Berkeley.edu

NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: High-resolution photos are available at http://www.news.wisc.edu/newsphotos/destasio.html

MICROBE'S TRICK PROVIDES A TEMPLATE FOR WILLOWY CRYSTALS

MADISON - In recent years, scientists have unearthed a trove of subterranean microbial oddities, bugs that live and thrive in bizarre and extreme environments, and that accomplish remarkable feats to survive there.

Now, the flooded depths of an abandoned iron mine in southwestern Wisconsin have yielded yet another novelty: microbes that produce nanometer-scale crystals of extraordinary length. The discovery of the willowy microscopic crystals may open a broad new window to human understanding of biomineralization, the same process that produces bone, teeth and shell, some of nature's toughest and most intriguing biological materials.

Writing in the March 12, 2004 issue of the journal Science, a team of scientists from the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Wisconsin-Madison describe not only the discovery of the willowy microbe-made crystalline structures, but also the process by which they are produced.

"The crystals are unusual primarily in their large aspect ratio. They are only a couple of nanometers wide and up to about ten microns long. Because they are over a thousand times longer than they are wide, they can be visualized as having the same proportions as human hair," says Jill Banfield, a UC Berkeley professor of earth and planetary science and the senior author of the Science paper.

Taking the discovery an important step further, the Wisconsin-California team used X-rays generated by the storage ring at the UW-Madison Synchrotron Radiation Center, and a novel microscope, to chart the chemical processes that govern the formation of the crystals, revealing a production template that could be at the heart of the biomineralization process.

"The key is finding a template," says Gelsomina De Stasio, a UW-Madison professor of physics who, with Clara S. Chan of UC Berkeley, was a lead author of the Science paper. "How were these crystals formed?"

In nature, the crystals are formed in strands of a polymer that grow from the cell membranes of the microbes, which are more than likely metabolizing iron from the mine environment.

"We are dealing with microbes that probably oxidize ferrous iron and reduce oxygen," says Banfield. "The product, ferric iron, then precipitates. The precipitation occurs on microbial polymers attached to the cell."

The results, says De Stasio, are crystal structures of bizarre form: "The microbes produce a bunch of noodles, filaments on the cell surface, and at the core of the filament is a crystal. These polymer filaments extruded by the cells template the formation of these incredible crystals."

The new discoveries were made with the help of recreational scuba divers who routinely retrieve biofilms growing in the flooded tunnels of the Piquette Mine in Tennyson, Wis., for scientific analysis. These newfound crystal-making organisms occur in pumpkin-colored biomineral accumulations and in the water column of the flooded mine, according to Banfield.

She notes that microorganisms are known to make crystals for a variety of purposes. For example, some bacteria make magnetite to aid navigation, and others use their powers of biosynthesis to sequester toxic metals such as uranium.

But the structure of the crystals made by the microbes in the Piquette Mine was unexpected, "given the conditions under which they formed," Banfield says. "We attribute this to the effect of the polymer. They are different from virtually all other crystals in their aspect ratio."

Using a novel X-ray microscope to analyze samples retrieved from the mine, De Stasio and her group were able to observe the chemical interplay between the microbial polymer and the crystal.

Their detailed portrait of how the polymer strand is chemically bound to the crystal suggests that a templating process governs the synthesis of the slender crystals. The use of templates is widespread in nature. However, how animals and microorganisms use the process at the molecular level is poorly understood because of the difficulty of simultaneously probing the soft, light polymer templates and their hard mineral products. The advent of X-ray spectromicroscopy, the method used by De Stasio's team, is opening a new window into this intriguing interplay of nature.

Insight into the interconnections between organic and inorganic materials at the molecular level, De Stasio suggests, could well come about with the new X-ray microscopy techniques. Ultimately, the new results may help humans learn how to mimic the processes that result in nature's material science masterpieces, substances like shell and bone, things that have never before been made from scratch by human hands.

"The hope is that this may inspire new routes for biomimetic synthesis," Banfield says.

De Stasio notes that mollusks, combining a polymer matrix and a mineral, produce shells that are 3,000 times harder than the mineral alone. Scientists have yet to make any composite material that is tougher than any of its individual components.

In addition to De Stasio, Banfield and Chan, co-authors of the Science paper include Susan A. Welch, Maria V. Nesterova and Bradley H. Frazer of UW-Madison; Marco Girasole of the Instituto di Struttura della Materia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy; and Sirine Fakra, of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Advanced Light Source.
###
- Terry Devitt (608) 262-8282, trdevitt@wisc.edu




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Phone: (608) 262-3571
Fax: (608) 262-2331
- posted by Daniel @ 7:39 AM

 
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Great Lakes News: 11 March 2004
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium.

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

States inconsistent in measuring water quality of Great Lakes
----------------------------------------
People fishing on Lake Erie for carp, catfish and whitefish get different
information about whether the catch is safe for women and children to eat
depending on whether they are in Ohio or Michigan, an environmental group
said in a new report. Source: Duluth News Tribune (3/11)


EDITORIAL: A growing danger to seas, lakes
----------------------------------------
Better methods are needed to prevent pollution at sea and in the Great
Lakes. Source: The Indianapolis Star (3/11)


Minnesota and Australian researchers unite against carp
----------------------------------------
Researchers from halfway around the world are uniting around a common goal:
to eradicate (or at least try to control) the bottom-feeding common carp.
Source: Star Tribune (3/11)


Study: Zebra mussels promote algae growth
----------------------------------------
A new study has found that the presence of zebra mussels in inland lakes
promotes the growth of a blue-green algae that produces a toxin harmful to
people and animals. Source: Detroit Free Press (3/11)


Ash-free zone damage decried
----------------------------------------
A group of disgruntled property owners yesterday showed off the collateral
damage done during the battle to stop or slow the spread of a voracious
insect pest threatening Ontario ash trees. Source: The London Free Press
(3/11)


Board seeks to take full advantage of lakeshore
----------------------------------------
The dunes and lakeshore of Lake Michigan are a powerful economic engine
revving nowhere near top rpm. Source: The Northwest Indiana Times (3/11)


Harbor group sees benefits in marina plan
----------------------------------------
The Wilmette Harbor Association reports limited space for boats in the area
make the prospect of a proposed marina in Evanston appealing. Source:
Wilmette Life (3/11)


Volunteer fattens young salmon
----------------------------------------
Roy Berres has helped fatten about 3.6 million salmon over the past 18
years, before the fish are released into Lake Michigan. Source: Herald
Times Reporter (3/11)


DNR crews rid Saugatuck dunes of invasive tree
----------------------------------------
The southern beachfront of Saugatuck Dunes State Park is getting a radical
new look. Source: Detroit Free Press (3/11)


Birds foul North Shore waters
----------------------------------------
New information hints that human E. coli is just a small percentage of the
bacteria load in our waters. Source: Duluth News Tribune (3/9)

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Did you miss a day of Daily News? Remember to use our searchable story
archive at http://www.great-lakes.net/news/inthenews.html


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- posted by Daniel @ 7:26 AM

 
All He Is Saying Is Give Peace A Chance

By Lisa Sorg 03/11/2004

Dennis Kucinich's message resonates with Muslims

It was shortly before 8 p.m. last Friday evening, and Dennis Kucinich looked a tad wan. His blue pinstriped suit was crisp, but his heavy eyelids were those of a man who has spent the better part of a year hopscotching across America on the campaign trail - or someone who was getting sick, which happened two days later. He seemed to need the respite, and he bowed and listened to Ali Moshirsadri recite from the Quo'ran, first in Arabic and then in English: " ... Let there be a community for you to do good. Do not be like those who split up and disagree ... "

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 6:28 PM

 
Eco-Economy Update 2004-5
For Immediate Release
March 10, 2004
Copyright Earth Policy Institute 2004


CHINA'S SHRINKING GRAIN HARVEST
How Its Growing Grain Imports Will Affect World Food Prices
http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/Update36.htm

Lester R. Brown

On February 8th, the Chinese government announced an emergency
appropriation, increasing its agricultural budget by 25 percent, or
roughly $3 billion. The additional funds primarily will be used to raise
support prices for wheat and rice, the principal food staples, and to
improve irrigation infrastructure. For the State Council to approve such
an increase outside of the normal budget-making process indicates the
government's mounting concern about food security.

After a remarkable expansion of grain output from 90 million tons in 1950
to 392 million tons in 1998, China's grain harvest has fallen in four of
the last five years--dropping to 322 million tons in 2003. For
perspective, this drop of 70 million tons exceeds the entire grain harvest
of Canada.

Production of each of the three grains that dominate China's
agriculture--wheat, rice, and corn--has dropped. But the output of wheat,
grown mostly in the water-short north, has fallen the most. With wheat
stocks falling and domestic prices climbing, Chinese wheat-buying
delegations recently have visited several grain-exporting countries.
Initial purchases of some 5 million tons in Australia, Canada, and the
United States have already sent world wheat prices climbing.

The recent price rises may be only the early tremors before the quake,
however. China's harvest shortfalls of recent years have been covered by
drawing down its once massive stocks of grain. But these will soon be
depleted, forcing the government to cover the shortfall with imports.

China's wheat harvest fell short of consumption last year by 19 million
tons. When the country's wheat stocks are depleted within the next year or
so, the entire shortfall will have to be covered from imports. In some
ways, the rice deficit is even more serious. Trying to cover a rice
shortfall of 20 million tons in a world where annual rice exports total
only 26 million tons could create chaos in the world rice economy. And
with a corn shortfall of 15 million tons and stocks already largely
depleted, China may soon have to import corn as well.

The handwriting on the wall is clear. While grain production is dropping,
demand is climbing, driven up by the addition of 11 million people per
year and by fast-rising incomes. As people in China earn more, they are
moving up the food chain, eating more grain-fed livestock products such as
pork, poultry, eggs, and, to a lesser degree, beef and milk.

The fall in China's grain harvest is due largely to a shrinkage of the
grain harvested area from 90 million hectares in 1998 to 76 million
hectares in 2003. Several trends are converging to reduce the grain area,
including the loss of irrigation water, desert expansion, the conversion
of cropland to nonfarm uses, the shift to higher-value crops, and a
decline in double-cropping due to the loss of farm labor in the more
prosperous coastal provinces.

Water tables are falling throughout the northern half of China. As
aquifers are depleted and irrigation wells go dry, farmers either revert
to low-yield dryland farming or, in the more arid regions, abandon farming
altogether. In the competition for scarce water, China's cities and
industry invariably get first claim, leaving farmers with a shrinking
share of a shrinking supply. Losing irrigation water may mean either
abandoning land or less double cropping.

China's farmers are also losing land to expanding deserts, such as the
Gobi, which is consuming an additional 4,000 square miles each year. (For
desertification photographs, see
www.earth-policy.org/Updates/update36_photos.htm.) Paying farmers in the
north and west to plant their grainland to trees to halt these advancing
deserts is further reducing the grain area.

Urban expansion, industrial construction, and highway construction are all
shrinking the land available for crops. The enthusiasm for establishing
development zones for commercial and residential building or industrial
parks in the hope of attracting investment and jobs is taking big chunks
of cropland. The Ministry of Land and Resources reports that some 6,000
development zones and industrial parks cover some 3.5 million hectares.

Cars, too, are taking a toll. Every 20 cars added to China's automobile
fleet require the paving of an estimated 0.4 hectares of land (1
acre--roughly the area of a football field) for parking lots, streets, and
highways. Thus the 2 million new cars sold in 2003 meant paving over an
area equal to 100,000 football fields.

In a country where farms average 1.6 acres (0.6 hectares), many grain
farmers are shifting to higher-value fruits and vegetables to boost
income. In each of the last 11 years, the area in fruits and vegetables
has increased, expanding by an average of 1.3 million hectares a year.

In the more prosperous coastal provinces, the migration of farm labor to
cities has made it more difficult to double-crop land. For example, the
once widespread practice of planting winter wheat and summer corn depends
on quickly harvesting the wheat when it ripens in June and immediately
preparing the seedbed to plant the corn. Many villages no longer have
enough able-bodied workers to make this quick transition--and the
double-cropped area is shrinking as a result.

Reversing the fall in grain production will not be easy even with China's
newly adopted economic incentives. Each trend that is shrinking the
grainland area has a great deal of momentum. Reversing any one of them
would take an enormous effort. Reversing all of them is inconceivable. If
the new economic incentives should coincide with unusually favorable
weather this year, a modest upturn in grain production might result, but
it will likely be only temporary.

China is the first major grain-producing country where environmental and
economic trends have combined to reverse the historical growth in grain
production. This decline in the grain harvest in a country that is home to
more than one fifth of the world's people will affect all of us.

Barring an economic collapse, China soon will be forced to turn to the
world market for massive imports of 30, 40, or 50 million tons per year.
This comes at a time when world grain stocks are at their lowest level in
30 years and when U.S. farmers are losing irrigation water to aquifer
depletion and to cities. Among other things, this means that the surplus
world grain production capacity and cheap food of the last half-century
may soon be history. Higher food prices could become a permanent part of
the economic landscape. Adjusting to these higher food prices could become
a dominant preoccupation of governments in the years ahead.

When China turns to the world market, it will necessarily turn to the
United States, which controls nearly half of world grain exports. This
presents an unprecedented geopolitical situation in which 1.3 billion
Chinese consumers who have a $120-billion trade surplus with the United
States--enough to buy the entire U.S. grain harvest twice over--will
compete with Americans for U.S. food, likely driving up food prices for
the United States and the world.

Moving grain from the United States to China on the scale that is needed
will likely involve loading two or three ships every day. The long line of
grain-laden ships that may soon stretch across the Pacific will bring
these two countries closer together economically, but managing the flow of
grain to optimize the benefits for people in both countries will not be
easy. It could become one of the major U.S. foreign policy challenges of
this new century.

# # #

Additional data and information sources at www.earth-policy.org or contact
jlarsen(at)earth-policy.org
For reprint permission contact rjkauffman(at)earth-policy.org

If you enjoy receiving our e-news, please recommend it to a friend or
colleague.

To receive Eco-Economy Updates by email, go to
http://www.earth-policy.org/Subscribe/index.htm.

Find out when Lester Brown might be lecturing in your area. Go to our
Lectures page at http://www.earth-policy.org/Lectures/index.htm
- posted by Daniel @ 6:04 PM

 
ENN Environmental News Network
E-mail Edition 03/09/2004

Power giants agree to report climate emissions to shareholders
In response to shareholder proposals for greater transparency on how companies are planning for potential constraints on carbon dioxide and other emissions, electric power giants American Electric Power and Cinergy have agreed to report publicly about on how they are responding to growing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas and other emissions.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-10/s_13807.asp

Peru warns of water rationing in capital
Authorities warned on Tuesday that they may begin rationing water in Lima next month in response to lower rainfall in recent months and a predicted period of drought over the next several years.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-10/s_13858.asp

Britain allows first genetically modified commercial crop, but under strict limits
The British government on Tuesday approved the commercial cultivation of a type of genetically modified corn but said the planting would be under strict rules and the first crop would be at least a year away.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-10/s_13856.asp

Senate committee backs $60 million "abrupt climate change" research program
A $60 million program for researching sudden or unexpected changes in the climate would be created under legislation that won approval Tuesday by a Senate committee.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-10/s_13855.asp

Researchers say Virgin Islands' fish population is dangerously low
Fish populations in the underwater national monument around St. John and elsewhere in the U.S. Virgin Islands are so sparse that they may not be sustainable, marine biologists said.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-10/s_13857.asp

Washington, D.C., sued by residents over lead in water
Angry Washington residents filed suit this week against city authorities they said kept the public in the dark about excessive levels of poisonous lead in tap water in the nation's capital for more than two years.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-10/s_13810.asp

Hong Kong court backs controversial harbor reclamation
A Hong Kong court ruled on Tuesday that a massive reclamation project in the city's Victoria Harbor could go ahead despite charges by critics that it will destroy the world-famous waterway.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-10/s_13851.asp

New Zealand government says it will not try to prevent massive mud slide from volcanic crater
The New Zealand government will not try to prevent a massive water and mud slide that is expected to burst out of a volcanic crater early next year and instead will focus on ways of warning residents once such a slide is underway.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-10/s_13854.asp

California grad student is arrested in SUV arson
A California graduate student was arrested and jailed Tuesday in the "eco-arson" firebombing of sport utility vehicles at several Los Angeles-area car dealerships last summer, FBI officials said.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-10/s_13853.asp



Environmental Marketplace Updates (Become a Member)

We'd like to encourage you to visit our Environmental Marketplace where you'll learn about some amazing environmentally-focused businesses. A few examples:

Alternative Energy Store, retailer for solar panels, windmills/wind turbines, inverters, solar water pumps, solar home heating systems and other solar and wind electric power systems for your home or business. If you'd like to learn about powering your home with solar and wind energy, their recent article offers a wealth of information. Read their story

Bullfrog Films, the oldest and largest publisher of videos and films about the environment in the United States. Bullfrog Films is pleased to present "Deconstructing Supper", a film that explores the phenomenon of industrial agriculture and genetically-modified organisms. Learn more

Chelsea Green Publishing, founded in 1984, has become known as the preeminent publisher of Books for Sustainable Living. One such book is "Seeds of Deception," which presents overwhelming evidence documenting serious potential health problems associated with the hi-tech foods that Americans eat every day. "Seeds of Deception"

Garden Kids, a leading manufacturer of fair wage organic cotton clothing for kids, celebrating ten years in business this spring! Their line of clothing can be viewed and purchased online. Learn more about Garden Kids

Grounds for Change, a specialty coffee business, roasting 100% organic, shade-grown, fair trade coffee beans fresh to order. All of their products are purchased under fair trade standards. Why is buying certified organic coffee so important?

Today's Press Releases (Become an Affiliate)
Direct from non-profit environmental and educational organizations.

Arizona Wilderness Coalition:
Arizona Wildlife Federation Supports Wilderness for Tumacacori Highlands

International Fund for Animal Welfare:
IFAW And 7 African States Opposed to Ivory Trade

The Trust for Public Land:
"Gateway to Westchester" Protected (NY)

Wildlife Conservation Society:
Rwanda's Primate-Rich Forests Now A National Park

World Society for the Protection of Animals:
Global anti-whaling campaign launched

- posted by Daniel @ 6:01 PM

 
WIND.ALERT FOR MARCH 2004 FROM WINDPOWER
MONTHLY

Here are your summaries of the top stories in the March 2004
issue of Windpower Monthly. For a descriptive list of this month's
full contents just go to http://www.windpower-monthly.com/current

-------------------------
Market status and annual growth
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 3 2004
--------------------------
Around 8200 MW of new wind power capacity was installed in
2003, 21% more than in the previous year and enough to
maintain wind energy's annual growth rate at more than 26%.
Global wind power is now pushing the 40,000 MW milestone.
This year our annual market status reports touch down in 29
national markets to assess the past year and take a look at
what is in store for the next. ... (Go to
http://www.windpower-monthly.com/current,#focus to read more
about this article)

-------------------------
Wind's wildlife challenge
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 3 2004
-------------------------
When a thoroughly green technology like wind power attracts
the wrath of respected wildlife and environmental groups, the
wind industry has a problem. It is one thing to be attacked by
suspect "animal rights groups," quite another to ... (Go to
http://www.windpower-monthly.com/currentleader to read
more about this article)

-------------------------
Breaking out of the box
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 3 2004
-------------------------
Wind power is more than a tool for reducing greenhouse
gas emissions and brings a series of economic benefits
outside the climate change box . If the argument can move
a monolith like the Royal Bank of Canada, what's fixating
the government? Read the entire opinion column at
http://www.windpower-monthly.com/currentleader

-------------------------
Substantial threat from federal wildlife agency in United
States
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 3 2004
-------------------------
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is "out of touch"
with the modern wind industry and the federal agency's wind
project siting guidelines need to be "reality-checked," says
the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). It claims
the service developed guidelines without industry input, a
statement hotly disputed by wildlife agency officials and
advocates. While ominous, the is perhaps not as dire as
first appearances would indicate. We take a look at the
dispute and what is being done to tackle the problem.

-------------------------
Wind helps stabilise default portfolio for Montana utility
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 3 2004
-------------------------
Wind power is part of four lowest risk, least-cost scenarios
developed by Northwestern Energy in Montana for future
provision of electricity to its default customers. The utility's
inclusion of two wind projects totalling 150 MW in the
scenarios is part of a plan to transform what it describes as
a risky default supply portfolio to one based more on long-term,
reliable and fixed-price contracts to reduce the company's risk.
The decision is part of a trend revealed over the past several
months in Windpower Monthly, in which utilities are
increasingly seeing wind as a better economic option than gas.

-------------------------
Canada wind company sees export potential in US green
tags market
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 3 2004
-------------------------
A Canadian wind power developer has taken its first step
into the fledgling international market for tradable renewable
certificates (TRCs), hoping to tap into the much bigger market
south of the border. The developer has become the first
Canadian company to certify its wind generated TRCs
under the United States Green e-program. Find out more
in this month's issue of Windpower Monthly.

-------------------------
Delight at bold move by Ontario government
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 3 2004
-------------------------
The Ontario government is in the market for 300 MW of
renewable energy to come online "as soon as possible"
as it attempts to deal with looming power shortages and
reform an electricity market that is widely viewed as a
restructuring failure. The request for proposals (RFP) is
being hailed as "an excellent start", particularly since a
government commissioned report says renewables
generation is a vital part of the future supply mix. We
examine the significance of the announcement in the
broader context of legislation due next month to "redefine"
the Ontario electricity sector.

-------------------------
European wind group hits out at utility report on
renewables subsidies
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 3 2004
-------------------------
Wind industry players have lambasted a report by Eurelectric,
a lobby group for Europe's electric utility industry, on the
costs of meeting the EU's renewables targets, including the
costs of different support mechanisms across Europe. The
report has been issued in the run-up to the European
Commission's review this year of market support frameworks.
The European Wind Energy Association claims the figures
are unrealistic and not supported by other sources. We'll be
following the dispute and reporting Eurelectric's response to
the harsh criticism by EWEA in a future issue of
Windpower Monthly.

-------------------------
Grid subsidies for wind in Scotland misguided
warns Regulator
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 3 2004
-------------------------
A proposal by the UK government to reduce transmission
charges for renewables "in peripheral areas" has brought
forth a strong warning from Sir John Mogg, the gas and
electricity regulator. He brands the proposal as "unnecessary
and misguided." Mogg receives tentative support from the
British Wind Energy Association, which agrees that
"renewable energy should not and need not incur unnecessary
excessive costs to the electricity consumer." A lively
debate between Scottish interests and the country as
a whole is promised. Windpower Monthly will be following
it step-by-step.


-----------------------------------
See this month's free online material at:
http://www.windpower-monthly.com/current

For the full picture, including access to the extensive online
database, subscribe now at:
http://www.windpower-monthly.com/subs

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For more information, contact advertising@windpower-monthly.com

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http://www.windstats.com

-------------------------------------------------------------

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============================================
Windpower Monthly News Magazine
mail@windpower-monthly.com
http://www.windpower-monthly.com
- posted by Daniel @ 5:49 PM

 
On taking away overtime pay - also known as the only reason that companies keep in check the number of hours they require you to work in a given day:


From: "Wythe W Holt Jr." wholt@law.ua.edu
Organization: University of Alabama School of Law
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2004 09:53:01 -0600

Hello, my friends.

I hope you caught the response of Elaine Chao yesterday on
NPR, to tough questions asked about the administration's ditching
of worker overtime. No substance at all, just "hurt" and
"amazement." This maladministration continues to believe it is
above criticism, can lie to us at will (mostly bait and switch), and
does not have to respond to actual questions or claims from the
rabble -- that is, us.

Meanwhile, the congressperson's question was correct. The
Bush administration does intend to take away overtime pay from
lots of workers -- thus increasing "productivity" by lowering wages
per hour worked. Statistics are more important than eating and
having some leisure and dignity.

Here's something you can do about it.
In solidarity, Wythe

Dear Working Families e-Activist:

A lot is going on in the drive to block President Bush's
overtime pay take-away. Here is all the news:

* The U.S. Senate scheduled but failed to vote today on new legislation to block
the Bush Department of Labor from implementing the overtime pay take-away.

* Unless they are stopped, it is now likely that the overtime pay take-away will be
finalized before April 1. The exact date is up to President Bush and Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao.

* More than 500,000 people have signed the Petition to Save Overtime Pay--a huge landmark.

Together we're doing everything we can--but unless public pressure forces Republican leaders in
Congress and the Bush administration to back down, more than 8 million workers probably will
lose their right to overtime pay, even though polls show a majority of Democrats, Independents and
Republicans oppose the overtime pay take-away.

So, much more is needed. Please ask your friends, family and co-workers to sign the Petition to
Save Overtime Pay today. They can sign online by clicking on the link below.
http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/f1qrqgE1K18b//

Or, you can ask them to sign the petition by downloading and distributing the printable petition form.
http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/f7qrqgE1K18O/

While Bush and his secretary of labor are working to take away overtime pay from millions of
America's workers, more than 10 million people are out of work. Worse, President Bush's economic
report to Congress calls the avalanche of U.S. jobs being sent overseas a "good thing." The report
says it "makes sense" for U.S. companies to make products overseas and sell them here in America.
How out of touch are these people? Who are they working for?

Let's all show them the difference we can make when we speak out together. Spread the word about
this petition! Forward this e-mail to your friends, family and co-workers.

Thanks for all you do. Look for more updates soon.

In Solidarity,

Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO
March 4, 2004

P.S. Check out this short animation on the Bush overtime pay
take-away from cartoonist Mark Fiore.
http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/fdqrqgE1K186/
- posted by Daniel @ 5:43 PM

 
In Response to Major Fax Campaign by TrueMajority.org,
Three More States Protect Voters from Pitfalls of Computer Voting

Americans in seven states - up from three states less than a month ago - can now be assured that their votes will not be lost by unreliable computer voting machines.

That's because the secretaries of state of Vermont, Missouri, and West Virginia - in response to TrueMajority.org's "Computer Ate My Vote" campaign - recently pledged to require all computer voting machines in their states to produce a voter-verified paper ballot trail. Those states join California, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Oregon, which already require a paper trail.

The Computer Ate My Vote campaign is urging secretaries of state nationwide to safeguard democracy as a growing number of their colleagues are doing.


In the past three weeks, our campaign has

* staged a national press event in Washington, D.C., that generated coverage on National Public Radio, on CNN, in Wired magazine, and by local outlets across the country;
* helped 35,577 TrueMajority members send faxes to their secretaries of state; and
* held news conferences addressing secretaries of state in Colorado and Florida, with Pennsylvania scheduled this week and others soon thereafter.


Letters to the editor, op-eds, and paid advertising will follow in succession to generate sustained pressure.

Check out the Computer Ate My Vote campaign materials at http://www.truemajority.org/ComputerAteMyVote/index.cfm.

For more detailed information about computer voting, visit www.verifiedvoting.org or www.calvoter.org/votingtechnology.html#resources.

We'll keep you posted.

Yours in Stopping Computers from Eating Our Votes,

Ben Cohen
President, TrueMajority.org

- posted by Daniel @ 5:36 PM

 
Dear Illinois PIRG supporter,

As you may know, Illinois PIRG is working to protect children and pregnant women from the health problems caused by exposure to toxic mercury pollution. We're grateful to the hundreds of you who took action last month when U.S. EPA held a hearing on mercury here in Chicago. Thank you to those who e-mailed the Bush Administration or came to the hearing!

While the Bush Administration appears to be letting the polluters off the hook, Governor Blagojevich has the authority to clean up mercury and other pollutants from Illinois power plants. This year the Illinois EPA will be setting emission standards for the state's power plants. The industry has the technology to eliminate more than 90 percent of the mercury from power plant smokestacks in the next 4 years, while significantly reducing soot and smog.

Please take a minute to send a letter to Governor Blagojevich urging him to protect public health by cleaning up the state's power plants. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.

To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser:
http://illinoispirg.org/IL.asp?id=15&id3=IL&id4=ES&


Background:

Scientists estimate that one out of every six children born in the U.S. already have mercury levels in their blood high enough to cause serious neurological damage that can lead to learning disabilities and loss of motor skills. The leading source of mercury pollution is the electric power industry, which burns mercury-containing coal in power plants throughout the state.

Old, coal-burning power plants in Illinois emit millions of tons of pollution per year, including toxic mercury, and the pollutants that cause formation of soot and smog, threatening the health of people across the state.

The mercury that comes from these smokestacks ends up in our lakes and streams, and contaminates fish tissue. Moms and kids are exposed when they eat fish. Fetuses and young children are exposed in the womb and through breast milk. These same power plants are also the biggest source of the smog and soot pollution that causes asthma attacks and other respiratory illness throughout the state.

The state of Illinois has issued consumption advisories for every lake and river in the state and the Great Lakes, warning people, especially women and children, to avoid or limit eating fish.

This year, the Illinois EPA will be considering new standards for power plants in Illinois. Power plant emissions of mercury, soot and smog can be addressed by requiring old, dirty power plants to install modern pollution control technologies.

The U.S. EPA's engineers reported in 2001 that current technologies could eliminate 90 percent of the mercury from power plants smokestacks by 2008. In fact, the states of Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts have already adopted or are in the process of adopting such standards.

We're asking Governor Blagojevich to direct his state regulators to set tough standards for power plant emissions in Illinois.

Please take a minute to send a letter to Governor Blagojevich urging him to protect public health by cleaning up the state's power plants. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.

To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser:
http://illinoispirg.org/IL.asp?id=15&id3=IL&id4=ES&

Sincerely,

Diane E. Brown
Illinois PIRG Executive Director
DianeB@illinoispirg.org
http://www.IllinoisPIRG.org

P.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail with your family and friends.
- posted by Daniel @ 5:31 PM

 
From Greenbuzz:

Taking Care of Business

This week we bring you a front-lines look at CSR from Peter Forstmoser, chairman of the Board of Directors at Swiss Re. The company was in the news this week with an update of its annual "sigma" report on the economic costs of natural disasters throughout the world. In "Living the Values -- the Key to CSR," Forstmoser discusses what corporate social responsibility means to one of the largest insurers on the planet.


Headlines

The Latest News on Business and the Environment

Insurer Says Costs Are Rising with Global Temperatures
According to Swiss Re's latest "sigma" report, overall economic losses from natural disasters -- aggravated by climate change -- in 2003 amounted to an estimated $70 billion.

New Lab Complex Wins Kudos for Green Construction, Design
Building a "green" mega-facility posed many challenges, but Oak Ridge National Laboratory wants to lead by example, and the effort has paid off with a 2003 Excellence in Construction award from a major contractors association.

U.S. Government Recognizes 57 Energy "Stars"
EPA and DOE recently recognized 57 organizations as winners of the 2004 Energy Star Partner of the Year Awards.

Aussie Supermarkets Slash Plastic Bag Use
Supermarkets are on track to achieving a 25% reduction in plastic bag use by the end of this year, according to Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Dr. David Kemp.

EPA to Judge Energy-Efficient Courthouses
The National Association of Counties, representing more than 1,500 county officials, has joined with the U.S. EPA in challenging counties to protect the environment, save energy and cut operating costs by improving the energy efficiency of county courthouse and office buildings.

Put GreenBiz news on your site for free! Learn more...

More Headlines...


Resources and Tools

A Wealth of Hands-On Help

GreenBiz Essential: Brownfields
You've heard the term. Now find out what it means, and why there is new hope for turning these environmental millstones into productive assets. Another GreenBiz Essential.

GreeningGotham.org
Site offers information and resources for New Yorkers interested in green-roof projects.

Sustainable Design Resource Guide
A well-researched and well-presented introduction to some of the key issues in sustainable building design.

More Tools... | More Web Sites...


Columns and Features

Insight and Inspiration from the Experts

Living the Values -- the Key to CSR
Peter Forstmoser, chairman of the Board of Directors at Swiss Re, explains what CSR means for his company.

Wanna write for GreenBiz? Let us know if you'd like to write a guest column or feature reflecting your experiences or opinions in the environmental business world. Send a brief query to Editor@greenbiz.com | Read our editorial guidelines

More Columns... | More Features...



- posted by Daniel @ 5:29 PM

 
Doug Moss
Publisher & Executive Editor
*****************************************
***Week of 3/7/04 EARTH TALK installment***:

EARTH TALK
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: What is the environmental impact of America?s consumer buying habits? -- Jenni Perez, Los Angeles, CA

Your next-door neighbor just bought a Hummer. That long-untouched parcel of land around the corner just became home to a new strip mall. And on your short bicycle trip to the office you count dozens of discarded soda cans and bottled water containers with pretty nature scenes on them. Back home, your kid?s floor and closet are littered with CDs, video game cartridges, $150 sneakers and bean-filled toys. Indeed, a recent Time/CNN poll found that 80 percent of people think children are more spoiled today than the kids of 10 or 15 years ago. Arguably, the adults may be, too.

The nonprofit Center for a New American Dream, whose stated mission is to ?help Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life and promote social justice,? says that America?s growing obsession with acquisition is taking a heavy toll on the environment. According to the group?s president, Betsy Taylor, the U.S. consumes more energy, water, paper, steel and meat per capita than any other country, so much so that at least four additional planets would be needed to provide the American lifestyle if every person on Earth were to demand it. Meanwhile, forests are being lost at an alarming rate, farmlands and wetlands are being engulfed by development, plant and animal species are disappearing and our air and water continue to be threatened by pollution.

Participants of New Dream?s web-based Turn the Tide program follow ?nine little actions? to try to reduce their personal impact on the environment, including skipping car trips, eating one less beef meal a week, reducing water use and installing energy-efficient light bulbs. The program enables participants to track the positive impact of their actions--and see the cumulative impact of all of the program?s participants across North America. CNAD estimates that for every 1,000 people who pursue the program for one year, 48.5 million gallons of water and 170 trees are saved and 4 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere are prevented.

CONTACT: Center for a New American Dream, (301) 891-3683, www.newdream.org.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EARTH TALK,
c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881;
or submit your question at: www.emagazine.com, or e-mail us at: earthtalk@emagazine.com.
**************************************************************************************

EARTH TALK
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: I?ve heard that conventional lice treatments contain toxic chemicals. Are safer, more natural alternatives available? -- Dwayne Newton, Charleston, SC

The National Pediculosis Association (NPA) advises consumers to be cautious with conventional lice treatments, including shampoos and lotions, since they contain toxic, and in some cases carcinogenic, pesticides. The NPA says that people with epilepsy, asthma, brain tumors, cancer or AIDS, and pregnant or nursing women, should completely avoid any chemical lice medications. Further, the NPA is calling on the medical community to address the current ?resistance crisis? of lice becoming increasingly resistant to pesticide treatments.

Fortunately, several pesticide-free alternative products are now available that help get rid of lice and nits (lice eggs) safely and effectively. The NPA endorses a comb called the LiceMeister (around $10), which has closely spaced, stainless steel teeth that glide easily through hair, collecting lice and nits. The comb is safe but the process is quite time consuming as it works best when used daily during infestation and regularly thereafter. Well-In-Hand Herbals? Non-Toxic Nit Kit ($18.99) includes an easy-to-use herbal formula that smothers and kills lice. This product, which won?t dry hair out, is made from olive, canola and essential oils and has a fresh, natural scent. The Nit Kit also comes with a fine-toothed metal comb and 5x magnifier to help find the unwanted insects.

CONTACTS: National Pediculosis Association, (781) 449-NITS, www.headlice.org; Well-In-Hand, (434) 384-7774, www.wellinhand.com.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EARTH TALK,
c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881;
or submit your question at: www.emagazine.com, or e-mail us at: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

EarthTalk
Questions and Answers About Our Environment
A Weekly Column
******************************************************
c/o E/The Environmental Magazine
***A nonprofit publication***
28 Knight Street, Norwalk, CT 06851
PHONE: (203) 854-5559/(X106) - FAX: (203) 866-0602
E-mail: earthtalkcolumn@emagazine.com
******************************************************
Mail: P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881 U.S.A.
- posted by Daniel @ 5:12 PM

 
ANCHORAGE

Democratic candidate Kucinich cancels Alaska visits due to illness

Dennis Kucinich, candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. president, has gotten sick and will not be appearing today in Anchorage as announced earlier this week, his local contact said Wednesday.

Plans call for the candidate to give phone interviews to radio stations KRUA-FM and KFQD-AM and possibly to make a video appearance during a midday class at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/4838083p-4776085c.html
- posted by Daniel @ 8:46 AM

 
March 20th a day for peace advocacy

Dear Kucinich supporters,

Many of you are aware that March 20th marks the one-year anniversary of the pre-emptive war in Iraq. A number of leading peace groups and coalitions have recognized this day as a Global Day of Action to protest against the invasion, occupation and corporate control of Iraq. Rallies and marches will bring millions of people into the streets in cities around the world, to rally for peace and protest the effects of the Bush Administration's policies at home and abroad.

Dennis Kucinich is the only national political leader who represents the peace movement. Before the war began Dennis Kucinich saw through the lies that fueled the Bush Administration's climate of fear and violence. He led the opposition to the war in Congress, and he remains one of the most credible voices within the Democratic Party when speaking about the need to bring our troops home. His position - US out, UN in - remains the only credible alternative to the current reality.

For these reasons, and for others, Dennis Kucinich has been invited to speak at one of the largest March 20th rallies, in New York City. Supporters of the Kucinich Campaign will be on hand there, and all over the country, to bring home the message: US out, UN in.

Please locate peace activities taking place in your part of the country, and work with the Kucinich Campaign to make them a success. Look for events in your area at http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php?caltype=17

Thank you,
Charles Lenchner
National Movements Coordinator
Kucinich for President
http://www.kucinich.us

Get Active!

1. For more information about what your local Kucinich for President Campaign is doing to support the March 20 peace rallies, contact your state coordinator. Find contact information for your state at http://www.kucinich.us/regionalupdates. If your primary or caucus has passed and no state coordinator is listed online, contact the national office at (866) 413-3664.

2. Please forward this message within your networks, and include information about activities in your community.

3. The staff coordinator at National for March 20 activities is Charles Lenchner. Email movements@kucinich.us with your comments and ideas for making the Global Day of Action a success.

4. Volunteer to serve as a contact person between your campaign and the local committee(s) working on March 20 events.

5. Work with your local campaign to make us visible at your event.
- posted by Daniel @ 8:28 AM

 
The new Pentagon papers
A high-ranking military officer reveals how Defense Department extremists suppressed information and twisted the truth to drive the country to war.

Salon.com has just broken a major story detailing how the Pentagon created a special office to manipulate intelligence data on Iraq and WMDs. It's written by Karen Kwiatkowski, a military officer who watched this unit at work, telling us the inside story in her own words.

(Full story)
- posted by Daniel @ 5:36 PM

 
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Support GLIN Daily News: http://www.glin.net/news/sponsor/
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Great Lakes News: 10 March 2004
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium.

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Hydro-Québec presents case for Suroît generator today
----------------------------------------
Hydro-Québec gets its day in court today when it presents its case for
building the controversial Suroît natural gas-fired generator. Water levels
in Hydro's reservoirs have fallen in the last year by 24 terawatt-hours,
while the demands for power continue to increase. Source: The Montreal
Gazette (3/10)


Green Bay could join suburbs' pipeline under new idea
----------------------------------------
A local official wants Green Bay to scrap plans for a second Lake Michigan
pipeline and join the Green Bay suburbs in a plan to buy water from the city
of Manitowoc. Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette (3/10)


EDITORIAL: Corps would allow too much bottomland grooming
----------------------------------------
The current, unhappy compromise over shoreline management is the work of the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, caught between protecting exposed Great Lakes
bottomlands and resort owners who want well-groomed beaches. Source: Detroit
Free Press (3/10)


North Bass sale worries officials
----------------------------------------
The state of Ohio is buying the pristine North Bass Island to preserve
forever, but county and township officials fear the purchase will leave them
short of tax money by next year. Source: The Toledo Blade (3/10)


Platte River hatchery loses half of state's coho salmon production
----------------------------------------
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources lost nearly half of this year's
coho salmon production because of a pump failure at the Platte River Fish
Hatchery near Beulah. Source: Detroit Free Press (3/10)


Hoosier groups try to kill energy bill
----------------------------------------
Several Indiana organizations Tuesday urged Sens. Evan Bayh and Richard
Lugar to vote against a federal energy bill they said would hurt the
environment and efforts to create jobs. Source: The Ft. Wayne Journal
Gazette (3/10)


Toxic dumping ground looks to spread the pain
----------------------------------------
Now, where peach trees once quivered in breezes from Lake Ontario, the
710-acre Chemical Waste Management landfill towers above every building for
miles, the only hazardous waste landfill left in the northeastern United
States. Source: The New York Times (3/10)


EDITORIAL: Protect state ground water
----------------------------------------
A landmark groundwater protection bill on the verge of passage in the
Wisconsin Legislature is a single step in a long journey. Source: Wisconsin
State Journal (3/9)

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Did you miss a day of Daily News? Remember to use our searchable story
archive at http://www.great-lakes.net/news/inthenews.html


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- posted by Daniel @ 5:34 PM

 
SB 2321: Good for Jobs, Economic Growth, the Environment & Consumers

More renewable energy in Illinois means more jobs, economic growth, a cleaner environment, and less fuel cost volatility. Illinois already has taken two important steps towards diversifying our state’s energy supply with renewable energy. First, in 2001, Illinois enacted legislation setting statewide renewable energy goals of at least 5% of the total energy supplied by 2010 and at least 15% of the total energy supplied by 2020. According to the law, "renewable forms of energy should be promoted as an important element of the energy and environmental policies of the State." Second, in 1997, Illinois specifically defined "renewable energy" to include energy from wind, solar, biomass and other environmentally superior energy resources.

SB 2321 establishes a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard ("RPS") that is realistic and attainable for all players in the Illinois utility market. All electric utilities and other competing supplies are required to meet a standard by providing 3% renewable energy supply as part of their overall power mix by 2007 and 10% by 2012. There is a gradual ramp-up of the percentages in the interim years in order to achieve progress sooner and encourage better implementation.

Thirteen other states, including Texas (under then-Governor George Bush), Iowa, Minnesota and California, have adopted various RPS mechanisms, and New York Governor Pataki recently announced his support for a 25% RPS. Illinois should catch up and be a leader in seizing renewable energy development opportunities, rather than falling behind.
Elements of the SB 2321 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard

*

All electric utilities and other retail electricity suppliers generate or purchase ("build or buy") at least 3% of their total energy sales from renewable energy resources by 2007, and at least 10% by 2012, with a gradual percentage ramp-up in the interim years.

*

Uses the existing statutory definition of "renewable energy resources."

*

The Illinois Commerce Commission oversees the implementation and administration.

Jobs and Economic Benefits: (1) provides a new income stream for farmers who lease sites or own wind turbines, or grow biomass "energy crops"; (2) produces significant new property and sales tax revenues; and (3) creates thousands of new jobs and economic growth benefits.

*

Job Jolt, a new study by the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory of the University of Illinois, concludes that renewable energy development can create 8,580 net new jobs by 2010, and 13,470 by 2020, and can spur Illinois economic growth of $950 million by 2010 and $1.5 billion by 2020.

*

The new Crescent Ridge Wind Farm will be the largest property taxpayer in Bureau County. Farmers and other landowners will receive lease payments of about $5,000 per wind turbine per year.

Environmental Quality Benefits: Clean renewable energy generation, which all public opinion polling shows that the Illinois public clearly wants, avoids air and water pollution.

Fuel Diversity: Zero-fuel cost wind power hedges against volatile gas prices.

*These benefits can come at no additional cost to consumers since the rate freeze is in effect until 2007. *

Frequently Asked Questions

Please contact Howard Learner, Barry Matchett, Rebecca Stamey-White or John Moore
at the Environmental Law and Policy Center (312-673-6500) to discuss SB 2321 in more detail.

http://www.elpc.org/energy/ilrps/FactSheetSB2321OnePageGeneral.htm
- posted by Daniel @ 5:30 PM

 
HB 4479: Good for Jobs, Economic Growth, the Environment & Consumers

More renewable energy in Illinois means more jobs, economic growth, a cleaner environment, and less fuel cost volatility. Illinois already has taken two important steps towards diversifying our state’s energy supply with renewable energy. First, in 2001, Illinois enacted legislation setting statewide renewable energy goals of at least 5% of the total energy supplied by 2010 and at least 15% of the total energy supplied by 2020. According to the law, "renewable forms of energy should be promoted as an important element of the energy and environmental policies of the State." Second, in 1997, Illinois specifically defined "renewable energy" to include energy from wind, solar, biomass and other environmentally superior energy resources.

HB 4479 establishes a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard ("RPS") that is realistic and attainable for all players in the Illinois utility market. All electric utilities and other competing supplies are required to meet a standard by providing 3% renewable energy supply as part of their overall power mix by 2007 and 10% by 2012. There is a gradual ramp-up of the percentages in the interim years in order to achieve progress sooner and encourage better implementation.

Thirteen other states, including Texas (under then-Governor George Bush), Iowa, Minnesota and California, have adopted various RPS mechanisms, and New York Governor Pataki recently announced his support for a 25% RPS. Illinois should catch up and be a leader in seizing renewable energy development opportunities, rather than falling behind.
Elements of the HB 4479 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard

*

All electric utilities and other retail electricity suppliers generate or purchase ("build or buy") at least 3% of their total energy sales from renewable energy resources by 2007, and at least 10% by 2012, with a gradual percentage ramp-up in the interim years.

*

Uses the existing statutory definition of "renewable energy resources."

*

The Illinois Commerce Commission oversees the implementation and administration.

Jobs and Economic Benefits: (1) provides a new income stream for farmers who lease sites or own wind turbines, or grow biomass "energy crops"; (2) produces significant new property and sales tax revenues; and (3) creates thousands of new jobs and economic growth benefits.

*

Job Jolt, a new study by the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory of the University of Illinois, concludes that renewable energy development can create 8,580 net new jobs by 2010, and 13,470 by 2020, and can spur Illinois economic growth of $950 million by 2010 and $1.5 billion by 2020.

*

The new Crescent Ridge Wind Farm will be the largest property taxpayer in Bureau County. Farmers and other landowners will receive lease payments of about $5,000 per wind turbine per year.

Environmental Quality Benefits: Clean renewable energy generation, which all public opinion polling shows that the Illinois public clearly wants, avoids air and water pollution.

Fuel Diversity: Zero-fuel cost wind power hedges against volatile gas prices.

*These benefits can come at no additional cost to consumers since the rate freeze is in effect until 2007. *

Frequently Asked Questions

Please contact Howard Learner, Barry Matchett, Rebecca Stamey-White or John Moore
at the Environmental Law and Policy Center (312-673-6500) to discuss HB 4479 in more detail.

http://www.elpc.org/energy/ilrps/FactSheetHB4479OnePageGeneral.htm
- posted by Daniel @ 5:29 PM

 
Advisor: Kucinich Ideas Will Persist
March 10, 2004

GALESBURG -- Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich is aiming for more than just votes, he hopes to bring new ideas to the American political scene, according to one of Kucinich's top advisors, speaking March 9 at Knox College in Galesburg.

"Almost certainly John Kerry will be the [presidential] nominee of the Democratic Party, so why is Dennis [still] running?" said Tad Daley, national issues director for the Kucinich campaign.

"The answer is that a presidential campaign, and especially ours, is about more than just choosing the nominee. Dennis Kucinich is about articulating an alternative vision for the American people," Daley said. "He wants to take some ideas that are not on the public policy radar screen and try to get them out there."

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 5:21 PM

 
Kucinich released from hospital after being treated for stomach flu
By Associated Press
Wednesday, March 10, 2004

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich [related, bio] is resuming his Democratic presidential campaign -- after being sidelined by the stomach flu.
He checked into a Cleveland-area hospital Monday morning for tests. Doctors diagnosed him with a severe stomach flu -- possibly caused by food poisoning.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 5:14 PM

 
Tears Over Tin Hearts:

Labels are for canned goods,
Love doesn't fit in small tin spaces,
Eyes don't cry without sad reasons,
Yet all eyes cry the same,
Dream your dream it's lovely and yours,
I'll dream mine on ethereal shores,
I've read your words,
Brought me up not down,
Your dream isn't my dream,
But I'll second it for you just the same,
Go live it kindly.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
(C) 03/10/2004

Author's Comments:
Reply to a poetic plea for freedom from strife.
- posted by Daniel @ 10:44 AM

 

- posted by Daniel @ 10:15 AM

 
"What Part of IT'S OVER, Don't You Understand?" Current rating: 0
by ConstitutionalJamCleveland
(No verified email address) 08 Mar 2004
Modified: 05:16:56 PM

Mr. Kerry, who HAS been put to the challenge, but will not commit his own Democratic Party to a principled, honorable platform on the side of human needs, progress for the future and most plainly-Truth. This constrains and weakens the Party's reach. What can we People then expect him to do for America as a whole? It is our necessity to turn away from the insanity of illegal, unilateral, agressive wars against undefined enemies from poor countries. "What Part of *Over the Rainbow* Do You NOT Understand?"

****Mr. Kerry, who HAS been put to the challenge, but will not commit his own Democratic Party to a principled, honorable platform on the side of human needs, progress for the future and most plainly-Truth. This constrains and weakens the Party's reach. What can we People then expect him to do for America as a whole? It is our necessity to turn away from the insanity of illegal, unilateral, agressive wars against undefined enemies from poor countries. Besides using various changing 'claims' distorting the political climate, to cloud transparency and need for clear justification of 'urgent' necessity, to disturbingly, actually sell what is proving to be an unjust war.

*****WE REJECT! heavy-handed top down reality control Media-managed mania mobster-like ultimatum questions such as "what part of, its over, don't you understand??-Can't ya' just see Boris slyly grinnin' smacking a clenched fist into the other palm? LET ME ASK what part of "over the rainbow" do you NOT understand? I Believe THIS Country is still named the USA, some believe that the Constitution including due process shall be repected, AND what part of the figure 2,162 and the dates July 26th-29th,2004 and the parlementarian procedure called roll call, Do You Not Understand??

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 10:14 AM

 
Election: Kucinich: the Most Unreported Story of 2004

WASHINGTON – The most underreported story of the 2004 election is the never-give-up, never-give-in campaign of Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) for president. With considerable grassroots support, the Ohio lawmaker has carried his message of world peace, jobs, equality and universal health care across the country. He has done it in the face of a near-total corporate media blackout

Kucinich, campaigning in California, launched the “Other America Tour” from the impoverished Sunnydale public housing complex in San Francisco. “I’m from the other America,” he said, noting that he grew up poor and sometimes homeless in Cleveland, Ohio.

An impressive 15 percent of Maine voters and 8 percent of Washington state voters came out for Kucinich in the Feb. 10 “mini-Super Tuesday” primaries. He also placed second in Hawaii’s Feb. 24 primary.

Sharon Gradischnig, head of the Kucinich campaign in southwest Iowa, is a native Iowan. She told this reporter she was drawn to Kucinich in part because his election could change her own life.

“I pay $637 a month for health insurance so even when I qualify for Medicare, I will need to keep working to provide myself with supplementary health coverage and prescription drugs,” she told the World. “One of Dennis’ billboards up the street says it all: ‘Health care not warfare.’ He is the only candidate advocating universal single-payer health care.”

She said, “This is the voters’ opportunity to tell the nation and the world exactly what kind of nation and world we want. We are a banner for change, for a world that is safe for people here at home and around the world.”

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 10:08 AM

 
Election 2004
Lost but not forgotten: their candidate, his cause

Joseph Corrales and other loyal Dennis Kucinich supporters won't walk away, driven to be activists with the nomination out of reach.

By TOM ZUCCO, Times Staff Writer
Published March 8, 2004

ST. PETERSBURG - The situation is hopeless, and Joseph Corrales knows it. He slides behind the wheel of his Toyota pickup truck with his handmade "Kucinich for President" sign mounted in the back.

But you know, he said, sometimes you have to go on anyway.

Florida's Democratic primary Tuesday has become a one-horse race, with Sen. John Kerry from Massachusetts having lapped the field. What's left of it. Only the Rev. Al Sharpton and Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich have yet to yield to Kerry and drop out.

Going into the Tuesday's primaries, Kerry had 1,506 of the 2,162 delegates needed to win the nomination.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 10:03 AM

 
Waking Up the Vote

By Doris "Granny D" Haddock, AlterNet
March 8, 2004

Doris "Granny D" Haddock, 94, is on a 15,000-mile voter registration trek through the swing states. The following is a speech she gave in Gainesville, Florida on March 7.

I am on a long trek across our beautiful country to see what one person and a few friends might do to engage more citizens in this democracy and to have them participate in the coming election in a way that will provide us with leadership that we will all have had a hand in selecting. That may seem like boring old politics, but it is much more than that, at least to me. And my journey is a great joy.

On the farms where I have stayed, and in the poorest corners of our poorest neighborhoods, I have met so many people who are kind and generous and full of dreams for their lives and for their community and for their country. It is heartbreaking sometimes to see how far their reality is from their dreams. Can I do anything to be of assistance? It is a simple question.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 10:01 AM

 
The Great Lakes Directory (http://www.GreatLakesDirectory.org) is a comprehensive online resource highlighting environmental issues around the Great Lakes basin. The Directory contains daily environmental articles, a network of over 1,000 environmental groups, funding resources, free environmental software, nonprofit management resources, and a massive library of online Great Lakes environmental information.

Here are your weekly Great Lakes environmental jobs, events and news headlines from the Great Lakes Directoy. More headlines, action alerts, resources, grants, jobs, and free activist software at http://www.GreatLakesDirectory.org

From Jenny Tahtinen of the Environmental Association of Great Lakes Education (EAGLE).
http://www.Eagle-EcoSource.org

THIS WEEK'S GREAT LAKES HEADLINES:

03/09 - Squabble erupts over Lake Erie shoreline
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/oh/030904_great_lakes.htm

03/09 - Trash-banning laws may face legal battle
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mi/030904_great_lakes.htm

03/09 - Obey Secures Funds for WI Wolf Management Program
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/wi/030904_great_lakes.htm

03/08 - U.S. finds funds for fence to stop carp
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/il/030804_great_lakes.htm

03/08 - Global warming cited in island's shift of wildlife numbers
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mi/030804_great_lakes.htm

03/08 - Green Bay water talks need light of day
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/wi/030804_great_lakes.htm

03/05 - Michigan county eyes plans to preserve farmland
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/oh/030504_great_lakes.htm

03/05 - Spread of zebra mussels causing aquatic changes
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mi/030504__great_lakes.htm

03/05 - Great Lakes lawmakers call on Corps to build electric barrier
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mi/030504_great_lakes.htm

03/04 - New Green Bay water deal seems out of this world
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/wi/030404_great_lakes.htm

03/04 - U.S. officials yank fish barrier funding
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/il/030404_great_lakes.htm

03/04 - Sewage plan raises worries
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mi/030404_great_lakes.htm

03/03 - Wisconsin panel issues power plant environmental report
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/wi/030304_great_lakes.htm

03/03 - Great Lakes lawmakers applaud Bush budget proposal, say more is needed
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mi/030304__great_lakes.htm

03/03 - Lawmakers prepare first-ever Great Lakeswater diversion bills
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mi/030304_great_lakes.htm
For more information, go to http://www.GreatLakesDirectory.org

GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL JOBS:
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/jobs.htm

GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS:
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/events.htm
To subscribe and receive Great Lakes environmental news, action alerts, jobs and events in your email once a week: http://www.GreatLakesDirectory.org

-----------------------------------------------
Jenny Tahtinen-
Great Lakes Directory / EAGLE
394 Lake Avenue South, Suite #222
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone:(218)726-1828
fax:(240)526-2670
Jenny@EAGLE-EcoSource.org
- posted by Daniel @ 6:29 PM

 
ENN Environmental News Network
E-mail Edition 03/09/2004

EarthTalk: How do I properly dispose of asbestos?
In some cases, the safest thing to do about asbestos siding may well be nothing at all. Before the 1970s, asbestos mineral fiber was frequently used in schools, homes, factories, and public buildings as insulation, shingling, and other components. Asbestos was popular because of its resistance to corrosion and fire.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-09/s_12936.asp

In Bush's world, human desires trump environmental protections
On his Texas ranch, President Bush gets back to nature by cutting down cedar trees with a chain saw to give the native oaks more water and light. Visiting the Santa Monica Mountains, he shovels dirt to fix a trail, an image the White House keeps alive on one of its Web sites.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-09/s_13820.asp

Mars critics wonder if billions aren't better spent elsewhere
NASA's celebration last week of gritty evidence that Mars once had enough water to support life has spawned more questions: Where's the water now? When did it disappear? Are there any fossils of living creatures, or even microbes?
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-09/s_13817.asp

Duck hunters win one for isolated wetlands — or do they?
When conservationists decided to fight for the wetlands, they called in their big gun. Perched at President Bush's elbow for an hour-long White House meeting was John Tomke, president of Ducks Unlimited, the nation's largest waterfowl hunting group with 1 million members.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-09/s_13818.asp

Bush helps lift Appalachia's mountaintop mines from doldrums
With a boost from President Bush, central Appalachia's mountaintop coal miners are finally embracing the future again, flagging more of this state's ancient summits for blasting and more of its hollows for burying than in many years.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-09/s_13819.asp

EPA proposes 11 new sites for the Superfund program
Old lead and copper mines, drinking water wells, and swampland threatened by contamination are among 11 sites the Environmental Protection Agency proposed adding to the Superfund program for removing the nation's worst toxic waste on Monday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-09/s_13815.asp

Experts from 10 African nations meet to discuss plan on sharing waters of the Nile
Experts from 10 African countries that use the waters of the Nile River began a weeklong meeting Monday in Uganda to work out how nations can share the benefits of the huge natural resource.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-09/s_13816.asp

"Stop whaling," animal welfare groups urge world
Saying that harpoons mean unacceptable cruelty in slaughtering whales, animal welfare groups launched a global campaign on Tuesday to outlaw hunts of the biggest creatures on the planet.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-09/s_13809.asp

White House race pits oil drilling against conservation
U.S. voters hit with soaring gasoline prices can choose between two presidential candidates with contrary ways to escape the energy morass: a Democrat pushing conservation and a Republican who wants to drill his way out.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-03-09/s_13811.asp



Environmental Marketplace Updates (Become a Member)

We'd like to encourage you to visit our Environmental Marketplace where you'll learn about some amazing environmentally-focused businesses. A few examples:

Alternative Energy Store, retailer for solar panels, windmills/wind turbines, inverters, solar water pumps, solar home heating systems and other solar and wind electric power systems for your home or business. If you'd like to learn about powering your home with solar and wind energy, their recent article offers a wealth of information. Read their story

Bullfrog Films, the oldest and largest publisher of videos and films about the environment in the United States. Bullfrog Films is pleased to present "Deconstructing Supper", a film that explores the phenomenon of industrial agriculture and genetically-modified organisms. Learn more

Chelsea Green Publishing, founded in 1984, has become known as the preeminent publisher of Books for Sustainable Living. One such book is "Seeds of Deception," which presents overwhelming evidence documenting serious potential health problems associated with the hi-tech foods that Americans eat every day. "Seeds of Deception"

Garden Kids, a leading manufacturer of fair wage organic cotton clothing for kids, celebrating ten years in business this spring! Their line of clothing can be viewed and purchased online. Learn more about Garden Kids

Grounds for Change, a specialty coffee business, roasting 100% organic, shade-grown, fair trade coffee beans fresh to order. All of their products are purchased under fair trade standards. Why is buying certified organic coffee so important?

Today's Press Releases (Become an Affiliate)
Direct from non-profit environmental and educational organizations.

International Fund for Animal Welfare:
IFAW And 7 African States Opposed to Ivory Trade

Wildlife Conservation Society:
Rwanda's Primate-Rich Forests Now A National Park

Ducks Unlimited:
Ducks Unlimited and Partners Awarded Five Federal North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA)* Grants to Conserve and Restore Key Wetlands

World Society for the Protection of Animals:
Global anti-whaling campaign launched

- posted by Daniel @ 6:23 PM

 
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Great Lakes News: 09 March 2004
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium.

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Davis-Besse gets OK to restart
----------------------------------------
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has authorized the restart of the
Davis-Besse plant, two years after one of the nuclear industry's worst
safety failures since Three Mile Island. Source: The Toledo Blade (3/9)


Third river spill angers residents
----------------------------------------
Frustrated community leaders stepped up demands for new wastewater
procedures yesterday, after the third chemical spill in five weeks shut down
water intakes in the St. Clair River. The London Free Press (3/9)


Public hearings called on underwater blasting in gulf
----------------------------------------
A Quebec government-appointed committee of experts has found underwater
blasting in the Gulf of St. Lawrence could harm marine mammals and
recommended measures to minimize the environmental impact of natural gas
exploration in the Seaway. Source: The Montreal Gazette (3/9)


Squabble erupts over Lake Erie shoreline
----------------------------------------
A coalition of five conservation groups has accused lakefront property
owners of misleading legislators to gain support for a bill that critics say
would restrict public access to Lake Erie's 262-mile shore. Source: The
Toledo Blade (3/9)


Seagulls making their return to lakeshore marinas
----------------------------------------
Manitowoc's infamous feathered foes, which numbered as high as 20,000 at the
peak of their infestation, have returned. Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette
(3/9)


Drop in budget slows Superfund program
----------------------------------------
Citing budgetary concerns, the Bush administration has proposed new toxic
waste sites for the Superfund program at a much slower rate than previous
administrations, a practice critics say masks the true demand for cleanups.
Source: The New York Times (3/9)


Shrinking state budget squeezes tourism ads
----------------------------------------
If Michigan can't afford to brag that the Great Lakes State is great, will
tourists still come to visit? Source: Detroit Free Press (3/9)


Bears given refuge in U.P.
----------------------------------------
The black bear cubs Bonnie and Clyde, who at one time faced euthanasia, have
a new home in a private bear sanctuary in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Source: Lansing State Journal (3/9)


SUNY hosts Great Lakes diving event
----------------------------------------
A grassroots effort to promote recreational diving in the Great Lakes region
and elsewhere was the focus of Saturday's Great Lakes Underwater event in
Oswego, N.Y. Source: The Palladium times (3/8)

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Did you miss a day of Daily News? Remember to use our searchable story
archive at http://www.great-lakes.net/news/inthenews.html


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Information Network (www.glin.net) and the Great Lakes Radio
Consortium (www.glrc.org), both based in Ann Arbor, Mich.
TO SUBSCRIBE and receive this Great Lakes news compendium daily, see
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- posted by Daniel @ 6:16 PM

 
PRESS RELEASE
Date Released: Monday, March 08, 2004
Source: Kucinich For President

Democratic Presidential Contender Kucinich Calls for Tripling NASA's Budget

Ohio Congressman and Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich today called for a tripling of NASA's budget

Kucinich, co-sponsor of the Space Exploration Act of 2003, said the current budget for NASA "is far from adequate. Our shuttle fleet is based on 30-year old technology and this is only because of a lack of funding. Although the shuttle program requires $4 billion a year to operate, NASA has been forced to operate the shuttle with a budget of only $3 billion a year."

Kucinich issued a far-reaching statement on the importance of the space program a day before he arrives in Florida Monday for two days of campaigning. Additional funding for space exploration and new technologies "is in our national interest," he said.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 5:41 PM

 
Published Monday, March 8, 2004

Lagging Hopefuls Can Still Make Point
By Bill Rufty
bill.rufty@theledger.com

Say, did someone forget to tell U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich that Sen. John Kerry has the Democratic Party's presidential nomination locked up?

Kucinich seemed to be everywhere in Florida during the last half of the week. He spoke in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, made three stops in Tampa and then went to Gainesville. On Saturday he delivered a major address in "Little Haiti" during a campaign swing through Miami.

The Ohio congressman knows something that many Democrats in Florida may have forgotten:

Your vote in the Democratic Party's presidential primary Tuesday will still count.

Kucinich and the others on the ballot have almost no chance of winning the nomination over Kerry, but winning a few delegates could be enough for his purposes.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 8:17 AM

 
Posted on Mon, Mar. 08, 2004

Democrat Kucinich Has Stomach Flu

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich was admitted to a Cleveland-area hospital on Monday with a stomach flu possibly caused by food poisoning, spokesman Doug Gordon said.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 6:53 PM

 
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Great Lakes News: 08 March 2004
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium.

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Great Lakes state lags behind in water regulations
----------------------------------------
States around the Great Lakes regulate large-scale water withdrawals, with
one exception - Michigan, the state surrounded by the Great Lakes. Source:
Great Lakes Radio Consortium (3/8)


Critics say Canada behind in Great Lakes cleanup
----------------------------------------
While public officials and environmentalists met in Washington recently to
discuss progress on cleaning up the Great Lakes, Canada is being criticized
for lagging behind the U.S. in doing its part. Source: Great Lakes Radio
Consortium (3/8)


'Now is the time to save the Credit'
----------------------------------------
A coalition of 29 environmental and ratepayer organizations has been formed
to fight for the protection of the Credit River in the face of rampant
development. Source: The Toronto Star (3/8)


EDITORIAL: Saving power a pressing need in Ontario
----------------------------------------
A new conservation initiative and a plan to decentralize Ontario's
electricity system are welcome additions to the debate on meeting the
province's energy crunch. Source: The London Free Press (3/8)


U.S. finds funds for fence to stop carp
----------------------------------------
Under pressure from members of Congress, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
has agreed to pay for a new electric fence to stop gluttonous Asian carp
from swimming into Lake Michigan. Source: Chicago Tribune (3/7)


Global warming cited in shift of wildlife numbers on Isle Royale
----------------------------------------
The moose population on the remote Isle Royale National Park is down sharply
while gray wolf numbers have jumped - a population shift possibly caused by
global warming. Source: The Detroit News (3/7)


Mackinac ice trail closed for season
----------------------------------------
Acting at the request of Mackinac Island public safety officials, the Coast
Guard has issued notice that the channel between the island and St. Ignace
will be reopened Tuesday. Source: The Sault Ste. Marie Evening News (3/7)


Spill notification before panel
----------------------------------------
Officials say that hundreds of Canadian chemical spills have occurred in the
St. Clair River over the past several years with no warnings issued to
officials on the American side of the river. Source: The Macomb Daily (3/7)


Changing Great Lakes: Oglebay Norton interests buyers
----------------------------------------
One of the Great Lakes' oldest shipping companies might have a lifesaver.
Source: Detroit Free Press (3/6)

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Did you miss a day of Daily News? Remember to use our searchable story
archive at http://www.great-lakes.net/news/inthenews.html


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Information Network (www.glin.net) and the Great Lakes Radio
Consortium (www.glrc.org), both based in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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- posted by Daniel @ 6:51 PM

 
Kucinich gets extra boost in final caucus numbers

By Associated Press

(Honolulu-AP) -- A final tally of the vote in Hawaii's presidential caucuses shows also-ran candidate Dennis Kucinich did even better than previously thought.

The Ohio congressman earned 31-point-two percent of the vote in the February 24th contest, behind winner John Kerry.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 6:43 PM

 
Ethics and the World Crisis:
A Dialogue with the Dalai Lama

Airs Sunday, 3/7/04 on Link TV (DIRECTV Ch. 375/Dish Ch. 9410) at
2 and 8 PM PT / 5 and 11 PM ET
For Web streaming and additional airtimes see the LinkTV Web site
.

A Link TV exclusive documentary presents highlights of an extraordinary day-long ethics conference, featuring the Dalai Lama in conversation with some of the nation's leading activists, among them Dennis Kucinich. A co-production of Tibet House U.S. in New York and Link TV, the program brings together for the first time ever, one of the world?s most important spiritual leaders with renowned journalists, economists, environmentalists and politicians to discuss the ethical dilemmas of the new millennium.

With allegations of government subterfuge, corporate malfeasance scandals and a devastating global warming crisis dominating the headlines, this unprecedented television program gives millions of Americans a rare glimpse into the enlightening ethical teachings, peaceful nature and often surprising humor of the Dalai Lama.

The program includes highlights from four panels: Ethics and the Environment (with David Crow, Randall Hayes, Paul Hawken), Ethics and the Media (with Amy Goodman, Katrina vanden Heuvel, Susan Sarandon); Ethics and Economics (with Ben Cohen, Amy Domini, Russell Simmons); and Ethics and the Politics of Peace (with Dr. Helen Caldicott, Dennis Kucinich, and Rev. Al Sharpton). The discussions are intercut with interviews from the panelists, who provide personal insights into their impressions of the dialogue and what ethics means to them.

The program was filmed in September, 2003 at New York?s Town Hall.
- posted by Daniel @ 4:27 AM

 
Soul Man

By Corinne McLaughlin

I first met Congressman Dennis Kucinich four years ago when I was looking for a Democrat in Congress who was willing to speak about spirituality at our conference, ?Re-Igniting the Spirit of America.? His courage, vision and integrity inspired me.

Kucinich told me he loved the book I co-authored,? Spiritual Politics: Changing the World from the Inside Out.? After living in Washington, D.C. for 12 years, and working for the Clinton Administration, I found it quite refreshing a politician would appreciate this approach.

He asked me to be his press secretary, and though I couldn?t at the time, I later helped him write and promote a bill proposing a federal Department of Peace.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:57 AM

 

"Recovery" not being felt by workers, Kucinich says
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2004

Contact: Matt Harris: (o) (216) 889-2004, (c) (216) 403-3980, press@kucinich.us

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor has just released "devastating" new job figures for February showing no net job gain in the last month, Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said today.

"The Bush administration is touting an economic recovery," said the Ohio Congressman, "so where are the jobs? More than eight million Americans are officially out of work, nearly 400,000 more people gave up looking for work last month and millions more are underemployed."

"If that's a recovery," Kucinich added, "I would hate to see what an economic slump looks like."

Kucinich has been the leading Democratic candidate calling for a complete overhaul of U.S. economic and trade policies. While other Democrats have been critical of the Bush record, Kucinich says the problems run deeper than the failed policies of the Bush Administration.

"The President can be held responsible for the loss of hundreds of thousands of American manufacturing jobs in the last four years," Kucinich noted, "but NAFTA has been putting Americans out of work since 1994."

The North American Free Trade Agreement has cost American workers more than three million jobs nationwide since 1994 in the manufacturing sector alone, said Kucinich, "But Senator Kerry has clearly and repeatedly stated his intention to continue NAFTA and continue U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization. Democrats need to be honest with American workers about what so-called free trade is doing to our economy."

"I pledge to repeal NAFTA; Kerry will continue it. NAFTA was designed for the sole purpose of allowing corporations to go after cheap foreign labor at the expense of jobs at home. It is harming American workers."

As President, Kucinich would protect American jobs by immediately canceling NAFTA and withdrawing from the WTO. The Kucinich plan would also implement a WPA-style public works and infrastructure rebuilding program.

"My jobs-creation plan will put two million Americans back to work at a living wage in such enterprises as rebuilding schools, roads and bridges, upgrading our environmental infrastructure, manufacturing steel, and developing and implementing new technologies," said Kucinich. "We can put Americans back to work rebuilding America, create millions of jobs, and simultaneously improve our quality of life."

For information about the National campaign: http://www.kucinich.us

For Congressman Kucinich's Schedule: http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm.

To schedule an interview with Kucinich or a spokesperson: jonathans@kucinich.us


Contact us:
Kucinich for President
11808 Lorain Avenue - Cleveland, OH 44111
216-889-2004 / 866-413-3664 (toll-free)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:14 AM

 
Kucinich to Call for Major Investigation Into US Role in Haiti
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2004

Contact: Terre Lundy/Matt Harris: (216) 889-2004, press@kucinich.us

Miami--Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich will take his presidential campaign to Miami's "Little Haiti" on Monday, March 8th, where in a major policy address at the Veye Yo Club (28 NE 54th Street, 10:00 -11:00 AM) he will talk about the situation in Haiti.

Kucinich is expected to call for:

* An investigation into the role the US played in arming the forces that arose in opposition to Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and in removing Aristide from office
* A broadening of the investigation into the role the US played in blocking funds earmarked for Haiti from the World Bank and the IMF
* Immediate release of those funds to Haiti now that it needs them more than ever
* Sweeping reforms in US immigration policy towards Haitians, which now appears to be racially motivated and discriminatory (one policy for Cubans, another more harsh policy for Haitians)
* Reaffirmation of Democratic principles in which the US fairly and impartially support democratically-elected leaders regardless of the Administration's particular regard for specific individuals elected, and a renewed commitment to stand firmly against armed aggression and coup d'etats.
* A broad investigation into the facts surrounding Jean-Bertrand Aristide's controversial Feb. 29th departure from Haiti

For information about the National campaign: http://www.kucinich.us

For Congressman Kucinich's Schedule: http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm.

To schedule an interview with Kucinich or a spokesperson: jonathans@kucinich.us


Contact us:
Kucinich for President
11808 Lorain Avenue - Cleveland, OH 44111
216-889-2004 / 866-413-3664 (toll-free)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:12 AM

 
Kucinich: "Cheney Guilty of Appalling Arrogance"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2004

Contact: Matt Harris: (o) (216) 889-2004, (c) (216) 403-3980, press@kucinich.us

In a blistering criticism of Vice President Dick Cheney--and by extension, President Bush--Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said Cheney was guilty of "appalling arrogance, condescension, and disrespect for the American people and U.S. soldiers in Iraq" by making jokes about weapons of mass destruction at Washington's annual Gridiron dinner.

"Weapons of mass destruction are not a joke," declared Kucinich. "Americans have died and Iraqis have died because Cheney and Bush wrongly launched our country into a war based on claims of weapons of mass destruction. That is not funny. It's a tragedy and a shameful fraud of global proportions."

On Saturday night, at the annual dinner sponsored by Washington journalists, Cheney, the featured speaker, likened the chemical botox to a weapon of mass destruction. Although his comments were intended to be off the record, it has since been reported that Cheney said the following:

"Botox, of course, is related to the botulism toxin, which can be processed into high-grade biological weapons. We have dispatched Dr. David Kay . . . to search for the bio-warfare agents we believe hidden in Senator Kerry's forehead. If Senator Kerry has used botox as part of a wrinkle enrichment program, he is in violation of U.N. Resolution 752. Upon receiving Dr. Kay's report, the weapons of mass destruction that Senator Kerry so adamantly insists do not exist . . . may well be above his very nose."

"How dare he make light of the death and destruction that the Bush Administration plunged us into with their phony and faulty intelligence? How dare he demean the memories of the American soldiers and civilians who died there? And how dare the elite, inside-the-Beltway Washington journalists abandon both professionalism and decency by laughing?"

Kucinich said Cheney owes Sen. Kerry, the citizens of the United States, our allies, the people of Iraq, and the entire world an apology. "The only joke here is an Administration whose policies have produced massive grief and agony, put millions of Americans out of work, left millions without adequate health care, and tarnished the reputation of our beloved nation in every corner of the world," Kucinich said.

For information about the National campaign: http://www.kucinich.us

For Congressman Kucinich's Schedule: http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm.

To schedule an interview with Kucinich or a spokesperson: jonathans@kucinich.us


Contact us:
Kucinich for President
11808 Lorain Avenue - Cleveland, OH 44111
216-889-2004 / 866-413-3664 (toll-free)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:10 AM

 
Democratic Presidential Contender Kucinich Calls for Tripling NASA's Budget
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2004

Contact: Matt Harris: (o) (216) 889-2004, (c) (216) 403-3980, press@kucinich.us

Ohio Congressman and Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich today called for a tripling of NASA's budget.

Kucinich, co-sponsor of the Space Exploration Act of 2003, said the current budget for NASA "is far from adequate. Our shuttle fleet is based on 30-year old technology and this is only because of a lack of funding. Although the shuttle program requires $4 billion a year to operate, NASA has been forced to operate the shuttle with a budget of only $3 billion a year."

Kucinich issued a far-reaching statement on the importance of the space program a day before he arrives in Florida Monday for two days of campaigning. Additional funding for space exploration and new technologies "is in our national interest," he said.

A bold and sustained human space exploration initiative has the potential to inspire a new generation of young people in the same way as the Apollo program did, Kucinich said.

Completion of the International Space Station, he noted, has the potential to engage the international community in peaceful cooperation in space.

The space program also has a huge job-creating potential. "By working in partnership with the private sector, NASA will lead the way in developing new technologies in energy, materials, communication, medicine, and propulsion. It will create the industries of the future and new high-tech jobs."

Those jobs, he added, will be located in cities and towns throughout the United States. "By increasing the budget for space exploration, we are putting Americans back to work in a visionary industry that has no limits to creativity or imagination," Kucinich said.

He also called for increased funding in training and education. "Increasing the funding to NASA would be an empty gesture if we failed to invest in the human capital of the aerospace industry. Only six of every 100 American engineering students are training to pursue careers in aerospace. This must change if we hope to restore our prominence in space technology."

The full text of Kucinich's statement follows.

Dennis J. Kucinich: New Initiatives in Space Exploration (March 7, 2004)

As a member of the generation that came of age watching the first humans soar into the outer reaches of our atmosphere, then to Earth orbit, and then to the moon, I am keenly interested in continuing the peaceful exploration of space.

The Space Exploration Act of 2003, which I cosponsored, restores a vision for the United States human space flight program. It outlines a series of incremental goals over the next 20 years that will facilitate the scientific exploration of the solar system, aid in the search for life elsewhere in the universe, and rekindle the spirit of discovery that created this nation. These goals include the development of reusable space craft that will be able to rendezvous with near-Earth orbit asteroids, carry humans from lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon and back, and carry humans from low Earth orbit to and from Martian orbit. A human-tended habitation and research facility on the surface of one of the moons of Mars is also among its goals.

The exploration of space is in our national interest for a number of reasons.

* A bold and sustained human space exploration initiative has the potential to inspire a new generation of young people in the same way as the Apollo program did.
* Completion of the International Space Station has the potential to engage the international community in peaceful cooperation in space.
* By working in partnership with the private sector, NASA will lead the way in developing new technologies in energy, materials, communication, medicine, and propulsion. It will create the industries of the future and new high-tech jobs.
* The jobs created by a space program are located in cities and towns throughout the United States. By increasing the budget for space exploration, we are putting Americans back to work in a visionary industry that has no limits to creativity or imagination.

I believe that one of the best investments we could make for the future of America would be to triple the budget for NASA. The current budget for NASA is far from adequate. Our shuttle fleet is based on 30-year old technology only because of a lack of funding. Although the shuttle program requires $4 billion a year to operate, NASA has been forced to operate the shuttle with a budget of only $3 billion a year.

Increasing the funding to NASA would be an empty gesture if we failed to invest in the human capital of the aerospace industry. Only six of every 100 American engineering students are training to pursue careers in aerospace. This must change if we hope to restore our prominence in space technology. Initiatives such as designing new spacecraft, new propulsion systems, and planning international missions into space will help to renew national interest in NASA and its programs.

Like hundreds of millions people worldwide, I stood in awe of the remarkable pictures beaming back to earth from NASA's Mars Rover, Spirit. A Kucinich administration will promote a bold and sustained human space flight initiative of scientific exploration that will build on the amazing accomplishments we have already seen.

For information about the National campaign: http://www.kucinich.us

For Congressman Kucinich's Schedule: http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm.

To schedule an interview with Kucinich or a spokesperson: jonathans@kucinich.us

Contact us:
Kucinich for President
11808 Lorain Avenue - Cleveland, OH 44111
216-889-2004 / 866-413-3664 (toll-free)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:02 AM

 
Kucinich to attend Selma "Bloody Sunday" Anniversary Activities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2004

Contact: Terre Lundy/Matt Harris: (216) 889-2004, press@kucinich.us

Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich will be in Selma, Alabama Sunday afternoon to participate in activities commemorating the 39th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" in which marchers were attacked by police for demanding voting rights for African Americans.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference President Fred Shuttlesworth, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, and U.S. Reps. John Lewis (D GA) and Maxine Waters (D CA) are also expected to participate in the commemorative march over the bridge.

The march is part of a full weekend of activities scheduled in Selma to recall the March 7, 1965 march for voting rights for African Americans when marchers over the Edmund Pettus Bridge were beaten and tear gassed by state troopers and sheriff's deputies.

Two weeks later, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery.
Thousands of people are expected in Selma over the weekend for the events.

For information about the National campaign: http://www.kucinich.us

For Congressman Kucinich's Schedule: http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm.

To schedule an interview with Kucinich or a spokesperson: jonathans@kucinich.us


Contact us:
Kucinich for President
11808 Lorain Avenue - Cleveland, OH 44111
216-889-2004 / 866-413-3664 (toll-free)
- posted by Daniel @ 12:59 AM

 
Democratic presidential candidate Kucinich to make Alaska appearance
VOICE: Ohio hopeful hopes to influence party platform.


By PETER PORCO
Anchorage Daily News

(Published: March 7, 2004)

A candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination for president is coming to Alaska, according to his supporters.

It is not Sen. John Kerry, the party's presumptive nominee, but U.S. Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Cleveland.

Kucinich will be visiting Anchorage this week in advance of the Democratic Party's Anchorage-area caucus on Saturday, said Christine Reichman, a musician who said she's the local contact for the Kucinich campaign.

The candidate will arrive late Wednesday night and will spend Thursday in Anchorage before leaving for Kenai on Friday, Reichman said. He will fly back to the Lower 48 after that.

The plan calls for Kucinich to speak in Anchorage and to give people a chance to hear him and shake his hand, Reichman said. Details of those arrangements have yet to be made, she added.

The Kucinich campaign also is considering having the candidate return to Alaska the following week for appearances in Fairbanks and Juneau, which have their caucuses on March 20, she said.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 12:55 AM

 
Kucinich stops in S. Texas

Contender aims for White House

By Quincy C. Collins and Janell Ross Caller-Times
March 7, 2004

ALICE - Steam escaped from a large pan as Jim Wells County Democratic Party Chairman Lupe Martinez served up two hot corn-and-bean tamales for Democratic presidential hopeful Dennis J. Kucinich's plate late Saturday morning.

But in his first political campaign tour of South Texas, Kucinich said he is the one who would like to serve South Texas - in the White House.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 7:39 PM

 
Dennis About Health Care To Floridians:


My presence in this race in Florida gives the people of Florida a real choice on this health care issue. You can vote for someone who is standing up and saying it is time that our political system showed some backbone and challenged this condition where the insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies are holding the American people captive. We have a right to expect a country that will respond to the health care needs of the American people.

I was at the Democratic platform committee four years ago on this issue. I want everyone to hear this, loud and clear. I took a resolution calling for a single-payer, universal, not-for-profit health care system right to the platform committee. And it was immediately shot down. I was told well, these are some of the people who are supporting our party. The insurance interests, we can't go there, we can't support it. Our Democratic party!

What do we stand for as a party, that's the question. We have 43 million Americans who can't afford health insurance. We have millions more who are paying premiums that are going through the roof. Co-pays and deductibles are going up. We have a new kind of poverty in America where people are being driven into poverty because of the high cost of health care. We have so many small businesses who are having trouble surviving because they cannot meet the health care expenses of their employees. All over America this crisis is going on and the two-party system has not been responding to it. That's why my candidacy inside the Democratic party is a call for dramatic change, it's time that we've got away from this rotten for-profit health care system and took it out of the control of the insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies!

The pharmaceutical companies had so much power that a couple months ago they worked with the administration to create a so-called prescription drug benefit under Medicare that was a farce because they took the cost controls off of the prescription drugs they're going to charge Medicare exorbitant prices so they can sink Medicare so they can tell the American public "Oh it looks like Medicare is out of money, looks like Medicare doesn't work anymore." This is the game that's being played about health care. Health care has become an engine for redistributing the wealth of America upwards. Out of all of your pockets and into the hands of the insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies.

So it is time for universal, single-payer, not-for-profit, national health care plan called Medicare for All. It is time to cover everyone in this country and see health care as a basic right in America. So this campaign is continuing so that the people of Florida will have a real choice come the Tuesday election. And it's a choice that focuses on peace, on health care for all, on education for all, on jobs for all, and a clean environment. I'm staying in this race to make sure that Florida has a real choice in this election.

- posted by Daniel @ 5:20 AM

 
RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE

03/07/04

Ohio Democrats tended to be more issue-oriented and less liberal than their counterparts in other big Super Tuesday primary states. Only 35 percent of the Ohio voters surveyed as they left polling places said their decision was based mainly on finding someone who could defeat President Bush in November.

Contrast that with New York or Connecticut, where 45 percent listed beating Bush as their prime motivator. Instead, in Ohio, where the economy was the most important issue, 56 percent voted for candidates who agreed with them on major issues, according to the National Election Pool Survey.

"Checking the ethics meter
Kucinich's determination to stay in the race for the Democratic nomination has people talking about whether he's wise, crafty, egotistical or all three. But one man, ethicist Jack Marshall of Washington, says Kucinich's resolve is certainly ethical, even if it's not unyieldingly loyal to Democratic leadership.

"Kucinich scales off the charts of any ethics evaluation, once one concludes (as it took me unusually long to do) that his occasionally extreme positions were sincerely held and not just posturing," Marshall, a former lawyer and former assistant dean at the Georgetown Law Center, said in an e-mail exchange.

"Is it ethical to stay in the race?" Marshall asked, echoing a question we had asked after hearing that Marshall ranked candidates on an ethics scale. "Clearly his message is very different from either Bush's or Kerry's. He believes it is an important message, and thus there is nothing wrong with his staying around to carry it. . . . All in all, Kucinich's determination to stick around gains him points for courage, integrity, perseverance, truth-telling and fortitude . . . ethical conduct all."

In other rankings, Marshall has listed Kerry as "on the slippery slope," with "some ethically dicey conduct, though nothing major." President Bush came out slightly worse because of his State of the Union address trumpeting weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. "He is not the liar his opponents claim him to be," Marshall writes, "but he needs to elevate his performance." "

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 5:05 AM

 
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2004 16:50:18 EST
From: Wpdanny@aol.com
Subject: Kucinich contributions SOAR--keep them climbing!

This is incredible--I guess quite a few of us aren't ready to give up just
yet! Keep the donations coming...we may have a few surprises in store yet for
the party establishment and the media annointers. I just got a ton of AK
addresses--let me know if you can write some letters. Keep on keeping on. Peace,
Danny

----------
Kucinich contributions soar after Edwards drops from race

The withdrawal of North Carolina Sen. John Edwards from the Democratic
Presidential race on Wednesday sparked a record-breaking influx of support
and financial contributions to the campaign of one of the Party's three
remaining candidates.

No, not Sen. John Kerry, whose election results on Super Tuesday persuaded
Edwards to withdraw. Rather, the calls and the contributions went to Ohio
Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

In the first 36 hours following the Edwards announcement, the Kucinich
campaign was swamped with calls and emails of support -- and nearly $160,000
in campaign contributions, most over the Internet. Finance officers in the
Kucinich campaign put out a call to campaign staff to help handle the load.

"It¹s clear that people want the public debate to continue," said Kucinich
while making campaign stops in Texas. "They know that I'm committed to
taking our issues and our efforts all the way to the Democratic convention
in July, and they know that costs money.

"Their generosity is more than gratifying," Kucinich added. "It's a
testament to their support for universal health care for all Americans, jobs
and a full employment economy, an end to trade policies that allow U.S.
corporations to outsource jobs to foreign countries and force our own
citizens into unemployment lines, a speedy end to our occupation of Iraq and
the safe return of our men and women in uniform."

Kucinich said the outpouring of support is a reflection of people's desire
to hear what he has to say. "The ongoing debate among different ideas,
policies, and plans can only strengthen our Party," Kucinich said. "More
and more, people are recognizing that fact and supporting our efforts to
keep that debate alive and lively. I thank them for their support and their
belief that our Progressive voice should continue to be heard because the
future of our country -- and the world -- is at stake."

For information about the National campaign: http://www.kucinich.us For
Congressman Kucinich's Schedule: http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm
- posted by Daniel @ 3:46 AM