The Bush administration is terrorizing the environment and using the so-called "War on Terrorism" to do it. Contained in Fiscal Year 2003 Defense Authorization legislation are provisions that would allow the Defense Department to override the Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It provides the agency with sweeping new exemptions that will endanger wildlife on over 25 million acres of public lands, in the name of patriotism. National security does not require placing the Defense Department above the law.
Bush says we need more oil to become energy independent while he cut by 28% funding for research into cleaner, more efficient cars and trucks. He announced intention to open up Montana's Lewis and Clark National Forest to oil and gas drilling at the same time rescinding the rule that mandated increased energy-saving efficiency regulations for central air conditioners and heat pumps.
The Bush/Cheney Oil, Coal, and Nuclear energy plan (drill, burn and glow) was conceived in closed-door meetings with Enron and other energy giants. It paves the way for oil, gas and coal to despoil an alarming number of our last wild places. Bush proposes to re-draw boundaries of national monuments, which would technically allow oil and gas drilling "outside" of the monuments. It's laughable to think that petrochemical energy development with its rigs, roads, pipelines and pollution won't destroy the wilderness and beauty of these wild places. If the Bush/Energy Industry Plan is implemented it will be a disaster for our environment, our health and the economy, by increasing powerŠ plant-generated air pollution and handing over $38 billion in subsidies and tax breaks to the energy giants.
There is nothing patriotic about handing over our natural heritage to the energy industry, which contributed $2.9 million to the Bush 2000 presidential campaign. But that is what Bush is doing in the name of national security. He is using the tragic events of September 11th as an opportunity to advance the special interests that put him in office. We cannot drill our way to energy security. The U.S. simply does not have enough oil. We could take it all and still need to import more. If we really want energy independence the only "patriotic" answer is to reduce our use of gas and oil and start relying on cleaner, smarter, renewable ways to power our nation.
Energy security needs to begin with gas mileage efficiency. If the U.S. had maintained the energy conservation momentum we had in the 1970s and early '80s we wouldn't need to be importing oil from the Persian Gulf today. We had doubled gas mileage efficiency and imports from the Persian Gulf alone fell by 87%. But national commitment to reducing fuel consumption lagged during the reign of George the First. Today, fuel economy is at its lowest level in 20 years, declining to an average of 24 miles per gallon. Bush propaganda states that if you buy drugs you are aiding the terrorists; using this same logic, driving a gas-guzzler also aids the "evil doers."
Bush has made it clear that he would rather sacrifice our air, water and natural treasures to his oil buddies than practice energy efficiency. He is promoting his self-serving agenda as essential to national security. He is willing to spill the blood of American soldiers and innocent civilians to maintain our energy-consumptive lifestyle, in the name of entitlement and patriotism.
A true patriot would be: advocating for renewable energy and for legalizing hemp production, encouraging local organic agriculture, protecting our forests and wild areas, keeping our air and water clean, educating our children, feeding our hungry, housing the homeless, seeking peaceful alternatives to world crisis, reducing CO2 emissions, cooperating with the World Court, respecting the "rule of law" and acting like "liberty and justice for all" means just that. Are you with us or against us, George?
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2002
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