FRIENDS EARTHOF T

HE

www.foe.org | Volume 39, Number 1 | Spring 2009 N E W S M A G A Z I N E

Spotlight on OurFriends page 4

Driving a Solar Fuel

Future page 6

You’re Invited toOur Sustainability

Soiree! page 15

C E L E B R A T I N G 40 YEARS O F V I C T O R I E S

THIS YEAR MARKS the 40thanniversary of Friends of theEarth’s founding by the vision-ary environmental leaderDavid Brower. He approachedenvironmental problems froma global perspective and recog-nized that pollution does notrespect national boundaries.With this in mind, our organi-zation spread into Europe andbeyond. Today, with membergroups in 77 countries, Friendsof the Earth International is thelargest global environmental advoca-cy network in the world.

Under Brower’s leadership, Friendsof the Earth launched the first majorclimate campaign of the environ-mental movement in 1970 with asuccessful fight to stop the superson-ic transport (SST). Our key concern inchallenging this new technology wasthat commercial fleets of super-fast,sonic-booming commercial jetlinersfor the wealthy would harm theEarth’s stratosphere.

I had my first experience withcongressional advocacy when I vol-unteered in 1970 for Friends of theEarth and joined in the SST battle.The variety of creative advocacyastonished me as I participated inthis David versus Goliath struggle.Friends of the Earth utilized grass-roots letter writing, newspaper ads,input from liberal and conservativeeconomists, budget priority argu-ments, and knowledge of congres-sional procedures, in addition to theenvironmental arguments put forthin door-to-door visits to senatorsand representatives. These tacticsand strategies led to many victoriesin the ensuing years.

For four decades Friends of theEarth has carried the torch of progres-

sive advocacy, never losing sight ofthe importance of pushing for far-reaching changes in our highly pol-luting society. We have led efforts thatsecured new environmental laws,won major court victories, carried outsuccessful consumer and corporatecampaigns to safeguard publichealth, and blocked numerous attackson our environmental protections.

President Obama has a challengingtask, for it is clear that he needs to dofar more than rectify the devastationcaused by the Bush administrationpolicies over the last eight years. Doingthat would merely return our nationto the environmentally unacceptableand unhealthy position we were in atthe turn of the new millennium.

Given the collapse of the globaleconomy, timid changes and tinkeringat the edges are not going to be suffi-cient to change the dangerous courseof human civilization. Bold leadershipin the mold of Franklin Roosevelt isneeded to rectify the economic andenvironmental injustice that is dam-aging so much of our world today.

We have an extraordinary oppor-tunity with President Obama tomake the kind of change he preachedabout during the Presidential cam-paign. I always want Friends of theEarth to represent change you can

believe in, the kind of changethat can transform the cur-rent unsustainable economicsystem into a different model,a model that encourages lifeto flourish on Earth.

After 40 years of work forFriends of the Earth and forthe Environmental PolicyCenter and Institute, whichmerged with Friends of theEarth in 1989, I am retiring thisyear. I look forward to pursu-

ing my love of teaching and writing,but will also continue to raise sup-port for Friends of the Earth.

I want to thank you for the manyyears of support and I hope that all ofour members will find a way to honorand celebrate our 40th anniversarythis year and to welcome our newPresident when that person is formal-ly on board. Even as we recall ourmany victories, we should also renewour determination to make sweepingchanges in the way our nation oper-ates and in the way the global eco-nomic system rapidly turns vital nat-ural resources into waste.

We will be hosting anniversaryevents in several locations through-out the year, including San Francisco,New York and Washington, DC, andwill keep you apprised of opportuni-ties to participate.

If you would like to host your own40th Anniversary event and inviteyour friends to become Friends ofthe Earth members at this crucialtime for the environment, pleasecontact Lisa Matthes atlmatthes@foe.org or 202-222-0730 inorder to receive a packet of informa-tion that you can use to help usbuild broader support.

P R E S I D E N T ’ S C O L U M N �

Farewell After 40 Years

2 Friends of the Earth Newsmagazine | Spring 2009

E C O B I T E S �

HEALTH AND EnvironmentCampaigner Ian Illuminato joinedmore than 100,000 activists inBelém, Brazil, this winter for theWorld Social Forum (WSF) – thesocial justice movement’s reactionto globalization. Friends of theEarth’s nanotechnology campaignmaintained a huge presence at theforum — hundreds of peopleattended the four workshops weorganized to examine nanotechnol-ogy’s implications for human andenvironmental health, and the

health of workers. Ian also helpedorganize and spoke at the openingday of the first World Sciences andDemocracy Forum. The Forum wasattended by more than 200 peoplefrom around the world and createda platform for NGOs, scientists,social activists and the public to talk about taking scientific researchout of the hands of corporationsand giving the public greater say inhow research affects the rest of the planet. To read Ian’s blog, go to www.foe.org/wsf_blog.

Voice of the Social Justice Movement Rings Out in Brazil

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH U.S. and itssister organizations in South Korea(KFEM) and Australia will release anew extensive report this spring thatexamines nano-silver particles andthe potential dangers for human andenvironmental health. There arealready hundreds of products contain-

ing nano-silver on the market, includ-ing clothing, cosmetics, baby productsand even food. South Korea is a majorglobal producer of products contain-ing nano-silver and is also one of thelargest global investors in nanotech-nology research and development.

New Report Investigates Nano-silver

A FEDERAL LAWSUIT that sought toforce the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im)and the Overseas Private InvestmentCorporation (OPIC) to address theglobal warming implications of theiroverseas financing activities was set-tled after more than six years. Thesuit, brought by Friends of the Earth,Greenpeace and several U.S. cities,claimed that the two U.S. agenciesfinanced fossil fuel projects withoutassessing whether the projects con-tributed to global warming orimpacted the U.S. environment, as

they were required to do under theNational Environmental Policy Act(NEPA). Under the settlement, Ex-Imwill begin taking greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions into account inevaluating fossil fuel projects andcreate a carbon policy, and OPIC willreduce GHGs associated with proj-ects by 20 percent over the next tenyears. Both agencies will providemore financing for renewable ener-gy. The suit opened up the court-house doors for the first time to vic-tims injured by climate change.

Landmark Global Warming Lawsuit Settled

www.foe.org

Volume 39, Number 1

Spring 2009

FRIENDS EARTHOF T

HE

N E W S M A G A Z I N E

Spring 2009 | Friends of the Earth Newsmagazine 3

Get involved in issues and debates affecting human health and theplanet by signing up for Friends of the Earth action alerts and bi-weeklynewsletters by email. Go to www.foe.org and enter your email address inthe box provided in the left-hand navigation bar.

Ecobites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Spotlight on Our Friends . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Solar Fueling Stations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Earth Keeper Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Annual Meeting of the Membership . . . . . . 8

DC Celebrates . . . . . . . . . 8

40th Anniversary . . . . . 9

Planet Earth Advocacy Fund. . . . . . . . 9

Cover Story: Yes We Can! But Will We?. . . . . . . . . 10

Fighting Ship Pollution. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

The Green Ball . . . . . . . 15

SPOTLIGHT ON OUR FRIENDS �

By Elizabeth Bast

EVERY TWO YEARS, the Friends of theEarth International network gathersfor the Biannual General Meeting ofthe federation. At this meeting, rep-resentatives from each Friends ofthe Earth group come together todecide on matters of importance tothe federation – from programs, tocommunications, to fundraising, tothe oversight of the network. This isalso the time when we vote newmember groups into the network.

Last November, at the generalmeeting in Honduras, Friends of theEarth International welcomed eightexciting new groups to the network.All of these organizations have beenestablished in their own countriesfor some time, and each bringsimpressive experience and a uniquevoice to the federation.

Liberia. The SustainableDevelopment Institute (SDI)/Friendsof the Earth Liberia, directed byGoldman Prize winner Silas Siakor,works on a range of issues includingprotecting the country’s valuablenatural resources from corrupt gov-ernance and mismanagement, par-ticularly in the forest sector. Liberiais emerging from a turbulent periodof dictatorship and civil war, and SDI

hopes to create a country in whichnatural resource management isguided by the principles of sustain-ability and good governance andbenefits all Liberians. Website:www.sdiliberia.org/

Malawi. Citizens for Justice(CFJ)/Friends of the Earth Malawiworks with and on behalf of thecountry’s largely subsistence farm-ing communities that are adverselyaffected by unsustainable naturalresource management. CFJ wasformed in response to proposals for

uranium mining in Malawi, and CFJhas insisted that the health, safetyand welfare of the people near theproposed mine sites are adequatelyaddressed in advance of miningoperations. CFJ facilitates publicaccess to information, thereforeincreasing public participation. Theyemphasize empowering and pro-moting the rights of women andchildren in Malawi.

Mexico. Otros Mundos/Friends ofthe Earth Mexico works to addressthe concerns of Mexico’s rural,

4 Friends of the Earth Newsmagazine | Spring 2009

Past and present Friends of the Earth International Chairpersons Meena Raman and NnimmoBassey in Honduras.

The Earth Just Got a Few More Friends

History Lesson: How Friends of the Earth International BeganEd Matthews was working in Paris in 1969 when he wrote Friends of the Earth founder David Brower suggestingthat environmental problems spanned international borders and that Friends of the Earth should expand itsreach. Brower asked him to represent the organization in Europe and within a year Ed had established offices inEngland, The Netherlands and Sweden. The success of those groups was grounded in the belief that every nation’senvironmental movement must be expressed by each culture in its own terms in order to solve the dilemmasthey face. And his legacy lives on in the ever-expanding network of international Friends of the Earth groups.These groups adhere to a core set of values agreed upon at the international level but have the flexibility to meetthose goals in their own way. It is this achievement that he is most proud of and deeply satisfied by. His wifePatricia serves on the board of directors and through her participation, Ed remains involved.

Spring 2009 | Friends of the Earth Newsmagazine 5

SPOTLIGHT ON OUR FRIENDS �

indigenous and peasant population.They work with people from cooper-atives, communities and socialorganizations to alleviate humanand social rights violations. One oftheir priority issues is water, andthey are working to secure water asa human right as well as to fightagainst the construction of largehydroelectric dams and to supportcommunities negatively impactedby these dams. Website:www.otrosmundoschiapas.org

Mozambique. JusticaAmbiental/Friends of the EarthMozambique goes by JA!, whichmeans ‘Now!’ in English. They workclosely with communities to enddeforestation, halt pollution, stopdam-building, monitor oil explo-ration and increase people’s access toclean water. JA! is committed to freerivers and clean water for all, envi-ronmental law and policy monitor-ing, promotion of renewable ener-gies and a toxic-free environment.

Tanzania. The Lawyers’ EnvironmentalAction Team (LEAT)/Friends of theEarth Tanzania was established toensure the rights of the people toaccess the country’s land andresources. Tanzania’s environmentand natural resources are underattack and LEAT works at all levels ofpolicy, legal and grassroots advocacyto improve environmental laws, con-servation, and governance of naturalresources – particularly with regardsto mining issues and human rights.

Timor Leste. The HaburasFoundation/Friends of the EarthTimor Leste was formed by a groupof Timorese students in 1998 during

the Indonesian occupation of TimorLeste. It is the oldest and mostactive national environmentalgroup in the country. Haburas, alsodirected by a Goldman Prize winner,Demetrio de Carvalho, uses a widenetwork of local community groupsand relies on traditional Timoreseculture to promote better environ-mental management practices thatalso respond to the developmentalneeds of local communities.

Sri Lanka. The Center forEnvironmental Justice (CEJ)/Friendsof the Earth Sri Lanka promotes envi-ronmental good governance andenvironmental justice in Sri Lanka.CEJ was established in 2004 as apublic interest environmentalorganization to engage in environ-mental campaigning and legal advo-cacy nationwide. They work closelywith local communities and impact-ed peoples and support themthrough a broad range of activities.Website: http://www.ejustice.lk

Uganda. The National Association ofProfessional Environmentalists/Friends of the Earth Uganda advo-cates for the sustainable use of nat-ural resources in the areas of water,energy and forests. They also lobbyfor the transformation of theUgandan government to ensuretransparency and accountability inUganda’s development processes.

In addition to accepting thesenew groups, the federation alsoelected Nnimmo Bassey, theExecutive Director of Friends of theEarth Nigeria, as the Chairperson forFriends of the Earth International.He succeeds Meena Raman, who hasstepped down as Chair but remainsclosely involved with the networkthrough the Executive Committee,the governing board of the network.

The Executive Committee mem-bers were also elected at the generalmeeting, and include representa-tives from Uruguay, Croatia,Guatemala, Bangladesh, SouthAfrica, and England, Wales andNorthern Ireland. Elizabeth Bastfrom Friends of the Earth U.S. is alsoserving for a second term on theExecutive Committee.

Representatives from the new member groups.

For global, multilingual coverage of international events and activities,check out Real World Radio, an alternative news source sponsored byFriends of the Earth International: http://www.radiomundoreal.fm

Solar Fueling Stations: Building a Zero Emissions Transportation Future

6 Friends of the Earth Newsmagazine | Spring 2009

By Sara Schedler

RECENT REPORTS INDICATE thatgreenhouse gas emissions are grow-ing much more rapidly than expectedand pushing beyond leading scien-tists’ projected worst-case scenarios.Transportation currently accounts formore than one-third of all U.S. green-house gas emissions and is rapidlygrowing. In order to quickly and sub-stantially reduce greenhouse gasemissions from transportation andachieve energy independence as anation, we must fundamentallytransform our vehicles and the fuel

they use. Plug-in electric vehicles,fueled by renewable energy sourcessuch as solar, offer a vital solution toachieving these goals.

Rising from relative obscurity justa few years ago, the plug-in electricvehicle is now widely touted by opin-ion leaders, engineers, environmen-talists, government officials, andnational security leaders as the carthat will revolutionize the wayAmerica—and the world—drives.China recently released its first plug-in car for commercial use andnumerous automakers, both domes-tic and foreign, are working quickly

to release their own plug-in vehicles.Recognizing the important role plug-in vehicles can play in solving ourgreenhouse gas and oil dependenceproblems, President Obama has setgoals of putting one million plug-inson the road by 2015, requiring that atleast 50 percent of all federal fleetpurchases be plug-ins by 2012, andconverting the White House fleet toplug-ins (security-permitting).

Today, a plug-in charged from thecleaner California electric grid canreduce emissions by up to 62 percentcompared to a conventional car. But,when the electricity used to fuel plug-

T R A N S P O R TAT I O N �

Envision Solar’s Solar Grove at Kyocera Headquarters, San Diego, CA.

Spring 2009 | Friends of the Earth Newsmagazine 7

in cars is produced from 100 percentrenewable sources such as solar ener-gy, greenhouse gas emissions fromcars can approach zero. Friends of theEarth is pursuing this vision andworking with legislators, regulatoryagencies, and businesses to developsolar-powered charging stations (i.e.sun fuel stations) that can fuel plug-in cars directly from the sun.

A solar fueling station is essentiallya carport upon which solar panels aremounted and underneath which carspark and charge from provided out-lets. These stations not only chargecars, but can also feed the grid withclean energy or provide energy for theonsite host building(s) when cars arenot being charged.

The benefits of solar fueling sta-tions are manifold. They dramatically

contribute to public and environ-mental health by reducing smog andparticulate matter. From a nationalsecurity standpoint, plug-ins chargedfrom domestic solar energy reducethe need to rely on dwindling sup-plies of increasingly costly oil. Solarfueling stations will also significantlycontribute towards the emerginggreen economy and help support aburgeoning green collar workforce.

Importantly, by using existing builtspace such as parking lots to generatefuel, solar fueling stations encourageinfill development and cut down onthe use of virgin land for solar powergeneration. Solar fueling stationshave the potential to generate signifi-cant amounts of fuel. For example,there are approximately 90 millionparking spaces in California and if

just one-third of all parking spaces inthe state were converted to solar fuel-ing stations, they could generateenough fuel to power the averagedaily commute for the majority ofCalifornian cars on the road.

In order to avert the worst of cli-mate change effects, plug-in vehiclesand solar-powered charging infra-structure provide an importantnear-term solution to dramaticallyreducing greenhouse gas and otherpollution from vehicles. This is justone of many tools in our tool belt.We must also work to get people outof their cars altogether through fastand user-friendly transit and pro-mote smart-growth developmentwhich provides families with a morewalkable and livable community-oriented environment.

T R A N S P O R TAT I O N �

What is a Plug-In Vehicle? Plug-in cars look and feel like conventional cars, but are powered, in whole or in part, bybatteries that are charged via electricity. Plug-in vehicles can be charged by pluggingthem into a 120 volt outlet, which is standard in most homes and garages.

There are two main types of plug-ins: the Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) andthe Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV). A PHEV is like a conventional hybrid car, such as aToyota Prius, with a more powerful battery that generally allows for 20 to 60 miles ofall-electric driving before switching to a normal gasoline-electric hybrid engine. A BEV,also known as a “pure electric car,” does not have a gasoline engine and runs solely onbatteries. Many BEVs have a range of up to 100 miles or more.

G I V I N G �

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH memberswho sign up to make a monthlydonation through the Earth KeeperSociety help us ensure effective cam-paigning and victories throughoutthe year. By giving a fixed amounteach month you can support ourcampaigns without the financialstrain of a larger, one-time gift – as

little as $10 a month can add up tohuge support for the environment.Your reliable contribution helps usexert pressure on polluters, raiseawareness and mobilize publicaction, create meaningful legislationand work to enact the most powerfuland effective environmental laws.

Help Save the Planet One Month at a Time

8 Friends of the Earth Newsmagazine | Spring 2009

E L E C T I O N S �

E V E N T S �

JUST DAYS PRIOR to the PresidentialInauguration Friends of the Earth’sGlobal Stewardship Council held anintimate reception at the home ofboard member Peyton West inWashington, DC. Nearly 50 area sup-porters and several Friends of theEarth campaigners came togetherto celebrate our recent successesand share thoughts about our goalsfor the upcoming year. All of thefunds raised at the reception will be

used to support our campaigns tocombat global warming, prevent airand water pollution, and keep tox-ins out of consumer products. Thankyou to all who attended andpledged support.

For information on becoming amember of the Global StewardshipCouncil and local events in yourarea, please contact Hillary Blank at hblank@foe.org or 415-544-0790 ext. 19.

DC Celebrates

Event attendees gathered on January 18th tocelebrate Friends of the Earth’s recent victories.

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH will host itsannual board meeting, Monday, June15th at 12:30 p.m., in the Washington,D.C. office. Jayni Chase and DavidZwick are running uncontested for thetwo open slots on the Friends of the

Earth Board of Directors. Membersmay cast votes at the annual meeting.If you would like to attend, contactLisa Matthes at lmatthes@foe.org or byphone at 202-222-0730. Members mayalso vote by proxy ballot. To do so, copy

or clip the mailing label from thisnewsmagazine and mail your vote toBoard Election, Friends of the Earth,1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite600, Washington, DC, 20036 or fax202-783-0444.

Jayni Chase, Founder and CEO, Center forEnvironmental EducationJayni founded the Center forEnvironmental Education, a nationallybased non-profit organization whichadvances environmental education. She

is also the author of Blueprint for a Green School, an envi-ronmental education resource guide. Jayni is the recipientof numerous awards from organizations such as TheAudubon Society, NRDC, The Environmental MediaAssociation, Women For, U.S. Environmental Film Festival,and the Rainforest Alliance. Most recently Jayni participat-ed in the Clinton Global Initiative and, along with EarthDay Network (where she is a board member), she islaunching a new ambitious initiative, GREEN reModel.Jayni currently serves as Chair of the DevelopmentCommittee for the Board of Friends of the Earth.

David Zwick, Founder, Clean Water ActionDavid’s work over the past 30 yearshas focused on helping grassroots citizen organizations form, grow andcampaign successfully. In the fall of2007, he stepped down as President

of Clean Water Action, which he founded in 1972. Since then he has been a Fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics for a semester and later worked on several election campaigns. David is Treasurer of America Votes, a national organization that works with its partner groups on election projects. He is the author of Water Wasteland, which helped shape the CleanWater Act, and co-author of the bestseller, Who RunsCongress. He holds a Juris Doctor from Harvard LawSchool. David currently serves as Treasurer for the Board of Friends of the Earth.

Notice: Annual Meeting of the Membership

Spring 2009 | Friends of the Earth Newsmagazine 9

AFTER NEARLY 40 YEARS working forand then leading Friends of the Earth(and previously the EnvironmentalPolicy Institute which merged withus), our President and beloved leader,Brent Blackwelder, will be retiringduring the coming year.

Named as an outstanding envi-ronmental luminary in Vanity Fairmagazine and the Washingtonian,among others, Brent has led Friendsof the Earth in growing its interna-tional network to include groups in77 countries. His vision has inspiredunique and crucial efforts that havestopped attempts to destroy ourrivers, oceans, mountains, air, wildlifeand climate. On Capitol Hill and else-where, he has taken principledstands that have meant victory forthe voiceless among human commu-nities and within our natural world.

In honor of Brent’s retirement,Friends of the Earth has created aspecial “readiness” fund to takeadvantage of breaking opportunitiesand teachable moments to win vic-tories. The funds will be used to pro-vide a special boost to our cam-paigns on energy and climate, toprotect fragile ocean life and coralreefs, to stop egregious practicessuch as tar sands extraction andmountain top mining, and to count-er similar threats that demand quickand decisive action.

We hope that you, our membersand supporters, will make a specialdonation this year to honor Brent’sfour decades of leadership andunstinting dedication to environ-mental protection.

We will be hosting events through-out the year which will offer opportu-

nities to donate. You can also mailyour check and good wishes to ouroffice at 1717 Massachusetts Avenue,Ste. 600, Washington, DC 20036.

For further information or tofacilitate stock or other donations,please contact Marsha Mather-Thrift, Director of Development at1-866-217-8499 or via email atmmather@foe.org.

Planet Earth Advocacy Fund: Honoring Brent Blackwelder

M E M O RY B A N K �

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH is looking forstories from long-time membersfrom ten, twenty, thirty and fortyyears ago to include in our 40thAnniversary commemorative news-magazines coming out this year.

Many of you have supported ussince our founding by David Browerin 1969. Some of you joined in the1980s and still others of you came onboard in the years since.

Send us your recollections of keyvictories, environmental battles,inspirational leaders, local land-marks we helped protect, and other

memories connected with being aFriends of the Earth member.

We will print excerpts from all of thetop entries received. The best submis-sion will win a $100 gift certificate fromPatagonia. Please submit your entry byMay 1st to be considered for the prize.Thanks for helping us celebrate!

Please address your submissions to:Marsha Mather-Thrift Director of Development 311 California Street, Suite 510 San Francisco, CA 94104.

Or email them to slozano@foe.org.

Help us Celebrate 40 Years of Friends of the Earth!

Tom Stokes (far right), Bunny Gabel (center)and NYC activists fight the Westway interstatehighway and development scheme in NYC.

C O N T R I B U T E �

By Nick Berning

THERE’S REASON BEYOND PresidentBarack Obama’s campaign slogan tobelieve he will bring change toWashington. In his first months inoffice, Obama has already engi-neered a massive economic stimuluspackage, signed legislation protect-ing women’s right to equal pay forequal work, ordered theGuantanamo detention center toclose, and expanded health coverageto more than 10 million children.Obama’s early actions have also ben-efited the environment. He hasdirected billions of dollars towardclean energy, ordered the EPA toreevaluate a Bush-era decision block-ing “clean cars” legislation, and

appointed top scientists to influen-tial positions in his administration.

But given the vast environmentalchallenges we face, will the changeObama brings be enough? Our civi-lization is on a wholly unsustainablepath. We are burning through theworld’s natural resources, and ourreliance on fossil fuels has created aclimate crisis that will at a mini-mum lead to food and water short-ages for humans and the extinctionof many species. If human civiliza-tion is to survive, we will need toradically re-work the way we live,dramatically reducing consumptionand transitioning to 100 percentclean energy. And the change musttake place soon.

During the campaign, Obamatold Rolling Stone that “a new energypolicy that speaks to our depend-ence on foreign oil and deals seri-ously with global warming” was oneof his top priorities. Shortly after theelection, Obama said “any nationthat’s willing to join the cause ofcombating climate change will havean ally in the United States ofAmerica.” And in his inauguraladdress, he said “We can no longerconsume the world’s resources with-out regard to effect.”

Clearly, Obama will move awayfrom the harmful policies of

President George W. Bush. But at thesame time, it would be a mistake tounderestimate the influence fossilfuel industries continue to hold inWashington, the power of the statusquo, and the allure of incrementalchange even when only sweepingchange will do.

Obama’s record isn’t perfect. Hevoted for a deeply flawed 2005 energybill that perpetuated our dependenceon oil and gas, he has been a boosterof environmentally harmful cornethanol, and he continues to be opento energy sources that are not part ofthe solution, including nuclear powerand coal. Obama’s campaign plat-form recommended reducing globalwarming pollution too slowly, withdomestic emission reduction targetsfor the year 2020 that are too weak.And even where Obama wishes toexercise bold leadership, Congress willact as a constraint. In the Senate, notall Democrats are as progressive onclimate issues as they should be, andObama will need their support plusthe backing of some Republicans topass legislation.

One reason for optimism is that inthe face of the worst economic crisisin decades, Obama hasn’t run fromhis plans to revamp America’s energyinfrastructure and tackle globalwarming. Instead, he’s re-empha-

10 Friends of the Earth Newsmagazine | Spring 2009

YES WE CAN!Examining Obama’s

phot

o cr

edit:

Jac

k Th

iele

pape

Yes We Can! But Will We? President Obama campaignedon a message of hope and change, but will the change he brings be sufficient to save our planet?

Talk radio person-ality RushLimbaugh’s incen-diary remark thathe hopes Obama

fails is the wrong attitude butunfortunately many in theRepublican leadership are sidingwith him. We need bi-partisansupport for solutions to ournation’s problems, not the sameold giveaways to polluters anddenials of global warming. ph

oto

cred

it: h

ttp:

//w

ww

.flic

kr.c

om/p

hoto

s/ul

trav

od/

sized them, arguing that one of thebest ways to create jobs in the short-term and keep down the cost ofenergy in the long term is to invest inwind farms, solar installations, publictransit, home insulation and othergreen programs. Obama has alsobeen clear that the U.S. must end theBush administration’s go-it-alonestance and has noted that interna-tional engagement is crucial to win-ning the climate fight. This bodeswell for what are likely to be difficultinternational climate talks inCopenhagen in December 2009.

If Obama is to succeed as presi-dent, his tenure must result inchanges as sweeping as thoseachieved by Franklin DelanoRoosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, andAbraham Lincoln. There will be victo-ries as well as setbacks along theway. One thing that’s certain is thatenvironmental organizations such asFriends of the Earth and grassrootsactivists will continue to play animportant role. Obama’s success willdepend on what the rest of us do—the support, and pressure, that weprovide. It’s time to get to work.

Will Obama turn awayfrom false energy choices?As mounting evidence makes it clearglobal warming is real, polluting indus-tries that once denied science now tryto co-opt it, arguing their dirty productsare solutions. Will the Obama adminis-tration reject these false claims?

The biofuel industry has long triedto market corn ethanol as a “green”fuel, even though pressure for landon which to grow corn and other bio-fuel feedstocks leads to deforesta-tion. The coal industry has spent tensof millions of dollars trying to con-nect its product to the word “clean,”even though coal is the dirtiest formof energy there is. And the failednuclear industry is trying to attracttaxpayer subsidies for new “low car-bon” reactors, ignoring the fact thatthe industry has no solution for dan-gerous radioactive waste.

On all of these fronts, PresidentObama’s legislative record, cam-paign platform, and early actions aspresident provide reason for opti-mism, but also concern.

Biofuels may end up being the dirtyenergy source over which we end updisagreeing most with the WhiteHouse. Largely because of the power ofthe agribusiness lobby, biofuels enjoy alarge base of support in Congress and

are heavily subsidized. As a senatorfrom Illinois, where corn for ethanol isa major crop, Obama was a big biofu-els supporter. However, after severalscientific studies indicated biofuelscause more environmental harm thanpreviously thought, Obama showedsome willingness to modify his posi-tion. For example, as the campaignprogressed, he talked less about “cornethanol” and more about “advancedbiofuels” (which have the potential tobe more earth-friendly—thoughthere’s no guarantee this will be thecase).

“Obama’s made some progress onthis issue, but his choice of formerIowa Governor Tom Vilsack to leadthe Agriculture Department is trou-bling,” said Kate McMahon, a leaderof Friends of the Earth’s biofuelscampaign. “Vilsack is an ally of corpo-rate agribusiness who has supportedethanol subsidies in the past.” Onthe other hand, McMahon noted, thenew Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu,has spoken out against corn ethanoland called it highly inefficient.

While Chu may be an ally in thefight against corn ethanol, he couldprove more troublesome on the issueof new nuclear reactors. During thecampaign, Obama expressed open-ness to nuclear as a source of energy,but only if substantial hurdles,including safety issues and radioac-tive waste, can be addressed.Unfortunately, during his confirma-tion hearings, Chu advocated moving

Spring 2009 | Friends of the Earth Newsmagazine 11

(continued on page 12)

But Will We? Environmental Agenda

Friends of the Earth is building support forsweeping changes from the Obama adminis-tration.

12 Friends of the Earth Newsmagazine | Spring 2009

C O V E R S T O RY �

forward with new reactors beforethese problems have been solved.

“That’s a big distinction, andwe’re going to push Chu to stick toObama’s campaign position,” saidErich Pica, who directs Friends of theEarth’s domestic programs. “Weshouldn’t be building new reactorswhen waste and safety problemshave not been addressed.”

In practice, the fight over nuclearpower will likely come down towhether taxpayers will be forced tofoot the bill when the nuclear indus-try defaults on loans. The industryhas been unable to attract privatefinancing for financially risky reactorprojects and will need loan guaran-tees from the government beforeconstruction can begin. TheCongressional Budget Office predictsthe industry will default on most ofthese loans, and taxpayers will bestuck with the bill. Friends of theEarth defeated an attempt by UtahSenator Bob Bennett to stick up to$50 billion in nuclear loan guaran-tees into the stimulus packagepassed in February. If we can per-suade Obama to oppose future con-gressional attempts to pass this pre-emptive bailout for the nuclear

industry, we will keep proposed reac-tors from being built.

The Obama administration may bemost closely aligned with us when itcomes to rolling back our nation’sdependence on dirty coal. WhileObama has occasionally used themisleading term “clean coal” to referto a technology that doesn’t yet existin commercial form and likely neverwill, he has also spoken of our need toturn away from fossil fuels. AndEnergy Secretary Chu has called coalhis “worst nightmare.” The cap on car-bon emissions Obama supportswould make coal much more expen-sive and likely lead to a phase out ofcoal-fired power plants.

Re-thinking TransportationObama has supported stronger fueleconomy standards and cleanerfuels, but will he get to the root ofthe problem and give people cleaneroptions than cars?

Transportation causes about athird of our country’s global warm-ing pollution. One way to reduce thispollution is to make cars and trucksmore efficient; another is to usecleaner fuels; and another is toreduce driving altogether, withinvestments in public transporta-tion, passenger rail, and walkableand bikeable communities.

Obama has been a leader in someof these areas. As a senator, heworked to improve fuel economystandards for cars and trucks, andafter the energy bill of 2007strengthened these standards,Obama pledged to push for furtherimprovements. Similarly, he has pro-moted a transition away from oiland toward cleaner fuels. While thebiofuels that Obama favored in thepast have turned out to be as bad asoil, another new fuel—electricity—may be a better option. As the U.S.turns to clean energy sources suchas wind and solar, electricity will bea less-polluting fuel for vehicles.

Obama’s Green TeamEnergy and Climate Czar Carol BrownerPLUSES: Substantial experience; office inWhite HouseMINUSES: Only accomplished incrementalchanges in the Clinton administration,bolder change needed now

Energy Secretary Steven ChuPLUSES: He’s a Nobel-prize-winning scien-tist, calls coal a “nightmare,” and criticizescorn ethanolMINUSES: He’s open to new nuclear reactors,and “synthetic biology” to manipulate nature

EPA Administrator Lisa JacksonPLUSES: Put New Jersey’s strong globalwarming plan in placeMINUSES: N.J. activists faulted her for fail-ing to clean up sites polluted by toxicchemicals

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHoodPLUSES: Supported transit funding while inCongress; joined congressional bike caucusMINUSES: Lousy overall environmentalrecord, little indication of transformativethinking that’s needed

Car

ol B

row

ner

phot

o cr

edit:

Oba

ma-

Bid

en T

rans

ition

Tea

m

Obama’s successwill depend onwhat the rest of us do—thesupport, andpressure, thatwe provide.

Spring 2009 | Friends of the Earth Newsmagazine 13

C O V E R S T O RY �

Obama has pushed for a rapid intro-duction of plug-in hybrid cars intothe marketplace (such cars can beplugged into regular electric outletsand travel for 30 to 40 miles beforeswitching over to gas).

Unfortunately, making cars moreefficient and powering them withcleaner fuels will only do so much.“What we ultimately need is to havefewer cars on the road, driving short-er distances—and that meansensuring there are clean, affordable,convenient alternatives,” said ColinPeppard, who manages Friends ofthe Earth’s transportation campaign.“The best ways to accomplish thisare by being smart about how wedevelop and grow, and by expandingcleaner transportation alternatives,including public transit, passengerrail, carpooling, and walking andbiking. We’ll be pushing Obama toembrace such changes.”

While Obama, as a former electedofficial from Chicago, has been astrong supporter of smart planningand public transportation, he hasn’tyet embraced the complete overhaulof our transportation system that isneeded. The economic stimulus pack-age he signed in February containedroughly $15 billion dollars for cleantransportation infrastructure, but italso included more than $30 billion

that could go to new roads and lockin future global warming pollution.

Likewise, new TransportationSecretary Ray LaHood, a formerRepublican congressman, has in thepast voted for smart transportationinvestments but has not shown thebroader vision that is needed. Theadministration will face its largesttest on this front soon. Every six years,the federal transportation bill comesup for renewal. That bill comes up forconsideration this year and could beworth more than $500 billion.

Restoring Integrity to the EPAThe EPA was weakened by Bush, butcan be a key driver of progress underObama.

For eight years, Bush administra-tion appointees in charge of theEnvironmental Protection Agencydid all they could to keep the agencyfrom protecting the environment.The most nefarious appointee,Administrator Stephen Johnson,repeatedly overrode science-basedrecommendations from career EPAstaff, disregarding the SupremeCourt’s landmark Mass v. EPA globalwarming ruling, blocking states try-ing to limit pollution from cars andtrucks, allowing unsafe levels ofmercury emissions from power

plants, and weakening pesticidesafety standards.

“Johnson was one of the worstEPA administrators in history, andour country is a less healthy placebecause of it,” said Friends of theEarth President Brent Blackwelder.“There’s no question whether theObama administration will be bet-ter—of course it will. The question iswhether it will go far enough.”

Already, Obama has ordered his EPAto reconsider a Bush-era decision thatprevented California and 14 otherstates from limiting global warmingpollution from cars and trucks. Andthe new EPA administrator, LisaJackson, has promised to put scienceback in its rightful place as the basisof EPA decision making. Jackson previ-ously served as New Jersey’sCommissioner of EnvironmentalProtection and earned plaudits for herefforts to reduce the state’s green-house gas emissions, though she hasalso been criticized by some localactivists for not doing enough to stemother types of pollution.

One of Jackson’s biggest chal-lenges will be how she responds tothe Mass v. EPA ruling in which theSupreme Court identified carbondioxide and other greenhouse gasesas pollutants. The Supreme Courtheld that the EPA has the authorityto limit emissions of these gases.

“If Congress does not rapidlyenact a comprehensive policy limit-ing global warming pollution, theball will be in Obama’s and Jackson’scourt,” said Friends of the Earth’sinternational programs directorElizabeth Bast. “Congress or theadministration must act quickly ifthe United States intends to be acredible participant in the interna-tional climate negotiations inCopenhagen in December.”

Green Scissors Makes Another CutFriends of the Earth is sharpening our Green Scissors and will be releas-ing a new report this spring that examines various subsidies that encour-age environmental degradation. The report includes an in-depth analysisof the tax code and other federal incentives for dirty energy, unsustain-able development and resource management. We are already findingthat over five years the biofuel industry will receive nearly as much feder-al support as the oil and gas industry ($33.8 billion for biofuels and $38.2billion for oil and gas). This report should be a starting point for PresidentObama’s “line-by-line” analysis of the tax code to rid ourselves of unnec-essary spending. Check in at www.foe.org for updates.

S H I P S H A P E �

By John Kaltenstein

FOR YEARS FRIENDS OF THE EARTH hasworked with the U.N. agency responsi-ble for improving maritime safety andpollution standards – the InternationalMaritime Organization (IMO) – toreduce toxic air emissions from shipsworldwide. Building on our success inestablishing stronger international air pollution regulations for vessels,our next goal is to implement thestrongest protections available underthat standard in U.S. waters.

Friends of the Earth is now work-ing with the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) and theCanadian government to establishan IMO-sanctioned Emission ControlArea (ECA) that would impose strin-gent air pollution standards on allvessels along the North Americancoast. In accordance with MARPOLAnnex VI, an international IMOtreaty governing ship air pollution, acountry (or countries) may submitan application to the IMO seekingmore stringent vessel air pollutionemission standards where necessaryto safeguard public health and theenvironment. We are asking thatthese ECA protections extend alongour entire U.S. coast and as far aspossible within U.S. waters, includ-ing the waters of Alaska and Hawaii,to assure that all U.S. and Canadianresidents are protected from harm-ful ship emissions.

If approved thisyear, the ECA willconsist of twomajor features.First, it will forceocean-going ves-sels to use pro-gressively cleanerfuel. When shipsenter the protec-tive zone they willhave to switchfrom using dirtybunker fuel to afuel lower in sul-fur content. By 2015, sulfur content invessel fuel will drop from 1 percent toapproximately 0.1 percent. A decreasein sulfur content directly correlateswith a reduction in harmful particu-late matter emissions, which areknown to cause respiratory ailments,cancer, heart conditions, and prema-ture mortality. By 2015, sulfur oxidesand particulate matter from largeships will also be reduced – by 96 per-cent and 85 percent, respectively, fromcurrent levels. Sulfur oxides areresponsible for respiratory illnesses,haze, and acid rain. In 2002 in theUnited States, between 2,000 and5,000 people died prematurely due toship emissions, and that number willcontinue to climb unless ECA-caliberprotections are established.

Second, the ECA will require shipsto install advanced technology toreduce harmful emissions from ships.

By 2016, new vessels entering the pro-tected area must achieve an 80 per-cent reduction in nitrogen oxide fromcurrent levels. Nitrogen oxide isresponsible for creating smog, whichcauses respiratory problems includ-ing chest pain, exacerbation of asth-ma, and decreased lung function.Children, outdoor workers, and thosewith compromised respiratory sys-tems are most acutely impacted bythese health effects.

We expect that the NorthAmerican ECA application will beready for submission to the IMO thisspring. If the application is approvedby the IMO, the North American ECAwould become the third ECA estab-lished in the world – after the Balticand North Seas – to the great reliefof coastal and even many inland res-idents, especially those living nearmajor ports and heavily traffickedshipping corridors.

Estimated reductions in particle matter concentrations expected by2020 with a U.S. ECA.

Breathe a Sigh of Relief for Clean Air

Byr

on B

unke

r, E

PA, 1

2/17

/08,

EPA

Reg

ion

9

EPA Compelled to Acknowledge Cruise Ship PollutionEight years after we petitioned the EPA to measure the pollution discharged from cruise ships, Friends of the Earthwon a lawsuit compelling the agency to act. The EPA’s subsequent report confirms what we already knew – thatcruise ships routinely dump massive amounts of poorly treated sewage and contaminated water into our oceans.The report finds that cruise ships are dumping bacteria, pathogens, metals, nutrients, and other pollutants harmfulto human health and the environment. This report provides the final evidence Congress needs to place strong limitson cruise ship dumping to protect our coasts, beaches, shellfish beds, marine ecosystems, and marine sanctuaries.

14 Friends of the Earth Newsmagazine | Spring 2009

Spring 2009 | Friends of the Earth Newsmagazine 15

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH is pleased topresent our sixth annual SanFrancisco fundraiser, The Green Ball,hosted by Celebrity Co-Chairs Jayniand Chevy Chase and Ed Begley, Jr. onMay 15th 2009 at the lovely, historicConservatory of Flowers in GoldenGate Park. This spectacular venueoffers a perfect setting for our eventfocused on Friends of the Earth’s criti-cal work to promote sustainable agri-culture and protect both tropical andCalifornia forests from the deforesta-tion threat posed by alternative fuelcrops. The Green Ball will featureinformation on clean energy develop-ments, locally-grown gourmet food,hand-selected wines, live music, spe-cial celebrity guests, and the GreenHero awards, honoring actress DarylHannah for her environmental com-mitment. There will also be opportu-nities to learn about edible tropical

plants through a special “EdibleExpeditions” exhibit at theConservatory. For information onbecoming a sponsor of The Green Ball,please contact Hillary Blank athblank@foe.org or 415-544-0970 ext. 19.Tickets will be available on our websiteand by calling (415) 544-0790 x 12.

H E L P I N G U S G R O W �

The Green Ball – A Sustainability Soiree

United States Postal Service Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation1. Publication Title: Friends of the Earth 2. Publication Number: 882300 ISSN: 10541829 3. Filing Date: 9/5/2008 4. Issue Frequency: Quarterly 5. Number of Issues Published Annually: 4 6. Annual SubscriptionPrice: $25 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 1717 Massachusetts Ave. NW #600, Washington, DC 20036-2001 Contact Person: Lisa Matthes Telephone: 202-222-0730 8. CompleteMailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: 1717 Massachusetts Ave. NW #600, Washington, DC 20036-2001 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor andManaging Editor: Publisher: Friends of the Earth, 1717 Massachusetts Ave. NW #600, Washington, DC 20036-2008 Editor: Friends of the Earth, 1717 Massachusetts Ave. NW #600, Washington, DC 20036 ManagingEditor: Friends of the Earth, 1717 Massachusetts Ave. NW #600, Washington, DC 20036 10. Owner: Friends of the Earth, 1717 Massachusetts Ave. NW #600, Washington, DC 20036 11. Known Bondholders,Mortgages, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None 12. Tax Status: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months 13.Publication Title: Friends of the Earth 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: 08/01/2008

16. Publication of Statement of Ownership: Publication not required. 17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner

I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form maybe subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

15. Extent and Nature of Circulation Average No. Copies Each IssueDuring Preceding 12 Months

No. Copies of Single IssuePublished Nearest to Filing Date

a. Total Number of Copies (Net Press run) 12,500 11,496

b. Paid and/orRequestedCirculation

(1) Paid/Requested Outside-County Mail Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541. 11,435 10,646(2) Paid In-County Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541 0 0(3) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Non-USPS Paid Distribution 0 0(4) Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS 0 0

c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation 11,435 10,646

d. FreeDistribution byMail

(1) Outside-County as Stated on Form 3541 100 100(2) In-County as Stated on Form 3541 0 0(3) Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS 0 0

e. Free Distribution Outside the Mail 200 200f. Total Free Distribution 300 300g. Total Distribution 11,735 10,946h. Copies no Distributed 765 550i. Total 12,500 11,496j. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation 97.44% 97.26%

Correction: Page 15 of the summer 2008 Newsmagazine incorrectly named the New York Times investigativereporter who wrote FREE LUNCH. It should have read David Cay Johnston.

PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID ATWASHINGTON, DCAND ADDITIONALMAILING OFFICESSpring 2009 | Volume 39, Number 1

1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 600Washington, DC 20036-2008

A copy of the latest Financial Report and Registration filed by this organization may be obtained by contacting us at Friends of the Earth, 1717 Massachusetts Ave. NW Suite 600, Washington DC 20036-2008. Toll-free number:877-843-8687. Or, for residents of the following states, by contacting any of the state agencies: CALIFORNIA – A copy of the Official Financial Statement may be obtained from the Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts,Department of Justice, P.O. Box 903447, Sacramento, CA 94203-4470 or by calling 916-445-2021. FLORIDA - A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVI-SION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-435-7352. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Florida registra-tion # CH960. KANSAS Annual financial report is filed with Secretary of State #258-204-7. MARYLAND For the cost of copies and postage: Office of the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401. MICHIGANMICS 10926. MISSISSIPPI – The official registration and financial information of Friends of the Earth, Inc. may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 1-888-236-6167. Registration by the Secretaryof State does not imply endorsement by the Secretary of State. NEW JERSEY INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTOR-NEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING 973-504-6215. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT. NEW YORK Office of the Attorney General, Department ofLaw, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. NORTH CAROLINA FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION AND A COPY OF ITS LICENSE ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE SOLICITATIONLICENSING BRANCH AT 1-888-830-4989. THE LICENSE IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE STATE. PENNSYLVANIA – The official registration and financial information of Friends of the Earth may be obtained fromPennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free within the state 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. UTAH – Permit #C495. VIRGINIA State Division of Consumer Affairs, Department of Agricultureand Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218; 1-800-552-9963. WASHINGTON - Charities Division, Office of the Secretary of the State, State of Washington, Olympia, WA 98504-0422; 1-800-332-4483. WESTVIRGINIA West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. Registration does not imply endorsement.

Friends of the Earth (ISSN: 1054-1829) is published quarterly by Friends of the Earth, 1717 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC20036-2008, phone 202-783-7400, fax 202-783-0444, e-mail: foe@foe.org, website: www.foe.org. Annual membership dues are $25, which include asubscription to Friends of the Earth. The words “Friends of the Earth” and the FoE logo are exclusive trademarks of Friends of the Earth, all rightsreserved. Requests to reprint articles should be submitted to Lisa Matthes at lmatthes@foe.org. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, DC.

Our Mission: Friends of the Earth defends the environment and champions a healthy and just world.Board of DirectorsMichael Herz, Chair; Harriett Crosby, Vice Chair; Clarence Ditlow, Secretary; David Zwick, Treasurer; Jayni Chase; Marion Edey; Dan Gabel; Jeffrey Glueck;Douglas Legum; Russell Long; Patricia Matthews; Avis Ogilvy Moore; Arlie Schardt; Doria Steedman; RickTaketa; Peyton West.

StaffBrent Blackwelder, PresidentElizabeth Bast, International Program DirectorNick Berning, Director of Public Advocacy and Media

RelationsHillary Blank, Major Gifts OfficerMichelle Chan, Senior International Policy AnalystHugh Cheatham, Chief Financial OfficerTom Clements, Southeastern Nuclear Campaign CoordinatorRebecca Connors, Internet Outreach ManagerMichael Despines, Climate Resilience Campaign CoordinatorWill Driscoll, Director of Foundation RelationsDanielle Fugere, Regional Program DirectorDavid Hirsch, Program & Operations DirectorKate Horner, International Climate & Energy CampaignerIan Illuminato, Health & Environmental CampaignerJohn Kaltenstein, Marine Program AssociateMarcie Keever, Clean Vessels Campaign DirectorNeesha Kulkarni, Legislative AssociateStephanie Lozano, Development AssociateGillian Madill, Genetic Technologies Campaigner Marsha Mather-Thrift, Director of Development &

West Coast OperationsAdina Matisoff, China Sustainable Finance CampaignerLisa Matthes, Publications Manager; Executive Assistant

to the PresidentKate McMahon, Energy & Transportation Policy CampaignerKaren Orenstein, International Finance Campaign

CoordinatorErich Pica, Director of Domestic ProgramsDan Riedel, Manager of Information TechnologySara Schedler, Plug-in Hybrid Campaign AssociateBenjamin Schreiber, Climate and Energy Tax AnalystCarla Simril, Receptionist & Office AssistantPeter Stocker, Donor Services Manager

Chris Weiss, Director of D.C. Environmental NetworkCandice Wills, Accountant

Publications StaffLisa Matthes, EditorDesign by JML Design

Consultants/AdvisorsRobert AlvarezBart BruilJim CorbettFred FellemanFenton CommunicationsJen HolzerJohn W. JensenBoshen JiaDorothee KrahnFred MillarAndrianna NatsoulasShems Dunkiel Kassel & Saunders PLLCElinor TaoCori TraubDavid WeinmanJames Winebrake Yang Yang

Member GroupsArgentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh,Belgium, Belgium (Flanders), Bolivia, Brazil,Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile,Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, ElSalvador, England-Wales, Northern Ireland,Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany,

Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania,Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NewZealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palestine, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Scotland, Sierra Leone,Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka,Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Timor Leste,Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay.

AffiliatesAfrica: Earthlife Africa; Australia: Mineral Policy Institute;Australia: Rainforest Information Centre; Brazil: Amigos daTerra Amazonia - Amazônia Brasileira; Brazil: Grupo deTrabalho Amazonico; Canada: Blue Planet Project; CzechRepublic: CEE Bankwatch; Japan: Peace Boat; Middle East:Friends of the Earth Middle East; Netherlands: Action forSolidarity, Equality, Environment and DevelopmentEurope; Netherlands: Stichting De Noordzee (North SeaFoundation); Netherlands: Corporate Europe Observatory;Netherlands: WISE Europe; United States: Corpwatch;United States: International Rivers Network; United States:Rainforest Action Network

Friends of the Earth is printed with soy ink on 100% recycled paper, 100% post-consumer content. Bleached without chlorine.

Friends ofthe EarthInternational

UNIONBUG

Earth Share giving campaigns allow you to designate a donation to Friends of theEarth. Federal employees can donate through the Combined Federal Campaign bymarking #12067 on their pledge forms. To set up an Earth Share campaign at yourworkplace, contact Peter Stocker at 866-217-8499, ext. 16 or pstocker@foe.org.