Bush's Crimes Against Nature, By Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

[G_j]

http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/20124/

Bush's Crimes Against Nature

By Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Eugene Weekly. Posted October 7, 2004.


The hundreds of major environmental roll-backs promoted by the Bush administration over the last three and a half years are part of a deliberate attempt to eviscerate 30 years of environmental law.

Editor's Note: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is arguably the nation's most prominent environmental attorney. His new book is "Crimes Against Nature: How George W. Bush and His Corporate Pals are Plundering the Country and Hijacking Our Democracy." On Sept. 23, he made an impromptu appearance in Eugene, Oregon. Below is an edited transcript of his talk.

I've written a book about Bush's environmental record, but it's not so much about the environment as it is about an excess of corporate power and the corrosive impact of that on our democracy. And it's not about a Democrat attacking a Republican. I've been disciplined for 20 years as an environmental advocate about being non-partisan and bi-partisan in my approach to these issues. I don't think there's any such thing as Republican children or Democratic children, and the worst thing that can happen to the environment is if it becomes the province of a single political party. But you can't talk honestly about the environment today in any context without speaking critically about this president. This is the worst environmental president we've had in American history.

If you look at Natural Resource Defense Council's website, you'll see over 400 major environmental roll-backs that have been promoted by this administration during the last three and a half years, and I tell you it's part of a concerted deliberate attempt to eviscerate 30 years of environmental law.

..more..

[Swamp Rat]

1. Great!

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is awesome!

[H2O Man]

2. I think "Crimes Against Nature"

is the most important book of the season. There are at least a dozen great books published in the last year, but this one is the best at explaining why Bush's domestic agenda alone is a threat to democracy.

[G_j]

3. when Kerry wins,

I really hope he appoints RFK Jr. head of the EPA.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

4. i love Robert Kennedy Jr as much as his dad...G_j i hope Kerry does too

[chelaque liberal]

6. And a threat to our children's safety and health.

Those supposed "Safety Moms" really need to put this in perspective. The average American child has a 1:1,000,000 risk of being hurt by a terrorist, but a very high risk of being hurt by environmental problems.

[G_j]

7. it is a disgrace

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041005/NEWS/410050358/1024

<snip>
"Power plant emissions kill 5,000-9,000 Americans each year. Six million children suffer from asthma. The Clean Air Act has been gutted, allowing old power plants to produce 68 percent more smog-producing emissions. We have the technology, but not the will, to reduce industrial pollution by 80-90% in just three years. Are we headed in the right direction?

Some 630,000 babies are born each year with blood mercury levels above the EPA's safe standard. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin hazardous to developing fetuses and young children. It can impair intelligence and learning ability and lead to permanent brain damage. Eight percent of women of child-bearing age already have mercury levels in their blood above the EPA's "safe level." Under new standards 11,000 coal-fired power plants will emit seven times the amount of mercury allowed by the old Clean Air Act. Are we headed in the right direction?"
<snip>

[LizW]

5. Great book

It's a small book, but is packed with information. I keep getting overwhelmed and having to put it down.

I greatly admire Kennedy for not getting burned out and discouraged in the face of such incredible roll backs in environmental progress.

[seemslikeadream]

8. WHEN BUSH LIES OUR PLANET DIES

http://www.bushflash.com/sp.html


Smothered Hope

withered rope you hang what's empty can't remain to put it simply
in time cry the hollow words to sing with false disguise
smothered hope fly from sorrow for a new divine tomorrow
i just don't want to know anymore
life shifts up and down everybody knows it's wrong
why don't you care? now do it seem fair?
it's not in the rhyme or reason
so it goes with every season crawl to top fall through bottom
first hand love is really rotten
slice of life find what's plenty inch towards a sanctuary
light with me inside the womb
i know everyone everybody knows it's me
it's my voice, my voice cries out obscenity
sightless eye regard my past sometimes it should
i just don't want to know anymore.

SKINNY PUPPY

[TahitiNut]

9. Bush *IS* a crime against nature.

If there were ever a poster-child for abortion, it's DimSon.

[G_j]

10. kick

[Pow_Wow]

11. Environmentalist Wins Nobel Peace Prize!

Kenyan Environmentalist Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Fri Oct 8, 2004 05:08 AM ET

African Environmentalist Wins Nobel Peace Prize


OSLO (Reuters) - Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize Friday for leading a campaign to plant tens of millions of trees across Africa to slow deforestation.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Maathai for "for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace." Maathai said about half an hour ago that a Norwegian diplomat had told her she had won.

Maathai won the prize, worth $1.36 million, from a record field of 194 candidates. Named after Swedish philanthropist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, the prize is handed out in Oslo on Dec. 10.


http://news.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6450352