National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is poised to authorize “Incidental Harassment Permits” to ION Geophysical to trawl huge arrays of seismic airguns through the Chukchi and Beaufort Arctic Seas. ION’s survey would result in harassment takes of a large number of marine mammals, in violation of the “small numbers” requirement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. NMFS proposes to authorize the disruption of the behavior of over 250 bowhead whales, almost 5,000 beluga whales, and over 60,000 seals. NMFS admits that animals will suffer permanent hearing loss (also termed permanent threshold shift “PTS”), but justifies the activities with a series of unsubstantiated assumptions about the duration of exposure, and animals ability to escape injury. ION proposes using two towed arrays consisting of 26 active airguns with a total discharge volume of 4,450 cubic inches. They propose subjecting 80,970 mi2 (209,752 km2) of pristine Arctic habitat to airgun noise in excess of 160dB (re: 1µPa). We know that foraging and migration disruptions occur at much lower levels, and that stress in the extreme Arctic environment compromises the health and reproductive success of all marine life. These surveys are the preamble to a fossil fuel Klondike in the Arctic and must be halted. Please join us in our petition to the National Marine Fisheries Service deny authorization of this reckless proposal. Signatures must be in by the close of business on Monday September 17!

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is poised to authorize “Incidental Harassment Permits” to ION Geophysical to trawl huge arrays of seismic airguns through the Chukchi and Beaufort Arctic Seas. ION’s survey would result in harassment takes of a large number of marine mammals, in violation of the “small numbers” requirement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. NMFS proposes to authorize the disruption of the behavior of over 250 bowhead whales, almost 5,000 beluga whales, and over 60,000 seals. NMFS admits that animals will suffer permanent hearing loss (also termed permanent threshold shift “PTS”), but justifies the activities with a series of unsubstantiated assumptions about the duration of exposure, and animals ability to escape injury. ION proposes using two towed arrays consisting of 26 active airguns with a total discharge volume of 4,450 cubic inches. They propose subjecting 80,970 mi2 (209,752 km2) of pristine Arctic habitat to airgun noise in excess of 160dB (re: 1µPa). We know that foraging and migration disruptions occur at much lower levels, and that stress in the extreme Arctic environment compromises the health and reproductive success of all marine life. These surveys are the preamble to a fossil fuel Klondike in the Arctic and must be halted. Please join us in our petition to the National Marine Fisheries Service deny authorization of this reckless proposal. Signatures must be in by the close of business on Monday September 17!

Mountain Roll-offs, Inc. (MRI) has filed their FINAL APPLICATION to build a “Solid Waste Transfer Station” at the old Mid-Continent Mine Building east of Carbondale, Colorado. Our concerns include but are not limited to pollution of all kinds, traffic, safety, fires, recreation, and what is to come in the future. Please join the us before Monday November 19th in opposition to this facility and tell our county commissioners NO! Get the facts at www.donttrashcarbondale.org.

Just last week, Chicago's last remaining coal plants went offline. Chicago residents can breathe a lot easier thanks to local community groups, environmental activists, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. But even with this victory, fossil fuels and nuclear still dominate the mix of energy that powers Chicago. The good news -- in November we can take the next step to ensure that Chicago's energy comes from clean, renewable energy! Chicago voters have the opportunity to pass a referendum that will authorize the city to pool our electricity demands and negotiate a better energy package. Like other Illinois cities, Chicago could ask suppliers to provide them with clean energy. Sign our petition--tell Mayor Emanuel that you support powering Chicago with affordable clean energy!

Newman Ridge is an untouched, gorgeous, two mile long, 475 foot high ridge of 200 year-old oaks and grasslands, with spectacular views of the surrounding Sierra foothills and valleys. Today, this ridge protects the Ione Valley in Amador County. A venture capital group has purchased the historic Howard Ranch that contains this ridge and now wants approval to strip mine it for the next 50 years. Additionally, this same group wants approval to build a new hot asphalt plant called Edwin Center North nearby, which will blow known cancer-causing toxins through the valley directly into the tiny country town of Ione. These projects would create tons of dust, high decibel blasting noise and vibration, diversion of scarce local water and could cause congestion from up to 200 trucks a day driving on two-lane local roads. Oak woodlands and rare habitats to dozens of species, some of which are threatened or endangered, would be permanently destroyed. The requested zoning change to Heavy Industrial will annihilate any chance this area has of attracting new clean business, as these developments would emit at least 100 tons of dangerous pollutants per year, and local air standards would never recover. These projects will cause nearby home and ranch values to collapse. The numbers of new mining jobs that have been promised are exaggerated in order to justify the project. The area is already served well by three local quarries and plants, running under capacity, so there is no business justification. The Environmental Impact Report did not investigate alternatives, failed to mitigate significant impacts and cannot be legally approved. Several State Agencies, including the Department of Transportation, Office of Mining Reclamation and Fish and Game are not supportive of this project, but their comments are being ignored. Local government needs to deeply consider the alternatives, such as expanding existing businesses which offer real jobs without massive environmental destruction, as well as developing this pristine land as a hiking, biking and equestrian Nature Park for all, working with interested large conservation organizations, to add revenue and value to the area. The local Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on October 9th at 10:30 a.m. in Jackson, California. We urge all Amador County Supervisors to Vote No on Newman Ridge and Edwin Center North Projects.

Federal protection has been stripped from Western wolves, and a mandate for cruelly killing them imposed.

Pe' Sla, a part of the Black Hills that is the sacred center of the Sioux people, is slated to be divided into five 300-acre tracts and sold to developers at an auction. Urge the owners to sell it to the Sioux people to maintain their holy site.

Just like so many families, our kids love the popular toys made by Fisher Price, Hasbro, & Mattel. When they play, we want them to have fun, use their imaginations, and learn. But as their parents, we can't ignore the fact that each & every plastic toy is (in a few short years) bound to spend the rest of it's life in a landfill. These toys will not be recycled because they are not designed with that in mind. They will remain on the earth forever. It's time to change.

I want to contribute to creating jobs and lowering energy waste and pollution by investing in energy efficiency for my home. To this end the Home Star and Building Star energy efficiency investment programs leverage tax rebates with private investment.

Are you tired of your highways in California looking like a dumping ground? Do you want your state to be beautiful and clean so you can be proud of where you live? Then please sign this petition that we can submit to our local and state government to make them take action and clean up our roads and highways!

Southeastern Minnesota is the home to some of the state's most stunning landscape. The "bluff country" encompasses the tourist towns of Winona, Red Wing, and Lanesboro just to name a few... It is also the home of the Root River and the Root River State Bike Trail. My husband and I put all of our savings together last year, (making the leap from Chicago, IL to rural southeastern, MN) and bought our first home last year in Lanesboro. This year we learned about the ensuing frac mining that may take place in the region. We are terribly concerned that frac sand mining has the potential to devastate and contaminate the natural beauty that drew us here to the 'driftless' region in the first place. It could also curtail our livelihood as working artists and B & B owners, along with our fellow community members' livelihood, whose work is directly affiliated with the tourism industry.

A human health disaster is unfolding in Appalachian communities near mountaintop removal coal extraction sites.Four thousand excess deaths happen annually in mountaintop removal communities. Unborn babies are subjected to horrible birth defects. cancer, and heart disease rates are shockingly elevated. For the first time ever, a bill has been introduced in Congress that would end mountaintop removal and save innocent lives. The Appalachian Communities Health Emergency (A.C.H.E.) Act is the best hope Appalachian people have for a healthy, decent future. I live with my family near such sites. Your action can save lives.