TAKE ACTION: Urge Senator Kaine to Protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 26JAN16

I called +Senator Tim Kaine D VA, spoke to Evan and told him I expect Sen Kaine to support and vote for S 2341 declaring the coastal plain of the ANWR as wilderness. Evan said he doesn't have a statement from Sen Kaine on this bill and suggested I go to his website and express my opinion in an e mail, which I did (just click the link above if you want to e mail Sen Kaine). This from +Earthjustice .....

TAKE ACTION! Urge Senator Kaine to Protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge TAKE ACTION

Senator Kaine has yet to co-sponsor a bill to preserve the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Urge him to protect one of the last remaining truly wild places now!

We need your help! Senator Kaine has yet to support protections for sensitive areas of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and it is important that he hears from constituents like you. Please call Senator Kaine now to support protections for this pristine natural landscape. Last month, a bill to protect the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was introduced in the Senate. The refuge and its biological heart, the coastal plain, is home to more than 250 animal species, including polar bears and wolverines, as well as more than 180 species of birds that migrate there each year from all 50 states. The sensitive coastal plain is called the “Sacred Place Where Life Begins” by the Gwich’in people, who rely on the porcupine caribou birthed there every year as their main source of food. The coastal plain has been unprotected for over 30 years, and the threat of oil and gas drilling on this ecologically significant swath of land is still present. The time is now to protect the biological heart of the refuge from the threat of destructive oil and gas development. With 34 senators on board, plus the support of more than 100 representatives in the House and a wilderness recommendation from the Obama administration, this bill has historic levels of support. However, Senator Kaine has not yet signed on. We need your help to urge the senator to support this necessary legislation to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge once and for all. Call Senator Kaine’s office and urge him to co-sponsor S. 2341 to preserve the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge! The Arctic Refuge is part of our natural heritage, for all to enjoy. Thank you for helping us protect the wild! Sincerely,

Jenifer Collins Legislative Assistant Policy & Legislation TAKE ACTION

Craig, thank you for being an Earthjustice Donor and Activist. You’ve taken 62 actions so far and are making a difference! Here is a list of more actions you can take.

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DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE E NEWS 13APR12

ARTICLES on Earth Day, Yellowstone bison, panthers, ANWR, artic oil drilling, national forest and the new Defenders of Wildlife website....Enjoy!

View in Browser   |   Donate Now   |   Sign Up   |   Share: Take Action Pledge a Day for the Earth Sunday, April 22 is Earth Day -- and what better way to show your appreciation for our wildlife and wild places than giving back a few hours of your time? Whether you pick up trash in a local park, create a haven for wildlife by planting native shrubs in your backyard or get your friends together to restore habitat in a nearby national wildlife refuge or forest, there’s something each of us can do in our own communities to give wildlife and wild places a hand. Take the Earth Day pledge today -- and get your hands dirty for wildlife! Feature Where the Wild Bison Roam For nearly a century, most of America's last truly wild bison had been confined to Yellowstone National Park. But last month, a herd of these iconic animals ended a historic journey at a new home on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in northeastern Montana. For many years, Defenders and our conservation partners worked closely with the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes and Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer to make this win for wildlife possible on the Great Plains. And Defenders' supporters from across the country sent more than 225,000 messages to state and federal officials urging them to do more to protect and restore America's wild bison. The historic bison relocation is the culmination of years of hard work -- but it's just the latest step in our efforts to restore these iconic animals to the American Prairie. Watch a video of Defenders' Jonathan Proctor as he talks about the historic bison move. Learn More on Defenders Blog. Wins for Wildlife Progress for Panthers New nighttime speed restrictions are now in effect along a deadly 5-mile stretch of road in Florida, where nine endangered panthers have so far been killed by cars. The slower speeds should give the big cats enough time to avoid being hit. Defenders and our conservation partners worked with area landowners and local and state officials to make Keri Road (CR832) a safer crossing for panthers. >> Learn More "Jurassic Park" Bill Rejected Thanks in part to the urging of more than 5,000 Defenders supporters, Florida Governor Rick Scott vetoed a bill that would have allowed non-native species to roam on state lands. The veto of the so-called "Jurassic Park" bill is a huge victory for the Sunshine State's ecosystems and native wildlife -- which already face challenges from exotic species running wild. >>Learn More Senate Votes to Protect Arctic Refuge The U.S. Senate decisively rejected a plan to hand over the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to Big Oil. Nearly 9,000 Defenders supporters in key states across the nation urged their Senators to oppose opening this natural treasure to Big Oil's drills. >>Learn More New Course for Forests The Obama administration unveiled its final forest planning rule last month, making a strong commitment to wildlife and land conservation. Over the past three years, Defenders supporters have sent more than 200,000 messages to federal officials helping to secure stronger protections for these public lands and the lynx, martens and other wildlife that depend on them for survival. >>Learn More Feature Stunning Images Nearly 8,000 amazing photos were submitted -- and more than 35,000 Defenders supporters chose the winners. In the end, James Yule's adorable photo of a mother grizzly and her cub was the Grand Prize winner of Defenders' third annual Photo Contest. "I think it is a great honor to win this contest amongst nearly 8,000 entries," James told us. "I am truly elated about the award." James will travel to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for a photo tour with renowned photographer Jess Lee to sharpen his already spectacular shutter skills. See high-resolution images of all the winners in both Wildlife and Wild Lands categories on Defenders Blog. See more incredible photos like these in DEFENDERS quarterly -- Donate $20 or more online to secure your subscription today! Defending Wildlife A Site to See! Defenders.org is all new and ready for your visit! From fascinating facts about your favorite wild animals to information about what Defenders is doing to protect our nation's treasured wildlife and wild places -- and what you can do to help! -- the entire site has been redesigned from the bottom up, making it easier to find what you're looking for. If you haven't already, visit the new Defenders.org today! Your IRA or 401(k) can help ensure a future for wildlife! With Thanksgiving Coffee Company, you can help save wolves with your next cup of joe. Bison A bison's winter coat is so thick and well insulated that snow can cover their backs without melting. Learn more about bison. Download our latest wallpaper for your computer desktop! Connect with Defenders! Defenders is on flickr! Join our group to share your wildlife photos Defenders' Cindy Hoffman has a tip that will help make your garden toad-ally cool. Watch Cindy's Video.     © Copyright 2012 Defenders of Wildlife Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities. Defenders of Wildlife can be contacted at: 1130 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036

Speak out to protect the Arctic Refuge forever 25OKT11

BIG oil and gas companies, shell, bp, exxon, chevron and others, have their eyes on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and they are waging a propaganda war to force the government to open it up to more oil and gas drilling. These companies and motivated by greed, not a desire to lessen our national dependence on imported oil. The propaganda campaign also includes lies, deception and misinformation on these companies ability to prevent any any oil spills and about their ability to completely clean up any spill if one should occur. They claim their operations will be conducted in harmony with the environment ANWR's coastal plain. Click the link to send a message to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asking them to adopt Alternative E, the full wilderness option, to protect and preserve the integrity of ANWR's coastal plain.

Act now to protect the heart of the Arctic Call on the Fish and Wildlife Service to designate the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge as wilderness and keep it safe from oil rigs -- forever! We have a rare opportunity right now to protect the heart of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge forever. The Obama Administration is writing a conservation plan for the Arctic Refuge that could recommend wilderness protection for its Coastal Plain -- an area which has been targeted by Big Oil for decades. Please call on the Fish and Wildlife Service to designate the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge as wilderness, which would be off-limits to oil development. Since the Arctic Refuge was set aside by Congress more than 50 years ago, a majority of Americans has shown support for protecting this vast wilderness and its abundant wildlife. As the biological heart of the Arctic Refuge, its Coastal Plain provides irreplaceable habitat for bears, wolves, Arctic foxes and millions of migratory birds. This pristine wildland is also our nation’s largest denning site for pregnant polar bears ... the only birthing ground for the 180,000-member porcupine caribou herd ... and the last home of 350 shaggy muskoxen, a species that survived the previous ice age. Simply put, there is no other place like it on the planet. Yet the oil giants and their Congressional allies have pushed repeatedly to open up the sensitive Coastal Plain for drilling. NRDC has fought for decades to stave off every attempt by Big Oil to drill in America’s greatest wildlife sanctuary, but a wilderness designation for the Coastal Plain would ensure that it is protected from oil rigs forever. This recommendation would be an important first step in that direction. Congress would still need to act on the Administration’s recommendation -- and that is unlikely to happen anytime soon -- but in the meantime, the Interior Department would manage the Coastal Plain as if it were protected wilderness. And, following this recommendation, the President could declare the Coastal Plain a National Monument, thereby saving it from any further attacks by Big Oil. Help us generate a massive outpouring of support for protecting the Coastal Plain by sending a message to the Fish and Wildlife Service today. Let them know you support their plan to recommend its designation as wilderness. Thanks for taking action to keep the Arctic wild and free. Sincerely, Frances Beinecke President Natural Resources Defense Council