Speak Up for Endangered Species and Environmental Protections!

Over the last few months, the Bush administration has been holding a series of "listening sessions" across the country to gather input on cooperative conservation projects. As part of this effort, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne is accepting written comments from the public about national environmental safeguards, especially those protecting wild lands and wildlife.

It is vital for conservation-minded people to answer this challenge. We need to make sure the administration gets the right message: Americans want strong environmental protections, and expect our government to enforce them.

Over 18,000 people have already participated, calling for strong environmental laws such as the Endangered Species Act. Please join them today, as this is your last chance to take action: Comments will be accepted only until October 13!

If possible, please edit the sample letter to share more of your personal perspective. For example, you can talk about your joy in experiencing species and wild areas, your particular scientific or other expertise, your concern for future generations, etc. Your comment will be more powerful!

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Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Listening Session Comments

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Thank you for allowing this opportunity to comment on cooperative conservation initiatives. Voluntary, cooperative conservation is an important tool, but it is not a substitute for our nation's environmental laws such as the Endangered Species Act. Rather, our conservation laws have paved the way for cooperative conservation, such as by setting goals for recovering endangered species and cleaning up the nation's rivers and waterways.

The Endangered Species Act is a safety net for wildlife, fish, and plants on the brink of extinction. The act has been successful in helping prevent the extinction of the American bald eagle, as well as many other species of fish, plants, and wildlife. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to be good stewards of the environment and leave behind a legacy of protecting endangered species and the special places they call home.

The Endangered Species Act works and should remain strong. I urge your administration to work to fund the act's core programs and cooperative conservation efforts fully. Thank you for considering my comments.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
August 25, 2006

Background Information

For the last few months, the Bush administration has been gathering public comments and holding a series of "listening sessions" across the country to get input on cooperative conservation projects. The questions focus primarily on voluntary conservation measures, or “cooperative conservation.” Cooperative conservation projects can be successful, but will never be an effective substitute for our nation's environmental laws such as the Endangered Species Act.

Unfortunately, considering the administration's poor record in protecting endangered species and funding conservation programs, as well as its support of measures that seek to weaken environmental laws including the Endangered Species Act, we have grave concerns that it may be seeking to use these listening sessions as a way to advance an anti-environmental agenda. The Bush administration has already introduced a bill as part of its cooperative conservation effort that would weaken key environmental protections. By ensuring that the overwhelming majority of comments received are in strong support of our nation’s landmark environmental laws, we can make sure Secretary Kempthorne gets the right message.

Thousands of people have already written in support of strong environmental laws, especially those that protect our wild lands and wild places. This is your last chance to join them. Please tell the administration that you do not want these policies weakened. The comment period closes on October 13.

A unique opportunity to be heard

We often want to influence the Bush administration, but sometimes it is difficult to know how to do so. However, according to several reports, the conservation community has been able to surprise the administration with the strength of its voice during this comment period. We are getting noticed. But we also know that anti-environmental interests are generating comments as well, so we need to keep it up.

With your help, Interior Secretary Kempthorne will hear loud and clear that Americans want strong environmental protections, and expect our government to enforce them.

Personal stories are the most powerful. If you've been involved in a local cooperative effort to protect endangered species, please consider speaking from personal experience about how environmental laws encourage people in your community to come together to conserve natural resources.

Please take action today: do not miss this opportunity to stand up for wild lands and wildlife!