· The oceans are in big trouble, as Sludgie readers know. Greenpeace has a project called Art 4 Oceans to help raise awareness. (And if you doubt it’s arty enough, note the use of the numeral “4” in place of the word “for.”) Artists are invited to send in “drawing, photography, sculpture, knitting, needlecraft” for Greenpeace to display in their online Ocean Defenders Gallery. The only requirement is that your art can be reproduced digitally (no, you can’t submit your seventy-five minute performance art piece in which you embody a piece of sushi shouting angry feminist phrases in Japanese.)
· Wolves continue to cause much growling and teeth-baring in the western political packs, enough to inspire this week’s episode of PBS’ excellent series Now, about an alliance between ranchers and environmentalists. In Idaho, legislators are begging permission to kill 75% of the wolves, following up on a 2001 measure promising to eliminate wolves “by any means necessary.” Really, Idaho? You’re invoking Malcolm X in your call to slaughter wild canines? That’s classy. That’s as classy as Paris Hilton’s music video ripping a scene from Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blowup. Sign the petition asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife to stop them. (Idaho, not Paris Hilton. That’s a different petition.)
· Meanwhile, two new petitions are rallying to stop the mad onslaught of Big Oil’s agenda: Greenpeace has a petition that asks Washington some rather needling questions: “Why is Congress still supporting big oil companies? Why are our tax dollars subsidizing the world’s wealthiest companies? Why isn’t Congress supporting renewable energy? Why can’t cars fly?” (Okay, I threw in that last one. I wish my car could fly. Maybe it’s a Los Angeles thing.) Also, Earthjustice directs us to a campaign to save Teshekpuk Lake, one more pristine wetland to be sold off piecemeal by the U.S. government, even as BP’s oil pipeline is hemorrhaging over Alaska’s North Slope. It’s time we really moved “beyond petroleum.”
· And finally, two local petitions for Californians… one to pressure the EPA not to weasel out of cleaning up the San Joaquin Valley air, and the other to help protect California’s sea otter population. The latter otter bill is being debated in Assembly today. The sea otter’s long, slow recovery has been stalled by oil spills, pollution, habitat loss and food scarcity. When I spoke to my State Senator’s friendly staff member (thanks, Becca!) she informed me that if the bill passes, the next step is for the governor to sign. In this case, letters showing your support are the best ammunition. The sea otter bill is authored by Assemblyman Dave Jones of Sacramento, and I spoke to his friendly staff member as well (thanks, Rebecca! Yes, it is a coincidence…) She said to please fax and mail letters urging the signing of bill AB 2485 to the Governator (Fax #916-445-4633) and fax a copy to Rebecca Darling, Jones staff membernator (Fax#916-319-2109.) And hurry – the bill should reach Ahnold’s desk by August 31st.