SIERRA

     President Bush's legacy to the country is: the poorest president in history for the environment. This is essentially the opinion of every executive director of environmental organizations.

     According to Carl Pope, Sierra Club's Executive Director, Bush has weakened protection for 234 million acres of America's land, has weakened air quality by allowing power companies to discharge more pollutants increasing the amount of mercury in the environment. He has forced tax payers to pay for clean ups rather than charging the polluters. He has pushed for tax credits to coal, oil, and nuclear companies and has done virtually nothing to reduce dependence on oil. He has refused to abide by the Kyoto Protocol to combat global warming.

     The March of Dimes claims that over 300,000 babies annually suffer severe brain damage due to mercury. The Shenandoah River above Harper's Ferry has long been posted with warnings against eating fish due to the high levels of mercury.

     For the last ten years, Senator Kerry has had the best voting record on the environment in the U.S.Senate.

     Closer to home we had one of the top two supporters of President Bush's initiatives in all of Congress. Congressman Schrock's voting record on the environment in the 107th Congress was 0%; 3rd District Congressman Scott's was 68%. For the 108th Congress Schrock's record was 5%, while Scott's was 95%.

     Fortunately, we have an outstanding candidate running for former Congressman Schrock's seat. David Ashe is the democratic candidate for the Second Congressional District which includes all of Virginia Beach, the northern part of Norfolk and the whole of the Eastern Shore.

     We have had several communications with Mr. Ashe. He attended and extensively participated in a meet-the-candidate night sponsored by the local Sierra Club. Representatives from most of the local environmental community attended. Sierra Club is in the process of making an official endorsement.

     Candidate Ashe has been invited to our September meeting. He will speak briefly about what can be done to improve the environment and limit the destruction caused by President Bush and supported by Congressman Schrock. You won't want to miss it.

Courtesy Chesapeake Bay Program

We have requested the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to present the status of the Bay with an emphasis on Blue Crabs and Oysters.

     The Chesapeake Bay Foundation for several years now has been tracking the environmental status of the Bay. It would be interesting to note if progress has been made and where there have been successes. It would also be of interest to know what the Foundation considers the most important efforts to improve the Bay's condition. They may also be able to specify the major current threats to a healthy Bay.

     It is important to note that recently the Chesapeake Bay Foundation challenged EPA on its monitoring effort of the status of the Bay. EPA stated they would do better in the future. This is an organization we will support.

     Come and join us for an informative and interesting presentation.

     We will meet at the Virginia Beach Central Library. The date is Monday, the 13th of September, and the time is 7 PM.

Photo: Don Jeffries

Whose Body? Your Body! Start the fall season off on the right foot. Take a vigorous hike through First Landing State Park with other lovers of our environmental heritage.

     Your leader will be Nancy McAdoo, our entrepid outdoors person. Nancy says to meet at the Trail Center off Shore Drive at 9:30 AM on Saturday, September 18th. All lovers of the outdoors invited!