IAT NEWSLETTERJanuary 2002 |
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Calendar of Events | Coming Events | Environmental News | Events Reviews | |
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For Sale | Letter from the President | Letters | Newsletter News | |
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"IT'S ABOUT TIME WE BEGIN IT,
TO TURN THE WORLD AROUND . . . "
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ORGANIZATION INFORMATION:
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Co-Founder/Former President - Marcelle Orswell
Co-Founder and Secretary -- Theresa Shea (Tree1A@aol.com)
Co-Founder/Webpage Designer-Sandy Clark (tybrenn@mediaone.net)
Co-Presidents -- Ann Schnitz (aerie01@sprynet.com)
and
Mary Ledford (eagleshorses@yahoo.com)
Web Site -- -- http://people.ne.mediaone.net/tybrenn/iat/
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Dear Friends,
Happy New Year, and welcome to 2002! I hope that all of you had a wonderful holiday
season and have greeted the new year with a renewed commitment to bettering your
little piece of the world.
The other day, I saw a great cartoon on an online site that I wanted to share with
you. Its author was Suzy Becker, and it showed two women wearing towels in a locker
room. One is saying to the other: "This war is very upsetting but I have to
admit -- it's taken my mind off the environment." How very true. How many of
us have been "minding the store" lately ? Admittedly, this' been a difficult
task because the news is consumed with reporting on the war in Afghanistan and homeland
security issues and the collapse of Enron, with little press given to other issues.
Here's a sample of what you might've missed. As reported in the New York Times Week
in Review section, Sunday, January 13, 2002: the Bush administration moved closer
to relaxing the rules for air pollution controls on dirty power plants, and it moved
in a California court to promote offshore oil drilling. It took an aggressive step
forward for the nuclear power industry, declaring a Nevada mountain scientifically
safe for the storage of nuclear waste. And it replaced a research program for auto
fuel efficiency that was showing moderate success for cars on the road with a more
ambitious program that won't effect the car fleet for years, if ever, and in the
meantime, does nothing to cut gas consumption or promote efficiency. These actions
followed months of other pro-business regulatory actions that were hardly noticed
in the post-September 11 world: allowing more roads and powerline construction on
public lands, weakening rules over mining permits, delaying a ban on snowmobiles
in national parks, letting developers build on wetlands without replacing them.
To be fair, there were also a few environmental triumphs. Most notably, the president
signed an agreement to ensure that water reached the Florida Everglades, and he visited
an abandoned industrial plant in suburban Philadelphia (Conshohoken, to be exact),
where he announced a bill to provide money for brownfields cleanups.
So -- the moral of the story is, keep minding the store. Don't forget that there
are environmental repercussions to our actions, regardless of whether we're fighting
a war or it's peacetime. Keep yourselves as informed as possible and I'll continue
to do my part by providing updates on these and other issues as they become available.
It's in every one of us.
My heart to yours,
Ann
PS -- On a newsletter related note, for those of you who attend noteworthy JD or
environmental events, please let us hear about it!
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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February 3, 2002 -- Pre-dedication Reception
for the John Denver Nature Exhibit and Memorial, Austin, TX
March 16, 2002 - Phil Christie in Concert, Altadena, CA
March 21-April 30, 2002 -- "Almost Heaven", Denver Center for the Performing
Arts, Denver, CO
May 3-5, 2002 -- John Denver Spring Retreat - Lebanon, PA
April 13, 2002 -- John Adams in Concert, Arvada, CO
April 20, 2002 -- Earth Day Celebration, Annapolis, MD
June 28, 29 -- 2002 -- A Tribute to John Denver: The Man and His Music, 2002, Coatesville,
PA
July 20 -21, 2002 -- Country Roads Folk Festival, Almost Heaven Farm, WV
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SEE DETAILS ON CALENDAR EVENTS IN NEWSLETTER
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
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"A native American grandfather was talking
to his grandson about how he felt. He said 'I feel as if I have two wolves fighting
in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one. The other wolf is the
loving, compassionate one.' The grandson asked him, 'Which wolf will win the fight
in your heart?' The grandfather answered: 'The one I
feed.'"
Native American Story
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LETTERS
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From Susan Leaver (susanleaver@yahoo.com):
Hello everyone,
Jake Shand, Senior Marketing Executive of BMG Records New Zealand announced yesterday
morning that the New Zealand John Denver Collection CD is to be released here on
27th January. This is a complete reversal of this company's attitude to John's music
from that of four years ago. The Foundation's name and address are to be on the CD
sleeve.
The CD is 73 minutes long and track listing is as follows:
Annie's Song
Leaving on a Jet Plane
Take Me Home Country Roads
Thank God I'm a Country Boy
The Eagle and the Hawk
Fly Away (with Olivia Newton-John)
Rocky Mountain High
Back Home Again
Farewell Andromeda
Calypso
I'm Sorry
My Sweet Lady
Looking for Space
It Amazes Me
Grandma's Feather Bed
Friends With You
This Old Guitar
Goodbye Again
Like a Sad Song
Autograph
Perhaps Love (with Placido Domingo)
For the sake of John and his legacy, the International John Denver Memorial Foundation
has been persisting with the
record company for four years and now FINALLY they are listening.
If anyone would like to order the CD, please email me at susanleaver@yahoo.com
At the moment I am unsure of exact cost but I think with postage will be
around US$12.00.
Peace,
Susan
International John Denver Memorial Foundation
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From: Nancy Huffman (nancye@hotmail.com):
I begin each mailpiece with this lyric seen below- I am hoping to finally go to Aspen
this year. My many new found friends who are part of our family have been a sustaining
force for me. I find all of you a great source of comfort as well as John's beautiful
messages and songs. This is just my thanks to so many for being there. We will all
be bound together forever by just one man and his gift. Thank you and may God give
us all continued strength.
Nancy (Calypso) Huffman
The song that I am singing is a prayer to non-believers
Come and stand beside us we can find a better way......John Denver
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From: Marty Slimming (tmslimming@hotmail.com)
I have followed JD's music for the past 25 years. He carried me through many tough
times especially immigrating to Canada from England. I would play 'Sunshine on my
Shoulders' when the winter weather in Toronto was -10 and the snow in 1974 was very
thick! The sort of snow even the trucks don't drive in! My first job was working
for a coffee distributor in Toronto, and John's music filled up my senses more than
anybody else!
I would later move out West and met John after a concert in Calgary, Alberta. I had
snuck around the back of the concert place and a kind security guy invited me to
watch JD's concert from where his limo was parked. JD came out after the concert
and as he was going to his car I said "Good evening John" and he looked
at me and said "thanks"! Well, that was the first encounter. The security
guy told me where JD was staying and I ran to the car and drove like a race car driver
over to the hotel.
I sat downstairs in the coffee section of the hotel and waited. Well sure enough,
JD comes down the elevator having changed, and looks around and walks over to me
sitting there. He puts out his hand and shakes mine. I mumbled something about being
back stage at the concert and he just smiled. He wouldn't sign autograph's for people
and until I took the est training, I couldn't really understand this. I do
now. This encounter affected me more than I can tell you and since his death, I have
found comfort and inspiration in listening to his music. Especially "Looking
for Space" Like many, I miss him very much. I am so grateful to have gone to
a couple of his concerts and to have pictures of him and very fond memories.
I continue to play his music and play my guitar to his songs. I'm 40 something now
and the memory and special meeting with him just thrills me to death!
Thank you John for being part of our lives, your impact on this planet is profound!
Peace,
Marty
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From: Tom Fleetwood (TFleetwood@aol.com)
Hi there,
I am looking for the person who turned me on to JD and his music. I have always wanted
to thank her but have not been able to locate her. Her name is Vickie Lynn Pounders
and in 1972 (give or take a year) she lived in a penthouse apartment in Golden, CO.
Years earlier, she was a model and had lived in Austin, TX. I found a person with
the same name there but she is not the same one. The Vickie I am looking for told
me her father was a Postmaster. I will know when I have found the right Vickie when
she tells me what perfume she wore back then.
Peace,
Tom
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From: Nancy Holloway (nancy@wstar.org)
Please take time to check out the Northern Ohio Windstar Connection website for information
on this year's Windstar One World. Hope to see you there!
http://www.homestead.com/nohiowstar/symp1.html (symposium info)
http://nowc.homestead.com/ (main page)
Nancy Holloway
Windstar Connection Co-Coordinator
NancyAHolloway@cs.com
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EVENTS REVIEWS
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From: Donna Lynn Pinto (donnapinto@yahoo.com)
Home is a Metaphor for God
What a terrific time we had Sunday (December 16, 2001) at the free afternoon "Sounds
of the Season" (and John Denver) Christopher Westfall concert "home"
Doylestown, PA! It was combined with the annual live nativity held at the Salem United
Church of Christ. The John Denver Peace Cloth even allowed us to display several
pieces of the beautiful quilt. The nativity, concert, display and refreshments were
all FREE!
As usual, Christopher put his heart and whole spirit into the program! He opened
with a breath-taking a capella "Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream."
A standing ovation was given for Chris' first-time piano performance of "Whalebones
and Crosses." He introduced "Rocky Mountain High" as "...one
of my favorite Christmas songs." Now where have we heard that before? Other
highlights included "America the Beautiful" and a lovely Westfall original
called "I'm Coming Home." After the first set, everyone examined the Peace
Cloth before heading down for hot chocolate and cookies, then the live nativity right
outside the church.
Most folks sang along heartily to the second "Sounds of the Season" set.
Christopher premiered a self-penned Holiday song, "I Want You To Know (It's
Christmas)." JD Holiday favorites included "Alfie," "A Baby Just
Like You," and of course "Christmas For Cowboys." Chris and Cathy
Nole, did their "I'm not afraid of flyin', I'm afraid of crashin'" routine.
Cathy's son Chris Nole was kind to our Christopher during a recent Nashville vacation...
he got to see Mr. Nole play at the Grand 'Ol Opry from backstage!
Christopher made Cathy come up to the stage to sing the "Five Golden Rings"
part of "The Twelve Days of
Christmas." Among the other "drafted victims" for this song were the
church's pastor, Cindy Cashman,
Carol Blevins, Pat Hough, some of the Gill kids and Chris' dad even came up to the
front to take parts.
We were all laughing so hard, we couldn't sing! "Perhaps Love" perfectly
closed out the performance.
I put together a little program for the event that included "The Musician's
Prayer" by B.J. Hoff and a poem about the Peace Cloth that Emily of Rocky Mountain
High composed to commemorate this wonderful afternoon celebration of a blessed Holiday
and great JD friendships "home" in Doylestown. Thank yous go out to Christopher,
the Peace Cloth Board, our gracious hosts Dottie & Kurth Honer, and the members
of Salem United Church of Christ for opening up their lovely building for this event!
To paraphrase, "Through the music, our hearts begin to heal." If you'd
like a copy of the video, email me at donnapinto@yahoo.com
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COMING EVENTS
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PRE-DEDICATION RECEPTION OF THE JOHN DENVER
NATURE EXHIBIT AND MEMORIAL
AUSTIN, TX
I would like to invite all of you -- volunteers, local donors, other interested persons,
and your families -- to a reception on Sunday, February 3rd, from 2-4 p.m. in the
Cottonwood Room at the Austin Nature Center (located right outside the entrance to
the Birds of Prey Sanctuary). Refreshments will be provided.
Please RSVP by January 29th to Julie B at aspenglo@texas.net
(include number of persons attending, and designate number and age of children) or
call me at (512) 912-0765 (in Austin). This will be my way of saying "thank
you" to all of you who helped bring this memorial to Austin. It will also be
a chance for all of us to come together as a group one more time before the final
dedication to view and appreciate that which so many of you have worked so hard to
create. The dedication is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 20, 2002.
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PHIL CHRISTIE IN CONCERT
Saturday, March 16, 2002, 8pm
Coffee Gallery Backstage
2029 N. Lake, Altadena CA
Call 626-398-7917 for reservations (ticket prices haven't been set yet, but the Coffee
Gallery is always the best deal in town, so this show won't break the bank). Phil
will be premiering his brand-new CD "Summerstown" (he hasn't even left
for the recording session yet, so this one will really be "hot off the presses"!).
The CD will feature 7 brand new songs, along with his tribute to John Denver and
the Rocky Mountains, "Dream of Colorado" and other favorites ("If
I Could," "Mother's Day" and "Karl the Koala"). For more
information, please go to Phil Christie's site, www.philchristie.com (the site
is being revised for 2002).
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ALMOST HEAVEN - Denver Center for Performing Arts
STAGE THEATRE - March 21, 2001 to April 30th
General admission tickets go on sale February 3, 2001
Songs and Stories of John Denver
This world-premiere theatrical event celebrates the music and ethos of our State's
adopted son.
With sparkling new arrangements of his best-known ballads - and some surprising discoveries
- a 14-member ensemble explores the work of this internationally-acclaimed songwriter.
John Denver spoke to millions around the world with such songs as "Country Roads,"
"Sunshine on my Shoulders," "Rocky Mountain High." It will bring
you back home again - and send you out singing.
For more information: http://www.dcpa.org
Discounted tickets for the March 28 performance are available through Colorado Friends
of JD - Contact Evelyn Pinney evepin@colorado.net
Single tickets go on sale February 3, 2002.
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JOHN ADAMS IN CONCERT
APRIL 13, 2002
Dear Friends,
My name is Feather Berkower and I live in Louisville, CO (near Boulder).
I am the co-director of a non-profit organization called Child Assault Prevention
(CAP) Project in the Front Range of Colorado. CAP teaches children and teens strategies
they can use in potentially abusive situations. In a classroom setting, children
learn ways to protect themselves and seek help if faced with peer abuse, stranger
abduction, or sexual assault by a known person. Additionally, teachers and parents
learn important information about decreasing children's vulnerability to assault.
In the 2000-2001 school year, CAP served 5,533 children, their parents, and teachers
at 16 schools. A disclosure from a child in a Boulder Valley school led to the conviction
of a neighborhood pedophile with a sentence of thirty-two years to life in prison.
Children, parents, extended families, and the community all benefit from children
receiving prevention education. For more information on CAP visit www.geocities.com/childassaultprevention
One of our big fundraisers this school year
is a John Adams Concert. John has offered to do a benefit concert for CAP. All proceeds
from ticket sales goes directly to CAP. The concert is April 13, 2002 at Pomona High
School in Arvada, CO (near Denver) from 7-10 pm.. There are 500 seats and tickets
will sell out. Tickets are $20 and are
tax-deductible (100% of the profits will go to CAP).
Thank you all,
Feather Berkower
Co-Executive Director
Front Range Center for Assault Prevention
P.O. Box 270208
Louisville, CO 80027
303.266.9019
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EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
April 20, 2002
11-3 PM
The Rams Head Tavern (http://www.ramsheadtavern.com)
Annapolis, MD
Come join us to celebrate the earth! Our guests this year will be Mack Bailey, Chris
Westfall, Side By Side and Rachael Bissex. Tickets are $30, and all proceeds will
benefit Kids For A Clean Environment (F.A.C.E.) -- http://www.kidsface.org
For tickets, send a check made out to Ann Schnitz to:
Ann Schnitz
P.O. Box 483
Lionville, PA 19355
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JOHN DENVER RETREAT
May 3-5, 2002
Camp Gretna Glen, Lebanon, PA
JD Fellowship and inspiration. $50 due by April 1, 2002.
For more information, email Pat Liddic (liddic@lancnews.infi.net)
*****
A TRIBUTE TO JOHN DENVER: THE MAN AND HIS MUSIC 2002
Previously held at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, PA, for the last two years,
this event will be held on June 28 and 29 at Hibernia County Park, four miles north
of Coatesville, PA, off Route 82
I NEED PATRONS/ SPONSORS FOR PROGRAM TO FINANCE THE SHOW! DEADLINE FOR MONEY
IS MARCH 1. PLEASE HELP MAKE THIS A YEARLY EVENT BY BEING A SPONSOR.
Make checks payable to "JD Tribute Concert Donation." Mail to:
Judith Gabriel
2271 Hampden Blvd. G5
Reading, PA 19604
or contact Judith at 610-371-9122 or email her at judithgabriel@msn.com
if you have questions.
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COUNTRY ROADS FOLK FESTIVAL
July 20-21, 2002
Almost Heaven Farm, WV
See www.mofolk.com for details
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FOR SALE
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Wildlife Creations (http://www.geocities.com/wldlifecreation/) has added several new items...including Prayer Pose t-shirts,
cookies/soup in a jar, and potpourri jar lights. Please come by and check them out!
They make great gifts for yourself or others. Remember, your purchase helps the National
Wildlife Federation, in John's name, with wolf education and The Windstar Foundation.
Any questions, email us at wldlifecreation@wildmail.com.
Thanks!
Yellowstone Wolf and Wolf Pup (Diana and Susan)
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A LIMITED NUMBER OF T-SHIRTS AND BUMPER STICKERS STILL AVAILABLE
We have a limited number of our Aspen 2001 t-shirts with a full color photo of John
on the front (large, x-large, xx-large, xxx-large) and bumper stickers available.
Please contact Pam (pamela.beasley@airmail.net)
for details.
COUNTRY ROADS FOLK FESTIVAL TRIBUTE TO JOHN DENVER VIDEO AVAILABLE (offered
with the permission of the performers)
This is a video from the Folk Festival held last July in West Virginia. It features
Bill Danoff, Mack Bailey, Doris Justis and Sean McGhee (Side by Side) as they pay
tribute to John. It comes with a beautiful color cover with photos from the event.
It also includes Mack Bailey's tribute to John at the Ashton Methodist Church this
past May. The cost will be a minimum of $10 donation to Windstar. If you are interested,
please e-mail me for details.
Mary (eagleshorses@yahoo.com)
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Reminder -- Arctic Dance: The Mardy Murie Story is still available!
Arctic Dance is now available for purchase as a 75 minute VHS home video! To order,
call 1-800-345-9556.
To order from outside the U.S., call 1-804-649-8611. The purchase price is $29.00
plus $6.25 for shipping
and handling. Please note that Arctic Dance videos are for private, home use only.
For information on public
screenings, library copies, or special showings with the producers, contact C.E.R.I.
at
boxonemoose@onewest.net.
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
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From DENlines, January 9, 2002
1. WORD FROM ėTHE WEST WING:' Martin Sheen says stand up for Arctic refuge
Martin Sheen isn't the president. He just plays one on TV. But when it comes to the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the real president should listen to the star of
"The West Wing." Sheen is calling for Americans to urge their senators
to protect America's greatest wildlife preserve from oil drilling. "The voices
of the special interests are loud and omnipresent," Sheen says. "But ours
is a strong political democracy where the will of the majority still is the most
important factor in determining U.S. policy." Watch for a special message from
actor Martin Sheen that we will e-mail to you.
After a year of public debate, the Senate is now firmly scheduled to vote next month
on legislation that will determine our energy future. The Senate could adopt a reasonable,
balanced policy that promotes alternative and renewable energy sources and improved
efficiency. But Big Oil and its political allies are lobbying for a bill that would
increase our reliance on fossil fuels by opening the Arctic refuge and vast stretches
of other pristine public land to commercial exploitation. The House of Representatives
has already passed this reckless energy bill. With Big Oil lobbying hard to maximize
its profits, the outcome in the Senate is too close to call.
2. WHAT'S BRUIN? New protection on way for Florida black bears
Defenders of Wildlife is helping win new protections for Florida
black bears. Acting in a lawsuit brought by Defenders and other groups, a federal
judge has ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reconsider its refusal to
list the bear under the Endangered Species Act. There are only 2,000 of the bears
remaining, and they're threatened by hunters, poachers and habitat destruction. "Without
rules that help black bears and their habitat, we will continue to wipe out the woods
and roll the asphalt over areas where bear tracks should appear," said Laurie
Macdonald, director of Florida programs for Defenders.
3. A ROAD RUNS THROUGH IT: Forest Service attacks roadless rule
From its start, the Bush administration has tried to gut the new federal rule
barring road-building in 58 million acres of pristine national forests. Now, the
Forest Service is accepting public comments on its proposal to rewrite the rule to
accommodate the timber and mining industries, which want publicly funded access to
our last remaining wild places. Defenders of Wildlife President Rodger Schlickeisen
called it "the coming-out party for the ideologues and hard-liners within the
Forest Service."
4. RULES FOR THE EVERGLADES: Corps of Engineers produces ėrecipe for inaction'
The Bush administration's first blueprint for how to revive Florida's shrinking
Everglades is drawing criticism for leaving too many key decisions for later. The
most glaring omission: How will billions of gallons of water produced from the 40-year
project be divided among the Everglades, corporate farms, and sprawling cities on
the fringes of the wetland? There are also no biological standards for judging the
success of projects. Defenders of Wildlife called the plan "a recipe for inaction."
With the Everglades at half its historic size and 68 of its native species facing
extinction, environmentalists hoped the regulations would put the needs of nature
first -- not the wishes of thirsty developers and other special interests. To read
more, click here: http://www.defenders.org/wildlife/eglades/everback.html
5. DEADLY TECHNOLOGY: Study shows Navy sonar
tests killed whales
The mystery of the mass stranding of 16 whales in the Bahamas has been solved
ń it was caused by the U.S. Navy blasting intense sounds underwater in tests of its
sonar system. That's according to a new government report by civilian and military
scientists. Six of the 16 beached whales died, and X-rays showed bleeding around
their inner ears, along with trauma to their auditory systems and brains. At the
time of the deaths in March 2000, the Navy was generating underwater noises of about
230 decibels in an exercise meant to improve coordination of ships. That's 100,000
times louder than the noise that's known to cause tissue damage in sea animals. Defenders
of Wildlife has sued the Navy to stop sonar tests. Click here to learn more: http://www.defenders.org/wildlife/new/marine/whales/sonar.html
6. ADOPT AN ANIMAL: Help save wildlife for
Valentine's Day
With Valentine's Day only a month away, have you started looking for that perfect
gift to say "I love you"? Adopt an animal today for a loved one or family
member and help save imperiled animals for future generations. Just go to http://www.defenders.org/adopt and
adopt an adorable polar bear, wolf pup, sea otter, whale, dolphin, brown or black
bear or "Harry Potter" owl today.
7. BIODIVERSITY CRISIS: At least 235 species may vanish from North America
Wildlife habitat is shrinking so fast that at least 235 species could disappear
from North America in a "widespread crisis," according to a new report
by some of the continent's leading scientists. The report by the North American Commission
for Environmental Cooperation blamed pollution, human encroachment and aggressive
agricultural practices. "North America's diminishing biological diversity has
profound consequences," the report said. "Because the loss is irreversible
ń species that are lost are lost forever -- the potential impact on the human condition,
on the fabric of the continent's living systems, and on the process of evolution
is immense."
Click here to read the report: http://www.cec.org/soe,
and forward this issue of DENlines to friends to help spread the word about the threat
to North America's wildlife.
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NEWSLETTER NEWS
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If you would like to submit articles, news items,
stories, poetry, or any other pertinent information to IT'S ABOUT TIME, please e-mail
any of the IAT staff. The submission deadline for the January edition is February
19, 2002. Please be sure to include any contact information so that members can e-mail
or snail-mail for further details.
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The content of this newsletter is entirely at the discretion of the "It's About
Time" staff. Contributions, as always, are welcomed, although inclusion is not
guaranteed.
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". . . IT'S ABOUT TIME WE START TO LIVE
IT,
THE FAMILY OF MAN,
IT'S ABOUT TIME
AND IT'S ABOUT CHANGES . . .
AND IT'S ABOUT TIME."
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