Presidential tasks and our future.

--- On Wed, 1/14/09, jesse loop wrote:

From: jesse loop
Subject: FW: Give your ideas directly to the President
To: jloop@indiana.edu
Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 9:18 PM


There is a nation of change and floating in it is a lot of debt and mismanagement.
We are strongly encouraged to be careful in our actions.

http://heartwood.org




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


BRIEFING UPDATED. 2009-jan-13
we Know that department of interior is access to resources. What change? Issus: Not a scapegoat administration. No FEAR. FEAT POSSIBLE.
But pawn? Be honest. Not telling you what to do but how things are. Using reason before action, please.
We must understand the leadership fully. We are the change movement.
Let's be advised to act by utilizing the proper leadership. That is what we decided, let's implement that plan.
Than we will. Thenk you. I read PBS. I hope I'm clear to everyone paying attention to the state of affairs of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA.
Jesse at IU is http://twitter.com/jesatiu
Typos are intentional unless otherwise left proper (*humor). It helps.
Making reference to typos is an effective method of conveying the levity of the words that are written, if they are written with the proper authority. One based on leadership in research, discovery, and reason.
We will not hold the new president to his word or threaten to undermine him. We will enable him to prevent violations which are contrary to the welfare of mankind.

ANDY and SCOTT: please forward.

http://twitter.com/jesatiu for blog copy RE: Scott's email.





Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:43:19 -0500
To: jesse_loop@hotmail.com
From: info@change.gov
Subject: Give your ideas directly to the President

Dear Jesse,

We wanted to tell you about a new feature on Change.gov which lets you bring your ideas directly to the President.

It's called the Citizen's Briefing Book , and it's an online forum where you can share your ideas, and rate or offer comments on the ideas of others.

The best-rated ones will rise to the top, and after the Inauguration, we'll print them out and gather them into a binder like the ones the President receives every day from experts and advisors. If you participate, your idea could be included in the Citizen's Briefing Book to be delivered to President Obama.

Visit the Citizen's Briefing Book now and share your ideas:

Throughout this Transition, a truly inspiring number of citizens have gotten involved. We hope that you remain involved through the Inauguration and beyond.

Thank you,

Valerie

Valerie Jarrett
Co-Chair
Obama-Biden Transition Project

This email was sent to: jesse_loop@hotmail.com

To unsubscribe, go to: http://www.change.gov/unsubscribe

--- On Sun, 12/14/08, andymahler wrote:

From: andymahler
Subject: Fwd: Stop John Berry's Interior Secretary Nomination
To: andy@blueriver.net
Date: Sunday, December 14, 2008, 7:56 PM


my apologies for duplicates
please call or email TODAY (contact info follows)

opposing John Berry
and supporting Raul Grijalva
for Interior Secretary
(details below)

John Berry is closely associated with those who favor motorized recreation and
commercialization of public lands
while Raul Grijalva has been a staunch advocate for wildlife and wild places

please forward widely
thank you
@~
andy

812.723.2430

---- contact information for the Obama Transition Team ---
> John Podesta, Obama Transition Team Head
> e-mail John.Podesta@ptt.gov, Fax
202-682-1867
>
> Greg Nelson - liaison to Mr. Podesta
> e-mail Greg.Nelson@ptt.gov, Fax
202-443-4724
> Webforms:
>
http://change.gov/page/content/contact/

> http://change.gov/page/s/energyenviro
>
> Voice: 202-540-3000, then dial 2
*****************

"John Berry is the ONLY candidate now in the running who would be
receptive to the pressures exerted by the American Recreation Coalition -- and
those pressures promote the privatization, commercialization and motorization of
recreational opportunities in the National Parks and other public lands."


> From: "Scott Silver"
> To: "Scott Silver"
> Subject: Stop John Berry's Interior Secretary Nomination
> Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2008 20:53:21 -0800
>
>
> THIS IS IMPORTANT AND URGENT
>
> Appended is a brief message received from a trusted associate. It deals
with the appointment of John Berry to the position of Interior Secretary. It
further confirms what other sources have been suggesting, that being:
> John Berry appears to be incoming President's top pick for the
Interior Secretary position
>
> and
>
> The Obama Transition Team could give Berry the nod as soon as Monday...
> .... and what a disaster that would be!!! Let me explain.
>
> John Berry has, my sources say blown past the environmental
community's favored candidate, Raul Grijalva.
> See
http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=1137

>
> John Berry is almost certainly the candidate favored by the
ANTI-environmental American Recreation Coalition -- the lobby group that worked
with Interior's Paul Hoffman in an effort to weaken National Park policies
and to open the parks to increased motorized recreation.
> See
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/10/opinion/10mon2.html

>
> John Berry was recently appointed to the ARC's Outdoor Resources
Review Group. Having Berry appointed Interior Secretary would be a phenomenal
coup for the ARC.
> See
http://www.funoutdoors.com/node/view/2166

>
> John Berry was the Department of Interior's Recreation Fee
Demonstration point-person. In that capacity Berry worked closely with the
ARC's President, Derrick Crandall. Crandall was a chief proponent of this
immensely unpopular and contentions program. See Congressional testimony by
both Berry and Crandall
http://www.wildwilderness.org/docs/hearing.htm

>
> John Berry is the ONLY candidate now in the running who would be receptive
to the pressures exerted by the American Recreation Coalition -- and those
pressures promote the privatization, commercialization and motorization of
recreational opportunities in the National Parks and other public lands.
>
> ARC, I might add, was a highly visible and staunch supporter of the
nominations of Interior Secretaries James Watt, Donald Hodel and Gale Norton.
No one who loves the great outdoors should accept as Interior Secretary any
nominee favored by the ARC.
>
> Barack Obama was elected because he promised to bring change. John
Berry's appointment would ensure continuity of the ARC's dominance over
recreation policies. Is this the "change" Mr. Obama promised us? I
hope not!!!
>
> Pasted immediately below is the most current information I have in my
possession. Below that you is contact information for the Obama Transition
team, should you wish to weight in. Time is of the essence so please do not
delay.
>
> Scott
>
>
> ----my sources say ----
>
> This is bad news indeed - I would still encourage you
> to think about getting feedback directly into the
> Obama team about your concerns with Berry - they don't
> want controversial people - or get those concerns to
> some of the congressional delegates who have
> championed against fee demo and ask them to spread the
> word about these concerns.
>
> Word I heard at my meeting was that Grijalva and
> Thompson were fading and that Berry was rising. I
> don't have any sense of where the big nationals stand,
> but I would encourage you to try to get this out
> beyond the usual crowd and make the transition team
> uncomfortable with the idea. I don't think you have
> much time - he'll have to be announcing Interior and
> Ag soon.
>
> ---- contact information for the Obama Transition Team ---
> John Podesta, Obama Transition Team Head
> e-mail John.Podesta@ptt.gov, Fax
202-682-1867
>
> Greg Nelson - liaison to Mr. Podesta
> e-mail Greg.Nelson@ptt.gov, Fax
202-443-4724
> Webforms:
>
http://change.gov/page/content/contact/

> http://change.gov/page/s/energyenviro
>
> Voice: 202-540-3000, then dial 2
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Scott Silver
> Wild Wilderness
> 248 NW Wilmington Ave.
> Bend, OR 97701
>
> phone: 541-385-5261
> e-mail:
ssilver@wildwilderness.org
> Internet:
http://www.wildwilderness.org
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Date: Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:47:14 -0800
To: brian@bigwildlife.org
From: Brian Vincent
Subject: URGENT: Please endorse Rep. Raúl Grijalva
for Secretary of Interior

URGENT ALERT
Big Wildlife just learned the Center for Biological Diversity is circulating a
letter endorsing Arizona Congressman Raúl Grijalva for Secretary of the
Interior (see letter below). Big Wildlife wholeheartedly supports Rep. Grijalva
as Interior Secretary and appreciates the Center taking a lead on this critical
appointment Since a decision on the Interior Secretary post may be made by
President-elect Obama as soon as Monday, December 8, Big Wildlife urges you to
add your organization to the letter below ASAP. Rep. Grijalva has been a
champion for endangered species, wildlife, and wildlands. Big Wildlife was
especially grateful when Rep. Grijalva introduced the Bear Protection Act that
would have extended important safeguards to bears. We believe Rep. Grijalva
would be an outstanding Interior Secretary.

To sign on, simply send the following information to Brian Vincent at
brian@bigwildlife.org:

YOUR NAME:
TITLE:
AFFILIATION:
ADDRESS:
PHONE:
EMAIL:

Brian will forward your information to the Center for Biological Diversity as
soon as he receives it. Again, time if of the essence so please respond
promptly. Our apologies for the short notice. Thanks.

LETTER RE: REP. GRIJALVA FOR SECRETARY OF INTERIOR WITH SIGNATORIES TO DATE
VIA FACSIMILE

Andean Tapir Fund, Animal Protection of New Mexico, Inc., Animal Defense League
of Arizona, Arizona Mining Reform Coalition, Arizona Wilderness Coalition, Big
Wildlife, Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, Black Mesa Trust, Buffalo Field
Campaign, Californians for Western Wilderness, Center for Community Action and
Environmental Justice, Center for Native Ecosystems, Center for Sierra Nevada
Conservation, Citizens for the Chuckwalla Valley, The Clinch Coalition,
Conservation Voters New Mexico, Desert Protective Council, Desert Watch, ECO-
The Ecological Conservation Organization, Friends of Anderson Mesa, Friends of
Ironwood Forest, The Fund for Horses, Gila Conservation Coalition, Gila
Resources Information Project, Grand Canyon Trust, Grand Canyon Wildlands
Council, Gravel Bar, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Humane Voters of Arizona,
Maricopa Audubon Society, New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, Oregon Wild, Public
Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Red Rock Forests, The Rewilding
Institute, Rio Grande Restoration, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Southwest
Environmental Center, The Animal Protection Voters, Tucson Audubon, Upper Gila
Watershed Alliance, Western Watersheds Project, White Mountain Conservation
League, WildEarth Guardians, Wildlands Project, Wild Wilderness

December 8, 2008

President-elect Barack Obama
Office of the President-elect
451 6th Street NW
Washington, DC 20004

Conservationists Support Raúl Grijalva for Secretary of the Interior

Dear President-elect Obama:

As you make appointments to your Cabinet, we encourage you to consider
Congressman Raúl Grijalva for Secretary of the Interior. The new Secretary of
the Interior must bring strong, focused leadership to the position in order to
ameliorate the devastating effects of the Bush administration’s eight years of
failed environmental policy. We strongly believe that Congressman Grijalva’s
background and record show him to be a leader ready for this challenge.

As Arizona’s congressional representative, Congressman Grijalva has shown a
broad range of passion and expertise for conservation and management of public
lands. He has highlighted the Bush administration’s attempts to undercut
science in favor of industry interests and sought ways to work with agencies and
environmental groups to better protect public lands. For this, Grijalva has
gained respect in the environmental community for his clear and decisive
positions on sometimes complicated issues.

As a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, Grijalva was responsible
for leading one of the largest counties in the United States. With large urban
areas, vast expanses of federal land, rapid population growth, a high density of
endangered species, a shared border with Mexico, and an ethnically and
politically diverse populace, Pima County is microcosm of the issues a Secretary
of the Interior must be capable of managing. In this position, Grijalva
demonstrated not only knowledge of the issues, but a natural ability to bring
differing interests together to reach mutually acceptable agreement. He was a
leader in the development, approval and funding of the precedent-setting Sonoran
Desert Conservation Plan. Bringing federal, state and county governments
together with conservationists, developers and scientists, Congressman Grijalva
helped forge one of the most far sighted endangered species protection plans in
the nation.

One of the immediate tasks for the Secretary of the Interior will be to deal
with growing national water problems. Management of drought and the ability of
the Secretary to bring powerful, conflicting interests to the table will be
essential, as evidenced by the recent crises in Georgia and Florida, the
continuing controversy on the Klamath River, and the scientific consensus that
the Colorado River is dangerously over-allocated. Grijalva has long been
involved in drought management on the San Pedro, Santa Cruz and Colorado Rivers
and is well-prepared to tackle these issues on a national level.

Grijalva’s record of anticipating and working to address growing
environmental problems will also be an important asset in the Secretary of the
Interior position. Expanding forest fires, the melting of the Arctic, drought in
the interior West and Southeast, loss of endangered species habitat, rangeland
degradation, and permitting of coal mines, coal plants, and other traditional
and alternative energy projects all point to global warming becoming the central
issue for DOI lands and jurisdiction. Grijalva has been a leader in pressing
Interior and other federal agencies to integrate global warming issues into
their planning and permitting.

Grijalva’s experience in key environmental Congressional caucuses has
prepared him to lead the full range of agencies within the Department of the
Interior. In addition to his chairmanship and work on public lands, he has
worked closely with Native American communities ­ his district includes seven
sovereign nations ­ and has served on the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs.
Also, as a Representative from the arid southwest he is intimately familiar with
the responsibilities of the Bureau of Reclamation.

Further, Grijalva’s leadership in the labor and Hispanic communities has
allowed him to move beyond the long-held false dichotomies of environment vs.
jobs and species vs. rural communities to promote better management and use of
public lands. This is especially important because Hispanics are the fastest
growing users of public lands in the West. Their interests have been largely
ignored to date, even when those interests are harmed by federal land
development and extraction and access policies. The Interior will benefit from
Grijalva’s ability to bring these interests to the table.

Grijalva’s demonstrated keen knowledge of procedural issues regarding public
lands will also be an asset to the Secretary of the Interior position. In 2008,
he led efforts to stop damaging mining on BLM lands and other federal lands
where the Secretary of the Interior, BLM and Minerals Management Services have
permitting authorization. This was largely due to his innate ability to
understand and compellingly explain how poorly planned mining threatens local
communities and water supplies.

In the last decade, central management issues on public lands ­ including
logging, ORVs, fire management, grazing, mining and water conservation ­ have
changed from deeply rural issues to an urban interface. Grijalva’s experience
in the major urban center of Tucson has provided a hands-on understanding of the
new urban-edge dynamic and an appreciation of the resulting political
constituencies that are emerging.

The next Secretary of the Interior must have a nuanced understanding of the
complex issues involved in protecting and stewarding our natural resources and
lands. With the recent economic downturn, there will be calls for increased
energy production at the risk of significant environmental destruction. We
believe that Congressman Grijalva’s demonstrated strength in navigating these
sensitive issues and his commitment to science-based decision-making will serve
the Interior well as it moves beyond the Bush administration’s policies.

As organizations dedicated to protecting imperiled animals, plants and our wild
lands through sound science and enforcement of environmental laws, we regularly
interact with federal agencies within the Department of the Interior. It is with
this perspective that we heartily endorse Raúl Grijalva to be appointed as its
Secretary.

Sincerely,


Craig C. Downer, President
Andean Tapir Fund
Minden, NV

Elisabeth Jennings, Executive Director
Animal Protection of New Mexico, Inc.
Albuquerque, NM

Karen Michael, Board Member
Animal Defense League of Arizona
Phoenix, AZ

Roger Featherstone, Member
Arizona Mining Reform Coalition
Tucson, AZ

Kevin Gaither-Banchoff, Executive Director
Arizona Wilderness Coalition
Tucson, AZ

Brian Vincent, Communications Director
Big Wildlife
Williams, OR

Erik Molvar, Executive Director
Biodiversity Conservation Alliance
Laramie, WY

Vernon Masayesva, Executive Director
Black Mesa Trust
Kykotsmovi, AZ

Mike Mease, Campaign Coordinator
Buffalo Field Campaign
West Yellowstone, MT

Michael J. Painter, Coordinator
Californians for Western Wilderness
San Francisco, CA

Donna Charpied, Policy Advocate
Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice
Desert Center, CA

Josh Pollock, Executive Director
Center for Native Ecosystems
Denver, CO

Karen Schambach, President
Center for Sierra Nevada Conservation
Georgetown, CA

Larry Charpied, President
Citizens for the Chuckwalla Valley
Desert Center, CA

Steve Brooks, Director
The Clinch Coalition
Nickelsville, Va.

Sandy Buffett, Executive Director
Conservation Voters New Mexico
Santa Fe, NM

Nick Ervin, President
Desert Protective Council
San Diego, CA

Christina McVie, Science Director
Desert Watch
Tucson, AZ

Rob Fisher, Executive Director
ECO- The Ecological Conservation Organization
Little Rock, AR

Rick Erman, Member
Friends of Anderson Mesa
Phoenix, AZ

Shiloh Walkosak, Executive Director
Friends of Ironwood Forest
Tucson, AZ

Vivian Grant, President
The Fund for Horses
Houston, TX

M.H. Salmon, Chairman
Gila Conservation Coalition
Silver City, NM

Allyson Siwik, Executive Director
Gila Resources Information Project
Silver City, NM

Bill Hedden, Executive Director
Grand Canyon Trust
Flagstaff, AZ

Kelly Burke, Executive Director
Grand Canyon Wildlands Council
Flagstaff, AZ

Robert Hoskins, Director
Gravel Bar
Crowheart, WY

Veronica Egan, Executive Director
Great Old Broads for Wilderness
Durango, CO

Karen Michael, Board Member
Humane Voters of Arizona
Phoenix, AZ

Herbert Fibel, President
Maricopa Audubon Society
Phoenix, AZ

Steve Capra, Executive Director
New Mexico Wilderness Alliance
Albuquerque, NM

Regna Merritt, Executive Director
Oregon Wild
Portland, OR

Daniel Patterson, Southwest Director
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility
Tucson, AZ

Terry Shepherd, Executive Director
Red Rock Forests
Moab, UT

David R. Parsons, Vice-Chairman
The Rewilding Institute
Albuquerque, NM

Steve Harris, Executive Director
Rio Grande Restoration
Embudo, NM

Scott Groene, Executive Director
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
Salt Lake City, UT

Kevin Bixby, Executive Director
Southwest Environmental Center
Las Cruces, NM

Elisabeth Jennings, Executive Director
The Animal Protection Voters
Albuquerque, NM

Dr. Paul Green, Executive Director
Tucson Audubon
Tucson, AZ

Melanie Gasparich, Executive Director
Upper Gila Watershed Alliance
Gila, New Mexico

Jon Marvel, Executive Director
Western Watersheds Project
Hailey, ID

Don Hoffman, Board Director
White Mountain Conservation League
Pinetop, AZ

John Horning, Executive Director
WildEarth Guardians
Santa Fe, NM

Kim Vacariu, Western Director
Wildlands Project
Portal, AZ

Scott Silver, Executive Director
Wild Wilderness
Bend, OR

Jesse Loop
jes at IU journalism http://jesseloop.blogspot.com
Bloomington, IN