PRESS RELEASES from Defenders of Wildlife

'The Restoration of American Environmental Leadership'
OBAMA VICTORY CHARTS NEW COURSE AMID MANY CHALLENGES

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement by Rodger Schlickeisen, President, Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund:

"With the election of Barack Obama and Joe Biden should come the restoration of American environmental leadership. For the first time in nearly a decade, we can look to the future with a sense of hope that the enormous environmental challenges we face will begin to be addressed and that our air, land, water, and wildlife -- and the overall health of our planet -- will not be sacrificed to appease polluting industries and campaign contributors.

"It is difficult to describe the damage done by the Bush administration's misguided and destructive environmental policies. For eight years, the special interests have ruled, virtually dictating our conservation, environmental and energy policies. But now we have an opportunity to lead the world into a better, environmental energy future that addresses the pressing challenges of the day, and there are many.

"President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden assume office as global warming threatens everything from our drinking water to our wildlife. They will need to radically alter our current energy policy -- which still looks to long-outdated, 20th century, 'drill, baby, drill,' solutions to solve 21st century problems -- and forge a new energy future that uses American ingenuity to lead the charge on clean, renewable, sustainable energy programs. And they will need to work hard to reverse the disastrous mismanagement of our nation's natural resources and to fix an environmental regulatory system substantially weakened at the behest of polluting industries.

"In short, they will need to revive and restore the federal government's time-honored role as the careful steward of America's natural resources.

"For the past eight years, the Bush administration has tried to make us believe that we must choose between progress on the one hand, and environmental protection on the other. In consequence, America abdicated its role as a global leader on environmental issues. Now we have the opportunity to surge to the forefront once again and lead the world into a new future where thoughtful environmental and energy policies are the order of the day. Much damage has been done and there is much work to do, but we now have something that's been absent for eight years: hope."

The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund (http://www.defendersactionfund.org) provides a powerful voice in Washington to Americans who value our conservation heritage. Through grassroots lobbying, issue advocacy and political campaigns, the Action Fund champions those laws and lawmakers that protect wildlife and wild places while working against those that do them harm.


For Immediate Release
Contact(s) Cat Lazaroff

Obama administration offers opportunities to advance environmental issues
Comments by Defenders of Wildlife president Rodger Schlickeisen

WASHINGTON - The historic victories of President-elect Barack Obama and environmental champions in Congress create a new era of opportunity for environmental priorities, according to Defenders of Wildlife president Rodger Schlickeisen.

"A new day is dawning in Congress and the White House. Environmental champions won major victories at the polls yesterday, and the prospects for environmental progress in 2009 look bright.

"Under the Obama administration, with help from environmental leaders in Congress, we will have the opportunity to advance longstanding priorities including tackling global warming, safeguarding endangered species and better protecting wildlife on public lands. Taking decisive action on these issues will not only support a legacy of environmental protections, it will also help America's economy grow in a healthy, sustainable manner that works for all Americans.

"Let's be clear - we have a lot of work ahead of us. We've just had eight years of the most anti-environmental presidency America has ever seen. Reversing the damage done by the Bush administration will take years of hard work.

"Defenders of Wildlife looks forward to working with President Obama and our champions in Congress to reverse President Bush's assault on our environment and promote a green economy for the people and wildlife of America."

For more information, read our report "Wildlife Conservation Agenda for the Next Administration."

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Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities.  With more than 1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come.  For more information, visit www.defenders.org.