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-- which still looks to long-outdated, 20th century, 'drill, baby,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
November 5, 2008
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."
###
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.