HANUKKAH ACTION ALERT – 2001 / 5762
Urge Your Senators to Pass a Clean Energy Bill (12/02/01)
HELP PROTECT AMERICAN FREEDOM
HELP STOP GLOBAL WARMING
HELP SAVE THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
At the time of Hanukkah, we celebrate the festival of lights. We remember a brave battle against those who wanted to destroy Jewish culture, and we celebrate the miracle of a small amount of oil lasting a long time.
As Americans, we now face two similar and connected challenges: a war against terrorism in a region which is a major source of our fuel, and the need to create a cleaner energy system that does not cause global warming. We need urgently to be more energy independent, and we need to accomplish that in a way that reduces our use of polluting fossil fuels.
The Senate is expected to debate energy legislation early next year at a time of heightened awareness of the need to reduce American dependence on Middle Eastern oil. The energy policy set next year will have long lasting impacts on our security, the environment, health, and future generations. COEJL and most Jewish organizations have supported for many years an energy policy focused on conservation and the development of clean and renewable energy sources.
WHAT CAN I DO?
We need your help to make sure we as a country make the best choices – the choices that are in the interests of the public, the environment, and future generations.
Please sign the attached postcards (one to each of your senators), and send them to COEJL. We will compile them and deliver them in bulk to the Senators.
In addition, you can help by:
- taking and promoting mass transit and carpooling
- keeping the tires of all vehicles fully inflated
- driving the speed limit
- buying the most fuel efficient vehicles that meet their needs
- conserving electricity
Chag urim sameach – may you have a joyous festival of lights.
Dear Senator ________, Hanukkah, 2001
At the time of Hanukkah, we in the Jewish community celebrate the festival of lights. We remember a brave battle against those who wanted to destroy Jewish culture, and we celebrate the miracle of a small amount of oil lasting a long time.
As Americans, we now face two similar and connected challenges: a war against terrorism in a region which is a major source of our fuel, and the need to create a cleaner energy system that does not cause global warming. We need urgently to be more energy independent, and we need to accomplish that in a way that reduces our use of polluting fossil fuels.
Fortunately, there are many solutions on hand. I urge you to support the inclusion of the following measures in an energy bill:
- a significant increase in vehicle fuel economy standards for all vehicles
- increasing funding for inter-city rail and metropolitan mass transit
- aggressive support for the development and production of alternative fuel vehicles, including hybrid-electric and fuel cell vehicles
- an expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
- aggressive support for the development and incentives for the use of non-nuclear, clean, and decentralized sources of electricity
We should not open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or other environmentally sensitive areas to oil or gas exploration or drilling. Such drilling would provide only a tiny fraction of the oil that could be saved through conservation.
Respectfully yours:
Signature:_______________________________
Name:__________________________________
E-mail:__________________________________
Address:_________________________________
City/State/Zip:____________________________
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