Fax to Senator Richard Shelby: 202-224-3416

Fax to Senator Richard Shelby: 202-224-3416 From: Judy Collins Cumbee; return fax number is 928-833-1334 (not telephone: 334-499-2380) 11076 County Rd. 267, Lanett AL 36863, [email protected]

September 5, 2007

Dear Sen. Shelby: After four local citizens talked yesterday with Ms. Cunningham in Rep. Mike Rogers’ office in Opelika, I had hoped to fax you immediately but was unable to. However, the message is just as pertinent on Sept. 5 as on the 4th. I hope you will give it focused attention and response. As you will see from the national press release on page 2 below, on Sept. 4th over a thousand people from every state in the nation were demonstrating their concern about our global climate emergency by fasting. I am one of the people doing so from Alabama, urging you and your colleagues to act on this crisis with all the urgency of a Manhattan type project:  Implement a moratorium on any new coal plants which spew tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.  Implement a freeze and major reductions of carbon emissions.  Implement a $25 billion down payment in fiscal year 2008 for conservation, efficiency and renewable energy. You are just returning from a congressional recess during which I’m sure you’ve witnessed parched fields in Alabama, farmlands and gardens not producing because of the extreme drought. You’ve heard of wildfires in the eastern part of our state and continuous days of 100+ degree temperatures, unrelated to those fires. While we swelter in Alabama, Arctic ice caps are melting and water levels are rising. Future hurricanes with Katrina-like ferocity are predicted while Katrina victims in south Alabama are still suffering, at least one I know of having died in her toxic FEMA trailer. If global warming is not reversed by immediate action, it is predicted that during this century cities in low lying coastal areas will not only be devastated; they will be no more. No more Mobile, New Orleans, Miami---no more countries like Bangladesh. And thus we fasted “so others might eat”—indeed might live-- drawing attention to our increasingly critical global situation, affecting us right now in 2007, immensely affecting the future for our children, their children, their children’s children. . . .Do we really care?

The Chinese character for “crisis” is the same as the one for “opportunity.” We have a rapidly narrowing window in which to avert at least some of this crisis. We individuals can make changes—using compact fluorescent bulbs, driving below the speed limit (the 70s gas shortage resulted in 55 mph speed limits) and various other actions, but comprehensive federal legislation/strict regulation is essential. As indicated in the press release, you can find more detailed information on the website of the U.S. Climate Emergency Council (http://www.climateemergency.org). I urge you to act----fast. And I hope to hear from you immediately about what you intend to do.

Earnestly,

Judy Collins Cumbee 1,000 People in all 50 States to Fast on Sept. 4th to End Global Warming

Religious, Student, Climate Leaders to Convene on Capitol Hill, Call on Congress to Pass Meaningful Climate Legislation

On the first day of Congress's fall session, national religious, student, and climate leaders will join together on Capitol Hill to explain why they and a thousand other people from every state in the nation are fasting on this day, and why some will not be eating for weeks.

The Climate Emergency Fast is the first-ever national action of this kind. It was initiated and is being coordinated by the U.S. Climate Emergency Council (http://www.climateemergency.org).

Fasters are calling upon the U.S. Congress to pass strong climate legislation this fall which would include a moratorium on any new coal plants, a freeze and major reductions of carbon emissions, and a $25 billion down payment in fiscal year 2008 for conservation, efficiency and renewables.

Those fasting around the country include author and activist Bill McKibben, Rev. Bob Edgar, former General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners, Rev. Lennox Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus, Rt. Rev. Chilton Knudsen, Episcopal Bishop of Maine, Rabbi Warren Stone, Environmental Chair of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Brent Blackwelder, President of Friends of the Earth, Medea Benjamin of Code Pink, Van Jones of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Mike Tidwell of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Ilyse Hogue of MoveOn.

WHAT: Participants will explain why they and a thousand others around the USA and in at least fourteen other countries around the world are not eating on the first day the U.S. Congress returns from its summer recess, and why some intend to fast for weeks.

WHERE: Lower Senate Park, U.S. Capitol grounds, corner of Louisiana Ave. and D St. NW

WHEN: Tuesday, September 4th, 1:00 p.m.

SPEAKERS: Rev. Bob Edgar, Former General Secretary of the National Council of Churches Ibrahim Ramey, Director, Human and Civil Rights Division, Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation Rabbi Warren Stone, Environmental Chair, Central Conference of American Rabbis Jim Lyons, Vice President for Policy & Communications, Oxfam America Jessy Tolkan, Co-coordinator of Energy Action Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Founder of the Hip Hop Caucus Jean Stokan, Policy Director of Pax Christi, USA Ted Glick, Coordinator, U.S. Climate Emergency Council