Greenpeace is a fiercely independent and non-partisan campaigning organization. We stand to tackle the planet's most threatening environmental problems and achieve solutions. Partisan politics is not our game.
Global warming is the most critical problem facing our planet, requiring a massive shift in our nation's priorities. It's not just an issue for progressives - solutions will only be reached when liberals and conservatives move to achieve them. Greenpeace's global warming campaign, Project Hot Seat, is working to get Congress to reduce carbon emissions to a level prescribed by the scientific community in order to preserve life on this planet as we know it. Washington's 8th district, represented by Congressman Dave Reichert, has been a priority of Greenpeace since early 2006.
The progressive community has made Reichert a frequent punching bag, and sometimes rightly so. After all, it wasn't until Greenpeace began to mobilize his constituents last year that he finally expressed an opinion on global warming. At first, Reichert made claims that the science wasn't in, that it was unclear to him that global warming was indeed caused by humans. Through aggressive campaigning that put Reichert in the hot seat, his tune eventually shifted to more accurately reflect that of his constituents. Volunteers and Greenpeace members made hundreds of phone calls, delivered bundles of letters and petitions, met him at every public event to talk to him about the issue, and sat down with him in his office to lay down their demands.
Over the last few months, he supported stronger fuel economy standards for cars and trucks and signed onto the Climate Stewardship Act, a good bill that is a step in the right direction, but doesn't go far enough. Last week he voted for the House energy bill, and was one of only 14 Republicans to do so. Greenpeace will continue to applaud our targets when they meet a specific demand and we will continue to encourage him to co-sponsor the strongest global warming bill in the House--the Safe Climate Act.
Greenpeace doesn't endorse candidates. Reichert's leading opponent in next year's election, Darcy Burner, has a strong position on global warming solutions. She has stood up and committed to supporting strong action on climate change, if elected. Greenpeace will continue to push both candidates for this office to adopt truly visionary global warming plans. Unless Dave Reichert leaves his seat or is unseated, it's his vote that counts in the House. Please join us in our effort to turn up the heat on Rep. Reichert. When it comes to global warming, we need Republicans too. We only have one chance to get this right. Progressives should understand that.
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