Introduction
by Matt Bucher, Associate Editor
Dear Reader,
George W. Bush promised a new era of environmental protection during his presidential campaign. He wasted no time showing what he meant by backing out of the Kyoto Protocol, cutting renewable energy research funds in half, and proposing what critics have called a Neanderthal, fossil-fuel-driven energy policy – all in his first 100 days of office.
While no one familiar with Bush’s environmental legacy as governor of Texas would have predicted a green administration, even his most ardent supporters could not have imagined Bush’s success in combining environmental protection with big business values.
This issue of The Planet audits the Bush administration’s environmental record and attempts to answer the question of whether the environment can thrive with so much emphasis put on the health of big business.
Reporters of varying educational backgrounds and journalistic experience scoured Bellingham and the Northwest in search of environmental issues carrying the Bush administration’s stamp.
Because this administration has been especially busy changing the landscape of environmental protection, stories were not hard to find. Using a three-pronged attack consisting of budget cuts, revisions to legislation and the less visible strategy of regulation changes, the Bush administration has made far reaching decisions.
Environmental budget cuts will be felt in every region of the United States as Bush slashed nearly $1 billion in environmental funding in his 2003 budget. Locally, educators fear cuts to the EPA’s Office of Environmental Education will leave programs without funding.
Proposed revisions to the National Roadless Area Conservation Act show Bush’s desire to combine business’s interest with environmental protection. If the revisions go into effect, timber sales and projects that are currently prohibited could be allowed, while environmental reviews would be reduced.
These revisions would then compromise the Endangered Species Act and potentially lead to more logging and less regulation.
Regulation changes by the Bush administration can be seen through the Freedom of Information Act — an act requiring federal agencies to disclose records to the public. Since the Bush administration took office, journalists and agencies like the ACLU have complained of requests not being honored or being heavily censored. Without this information, the public cannot stay informed and hold the government accountable for its actions.
The ultimate goal of The Planet is to inform our readers about environmental issues. While this is by no means an exhaustive look into the Bush administration’s environmental actions, it shines light on the notorious record the administration is compiling.
Hopefully this quarter’s magazine will convince you to take a critical look at the marriage of environment and economy by the Bush administration. Only informed voters can have a positive influence at the polls. By reading this magazine you are taking the first step — don’t stop — educate yourself about what is happening to the precious earth around you and make an impact.
Enjoy.