Crossposted from my diary earlier today on MyDD:
http://www.mydd.com/…
Today at an announcement event in Dover, New Hampshire, John Edwards won the endorsement of Friends of the Earth Action, one of the leading environmental groups in the country.
Friends of the Earth Action (FOE Action), one of the longest-standing, national environmental organizations in the country, today announced its endorsement of Senator John Edwards for President, citing his leadership on real solutions to combat global warming and his unequivocal position against dangerous and expensive nuclear power.
snip
“John Edwards will bring dramatic, positive change and improvement to our nation’s environmental policies. Most importantly, he will bring leadership in the preeminent environmental issue of our time — the global warming crisis. John Edwards has set the pace among presidential candidates on global warming, and among the leading Democratic candidates, he has the best, most comprehensive global warming program.”
More after the fold
Friends of the Earth Action was founded in 1969 and has long led efforts to create a more healthy and just world. Friends of the Earth Action and its sister organization, Friends of the Earth, have over 100,000 members and supporters in the United States.
“Friends of the Earth Action enthusiastically endorses John Edwards for President,” said Brent Blackwelder, president of FOE Action. “We believe he is the candidate most committed, and best prepared, to halt global warming and promote a healthy, livable planet for our families and our future. Among the frontrunners, he is also the only candidate to flatly oppose nuclear power. After 7 years of the most destructive environmental president in modern history, we feel strongly that John Edwards is the candidate most likely to stand up to the powerful, corporate polluters and their lobbyists. For these reasons, we believe John Edwards is the best candidate for president.”
Similarly, months ago, the the League of Conservation Voters, which has not yet endorsed a candidate for president, described John Edwards’ plan as the “most comprehensive global warming plan of any presidential candidate to date.”
“Senator Edwards’ plan demonstrates that he understands the magnitude of the challenge before us and the need for bold leadership to meet it,” LCV President Gene Karpinski said.
Edwards’ Energy and Environment Plan
FOE Action recognized John Edwards for leading the way among the candidates on global warming.
John Edwards’ plan to combat global warming will:
Cap and reduce carbon emissions by 20% by 2020 and 80% by 2050;
Commit America and lead the world toward a new global climate change treaty;
Lead America to a new energy economy by investing in clean, renewable energy and creating a million new jobs; and,
Reject new nuclear plants in the United States.
More from Brent Blackwelder. President, Friends of the Earth Action
In fact, from the very beginning of his campaign, John Edwards has built his candidacy on three big issues — ending war, ending poverty and ending global warming. No other candidate has made that commitment — or made protecting the earth so central to the heart of their candidacy.
Among the leading candidates, John Edwards has also distinguished himself by firmly rejecting the idea of reviving and expanding nuclear power. Building a nuclear power plant in Seabrook, New Hampshire was a bad idea 30 years ago — and it is a bad idea today.
While other leading presidential candidates have refused to rule out nuclear power — John Edwards has courageously and unambiguously said no. He has said what we all know to be true — that nuclear power is too costly, too dangerous and a terrifying target for terrorist attack.
In our view, you cannot tell New Hampshire citizens who live in the shadow of the Seabrook Station that you are “agnostic” about or favor “exploring” nuclear power. You simply cannot equivocate when the safety of our children and our nation is at stake.
John Edwards has also had the courage to take a stand against the corporate lobbyists and special interests that have so driven environmental policies in the Bush Administration. When you refuse to take money from the lobbyists for big oil and big coal, you can pursue the kind of policies that protect our water, our air and our land.
In an Edwards White House, the Vice-President won’t be holding secret meetings with corporate oil, mining, and utility executives and lobbyists so they can rewrite scientific documents and lie about the facts. In an Edwards White House, environmentally concerned citizens will have a voice — and big campaign cash will not drive environmental policy.
Statement by Brent Blackwelder
On building new nuclear plants, John Edwards stands alone among the top three candidates in rejecting any new plants until the waste issue is resolved.
John Edwards on nuclear:
RUSSERT: Would you be in favor of developing more nuclear power here in the United States?
EDWARDS: No.
RUSSERT: Period?
EDWARDS: No. So that was less than 30 seconds.
More Here: Nuclear Power: Clinton, Edwards, and Obama – Where they stand
FOE Action plans to put people on the ground to help John Edwards in New Hampshire:
In this campaign we intend to mobilize our members, like-minded environmentalists and voters for the election of John Edwards as President. We intend to be especially active here in New Hampshire, establishing an independent campaign and organization to carry the message about John Edwards’ global warming plan and his vision for a healthy environment.
Early in this presidential campaign, John Edwards said, “Our generation must be the one that says, ‘we must halt global warming.’ It won’t be easy, but it is time to ask the American people to be patriotic about something other than war.”
Ending global warming won’t be easy, but the effort is critical to our survival. We at Friends of the Earth Action believe the patriot to lead us in the effort is John Edwards.
Statement by Brent Blackwelder
Added to the state SEIU endorsement(s)expected Monday (Edwards Gets Iowa SEIU Endorsment ), a real blue/green coalition is growing around John Edwards.
More here on Edwards’ Energy and Environment Plan.
UPDATE I: Video fo FOE endorsement and John Edwards acceptance today in New Hampshire.