It’s hard to swallow, but the average meal travels 2500 miles from farm to plate — 2500 food miles, burning fossil fuels along the way. Like all our lifestyle choices, our food choices increase our carbon footprint and therefore affect our health and the health and sustainability of our planet. After transportation, the food sector uses more fossil fuels than any other sector of our economy. We all know that we need to eat locally and adapt more sustainable behavioral changes in relation to food. But there’s even more we can do. We can make our voices heard!

The American Clean Energy and Security Act (HR 2454) is scheduled to come to a vote in the House tomorrow (Friday, June 26). �You can call the Capitol RIGHT NOW 202/225-3121 and ask for your Congressperson. Urge them to support this comprehensive bill that promotes renewable electricity and clean electric vehicles; increases energy efficiency across all sectors of the economy; limits greenhouse gas emissions; and helps both the US and the most vulnerable communities around the world adapt to the devastating impact of climate change.

If you don’t know the name of your Congressperson, tell the Capitol Operator your zip code and she will tell you then put you through or you can visit: www.congress.org/congressorg/home/ to find our his/her name.
Once you get through to her/his office it only take 30 seconds to tell them your name and where you live and that you are very committed to protecting our world from the affects of climate change through a strong version of the Waxman-Markey Clean Energy and Security Act that includes:

• strong targets for emissions reductions
• funding for international adaptation to climate change
• protection for low-income and vulnerable communities in the U.S.

And that you strongly urge her /him to work for a provision allowing the EPA to regulate CO2, and then to vote to pass the bill.

There is plenty in this bill that needs to be strengthened. But as Al Gore said on a nationwide phone hook-up to thousands of people this week, “This is not the last word on the subject, but the first word.”

Because there is some debate in the environmental community about this bill, click here to learn more: www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/06/podesta_statement.html