January 22, 2008

Dear Friend,

	We're Almost There! With your support, we'll reach our goal and help Ocean Champion Wayne Gilchrest win this very critical primary race on Feb. 12th. We urgently need your help. We can't afford to lose Champion Gilchrest! Sometimes in life we think 'change' is all we need for a better future. Unfortunately, 'change' simply for the sake of change itself does not always ensure a better future. Let's not allow Ocean Champion Gilchrest to lose to environmental enemy Harris. Through your financial support, we'll mobilize voters in the district, and inform them of Gilchrest's pro-environmental activities. Gilchrest's courageous position on global warming shows he is an Ocean Champion. Remember when not so long ago the Republican Party was in fierce denial about the existence of global warming? Not Wayne Gilchrest.
Rep. Gilchrest consistently fought his own party on their approach to global warming. His record speaks for itself:   Gilchrest proactively seeks solutions. He introduced The Greenhouse Tradable Credit System (HR 4266), a creative economic approach to curb our carbon output.   Gilchrest combats acidification. In November he co-sponsored HR 4174, addressing the urgent need to understand ocean acidification.   Gilchrest protects coral reefs. On the floor of the House of Representatives Gilchrest maintained that coral reef ecosystems must be managed so they "can resist and be resilient to this unknown factor of climate change". Check out Ocean Champions' take on Global Warming, and if you'd like to further explore this important issue, check out some of our 'fave sites': Oceana Environmental Defense NPR report On the other hand... Gilchrest's opponent Harris consistently votes against environmental protection in the Maryland Senate. He was one of only 9 who voted against the Clean Cars Act, which passed with over 80% support.
Rep. Gilchrest puts sentiment into action on the effect Global Warming has on our oceans; from acidification, to bleached corals, to habitat loss.