Earth Equity News

P. E. Clapp, Environmental Advocate, Is Dead at 54. By Dennis Hevesi, NYTimes, September 17, 2008. "Philip E. Clapp, an early and vigorous voice in the movement raising concern about global climate change, died Wednesday [of complications with pneumonia] while vacationing in the Netherlands. He was 54 and lived in Washington... For 14 years, [Mr. Clapp headed]... the National Environmental Trust, playing a significant role in lobbying for legislation, including amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 2006. He was a thorn in the side of both the Bush and Clinton administrations -- once even calling Vice President Al Gore to task for what [Mr. Clapp considered] insufficient support for the top priorities of the environmental movement. This year, his organization merged with the Pew Charitable Trusts... [and] Mr. Clapp became deputy managing director of the Pew Environment Group. With a staff of more than 90 scientists, lawyers and policy experts, the group promotes scientific understanding and policy measures to counter climate change and protect the wilderness. Rebecca W. Rimel, the president of the Pew Charitable Trusts, said in an interview Wednesday that for nearly 30 years Mr. Clapp had been 'a relentless voice in calling on our leaders to address climate change.'"