Diana Thater. (Hotlist).

Diana Thater's exhibition "Knots + Surfaces" is currently on view at the Dia Center, New York. Based in LA, she recently traveled to Mexico to film at the El Rosarlo Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary.

IF IT FEELS LIKE TERRORISTS and the Saudis--the Middle East situation in general--are controlling America, maybe it's because our role in the region is a mess of corporate and state entanglements over oil. A self-sufficient production and delivery system based on alternative energy sources is the only thing that can deliver us from our slavery to Saudi oil, and it might even allow us to see our presence in the Middle East for what it is. But, of course, the greatest barrier between us and energy independence is our own federal government. Some things to consider:

www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases01/maypr/energy_policy.htm

On May 17, 2001, Dick Cheney and the National Energy Policy Development Group released Bush's National Energy Policy. Download the 170-page document and read for yourself. It's all there--expedited permits for drilling in America's National Parks, nuclear power termed an "alternative energy source," and increased dividend incentives for Alaska residents when Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling goes forward. Of the recommendations made in this report, Bush aides claim that only twenty require congressional approval, while eighty-five can be carried out by executive order alone.

www.gao.gov

The United States General Accounting Office (GAO) is the investigative arm of Congress. Its website has posted a series of reports dating back to June and culminating on September 7 with the revelation that our National Energy Policy was formulated by a group whose identities were kept secret even from Congress. On August 6 the GAO threatened Cheney with legal action if the "nature, purpose and attendees" of the policy meetings were not made public. The Washington Post first reported that the GAO is investigating whether major donors to the Republican Party were consulted on the policy. Did (the now bankrupt) Enron, Texaco, or any of the other Texas-based companies whose names crop up so often in connection with this administration take part? On September 28 the GAO--"given our national focus on combating terrorism"--backed off its threat to sue the White House. But now, with congressional subpoenas flying, it looks as if Bush is knee-deep--war on terrorism or not.

www.phoenixproject.net

Though the National Energy Policy recommends a "study of funding for renewable fuel research" (sorta like thinking about maybe considering possibly doing something in the future), as of November 2001, Bush had already cut those funds from this year's budget. In early January, however, Bush announced that Clinton's almost useless hybrid-car initiative would be replaced with a completely toothless fuel-cell initiative--useless because, without a timeline for implementation, it allows the Big Three to claim that it will take at least a decade to develop fuel-cell vehicles. In fact, all the research has been done: NASA has been using hydrogen fuel cells for years. The Phoenix Project, a book and website by Harry Braun and Sustainable Partners, Inc., outlines hydrogen conversion step by step. Inexhaustible and universal (every country can make it) hydrogen is a zero-carbon-emission fuel whose only waste product is water. Check Braun's proposals against the recommendations of other sources such as the National Hydr ogen Association at www.HydrogenUS.com and the International Association for Hydrogen Energy at www.iahe.org.

www.defenders.org

The White House wants Americans to sacrifice wilderness areas to greed for fossil fuels. Defenders of Wildlife sends out a biweekly e-mail newsletter that keeps members posted on upcoming congressional votes relating to the environment. You can use the Defenders' e-mail campaigns to tell your representatives what you think. Don't listen to the cynics who tell you that letters and petitions don't work--they work all the time. Every lawmaker's office keeps a running tab of calls, e-mails, and letters for and against various bills put before Congress. And, on that note, your representatives and senators are all reachable at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov, respectively.