As far as encouraging political action, check out StepItUp '07 (http://www.StepItUp07.org/).

Unfortunately, the list of adverse affects probably doesn't end (http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa028&articleID=00037A5D-A938-150E-A93883414B7F0000) with what you list above.

Thanks for the post; you're right, we need to act now.