E-waste

About 70% of the world's electronic waste gets shipped to China because it's cheaper (up to 10 times cheaper) than dismantling and recycling it here. Unfortunately, this is mostly done by poor immigrants that aren't protected by health and environmental standards.

"Many houses double as smelter and home. Gas burners shaped like blacksmith's forges squat beside the front doors, their flues rising several stories to try to dissipate the toxic smoke... The groundwater has long been too polluted for human consumption. The amount of lead in the river sediment is double European safety levels, according to the Basel Action Network, an environmental group...'Of course, recycling is more environmentally sound,' said Wu Song, a former local university student who has studied the area. "But I wouldn't really call what's happening here recycling.' "
- http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071119/ap_on_re_as/china_toxic_electronics

Any ideas on how to promote or ensure that what we're "recycling" is actually better for the environment?

Coal

"It takes five to 10 days for the pollution from China's coal-fired plants to make its way to the United States, like a slow-moving storm.
It shows up as mercury in the bass and trout caught in Oregon's Willamette River. It increases cloud cover and raises ozone levels. And along the way, it contributes to acid rain in Japan and South Korea and health problems everywhere from Taiyuan to the United States.
[...] The growth of coal-burning is also contributing to global warming, and is linked to environmental and health issues including acid rain and asthma. Air pollution kills more than 2 million people prematurely, according to the World Health Organization"

From"World's coal dependency hits environment" from Yahoo News.

Step It Up Rally and Climate Change Numbers

Step It Up 2007 is a campaign organized by people all around the country, calling for leadership on global warming. There will be a rally at City Hall in Schenectady on November 3 from 11:00AM to 12:00PM. (here for more info)


Global Warming by the Numbers- from Environmentaldefense.org

1. Rank of 2006 as hottest year on record in the continental United States.
1. Rank of America as top global warming polluter in the world.
20%. Percent increase of America's carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels since 1990.
15%. Percent increase of America's carbon dioxide emissions forecasted by 2020 if we do not cap pollution.
80%. Percent decrease in U.S. global warming pollution required by 2050 to prevent the worst consequences of global warming.
78. Number of days by which the US fire season has increased over the past 20 years - tied closely to increased temperatures and earlier snowmelt.
200 million. Number of people around the world who could be displaced by more intense droughts, sea level rise and flooding by 2080.
358. Number of U.S. mayors (representing 55 million Americans) who have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement pledging to meet or beat Kyoto goals in their communities.
0. Number of federal bills passed to cap America's global warming pollution.