Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Make your voice heard about EPA should regulate CO2!

Friday is the last day to voice your opinion on whether the EPA -- the Environmental Protection Agency -- should regulate carbon dioxide pollution, the primary cause of the climate crisis. This is a big deal.

The EPA is taking public comment, before making a ruling.
Of course, special interests -- like the oil and coal lobbies -- are working overtime to defeat a positive ruling and have already gotten thousands of comments submitted in opposition.
Most people don't know about this opportunity for public comment, so your voice can make a real difference. And with a new president in the White House, it's likely that someone will actually be listening. Submit your public comment to the EPA here:
http://www.RepowerAmerica.org/EPA

In April 2007 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate carbon dioxide if it is harming our health and welfare. After more than a year of delay, the EPA is finally now requesting public comments on whether carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping pollutants are endangering our health and our climate.

Make your voice heard about EPA should regulate CO2!

Friday is the last day to voice your opinion on whether the EPA -- the Environmental Protection Agency -- should regulate carbon dioxide pollution, the primary cause of the climate crisis. This is a big deal.

The EPA is taking public comment, before making a ruling.
Of course, special interests -- like the oil and coal lobbies -- are working overtime to defeat a positive ruling and have already gotten thousands of comments submitted in opposition.
Most people don't know about this opportunity for public comment, so your voice can make a real difference. And with a new president in the White House, it's likely that someone will actually be listening. Submit your public comment to the EPA here:
http://www.RepowerAmerica.org/EPA

In April 2007 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate carbon dioxide if it is harming our health and welfare. After more than a year of delay, the EPA is finally now requesting public comments on whether carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping pollutants are endangering our health and our climate.

Monsanto and pesiticides (and growth hormones, and PCBs)

I just watched this really interesting documentary called "The World According to Monsanto". It's a very interesting film looking at Monsanto's advertising vs. actual cases of environmental and health hazards. Genetically modified soybeans and corn are affecting not only America, but Mexico and South America because US GM corn is hybridizing with native corn. Bovine growth hormone (rBGH) made by Monsanto increases mastitis (inflammation of mammary glands), increases the amount of pus in milk, and increases the risk of cancer. PCBs (like the ones found at the plant in Glens Falls) in high concentrations can kill small animals and increase the risk of cancer.
Check out some of these links:

Dirt-poor residents seek compensation in Alabama town that was secretly poisoned for decades

Two veteran news reporters for Fox TV in Tampa, Florida have been fired for refusing to water down an investigative report on Monsanto's controversial milk hormone, rBGH

Selling a Revolution: The Monsanto PR Campaign

Intro to Bovine Growth Hormone

An old petition from preventcancer.com speaking out about rBGH

New Study Links Monsanto's Roundup to Cancer

There are many more websites you can find for yourself, but please, think twice before you use pesticides on your lawn or garden (especially if you have kids or pets!!). Pretty much all milk in the US that is labelled otherwise contains Bovine Growth Hormone, so it's my opinion to go organic and rBGH free.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Greening prisons

A pretty interesting story about how inmates are recycling and growing their own food for their prisons.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081101/ap_on_re_us/green_prisons

Friday, October 24, 2008

Two local events

350.ORG PRESENTATION
"The Bells are Ringing …
…not for me and my gal, but they will be ringing 350 times at St. George’s Church and at churches and synagogues throughout the area. Why?- to remind parishioners and members of the Clifton Park community of the vital importance of reducing carbon emissions in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million or less. That’s the maximum amount of carbon that scientists tell us we can have in order to maintain the fragile ecosystems that sustain life on earth. Right now those same scientists tell us that carbon emissions into the atmosphere from manufacturing, households, autos, power plants, and all other sources have raised the number to 385 parts per million. And that is causing climate change - global warming, as it is more popularly known.

On Thursday, October 30th at 7:00 pm, join Green Faith members and other concerned citizens at the Clifton Park – Halfmoon Library for an informational presentation on the 350.org movement. Our speaker will be Jeremy Osborn from 350.org, representing author-environmentalist, Bill McKibbon. This program is sponsored by the Saratoga County Interfaith Environmental Coalition in the interest of improving our stewardship of the Earth.

So listen for the bells on Thursday, Oct. 30th at - you guessed it – 3:50pm and think about what action you can take to reduce your “carbon footprint” to a level that will help make our planet sustainable."


GREEN BUILDINGS FOR GOVERNMENT
"Learn how to implement and enhance state and local green building policy andprograms from national experts - right at your own computer!Register today for the U.S. Green Building Council's new "Greening YourGovernment" Webinar Series <http://lists.usgbc.org/t/883097/13111060/902/0/>

* Understand key components and resources for implementing LEED atthe state and local level.
* Explore the development of the STAR Community Index, and thetools and resources it provides for developing sustainable communitiesnationwide.
* Identify sound green building policy and key implementationstrategies through case examples.
Who Should Participate:
This webinar is a valuable educational opportunity for state and localgovernment leadership and staff, policy makers, advocates, and anyone elseinterested developing and enhancing green government building programs. "

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Deadline extended to oppose offshore drilling

"The federal government has extended until September 18 the deadline for commenting on a proposed 5-year plan for offshore energy development. Please act now.
Congress may soon take up unprecedented energy legislation that includes authorization for new offshore drilling. Unfortunately, that’s not the only big threat facing our nation’s precious coastal environments. The Bush administration has launched a new accelerated planning process that could open extensive offshore areas around the country to oil and gas drilling irrespective of how Congress votes. Lining our coasts and shorelines with oil rigs will not lower current gas prices or bring Americans long-term energy security, but it will put at risk some of our nation's most valuable habitats and productive marine areas. " from WWF.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Palin on arctic drilling

Honestly, I was pretty psyched when Sarah Palin was announced as VP for McCain. After all, she's a fisherman/hunter in Alaska, shouldn't she know the value of pristine environments in her home state? I was shocked to find out she's a big advocate for drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge and offshore drilling.
"McCain hinted in June that he may re-evaluate his position on drilling in ANWR, saying that he would “go back and look at it again,” but he has since continued to cite environmental concerns as his primary reason for opposing drilling in the reserve."-from http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/29/mccain-and-palin-disagree-on-arctic-drilling/
Let's hope come election time, the candidate with better environmental values wins.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Native Plant Workshop Oct 22nd

Native Plant Training WorkshopOctober 22, 2008
8:30 am - 5:00pm
At the Cary Institute for Ecosystem StudiesMillbrook, NY
Participants will learn techniques and methods for reintroducing native plants to areas that have been managed for the control of invasive plants and will also learn how to preserve existing native plant habitats.

Who should attend: Land managers including local, state and national parks, land stewards, land trusts and preserves, large land owners such as corporations, religious institutions, historic mansions, colleges and residential schools, DEC foresters, landscape architects, horticulturists, growers, nurseries, soil and water conservation district employees, highway workers, NYS Turf and Landscape , EMC, CAC, and Master Gardeners.

Presented in cooperation with NYSDEC Estuary Training Program of the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies, and PRISM.
For more info, For more information contact: Meredith Taylor 845-889-4745 ext. 109 mjtaylor@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Monday, August 18, 2008

Keeping your cat indoors

Lately I've been thinking about outdoor cats for several reasons. In New Zealand, they have a huge problem with feral cats that prey on native wildlife. There aren't many natural predators in NZ, so cats can easily kill lots of birds that aren't used to be hunted. On continents, feral and outside cats also kill birds and small mammals. I love cats, but I think it's unnecessary for cats to hunt, especially when wildlife also have to contend with natural predators, diseases, cars, and habitat loss. This morning I was woken up at 4 am to the screams of two cats fighting in my backyard- which points out that outside cats have a much shorter lifespan than indoor cats. Even putting a bell on a cat collar doesn't solve the problem, because a study has shown that cat can learn to stalk so quietly that the bell doesn't jingle.
I've found a website that discuss the issues of feral/outdoor cats: http://www.njaudubon.org/Conservation/CatsIndoors/FAQ.html#three
One man in Texas shot a feral cat who was killing endangered shorebirds, and it brings up an interesting ethical question of killing a cat who kills birds: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/magazine/02cats-v--birds-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

Friday, August 15, 2008

Scaring away cheetahs and elephants (in a good way)

Well guys, I'm back from Australia/New Zealand, so I'll be updating the blog more. I had an amazing time, learned so much, and met great people. Time for uni to start again and get back to the real world (and figuring out a way to negate the huge carbon footprint I created while travelling...hmmm.).
I went to the zoo in Auckland, New Zealand, and learned how this breed of dog is being used by African farmers to keep the cheetahs out of the farmers' land. Before this program was initiated, farmers would kill the cheetahs, or leave poison for the cheetahs (and whatever else ate the bait) so they wouldn't eat their livestock. The dogs are trained to keep out the cheetahs, keeping the livestock safe and saving the cheetahs. There's more about that program here: http://www.cheetah.org/?nd=46
In a similar story, in Sumatra the WWF has introduced a program for tame elephants to scare off wild elephants. Wild elephants have been entering farms and plantations because their natural habitat is being logged and destroyed. Nine rangers and four trained elephants keep the wild elephants out. Keeps people from killing the wild elephants, and hopefully the wild elephants find better places for food. There's more on it and a video at this website: http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/borneo/item3729.html?enews=enews0808t

Pretty cool, I think- and everyone likes success stories.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Renewables

Al Gore has called for 100% energy to come from renewable sources within the next ten years. Some don't believe this is possible or even desired. But this is really important, and MoveOn has created a petition to push for this, and around 150,000 people have already signed it.

"Al Gore took a big risk when he called on us to get 100% of our electricity from cheap, clean sources within 10 years. It's an achievable goal, but it's already under attack from the oil and coal companies. They're calling his plan unrealistic, impossible, and crazy.
We're in a crisis. If this is the fate of any new idea to get us out of this crisis alive, we're toast. Gore's challenge will live or die on the reaction of people like us.
We can turn back Big Oil's attack if hundreds of thousands of us personally endorse Gore's challenge to power our country with 100% cheap, clean energy within 10 years—and then we urge Obama, McCain, and Congress to get on board.
Clicking here will add your support to Gore's challenge:
http://pol.moveon.org/gorechallenge/o.pl?id=13302-3613284-qw2OfTx&t=4" (from MoveOn.org)

Monday, June 2, 2008

Urge the Senate to support Climate Security Act!

Hey everyone, I think supporting climate change legislation is the most important action each of us can do. We can recycle and reduce all we want as individuals, but to really make a difference, we have to influence politics. The Climate Security Act is currently being debated in the Senate. This bill would reduce the amout of emissions and fund conservation programs for wildlife (which are going to need the money since climate change is seriously going to wreak havoc on habitats). Please call or send an email to Senator Schumer and Senator Clinton to support this!!
Senator Schumer:
Phone: (202) 224-6542
District Phone: (212) 486-4430

Senator Clinton:
Phone: (202) 224-4451
District Phone: (212) 688-6262

Although it seems scary, all you have to do is call to say that you would like them to support the Climate Security Act to reduce global warming pollution and protect America's natural resources.
You can find out more about the bill and some talking points here:
http://online.nwf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Congress_and_Global_Warming_US_Senate

Friday, May 2, 2008

Miracle-gro recall

"New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced that DEC has suspended the New York State registration of four pesticide products manufactured by the Scotts Company. Any unregistered product may not be sold, offered for sale, distributed, or used in New York State.
The Department’s action immediately followed the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s issuance of a national-level “stop sale, use or removal” order against Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and three affiliates for illegal, unregistered, and misbranded products. The products are: SLS Halts Pro 22-0-8 Plus .28% Halts Pro (EPA Reg. No. 538-304), SLS Halts Pro 14-2-5 Plus .28% Halts Pro (EPA Reg. No. 538-304), SLS Halts Pro 0-0-7 Plus .28% Halts Pro (EPA Reg. No. 538-304) and Shake ‘N Feed All Purpose Plant Food Plus Weed Preventer (EPA Reg. No. 62355-4).
USEPA recommends that if you think you have any of these unregistered products, please look at the invalid EPA number on the label. If you see the numbers 62355-4 or 538-304, you have an unregistered pesticide. USEPA advises to store the product in a cool, dry place, such as a garage or utility shed, and to contact Scotts or your retail outlet. Do not dispose of them down the drain, in the garbage or at a community disposal site.
For more information, visit USEPA’s website at http://www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/ptb/news/. Consumers with questions about the stop sale may call USEPA toll free at 1-888-838-1304 to speak with a pesticides specialist. The National Pesticide Information Center has a hotline at 1-800-858-7378. If your questions can not be answered on those lines, contact the DEC Bureau of Pesticides Management at 518-402-8768. "
(Makes you wonder about pesticides, eh?)

Monday, April 28, 2008

New Recycling Bins at the Commons!

Clifton Park has recently launched a new recycling program in the Commons, a community sports center. The introduction of the program coincided with the beginning of the recreational soccer program Saturday morning. Clifton Park councilmen Tom Paolucci and Scott Hughes as well as some of the town's G.R.E.E.N. (Government Re-Thinking Energy and Environmental Needs) committee got the word out by putting up 'Recycle: It's a Common thing' signs, and distributing stickers and pamphlets to the early-morning soccer and little league baseball players and parents. The slogan was submitted as part of a contest by a member of the Shenendehowa High School Recycling club (S.C.A.R.C.E.), and will be posted along with other environmentally-conscious slogans on the announcement board along Visher's Ferry Rd. Please support the town's recycling initiatives by utilizing the new recycling bins and letting your town representatives know that you support the new drive towards becoming more environmentally friendly!

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Clifton Park tree givaway for Earth Day!

Hey everyone,
Earth day is coming up on April 23rd! Clifton Park's G.R.E.E.N committee is giving away tree seedlings at Shenendehowa SAGE’s Science Discovery Night Expo at the Gowana Middle School from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM on Wednesday April 23rd. The tree seedlings will be available on a first come first serve basis until the supply is exhausted. The entire press release is below:

"Councilman Paolucci stated, “In an effort to reduce carbon gases in our environment the Town GREEN Committee encourages residents to plant trees to help promote a greener, cleaner Clifton Park”. Trees serve many purposes today and now are our primary tool to help control surface/storm water run-off that backs-up storm drains, causing flooding in basements and low areas. The Committee supports events like the Science Discovery Night Expo because science provides us with the knowledge and means to balance development and nature.
Councilman Hughes reminds residents that, “scientifically and aesthetically trees are a great a means by which we can improve our environment and quality of life. I encourage Clifton Park families to take advantage of this opportunity to plant a tree and watch it grow, together with their children to a full and successful potential here in Clifton Park”."

Also! 18 seconds is a cool website about CLFs and a breakdown of which states are the most "enlightened". It only takes 18 seconds to change your lightbulb into a more efficient CLF.

As far as Saratoga County Green goes, I'm extremely proud to say that it was exactly one year ago that myself and my awesome friend Chris started this little project. I didn't think it would go anywhere at first, and it was tough getting it off the ground. I felt like we got a lot accomplished over the summer considering that we started from scratch. Unfortunately I won't be around this summer (I'll still be in Australia...hey, maybe that's not so unfortunate), but I hope that someone else from the group will pick it up. Even if SCCG doesn't reunite for the summer, I'll keep this blog updated for national news as well as local. I'm really happy that Clifton Park has a new "green" committee that is actually accomplishing things! I'm also really proud of Lisa, who is part of SCCG and is on the committee board. Although I'm moving out to bigger things than good old CP, I still want to do as much as I can to motivate people and get things moving in this town.
Cheers,
Shona

Monday, March 31, 2008

One million strong

From Al Gore and Climate Alliance:
"We're on the verge of being over one million strong and I'm asking you to join us. Please click here today to become part of the solutions to global warming:
http://wecansolveit.org/alliance
If leaders in business and government are going to make stopping climate change a priority, we need to send a loud message that we want action now. That's why I'm asking you to get involved today:"

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Tasmanian Tiger

I'm in Australia for a university semester, hence the lack of updates. I learned about the now-extinct thylacine (aka tasmanian tiger) in school, and I wanted to share it with all of you. Thylacines were marsupials (like kangaroos and possoms, so it had babies in a pouch), but over time developed characterics similar to the wolves we're used to back in North America. This is called convergent evolution- when totally different organisms end up looking similar through adaptation to their environment. From about 1800-1900 in Tasmania, the thylacines were hunted on a mass scale because they were believed to be threats to farmers' sheep. They had to compete with settlers' domestic dogs for dwindling prey at around the same time that a disease was further destroying the population. The last thylacine was Benjamin, which was captured in 1933 and lived in the Hobart Zoo for three years:
I watched a few films of thylacines at this website and I found it a little sad. Some people believe that thylacines still exist in the deep woods of Tasmania, but this is highly unlikely and unproven. Extinction is forever.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Hawk at exit 10

In the past few weeks, I've seen on several (8 or more) occasions this pretty big hawk between Jonesville and the Northway, along Carlton and Van Patten Road and the surrounding area. I got a closeup in the binoculars and it appears to be a red-tailed hawk. Though my hawk identification needs improvement, it seems to be a fairly large hawk, so my guess is that it's a female, or a really healthy male. (Female birds of prey are usually larger than males of the same species). I hadn't noticed it before I came home from school in January. Has anyone else seen it?

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Contests!

SCCG will have a booth at the Focus the Nation event at Shen this weekend (see last post for details).

There's an award of about $500 for young people (ages 8-16) who are working on an environmental project. http://www.grantsalert.com/grants.cfm?id=4&gid=9825 I'd strongly encourage someone to apply for that award if they have a project.

The National Wildlife Federation is now accepting entries for their annual photography contest.

There's also an essay contest for ages 8-18 about energy for the future.

Hope to see you at the Focus the Nation event this weekend!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Focus the Nation Event at Shen

Shenendehowa SCARCE Club will be hosting a national event Focus the Nation” http://www.focusthenation.org/nationalteachin.php on Sunday January 27th from 12-4 in High School East little theatre. Dr. Steven Leibo from Russell Sage College will be speaking at 1:00 PM on Global Climate Change, what it means to you and how to solve the problem. Several groups (NYSERDA, Pride of New York, Energy Bike etc) will have displays set up on environmental topics. Please announce to your students. Hope you can bring your family and friends.

Monday, January 14, 2008

"What are they waiting for?"

"The climate crisis will be the biggest challenge facing the next president. But the top Sunday hosts don’t seem to think so. In 2007, they asked 2,275 questions, but only three mentioned global warming." - National Wildlife Federation
You can check out this video about it.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Kids + chemicals

Babies and young kids are often more susceptible to the effects of their environment because they're developing.
An Environmental Working Group recently did a study of chemicals that kids are exposed to. According to their study, "the EWG found that the average child is exposed to 27 chemicals per day that have not been found to be safe for young people." (from http://www.seventhgeneration.com/making_difference/newsletter_article.php?article=601&issue=107)
The Environmental Working Group does have a parent's buying guide for products that are less toxic for kids. Check it out.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Are Your Efforts Really 'Green'?

The New York Times recently published an article questioning whether or not companies use the illusion of being 'green' and environmentally friendly to appear hip and attract customers eager to do good, and in fact coined a new term to describe the phenomenon: Greenwashing. In an attempt to alleviate the deception that likely occurs, the Federal Trade Commission is beginning to update its environmental advertising guidelines. One can only wonder if the measure is too late; are consumers beginning to lose their illusion with 'green' businesses that, in reality, do little for the environment, and will this cause a backlash for other businesses that really achieve something?
See 'F.T.C. Asks if Carbon-Offset Money is Winding Up True Green' for the full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/business/09offsets.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=federal+trade+commission&oref=slogin