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Daily Updates for January 2010 

RochesterEnvironment.com

These Daily Updates for this month represent just one month in over a decade of connecting the dots on our area's environmental situation.

Find out what’s going on environmentally in our area—and why you should care?   GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL STORY ABOUT THE ROCHESTER, NY AREA FROM A CREDIBLE SOURCE? SEND IT TO ME! Looking for something specific. Use Control + F and search for it on this page.

These daily updates pertain to what is going on in our environment in Rochester & around the world. Although I do not see RochesterEnvironment.com, or Global Environmental Resources, as environmental activist sites, I do view them as active. They are active conduits for all the environmental news, services, links, and an on-going discovery for the potential role that I believe the Internet will play in environmentalism. Your local news media is not doing its job in informing the public on the breath and depth of our environmental problems, so you are going to have to get on the Internet. 

• 1/31/2010 - According to the National Wildlife Federation, Climate Change is going to affect North American in many unpredictable ways.  That unpredictability is what is going to make life for wildlife and various sorts of business problematic. So, if you’re planning for Climate Change, what do you base your planning on when the weather will be unpredictable? Odd-ball Winter Weather: Global Warming’s Wake-Up Call for the Northern United States N A T I O N A L W I L D L I F E F E D E R A T I O N 2 0 1 0 "Global warming is having a seemingly peculiar effect on winter weather in the northern United States. Winter is becoming milder and shorter on average; spring arrives 10 to 14 days earlier than it did just 20 years ago. But most snowbelt areas are still experiencing extremely heavy snowstorms. Some places are even expected to have more heavy snowfall events as storm tracks shift northward and as reduced ice cover on the Great Lakes increases lake-effect snowfalls. Even as global warming slowly changes the character of winter, we will still experience significant year-to-year variability in snowfall and temperature because many different factors are at play. "

• 1/30/2010 - For those who tend not to consider Climate Change in their future, they should heed the warning from the business regulators.  Climate Change is going to have to be factored in how investors invest.  Climate Change is going to be part of our financial landscape because Climate Change is a real condition, not an ideological delusion. SEC to require disclosure of climate change risks - washingtonpost.com A politically divided Securities and Exchange Commission voted on Wednesday to make clear when companies must provide information to investors about the business risks associated with climate change. (January 28, 2010) washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines

• 1/30/2010 - We all know businesses are going green, learning about their companies affect on our environment and that consumers are very interested that who they do business with are environmentally friendly.  But, some companies are going greenwashing.  What is greenwashing and who is doing it? The EnviroMedia Greenwashing Index  "Everyone’s heard the expression “whitewashing” — it’s defined as “a coordinated attempt to hide unpleasant facts, especially in a political context.” “Greenwashing” is the same premise, but in an environmental context. It’s greenwashing when a company or organization spends more time and money claiming to be “green” through advertising and marketing than actually implementing business practices that minimize environmental impact. It’s whitewashing, but with a green brush."

• 1/29/2010 - While it is critical that we focus on Climate Change, some of the day-to-day fluctuations seem to provide fuel for those who intend not to do anything about climate except drag their feet and deny Global Warming.  The latest issue of contention for those hoping for an out is the relative climate stabilization for the past few years. What's the issue? Less Water Vapor Slows Earth’s Warming Trends, Researchers Say - NYTimes.com A decrease in water vapor concentrations in parts of the middle atmosphere has contributed to a slowing of Earth’s warming, researchers are reporting. The finding, they said, offers part of the explanation for a string of years with relatively stable global surface temperatures.  (January 28, 2010)  and Atmospheric Dry Spell Eases Global Warming : NPR "A new study helps explain why the planet didn't warm up dramatically over the course of the past decade, even though the gases that cause global warming increased dramatically."

• 1/29/2010 - On High-Speed Rail from Louise Slaughter: Congresswoman Louise Slaughter - Contact Louise "Bringing high-speed rail to Upstate New York is one of Rep. Slaughter's highest priorities. The improvement of existing tracks and the creation of a third track dedicated to passenger rail will allow people to move efficiently back and forth across the upstate region, improve commerce, generate new tourism opportunities and spark revitalization in our region for years to come. "

• 1/29/2010 - Learn how your organization can Recycle in our area and also raise funds.  There are numerous ways that we can green our economy and this idea is a one of them: Imagine It Recycling "Imagine it Fundraising Through Recycling is a unique niche in both the fundraising and recycling world. Established in 2002 with the intention to create a simple fundraising program with little effort to all involved. Companies can donate without opening a check book and charities maintain a consistent funding stream with little effort . Currently servicing over 2500 locations in the Upstate NY region, Imagine It has created an easy and FREE recycling program that concentrates on the most important component in out Sustainability efforts... REUSE! In this ever changing electronic evolution Imagine It offer to WIN WIN WIN solution. Together, we can do a world of good. "

• 1/29?2010 - To learn all about how the new High-Speed Rail monies from President Obama will affect our area's transportation go to this page: rail NYSDOT considers the High-Speed Rail grant program a high priority for the Department under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The following resources provide additional information about this program and NYSDOT's role. --from NYSDOT Home "It is the mission of the New York State Department of Transportation to ensure our customers - those who live, work and travel in New York State -- have a safe, efficient, balanced and environmentally sound transportation system."

• 1/28/2010 - Hey, what do those plastic numbers mean? We know Monroe County only recycles #1 and #2 Plastics, but what do the numbers actually mean?  Here's what they mean: "Plastic Packaging Resins"  -from  americanchemistry.com : Chemistry is essential2living - The American Chemistry Council

• 1/28/2010 - Maybe this is a recycling concept whose time has come: unclutter your life – give your stuff away "Wouldn’t it be cool if we could magically shift ownership of all this stuff, in one weekend, all over America, with close to zero effort, at no cost? Cool happens all over America (and beyond) on May 15, 2010. It’s called Give Your Stuff Away Day and it will work (almost) like magic, as long as you help promote the idea and follow procedures about acceptable / prohibited items. "

• 1/28/2010 - A good way to give your old stuff to people in need: Community Wishbook The Community Wishbook is your source of wish list items and volunteer services needed by more than 220 not-for-profit agencies in and around Rochester, NY. Use the Wishbook listings to find an agency that needs your donated item* or  volunteer skill. Then call the contact person at the agency to make arrangements for delivery or pickup of a listed item, or for details on volunteering.

• 1/27/2010 - Getting the Planet’s temperature down: Because our government cannot seem to make a strong commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, some individuals have taken it into their own hands. Locally, the group Cool Rochester--Save money, energy, the planet tackles Climate Change according to the ideas set by  David Gershon: Empowering a Climate Change Movement: Low Carbon Diet and the Cool Community "This is the first of a six-part weekly series excerpted from chapter 11 of my book Social Change 2.0: A Blueprint for Reinventing Our World. It describes a bottom-up climate change movement that has sprung up in over 300 communities across America. Not content to wait for the slow and often torturous pace of government solutions, it is helping America reduce its carbon footprint household by household, community by community nationwide. "

• 1/26/2010 - More on 2010 International Year of Biodiversity Check this out:  2010 BIODIVERSITY YEAR: URGENT ACTION NEEDED — Friends of the Earth International "SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA, January 11, 2010 – Commenting on today’s announcement by the United Nations that 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity and that “the world is invited to take action to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity”, Friends of the Earth International’s coordinator of the Forest and Biodiversity Programme Isaac Rojas said: “It is urgent to take immediate action to preserve biodiversity. Nearly half of the world’s forests and around one-third of its species have been lost in the past three decades. We especially need to protect our forests, which host more than 70% of terrestrial biodiversity. "

• 1/26/2010 - Note from a friend: "Here is a note about some online seminars that might be of interest to the Rochester community. Although not specific to the area, the first one about monitoring water quality near gas drilling projects seems pretty relevant. ... if you read the fine print it tells you how to register. Registration is free, and despite the "Friends of Penn State" reference you don't need to have any association with Penn State to sign up. "Learn about Water Quality: CAS - Water Resources - Water Webinar Series Water Webinar Series The Penn State Cooperative Extension Water Webinar series provides educational programs on a variety of important water resources issues in Pennsylvania. A listing of scheduled webinars including date, seminar topic and a brief description of each topic is given below.  You will need to pre-register to view these webinars (see Registration below).  Each webinar is offered at 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM on the scheduled day.  Everyone is welcome to participate in live seminars; however, you first must register. 

• 1/26/2010 - How is New York State tackling Climate Change? Find out here: New York Climate Change Advisory Group In August of 2009 Governor David A. Paterson signed Executive Order No. 24  setting a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in New York State by 80 percent below the levels emitted in 1990 by the year 2050. The Executive Order also created the New York Climate Action Council (CAC) with a directive to prepare a draft Climate Action Plan by September 30, 2010. The Climate Action Plan will assess how all economic sectors can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to climate change. The Plan will also identify the extent to which such actions support New York’s goals for a clean energy economy.

• 1/26/2010 - Climate Change is happening and you can get the facts.  Join a discussion /email with Dr. James Hansen on the latest developments: Dr. James E. Hansen "Storms of My Grandchildren", by James Hansen Drs. Makiko Sato and James Hansen are constructing a webpage, Updating the Climate Science: What Path is the Real World Following? In addition to updating figures in the book Storms of My Grandchildren (see LA Times review), this page will present updated graphs and discussion of key quantities that help provide understanding of how climate change is developing and how effective or ineffective global actions are in affecting climate forcings and future climate change. A few errata in Storms are also provided on the "Update" webpage.

• 1/26/2010 - What we're hearing: Save the date, Saturday, April 10, 2010 for a massive Monroe County Pick up the Parks Day.  An opportunity for the public to help get our parks in shape for the spring.  You'll hear more in the months ahead. 

• 1/25/2010 - This Asian Carp Thing: Why if we are living over here in Rochester, NY should we care if this Asian Carp gets into the Great Lakes way over in the MidWest? Here’s an interesting essay on this issue. Carp fiasco is latest stupid ruling | freep.com | Detroit Free Press "The U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to order immediate closure of a Chicago canal to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes demonstrates the primary roadblock to fixing any of America's environmental problems." freep.com | Detroit Free Press | Detroit news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Detroit, MI (January 21, 2010) 

• 1/25/2010 - We are hearing more stories in the NYS area about how communities are dealing with trash and landfills for the future. When we buy stuff, there is waste, and it has to go somewhere. Shouldn't it be recycled? Is burning trash really a good idea?  Albany trash plan draws criticism -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY ALBANY ­-- Environmentalists and community activists gathered Thursday night at City Hall to protest what they said was the city's apparent intention to replace the Rapp Road landfill with a trash incinerator. Albany NY News - Times Union - Serving Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, Troy (January 22, 2010)

• 1/25/2010 - This is the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity so how dire is this situation? Read on: Make or break year for earth's species | Environment & Development | Deutsche Welle | 18.01.2010 Rates of extinction are said to be so high, that some have equated the crisis to the challenge posed by climate change. But is it really that dramatic? DW spoke to Achim Steiner, head of the UN Environment Program. (January 18, 2010) Home | Deutsche Welle

• 1/25/2010 - What we are watching: An important discussion on our Energy Crisis: Bill Moyers Journal . America's Energy Challenge: Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson | PBS "Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson of Public Agenda don't tackle simple stuff. When last on the JOURNAL, they were concerned with helping Americans grasp the very concrete ramifications of a national debt adding zeros at a rapid rate. Now they have taken on the energy crisis and climate change. In a new book WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS? YOUR GUIDED TOUR TO THE ENERGY CRISIS they aim to both educate the American public about the complex problem, and spark discussions leading to solutions. "

• 1/23/2010 - Solving Climate Change should not be a political football.  But, it is.  In these extraordinary times, with many political sides fighting about Climate Change, including those who don’t even believe it is happening or due to human influence, there’s a player in the fracas that the media rarely allows to speak—Nature.  If our media doesn’t learn how to objectively, accurately, and deeply go after this issue, the increase greenhouse gases in our atmosphere will warm the planet up—regardless of the political spin.  Climate bill setback forces clean development rethink | Reuters "LONDON (Reuters) - Still reeling from disappointing UN climate talks in Copenhagen in December, clean energy project developers were dealt another blow this week when U.S. Democrats lost their Senate supermajority, potentially killing a federal cap-and-trade scheme for years to come.   Although the passage of a U.S. bill to cap greenhouse gas emissions in 2010 was far from certain, the election of a Republican in Massachusetts to the Senate on Tuesday derailed any momentum President Obama had following his healthcare push toward introducing a cap-and-trade scheme this year." (January 22, 2010) Business & Financial News, Breaking US & International News | Reuters.com

• 1/22/2010 -- How big a role with Wind Power play in our future energy sources? World Environment News - U.S. Says Wind Could Power 20 Percent Of Eastern Grid - Planet Ark WASHINGTON - Wind energy could generate 20 percent of the electricity needed by households and businesses in the eastern half of the United States by 2024, but it would require up to $90 billion in investment, according to a government report released on Wednesday. For the 20 percent wind scenario to work, billions must be spent on installing wind towers on land and sea and about 22,000 miles of new high-tech power lines to carry the electricity to cities, according to the study from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. --from Planet Ark

• 1/22/2010 - How will businesses go Green.  Here's one of the ways: Product Life Cycle Analysis  How good or how bad is a product from a green carbon footprint point of view? Several well known corporations like Airbus, Levi Strauss & Co., 3M, DuPont, and Kraft Foods are volunteering to road test a full life cycle greenhouse gas analysis on a wide range of products from blue jeans to manufactured steel. --from Environmental News Network -- Know Your Environment

• 1/22/2010 - What can New York State do to solve it's Environmental Issues?  Here's suggestions form the the New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV)  -- Environmental Issues Facing New York | NYLCV - New York League of Conservation Voters New York State faces a wide range of sustainability challenges that differ from region to region. In urban areas like Buffalo and New York City, mass transit and green buildings are key to reducing energy use and fighting climate change. In suburban areas, smart growth is vital to controlling sprawl while in rural districts, farmland preservation and open space protection are top sustainability priorities.

• 1/21/2010 - What we're reading: Should too much nitrogen be a concern? Earth's growing nitrogen threat / The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com It helps feed a hungry world, but it's worse than CO2. Yet it’s also becoming clear that too much of a good thing can have a downside for the environment. The world is awash in man-made “reactive” nitrogen (the chemically active form), researchers say. (January 12, 2010) The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com

• 1/21/2010 - What will be our energy future? What are our options? t r u t h o u t | Bill Moyers Journal | America's Energy Challenge "Airtime: Friday, January 22, 2010, at 9:00 PM (EST) on PBS (check local listings). Faced with the increasing global demand for oil and the threat of climate change, America needs a new energy policy - but what are our options? "

• 1/21/2010 - How did the Climate talks go at Copenhagen last month?  Here's a view: Copenhagen De-briefing An Analysis of COP15 forLong-term Cooperation "Climatico is pleased to announce the release of its latest report entitled, “Copenhagen De-briefing: An Analysis of COP15 for Long-term Cooperation” This report analyses key issues under discussion in Copenhagen including: finance, technology transfer, REDD+, CDM and JI, as well as the ongoing conflicts between Annex I and Non Annex I countries. The Copenhagen Accord is also discussed along with its potential effect on future negotiations. Download the report at: Copenhagen De-briefing An Analysis of COP15 forLong-term CooperationFor enquiries, please contact our press office at: press@climaticoanalysis.org  or visit us online at: www.climaticoanalysis.org . "

• 1/21/2010 - Bike Week is Coming in May to Rochester: Because Transportation is so vital to our regional environment, any improvement to our area’s lowering its footprints on emitting greenhouse gases is good. This spring we expect to see a full week of bike events to highlight biking. Highlighting biking for those short trips to the store, instead of using that gas-guzzler is good for your health and your environment. Even if you don’t bike yourself, you should consider that an urban environment where bicycling is commonplace is a better place to live—less pollution, less accidents, better health, more livable neighborhoods. Here’s a thought: when you take your daughter or son to buy that new bike for the warm weather, consider buying one for yourself—not only to ride with your children but for those short distances that you don’t need a car for.  Check back here for more details and schedule for Bike Week. Here's the concept behind Bike Month: League of American Bicyclists * Bike Month May is National Bike Month The League of American Bicyclists is promoting Bike-to-Work Week 2010 from May 17-21 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 21. Need some ideas? Use the League's step by step guide on how to get started promoting your event. Help us Count Cyclists In this May, and every month!

• 1/20/2010 - The trend seems to be towards Alternative Transportation.  Does that mean Rochester, NY also? 2 Signs the Time has Come for Alternative Transportation Two interesting pieces of news came out this week showing that Americans are becoming more open to car-less travel:  (1) the Earth Policy Institute released a study showing that car ownership dropped by 4,000,000 vehicles in 2009 and (2) the Upper West Side of New York City will be converting 240 parking meters into bicycle racks. --from EcoGeek - Brains for the Earth

• 1/19/2010 - Help stop the quiet Invasive Species invasion: Firewood and Invasive Insects - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Firewood and Invasive Insects Don't Move Firewood - You Could be Killing Our Trees! FIREWOOD ALERT - "DON'T MOVE FIREWOOD" A NEW REGULATION is now in effect that prohibits the import of firewood into New York unless it has been heat treated to kill pests. The regulation also limits the transportation of untreated firewood to less than 50 miles from its source. By transporting firewood, you could be spreading diseases and invasive insects that can quickly kill large numbers of trees. Help STOP THE SPREAD and obey the Firewood Regulation: --from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

• 1/19/2010 - I'm passing along this Action Alert: Rally and Meet with State Legislators about Natural Gas Drilling! Register now at: www.citizenscampaign.org/hfrac Please join the convergence of concerned citizens from across New York to rally at the Capitol and meet with state lawmakers to express concerns with extracting natural gas through hydro-fracking. Following the rally, you can share your concerns directly with your legislators and urge them to protect New York’s water, air, land, and people. WHO:    Environmental Advocates of New York, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Sierra Club-Atlantic Chapter, Catskill Mountainkeeper, and dozens of other environmental and conservation groups from across the state. WHAT:   Rally to protect New York State and delay the natural gas drilling rush WHEN:   Monday, January 25, 2010 Rally 10:30am to NOON Meet with lawmakers from 1:30pm WHERE:   Meet us on the west side of the New York State Capitol building in West Capitol Park (see map by following registration link) WHY:   In other parts of the country, hydro-fracking has polluted wells, lakes, and streams and poisoned landscapes. Your voice is need to protect New York’s water, air, land, and people. For more information about CCE’s campaign on hydro-fracking, visit: www.citizenscampaign.org/hydrofracking REGISTER NOW! www.citizenscampaign.org/hfrac

• 1/19/2010 - It's going to be hard to tell how Climate Change is going to impact us: Even Plants May Not Like a Warmer World - TIME Most of the fallout from climate change is likely to be disruptive, to put it mildly. It's hard to put a positive spin on rising seas, increased drought and wildfires, shrinking water supplies and more acidic oceans. For the plants that form the very foundation of the food chain, though, an argument can be made that both global warming itself and the rising carbon dioxide levels that cause it are actually a good thing. CO2, after all, is essential for the photosynthesis that most plants depend on for nourishment. And as winters get milder and shorter, plants will have longer growing seasons. More food plus more time to eat it seems like a recipe for very happy vegetables. (January 15, 2010) Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com

• 1/19/2010 - Donate to a worthy cause: Christine Sevilla Project (Christine Sevilla Project) "Welcome to A Living Project to Preserve a Place in Christine's Honor  For All to Enjoy in Perpetuity Christine's family and friends envision a natural area, including wetlands, preserved in her memory.  This vision includes an educational component, like an interpretive trail to help others recognize what Christine saw - an interconnected natural community of flora and fauna, soil and water. Perhaps even an  Arts and Music Festival to celebrate what Christine so treasured. "

• 1/18/2010 - Should the Rochester area compost more? There are areas that require composting.  But, our area doesn't. And a lot of compostable stuff goes into our landfills which are filling up.  Will we go the way of San Francisco? In S.F., thou shalt compost: It's the law - Sacramento Politics - California Politics | Sacramento Bee San Francisco, renowned for its civic will to save the planet, is now ordering residents and businesses to compost food scraps and biodegradables, or risk fines for not properly sorting their garbage. (January 3, 2010) Northern California local news and information from The Sacramento Bee - sacbee.com

• 1/18/2010 = Strong Language about Climate Change: In Dr. James Hansen’s Book, Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth About the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity, by James Hansen, there is, despite all the explanations, science and cajoling, just one message, crystal and clear: Get the carbon dioxide levels down to 350 parts per million or we’re in trouble.  Who is Dr. Hansen? James Hansen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Hansen is best known for his research in the field of climatology, his testimony on climate change to congressional committees in 1988 that helped raise broad awareness of global warming, and his advocacy of action to limit the impacts of climate change. "

• 1/15/2010 - Don't forget the Environmental Health Issue of Radon: You can do something about it: Radon Test Kit "If you wish to obtain a radon test kit from the New York State Department of Health, please print this "Radon Detector Order Form", fill it out and return it with $8.50 per detector ordered. (New York State Residents ONLY). Requests for the form in an alternate format can be made by contacting the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection. "

• 1/15/2010 - Cars: expensive to you and the environment: Our love, here in the United States, of our cars comes at a ridiculously high price.  Much that is contained in this cost is not simply the ticket price of the vehicle, or the insurance, or the license fee, or repair bills, or the yearly inspections.  Much of the taxes you pay are gobbled up by road and bridge repair.  The cost to our environment is hidden from most of us because we refuse to see the greenhouse gas emissions, the incredible amount of paved-over land required, and the innumerable hindrances to plant and wildlife because millions of cars and roads carve up their former ecospheres.  Plants don’t grow on busy pavement, nor do many animals cross, as streets and highways now define their boundaries instead the boundaries these species evolved to eek out a living over millions of years.  So, the next time you climb in your car (instead of walking, or bicycling, or taking mass transit, or voting for alternative transportation) consider the incredible cost that short ride is really costing you.   Worn roads, bridges costing area driver | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Rochester's deteriorating roads and bridges are costing motorists hundreds of dollars every year, a transportation research group said Thursday. TRIP, which is based in Washington, D.C., and funded by groups with a financial interest in better infrastructure, found that a third of the major roads in Rochester are in poor or mediocre condition and 27 percent of the bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. (January 15, 2010) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York

• 1/14/2010 - What's up with the government's plans for Clean Energy and Global Warming this year? Listen in: Open for Questions: The Year in Clean Energy | The White House Open for Questions: The Year in Clean Energy January 11, 2010 | 24:42 Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate, takes questions on progress in clean energy.

• 1/13/2010 - What we're reading: With all the other catastrophes going on, you might be missing one of the most profound catastrophes—the crash of independent journalism in this country.  Why is it a crisis?  Why should you care? Read this introduction to this new book, The Death and Life of American Journalism.  This crisis of the free press has profound implications on getting at the truth about our environment, when so many want to ignore and distort our environmental plight.       How to Save Journalism "The founders of the American experiment were even by their own measures imperfect democrats. But they understood something about sustaining democracy that their successors seem to have forgotten. Everyone agrees that a free society requires a free press. But a free press without the resources to compensate those who gather and analyze information, and to distribute that information widely and in an easily accessible form, is like a seed without water or sunlight." - from By John Nichols & Robert W. McChesney in The Nation | Unconventional Wisdom Since 1865

• 1/13/2010 - Here something different: Tonight, via the Internet, you can talk to the great Environmentalist, Bill McKibben.  Find out and be a part of what’s next after the 350.org, the world-wide series of events created by Bill McKibben to get the public and media to pay attention to Climate Change.    Take Action: TrueMajority.org "Talk to the Author -- Bill McKibben, is a well known environmental author and activist and the founder of the international climate change campaign 350.org -- named for the maximum level of carbon dioxide, 350 parts per million, that the climate can safely sustain. In October, Bill and 350.org coordinated the International Day of Climate Action, which has been called the largest day of political action on any issue in history. "

• 1/12/2010 - Green Business: Incoming message about finding those Green Jobs: "I'm writing to you regarding a website that may be helpful to your students and alumni who are seeking further information on environmental jobs and careers. I'm currently part of a team of recent graduates who are working on an “green” job directory, which aims to provide accessible information on a diverse range of fully-paid jobs, internships and volunteering opportunities within the environmental sector. We are based in Germany, but source our job offers from reliable international job directories, giving our users the broadest possible overview of green opportunities worldwide. Please feel free to browse our site “Green Jobs international” under Green Jobs International , and if you think it will be useful to your students, add us to your list (I noticed that you already have a comprehensive list of similar sites under http://rochesterenvironment.com/Green%20Business.htm). We always welcome feedback, so please do not hesitate to contact me by Email if you have any questions or suggestions with regard to the site. "

• 1/12/2010 - Enter into a worthy environmental contest by the EPA: 01/11/2010: EPA Announces 4th Annual Rachel Carson Contest WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites the public to submit creative projects to the 4th annual Rachel Carson intergenerational “Sense of Wonder” contest. The categories are poetry, photography, essays and dance. The contest seeks to instill a sense of wonder for the environment among all generations and spur environmental stewardship. Carson is considered to be the founder of the contemporary environmental movement through her landmark book, Silent Spring. Its publication is credited with reversing the nation's pesticide policy. Entries must be from a team of two or more persons from both younger and older generations. EPA is working with the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, the Rachel Carson Council, Inc., and Generations United to sponsor this contest. The deadline for team entries is June 16, 2010. The winners will be announced in October 2010. The public will have the opportunity to vote among the finalists for the winners in each category. More information: Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder Contest | Aging Initiative | US EPA

• 1/11/2010 - The problem is not going away: Years ago, when I began RochesterEnvironment.com, the loss of biodiversity was a growing concern.  Much was written about it and how it might affect our ability to survive on this planet, but the issue seems to have bored the public and the media and you mostly don’t hear about it. Until now, when the United Nations, as decided to get in the media’s face with the dire consequences of ignoring this critical environmental issue.  I hope this media campaign by the UN actually gets the media and public to understand and do something about what some call The Pleistocene-Holocene Event - Sixth Great Extinction    2010 International Year of Biodiversity - The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. The world is invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity You are an integral part of nature; your fate is tightly linked with biodiversity, the huge variety of other animals and plants, the places they live and their surrounding environments, all over the world. You rely on this diversity of life to provide you with the food, fuel, medicine and other essentials you simply cannot live without. Yet this rich diversity is being lost at a greatly accelerated rate because of human activities. This impoverishes us all and weakens the ability of the living systems, on which we depend, to resist growing threats such as climate change. The United Nations proclaimed 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity, and people all over the world are working to safeguard this irreplaceable natural wealth and reduce biodiversity loss. This is vital for current and future human wellbeing. We need to do more. Now is the time to act.

• 1/11/2010 - Shrinking Arctic Ice.  One of the indicators of Climate Change--whether or not the arctic ice sheet is actually shrinking overall, or is merely expanding and receding normally-- has made for much debate.  Rather than argue facts that others throw out, why not check the data yourself.  Here’s how to do that:   Sea Ice Index: Most Recent Daily Images These images, derived from satellite passive microwave data, depict the most recent daily sea ice conditions. Graphs show the trends in sea ice extent over the last four months, with comparisons to previous periods. See Note on Graphs for more infomation on the comparison lines. Monthly averages are considered more accurate indicators of overall sea ice trends. Please read Image Derivation and Interpretation Resources to understand the uses and limitations of these figures. --from National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)

• 1/11/2010 - Nightmare Decade? Sometimes you don’t get a sense of what’s going on at the moment until you pull back and look at it in the context of a longer time. When you go to see your doctor and she asks how you are feeling lately, you might be feeling Ok today, but recall that your overall health for the last year has been downhill.  Our positive can-do attitude can cloud an honest appraisal of how we or a planet’s environment is actually doing.  So, how was the last decade and our environment.  How are we doing on that? Check out: Living on Earth: Living on Earth’s Look Back "Host Jeff Young asks two environmental historians about the ecological landmarks of the past decade. Doug Brinkley, best-selling author and professor of history at Rice University is joined by Nancy Langston, environmental historian from the University of Wisconsin –Madison, who says “we've done a pretty good job of creating a nightmare decade." --from Living on Earth: Sound Journalism for the Whole Planet

• 1/09/2010 - What are our neighbors Thinking about Climate Change?  As you know, the boundaries we set up to define our property, our towns, counties, states, and counties are simply ignored by Nature.  The only boundaries that Nature knows are the laws of physics.  That’s why we over here in the Rochester, NY region should care about what our friends across Lake Ontario are thinking of doing about Climate Change.  It will matter how our neighbors address climate change:  Check this out: Climate Change Adapting to in Ontario: Report of the Expert Panel on Climate Change Adaptation November 2009 "Preface - As part of the government’s Climate Change Action Plan, the Expert Panel on Climate Change Adaptation was appointed by the Minister of the Environment in December 2007. The Panel’s mandate was “to help the Ontario government, municipalities and Ontarians prepare and plan for the impact of climate change in areas such as public health, environment, infrastructure, and economy”. "

• 1/09/2010 - Climate Changes Affect on our Economy: If you plan to be economically viable long into the future, you might be concerned if your stocks are being managed by people who don't consider future Climate Changes issues to be pertinent to economic forecasting:  Check out this troubling story: Does Your Money Manager Worry About Climate Change Risk? The Odds Are 50-50 - NYTimes.com Most money managers overseeing trillions of dollars in investments are ignoring many risks that climate change poses to the assets they operate for corporations, governments and other institutions, according to a new analysis. (January 7, 2010) The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia

• 1/09/2010 - Our Environmental Health: Learn all about the flu, the pandemic, and why you should get vaccinated: Flu.gov "H1N1 flu shots are widely available and everyone is urged to get vaccinated. Protect yourself in case there is a third flu wave this winter. "

• 1/08/2010 - Should We Care What Climate Change Will Do To Others? Here in the Finger Lakes/Great Lakes area, we have a lot of fresh clean drinking water.  Should we care that a lot of the world’s peoples don’t?  Should we just dismiss this Climate Change rage because we think we won’t get hit immediately like many others around the world?  How should a people with a lot of fresh clean water be thinking in a world where billions don’t have fresh clean water? Check this out: Mideast Water Crisis Brings Misery, Uncertainty : NPR Should We Care What Climate Change Will Do To Others? Here in the Finger Lakes/Great Lakes area, we have a lot of fresh clean drinking water.  Should we care that a lot of the world’s peoples don’t?  Should we just dismiss this Climate Change rage because we think we won’t get hit immediately like many others around the world?  How should a people with a lot of fresh clean water be thinking in a world where billions don’t have fresh clean water?  (January 7, 20100) NPR News

• 1/08/2010 - Suggest an Award: In these strange days when we still don’t appreciate the importance of our environment in our lives or in our economy, those who do focus on making our way of life sustainable go unnoticed by the community.  And, despite all the talk and heralding in the news, there aren’t many actual Green Jobs out there for the ordinary folk to attain—even thought it’s obvious we need to retrofit our economy to help our environment. So, in the meantime, while we strive to ‘get it’ on the environment (hey, according to a new poll only 44% of large corporate stock companies make their decisions based on Climate Change implications) let’s direct our attention to those who have given leadership in our area and help make our environment a sustainable one. 01/07/2010: EPA Seeks Nominations for Prestigious Environmental Award Contact Information: Chris Sebastian (212) 637-3597, sebastian.chris@epa.gov (New York, N.Y.) Do you know a person, organization, or a business, union, or government official who works tirelessly to make the world a cleaner and healthier place? Then nominate them for a prestigious EPA Environmental Quality Award, which recognizes environmental leadership and the dedication of those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in 2009 to improve the environment in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• 1/07, 2010 - Addressing Jobs & Climate Change: I don’t think it should necessarily be the case that we should make significant changes to address Climate Change only if they produce jobs—though I do think they can and should go hand-in-hand.  Morally, we as a people should address and make changes to in anticipation of Climate Change regardless.  But, in the case of Climate Change we should also reshape our economy to reflect what it rarely does—the actually cost to our environment.  So, let’s address Climate Change and create new green jobs at the same time as this study suggests: Study Says Mich. Climate Plan Would Boost Economy - ABC News Michigan could gain a significant economic boost and thousands of new jobs by reducing emissions of gases that cause climate change, according to an analysis released Monday. The report by the Center for Climate Strategies said a plan devised last year for battling global warming in Michigan would help limit the state's heat-trapping gas emissions over the next 15 years. ABCNews.com - Breaking news, politics, online news, world news, feature stories, celebrity interviews and more - ABC News (January 4, 09)

• 1/07/2010 - Fishing Nowadays: Fishing for the everyday fisherman used to be easy back in the day. Now, with pollution, invasive species, and other environmental bottlenecks, you're going to have to learn a lot of rules before you go out and buy some equipment and get a day off to fish.  Everyone who has an impact on our environment (actually that's all of us) including recreational fishermen are going to have to learn the rules. Note Baitfish Regulations - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation "Green List Baitfish The following baitfish are the only species that can be purchased and used in any water body in New York where it is legal to use fish as bait. These baitfish are commonly used throughout New York and are not considered to be a threat to other native New York fish species (except for trout in waters where baitfish use is prohibited). "  -from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

• 1/06/2010 - Yet another way to get involved with our area's environment: Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Review - 2007 On January 14, 2010, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm Central Time (2:00 - 4:00 pm Eastern), Environment Canada and the United States Environmental Protection Agency will hold a binational webinar for Great Lakes partners, stakeholders and the public. The purpose is to inform all of the process for negotiations between the governments of the United States and Canada to amend the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. The webinar will provide opportunity for questions and answers. Join us for a Webinar on January 14. Register here: GoToWebinar : Webinars Made Easy. Award-Winning Web Casting & Online Seminar Hosting Software

• 1/06/09 - A good way to learn about Living Green, or sustainably, is to check out these short environmental tip online videos from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation -- DECTV - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation ""DEC TV" Kicks off New Year with Green Household Tips for Saving Money, Energy Web Page Offers Videos on How Small Acts Can Add Up to Big Savings The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is kicking off the New Year by presenting a series of online videos highlighting small actions that can add up to big household savings this winter. Each day this week, "DEC TV" will provide green tips for saving money and energy in the kitchen, bathroom, basement and other areas. "

• 1/06/2010 - What chemicals are considered toxic to our environment and how to find out about them: Existing Chemicals | OPPT | US EPA "EPA's existing chemicals programs address pollution prevention, risk assessment, hazard and exposure assessment and/or characterization, and risk management for chemicals substances in commercial use. The Agency uses statutory authorities, including the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA), as well as voluntary activities in its implementation of these programs. " -from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• 1/05/2010 - I recommend anyone who cares about Climate Change to read this excellent editorial on the ability to for the public to 'get it' on this critical issue.  We tend to argue Climate Change like we do all partisan issues, if we don't get this issue right all of us cook, including our children. On issues like global warming and evolution, scientists need to speak up "The battle over the science of global warming has long been a street fight between mainstream researchers and skeptics. But never have the scientists received such a deep wound as when, in late November, a large trove of e-mails and documents stolen from the Climatic Research Unit at Britain's University of East Anglia were released onto the Web. In the ensuing "Climategate" scandal, scientists were accused of withholding information, suppressing dissent, manipulating data and more. But while the controversy has receded, it may have done lasting damage to science's reputation: Last month, a Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 40 percent of Americans distrust what scientists say about the environment, a considerable increase from April 2007. Meanwhile, public belief in the science of global warming is in decline. " --from washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines

• 1/05/2010 - What we’re reading: Dr. James Hansen’s new book Storms of My Grandchildren is a must if you want the Climate Change threat clarified.  Dr. Hansen struggles to help the public understand the true climate threat in a age where so many ignore, refuse, or actively discourage others from understanding the critical and complex science that backs the Climate Change issue.

• 1/05/09 - Stay current with Climate Change information from Dr. James Hansen: Makiko's Page What Path is the Real World Following? Makiko Sato & James Hansen Columbia University web page maintained by Makiko Sato (mhs119@columbia.edu) Our aim is to help people understand global climate change — and how the factors that drive climate are changing. We start with climate diagnostics — people are usually most interested in climate change itself. But cause-and-effect analysis requires also data on climate forcings (which drive climate change) and feedbacks (which amplify or diminish climate change).

• 1/04/2010 - One of the main thesises of RochesterEnvironment.com is that our media is not doing their job and informing us adequately about our environment. RochesterEnvironment.com is an attempt to bridge that gap.  Some proof for the allegation that the media doesn't give our Environment its proper attention is discussed in this interesting article and graph: The Greatest Story Rarely Told - Dot Earth Blog - NYTimes.com "The diagram, drawn by compiling weekly news summaries from  Journalism.org, contains not even a postage-stamp-size space for coverage of climate — or the environment as a whole, for that matter. While Joe Romm recently published a list of journalists who had  moved furthest from what he considers excellence in climate coverage in 2009 (yours truly included), the absence of coverage didn’t make his cut. "

• 1/04/2010 - Our electric grid doesn't have to be a dirty grid.  It can be a clean grid like what they're thinking of in Europe: Sun, wind and wave-powered: Europe unites to build renewable energy 'supergrid' | Environment | The Guardian It would connect turbines off the wind-lashed north coast of Scotland with Germany's vast arrays of solar panels, and join the power of waves crashing on to the Belgian and Danish coasts with the hydro-electric dams nestled in Norway's fjords: Europe's first electricity grid dedicated to renewable power will become a political reality this month, as nine countries formally draw up plans to link their clean energy projects around the North Sea. (January 3, 2010) Latest news, comment and reviews from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk

• 1/04/2010 - Curb Climate Change at the local level, very local - us.  Here's a short calculator for you own carbon footprints: WWF Footprint Calculator "Worried about your impact on the environment? The way we use the planet's resources makes up our ecological footprint. Measuring yours takes less than 5 minutes and could set you on a life-changing journey... "

• 1/02/2010 - Good discussion and research on the Marcellus Gas Shale issue over at  rochesterturning.com » Blog Archive » The FRAC Act/Marcellus Shale/Haliburton " Last night as I walked, an hour and a half late, into the New Year’s Eve soiree to which I had been invited, the topic of conversation was hydrofraking in the Marcellus Shale and the pending FRAC Act. " -From rochesterturning.com

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