Updates June - July 02

Daily Messages for June and July of 2002

• 07/31/02 -- Event:  3rd ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE ON CASE STUDY TEACHING IN SCIENCE - Sponsored by the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, a joint venture of the College of Arts & Sciences and the University Libraries at the State University of New York at Buffalo, with grant support from The Pew Charitable Trusts - When: October 4 and 5, 2002 - Where: Hyatt Regency, Downtown Buffalo, Buffalo, NY http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/conference2002/conference.
  html. The aim of our annual fall conference is to bring together people who are interested in using active learning strategies and real-world applications to teach science with a particular focus on case studies. It is designed both for experienced case study teachers who want to sharpen their case writing and teaching skills and for newcomers to the method. This year's keynote speaker is Dr. Richard Felder, Hoechst Celanese Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering at North Carolina State University. The recipient of numerous teaching awards, Dr. Felder is also a coauthor of the book _Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes_ (3rd edition, Wiley, 2000), which has been used as the introductory chemical engineering text by over 100 universities, as well as author or coauthor of over 200 papers on chemical process engineering and engineering education. This year's conference features sessions on writing cases and case teaching notes, using journal articles as case studies, facilitating case discussion, active learning strategies in the science classroom, learning styles, assessing student learning using cases, tips and techniques for using cases in specific science disciplines, using the media as a source for cases, the directed case method, problem based learning, team learning using case studies, and the interrupted case study method. Dr. Clyde (Kipp) Herreid, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and Director of the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, is our conference leader. Conference details, including a program and online registration, can be found online at: http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/conference2002/conference.html  Registration Rates (registration includes continental breakfast, buffet lunch, and morning/afternoon coffee breaks on both Friday and Saturday plus the Friday evening reception and banquet) Earlier Bird Registration (before July 31, 2002) $150.00 - Early Bird Registration (between August 1-13, 2002) $200.00 - Regular Registration (after August 13, 2002) $250.00 - Special Student Registration $100.00 - Friday only (1 day, includes banquet) $175.00
  Saturday only (1 day) $125.00 Questions about the conference can be directed to Nancy Schiller, Co-Director, National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, 228 Capen Hall, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, schiller@acsu.buffalo.edu, 716-645-2947 x225
• 07/31/02 -- This from THE GREEN SHEET Environmental Advocates of New York's Statewide Bulletin Board Copies of The Green Sheet can be downloaded free of charge at http://www.eany.org : WITHIN REACh: Residents Environmentally Active for Change (REACh) formed in 2000 as a result of the ongoing chemical contamination problem left behind by 3M, General Electric and Black & Decker in Brockport, NY, just west of Rochester. These companies are gone from Brockport, but their toxic chemical aftermath remains in the environment. According to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the levels of contamination in Brockport are many times over New York’s limitations for residential areas. PCBs, VOCs, cyanides and metals are among the contaminants that have been found in Brockport and Clarkson soil and stream tests. It’s REACh’s position that the companies responsible for the pollution should take full responsibility for cleaning up their environmental degradation. Visit REACh online at: http://home.rochester.rr.com/reach4brockport/.
• 07/25/02 -- This just in from Friends of the Genesee River " The Riverway needs a Pal... Rochester has a water gem running through it that needs attention of a few supportive people. The Genesee River and its adjoining Riverway trails are natural splendors that have been embellished by several localized efforts but more help is needed to keep the Riverway and its inherent assets alive for us and future generations. The Friends of the Genesee Riverway (FRG) is a new group now forming to welcome those interested in working in support of the trails and river in the City of Rochester. The primary goal of the FGR are to promote, beautify, complete and secure the riverway trail system. What does this take? It takes you and other interested individuals to participate in efforts to sustain the riverway. You don't need to be an expert of any type. We are interested in folks who believe we have a riverway that is worth growing and may have time to attend a meeting or spend a few hours with related events. We welcome folks with varied interests and time to allot to the effort. But most of all, we welcome you to contact FGR and join us in this worthy effort to help Mother Nature. FRG's core is currently a small group of citizens and city of Rochester staff members. However, we need interested people, wherever they reside, to help in formulating plans and events that will solidify the Genesee Riverway as a natural area that is scenic, safe, educational and useable by all. If you believe as we do, the Riverway is worthy of our attention, please think of joining is at our next meeting. There is no obligation on your part but it could turn out to be most rewarding. You can help keep the Riverway our gem for all to use. For more information, please contact Steven Stanton, City of Rochester Department of Environmental Services at 428.6884. We'll be happy to hear from you and Happy Trails.
• 07/25/02 -- Events:  from http://www.rochestergardening.com/ This Sunday, 3 area garden organizations will hold their very popular plant sale. The Perennial, Iris, and Hosta societies will conduct a plant sale open to the public 10 am to 2 pm at the rear of the Monroe County Cornell  Coop Extension building, 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester. Check out their offerings!  August 2nd/3rd, the Gathering of Gardeners will take place  at George Eastman House. Tickets are still available for  the seminar series and reception. Note that the Horticultural  Faire on the GEH grounds is open to the public. Details at:  www.GatheringOfGardeners.com/
• 07/25/02 -- Is it safe to swim today?  Find out from NRDC Beach Maps Local Beach Monitoring and Closure/Advisory Practices  Click on the name of any highlighted state to see how often the water is tested at local beaches and whether a beach will be closed down, or an advisory issued, if tests show pollution at levels above health standards.--from NRDC.
• 07/24/24 -- Is Living simply and environmentally friendly for you?  Read, City Newspaper: Living without, living within: Voluntary Simplicity in action Voluntary Simplicity. These people, like thousands across North America, have made a conscious decision to pare down complicated lives, or take on entirely new ones. They’d given up jobs and pursued more hands-on work aimed at reconnecting with the most basic (it must be said: conservative, as in “conservation”) values and routines.
• 07/23/24 -- More on Irradiated Meats: City Newspaper: Irradiation’s food for thought The matter may be on your dinner table right now. Some spices and other ingredients have been irradiated for years. But now food irradiation is coming to Rochester in a really big way, via one product and a strong advertising campaign.
• 07/23/02 -- We we've been waiting for years and it has finally happened.  The best and most useful newspaper in Rochester, New York City Newspaper has come online.  http://www.rochester-citynews.com  And what a great debut!  Be sure to check out City Newspaper every day and get the true picture of our environment in Rochester. 
• 07/20/02 -- Check out our new policy on our free RENewsletter: No ads, no sign up.  If you already get the newsletter, you don't have to do anything.
• 07/20/02 -- Help our environment: Urge Governor Pataki to Cap Carbon from Power Plants to Combat Global Warming To address the problem of global warming, New York needs to limit carbon dioxide pollution from power plants. They are the biggest individual emitters of carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas responsible for rising global temperatures.  Last summer, Governor Pataki declared his intention to make New York a leader on global warming, and his Greenhouse Gas Task Force's recommendations are due in June. Urge Governor Pataki to support a smarter, cleaner energy future by setting a cap on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. --from Environmental Advocates
• 07/18/02 -- Here's something you should know: The Garden Patrol Ten Birds That Help Control Garden Pests --from eNature.com
• 07/18/02 -- If you live in the Greece area and like animals, check out this site: GRASP - Greece Residents Assisting Stray Pets  We are a non-profit organization entirely funded by donations from the public.
• 07/16/02 -- Now that our country is going nuclear and doesn't really have it all figured out, you might want to find out if nuclear waste is going to be trucked through your neighbor hood: Find out here: Environmental Working Group || Nuclear Waste Route Atlas Also, you'd think if congress had passed a comprehensive measure to pile all our nuclear waste in one place, they'd have it all figured out.  Not so: Industry Tackles Packaging of Nuclear Waste for Yucca — While lawyers, senators and even an occasional geologist argue over whether Yucca Mountain in Nevada is a suitable place to store nuclear waste, scientific entrepreneurs around the country are focusing on a finer detail: how the waste can be packaged to isolate it for 10,000 years. (July 16, 2002) The New York Times on the Web
• 07/16/02 -- Got a garden and want to show it off? DEADLINE IS JULY 31 TO ENTER CITY GARDENING CONTEST
  News Release Date: 07/16/2002 There's still time for Rochester's gardeners to win recognition for their gardening efforts. The entry deadline is July 31 for the City's 11th annual Flower City Looking Good Gardening Contest. Award winners will be chosen in the following categories: Residential, Commercial, Coordinated Neighborhood Enhancement, Multi-Family (2 or more units), Institutional or Not for Profit, Best Patriotic Planting (a new category for this year) Individuals may enter their own or a friend's or neighbor's garden. Pick up entry blanks at most City library branches and City recreation centers. Entry forms are also available by calling 428-6770 or faxing 428-6021, or downloading a form from via the Democrat and Chronicle WEB site: www.democratandchronicle.com/flowercity
• 07/16/02 -- Interested in eating green?  This green tip from the Union of Concerned Scientists: Buying local food reduces energy consumption. In America today, the average food item travels a staggering 1,200-1,500 miles (estimates vary) from source to supermarket. Just think about the waste of energy involved, both in transportation and refrigeration -- and the effect  on climate and air quality of burning all those fossil fuels.  Finally, when you buy local produce, you help to keep local farmers in business. That's not just neighborly, it's good for your local economy. And it's one more way to keep land near cities open and undeveloped. For related information, see these pages: 10 REASONS TO BUY LOCAL FOOD http://www.asapconnections.org/local.htm FARMERS MARKETS BY STATE http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE: FEATURES AND POLICY http://www.ucsusa.org/food/?ind.ag.html THE FARMER AS STEWARD http://www.familyfarmer.org/conference/campany.html
• 07/16/02 -- I'm passing this along: Finger Lakes Energy $mart Communities: Promoting Sustainable Communities within the Region  Communities in the Finger Lakes region now have resources available to reduce their energy costs. Finger Lakes Energy $mart Communities was launched to assist with energy-related community projects aimed at creating environmental, economic, and social benefits for the region. The program is one of seven local partnerships, under the umbrella of the New York Energy $mart Communities program developed by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). In the Finger Lakes Region, the program is managed by the Genesee/ Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council. Will Poppe, Finger Lakes Energy $mart Coordinator, oversees community-based projects, engages local partners who contribute to projects, and helps match projects with State and local resources. NYSERDA supports the program by offering assistance for energy-efficiency improvements and renewable energy. For example, NYSERDA offers low-interest loans, technical assistance, and cash incentives to help residents or businesses with anything from purchasing an Energy Star® refrigerator to building a “green” office building. To learn more about Finger Lakes Energy $mart Communities, please contact Will Poppe, Finger Lakes Energy $mart Coordinator at 585-454-0190 x 21 or wpoppe@gflrpc.org.
• 07/16/02 -- Are you concerned about Irradiated food and wish to so something about it? Go to: Public Citizen | Food Safety / Food Irradiation - Food Safety/Food Irradiation Public Citizen is engaged with a wide range of organizations throughout the United States and the world in an effort to ensure the safety and wholesomeness of our food supply, to maintain the integrity of regional and local economies, and to encourage environmentally, economically and socially sustainable agricultural practices. These organizations include consumer, health, environmental, food sovereignty and social justice groups; government and quasi-governmental agencies; nutrition and health care practitioners; and individuals who share our concerns about the current state and the future of food production.
• 07/14/02 -- What are the disease clusters for Monroe County? Find out here: Cancer Mapping: Monroe County (New York)
• 07/14/02 -- I want to thank Foot Print Press for promoting RochesterEnvironment.com :in their recent newsletter.  http://www.footprintpress.com/Newsletters/newsletter21.htm#rochesterenvironment.com
• 07/14/02 -- Event:  Creating Sustainable Shelter - A Presentation Featuring : Dan Chiras -Author of The Natural House A Complete Guide to Healthy, Energy-Efficient Environmental Homes, In this Thursday evening event, organized by Gaiatecture Design, Dan Chiras, Author, Consultant and Educator will share his 25 years experience in the areas of sustainable living, green building and renewable energy. Dan will be discussing the hidden impacts of home building on our health and natural resources. Dan’s detailed slide presentation offers practical advice on a host of simple, cost-effective ways to build and remodel homes that are nurturing, healthy, aesthetically appealing and environmentally friendly. Come learn about this growing movement in the Rochester Area and what it takes to build a sustainable home. Dan’s new book, The Natural House, will be available for purchase and book signing at the event.  Thursday Evening, July 25, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Esty Road Retreat Center -3698 Esty Road - $5.00 Donation please  Information: 924-0554 Gaiatecture Design is dedicated to providing a holistic, sustainable approach to design for custom residential, small-scale commercial structures, renovations and community planning. Gaiatecture Design emphasizes the integration of natural building, solar and alternative materials in all design work.
• 07/14/02 -- In Environmental Employment: * Job Announcement * Program Associate for Citizens' Environmental Coalition for our new Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality Project ORGANIZATION: Citizens' Environmental Coalition is a statewide environmental organization dedicated to eliminating toxic pollution in New York State through education, organizing and statewide advocacy. We are seeking a Program Associate for our Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality Project to eliminate the use of large scale and corporate factory farms and the practice of spreading sewage on farmland. The Program Associate will work in the Central New York region. QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants need skills in organizing, developing and implementing a strategic campaign, coalition building, research, and writing. They must have a strong commitment to the environment. Experience working directly with farmers and community activists is required. Non-profit organization and foundation fundraising experience is recommended. RESPONSIBILITIES: · Organize the campaign against large scale and corporate factory farms and use of sewage sludge, including: § Researching current practices and regulations  --Working collaboratively to develop and coordinate a statewide network of farmers, researchers and activists § Writing, publishing and promoting a statewide report to document the serious problems from unsustainable agricultural and waste reuse practices in New York.
  § Developing a Citizen Assistance Toolkit.· Write grants to help secure funding for this and related projects. · Represent CEC in the Central New York region for CEC’s other campaigns. SALARY: Based on experience. Excellent benefits: health coverage, holiday/vacation package, dental after one year, retirement fund after two years. Union membership. TO APPLY: Send resume, writing sample (ie: letter–to-editor, report, published article etc.), salary requirements and two references to: Mike Schade, WNY Director, 425 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222, mike@cectoxic.org. DEADLINE: August 15, 2002 For more information about CEC, visit our website at www.cectoxic.org. Equal Opportunity Employer
• 07/14/02 Event: -- NYSAR3 - 13th Annual Recycling Seminar, Annual Membership Meeting, Friday, October 25, 2002, Holiday Inn Arena, Binghamton, NY   An opportunity will be offered to visit Broome County's Operating Single Stream Recycling Facility. Time to be determined. For more information on the conference go to the web site www.nysar3.org  Questions? Contact Robin Kane by phone: 518-736-5501 or email: recycle@superior.net
• 07/13/02 -- If you are interested in the health of our Great Lakes you should watch this story of the Asian Carp that is threatening the change the ecology of the lakes. Democrat & Chronicle: Big alien fish may threaten jet-skiers — The newest alien species to threaten the Great Lakes could out-eat and out-reproduce native fish, and crash fragile ecosystems, scientists warned Thursday. Asian carp -- in adulthood 4 feet long and 60 pounds -- could even terrorize small boaters, since the fish can leap 8 feet out of the water when startled. (July 12, 2002) DemocratandChronicle.com
• 07/13/02 -- What does our NYS Attorney think of the Superfund problem in our state? Find out here Spitzer testimony on Superfund  --from Office of New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer
• 07/13/02 -- Here's a great way to stay informed about the health of our nearest Great Lake and even get action alerts: Great Lakes Environmental Directory: extensive information regarding Great Lakes environment The Great Lakes Directory (Great Lakes Environmental Directory) provides information via an extensive online library of Great Lakes environmental articles and organizations focused on the following: Great Lakes environment, threatened and endangered species, pollution, Great Lakes watershed issues, water quality, exotic species (alien species), Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Great Lakes ecology, air pollution, water pollution, water export, gas and oil drilling, Great Lakes aquatic habitat issues, mercury, wastewater/ sewage and septic issues, climate change (greenhouse effect), acid rain, drinking water contamination, Great Lakes wetlands protection, general EPA Region 5 and other Great Lakes issues and information, including Great Lakes activist resources (Great Lakes grants, free environmental software/ downloads, advocacy tools, research, links, grassroots success stories, government information, Great Lakes environmental events, jobs and other environmental/ ecological resources).
• 07/13/02 -- Interesting energy idea: This service is coming to our area now: New Wind Energy New Wind Energy™ from Community Energy, Inc. is electricity supplied from newly developed wind resources. New wind turbines are the fastest growing and most cost-effective renewable energy technology, producing electricity with no fuel and no pollution. Community Energy, Inc. was formed by people committed to protecting our environment, and to the development and promotion of NEW clean, renewable energy. Community Energy, Inc., brought the first commercial wind turbines online in Pennsylvania in December 1999, and is currently working to bring the largest wind farm east of the Mississippi online in 2002.New Wind Energy is sold in affordable blocks of pure wind energy. Customers choose the amount of wind energy they would like to purchase as part of their ordinary electric supply with no change in reliability. The price for each block of New Wind Energy is set at a fixed premium over conventional supply, currently $2.50 for each 100 kWh of wind energy. The more blocks customers purchase, the more wind turbines are built.
• 07/10/02 -- This is a strange, NIMBY (not in my back yard), issue that has a lot of inherent contradictions in it: "Senate Approves Nuclear Waste Site in Nevada Mountain  http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/10/politics/10YUCC.html July 9 — The Senate gave final Congressional approval today for the establishment of a nuclear waste repository deep inside Nevada's Yucca Mountain, a pivotal moment in the 20-year search for a home for the radioactive byproducts from the nation's nuclear reactors. (July 10, 2002) The New York Times on the Web" -- The Governor and senators of Nevada do not want nuclear waste in their backyard.  Other senators in other states do not want all the impossible to control nuclear waste in their backyard either, but they can gang up on one state and make them take the foul stuff.  But all this in not over because the issue will probably go to the Supreme Court, which will either have to support our state's democratic rights and not force Nevada to comply, or it will have to force Nevada to take everyone's else's nuclear waste and become a group of hypocrites.  Which leads us to the Bush Administration's efforts, under Vice President Dick Cheney) to create an energy policy on the back of the nuclear energy debate. We have not solved this most basic problem of the dangerous nuclear waste generated by the industry, yet despite all that the Bush administration thinks nuclear, and not conservation and renewable energy sources, are the way to go.  Oh, by the way.  Think that because the Bush administration has shoved the nuclear problem to Nevada that you don't have to worry about it.  Think again: HAZARDOUS NUCLEAR WASTE COMING TO A ROAD OR RAIL-LINE NEAR YOU Senate Approves Nuclear Waste Storage Facility at Yucca Mountain --from the Sierra Club pressroom.
• 07/03/02 -- With Charlotte Beach closed for past couple of days, this might interest you: "Did you know there were more than 14,000 beach closings and advisories throughout the U.S. in 2000? And those are just the ones we know about...many states don't monitor beach water quality at all!  People can and do get sick from swimming in contaminated beach water, especially after heavy rains. In 2000 Congress passed the BEACH Act to protect the public from unsafe swimming conditions by funding beach water quality monitoring programs in the coastal and Great Lakes states. Citizens are alerted when beach water results come back showing high levels of bacteria that pose a threat to swimmers, surfers and waders. The problem is that ever since passing the BEACH Act, Congress has fallen short on funding it. Thousands of people get sick from contaminated beach water every year, yet the Bush Administration and Congress continue to hold back on this program. Right now, Congress is deciding once again whether or not to fully fund the BEACH program. Now is the time to remind Congress about their commitment to the health of your family and the American public. Please ask your Senators and Representatives in Congress to fully fund the BEACH Act so that we can all swim safely. Click here to make Congress keep its promise! Know Before You Go! Before you head to the beach this summer, check out: www.oceana.org first! This site has the latest water quality information and is designed to keep you and your family healthy and help you plan your summer fun. What is the BEACH Act? Learn more about it: BEACH ACT http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches/
• 07/02/02 -- Here's an interesting story you might not want to miss: Defenders Magazine - Defenders of Wildlife - Summer 2002 Issue - Norton vs. the Environment  "Gale Norton is compiling a record as perhaps the most anti-environmental Interior secretary in the nation's history, and the summer issue of our award-winning Defenders magazine -- now available online -- details how her agenda threatens our wildlife and wild lands. We're calling it to your attention because it's an unusually important story: There is growing evidence, in fact, that Norton is engaged in a massive, behind-the-scenes campaign to weaken, undermine and subvert the nation's conservation laws to benefit the administration's big corporate supporters." Defenders of Wildlife
• 06/30/02 -- On Food and the Environment: irradiated meat.  What does Wegman's Supermarkets say about irradiated meat? Wegmans: Food Storage and Safety Tips: Irradiated Meat 
• 06/28/02 -- If you have concerns about irradiated foods: Groups Rally Against Irradiated Meat ROCHESTER, NEW YORK (2002-06-28) Wegmans Supermarkets recently started selling Irradiated Meat, which they, and the FDA claims is safe. But several organizations disagree. Those groups plan an informational picket Saturday to get their point across. (June 28, 2002) Welcome Home - WXXI Online
• 06/28/02 -- This from Dave Atias, greenpmc@aol.com Secretary Green Party of Monroe County  JULY 8TH IS GREEN MONDAY Noon - 1PM: Dr. Stanley Aronowitz, professor of sociology at City University of New York and the Green Party candidate for Governor will be on the Bob Smith show on WXXI 1370 AM radio. 3:00 - 4:30PM: SOS - State of Our Schools at Gleason Auditorium,Downtown Public Library The budget crisis in the Rochester City School District has brought a lot of attention to education in Monroe County this year. But the lack of funding is just one of many issues. Standardized testing, environmental safety, teacher pay, the dropout rate, and many other topics need to be addressed. Please join us for a discussion on the State of Our Schools. Our distinguished panel includes: Dr. Stanley Aronowitz, Bill Cala, superintendent Fairport School District, Cathy Compton-Lilly, teacher at School #20 and visiting associate professor at St. John Fisher College, David Hursh, associate professor of education at the University of Rochester, founding member of Coalition for Common Sense in Education and candidate for Rochester City School Board in 2001 - Idonia Owens, teacher at School Without Walls -Glenny Williams, educational advocate and substitute teacher in Rochester City School District.  Parents, teachers, students and all citizens interested in the State of Our Schools are welcome to attend. Our panel will discuss some alternative approaches to education and welcomes your questions and comments. 7:00 - 9:00PM: GPoMC Fundraiser at the Gay Alliance, 179 Atlantic Ave @ the corner of Elton St. $10 dontation suggested; no one will be turned away.  For information call the GreenLine at 234-6470 or visit Green Party of Monroe County  
  
• 06/26/02 -- Don't forget: Join Critical Mass bike ride - Cyclists ride in a group through Rochester's streets with Critical Mass: The worldwide web-wheel of the organized coincidence known as Critical Mass. Critical Mass is a monthly event occurring in hundreds of cities worldwide. Cyclists ride in a group through the city streets to celebrate cycling, fossil-fuel-free transportation, redefining of the social space of our cities and reclaim autonomy in an automobile dominated society. It's loads of fun too. The revolution is riding a bike! ROCHESTER CRITICAL MASS MAY BIKE RIDE!! Meet every last Friday of the month at 5:15 to ride at 5:30 at the Church of
  the Annunciation, 962 East Ave. Critical Mass is a monthly bicycle ride assert cyclists' right to the road. The idea started in San Francisco in September 1992, and quickly spread to cities all over the world. Critical Mass is a monthly worldwide two-hour (more or less), non-athletic, non-competitive, free bike ride to educate the auto-bound to the simplicity of travel by bicycle and to draw attention to the rights of urban cyclists. ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO COME RIDE WITH US! IT'S FUN, IT'S OUTDOORS - LET'S SHOW ROCHESTER THAT CYCLISTS ARE EVERYWHERE!
• 06/23602 -- Event: Rally! STOP IRRADIATED MEAT AT WEGMANS! Come to a local press conference / rally and voice your opposition to irradiated food! What: Press conference / rally to oppose irradiated food at Wegmans, Where: East Avenue Wegmans, 1750 East Ave. (northwest side of store) Rochester, NY, When: 11:00 am, Saturday, June 29, 2002 --Wegmans grocery stores have recently begun to sell "fresh" irradiated hamburger meat under their own Wegmans label. They will tell you it is safe. They will tell you that with this technology you can eat your hamburgers rare. Here is what they will not tell you: Irradiation exposes food to a dose of ionizing radiation that is equivalent to millions of chest x-rays to kill bacteria and to extend shelf-life. However, it causes the creation of new chemicals in the food, many of which have not been tested for safety, and degrades the nutritional content of food. The real purpose of irradiation is to mask filthy conditions in slaughterhouses and food processing plants. Irradiation can kill most bacteria in food, but it does nothing to remove the feces, urine, pus and vomit that often contaminates meat. The bottom line is this: irradiated filth is still filth. This event is being held by Irradiated Food Free NY (IFFNY) Promoting Healthy Farms and Healthy People  Groups Include EMPIRE STATE CONSUMER ASSOCIATION * GREEN PARTY OF MONROE COUNTY * POLITICS OF FOOD * PUBLIC CITIZEN * ROCHESTERIANS AGAINST MISUSE OF PESTICIDES Get Involved  If you or your group is interested in learning more about food irradiation, please contact Monique with Public Citizen at 202-454-5185 or check out the website www.citizen.org/cmep/foodsafety/ To get involved in the Rochester area campaign, please contact Judy at 585-383-1317.
• 06/23/02 -- 6/23/02  - Here’s an update on a familiar Rochester site, a new forum: Rochester-info.com This site was created by Max Lent Communications in 1996 as a public service to the Rochester community. I strongly believe that when a person or a company profits from a community they have the responsibility to contribute something back to that community. What I know how to do is generate Web-based content and develop communities. Rochester-info.com is my way of saying thank you to Rochester. The site now has a forum with a special section just for nature topics. The forum is located at: http://www.rochester-info.com/rochforums/default.asp. Stop by today and post your next meeting date, event date. I f you like what you see at http://www.rochester-info.com/rochforums/default.asp, please let your members and friends know about this new resource. I’m sure they will thank you for the information. Here: you can visit and sign up for RochesterInfo.com's  Rochester Nature egroup

• 06/21/02 -- Here's a new website you should check out: New website featuring New York wildlife. We are a coalition of environmental and government agencies, businesses, and private individuals dedicated to increasing awareness about NY wildlife. website is http://newyorkwild.org
• 06/21/02 -- This alert from the Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club:  The bill below has a real chance of passing. Please call us if you have any questions. Regards, David Markert, Research Associate,Container Recycling Institute, 1911 N. Fort Myer Drive, Ste. 702
  Arlington, VA 22209, TEL: 703.276.9800, FAX: 703.276.9587 EMAIL: dmarkert@container-recycling.org http://www.container-recycling.org & http://www.bottlebill.info ACTION ALERT Please call Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver IMMEDIATELY (518/455-3791) or email him (speaker@assembly.state.ny.us) and ask him to call for a vote on the Bottle Bill expansion bill (A 7337) TODAY. If the assembly passes the house bill TODAY, there is a good chance that the senate will pass it tomorrow. This bill would expand the current Bottle Bill to include all beverage containers except milk. Beverages like bottled water and sports drinks that are not covered by the Bottle Bill are recycled at rates far lower than those that are covered by the Bottle Bill. Expanding the bill to include these additional beverages would result in much higher beverage container recycling rates, and less litter and consumption of our natural resources. PLEASE SEND THIS EMAIL TO ANYONE YOU KNOW IN NEW YORK STATE. SUMMARY OF A 7337 - SAME AS Same as S 5250 SPONSOR Matusow COSPNSR Colton, Grannis, Gottfried, Sanders, Levy, Gordon, Paulin MLTSPNSR Christensen, Colman,DelMonte, DiNapoli, Dinowitz, Englebright, Galef Glick, Jacobs, Luster, McEneny, Millman, Pheffer, Sidikman  Amd S27-1003, En Con L Includes all non-carbonated beverages, except milk, within the definition of "beverage" for the purpose of requiring deposits on beverage containers.
• 06/20/02 -- Find out what communities fail to meet the Sierra Club Clean Air Program have failed to meet the EPA’s 1997 smog standard, according to EPA’s own data. In 1997, EPA scientists developed new health-based air standards for soot and smog based on recent medical research. That research showed that day-long exposure to lower levels of ozone harms people's lungs, so the clean air standards were modified to reflect that understanding. The American Trucking Association and other industry groups tried to block those health safeguards, but in February, 2001, the Supreme Court rejected that challenge, upholding the more stringent 1997 clean air standards. However, in the 15 months since the Court ruling, the EPA has not developed Court-ordered procedures for implementing the standard, nor has it even warned citizens in more than 140 communities that their cities violate the standards set in 1997.
• 06/20/02 -- Since the media has been taken over by corporations (who feel threatened by environmentalism), it is getting more and more difficult to find and receive environmental news. So, Living on Earth's (a nation-wide radio program from NPR) new set up where it not only archives environmental stories, but now presents them daily, you should add this online environmental news service to your scanty list of places to get the necessary news you need.  Blinding ourselves to the informational services that are showing us that our environment is disintegrating is not going to stop Global Warming or any of the other important Environmental Issues we face.
• 06/19/02 -- From the Atlantic Chapter-- Sierra Club: ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT Please call Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver IMMEDIATELY (518/455-3791) or email him (speaker@assembly.state.ny.us) and ask him to call for a  vote on the Bottle Bill expansion bill (A 7337) TODAY. Also please call Senate Majority Joseph Bruno IMMEDIATELY (518/455-3191) or email him New York State Senator | 43rd Senate District | Joseph L. Bruno | Send E-mail and ask him to call for a vote on the Bottle Bill expansion bill (S. 5250 ) AS SOON AS IT IS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY.  If the assembly passes the bill TODAY, there is a good chance that the senate will pass it tomorrow. This bill would expand the current Bottle Bill to include all beverage containers except milk. Beverages like bottled water and sports drinks that are not covered by the Bottle Bill are recycled at rates far lower than those that are covered by the Bottle Bill. Expanding the bill to include these additional beverages would result in much higher beverage container recycling rates, and less litter and consumption of our natural resources. PLEASE SEND THIS EMAIL TO ANYONE YOU KNOW IN NEW YORK STATE.
• 06/18/02 -- Your local newspapers won't tell you much about this, but it's coming up in August and it's important: United Nations: Johannesburg Summit 2002 Johannesburg Summit 2002 – the World Summit on Sustainable Development – will bring together tens of thousands of participants, including heads of State and Government, national delegates and leaders from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses and other major groups to focus the world's attention and direct action toward meeting difficult challenges, including improving people's lives and conserving our natural resources in a world that is growing in population, with ever-increasing demands for food, water, shelter, sanitation, energy, health services and economic security.
• 06/18/02 -- I want to thank the Democrat and Chronicle for publishing my essay:  Here's the unedited version with links: Misrepresenting Global Warming Kevin William states in one of his daily columns "Ice Shelves Often Break" on Monday (5/20/02) in the Democrat and Chronicle that blaming the breakup of large ice shelves in Antarctica on global warming is bad science. “Global warming is a theory” he admonishes his audience, whereas “climate change is a fact.” In fact, all the points he makes are well known by climatologists and inclusive within the theory of global warming.  The theory of global warming (remember evolution, the foundation of modern biology, is a theory that has withstood one-hundred and fifty years of rigorous scrutiny, despite its public controversy) accounts for the daily, yearly, and even millennial shift in climate change and predicts that within this systemic variability our planet is warming up.  A general warming trend within such a complex system as our planet’s weather makes predicting specific consequences difficult—which is why the theory, based on computer models of historical weather patterns and innumerable data, must be continually challenged by scientists.  Yes, challenged by scientists-- this my point: Arguing each event’s consistency with the theory, as say the dropping off of a large ice shelf in Antarctica, should be left to the experts.  (Why does Mr. Williams present his objections to global warming to the public and not his peers?)  Most of Mr. Williams’s audience does not have the instruments, or technical expertise to judge the accuracy of his statements. Remember that Mr. Williams’ position on global warming is in the minority—my goodness, even George Bush now accepts it.    When Kevin Williams uses his daily column in the D&C, his soapbox, to misrepresent a major environmental crisis, like global warming, as only the nervous opinions of some hotheads, he gives license to the uninformed members of his audience eager to avoid taking responsibility.  Where the public requires real solutions to profound environmental problems, Mr. Williams’ inaccurate remarks as an assumed expert on global climate change only cause confusion and inaction on what most experts believe is the biggest environmental problem that we face in the 21st century.   According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) “Global warming is real and underway. The mainstream scientific consensus on global warming is becoming clearer every day: changes in our climate are real and they are underway. The evidence that human-induced global warming is real is increasingly clear and compelling." Kevin Williams’s audience should go to the text of the Kyoto Protocol or the EPA’s Global Warming website (http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/) and learn about global warming. Before anyone accepts Mr. William’s arguments about global warming, they should familiarize themselves with the evidence that has convinced the experts.  Moreover, they should keep in mind that even the remote possibility of global warming, a reasonable assumption given the billions of vehicles and smokestacks spewing greenhouse gases into our atmosphere, could cause long-term havoc for their children.
• 06/18/02 -- Event: What: A Local Perspective on a National Problem - Public Meeting on Environmental Justice concerns in Lewiston / Porter area - Featuring a keynote address by Lois Gibbs, Executive Director of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice and Love Canal leader. When: This Saturday - June 22nd - 10am-Noon. Where: Lewiston-Porter Senior High School, 4061 Creek Rd, Youngstown, NY. Here's some more information: Residents for Responsible Government ( www.rrg-wny.org) was formed  last year to challenge the Town of Porter's decision to allow CWM ( ChemWasteMan) to expansion. In so doing, they ignored the overwhelming number of residents  who spoke out against it at every public hearing. They changed existing  zoning laws to accomodate a larger landfill and appear to be rolling out the red  carpet for 2.65 million cu yds of Hudson River PCB dredgings. ( The Mother of all  cleanups!)  RRG is involved in a lawsuit which seeks to overturn the Porter Board's  action and it is scheduled to be heard in NYS Supreme Court the first week in  July. We have over 30 municipalities in Niagara County supporting the cause and  just this week the entire Erie County Legislature and Erie County Exec Joel Giambra signed on board! We're building a firewall of opposition in WNY.  We would like to invite you and members of your organization to our Sat  6/22 Environmental Summit, "A Local Perspective on a National Problem" from  10-12 noon at the Lewiston-Porter Senior High School, 4061 Creek Rd, Youngstown,  NY. Keynote speaker is WNY's own Lois Gibbs, Exec Director of the Center for Health and Env. Justice in Virginia. Two panels; "Achieving Env Justice in WNY"  and "Perspective on PCBs in NY" will follow Lois' address. Please help us to get the word out, as a good attendance will send a powerful
  message to the politicians. The Hudson River project will bring approximately 176,000 truckloads of PCB-laden dredgings through our communities over a 5 year period. Now is the time to say "Enough is enough!" If the PCBs aren't good for the Hudson, they're not good for WNY either. Hope to see you there! Please Fax inquiries or confirmations to William Choboy, 716 745-3400 Directions? Take the I-90 north. Exit just before Canada. Make a left on 265.  Follow the HazWaste trucks! They all go by the school! --from Mike Schade,Citizens' Environmental Coalition, 425 Elmwood Ave. Suite 200, Buffalo, NY 14222 (716) 885-6848-(716) 885-6845 fax cecwny@buffnet.net
  www.cectoxic.org
• 06/17/02 -- Global Warming may not be happening, even though the majority of scientists think it is, but Alaskans are already dealing with global warming-like conditions. The problem with listening to those who say Global Warming is not happening due to human interference is that by the time the few remaining scientists and the public who don't get it, finally get it, it will be far to late to even adjust to it--as President Bush suggests in the EPA's latest statement on global warming.  Yahoo! News - Alaska, No Longer So Frigid, Starts to Crack, Burn and Sag ANCHOR POINT, Alaska, June 13 To live in Alaska when the average temperature has risen about seven degrees over the last 30 years means learning to cope with a landscape that can sink, catch fire or break apart in the turn of a season. (June 17, 2002) The New York Times on the Web
• 06/16/02 -- How will Global Warming affect our area? Why not read from the US National Assessment of Climate Change.  Overview: Northeast?
• 06/14/02 -- This from Atlantic Chapter Index -- Sierra Club New York’s Toxic Waste Cleanup Program is Out of Money For hundreds of years New York’s industries have dumped toxic substances into landfills, water bodies and into the ground. This dumping, sometimes willful, sometimes accidental, has left a legacy of thousands of sites that are contaminated to some degree with toxic substances. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) no cleanup activity can occur at 800 of the most seriously contaminated sites because New York’s cleanup program is out of money.
• 06/14/02 -- One of the most important things we can do for our environment is recycle and recycle and recycle.  The proposed Recycling Bill could save millions of unnecessary bottles into our environment and give jobs to our citizens.  It's adoption is a no-brainer.  Here's a story on the subject: PoughkeepsieJournal.com - Recycling bill would put deposits on more bottles Nickel by nickel, money for recycling could increase more than tenfold under a proposal gaining slow momentum in the state Legislature. The so-called ''bottle bill'' would expand recycling by putting 5-cent deposits on non-carbonated beverage containers such as juice, sports drinks and water. It would also channel all unclaimed deposits into the state's recycling coffers, rather than continuing to allow bottlers to recoup that money. (June 14, 2002) Poughkeepsie Journal Home Page
• 06/13/02 -- For those of you who were hoping our government would do something about clean air and Acid Rain, this is a bad day. PRESIDENT BUSH POISED TO ABANDON CLEAN AIR ACT Power Plants To Continue Spewing Pollution "Washington, DC: Americans won't breathe any easier due to an announcement today by the Bush Administration. The Bush Administration is expected to announce its plan to weaken the clean air protection known as New Source Review. This announcement would cripple the Clean Air Act by creating new loopholes that allow factories, including power plants and oil refineries, to spew more asthma-causing pollution from their smokestacks.--from Sierra Club Press Room. Press Room Main - Sierra Club
• 06/12/02 -- Fight Back!  Contact Representative Louise Slaughter 28th District - New York, 202.225-3615 - 202.225-7822 (fax)
  louiseny@mail.house.gov - http://www.house.gov/slaughter  If you don't know how much Congresswoman Louise Slaughter has done for out Rochester-area environment, search this site and check out Congresswoman Louise Slaughter web site. Check her record.  And, Statement of Rep. Louise Slaughter on Redistricting
  SLAUGHTER FIGHTS BACK “I will do everything in my power to protect my district and the residents of Monroe County.”
• 06/11/02 -- What do you think?  Got any problems with storing a lot of nuclear waste that won't break down for a long, long time? Yucca Mountain Project Home Page Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham recommended to President Bush on February 14, 2002, that the Yucca Mountain site in Nevada be developed as the nation’s first long-term geologic repository for high-level radioactive waste, relying on more than 20 years and $4 billion in scientific study that demonstrates Yucca Mountain is scientifically and technically suitable for development. The following day, President Bush notified Congress that he considers Yucca Mountain qualified for a construction permit application, taking the next in a series of steps required for approving the site as a nuclear materials repository.
• 06/11/02 -- Event: Call on Kodak to be a global leader in sustainability next Monday! What: Global Day of Action Against Incineration Press Conference, When: Monday, June 17th - 12:45pm, Where: Outside Kodak's corporate headquarters - on the corner of Platt St. & State St., June 17, 2002 is the first day of the 6th international meeting on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and the recent Stockholm Convention on POPs. It is an important day to show our opposition to incinerators, which have been identified as primary sources of POPs such as dioxins and furans, and demand that authorities and citizens shift to clean production, zero waste and sustainable waste management systems. The Global Anti-Incineration Alliance (GAIA), is coordinating actions around the world that will raise awareness about the hazards of incineration.  In Rochester, the Kandid Coalition and Citizens' Environmental Coalition are organizing a press conference to release a brand new report - Learning Not to Burn - a primer for citizens on alternatives to burning hazardous waste. This 30+ page report provides citizens the information they need in battling existing and proposed hazardous waste incinerators. From sections that talk about organizing strategies to profiles of alternative treatment technologies to a listing of technical reports about alternatives, Learning Not to Burn seeks to fill the gap in the grassroots environmental justice movement regarding safer destruction technologies. In addition, we will be delivering postcards to Kodak calling on the company to phase out their hazardous waste incinerators. All are invited! If you are interested in attending or your group is interested in cosponsoring this event, please contact: Mike Schade, Citizens' Environmental Coalition, 425 Elmwood Ave. Suite 200, Buffalo, NY 14222, (716) 885-6848, (716) 885-6845 fax, cecwny@buffnet.net, www.cectoxic.org
• 06/09/02 -- To bad George W. Bush refuses to 'get it' on Global Warming: It does not matter--to the environment any--if our president understands or does something about global warming. It will warm up regardless of political opinion and our children will either adapt to the changes or they won't. Read: President Bush Rejects Climate Change Report WASHINGTON, DC, June 5, 2002 (ENS) - The White House is distancing itself from the Bush administration's first report to admit that humans are causing climate changes. The report from the Environmental Protection Agency, while acknowledging that human activities lead to global warming, argues that it is better to adapt to the changes than to try and stop them. --Lycos Environment News
• 06/06/02 -- Event: This from Metro Justice of Rochester, New York." There will be a meeting on Friday, June 14 at 10 AM to discuss welfare reorganization. The meeting will be held at Action for a Better Community, 460 State Street, Rochester. Mike Dunlea from Hunger Action will be the presenter. The meeting should last about two hours."
• 06/05/02 -- Event: This from Water Education Collaborative at the Rochester Museum & Science Center: Saturday, September 21 from 9:00 - noon the 16th Annual Coastal Clean Up Event Volunteers are needed to help pick up and document litter at several locations: Durand Eastman Beach, Genesee Valley Park, Seth Green Fishing Site (on the Genesee River) and Turning POint Park (on the Genesee River). Start times will be at 9:00 a.m. (except for Durand which begins at 10 a.m.). Join us at noon for the celebratory "Trash Bash" with free lunch, games, and prizes at the Sunset Shelter at Durand Eastman Park. Register by September 6, though walk-ins are also welcome. Contact Margit Brazda Poirier, Water Education Collaborative at margit_brazda@rmsc.org for more information or to register. Margit Brazda Poirier, Director, Water Education Collaborative at the Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Avenue,Rochester, NY 14607 (585) 271-4552 ext.320 FAX: 271-2119 margit_brazda@rmsc.org
• 06/05/02 -- Event: from the Landmark Society of Western New York  SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 10:00 AM: The Seneca Park Alliance is holding a press conference to urge county legislators to oppose adoption of a zoo expansion plan that would destroy lower Seneca Park. The Alliance will call on county officials to study alternatives for improving the zoo while preserving the historic park. The Alliance needs as many supporters present as possible. Please arrive at the Hawk Shelter in the Lower Park by 9:45 a.m. Save Our Seneca Park yard signs and tee shirts will be available. TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 6:00 PM: The County Legislature is scheduled to vote on the plan at the County Office Building, 4th Floor, 39 W. Main Street, Rochester. To sign up to speak during the public forum before the legislature votes, call: 428-5350 beginning mid-day Monday. Check the web at: http://www.landmarksociety.org/events/events.html
• 06.04/02 -- Only in Rochester: TUESDAY NATURE NIGHTS TO EXPLORE CITY'S NATURAL BEAUTY BY CANOE, BIKE AND FOOT  The City will offer a series of Tuesday Nature Night events, including casual bike rides, strolls through historic City neighborhoods and guided canoe paddles, throughout June, July and August as part of its Flower City Looking Good gardening and environmental program: *SEVEN GUIDED GENESEE RIVER TRAIL BIKE RIDES will highlight the natural beauty found within Rochester city limits and along the Genesee River. The bike rides will begin at 6 p.m. and end at approximately 8 p.m., on the Tuesdays of June 4 & 18; July 2, 16 & 30 and Aug. 13 & 27. --from the City of Rochester web site.
• 06/04/02 -- This news story should be on the headlines of every newspaper, radio, TV, and Internet media for Rochester, New York.  But it is not: One Fourth of New Yorkers Live Near a Toxic Site  ALBANY, NY (2002-06-04) A report from the New York Public Interest Research Group says just over in three Monroe County residents lives within a mile of a Superfund toxic waste site. That's worse than the statewide average, which NYPIRG says is nearly one out of four New Yorkers. (June 4, 2002)  Public NewsRoom
• 06/04/02 -- Tell Governor Pataki to:  Refinance the Superfund to clean up known toxic sites in ten years, without weakening cleanup standards. His phone number is: (518) 474-8390 His address is: Governor Pataki, Executive Chamber, State Capitol, Albany, NY 12224 --superfund learn more at New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG)
• 0604/02 -- What do you know about New York State's biodiversity? Check out: New York State GAP Welcome to the home page of the New York State GAP project! The GAP project is a National Effort to systematically inventory and plot the distribution of all plants and animal species in the U.S. For a more detailed description of this project at the state level, click on the Overview on the left. The Final Product is completed and can now be ordered.
• 06/02/01 -- Something you should consider: You won't require an antidote to live next to a windmill or a solar panel.  Security at Ginna Nuclear Power Plant - Emergency officials in Monroe and Wayne Counties are working out plans to distribute an antidote pill to people who live near the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant. The state received an allotment of Potassium Iodide from the N-R-C, an antidote to high level radiation. (May 31, 2202) MSNBC Local News
• 06/02/02 -- Friday (05/31/02) my wife and I joined Critical Mass in an exciting ride around downtown Rochester.  It was fun, but we need more people. Please tell everyone you know with a bike and come join the event.  It will only take less than an hour.  You know you want to bike around downtown to show the public that roads and streets are for bikes too.  Maybe, get enough confidence to ride your bike to work.  When?  Glad you asked: Join Critical Mass bike ride - Cyclists ride in a group through the city streets Start Time: 5:15 PM June 28th, Critical Mass: The worldwide web-wheel of the organized coincidence known as Critical Mass. Critical Mass is a monthly event occurring in hundreds of cities worldwide. Cyclists ride in a group through the city streets to celebrate cycling, fossil-fuel-free transportation, redefining of the social space of our cities and reclaim autonomy in an automobile dominated society. It's loads of fun too. The revolution is riding a bike! ROCHESTER CRITICAL MASS MAY BIKE RIDE!! Meet every last Friday of the month at 5:15 to ride at 5:30 at the Church of the Annunciation, 962 East Ave. Critical Mass is a monthly bicycle ride assert cyclists' right to the road. The idea started in San Francisco in September 1992, and quickly spread to cities all over the world. Critical Mass is a monthly worldwide two-hour (more or less), non-athletic, non-competitive, free bike ride to educate the auto-bound to the simplicity of travel by bicycle and to draw attention to the rights of urban cyclists. ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO COME RIDE WITH US! IT'S FUN, IT'S OUTDOORS - LET'S SHOW ROCHESTER THAT CYCLISTS ARE EVERYWHERE!