Updates November 2007

• 11/29/07 - **EVENT** Book Study Group -from Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club  Reading Break Through: From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics of Possibility by Nordhaus and Shellenberger. It's a thoughtful, challenging treatise. While taking the need for immediate action on global warming (among other issues) very seriously, the authors make a compelling case that "we" have been going about promoting that need all wrong. They offer many examples of other ways to do it. So, it should be a great discussion! Please join us Monday Dec. 10, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Friends Meeting House (corner of Scio and Charlotte Streets, across from the East End Parking Garage. Janet Laird, Group Coordinator
• 11/29/07 - College Council Created By New York State Recycling Association (COOPERSTOWN, NY)—Colleges and Universities across the State of New York should find it easier to implement and expand on-campus recycling programs, as well as to deal with challenges related to waste prevention and other environmental issues, as a result of a new program introduced by the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3). The new NYSAR3 College Council was unveiled at the organization’s annual Fall Recycling Conference, held this year at the historic Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown. The College Council is a membership-based organization designed to provide a forum through which college students, environmental staff, and faculty can share information about common environmental problems and best practices that have been developed to overcome those problems. --from New York State Association for Reduction Reuse and Recycling
• 11/29/07 --**ACTION** - Reduce Our Dependence on Oil with a Good Energy Bill Last week, the price of oil hit a near record high $99 per barrel, and with it, gasoline rose to an average of $3.09 per gallon. With winter coming, heating prices could rise too. This is a real threat to us all. Congress needs to act now to pass a comprehensive energy bill to reduce these threats. --from Center for American Progress
• 11/29/07 - New book on the Hemlock & Canadice Lakes Watershed issue: If you have been following the major environmental story of the year about the possible sale of the Canadice/Hemlock Lakes watershed that the city of Rochester now owns, this new book offers some suggestions and some great photographs about this area. I don’t usually promote local environmental books, except when someone has taken the trouble to research and explain a specific Rochester-area environmental concern. HEMLOCK and CANADICE LAKES Kent Divers, photographer and Gloria Betlem, artist were married on the shores of Hemlock lake sixteen years ago. Now they have published their first book of images of Hemlock and Canadice, the lakes they hope will remain the pristine gems that they are Also, The book(s) will be shipped promptly, and proceeds from sales will help defray the costs of presenting copies to the decision makers in the fate of the lakes (Mayor Duffy, and City Council members) to give them a glimpse of what is at stake. Tax deductible donations towards this purpose can be sent to: Center For Environmental Information 55 St. Paul St. Rochester, NY 14604 payable to: Coalition for Hemlock and Canadice Lakes
• 11/29/07 - How can you monitor what dangerous chemicals your community might be exposed to if our government has made it more difficult for you to know what has been dumped into your environment? The answer is simple. You can argue all day about the expense to businesses that this reporting of chemicals release burdens industry, or that you don’t particularly want to know, or any number of lame excuses. There are no excuses for the public being denied full information about what chemicals their communities are exposed to. Why would an intelligent species blind itself to possible expose to dangerous chemicals that may compromise their own health, their families, and the future viability of their environment? The government can decide all it wants about where to place the bar on the amount of information given out to the public about dangerous chemicals, but that has nothing to do with at what point these dangerous chemical begin problems with our health and our environment. There should be no limit to the information we are given on what toxins have been released into our environment. States join lawsuit against EPA -Case fights loosening of rules over reporting, tracking of toxic chemicals — New York joined a coalition with 11 other states Wednesday in suing the federal government to force stricter reporting and tracking of commercial use and storage of toxic chemicals. In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan, the states are seeking a reversal of a move last year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that relaxed the requirements for companies to report toxic chemicals they use. (November 29, 2007) Democrat & Chronicle
• 11/26/07  --**EVENT** This year Genesee Valley Audubon has been exploring Black Creek park in south west Monroe County. Our next hike is scheduled for Sunday, December 2nd, at 3:00pm. Much of Black Creek Park is a hardwood wetland, so always wear boots and dress for the weather. To get to Black Creek Park take Rt. 490 west to the Rt. 259/Union Street exit (Exit 4). Turn left, heading sought, cross Chili Ave., over Black Creek. The entrance will be on your right. In the park at the first stop sign turn right, stay on this road to the Sunnyside Lodge parking lot. Free. See you there. For more information contact June Summers at (585) 865-6047.
• 11/27/07 - Is Rochester Doing It’s Part? Probably seen as a positive movement for most, US states and cities taking on Global Warming in the face of national inaction, I see this trend as using a Band-Aid to fix a major medical problem. I don't think disparate communities using idiosyncratic methods to solve global environmental problems, that is, problems in a vast system of which each ecosystem is but a small part, is going to make the kind of wholesale, rapid, and effective changes our present environmental plight requires. Rather we (as a species) should be coordinating our efforts worldwide so that we work in concert to create a level-playing field (that is, uniform rules working towards the same solution to combating the rise in anthropogenic greenhouse gases). Only in this way, will we be able to achieve the lowering of greenhouse gases on a planetary scale soon—which needs to be done. I think that each city and state coming to grips about this problem is a good sign, but doing it in this ad hoc way because Washington won’t, is not really going to solve the problem. It may make individual and individual communities feel good, but our environmental problems are real problems, not philosophical quandaries. Solutions will not only have to be convenient for political ideologies, practical for business, and within consumers comfort zones, they will have actually have to work By the way, how does Rochester, New York fair in this country rise in the climate change consciousness? Check out: CITIES BRACE FOR GLOBAL WARMING by the Environment Report.
• 11/27/07 - Major report on the health of our Great Lakes. Climate Change and Great Lakes Water Resources November 2007 - This report provides a comprehensive look at how climate change will impact water resources in the Great Lakes region and in other regions of the United States. By exploring the impact climate change will have in reducing water supplies across the country, this report highlights the need for water conservation laws and policies in the face of growing demand for clean, fresh water." --National Wildlife Federation is solely responsible for the content of this report.
• 11/27/07 -- Is 'Smart Metering' one of the answers to helping control Global Warming gases in the Rochester area?  Check out this article that states "Smart meters will provide customers who choose to participate with the information to make energy-use decisions based on the day-to-day and hour-to-hour price of electricity." --from Meters an easy way to help planet -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY
• 11/26/07 - --**EVENT** Alternative Fair Fri., Nov. 30, 6-9:30pm Sat., Dec. 1, 9:30am-3pm Hundreds of fair trade, earth friendly, and/or locally produced goods that support a just and sustainable world - Friday, November 30th, 6-9:30 PM Saturday, December 1st, 9:30 AM- 3 PM - First Unitarian Church of Rochester 220 South Winton Road (handicapped-accessible) $3 suggested donation for ages 12+  "Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is" -- Holiday shopping for the whole family, including clothing, toys, non-competitive games, pottery, and jewelry hand crafted by local artists, fair trade imports, and more. FREE CHILD CARE, entertainment, and information tables by local progressive organizations. *NEW* This year for the first time, the Alternative Fair follows a locavore diet! Nearly all food sold for dining at the Fair will be locally grown or produced, within a 100 mile radius. The Alternative Fair is an annual fund-raising event for Metro Justice ( www.metrojustice.org ) , an independent, grass-roots, progressive membership organization that works for human rights, equality and economic and environmental justice by raising community awareness and engaging in non-violent action.
• 11/23/07 - What do you thing about taxing bottled water: Bottled-water tax idea flows Bottled-water tax idea flows Several U.S. cities have adopted similar measure. TORONTO - A month after Toronto adopted new vehicle-registration and land-transfer taxes, Mayor David Miller says the city should study taxing bottled water. In a letter that council's executive committee will tackle on Monday, the Mayor expresses his support for a request from Bill Saundercook, a Parkdale-High Park councillor who wants the city to explore adding an extra five cents to the cost of water bottled in Ontario, and 10 cents to the cost of water bottled outside the province. (Nov 21, 07) National Post
• 11/19/07 - Think voting is important and who you vote for and that everyone should vote and when you and the rest of of vote, we vote for the best environmental candidate, then here's your site: League of Conservation Voters - The Independent Political Voice for the Environment
• 11/19/07 --**EVENT** -- Bike Santa Calls for Volunteer Bike Mechanics for the Holiday Season! - Contact: Dan Lill Santa's Bike Shop 865-9872 dlill@rochester.rr.com - Andrew Stankevich Friends Helping Friends 413-3019 fhf2004@hotmail.com - Send correspondence to: Friends Helping Friends PO Box 39618 Rochester, NY 14604 -COME DOWN TO VISIT US & CHECK OUT THE BIKE SHOP THIS WED. at 11am @ 226 Hudson Ave (between Woodbury & Kelly on Hudson Ave.) WE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS AND PUBLIC STATEMENTS AT THAT TIME - Dan Lill, nicknamed the “Bike Santa” due to white beard, jolly disposition and propensity towards giving away bikes to kids, is calling for volunteers during the holiday season. “With the help of the Rochester City School District and area faith communities, we're making a list and checking it twice, in an effort to find out who's been naughty or nice. When we find all of the nice kids, we're going to give them free bikes.” But Dan Lill needs help to repair and organize all the bikes for giveaway. “We started to run short on bikes to repair over the summer; we asked the community for old bikes and we have been able to tap into an almost limitless supply of bicycles. Now we need volunteers and bicycle repair supplies to help us fix the bikes.” - Santa's Bike Shop at 226 Hudson Avenue is an old, dilapidated warehouse in the high-crime, high-poverty Upper Falls neighborhood. Although it doesn't look like much, the warehouse is filled with literally hundreds of bikes and a professional, well-equipped bike shop set-up to repair them. According to statistics from the City of Rochester's Bureau of Planning, 44% of all families in the immediate census tract do not have a vehicle and rely on buses, walking or bicycles for their transportation. The median income is $16,055, with 71% of households being single parent households. Santa's Bike Shop needs your help to make sure that everyone in Rochester has a MERRY CHRISTMAS! - “Instead of pulling the pop-tab on your beer, loosening your belt and reaching for your remote control, why don't you come down and help us fix bikes over the holidays? The holidays aren't about overeeating and conspicuous consumption, it's about making sure that every kid has a smile on his/her face. Help us help those that don't have this Holiday Season; we can use you even if you don't know bike repair,” said Andrew Stankevich, FHF Director
• 11/17/07 - A Sense of Urgency: If you don’t get a sense of urgency about our environmental plight by this statement from today’s release of the new UN panel report on Climate Change, then what will it take?  “If there’s no action before 2012, that’s too late, there is not time,” said Rajendra Pachauri, a scientist and economist who heads the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “What we do in the next two, three years will determine our future. This is the defining moment.” --U.N. Report Describes Risks of Inaction on Climate Change - New York Times.  Get: Summary for Policymakers of the Synthesis Report of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report DRAFT COPY 16 NOVEMBER 2007 23:04 – From the source IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 
• 11/16/07 - Find out about Climate Change and how it relates to energy use in New York State from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation:  Energy and Climate - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation How we produce energy, and how we consume it, are critical issues in today's world. Whether you are a landowner, a builder, a well driller, a teacher or a student, there is information on this website for you.
• 11/16/07 - Find out about the new deer disease moving across New York State: Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease in New York State - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation "Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is the most important infectious viral disease among white-tailed deer. The landmark outbreak of the virus was identified and described in New Jersey in 1955. It occurs every year in many southeastern states and has been recently reported throughout the mid-Atlantic. In states where the disease has been detected, it has not had a significant negative impact on the long-term health of the deer herd. It tends to infect only localized pockets of animals within a geographic area."
• 11/16/07 - Check out the NYS Attorney General’s environmental page for kids. Two guides for parents on lead poisoning and animals. Environment Information for parents: Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo's Environment page Look Out For Lead! A guide for Tenants with Preschool Aged Children A Childhood Lead Poisoning Tip Sheet Pesticides in Schools: Reducing the Risk
• 11/15/07 - Chose your Energy provider: The days where you got your energy because of where you were are over. Now you have a choice. "The website below lists all of the choices with info about each (like cost). You have to enter your zip code to have it list your choices. There is a checkmark that you can select that shows the breakdown in percentages of the energy sources. If the checkmark is green, at least 50% of it's source is renewable. So far, this is the most I've been able to find re: how environmentally friendly each choice is. It requires a moderate amount of work to be done by the consumer. " from Bob Siegel, Chairperson of the Energy Committee of the Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club.*** Home: ENERGYguide.com - Lower Your Energy Bills
• 11/13/07 - Remember: November 15 is America’s Recycle Day.  America Recycles Day | Wastes | EPA  & National Recycling Coalition - America Recycles Day "The National Recycling Coalition (NRC) is a national non-profit advocacy group with members that span all aspects of waste reduction, reuse and recycling in North America. The Coalition represents advocates from every region of the country, in every sector of the waste reduction field. Local recycling coordinators, state and federal regulators, corporate environmental managers, environmental educators and advocates, consumers and waste management professionals are all members of NRC." 
• 11/10/07 --**EVENT** -- Genesee Valley Audubon Society is pleased to a presentation entitled GARDEN VILLAINS to members and guests on Wednesday, November 14th, at 7:30 PM at the Brighton Town Hall downstairs meeting room Attendance is free Information: 585 865 6047 - About the program: Invasive species exact enormous losses upon our environment, our health and our economy. Those of us with an interest in our own back yards will want to attend this presentation on invasive plants affecting Monroe County. Christine Sevilla, creator of a pocket guide to Monroe County’s 12 worst Garden Villains, and designer of a follow-on guide to Weed-Suppressive Groundcovers, will describe these invaders, how to get rid of them, and what we can plant in their place when when we do get rid of them. Attendees will receive: Garden Villains – A pocket guide to Invasive Plants and Trees in Monroe County Weed-Suppressive Groundcovers – A brochure on the fourteen plants that have been tested by Cornell’s Integrated Pest Management Program for success in our area
• 11/10/07 - Christmas shopping for kids? You might want to check the Center for Disease for lead toys that have been recalled.  National Center for Environmental Health | Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention | Lead Recalls: Toys
• 11/09/07 ----**EVENT** -- NOVEMBER 16-18 NYS CLIMATE SUMMIT 5 PM FRIDAY-NOON SUNDAY @ WARREN HALL VARIOUS ROOMS, CORNELL UNIVERSITY - Sponsors: KyotoNOW! (Cornell), Sustainability Hub (Cornell), Sierra Student Coalition (SSC) - Moderators (& speakers): Amanda Hass, NYC Coordinator for the SSC, Carlos Rymer, SSC New York Coordinator, Katherine McEachern, President of KyotoNOW! On Saturday 9:20-10:00AM, Katherine McEachern and Carlos Rymer will present “The Campus Climate Challenge and State Actions” in Warren 131 -MAIN SPEAKERS (All in Warren 131) Dr. Art Degaetano, Chair and Professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 7:00-8:00 PM Friday, Climate Change Impacts in New York State Dr. Sylvester Johnson, Public Speaker on Climate Change Impacts on Farming 10:00-11:00 AM Saturday, Selected Climate Change Impacts on Northeastern Agriculture Dr. Timothy Fahey Sat., Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor of Natural Resources 6:00-7:00 PM Sustaining the State Climate Movement - PURPOSE: A strong global warming bill has been introduced into both the State Senate and the Assembly. The bill has been sitting in the Environmental Conservation Committee without urgent consideration. It is time for the citizens of New York State to rise and demand that this important bill be passed immediately to show the federal government what we mean by leadership. The New York State Climate Summit will be the place to train New York’s campus and community organizers and craft a plan of action to pressure Albany to pass this important global warming bill. To be held at Cornell University on November 16-18, 2007, it will be an opportunity for grassroots planning and networking to launch a statewide campaign that will ensure that Albany passes this important global warming bill, which will bring greenhouse gas emission levels back to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Contact: Carlos Rymer carlos.rymer@gmail.com  Cell: 551-556-0189 Home: 201-766-5520 - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH @ EMERSON SUITES, PHILLIPS HALL
• 11/09/07 ---**EVENT** -- November 17, 9 am -3 pm, Finger Lakes Institute Classroom Sheila Myers, FLI Education Outreach Coordinator Project WET Teacher Training Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is a nonprofit water education program for educators of young people ages 5-18. The program facilitates and promotes awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources through the dissemination of classroom-ready teaching aids. This is a six-hour training session to get acquainted with the program, curriculum guide, and to experience a few of the activities first hand. To register, call (315) 781-4380 or email smyers@hws.edu . --from Community Outreach Coordinator -http://fli.hws.edu - Office:(315)781-4382 -Finger Lakes Institute -Hobart and William Smith Colleges -601 S. Main Street -Geneva, NY 14456
• 11/09/07 ---**EVENT** --  November 15, Finger Lakes Institute Building Sarah Meyer, FLI Community Outreach Coordinator Celebrate America Recycles Day: Cell Phones for Science! Recycling and properly disposing of electronic waste reduces the amount of persistent toxic chemicals that may compose landfill leachate. Recycle your cell phone today by dropping it off at the FLI and receive a gift! Each phone will generate funds to support continued Finger Lakes research. Acceptable drop off items include: cellular phones, batteries, accessories, PDA s, blackberries, pagers, and chargers. Mail or drop off your cell phones to the FLI! Directions to the FLI are available online. --from Community Outreach Coordinator -http://fli.hws.edu - Office:(315)781-4382 -Finger Lakes Institute -Hobart and William Smith Colleges -601 S. Main Street -Geneva, NY 14456
• 11/08/07 -- Where do some of our industrial toxins go? What is the Body Burden? Get some info. Tests reveal high chemical levels in kids' bodies - CNN.com
• 11/06/07 --**EVENT** --Living in Harmony News The November Living in Harmony meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 13, from 7 pm - 9 pm, Henrietta United Church of Christ, 1400 Lehigh Station Road. We will be showing a film titled “Public Exposure: DNA, Democracy & the Wireless "Revolution"," a 58-minute documentary (2001) on the human health dangers of Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR) from cell phones & cell towers... and what we can do to protect ourselves. This film explores the health effects of radiofrequency radiation from wireless devices such as cell phones and from the antennas which service them. It features scientists who braved heavy handed telecom industry tactics to show causal evidence of harm to biological life from the use of cell phones. All interested individuals are welcome to attend. Elizabeth Pixley, convener 334-0977 or epixley@rochester.rr.com
• 11/04/07 - This Month's RochesterEnvironment.com's Newsletter : October 2007 RENewsletter Word (requires  Word document plug-in for your browser)  or October 2007 RENewsletter PDF (requires Adobe Reader)

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