Updated Daily  9/02/2010 RochesterEnvironment.com

Our Environment is changing: Keep up with the Change.


Rochester, NY on a fall afternoon.

If it deals with the environment, Rochester, New York, and the Internet, it's here.

Since 1998, RochesterEnvironment.com has been an ongoing experiment to completely inform one community of all its environmental Newslinks, Events, Daily Updates, Resources, Environmental Education, regional Climate Change, and Environmental Issues. and more...

(Above scripts from Dynamic Drive)

RochesterEnvironment.com – This is site a free media resource to encourage public dialogue on local environmental issues, a local newspaper devoted to a single community’s environment, an archive of environmental stories to capture a proper sense of time in which environmental issues transpire, and an attempt to frame environmental issues free of corporate, governmental, and any other ideology.  Sustainability, connecting the dots of our environmental information, rules.    Bookmark This Site

 

Anything else you're interested in is not going to happen if you can't breathe the air and drink the water. Don't sit this one out. Do something. You are by accident of fate alive at an absolutely critical moment in the history of our planet.-- Carl Sagan

Page Contents: Rochester-area NewsLinks | Daily Updates | Green Business | Green Discussions | Green Events | Green Actions | This month's Winner of the Environmental Site Award

 

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Rochester area NewsLinks.

NewsLinks: Get the most important environmental news of the day and monitor your environment daily.  Also: Get Newslinks since 1998… Unlike other news , environmental news often takes time to reach our attention. Catch them before they're catastrophes.

 

Posted Today:

News Highlight


The Rochester, NY Bicycle Master Plan http://www.cityofrochester.gov/bikeplan/.
Rochester's Bicycle Plan, why bother? - Rochester Environmental News | Examiner.com

There’s still time (until August 31st) to comment on the Rochester Bicycling Master Plan: “While the plan will provide conceptual design and inventory work with respect to on-street bike lanes, it will also consider shared lane markings (sharrows), bicycle boulevards, bicycle parking, commuter facilities (e.g. showers, lockers), bicycle sharing, and more. ”

But why bother, especially if you don’t have a bike, wouldn’t bike on our streets even if you did, and wish those who do bicycle would lend an air of predictability to their bicycling behavior? Before I bury my lead, let me say you should comment because bicycling as an alternative transportation is the transportation mode most likely to be acted upon by those who decide on such things in our region. I could quote a lot of boring statistics about how bicycling is healthier for you and better for our environment than driving your greenhouse-gas-emitting vehicle. But this you can probably figure out without a lot of supporting data. Data and reason are not the problems with changing our transportation behavior, motivation is.   more...

(Above scripts from Dynamic Drive)

Posted Recently: 

Highlighted Event


United Nations Association of Rochester will sponsor a UN Journalist Conference on Environmental sustainability on October 4, 2010.
 
UN Journalist Conference on Environmental sustainability

4 October 2010 ~ 8:30 am to 12:30 pm | Strong Museum of Play~1 Manhattan Sq. 14607  United Nations Association of Rochester will sponsor a UN Journalist Conference on Environmental sustainability on October 4, 2010.  The Key Convener is Mayor Robert Duffy and the Keynote Speaker is Dr. Nabil Nasr, director of Golisano Institute for Sustainability at RIT. Attend a global conference-an opportunity to meet experts and listen to reporters discuss our shared environment.  Fee: $15 Adults, $10 Students w/ID ~ includes lunch  To Register: UNAR ~ 585-473-7286 ~ unar@unar.org  Flyer #1 and Flyer #2

(Above scripts from Dynamic Drive)

Green Business.

Green Business - We are working on finding Green Jobs for our area.  As always, we will post anything we can dip up on finding employment for people who want to sustain themselves and the planet at the same time.

Here's the Latest on Green Business News for the Rochester, NY area:

 

 

Green Discussions.

Below are recent Rochester area environmental discussions.  Also,  frequently we get questions about our local environment from our visitors. You can always chime in at Environmental Thoughts For some of the most popular questions to ask an environmental question, go here: Questions and Essays

Here's the latest Questions & Discussions the environment for the Rochester, NY area:

  • Wind or natural gas for Rochester’s energy, there’s a difference In the Rochester, NY region today, we have two major energy choices before us. Do we allow off-shore wind projects to go forward? Do we allow drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Gas Shale? Granted, these choices are not mutually exclusive; we can deny both, accept both, or accept one and not the other. However, how we make these choices will greatly affect our future.  more...
  • Rochester’s hands across the sand A recent demonstration at Charlotte Beach against the BP Oil Spill was well covered by the local media, as far they went that is.  (July 3, 2010) Rochester News, Restaurants, more by Top Local Experts
  • Rochester’s energy solutions, connecting the dots At the risk of pushing everyone’s buttons, you’d think the disastrous BP oil spill, the din over drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Gas Shale, a couple of recent nuclear power issues, and the energy bill stalled in Congress, would galvanize the local press and the public to seriously consider wind power for some of our energy needs. (Check here for the above stories: Rochester Environmental News ). But the New York State Power Authority’s Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project (GLOW) isn’t getting much attention. more...
  • Glut of bear sightings around Rochester, NY Rochester, NY’s local media is falling all over itself reporting on the whereabouts of bears in our vicinity. One pops up in Pittsford, another (maybe the same one), appears in Irondequoit. Everyday there seems to be a new sighting: they look for them here; they look for them there, those darn illusive black bears. I shouldn’t joke. The American black bear (Ursus americanus) once common to our area has been making a comeback. And because they are potentially dangerous, the public should be aware of them. To learn about the black bear, and what to do in case you come across one, go here Black Bear - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC). But it seems to me that if we were really serious about black bear sightings, we (government, media, a business) would hire a team of students, place monitors on the bears, and track them. This would provide jobs for students and increase public safety. And we’d learn a lot about living with wild bears.  more...
  • Are we wasting food waste in the Rochester, NY region? Composting food waste instead of tossing it into a landfill is gaining momentum around the country as it offers a more sustainable treatment of this inevitable by-product. Note the New York Times devotes a full section on Compost News and a local entrepreneur thrives on making a business of it: “Vermi-Green capitalizes on happy worms” (6/06/2010 Democrat and Chronicle). Instead of letting food waste rot inside a plastic-lined landfill creating a modicum of energy by capturing some of the methane gas, a healthy compost program creates a nutrient-rich and toxin-free fertilizer—and business opportunities.  (June 13, 2010) Rochester News, Restaurants, more by Top Local Experts
  • Should you let your pickup drink biofuels? Rochester Environmental News Examiner My Bio · Articles To keep your pickup healthy and running smoothly, it requires some sort of fluid that burns. I’m not a mechanic, but I’m guessing that the brewski you love won’t work so well in your vehicle. Gasoline works... Keep Reading »  (June 5, 2010) Rochester News, Restaurants, more by Top Local Experts [more on Energy in our area]
  • Closing our parks, tough environmental choices Friday, June 4th, 2010 The prospect of closing a quarter of our New York State parks looked ominous indeed as the Memorial Day weekend approached this year. But at the last... Keep Reading »
  • Plan for Washington Grove Park Monday, May 24th, 2010 Several residents who live near and around Rochester’s Washington Grove Park recently attended a meeting hosted by city officials, who presented... Keep Reading »
  • Getting beyond waste Waste is a human conceit: If we cannot find an immediate value for something, we toss it somewhere, bury it, or burn it. However, in Nature there is no such thing as waste. Everything has a role or it would not exist. Hopefully, as we move into the future, we’ll get over the notion of waste. We’ll consider Zero Waste, where everything we produced gets thought about ‘from cradle to cradle,’ from the moment we use a resource to create a product to the moment we are done with the product. Then we won’t be trashing our resources or littering the planet. more...
  • Rochester’s failing air quality   Ho Hum.  The Rochester, NY area and Monroe County get another failing grade for ozone pollution, an ‘F’, from the American Lung Association’s “The State of the Air 2010 “.  Here’s the skinny: “The State of the Air 2010 shows that the air quality in many places has improved, but that over 175 million people—roughly 58 percent—still suffer pollution levels that are too often dangerous to breathe.   Unhealthy air remains a threat to the lives and health of millions of people in the United States, despite great progress. Even as the nation explores the complex challenges of global warming and energy, air pollution lingers as a widespread and dangerous reality.”    It’s a yawner for most folks as it goes on year after year and no one is getting worked up about it.  No marching in the streets.  It barely gets local news coverage.  Environmental news of this sort is like riding in a jet and feeling a sudden drop in altitude.  You look around and no one else seems to be paying any attention, so it must be OK.  Relax, take a deep breath.  more...
  • Genesee River – gauging success Using the Genesee River as a backdrop, New York State Environmental Conservation Commissioner (NYSDEC) Pete Grannis recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Grannis listed many of the accomplishment of the Genesee River clean up (see State Environmental Commissioner Celebrates Progress along the Genesee River - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation): more...
  • How are Those New Environmental Laws Doing?   If you have been following the Climate Change debates in Congress, you know well enough how hard it is to get any kind of environmental law passed. Besides dealing with economic hardships and compliance hurdles that have to be figured out when considering any new law, there are still large swaths of public officials who don’t even believe we have environmental problems, or looming catastrophes like Climate Change.  “Global Warming is just a hoax” is continually piped by the uninformed ideologues, despite all evidence to the contrary.      So, it’s no wonder that those who care about our environment and read the depressing litany of environmental disasters (oil spills, melting glaciers, water shortages) get excited when a few environmental laws do get passed.  Hey, they may be a drop in the bucket for a planet headed towards environmental collapse, but at least there is forward movement. more...
  • Did Spitzer Let us Down on Acid Rain Too? Years ago RochesterEnvironment.com had a page especially devoted to Acid Rain, as it does now with other Rochester-area Environmental Issues. Slowly, however, the Acid Rain issue faded away from our local news and disappeared altogether. I took down the page irrationally thinking that if our media thought this environmental problem was over, it must be over. What was I thinking? Just when it looked liked we could solve a great big environmental problem, this story reared its ugly head from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week:  more...

 

 

10/10/10 Global Work Party - from 350.org

Create October 10 Action 10/10/10 will be a day of work parties all over the world. Will you join us? In every corner of the globe, we will implement solutions to the climate crisis: from solar panels to community gardens, wind turbines to bike workshops. We'll tell leaders: “We're getting to work--what about you?” To read more about our plans for 2010, click here --from 350.org

 

Green Events.

RochesterEvironment.com's Environmental Calendar is the longest running and most comprehensive environmental calendar for our area. Got an environment event? Contact me and I'll get it listed.

Here are some events coming up soon & lots more...  

  • Saturday, September 4, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | Ontario Barn Vineyards 513 Whitney Road, Ontario, NY  
    • The annual Ontario Barn Festival will be held Saturday, September 4, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The festival will feature all day live music, BBQ, arts & crafts, promotion of solar energy, apple picking, free ice cream and face painting and lots of fun! Bring the entire family! Sept 4, 2010 Ontario Barn Festival.  Part of our mission is to promote solar energy. 
  • Sunday, September 5, 2010 1 – 5 P | High Falls Rec Area, Mt. Morris Entrance Letchworth Park
    • Letchworth Park – Farewell to Summer Sunday, September 5, 2010 1 – 5 PM - Admission free with park admission Letchworth Park Farewell to Summer High Falls Rec Area, Mt. Morris Entrance Wildlife Educators Coalition presents Live, Exotic Animal Exhibit & Animal Games For more information:  please call 585-259-7112 or email: karinf@nywec.org
  • Saturday, September 11, 2010 | Main Street, Livonia, NY
    • Livonia Autumn in the Village, Main Street, Livonia, NY Saturday, September 11, 2010 Street Fair – Free Wildlife Educators Coalition presents Live, Exotic Animal Exhibit & Animal Games For more information:  please call 585-259-7112 or email: karinf@nywec.org
  • Wednesday, September 15 : 9:00 am - 12:30 pm  | University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester NY
    • Wednesday, September 15 : 9:00 am - 12:30 pm Keynote Address and Presentations Class of '62 Auditorium Free and open to the public—please RSVP. Last day to register for lunch and discussions: September 7! 12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch and Networking Flaum Atrium 1:30 - 4:30 pm Focus Groups Limited number of spots available, register now!  Researching Women's Environmental Health 2010 "This workshop, part of Rochester Women’s Health Week, focuses on new research on the environment in relation to food, nutrition, and obesity.  Leading researchers from around the county will present new results on a range of topics from chemicals hidden in your diet to foods that help increase fertility.  These scientific presentations will be complemented by talks on how the media covers these hot-button topics and how to use research to implement changes in your life and your community.  In the afternoon, the speakers will lead small discussion groups on selected topics.  Participants will have the opportunity to register for their preferred discussion groups in advance. "
  • Sunday, September 19, most of the day | Cyclists will be riding from multiple starting points along the Erie Canalway Trail to the east and west of Rochester, converging at the Erie/ Genesee River crossing where in Genesee Valley Park where there will be a rest stop with refreshments at the Round House
    • A Major Cycling event comes to Rochester.  Be a part of it. Rochester, NY Welcomes The World Canals Conference The New York State Canal Corporation, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission, Canal Society of New York State, the City of Rochester, Monroe County, Bergmann Associates, and PIANC-USA welcome delegates to the World Canals Conference scheduled 19 to 24 September 2010. Cycling Event WCC 2010 Bicyclists can take part in the festivities taking place on Sunday, September 19, to kick off the 2010 World Canals Conference in Rochester.   Cyclists will be riding from multiple starting points along the Erie Canalway Trail to the east and west of Rochester, converging at the Erie/ Genesee River crossing where in Genesee Valley Park where there will be a rest stop with refreshments at the Round House. At 12:30 p.m., the cyclists will depart the Genesee Valley Park along with a flotilla of vintage and contemporary canal boats for Corn Hill Landing, riding up trails along the east and west sides of the Genesee River.  The starting points for the cyclists from the west will include Holley, Brockport, Spencerport and Greece.  Starting points to the east will include Palmyra, Macedon, Fairport, Pittsford and Brighton.  Anyone interested in being a ride leader or participant at these or other locations should contact Richard Desarra, the Cycling Event organizer, at rdscomm@rochester.rr.com.
  • September 25, 2010  | In September, visit the society’s website www.alsnyc.org where cleanups “at a beach near you” will be listed
    • Join the 25th Anniversary NY Beach Cleanup September 25, 2010     Plan to be at an ocean beach or near a river, sound, stream, wetland, or lake in September to join a cleanup team and participate in the New York Beach Cleanup, coordinated annually by the American Littoral Society as part of the International Coastal Cleanup, a worldwide effort of The Ocean Conservancy to document and remove marine debris from our shores and waterways. Litter is not only unsightly; it poses threats to humans and wildlife.  Birds become entangled in discarded fishing line and 6-pack ring holders; marine mammals ingest plastics that can obstruct their intestinal tract.  Broken glass and metal inadvertently picked up by haying combines can cause fatal injuries to grazing livestock. In 2009, over 10,000 volunteers documented and removed 144,000 pounds of debris from 284 sites across New York.  In September, visit the society’s website www.alsnyc.org where cleanups “at a beach near you” will be listed.  For assistance in forming a cleanup team of your own, contact Beach Cleanup Coordinator Barbara Cohen at alsbeach@aol.com or (718) 471-2166. See the Flyer

 

The Upstate Green Business Network, a program of the "Center for Environmental Information", is a network of businesses, institutions and organizations that share a mutual concern for the state of our environment.

Green Action.

ACTION: Often, I receive requests to pass on alerts, petitions, Public Comments on local environmental issues needing action by the Rochester Community and around the world.  

  • Action: Due Date: Now
    • DEC Seeks Participants for Summer Turkey Survey - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today encouraged New Yorkers to participate in the Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey, which kicks off in August. Since 1996, DEC has conducted the Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey to estimate the average number of wild turkey poults (young of the year) per hen statewide and among major geographic regions of the state. This index allows DEC to gauge turkey populations and enables wildlife managers to predict fall harvest potential. Weather, predation and habitat conditions during the breeding and brood-rearing seasons can all significantly impact nest success, hen survival, and poult survival. "Citizen science efforts such as this not only provide our wildlife managers with invaluable data and but also give people the opportunity to partner with DEC to help monitor New York's natural resources," Commissioner Grannis said. (July 29, 2010)  [more on Wildlife in our area] 
  • Action: Due Date: Now
    • The Child Product Safety Act has been introduced in the New York State Legislature and needs support to get it passed.  This law would prohibit products which have toxic heavy metals, flame retardants and other toxic chemicals from being sold in our state.  What we need right now are calls to individual Senators, so they know their constituents want them to support S 7070a.  It's a two-minute call - just dial 518-455-2800 and ask for your Senator's office. (don't know who that is?  Find out here.)  Identify yourself as a constituent, and tell them you want your Senator to co-sponsor the Child-Safe Products Act, S 7070a, and to actively work for its passage this session. (Senator James S. Alesi 585-223-1800 and Senator Joseph Roback   585-225-3650 ) Feel free to add your personal message.   585-225-3650   Thank you   Judy Braiman, Consumer Advocate
  • ACTION: Due Date Now.  
    • from the Green Party of Monroe County "The Green Party of Monroe County is looking for progressives in our community to enhance its local platform.  If you have an interest in real solutions to our environmental, economic and social problems, you can have an impact on what the Green Party will do when elected.  Work on your own or with other like-minded folks to create individual planks of our local platform.  Issues can be something you have already been working on or something you have always wanted to fix.  Examples of some issues include, industrial pollution, area brownfields, renewable energy, land trusts, etc.  Contact Dave Atias if you are interested in helping get our government on the side of the people.  Greenpmc34@yahoo.com or 585-315-7687 "
  • ACTION: Due Date Now:
    • URMC Receives $15.5M for Live Virus Vaccine Isolation Studies - News Room - University of Rochester Medical Center This week, the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) announced plans to begin a cluster of bird flu vaccine trials, many of which will contain live, weakened viruses and require participants to remain in isolation for several days a time. Slated to start this summer, the studies are funded by a National Institutes of Health grant amounting to more than $15.5 million over five years. Volunteers could receive up to $2,025 for completing this study – including a $50 honorarium for a screening visit, $125 per day spent on the isolation unit, $75 per follow-up outpatient visit, and a $250 bonus for completing all study visits on time. As the isolation unit does not offer cooking facilities, food and beverages will be provided. For further information or to enroll, please call the Vaccine Research Unit at (585) 273-3990.  (June 15, 2010)  University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester NY
  • Action Alert: Due Date Now:
    • CITIZENS CAMPAIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT ACTION ALERT URGENT! Call the New York State Senate Today Hydro-Fracking Moratorium On the Move! A key NYS Assembly committee approved the moratorium on hydro-fracking! With this movement in the Assembly, it is important that the Senate now move as well. Call Senator Antoine Thompson, Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, and urge him to put the Hydro-Fracking Moratorium bill on the agenda and urge the Senate to pass the Hydro-Fracking Moratorium before the recess. Take Action Now
  • Action Due Date: Today
    • 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. "
  • Action Action Due Date: August 16, 2010
    • DEC Extends Public Comment Period on Draft Solid Waste Management Plan - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Comments Now Accepted until Aug. 16, 2010 The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has extended the public comment period for the draft Solid Waste Management Plan, "Beyond Waste: A Sustainable Materials Management Strategy for New York," until Aug. 16, 2010.  (June 3, 2010)  [more on Recycling in our area] Public Input Requested: Help the DEC set a new bar on what should be recycled in our area and the rest of New York.  Things have been changing in our ability to recycle in the past years. “The Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) was issued in 1987. It set a waste reduction and recovery goal of 50%-bold for its time--and contained a broad and aggressive list of recommendations.” But, now there are new waste streams such has electronics, and things we don’t want in our waste streams at all such as pharmaceuticals, and mercury-containing products. So, take a look at the Draft Solid Waste Management Plan.  - "The Draft Solid Waste Management Plan entitled "Beyond Waste: A Sustainable Materials Management Strategy for New York State" is now available for review. Check out Beyond Waste and attend one of the several hearings coming to a place near you.  If you cannot attend one of the hearings, you can write in your response.  “Comments should be submitted to Ed Dassatti, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-7250.”  You can comment through July 6.  Please email us with any questions or comments. Draft New York State Solid Waste Management Plan - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation This SWMP process offers an opportunity to take stock of where we are with regard to solid waste management strategies and articulate a bold vision for maximizing recovery and minimizing waste. A SWMP will provide the Department with an opportunity to address the broader environmental implications of solid waste management alternatives, including global climate change. The Plan will include an analysis of the environmental and economic benefits of its recommendations to maximize recovery and reduce waste. In so doing, we will build the case for legislative and regulatory actions to achieve more aggressive recovery goals. "
  • ACTION due Date - October 10, 2010 - 10/10/10
    • Create October 10 Action | 350.org "10/10/10 will be a day of work parties all over the world. Will you join us? In every corner of the globe, we will implement solutions to the climate crisis: from solar panels to community gardens, wind turbines to bike workshops. We'll tell leaders: “We're getting to work--what about you?” To read more about our plans for 2010, click here It's still early, so it's OK if you don't know all the details of your local work party. There's a list of work-party ideas at www.350.org/workparty-ideas to get things moving, but don't worry if you don't have a game-plan just yet. " --from 350.org

 

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Daily  Updates.

Daily Updates: Connecting the dots on Rochester’s environment. Find out what’s going on environmentally in our area—and why you should care.  Get Daily Updates since 1998...

  • 9/02/2010 - ACTION: Sierra Club: Help Ban Toxics from Children's Toy Jewelry! Help Ban Toxics from Children's Toy Jewelry! After Congress acted, the Consumer Product Safety Commission finally took action to protect children from lead in children's products. Now another dangerous toxin, cadmium, is being found in children’s toy jewelry. Please take a moment today and tell the Commission to protect our families from cadmium in children's toys! --from Sierra Club Home Page: Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet
  • 9/01/2010 - Environmental film and talk coming up: DIRT!  THE MOVIE Film presented and discussion facilitated by Elizabeth Pixley, Emeritus Professor of Biology, Monroe Community College   Thursday September 16th   7:00 – 9:00 PM Baha’i Center, 693 East Avenue, Rochester (Entrance and parking off Oxford St.)   FREE and open to the public.   We will watch a new documentary about soil and its importance in ecosystems, titled “Dirt! The Movie.” The movie was inspired by William Bryant Logan’s book Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth – it is a look into the history and current state of the living organic matter that we come from and will later return to. We cannot survive as a species without viable soil for growing food. Also, with today’s renewed interest in local and organic food, as well as sustainability of ecosystems, the film is a relevant addition to the discussion.   And most important of all - this film shows people doing positive things to make a difference!   Dirt is a part of everything we eat, drink and breathe. Which is why we should stop treating it like, well…dirt.   Trailer: Dirt! The Movie   This is part of a series of monthly video and discussion presentations in the Creating the Future series for 2010.  Each is held at the Baha’i Center, at 7:00 PM on the third Thursday of the month. 
  • 9/01/2010 - More Recycling: More residents in our area seem more interested in recycling more.  One of the ways this is demonstrated are the frequent recycling events in our area and weekly farmer’s market recycling, like those at Brighton.  Here’s another idea about how to increase recycling.  Decrease waste pickup and increase recycling pickups.  I don’t know if this would work in our area, but it’s another idea being demonstrated in Sarasota, Florida.  Check this out: Sarasota will pick up trash less often, but recycle more | HeraldTribune.com "We hear a lot nowadays about creating a more sustainable, environmentally responsible community -- that we should reduce consumption, re-use items and recycle more. In the city of Sarasota, we agree wholeheartedly. That's why sustainability is one of the City Commission's top priorities. 
  • 8/31/2010 - Your chance to vote on Farmer's markets:  Notes from a friend, "By now I am sure you are aware (and perhaps more aware than you'd like to be!) about the America's Favorite Farmers Market Contest, sponsored by the American Farmland Trust. Our beloved Rochester Public Market is entered in this contest in the Large Market category. The contest is really a measure of love for and loyalty to the markets, as all the voting is online by friends and fans of the markets. The contest is also a great way to illuminate what's great and important about farmers markets! With just ONE DAY left in the voting, the Rochester Public Market is LEADING the large market category. But the second place market, Davis CA, is last year's champion and well within range of a last-minute surge. This is why we need your votes, if you haven't voted already, and if you have, please urge your networks to vote! It only takes one minute at www.farmland.org/vote. Almost 4,700 people have voted so far for the Rochester Public Market. Let's honor all those voters, and of course the hardworking farmers and producers who provide and nourish us 52 weeks a year, come blizzards or searing heat (and everything else thrown at them), by voting and bringing this deserved distinction home to Rochester! Again, it takes only a minute at www.farmland.org/vote. Voting ends at midnight on August 31. Many thanks! "
  • 8/31/2010 - ACTION: You have a chance to make comment on how new vehicles a labeled for fuel efficiency.  This can make difference, something you as a consumer can do.  This will allow you to be a responsible consumer, instead of a passive consumer because you comment could influence the “fuel economy labels consumers see on the window of every new vehicle in dealer showrooms.” In order to be a good consumer and help direct our wholesale effect on our environment, you have to know what effect the things you buy will have on our environment.  You cannot do this without adequate labeling.  08/30/2010: EPA, DOT Propose New Fuel Economy Labels/Agencies seek public comment on the most dramatic overhaul in the label’s 30-year history WASHINGTON – As a new generation of cars and light trucks start appearing on the market, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are jointly proposing changes to the fuel economy labels consumers see on the window of every new vehicle in dealer showrooms. The proposed rule seeks public comment on label design options and related issues. The public can view the proposed rule and labels at: Fuel Economy | US EPA and submit comments as part of the rulemaking process via email to: newlabels@epa.gov . They can also review the proposed rule at Fuel Economy | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “We are asking the American people to tell us what they need to make the best economic and environmental decisions when buying a new car,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “New fuel economy labels will keep pace with the new generation of fuel efficient cars and trucks rolling off the line, and provide simple, straightforward updates to inform consumers about their choices in a rapidly changing market. We want to help buyers find vehicles that meet their needs, keep the air clean and save them money at the pump.”  (August 31, 2010)  U.S. EPA Newsroom - News Releases
  • 8/29/2010 - This week's RENewsletter has been published RENewsletter August 29, 2010 Each week get al the environmental NewsLinks, events, actions and comment free.  Click Subscribe. 
  • 8/28/2010 - Invasive Species Alert: What to do about the Asian Carp issue and our Great Lakes: Wildlife Promise: Watch the Clip: New Resolution on Asian Carp "National Wildlife Federation leaders from the Great Lakes region and across the country gathered in Houston, Texas last week to determine the priorities of the National Wildlife Federation, and found unanimous support for fighting the invasion of Asian carp into the Great Lakes. "  -from Home - National Wildlife Federation  Also, YouTube - Help Stop the Carp Invasion!
  • 8/28/2010 - Some Lead will Stay in our Environment:  It’s interesting that while the EPA leads the efforts of Lead in our environment in so many area, they are incapable of putting the stop to lead in bullets.  Given the amount of hunting and firing ranges in this country that’s a lot of lead, and most of it is probably lying around going into to the ground.  Of course lead is also natural in our environment, but shouldn’t we curb all manmade contamination of lead in our environment? 08/27/2010: EPA Denies Petition Calling for Lead Ammunition Ban WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today denied a petition calling for a ban on the production and distribution of lead hunting ammunition. EPA sent a letter to the petitioners explaining the rejection – that letter can be found here: TSCA Section 21 | Chemical Information Collection and Data Development (Testing) | USEPA Steve Owens, EPA assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, issued the following statement on the agency’s decision: “EPA today denied a petition submitted by several outside groups for the agency to implement a ban on the production and distribution of lead hunting ammunition. EPA reached this decision because the agency does not have the legal authority to regulate this type of product under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) – nor is the agency seeking such authority.  (August 27, 2010) U.S. EPA Newsroom - News Releases
  • 8/27/2010 - Battling Climate Change: Perhaps one way of combating Climate Change is to change how we design our urban areas.  Check this out:  Interview with Kristina Hill on Managing the Effects of Climate Change « The Dirt "At a recent conference on designing wildlife habitats, you said cities are always warmer than surrounding areas because of the urban heat island effect. Cities are then precursors to climate change. In fact, “cities are at the edge of climate change.” What can cities’ experience with elevated heat levels teach us about best and worst ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change? " (August 24, 2010)  The Dirt
  • 8/27/2010 - Role Reversal?  This story is interesting because environmentalists are usually slapped with accusations of using the ‘chicken little’ or the ‘sky is falling tactic’ to alarm the public when their Weltanschauung is being threatened. Now, that the oil companies used this tactic, has it turned on them? Drilling Ban in Gulf Costing Less Than Predicted - NYTimes.com WASHINGTON — When the Obama administration called a halt to virtually all deepwater drilling activity in the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon blowout and fire in April, oil executives, economists and local officials complained that the six-month moratorium would cost thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in lost revenue. (August 24, 2010) The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia
  • 8/27/2010 - ACTION: Acid Rain: We thought, because there was so little mainstream news on this issue, that Acid Raid was under control.  Seems that is not the case.  Check the case for taking action on Acid Raid and make comment to the EPA until October 1st. Action Alerts "Your Best Chance to Help Stop Acid Rain EPA Accepting Comments on New Transport Rule Until Oct. 1 The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently accepting comments on its recently proposed Transport Rule. The rule is designed to limit the amounts of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) that can be emitted by power plants in 31 states east of the Rocky Mountains plus the District of Columbia. Both sulfur and nitrogen are the main causes of acid rain, which has been devastating the Adirondack Park for decades. " The Adirondack Council
  • 8/26/2010 - Sort of an environmental health problem:  Because we live in homes, this not-so-obvious health issue should be on our radar. Task Force Issues Preliminary Recommendation for Preventing Mold Problems in Buildings Invites Public Review and Comment ALBANY, N.Y. (August 25, 2010) – The New York State Toxic Mold Task Force is seeking public comment on a preliminary report to the Governor and the Legislature outlining recommended steps for the prevention of mold problems in buildings across the state. The report can be downloaded at: New York State Toxic Mold Task Force Exposure to building dampness and dampness-related agents, including mold, is nationally recognized as a potential public health problem, with evidence linking indoor mold exposures with upper and lower respiratory health effects, such as nasal symptoms and exacerbation of asthma. (August 25, 2010) New York State Department of Health
  • 8/25/2010 - Hands Across the Sands Event: "Once again, we'll be joining our Hands Across the Sand to call for an end to exploitive energy practices (off-shore drilling, hydrofracking, and mountaintop removal) and for better regulation of the industries that are causing so much harm to their own workers, the general population, and our entire eco-system.   We all know that the oil that was spilled in the Gulf hasn't simply disappeared. It's gone somewhere... and that's a frightening thought. Also VERY frightening is the knowledge that there are folks in Congress today pushing for drilling in the Great Lakes -- and they've got big money behind them. We MUST stand up and speak out!   Please join us this Saturday as we once again draw a line in the sand. And PLEASE pass this message along to at least five more potential Friends of the Planet.   SATURDAY, AUG. 28 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (We gather at the Bandstand at 11:30 and join hands at noon)   ONTARIO BEACH PARK At north end of Lake Avenue, Rochester (Charlotte)   Bring a sign! Bring a friend. (Children especially welcome!) Please wear black.   We are encouraging everyone to car-pool, bike, or take the bus to our Hands Across the Sand event this Saturday. See you on the sand...."
  • 8/25/2010 - Getting engaged with Climate Change: From the Sierra Club, here’s a chance to network with others on learning and doing something about Climate Change.  Check out this very interactive site and find out what cutting edge of community involvement on Climate Change is like. Climatecrossroads "ClimateCrossroads.org fuses social-networking opportunities with fresh environmental journalism and authoritative global warming expertise -- giving it the ability to connect users with a wealth of multimedia information, expert opinions, and each other.  ClimateCrossroads.org, created by the Sierra Club, is the go-to site for people eager --after eight years of inaction on global warming -- to share ideas, information, opinions and opportunities to make real and urgent progress on climate change. "
  • 8/25/2010 - Fracking in our times: check out this well-written history of the gas drilling/fracking efforts in our region and the rise of protest against it.  The Fight Against Fracking: New York Senate Passes Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing "When politicians refer to natural gas as a "clean" alternative to oil and coal, they seldom mention a commonly used technique called horizontal hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. But in New York, residents were concerned enough about the long-term environmental, health, and economic fallout of fracking that they convinced the state Senate to institute a moratorium on the practice. In a 48-9 bipartisan landslide, state leaders voted to prohibit fracking for nine months so they can evaluate the environmental and health impacts of the practice before deciding how to continue. " (August 13, 2010) YES! Magazine — Powerful Ideas, Practical Actions — YES! Magazine
  • 8/24/2010 - Protecting Endangered Species and their Habitat: It’s a peculiar position in our modern times that those with economic interests in our lands are OK with protecting endangered species, but don’t want to include the habitat they inhabit.  It’s a peculiar position because without its habitat a plant or animals species is merely an isolated artifact.  Saving wildlife cannot be done without saving the land the species came from because the species and the land it evolved on are one.  Not in a fuzzy progressive way. Those animals in a zoo, removed from their habitats, have no purpose and have lost their environmental importance. Plants and animals in a habitat co-evolved with each and changed each other, sometimes for millions of years.  If we don’t protect the lands that endangered species inhabit then there is no use in protecting the species.  Ultimately, the whole point of protecting endangered species is not pulling aside these species for preservation in a place where they serve no purpose but to entertain us.  The purpose of saving endangered species is to preserve our environment--that which sustains our existence.  Think of these endangered species as components in an engine called our environment: When you yank these components from their place in our environment, you have damaged the entire engine. This story should be on our radar: Timber industry wants out of wildlife rule - Times Union   more...
  • 8/24/2010 - Birds and recovery – What is the state of recovering birds from the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf?  Louisiana update: When oil stops, the hard work can begin (slideshow) « Round Robin "It’s been a relief to finally glimpse the end of the oil gusher, and the New York Times reported Tuesday that oil on the surface of the Gulf appears to be dissipating rapidly. Scientists are less sure about the fate of underwater plumes of oil or the damage already done to fish and shellfish eggs and larvae. But the breakup of slicks represents some cautious good news for the pelicans, gulls, terns, and other birds—including migrating shorebirds and waterfowl—at risk of becoming coated with oil. " - from Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  • 8/23/2010 - How’s that Hudson River Cleanup going?  We haven’t heard much lately about the on-going cleanup of the Hudson River, so it’s about time to check in.  First Phase of Hudson River Dredging Project Complete “The dredging work of the first phase of the Hudson River cleanup concluded in late October, after five-and-a-half months of dredging in a six-mile stretch of the Upper Hudson River near Fort Edward in New York State.” --from Hudson | US EPA  Read more:   Environmental groups comment on Hudson River PCB Peer Review Panel’s draft recommendations Environmental groups comment on Hudson River PCB Peer Review Panel’s draft recommendations ALBANY – Leading environmental organizations today commented on the draft recommendations of an independent review panel evaluating Phase 1 of the Hudson River PCB dredging project, mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The panel’s detailed technical report was released in draft form on August 16. Clearwater, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson—united in support of removing sediment contaminated with toxic chemicals, called polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, from the upper Hudson River—echoed the expert panel’s conclusion that Phase 2 of the cleanup can and should move forward on schedule, in spring 2011. The groups call on General Electric, the company responsible for dumping the PCBs into the river 40 years ago, to commit to resuming work next spring and to finishing the entire project, which is vital to making the Hudson River cleaner, healthier and more economically productive. (August 20, 2010) New York State News on the Net!
  • 8/21/2010 - Special event on our environment and its importance: I’m hoping to take this event to another level because I want to highlight how important this it is.  Not only will our mayor speak about local environmental issues, I believe this issue (the critical shortage and need for investigative environmental journalism) to be one of the most important issues of our day and it needs to be understood by the public.  We cannot possibly ‘fix’ our environment, if we don’t have full-time paid environmental journalists reporting on the state of our environment. Think of attending this conference and getting a sense of how necessary environmental reporting is to the public on monitoring the state of our environment. A free press must not only present an open forum of ideas and news to protect our Freedoms, we must also have a free and open press to get a clear and thorough picture of the state of our environment.  UN Journalist Conference on Environmental sustainability 4 October 2010 ~ 8:30 am to 12:30 pm | Strong Museum of Play~1 Manhattan Sq. 14607  more...
  • 8/20/2010 - Major Local Environmental/Ethical Issue that is not being address by the public: Off-shore wind farms project.  You might have heard by now about the New York Power Authority’s Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project (GLOW) but haven’t checked their site for details.  I suggest before you form an opinion about the project you thoroughly look over their site.  Your opinion about this project should not be a knee-jerk reaction about seeing tall wind turbines off the shores of Lake Ontario.  It should be about energy and Climate Change. Sure, there are issues about bird deaths, bats, noise, aesthetics, and more.  They are addressed on this site.  Ultimately, I think this issue one of the most important environmental issues going on at the moment, but it is being marginalized because it isn’t being viewed as a major Climate Change solution for our area.  Groups are saying no to off-shore wind and no one is reminding them that this means we will be stuck with coal and other fossil fuels.  This decision about off-shore wind farms should be framed in the press as a major ethical issue.  Check out: New York Power Authority: What We Do "Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project (GLOW) On June 4, 2010, NYPA President Richard Kessel announced the start of a multi-phase review process for five proposals vying to construct the GLOW project or projects in the New York State waters of Lake Erie and/or Lake Ontario."  - New York Power Authority: Welcome
  • 8/20/2010 -- Think Coal Power is going away because of all the talk about renewable energy?  Think again: The Associated Press: AP Enterprise: Old-style coal plants expanding WYODAK, Wyo. — Utilities across the country are building dozens of old-style coal plants that will cement the industry's standing as the largest industrial source of climate-changing gases for years to come. An Associated Press examination of U.S. Department of Energy records and information provided by utilities and trade groups shows that more than 30 traditional coal plants have been built since 2008 or are under construction. (August 17, 2010) The Associated Press
  • 8/19/2010 -Time to pipe up about Recycling Plastics in our region: Thanks to an article yesterday by City Newspaper, ENVIRONMENT: Should the county recycle No. 5 plastics? - News Articles - Rochester City Newspaper, there’s a chance for a dialogue on why Monroe County does not recycle 3-7 plastics and other surrounding counties can.  Monroe County’s argument is that there isn’t a steady market for these plastics.  Other NYS counties don’t agree. Just yesterday it was announced that New York City has so much faith in a market for that they are going to require all plastics recycling: Mayor Bloomberg Signs Bills Expanding New York City Recycling (8/18/2010) Waste Age Magazine. And, recently nearby Onondaga County has made recycling #5 plastic mandatory: OCRRA to vote today on adding No. 5 plastic to blue bins in Onondaga County | syracuse.com (7/13/2010).  We don’t purport to have all the answers, but it seems that if other counties are recycling all plastics our counties can work together so that all NYS counties recycle all plastic creating a steady waste flow, which could create a steady waste plastics market. In any event, no matter where you stand on this issue, please take a moment and chime in on this issue at City’s article--Should the county recycle No. 5 plastics? (Comment at the bottom of the article online) —because this in an important dialogue for our community to have. This dialogue should be framed so it is about our environmental and our economic future.  If we recycled all plastics we’d clean up our environment from these discarded substances create new green businesses.  It’s not going to happen if the public doesn’t get behind this issue.  more... 
  • 8/19/2010 - The media and our environment: When asked, the public is interested and concerned about the state of our environment.  Why isn’t this reflected in our mainstream media?  Why do so few mainstream media investigate environmental issues?  Why don’t mainstream media continually remind the public that the decisions they make now will affect the stability of our environment?  Why is our environment marginalized in mainstream media and not on the front page every day?  Climate Change, pollution, loss of biodiversity, over populations, sprawl, and a lot more environmental issues are extremely important issues that we need to address and soon, but we are not addressing them in our media.  Why? Shouldn’t an intelligent species like ourselves be focused on the very issues that will drastically change our way of life?  Shouldn’t environmental issues be one of the main concerns of the press, just as much as Freedom, and what actor or sports hero has committed some petty crime?  Here’s what the public wants: Public Supports Consumer and Environmental Protections, Polls Show | OMB Watch Americans overwhelmingly support government protection of the environment and consumers, a series of new polls shows. The findings come as efforts to enforce and expand regulation face increasingly hostile rhetoric from conservatives and industry representatives in Washington. (August 17, 2010) OMB Watch | Promoting open government, accountability, and citizen participation since 1983
  • 8/18/2010 - Greening up the Internet and Western New York.  Check out this new environmental web site, which was “developed for the New York State Department of State  with funds provided under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund.”  A lot of organizations have teamed up to provide the public and business resources for Living Green: Check out: GrowWNY "GrowWNY is a hyperlocal source of information about living green--powered by more than 150 organizations collaborating for our regional environment and YOU. This site is for anyone who enjoys the outdoors, cares about the environment and wants to know the best places to go and things to do to eat, live, work and play greener. GrowWNY is a project of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, and is made possible through grants from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the New York State Department of State Division of Coastal Resources. "
  • 8/17/2010 - How can you affect Transportation in our area?  One way is to attend one of the various public hearings on the City of Rochester Bicycle Masterplan hearings: Check out the plan, either on August 25th  or 26th, then check for locations near you.  City of Rochester | Bicycle Master Plan Project "The City of Rochester wants to make it easier for you to get around on your bicycle "  Find the location nearest you:  Public Work Shops for the City of Rochester’s Bicycle Master Plan Study --from Rochester Bicycling Club
  • 8/16/2010 - Monitoring Climate Change: From a major voice on the Climate Change issue, Dr. Hansen, who reminds us that the environmental issue of Climate Change must be addressed sooner than later.  He explains how unusually warm last month was.  Like the Emerald Ash Borer boring in on Monroe County, choosing to wait until this issue becomes so in our face that it’s splashed on the local paper’s headlines is going to be too late to avoid the ramifications of it.  We must address environmental issues differently that we address most other problems.  We must have a media that understands the importance of getting the public behind an issue like Climate Change before it is unmanageable.  Because we have not substantially addressed Climate Change even now, we are going to experience dramatic changes in our climate.  Continuing to ignore it will drive it exponentially beyond our ability to address it at all. From the Desk of Dr. James E. Hansen: What Global Warming Looks Like...So Far  more...
  • 8/14/2010 - What I've been reading lately: This book chronicles the amazing changes humankind wrought on our environment during the last century.  Those who think that we aren’t living in extraordinary times, where we may have brought our environment to the brink of collapse, might do well to read this book.  The idea, or the basic human assumption, that we can rely on some hazy notion that ‘things come around’ or we can use the past as an indicator or teacher for the future, or even that Nature can take care of itself, just don’t understand the monumental changes that occurred to our environment in the last century.  The changes were unprecedented in every way. We are in new territory on our environment, one where our assumptions and our knowledge of how earlier cultures dealt with environmental issues may not do us much good.  We’re not going to Zen ourselves out of this coming century, after the shakeup from the last.  Amazon.com: Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the Twentieth-Century World (Global Century Series) (9780393321838): J. R. McNeill, John Robert McNeill, Paul Kennedy: Books