Heres to another bill banning Microbeads!

In the month of November a measure to ban Microbeads in Columbus, Ohio was introduced by state representatives, John Patterson and Kent Smith.  Lake Eerie in Michigan, is one of the largest fresh water ecosystems in the world and the ban on Microbeads will surely help to keep this body of water and all of its creatures clean and healthy!

Click here to read more!

Sources

http://www.monroenews.com/news/2015/nov/28/bill-banning-microbeads-makes-debut-ohio-legislatu/

http://www.beatthemicrobead.org/en/bill-banning-microbeads-makes-debut-in-ohio-legislature

Make a Change - For Yourself and Our World!

Global warming is everywhere; on the news, in political discussions, and even in the already shifting local weather patterns. It can seem daunting for any one person to feel that they can make a significant difference, but the great news is that any one of us right now CAN! Our actions in aggregate - be it driving cars, using electricity for our homes, or producing material waste - has had the far reaching effects to cause global warming, which in turn holds the answer: if we are causing global warming, then we can also reverse it. Together, our individual actions can champion the cause to fight global warming and conquer it. There is no need to wait for politicians or business leaders; it is our planet and we can start today.

Check out this first link, which goes to an interactive website showing a basic summary of your individual carbon footprint, and how many trees need to be planted to offset that footprint. Put in your numbers: it takes less than a minute and you can see your current footprint on a global scale!

http://www.carbonify.com/carbon-calculator.htm

This second link is for a more in-depth look of not only your carbon footprint, but also of changes you can make that would reduce your foot print at home and on the road. It also compares your carbon with the national average. Check it out and see how you can be more green!

http://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/

After going through the first two links, we see how much carbon we produce every month and year, as well as how to reduce it by using alternative options in our lifestyles. However, even if we drive a hybrid and use solar electricity for our homes we still produce some carbon, so the final step is to plant carbon soakers - aka, trees! There are many ways to support this carbon offsetting cause, whether to physically volunteer and physically plant trees, or - for those of us less into physically connecting with Mother Earth - you can donate money to these organizations, or share information about them with family and friends. Offset that carbon and get involved. It is easy, improves the quality of your life, and helps the Earth that contains all of our loved ones and future generations to come.

For planting trees in Portland: http://www.friendsoftrees.org

For planting trees in major cities in the U.S.: http://actrees.org

Why wait? Be your own Superman and start saving the world today!

Personal and Political Action on Climate Change

               Climate change threats cannot be stopped only by simple personal actions. Yes we need to take a position and need to change our behaviors toward our earth, but because it is a global issue we need to have a global actions. However, that doesn't mean you can't do something about it. There are important things you can do to reduce your impact on the environment. But most importantly is to support and motivate your government to work hardly in order to reduce climate change threats. The government action needs a great support from people who cares about their environment. Both government and personal actions would produce noticeable results.

                We have a recent example of government movement, the United States is leading global efforts to discourse the danger of climate change. President Obama is taking the biggest phase yet to fight climate change by confirming America’s Clean Power Plan, which sets the first-ever carbon pollution values for power plants. This action with other important plans would not been taken without the collaboration of non-governmental and local organizations from around the world tin order to protect the environment. Your personal actions and government actions will defiantly make a different and will help the earth. Always be in touch with climate change news and always be ready to change your behaviors for better in order to help your government and your earth.

Read more about President Obama plans here:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/climate-change

Tax on Polluters Isn't Changing Outlook on Coal

Should polluters pay for the carbon emissions that they put into the air? The answer seems obvious, but big industries continue to fight against government regulations, insisting that the costs to them will be passed on to consumers. Recently Australia joined government agencies like the European Union, certain U.S. states and New Zealand in an effort to tax big polluters. The response from the executive director of the Australian Coal Association was to give figures on the taxes implications of the economic side effects. Ralph Hillman outlined to reporters that the tax is expected to result in the closure of 18 minutes in Queensland and New South Wales states, cost 4,700 jobs and lead to $22 billion in lost revenue. Indeed, these proposals make even the consumers wary of rising costs but the government is responding with a $1.3 billion assistance package to keep jobs within the industry secure. Further the government has promised tax cuts and payments to most Australians, saying that two-thirds of all households will receive enough assistance to cover the entire financial impact of the tax.

 What these taxes are on industry are, aside from the economics, is the governmental push toward cleaner energy. Rather than developing new innovations, opponents to any governmental tax appeal to the consumer by touting that they are fighting for them. But taking into account the environmental impacts of coal, are they really? Australia is one of the worst greenhouse gas polluters in the world due to their extensive reliance on coal for power. In addition to coal providing 85 percent of their electricity production, they export nearly 75 percent of their coal mined. The new Australian tax has not shied companies away from what may be the largest takeover bid in Australian history for a coal company. U.S. coal company Peabody Energy Corp and steelmaker ArcelorMIttal’s joint bid for Queensland State’s Macarthur Coal Ltd. is an indication that lucrative coal production in Australia is, unfortunately, not waning.


Peter Browning

EPA Under Attack by King Coal

As we strive to move toward sustainability and limit green house gas we would like to think the nation is behind the movement. 

In 1972 the Clean Water Act was a direct response to industries lack of regulation and rampant pollution into the nation’s waterways. At the time two-thirds of the country’s lakes, rivers and coastal waters had become unsafe for fishing or swimming. Fast forward to today where a bipartisan effort is moving through the U.S. House of Representatives to restrict the power of EPA rules covering mountaintop mining, waterways and wetlands. It should surprise no one that Rep. Nick Rahall (D-West Virginia) is pushing this bill along with 35 other co-sponsors. West Virginia has long been touted as an area where mining is king. The bill will give power back to the state by allowing them to create their own water quality standards and undermine a land mark bill in the Clean Water Act. The legislation is geared toward coal mining, where EPA permits the process of surface mining through the CWA. Even if the bill passes through the House, it is not expected to make it through the Senate. The issue of loose regulation does raise concerns as allegations are surfacing that the Massey Energy Co. and the Mine Safety and Health Administration did not report safety issues that led to the explosion and killing of 29 coal miners in West Virginia last year. 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/29/idUS101062184020110629

Open Source Electricity

No, there isn’t a campaign to socialize our high utility costs.

Instead, different strategies to deal with the issue of providing energy to the growing electric car market are being explored in different countries. Currently, in America, there are charge stations available in certain locations, but nothing designed to support a broad customer base. 

In Israel, the electric car market has been developing over the last few years (since 2008), and it looks like 2011 is the big debut as electric cars and chargers flood the Israeli market, intended to ultimately represent 30% of the market. They have met their deadline so far, and one of the pressing issues is how Israel, who depends a lot on burning coal and oil for energy, will be able to provide the energy for the vehicles to run and for society to continue to run smoothly. 

The proposed model is that the projected two million cars (yes million) will be connected to a grid and managed by shared software that will coordinate and manage recharging “without the addition of a single generator or transmission line.” How this will be accomplished is not specified but we can guess.