ecobriefs
Legislative Imperative Citizens Spark Action on Climate Change
On October 10, citizens in communi- ties around the world will launch global work parties aimed both to reverse climate change caused by dangerous levels of carbon dioxide emissions and send a clear message to gov- ernments that it’s past time for elected officials to get busy. Citizens will put up
solar panels, insulate homes, organize bicycle rides, plant trees and advance other ideas for the types of local and global solutions needed to address the current climate crisis. “Our message is: If we can get to work, so can our lawmakers,” says Bill McKibben, environmental author and founder of
350.org, the group that is rallying the 10/10/10 work party events via the Web. Last year,
350.org orchestrated an international day of action that saw 5,200 levels from 390 parts
events in 180 countries support the goal of reducing CO2
per million (now 392 ppm) back to a tipping point of 350 ppm. Leading scientists, beginning with pioneering researcher Dr. James Hansen of NASA, maintain that if we can get back to 350 ppm, we have a shot at climate safety.
Get on board at
350.org.
Gulf Update Citizens Move to Ban Toxic Oil Dispersants as Options
In response to British Petroleum’s use of toxic chemicals to disperse the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, American citizens are ask- ing the U.S. Environmen- tal Protection Agency to immediately delist prod- ucts of concern from the National Contingency Plan Product Schedule. This would include removing such dispersants as an ap- proved method of dealing with an oil spill.
Products of concern are defined as those that contain any substances known to
be a human health hazard or that have not been proven to be nontoxic to wildlife species relevant to the area where they will be used.
Sign the petition at
ipetitions.com/petition/delist.
Sharp Traveler Airlines Fall Short of
Facilitating Eco-Friendly Skies
According to the National Resources Defense Council, nearly 75 per- cent of in-flight generated waste is recyclable, but only 20 percent actually gets recycled. Green Amer- ica’s consumer watchdog website,
ResponsibleShopper.org, reports that airlines could recycle nearly 500 million more pounds of waste each year, half of it in-flight waste. Some airlines say they’re making progress, yet none collects and processes all the major recyclables of aluminum cans, glass, plastic and paper, or has a comprehensive program to mini- mize packaging and compost food waste, according to Green America’s recent review. “For concerned consumers looking to spend their travel dol- lars wisely, airline waste may be the ultimate example of, ‘What goes up must come down,’” comments lead researcher Victoria Kreha. Green America’s airline rankings for recy- cling, from best to worst, are: Delta, Virgin, Southwest, Continental, Jet Blue, American, British Airways, Air Tran, United and US Airways. Beyond the environmental ben-
efits, recycling airline waste would create jobs nationwide; according to Colorado Recycles, recycling cre- ates six times as many jobs as does landfilling.
Take action at GreenAmericaToday. org/go/AirlineRecyclingReport; email executives at listed airlines and report how flight attendants answer when asked about company recy- cling policies.
natural awakenings September 2010 11
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