Environmental Action Blog

Environmental Tobacco Smoke not a good thing

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 03:39:00 +0000

How many of you like smokers smoking next to you when there is the possibility of receiving secondhand smoke? Tough crowd or hey you do not approve of that smoke in your breathing area. There is environmental tobacco smoke that we just are against them. It is not fair putting our health in danger while they risk their own.

Plus, if you remember from anti-smoking commercials, secondhand smoke is more deadly than first hand smoking. So, please respect our reasons by smoking where people will not get affected by the smoke. Overall, let us just say that I seen too many good people die from tobacco smoke and do not want to see anymore die from it.

Environmental Science Projects are a teaching stone

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:24:00 +0000

As a kid, my school never actually had a science project fair, let alone an environmental science projects. So, when I see these kids be able to do that, it is pretty cool. They actually take the time to educate themselves in what is happening with the environment. Then, they present a solution to it or make it awareness about it.

That is something I would actually give the benefit of the doubt to for schools. They are trying to make the students aware of what is going on while they are young. No worries though, these projects will still keep going on even when we are gone.

Something we cannot fight off is Environmental Disasters

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:01:00 +0000

Today, the past, and the future, there will be environmental disasters. It is inevitable because it is a part of nature. However, we can minimize the damage by taking care of the areas that we developed on to prevent it from turning into a freak accident. For example, oil factories need to be well taken care of or else if a mishap or leak happened, it can expand the damage of say a forest fire if a forest is nearby.

The early warnings of a hurricane or tornado, we should not be stubborn if we have gone through it plenty of times. You still should take safety as a high regard. Basically, think about the dangers and see to it that safety comes first and with high regard.

Environmental Games equal a good mix of fun and environmental lessons

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:49:00 +0000

What is a great way to promote environmental friendliness? Why, it is environmental games of course. It is what we kids loved to play, games. With it combined with environmental things, it can help promote being friendly to the environment. People will take in the fun while also learning good ways to help clean earth.

Some environmental games you can do are like the picture above. You create a board game that people can walk on. So, it is like a monopoly type of game. Another is using a deck of cards and having each card mean something about the earth or have facts on them. All in all, an environmental game will keep the trash away.

To be thankful of the Environmental Services is respectful

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 01:26:00 +0000

Every week, there are workers who pick up your trash or your recycle from the street. These people are the grunt workers who are part of environmental services. There are others who do packing on chemicals to make it safe to dispose. Some others are hazardous water, waste, and energy disposal groups. They all play an important role to allowing us to live the way we do.

On the other hand, these people put themselves at risk of the dangers of the chemicals they inhale and all. We should be grateful and thank them when we see them. The smallest thing can make some ones day. So, let us take a little bit of time out of our day and thank them for keeping our areas clean.

Open your eyes and ears to these Environmental Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:50:00 +0000

In today’s world, there are a lot of ignorant people. Sorry, but this is quite true. They are ignorant of the environmental problems we face. For instance, we have a growing problem with the trash dump sites becoming overcrowded. Yet, people suggest creating another dump site and burying the trash there. However, that is just holding off the problem for a temporary amount of time.

There are many other problems too besides that one. Expansion onto new lands are killing natural wildlife habitats, as well as cutting down too many trees to put a new coffee shop right there. So, instead of saying do this and that, help out by doing your share by wasting less.

There are lots of Environmental Organizations around us

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:31:00 +0000

In this world, we have a huge number of environmental organizations to help Mother Earth. Yet, there are more polluters than there are helpers. In about almost every country, there are organizations created to help. In fact, there are intergovernmental organizations created to stand firm together. For example, we have the CEC, which is Commission for Environmental Cooperation.

Another more well known organization that has a Panda as their logo is WWF. It stands for World Wide Fund for Nature. These are a couple of the organizations I knew of when I was in Ecology club back in my high school years. However, you can find more if you want by searching for these organizations.

My favorite shirt is green and has Environmental Slogans all over it

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:00:00 +0000

Let’s be honest here. There are still large populations of people who are not being environmental friendly. We have environmental slogans that scream out to pull your weight. However, people are just lazy about it. They care about fashion styles, but they could be fashionable by putting on a green shirt that has a slogan. The people who work in offices drink out of their coffee mugs can use a mug with an environmental slogan on it. It could catch one’s eye and make the person think twice before throwing his empty coke can in the trash instead of the recycle bin.

We have hands, mouths, and feet. If we use our hands, we can create something creative to give voice to take care of the earth better. Our mouths can speak up and hold peaceful protests and rally new members. Our feet can take us places that will stand to face this problem. It is not that people have not done this, but with more people, the stronger it will get. Eventually one morning, I will pass by 6 out of 10 people wearing an environmental slogan shirt.

The Sad and Unfortunate Truth About Wasteful Spending

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:30:00 +0000

First of all, I think that it is important to mention that not everyone is going to agree on what is considered a "waste of money". However, if you pay taxes, and you pay attention to what federal, state and local governments are spending money on, then you certainly feel as though you are connected to the purchases in some way. I recently read a news article that said that the Pentagon has spent around 300 billion dollars on weapons systems for the military, and that the soldiers are still not getting the resources that they need. The worst part about this wasteful spending is that it will continue to happen for various political reasons.

Now, imagine if even 10 percent of this "wasteful spending" was used to help protect the environment. I am not saying that this money would save the world, but 30 billion dollars could certainly make a huge impact on the longevity of this planet. This is wishful thinking, though, and it would be naive to dwell on things that should have happened. I do think that it is important for the world to know about how governments use money, and we all know that awareness is the first step in the process of change.

Giving Up Luxuries To Save The Environment

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:42:00 +0000

For activists and advocates that promote the idea of a healthy environment for everybody, this is something that is a no-brainer. However, I think that it is necessary to first define what a luxury is. Of course, things like food, water and shelter are regular necessities for most. On the other hand, these can be considered luxuries for others, and it is obvious that they should not be sacrificed.

When I think of luxuries, I think of possessions that make people feel confident or comfortable. Large vehicles that don't promote fuel efficiency may or may not be considered luxuries, depending on your use for them. If you want to drive a large sport utility vehicle because it makes you feel important, then some might say that your car is an unnecessary luxury that exists at the expense of the environment. A lot of the time, new homes and subdivisions are built with wood that is the byproduct of tree deforestation, and I have heard some people say that promoting the use of plant wood instead is much less harmful for the environment. Overall, I do feel that giving up luxuries to save the environment can help make a difference. On the other hand, these luxuries must be defined separately for each individual.

The Struggle For Renewable Energy

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:05:00 +0000

Once again, U.S. politics have managed to get in the way of progress. While the entire country remains furious about the rising cost of gasoline, the Republican Party successfully put a halt to a debate that would have potentially increased taxes for oil companies. In addition to this, a debate in regards to extending tax credits for various sources of renewable energy was also stopped. Almost every national news source reported on this very recent issue, and I recommend that you search the Internet for the full story.

I understand that there are going to be opposing views about everything that happens in a nation, and in order for that nation to stay somewhat balanced there must be more than one side. On the other hand, I do not understand why the introduction of efficient, renewable energy sources has taken so long to happen. I wish that all of the time and effort that was put into manufacturing/promoting Ethanol was instead used for something that could have actually helped the environment. The electric car seemed rather promising when it was first introduced, but it was short-lived for all the wrong reasons.

Whether it's congress or the automobile industry, politics and money will somehow find a way to keep progress at a slow pace.

General Motors To Jump On The Fuel Efficiency Bandwagon

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:40:00 +0000

General Motors apparently is having a hard time selling their ridiculously over-sized SUV's as a result of the recent increase in gas prices. In order to help cover their losses, which is already around 3 billion dollars for this year alone, GM plans to market some fuel-efficient vehicles that will hopefully keep American motorists on their side. Although it is a shame that such a reputable manufacturer has taken this long to finally care about the environment, I am glad to see that they are making an effort. However, they will have to spend a lot of money to market these new vehicles if they want to keep up with some of the Asian manufacturers who have already made names for themselves. Surprisingly, GM is profiting very well internationally and it is the North American market that they are worried about keeping happy. Very soon, we will see their new fuel efficiency program at work and it will be interesting to see whether or not it is a success.

The Environmental Protection Agency Creates New Regulations For Rat Poison

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:25:00 +0000

Due to the fact that rat poison products can cause significant harm and actually kill wildlife, pets and children, the Environmental Protection Agency has laid out some new rules in regards to the sale of these products. Many major brands of rat poison will eventually have to be sold in tamper-proof containers, also known as "bait stations". These new regulations will be in full effect as of October 2009, and they will help prevent children and pets from accidentally consuming the rodenticides.

In addition to this, there will be new regulations on the potency of rat poisons. 4 of the most powerful poisons will be removed from retail shelves, and this will hopefully decrease the amount of wildlife deaths that occur as a result of poisoned rat consumption.

Manufacturers and authorities of public housing are angry about the rising costs that will result from these new regulations, and I can somewhat sympathize with that. On the other hand, the safety of children and animals is much more important than saving money.

Environmental Protection Laws Straight From the Source

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Fri, 30 May 2008 06:59:00 +0000

Since environmentalism and conservation issues will always be prevalent in our world, it is not a bad idea for individuals to stay informed about the current environmental protection laws that exist. The website for the EPA has a page that contains all of the current laws, and it can be found at www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/index.html.

Unless they are already required to do so, I feel that it should be a requirement for business owners, manufacturers, and other similar establishments to know and fully understand all of these regulations. As you all know, there are plenty of businesses in our world that cut corners in order to save money, while harming the environmental in the process. I understand that this is always going to happen, but I feel that educating business owners about the regulations and repercussions is a great step in the direction of maintaining a clean and healthy environment.

California Gets Denied By The Environmental Protection Agency

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Fri, 23 May 2008 22:44:00 +0000

Earlier in the year, there was a lot of talk about whether or not the state of California would be able to set its own standards for automobile emissions, considering the fact that pollution is such a larger problem in that state. Well, it turns out that Stephen Johnson, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, has decided against allowing California to set their own regulations.

Of course, many politicians and residents are upset by this because it is clearly obvious that California needs a lot more environmental attention than some other states in the country. I personally think that the original idea of allowing the state to set its own standards is both rational and practical. However, the EPA has won this battle and it appears that the decision is just about to be set in stone.

Georgia Environmental Protection Laws Crucial to Salt Marshes

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:37:00 +0000

As a result of industrialization and population growth, it looks like Georgia's beautiful salt marshes might be in danger. For years, under the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act, these marshes have been harbored safely without any manmade interference. However, it is now time for the state to look at this act closely and determine whether or not it should be modified. Pressures from development firms and various residents can possibly make portions of this act obsolete. On the other hand, it is possible that some new environmental protection laws will be created which will find a compromise for both sides.

These salt marshes, which make up roughly 500,000 acres of coastline, are vital for animal and marine life where the land meets the sea. Not to mention, they help add to the beauty of the coastline and they are much prettier to look at than some new sub-divisions or condominium developments.

Stop eating and breathing?

noreply@blogger.com (MonaO) — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:10:00 +0000

With the global warming and saving the planet earth from heating up and so began the campaigning for more environmentally friendly energy solutions with energy costs still soaring.

The EU in its’ great wisdom shared the pollution rates equally, that is in this case is not in equally big parts, instead it means each member countries ability, with its’ technology and economical resources taken into consideration to adjust into the required decreases of polluting carbon oxides and cuts backs are to be made in the emission. The poorer and the less developed the country, the less to take into concern about these matters it seems.

The more farmland that now has been converted into growing renewable energy sources across the world, the less area has been left to grow food for people. And now the "silent tsunami" as it's being called, with ever increasing food prices is beginning to have an impact on the poor. With the rising prices of food the remaining farmlands have to be turned into corps as cost efficiently and time consuming as can, and this might result in even more pollution than earlier. Smaller farm area needs to produce more, it resulting in suddenly rising levels of fertilizers leaking into rivers and lakes, finally ending up into the sea, at least according to some recently published speculations. This seems to be a yo-yo bouncing up and down, with no real outcome.

So; avoiding pollution of the air decreases food availability and raises the pollution in the water, once again.

And as always this still is a win-win situation for the businesses concerned no matter they are selling their newest technology to cleanse the air or the sewage water, or develop new more efficient artificial fertilizers and pesticides.

Is there really anything more we can do except stop eating and breathing?

Maybe the EU could in their great wisdom decide who should stop eating and breathing, at least to equally measured parts like with the emissions? Maybe eat 20% less food and breathe 15% less air?

Global Warming May Cause Environmental Protection Laws To Change

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:25:00 +0000

The Bar Association of India feels that over two hundred different environmental protection laws are now flawed and that it is partly due to the fact that climate change is now a concern. From May 2nd to May 3rd, 250 lawyers relevant to the practice of environmental law will attend a conference that discusses the relationship between global warming and environmental protection laws, and how they can become more closely related. The General Secretary of the Bar Association of India, Lalit Bhasin, stated his position on the issue.

"Most of these environmental compliance laws have outlived their utilities and loopholes in these laws quite prominent," He then added, "Climate change is a threat to the rule of law and the current legal systems do not properly take into account the complexities of the consequence of global warming."

Policies that will be discussed include The Energy Conservation Act, Forest Policy, National Environmental Policy and many others. Although climate change is a slow process that will take hundreds of years to see its significant effects, it is still a positive thing to see nations around the world reviewing their environmental laws so that they can stay prepared for the worst.

Environmental Conservation Groups Getting Impatient in Florida

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Thu, 01 May 2008 01:23:00 +0000

It appears that the 4-year delay for newer water quality standards has made some environmental conservation groups pretty angry. In Naples, FL, a few different groups have joined together and are now threatening to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for not strictly enforcing the federal Clean Water Act. The state of Florida was originally planning on having revised regulations for nutrient pollution but these changes will unfortunately have to wait until the year 2012.

Traces of phosphorus and nitrogen that were found in local wastewater have incidentally created a major problem with toxic algae, which is now showing up in various rivers throughout the state. A specific type of this algae, known as "red tide", is also making appearances on some of Florida's beach shores.

From what I understand, it seems as though the EPA felt that these new pollution standards were not urgently needed and that delaying them would not make much of a difference. I can see why residents and environmental action groups are unhappy with the EPA, because they probably feel like their state was not given the attention that it deserved. Unfortunately, the news source that provided this information did not say anything about what the lawsuit earnings would potentially be used for. Environmental law is something that I have not really explored, and that is why I am curious to know what these conservation groups hope to accomplish if they win the suit.

Alaska Environmental Protection News - Arctic Haze Caused By Pollutants

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:25:00 +0000

It appears that the arctic haze that many are noticing in Alaskan skies is possibly another suspected cause of climate change and global warming. In addition to the various greenhouse gases that are trapping in heat, many scientists now believe that airborne pollutants are functioning in the same way. These pollutants consist of various things like automobile exhaust particles, burned organic material, desert dust from Asian sands, moist salts and plenty more. Because of its location, the Arctic Circle tends to collect a lot of the pollution that comes from Asia, North America and Europe.

In order to retrieve samples of these pollutants, aircraft is being used by researchers from NASA, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Energy. Well over 250 scientists are involved in this project, which is actually something that was started previously by a scientist named Glenn Shaw. The main goals of this Alaska environmental protection study are to determine how the particles are interacting with sunlight, clouds and snow. It is unfortunate that such a clean and beautiful place is attracting all of this outside pollution, but I feel that this study will have some promising results in the near future.

New York County Takes Strict Action With Environmental Conservation

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:43:00 +0000

Open burning anywhere in Orange County, NY is now strictly prohibited as a ban was recently put into effect by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. This ban was set in stone with the help of Edward A. Diana, an Orange County Executive. During a recent conference, Diana had a few words to say about the new measures.

"Given the fact that the entire County is experiencing very dry conditions due to limited rainfall, along with dry grass and brush having the potential for hazardous conditions I am issuing this ban until April 27, 2008," Diana mentioned.

Although it is a temporary ban, it is still good to see that actions like these are being taken during dry months of the year. Not to mention, it is good to see that even states that receive substantial amounts of annual rainfall are still keeping an issue like this in mind.

Environmental Protection Services - PCB Disposal

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:30:00 +0000

I recently searched the Internet for "Environmental Protection Services," and I learned that there are a few different organizations that use this name. The United States Environmental Protection Services is an organization that focuses on improving water quality nationwide, and it appears to be related to the EPA in some way. There is also a company called EPS Industries, which specializes in PCB Disposal. PCBs, or Polychlorinated biphenyls, are chemical compounds that were heavily used by many different industries several decades ago. PCBs were used for insulation, flame-retardants, hydraulic fluids, adhesives, paints, caulk, and many other things. Although the production of PCBs was outlawed in the 70's, there are still several bodies of water that are contaminated with them. They have also affected various forms of animal and plant life over the years.

In addition to the several previous cases of PCB contamination that are still being corrected, there are even some new stories involving this type of pollution. Today, I read a news article about two companies in Connecticut who have neglected to fix a groundwater treatment problem at one of their plants. This plant is extremely contaminated with PCBs from several years of previous use, and until the groundwater system is fixed these compounds will continue to flow into the Bridgeport Harbor. State officials are in the process of getting a court order to charge these two companies, and only time will tell how long it will be before the problem is fixed. Personally, I can't believe that this contamination is still occurring. I would have assumed that the EPA had already taken legal action and forced this pollution to stop, but apparently there are some other things that are getting in the way.

The Environmental Protection Agency Has Precautions For Residents of the Great Lakes Area

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:14:00 +0000

As much as some people would like to knock the Environmental Protection Agency, I think that their positive efforts certainly overshadow any bad publicity that they may get. Recently, small amounts of prescription and chemical medications have been turning up in supplies of drinking water near large cities in the Great Lakes area. The EPA is now strongly urging all residents of these cities to turn in their pharmaceuticals to special collection locations, rather than flushing them down the toilet. Of course, many people would rather conveniently dispose of these drugs in the comfort of their own homes, but this is creating an unforeseen problem.

A spokesperson of the EPA mentioned that, "We're trying to raise public awareness on disposing of pharmaceuticals properly and we've had a very good response from communities on water districts. This is information that needs to get out there." The EPA plans to hopefully collect roughly 1,000,000 pills during their first major initiative, which looks like a good start. For the sake of everyone, I will not mention the specific drug traces that have been found in the water. Rather, just be aware that they are substances that none of us want to have in our drinking water.

Apparently, electronic waste is also a major issue, with devices like computers, televisions and cell phones being common items that are disposed of improperly. The EPA's collection locations will also accept these items in addition to the pharmaceuticals. Considering that the Great Lakes are major suppliers of our world's drinking water, I feel that this increased awareness is much needed. In addition to affecting marine life, this can also have a potentially negative effect on human life.

What is Environmental Protection in Regards to Global Warming?

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:48:00 +0000

The current issue of a dramatic climate shift potentially plaguing our world is certainly a hot topic, and up until the past year or so I really did not give it too much thought. I do not intend to press my views on anyone, since I have never been one to manipulate minds. However, I would like to hear the opinions and viewpoints of those that have been actively researching this issue. I do not at all feel as though global warming is a "hoax," but I also do not feel as though it is an immediate threat. I guess you can say that I am on both sides of the fence, and until I have seen a sufficient amount of factual evidence from credible sources, this is where I will remain.

I do understand that greenhouse gas emissions are increasing, that is not something that I am going to argue. I also understand that higher amounts of atmospheric pressure as a result of these gases will cause more radiation to be retained beneath the ozone layer. What bothers me is when I hear about something like Ethanol, which has the intention of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, among other things. Recently, I read a statement from an article that said, "Promise: Ethanol will save us from global warming." Shortly after this, I was informed by various sources that a single Ethanol factory easily burns several hundred tons of coal each day. This is the point where I will ask myself a ridiculous question like, "What is environmental protection?"

I am very interested to hear about how everyone feels towards the subject of global warming, and what you think are the best efforts and actions that are currently being made to help control its progression. I also would like to hear the opinions of those who feel as though liberal media bias is controlling how information is being distributed to the public.

Environmental Protection Laws May Get A Nice Boost

noreply@blogger.com (William) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:27:00 +0000

Very recently, the state of Vermont made some substantial progress in their quest to make their environmental protection laws a little stricter. The House of Representatives officially approved the bill last Wednesday, and if I am not mistaken, it is currently being reviewed by the Senate.

The Agency of Natural Resources is one of the major bodies that will benefit from the tougher regulations. The ANR will be able to more easily identify the reasons why polluters make certain violations, and then change the penalties accordingly. Something that I found interesting about these new laws is that they put more emphasis on the private companies that are polluting than they do for municipalities. Municipalities, which at times can provide some of the heaviest forms of pollution, will be given more options for supplemental environmental projects. SEPs, which sound a lot like community service projects, are environmentally beneficial tasks that can be completed in order to reduce or eliminate certain penalties.

A couple of the state's representatives were disappointed with the current situation that the bill is in. A few of the originally proposed ideas were taken out of the bill and put on hold. One of these ideas was to give citizens the ability to file lawsuits against the polluters, and even the Agency of Natural Resources in the event that it would fail to enforce a law. I personally think that this part of the bill is unnecessary. If an individual is seriously harmed as a result of pollution, then the lawsuit may be justifiable. However, this would only open the door for other citizens to file irrational, frivolous lawsuits that would do nothing but slow down the progress of the ANR. One of the other desired changes that was put on hold was to provide firearms to environmental enforcement officers.

I am glad to know that some serious discretion was used when the house reviewed and passed this bill. As polluters begin to feel the effects of the new penalties, it will hopefully reinforce the idea that cutting corners will bring more harm than good.