I serve on the Green Party of the United States Eco Action Committee (in fact I’m up for election as the committee’s secretary…). This committee released a statement of endorsement for the
Cape Cod Wind Farm today.
This project is an offshore wind turbine project being proposed by Cape Wind
Associates six miles offshore of Nantucket Sound, that will provide 74% of
the electricity used by Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, and would displace two
million barrels of oil each year.
Nevada has requested proof that the June 2 “Divine Strake” test meets all environmental standards. The Pentagon says it does and will provide that proof to the Nevada Governor’s office.
Despite the Nevada governor’s concerns, the pentagon has not postponed or cancelled the test.
First, a detonation of 700 tons of explosives above a tunnel cannot possibly be “safe”.
Second, this disturbed me even more: Nevada Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Shelly Berkley, had expressed concern about the test, but after a briefing with Pentagon officials both said they were reassured the test could be conducted safely.
And although Utah Representative Jim Matheson has voice his opposition to the test, he isn’t really taking any drastic measures to stop it. Instead, he states that he recognizes the test “can’t be stopped”, but he can help make it harder to provide proof that this isn’t in preparation for the development of a new line of nuclear weapons.
When will our representatives just plain put their foot down and lead a massive movement to stop this madness?
I became a vegetarian because of the impact that eating meat has on our planet. Consider this:
from Wikipeidia:
Environmental benefits of Vegetarianism
The production of meat and animal products at current and likely future levels is often considered as environmentally and ecologically unsustainable. It is also argued that even if sustainable, modern industrial agriculture is changing ecosystems faster than they can adapt. While vegetarian agriculture produces some of the same problems as animal production, the environmental impact of animal production is significantly greater. [1] Environmental vegetarians can be compared with economic vegetarians, who consider the meat industry economically unsound, and both citing the same efficiency concerns, many vegetarians see natural resources as being freed up by vegetarianism and veganism.
“The cost of mass-producing cattle, poultry, pigs, sheep and fish to feed our growing population… include highly inefficient use of freshwater and land, heavy pollution from livestock feces… and spreading destruction of the forests on which much of our planet’s life depends.” – Time Magazine 11/8/99
I guess I can call myself, then, an “economic vegetarian”.
The students at the school where I teach organized a “Barnyard Festival” today, the proceeds of which went to Ching Farm Animal Rescue and Sanctuary. It was a social event for the school community that raised money for a good cause. The event generated $140.00 for the sanctuary. The students had a great time too!
This event was held in conjunction with National and Global Youth Services Day. Here are a few photos:
Ching Farm volunteers
One game gave away gold fish as a prize
Henna tatoos were offered
There was a whipped cream pie eating contest complete with gummy worms
The band Adietia played
Today’s Deseret News has published the article, Planned Nevada test blast worries watchdog groups: Detonation could lead to nuclear tests, some fear, referring to the “Divine Stake” test planned for June 2 at the Nevada Test Site. It is indicated that this is part of the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (“bunker buster”) program.
The experiment is called “Divine Strake,” in which 700 tons of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil will be blown up. (A strake is a line of metal plating along a ship’s hull.)
The explosive material, similar to that used by domestic terrorists to destroy the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995, will explode with a force equivalent to 593 tons of TNT. It is expected to raise a mushroom cloud of dust, but officials say it won’t be visible off the test site.
“There is no danger to the population of Las Vegas and the surrounding communities,” says an agency release. “The test does not use a nuclear device, and it does not test a weapon.”
But an environmental assessment has revealed two other compounds will be used: Glo Germ Powder and Fluorescein USP.
Glo Germ Powder would be placed on tarps surrounding the charge hole in order to see how material disperses during the test, says the statement. Glo Germ Powder is “considered to be hazardous if it is burned, and toxic gases can be formed,” the environmental statement says.
“The powder would not be mixed in the . . . blasting agent so it would not be subjected to the oxidizing effects of the detonation.”
The test indicates the Pentagon is determined to move forward with new nuclear weapons development, said Steve Erickson, director of the Salt Lake City military watchdog group Citizens Education Project.
Most activists have heard this news by now. Rest assured we won’t be silent. Details of actions will be posted.
Today’s Salt Lake Tribune: Bomb Test: The Pentagon says it’s just a test and won’t lead to nuclear development
The “Divine Strake Test” is what it has been dubbed. It would
would use ammonium nitrate and fuel oil – a common explosive combination and the same used in the Oklahoma City bombing, only 280 times larger.
It is expected to throw a plume of dust as high as 10,000 feet into the air. Computers on the ground will measure the shockwaves and damage to the tunnel so models can be made, according to Pentagon budget documents, “to improve the warfighter’s confidence in selecting the smallest proper nuclear yield necessary to destroy underground facilities while minimizing collateral damage.”
The blast would be five times larger than the largest existing conventional weapon, but many times smaller than the smallest nuclear weapon in the U.S. stockpile. Similar tests have been conducted in the past at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
The Pentagon has said it plans to detonate 700 tons of explosives above a buried tunnel at the Nevada Test Site in June.
Congressman Jim Matheson says:
“I think this is a precursor for the development of nuclear weapons. I’ve had that suspicion about this administration all along,” Matheson said. “I want to get answers to this before they have the test in June.”
While this is a noble statement, I just don’t believe the latter part of it. Matheson has been a supporter of the Bush Administration’s Iraq campaign and war efforts. I know this from personal experience with Mr. Matheson, having been part of an arrest action in his office in 2003 and then in a meeting with him and several of my activist colleagues as a follow-up to that action. I would like to think the Mr. Matheson is sincere, but actions speak louder than words and his past actions just have not proven that he is opposed to nuclear anything.
According to a Deseret News Poll, a majority of Salt Lake County residents support an increase in property taxes to build four more TRAX lines. This is an increase from a poll taken last fall.
While this is a move in the right direction on the thinking part of county residents, and certainly “baby steps” are in order, it is time for citizens to realize that the whole picture should involved increased park and ride lots in communities, fee-based parking at TRAX stations, and increased bus/shuttle service from the smaller lots to the TRAX stations.
There is a new blog that is dedicated to preserving the Ribble River in England: Save the Ribble. From the blog:
This blog belongs to local people from Preston and South RIbble who oppose the ‘Riverworks’ project, which plans to put a barrage across the Ribble and build over 4000 houses in the flood plain, which is likely to lead to an increased risk of flooding to our homes and cause untold damage to our environment – an area of tremendous ecological significance, and great beauty.
There is a map of the effected areas and contact information for joining the campaign to help with this cause.
As I think more about recycling and the need for improved recycling services and for residents to buy into recycling, I find myself pondering over how these things can be made to happen.
My brother used to live in Oswego, NY. Oswego, as in many other towns and cities in the U.S. , requires clear garbage bags for garbage and recycling. Recycling is also mandatory. If garbage is found in the recycling bags, and vice-versa, the residents are fined.
When I lived in Maryland (where I grew up and lived until 9 years ago), I was required to sort all my recycling to be able to participate in the curbside recycling program. It wasn’t a big deal, really, and became part of what Imy regular daily routine as a homeowner and a resident. I had all my paper bags lined up under my laundry table – aluminum, cardboard, general recycling (paper, etc.), glass, plastic. The recycling truck that came by each week was compartmentalized so that the person picking up the items simply deposited the different sorted bags into the appropirate compartment. It’s also important to note that this town was/is a small one – about 5,000 people.
While this concept is a good one (getting people to sort their recycling), on the other hand, having the recycling sorted at the site creates more jobs. But then the issue is – do the sorters take their time and truly make sure all recyclable materials are indeed recycled? It would be interesting to spend a day following the truck that picks up all the curbside recyclables.
What would be best to get citizens to be more adamant about recycling?
The first campaign disclosure report for my campaign is due tomorrow. I have completed the forms and am awaiting a couple of minor details before submitting the papers.
Since filing in March I have received $249.93 in donations ($153.23 was for my filing fees and is documented as a loan from me). I have incurred $182.63 in expenses – for filing fees and setting up the required campaign bank account.
One of the things I do not like about completing this report is that if one does not have the capacity to complete acrobat files online, you have to print it and either mail it in or take it in, which wastes resources (paper, stamps, gas, etc.)
The state of Utah is way ahead in that game – candidates can complete and submite their forms online.
There’s another small, albeit important, issue for my platform. Get more online resources available for Salt Lake County candidates and citizens when conducting county government business.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 