Did you know ~

Pollen from a variety of common plants: sunflower (Helianthus annuus), morning glory Ipomoea purpurea, hollyhock (Sildalcea malviflora), lily (Lilium auratum), primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) and castor bean (Ricinus communis). The image is magnified some x500, so the bean shaped grain in the bottom left corner is about 50 μm long. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Climate Change… chief victims of global warming are women, women grow the food, walk miles for water and gather the firewood.

Fend off Allergies … by eating more leafy greens, having high levels of folic acid may decrease your risk of wheezing and silence some genes, including those of the immune system. author,Elizabeth Matsui MD

A software program  www.GoodGuide.com  can calculate the impact of a product, created by Dara o’rouke,phd UC Berkeley, can help make smart choices,  done from your iPhone while shopping

Making a glass jar impacts our environment, you have to burn a gas furnace 24hrs at 2000 degrees, this consumes a  huge amount of energy.

According to the WTC wiping  your feet off before home entry can reduce tracking pesticides by 25%,removing shoes can cut the amount of dust by 10 times, clean carpets every 18months instead of every 12months and save money

The EPA states the air indoors is 2 to 5times more polluted, install smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, open windows daily, buy air cleaning plants, English ivy, Philodendron, spider; green cleaning recipes at Planetgreen.discovery.com

Rachel Carson‘s book Silent Spring, an early voice for our environment in 1962..get it

Buy local … less packaging if you buy local, more fresh tasty choices …support local farmer’s markets and community gardens

Raising Beef accounts for 18% of global warming emissions worldwide

You can reduce your carbon footprint just by switching to vegetarian meals for 1day,save about 860calories &9pounds of carbon,if done for 2weeks, a reduction of carbon by 122pounds and 12,460calories, losing about 3lbs or more.

Building a Cleaner and More Secure Energy Future

President Obama delivers remarks on clean energy at the Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Ill., March 15, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

On March 15, President Obama traveled to the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois to discuss the Energy Security Trust that he announced in the 2013 State of The Union Address. The Trust, which builds on a proposal supported by a broad bipartisan coalition including retired military leaders, would provide a reliable stream of funding for critical, breakthrough research focused on developing cost-effective transportation alternatives to get our cars and trucks off oil.

The President’s proposal sets aside $2 billion over 10 years and would support research into a wide range of cost-effective technologies – like advanced vehicles that run on electricity, homegrown biofuels, fuel cells, and domestically produced natural gas. Paired with other Administration policies, including our historic new fuel economy standards that are already saving families and businesses money at the pump, the Trust would help solidify America’s position as a world leader in advanced transportation technology.

This represents just a snapshot of the Administration’s Energy Security Trust proposal. For more information, read the White House blog on the Energy Security Trust. Also be sure to check out the President’s recent weekly address on this proposal.

News & Events

New EPA Report: Initial Data Shows Significant Gains in Fuel Economy for 2012
The EPA released its annual report that tracks the fuel economy of vehicles sold in the United States, underscoring the major increases made in the efficiency of the vehicles Americans drive, reducing oil consumption and cutting carbon emissions. According to the report, EPA estimates that between 2007 and 2012 fuel economy values increased by 16 percent while carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have decreased by 13 percent, and in 2012 alone the report indicates a significant one year increase of 1.4 miles per gallon (mpg) for cars and trucks. In addition, compared to five years ago, consumers have twice as many hybrid and diesel vehicle choices, a growing set of plug-in electric vehicle options, and a six-fold increase in the number of car models with combined city/highway fuel economy of 30 mpg or higher.

President Obama Nominates New Energy Department and EPA Heads
President Obama on March 4 nominated Ernest Moniz to replace Steven Chu as Secretary of Energy, and Gina McCarthy to take over U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) leadership from Lisa Jackson. Of his new Energy Secretary nominee, Obama said “Ernie knows that we can produce more energy and grow our economy while still taking care of our air, our water and our climate.” In announcing McCarthy’s nomination, President Obama called her a top environmental official in Massachusetts and Connecticut, where she helped design programs to expand energy efficiency and promote renewable energy. She previously served as the assistant administrator of the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.

Interior Department Approves Three Renewable Energy Projects in California and Nevada
As part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy to continue to expand domestic energy production, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced on March 13 the approval of three major renewable energy projects that, when built, are expected to deliver 1,100 megawatts to the grid – enough to power more than 340,000 homes – and help support more than 1,000 jobs through construction and operations. Since 2009, Interior has approved 37 renewable energy projects, including 20 utility-scale solar facilities, 8 wind farms and 9 geothermal plants, with associated transmission corridors and infrastructure to connect to established power grids. When built, these projects will provide more than 11,500 megawatts of power, or enough electricity to power more than 3.8 million homes, and support an estimated 13,500 construction and operations jobs.

Obama Administration Holds 39-Million-Acre Oil and Gas Lease Sale in Central Gulf of Mexico
Taking the latest step in President Obama’s efforts to continue to expand safe and responsible domestic energy production, the Department of the Interior recently held a nearly 39 million-acre oil and gas lease sale for the Central Gulf of Mexico. As part of the Obama Administration’s all-of-the-above energy strategy, domestic oil and gas production has grown each year the President has been in office, with domestic oil production currently higher than any time in two decades and natural gas production at its highest level ever.

Energy Department Partnerships Speed Advanced Vehicle Technologies
As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to speeding the transition to more sustainable energy sources that will help drive economic growth, the Energy Department on March 5 announced 16 major U.S. employers and two stakeholder groups have joined the Workplace Charging Challenge to give more American workers access to new transportation options, while another three U.S. corporations have joined the National Clean Fleets Partnership. These steps support President Obama’s goal to drive new technology that offers more vehicle fueling options to American consumers, as highlighted in his State of the Union address. The Workplace Charging Challenge is a collaborative effort to increase the number of U.S. employers offering workplace charging by tenfold in the next five years. The National Clean Fleets Partnership aims to speed the deployment of clean, energy-efficient vehicles and the infrastructure to support their widespread use.

What’s in your water?

		by Mary Anne Hitt Beyond Coal Campaign Director Tell President Obama: Heavy metals and toxic sludge don’t belong in our water! If you’re drinking a glass of water, you might want to put it down before you read this email. Burning coal for electricity produces ash and sludge full of arsenic, boron, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium. Where do you think it all goes? That’s right — the same power plants that are causing asthma with their soot and wrecking our climate with their carbon are also dumping tons of toxins into our waters. And without federal rules to stop them, those plants would keep on sending toxic sludge into rivers and streams, where it threatens swimmers and boaters, poisons wildlife, and wrecks ecosystems. Send a letter to President Obama and urge him to move ahead with plans for strong protections from toxic wastewater right away! Power plants produce more toxic waste than any other industry in the United States, including the chemical, plastic, and paint manufacturing industries. They spew millions of pounds of pollutants into our waters every year — toxins that are dangerous even in very low concentrations. Your drinking water is safe because we do a great job of filtering and cleaning, but our wildlife and ecosystems aren’t so lucky. The problem’s only getting worse as coal plants get older and dirtier. The EPA estimates that the amount of toxic wastewater from these plants is going to increase 28% over the next 15 years. That means more heavy metals and more toxic sludge in our waters — more contaminated rivers, more unhealthy streams, more poisoned wildlife. Tell President Obama that now is the time — before it’s too late — to give us safeguards against toxic wastewater. Let him know that clean water is too precious to wait another day! Every step we take toward clean air and water helps keep our communities and our environment healthy… and it also takes us one step closer to the clean-energy future where our nation finally realizes that coal’s real cost — in climate destruction, toxic water, and poison air — is simply too high. Thanks for everything you do to protect the environment, Mary Anne Hitt Beyond Coal Campaign Director P.S. Six letters are better than one! After you’ve taken action, please forward a copy of this message to five of your friends and family. Or spread the word on your social networks with the share buttons below.

Sierra club

 

	Help send a clean-air champion to the EPA Send 25,000 messages to the White House by morning! If the last couple years have taught us anything about the nuts and bolts of winning the climate fight, it’s that having the right person at the helm of the EPA can make a world of difference. By nominating Gina McCarthy to be the next EPA administrator, President Obama is showing America that he understands how vital this job is — and that he’s ready to take bold action against climate disruption. Thank President Obama for nominating clean-air champion Gina McCarthy and let him know we need to keep moving forward on climate! As head of the EPA’s clean air division, McCarthy fought hard to get strong safeguards across the finish line, and she was instrumental in placing emissions limits on new power plants and requiring better vehicle fuel efficiency. In his State of the Union address, President Obama pledged to direct his cabinet officials — including the next EPA administrator — to recommend actions he can take to fight climate disruption and move our country away from dirty fossil fuels. More than ever before, the EPA administrator will be a key figure in the climate fight, and McCarthy’s record makes her a perfect fit for the job. Send President Obama a message right now so he knows that we’re behind his choice for bold leadership at this pivotal time. Tell him thanks for nominating a clean-air champion! Under outgoing Administrator Lisa Jackson, the EPA has time and again stood up for our families and our climate when Congress was paralyzed by gridlock. She showed us an EPA that welcomed input from our communities and was willing to take on big polluters to do what’s right. And with McCarthy’s assistance, she set up the EPA to play an even bigger part in the climate fight for the next four years. There’s so much the president and his administration can do to confront the climate crisis. With the right team — and with support and pressure from the climate movement — he can make amazing strides in this fight. So tell the president that we support his nomination of Gina McCarthy — and show him that we’ll keep pushing him forward on climate. Send a message to the White House now! Thanks for everything you do to protect the environment, Mary Anne Hitt Beyond Coal Campaign Director P.S. Six letters are better than one! After you’ve taken action, please forward a copy of this message to five of your friends and family. Or spread the word on your social networks with the share buttons below.

Harry Reid Senate Dems and the Headlines : March 2013

Reid
Statement on Senator Tim Johnson’s Decision not to Seek Re-election

Reid Statement On Gun Violence Bill

Reid Remarks On The Anniversary Of The Affordable Care Act

Reid Remarks: Republicans Blocking Budget Debate

Reid Floor Remarks on the Senate Democratic Budget Resolution

Reid Floor Remarks On The Status Of The Continuing Resolution

Reid Statement on Nomination of Thomas Perez to Head Labor Department

DPCC
Releases National And State-By-State Data Detailing The Gop Budget’s Disastrous
Impact On Seniors – Millions Would Pay More For Rx Drugs, Preventive Care

Reid Floor Remarks On The Ryan Republican Budget Proposal

DPCC Releases National And State-By-State Data Detailing The Gop Budget’s Disastrous Impact On Seniors – Millions Would Pay More For Rx Drugs, Preventive Care

Reid
Remarks To Convene The Senate

Reid
Statement On February Employment Report

Reid
Statement On Senator Carl Levin’s Decision Not To Seek Reelection In 2014

Reid
Floor Remarks On The Talking Filibuster

Reid
Floor Remarks On Violence In Syria, Republican Obstruction Of Brennan
Nomination

Reid Floor Remarks On Republican Obstruction Of Qualified Judicial Nominee Caitlin Halligan

Reid, Mccain, Cowan And King Introduce Legislation To Pardon Boxing Legend Jack Johnson

Reid Files Amicus Brief With Supreme Court To End Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples

Reid Statement On Nomination Of Sylvia Mathews Burwell To Lead OMB

Reid Floor Remarks On Republican Obstruction Of Qualified Nominees

Reid Statement On Nominations To Lead The Department Of Energy And Environmental Protection Agency

Recycling ::: 5 Million Tons

In 2009 it was reported that this was the amount of trash produced by Americans between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.  That is 25 percent more than we generate in a typical five or six-week period during the rest of the year … Consider what the numbers are today

**Reuse packaging material, some UPS stores accept clean peanuts for reuse

**Find eco-friendly places to recycle your Christmas Tree

**Use less envelopes..use ecards or postcards for the Holidays

**Ecyclewashington.org … Washington State and is free for residents & small businesses. They will take 3 items per day…computers, tv, monitors

Do Something to Help Heal our Environment !

Be a Seed for Change

CARE2

 

6 Worst Reactions to the Newtown Massacre The horror of the massacre in Newtown, Conn. is still fresh, and yet already, there are people out making fools of themselves in its wake. read more

Senator Feinstein Promises Action on Gun Control. Can Congress Deliver? Feinstein (D-Calif) announced she would introduce a bill re-instating the federal ban on assault weapons on the first day of the new Congress in January. read more

5 Reasons Raising the Medicare Eligibility Age Would Be A Disaster Medicare has been providing health coverage for older adults and disabled Americans since 1965, and it’s a bit of a triumph of social insurance. The… read more

Success! EPA Finalizes Tougher Air Quality Standards Late last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new air quality standards for fine particulate matter, or soot. This decision… read more

Take Action …

Want to know how your Representatives and Senators voted? Check out the full list at WhoVotesDirty.com. Make a list of the politicians that voted against your right to breathe clean air, and vote them out of office on November 6th.

A big Win! and Thank the EPA

Big Win for Clean Cars

www.ucsusa.org

This is a historic week for U.S. consumers and for the future of our nation’s costly oil use. The Obama administration just finalized fuel economy and global warming emissions standards for cars and light trucks sold in model years 2017-2025, which will roughly double the fuel efficiency of these vehicles.

The standards will save drivers of a new 2025 vehicle nearly $8,000 over its lifetime, compared to driving a typical vehicle on the road today. In addition, the standards will reduce global warming emissions by as much as 270 million metric tons in 2030—the equivalent of shutting down 65 coal-fired power plants for one year.

These standards represent the biggest single step our country can take to reduce oil use, cutting consumption by 1.5 million barrels a day in 2030 and putting us on the path towards halving our projected oil use over the next 20 years.

Much work remains to get to this ambitious goal, and we will no doubt have to protect this hard-fought victory. But today we celebrate, and say thank you.

Thank you for being a part of the UCS community that contacted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and White House more than 75,000 times to support strong clean car standards throughout the last two years. Thank you for supporting and defending these standards at public hearings, in local newspapers, and in your communities. We would not be celebrating this victory without you.

Now we need your help in delivering one last thank you: Tell the EPA and DOT how much you appreciate the finalization of these standards.

Send a Thank You Today!   www.ucsusa.org

Sincerely,

Rachel Cohen
National Field Organizer
UCS Clean Vehicles Program

explore, enjoy and protect the planet …. Sierra Club

 

		EPA: We’ve got your back! Keep fighting for clean air! A U.S. Court of Appeals put the health of 240 million Americans at risk.1 The court sided with the National Mining Association, Big Coal, and the State of Texas to strike down the EPA’s Good Neighbor Safeguard to protect our air from toxic coal pollution. But, we’re nowhere near done yet – the EPA can push on and ask the court to rehear the case. Let’s show the EPA that there are 10,000 Americans rallying behind their efforts to protect our health and urge them to ask for a rehearing on the Good Neighbor Safeguard! Each year, coal-fired power plants spew millions of tons of harmful pollution into our air. This pollution doesn’t stop at state lines, and as a result people throughout the country are forced to breathe unhealthy air. The Good Neighbor Safeguard was established to help states cut the toxic coal pollution crossing state lines. This long overdue protection will prevent as many as 34,000 premature deaths annually, avoid 19,000 hospital and emergency room visits, and improve the lives of millions.2 Everyone deserves clean air and the chance at a healthy future! Tell the EPA we’ve got their back and that we want a rehearing on the Good Neighbor Safeguard. Big polluters have had the EPA in their sights for the last three years. This court decision is the latest in a long line of attacks from Big Polluters on the EPA’s efforts to protect our health. Things have gotten so bad, that in June Big Coal supporters actually threatened the safety of EPA officials at public hearing.3 Tell the EPA to keep fighting. Send a message and let them know we’re behind all their work to clean up our air! Thanks for all you do to protect our environment! Sincerely, Mary Anne Hitt Beyond Coal Campaign Director Sierra Club P.S. After you take action, forward this message or spread the word on Facebook and Twitter by clicking our handy share buttons below: [1] Forden, Sara and Schoenberg, Tom “Obama Curbs on Coal Pollution Rejected by U.S. Court” Bloomberg, August 21, 2012. [2] “Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR)” United States Environmental Protection Agency, August 21, 2012. [3] Anderson, Chris “Miners get vocal at hearing” Appalachian News Express, June 8, 2012. If you do not wish to receive future emails like this, click here to be removed from this type of email contact.