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11.24.2008
Should Poorer Cincinnatians Be Protected from Pollution?
Environmental Justice is about keeping already polluted neighborhoods from having to accept more polluting neighbors – usually industry, not a family of 12 or more. The myth that jobs will be lost and businesses will choose other locations (taking their precious tax dollars with them) is one of several objections used to support placing polluting companies in “overburdened” areas.
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11.18.2008
Mill Creek Project Completed
Earlier this month Ohioans agree to continue the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund project and one of the programs funded by that program just wrapped up here in Cincinnati.
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11.14.2008
Covington Carbon Monoxide
City Ordinances in Covington, KY require every residential rental property in the city to be equipped with “at least one approved carbon monoxide alarm in operating condition within 15 feet of every room that is used for sleeping purposes.”
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11.07.2008
Pesticides, Fertilizer, Old Batteries, Used Motor Oil
This is the kind of junk people
store in the garage, the basement or under sinks because they don’t know what
to do with it. Most often they get dumped into the trash if they’re disposed of
at all. It is possible to safely discard of this kind of hazardous waster, but
it takes a specialist.
The Hamilton County Solid Waste
Management District’s offers free household hazardous waste drop-off sites to
take care of the toxins. A press release says they take
But the drop sites will close for
the year on Nov. 22.
“To participate, residents must show
proof of
For more information about the FREE Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Program, call 513-946-7700 or visit www.hamiltoncountyrecycles.org.
Locations
& Times:
Environmental Enterprises, Inc.
Environmental Enterprises, Inc.
Tuesdays:
Wednesdays:
Saturdays:
The program will re-open on
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11.03.2008
Green is the New Black
Everyone loves the PR of going green—the city wants to personify green, the county is pushing green, businesses tout themselves as environmentally friendly regardless of their minuscule efforts—making going “green” as chic as a little black dress.
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10.20.2008
Make a Difference
Make a Difference Day is a “national day of helping others, a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors,” according to its originator, the national newspaper USA Today.
The annual event takes place every year on the fourth Sunday in October, and this year Public Allies, a program of the Bridges for a Just Community and the McKie Community Center (Northside), will host a “Fall Festival” that includes community service and fun on Oct. 25.
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10.09.2008
Protecting the Great Lakes
The final ratification of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact came Oct. 3 when President Bush signed the joint resolution of Congress. The law is now on the books, even though some in Ohio who support Issue 3 – the constitutional amendment to guarantee property owners the right to reasonable use of their land (see my news article "No One Owns Water") – claim passage is needed to enact the law.
“The compact provides a comprehensive management framework for achieving sustainable water use and resource protection,” according to a pres release from the Council of Great Lakes Governors. “The eight Great Lakes states reached a similar good faith, agreement with Ontario and Québec in 2005, which the provinces are using to amend their existing water programs for greater regional consistency.”
The compact includes the following points:
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Economic development will be fostered through sustainable use and responsible management of basin waters.
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In general, there will be a ban on new diversions of water from the basin but limited exceptions could be allowed in communities near the basin when rigorous standards are met.
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Communities that apply for an exception will have a clear, predictable decision making process, standards to be met and, opportunities to appeal decisions. These processes and standards do not exist under current law.
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The states will use a consistent standard to review proposed uses of basin water. The states will have flexibility regarding their water management programs and how to apply this standard.
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Regional goals and objectives for water conservation and efficiency will be developed, and they will be reviewed every five years. Each state will develop and implement a water conservation and efficiency program that may be voluntary or mandatory.
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There is a strong commitment to continued public involvement in the implementation of the compact.
For more information, visit www.cglg.org.
— Margo Pierce
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10.03.2008
Energetic Friday
Do something other than veg out in front of the boob tube tomorrow night. Join a conversation about a topic on everyone’s mind: energy.
Tonight at 6 p.m. the Imago Earth Center (700 Enright Ave., Price Hill) kicks off its First Friday Conversations with a 20-minute video of Al Gore’s New Thinking on the Climate Crisis. Imago’s 2008-09 season features the year-long theme “Enhancing Earth by Getting ‘Off the Grid.’ ”
“Drawing on a broad understanding of ‘the grid,’ we’ll look at many aspects of unplugging from the current models of growth and consumption,” says an event announcement.
For more info, visit www.imagoearth.org or call 513-921-5124.
— Margo Pierce
