EcoLink Archive
J U N E 2 0 0 9
Events
Join us at the MGM Grand Hotel in Detroit on Tuesday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 1, 2009, for FoodMed 2009, the Third International Conference on Healthy Food in Healthcare.
Walk-in registrants are welcome!
This conference is designed to help hospitals purchase more local, sustainable food, both to improve patient health, but also to support the development of local, sustainable agriculture and food processing in the state. Presentations will be geared toward healthcare providers, dieticians, food service directors, food procurement and distribution professionals, and others interested in healthy food.
For more information about FoodMed 2009, contact Hillary Bisnett at 734-761-3186 ext. 127.
Take Action
Demand Mayor Bing to End Incineration!
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Mayor Bing was elected using the following slogan:
"What you burn you cannot earn"
Isn't it time he be held accountable?
On June 30, 2009, Detroit could be locked into another contract to BURN its trash.
Demand Mayor Bing take these steps by June 30, 2009:
1) Stop burning trash at the Detroit incinerator.
2) Act on behalf of Detroit residents and not the waste industry.
3) Increase curbside recycling to create more jobs and make Detroit a healthier city.
Tell Mayor Bing, his chief operating officer, and the Detroit City Council to halt delivery of Detroit's trash to the incinerator. Click HERE to send an email to council members, or make a call to the numbers listed below:
Mayor Bing: 313-224-3400
Charles Beckham: 313-224-3400
Council President Kenneth Cockrel, Jr.: 313-224-4505
Joann Watson: 313-224-4535
Sheila Cockrel: 313-224-1337
Barbara-Rose Collins: 313-224-1298
Kwame Kenyatt: 313- 224-1198
Alberta Tinsley-Talabi: 313-224-1645
Martha Reeves: 313-224-4510
Brenda Jones: 313-224-1245
Take Action NOW!
Decades of Environmental Progress Rolled Back?
Protect
Our
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The very foundations of our protections for the Great Lakes and our environmental health are threatened! Take action today!
Michigan was an early mover in protecting our natural resources. As the center of the Great Lakes and the owners of the largest state forest east of the Mississippi, it makes sense that we led innovative conservation and pollution prevention efforts for decades.
But a cloud looms in the midst of Michigan's budget crisis. Shortsighted legislators in Lansing, misled by special interests, are promoting the false and dangerous notion that growing our economy and protecting our environment are at odds. They are trying to dismantle our environmental protection system.
Until recently, the special interest strategy has been "death by a thousand cuts," convincing lawmakers to slash funding for everything from state parks to hazardous waste cleanups, and attempting to remove regulatory authority whenever it was inconvenient for a polluter. Last week, the special interests and their willing counterparts in the Michigan Senate (led by Majority Leader Bishop and all Republican members) went for the kill: the so-called "Regulatory Reform" bills that passed the Senate and are pending in the House would effectively cripple Michigan's environmental protections.
Background
Senate Bills SB 13, 431, 434, 435, 436, 438 and 439 would amend the state's natural resources and environmental protection act to burden the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality with unnecessary paperwork, entrust environmental regulation to private contractors, and make our state subservient to the federal government's laws and rules in most cases. They effectively roll back our state's long history of providing much-needed protection for the Great Lakes, all of Michigan's other natural assets, and — of course — the health of our citizens.
The support of these bills by so-called "conservatives" who have postured about state's rights is particularly perplexing, since these bills make Washington and the federal bureaucracy the de-facto overseers of Michigan's unique resources. Apparently these Senators believe that Congress and the EPA know Michigan better than we do. More likely, the Senators are simply politically grandstanding and racking up their special interest contributions.
As one astute Senator noted, these bills are a "solution in search of a problem". An independent survey by Michigan State University noted that our Department of Environmental Quality does an admirably good job of being fair, consistent and timely, and stakeholders think fairly highly of them. This is surprising since the agency received far more than its fair share of crippling budget cuts while trying to serve in the unpopular yet vital role of "environmental cop".
Of course, the real solution is to adequately fund and implement protection of our health and natural resources, not further hinder the agency's ability to do its job and make it subservient to Washington.
Please take action now to tell the State House, led by Speaker Dillon, to protect our health, Great Lakes and other natural resources by stopping the Senate's environmental attack.
Take Action NOW!
For Our Health, Take Action!
Tell MDEQ & MPSC There are Better Alternatives to Dirty Coal!
Say "Wheeze!" |
There are currently 4 public comment periods open regarding consideration of feasible and prudent alternatives to coal-fired power plants (per Governor Granholm's February 2009 Executive Directive). Even though studies show energy demand in Michigan is declining, Consumers Energy and Wolverine Power Supply want to build new dirty coal plants in our state.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) received proposals from both coal companies this month as the two race to fulfill Michigan's nonexistent need.
We know dirty coal is horrible for our health and better alternatives exist, but decision-makers need to hear from you. Please take action today!
MDEQ’s public comment periods last until mid-August, while MPSC’s end in July. Please send a personalized message to MPSC about Consumers Energy's Filing (Case #U-15996) and Wolverine Power Supply's Filing (Case #U-16000). (We’ll contact you next month about the most effective messaging for MDEQ.)
News
A Great Ride for a Great Cause
Early in the week, it looked like we might be in for another wet EcoRide this
year, but when Sunday rolled around, the weather was perfect for a bike
ride. The breezy sunshine was also ideal for enjoying food from local
restaurants, massages from Ann Arbor Institute of Massage Therapy students,
and music provided by Dorkestra and Po' Boyz in the beautiful Hudson
Mills Metropark.
The EcoRide is
Michigan's biggest bike ride for the environment, and has been around
for almost 40 years. Some of this year's riders and volunteers have been
part of the bike-a-thon since the beginning! We've also brought in a
lot of new supporters, like the fantastic fleet of riders from Wheels
in Motion who provided SAG support for all of our routes! Check out all
of our sponsors (pdf). So far this
year, the EcoRide has
raised nearly $28,000 for the Ecology Center's programs!
We're still going... You can help us meet our goal of $35,000 by continuing
to collect pledges. Every
donation makes a difference! Even if you haven't
set up a fundraising page, it's not too late. You can fundraise (or make
your own donation) online at www.firstgiving.com/ecocenter.
Missed out on the EcoRide?
Get together with friends or go solo for an honor ride (or walk or hike...
we've even had honor kayakers!) to show your support for a healthy environment.
If you want to check out one of the official EcoRide routes,
we'll send you a map once we've received your
honor
ride donation.
It's still anyone's bike... The brand new bike donated by Wheels in Motion
is still up for grabs! Whether you've been fundraising for months, just
set up your page, or are thinking about doing an honor ride, all EcoRide
donations turned in (or made
online) by July 28, 2009 will be counted
to determine the top fundraiser and winner of the bike! Additional prizes
from local businesses will be awarded to our second and third place fundraisers
and the top fundraising team.
We'd love to hear from you. If you have any feedback on the event or
would like to send us a testimonial to use for future event promo, please
email Ken Kozora.
Thanks again for your support!
Learn What's Inside @ HealthyStuff.org
This summer, the Ecology Center product testing team will be taking HealthyCar.org and HealthyToys.org to the next level! On September 1, 2009, we will be launching HealthyStuff.org, with chemical content information about all types of consumer products — toys, new and used cars, car seats, other children's products, and even — drum roll, please — PET PRODUCTS!
Sign up at HealthyStuff.org to be the first to receive the new ratings. You'll also be invited to nominate the next product category we test. Also, please help us spread the word so your family and friends are among the first to know too!
Also, please share this with your family and friends so they are among the first to know, too!
EcoLink — June 2009
An online publication of the Ecology Center
Comments and questions are welcome.
Please send to EcoLink Editor
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117 N. Division St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1580 USA • phone 734·761·3186 • fax 734·663·2414 •