 |
Sun Jul 20 2008 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
Dispatches from the FrontOhio PIRG asks you to help protect the Clean Air Act by Amy Simpson March 20, 2003 Air pollution from power plants alone triggers over 35,000 asthma attacks and causes over 1,900 premature deaths in Ohio each year, threatening both public health and the environment. Incredibly, our clean air protections are under attack by the Bush administration and their allies in Congress. The White House's misnamed Clear Skies initiative allows companies to pollute the air at levels far above current law. Here in Ohio, these changes translate into even dirtier air and increased health risks. Please take a moment to call Representative Sherrod Brown and urge him to oppose the Bush administration's Clear Skies initiative on air pollution. You can call Representative Brown at 202-225-3401, here's a sample message you can leave: "Hi, my name is ______ and I live in _____, Ohio. I think air pollution is a big problem, and I want to ask Representative Brown to oppose Clear Skies, the Bush administration's air pollution plan, and to support enforcing the current law instead of weakening it." Then, let us know you made the call by following the link below and filling out the form there. http://www.pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=428&id4=OHFreep BACKGROUND Thirty years after passage of the Clean Air Act, 141 million Americans are still breathing air that can make them sick. Cars, trucks and industrial facilities all contribute to the nation's air problems, but power plants - especially those that burn coal to create electricity - are to blame for 25 percent of smog and 66 percent of sulfate soot pollution. Ohio's power plants are some of the dirtiest in the country. Our state leads the country in acid-rain causing pollution; is number two for emissions of the global warming gas carbon dioxide; and is number three for mercury and nitrous oxide emissions. Since these plants were planned or built before the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970, they are not required to follow the reduced emissions standards required of modern facilities. The environmental and health impacts of air pollution are stunning. Across Ohio, pollution from coal-fired power plants alone triggers over 35,000 asthma attacks and 1,900 premature deaths every year. In addition to air quality problems, there is a fish consumption advisory out on every single waterway in Ohio because mercury from coal-fired power plants drifts from the air down into our lakes, rivers and streams. Current law requires that power plants clean up. However, at the behest of powerful corporations, the Bush administration and their allies in Congress are preparing to slash these clean air safeguards. The White House's air pollution initiative, called Clear Skies, will be a major roll back of the Clean Air Act if it passes. The misnamed Clear Skies initiative will allow 420 percent more mercury pollution, 125 percent more sulfur dioxide emissions and 68 percent more nitrous oxide emissions than current law allows. The initiative fails entirely to recognize or regulate carbon dioxide, which leads to global warming. With asthma attacks and smog days on the rise and hazardous levels of mercury pollution in every body of water in Ohio, now is clearly not the time to allow higher levels of pollution. We need champions in Congress to move us toward cleaner air. Our government should be protecting public health and the environment by cleaning up power plants. We are asking citizens, public health organizations and elected officials to tell the Congress to oppose this unprecedented weakening of clean air safeguards. Sincerely, Amy Simpson Ohio PIRG State Director AmyS@ohiopirg.org http://www.OhioPIRG.org Email this article to a friend |
"How about a REAL Democracy University? "
Ralph Cole
December 28, 2003
"Job Announcement for those interested in Community Organizing/Justice Work: "
DART
December 19, 2003
"REPORT: Meeting with Governor Bush "
Abraham J. Bonowitz
December 19, 2003
"National Lawyers Guild praises second circuit Padilla v Rumsfeld decision"
National Lawyer's Guild
December 18, 2003
"Input solicitation for Media Conference "
CGC
December 17, 2003
"Al Sharpton in Norwood. CJC pushing recall petition"
Coalitoin for a Just Cincinnati
December 11, 2003
"Scouting for All Asks President Bush To Step Down as The Honorary President Of The Boy Scouts of America"
Steven Cozza
December 7, 2003
"Fitrakis speaks at WBAI alternative 9-11 forum"
Free Press Staff
November 30, 2003
"Stonewall sponsors drive for Project OpenHand"
Kellye Pinkleton
November 30, 2003
"Who will tell the people?"
Free Press Staff
November 30, 2003
"Bush, Bush, you can’t hide. We know you’re with the oligarchs inside!"
Free Press Staff
November 30, 2003
"Local food at local restaurants"
Free Press Staff
November 30, 2003
"Think before you pink!"
Kendra Klein
November 30, 2003
"Kucinich in Columbus"
Free Press Staff
November 30, 2003
"Playboy uncovers Rainbow Farm siege"
Free Press Staff
November 30, 2003
"ADC Applauds DOT's Settlement with United Airlines: United Airlines to Spend $1.5 Million on Civil Rights Training"
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
November 21, 2003
"The strike at Miami University of Ohio"
Bill DeVore
November 19, 2003
"Greater Ohio campaign seeks state project director "
EcoCity Clevland
November 19, 2003
"P.O.E.R. takes a stand"
P.O.E.R.
November 19, 2003
"Ohioans reject policies of Bushy the Job Slayer"
Dan Trevas
November 3, 2003
"Vandenberg Protest to Focus on Alternative Energy "
Peter Cohen
October 5, 2003
"Filipinos reclaim their heritage, history and culture with a weekend of performance and people power"
Riya Ortiz
October 1, 2003
"ADC Mourns Passing of Prof. Edward Said"
ADC
September 25, 2003
"Mourning Edward Said"
Mazin Qumsiyeh
September 25, 2003
"Report from Cuba -- Pastors for Peace in Central Ohio"
Bill Lewis
September 20, 2003
"Abolishing Capital Punishment"
Free Press Staff
September 20, 2003
"Bike Club"
Sarah Clark
September 20, 2003
"Free Press Editor Bob Fitrakis files petitions for Columbus School Board"
Free Press Staff
September 20, 2003
"The United “highway robbery” Way"
Gary Witte
September 20, 2003
""The WTO Kills Farmers:" In Memory of Lee Kyung Hae "
Laura Carlsen
September 14, 2003
"ODMR approves permit to undermine Dysart Woods"
Chad Kister
August 15, 2003
"God's Promise MCC Will Be There at the OHIO Lesbian Festival, Will You?? "
Marj Creech
August 12, 2003
"Stonewall Columbus Seeking Candidates for Board of Trustees"
Don Laufersweiler
August 7, 2003
"Third Hand Bike Co-op"
Free Press Staff
August 1, 2003
"Initiative Petition Drive to Restructure Columbus City Council"
Free Press Staff
August 1, 2003
"Protesting in the Belly of the Beast"
Connie Hammond
August 1, 2003
"Marijuana movement alive and smokin’ in Columbus"
Sarah Clark
August 1, 2003
"Progressives To Take Back America"
Cliff Arnebeck
August 1, 2003
"Green Party candidate nearly defeats endorsed Republican"
Free Press Staff
August 1, 2003
"Good news for abolitionists!"
Free Press Staff
August 1, 2003
"CorpOrNation: The Story of Citizens and Corporations in Ohio"
Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee
July 30, 2003
"AIDS activists disrupt Karl Rove's speech at black tie College Republican soirée"
Act Up
July 27, 2003
"Not In Our Name at Lollapalooza"
Michael Gruber
July 25, 2003
"Kister on talk radio shows throughout the country "
Chad Kister
July 25, 2003
"The Golden Heart Award"
Free Press Staff
July 21, 2003
"Notes on the UFPJ Conference (June 6-8, Chicago)"
Yoshie Furuhashi
July 21, 2003
"Kroger Corporation and the Teamsters"
Columbus Jobs with Justice
May 21, 2003
"American Indian Student Concerns at Ohio State"
American Indian OSU Student
May 12, 2003
"Kids 4 Kucinich Goes to Washington"
Kids 4 Kucinich
May 4, 2003
"Reclaim Mother's Day as a Peace Day!"
People for Peace of Greater Akron
May 4, 2003
"Tradition of War Resistance Continues @ Kent State this weekend"
Patrick, cleveland imc volunteer
May 4, 2003
"Mid-Ohio Chapter of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International Fifth Annual Fundraising Gala"
Mid-Ohio Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
April 4, 2003
"Arrests in DC"
Eric M. LeCompte
March 27, 2003
"Two upcoming events"
Marj Creech
March 27, 2003
"IRAQ: U.S. Bombs Trigger Protests Country-wide"
Akhilesh Upadhyay
March 25, 2003
"Columbus anti-war protest photos"
Larry Fairbanks
March 24, 2003
"Michael Moore press conference"
Free Press Staff
March 24, 2003
""Shock and Awe" - Kucinich Responds"
Kucinich
March 23, 2003
"Civil Disobedience at an American High School"
Lily Scott
March 22, 2003
"Central Ohio area Muslims pray for peace"
Jad Humeidan
March 20, 2003
"Ohio PIRG asks you to help protect the Clean Air Act "
Amy Simpson
March 20, 2003
"Activists demand Congressional investigation of peace worker's killing and U.S. funding of Israeli occupation"
Jews Against the Occupation
March 19, 2003
"War is Coming"
Perry Slone
March 17, 2003
"FBI's upside-down patriotism "
Bob Fitrakis
March 14, 2003
"Dennis seeks to menace the chickenhawks in Washington"
Free Press Staff
March 14, 2003
"In Requiem: John Michael Houser"
Nancy Fuller
March 14, 2003
"Nearly a demo a day in Columbus"
Free Press Staff
March 14, 2003
"Peace and Justice coalition holds first anti-war rally in Coshocton"
Nick Teti
March 14, 2003
"Marietta College mobilizes against pre-emptive war"
Brandon Sims, Co-founder Coalition for Social Change
March 14, 2003
"Letter from Dominican Sisters in Iraq"
Dominican Sisters in Iraq
March 14, 2003
"How Many Americans Said No to War?"
Yvonne Kimmons and Bryan Williams
March 13, 2003
"Israeli occupation forces kill 11 Palestinian civilians in Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip "
MIFTAH
March 6, 2003
"AFL-CIO criticizes Bush's approach in Iraq"
Free Press Staff
February 28, 2003
"Student Launches Kids4Kucinich Campaign"
Gwendolyn Hallsmith
February 20, 2003
"The Ohio State University Undergraduate Student Government Senate Passes Anti-War Resolution"
Dan Ramos, USG Senator and Chris Hempfling, Speaker of the USG Senate
February 19, 2003
"NO WAR: over 600 rally in Columbus, millions around the world"
Free Press Staff
February 16, 2003
"150 People attend the No War on Iraq Rally and March February 8, 2003, at Marietta College"
Brandon Sims
February 8, 2003
"Two gay men will apply for marriage license in Columbus"
Rev. Marj Creech
February 8, 2003
"Senators seek to repeal Iraq War Act"
Kristie Greco
February 5, 2003
"Madison prison demonstration"
Dan Cahill
January 26, 2003
"Alive abandons activist community"
Free Press Staff
January 26, 2003
"Fitrakis for City Council"
Free Press Staff
January 26, 2003
"Adopt-a-Minefield "
Central Ohio Minefield Coalition
January 26, 2003
"Ohio Mosque re-opens after attack by vandals"
CAIR-Ohio
January 26, 2003
"Human Rights Day with the FBI"
Free Press Staff
January 26, 2003
"Al-Awda dedicated to Palestinian human rights"
Al-Awda Ohio
January 26, 2003
" Thirty years of Roe v. Wade "
Free Press Staff
January 26, 2003
"Ohio JwJ coalitions fight for affordable prescription drugs"
Jobs with Justice
January 26, 2003
"Anti-War Protests Grow"
Katherine Stapp
January 20, 2003
"Ryan's Nobel Nomination Completed and Filed"
stopcapitalpunishment.org
January 19, 2003
Read Articles by Year:
2001 2002 2003
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
All content © 1970-2008
The Columbus Free Press
Disclaimer