tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33325329434141420102024-03-13T07:58:59.973-07:00African American Environmentalist Association - TexasDedicated to protecting the environment, enhancing human, animal and plant ecologies, promoting the efficient use of natural resources and increasing African American participation in the environmental movement.Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-15581348323139286422012-11-13T05:50:00.002-07:002012-11-13T05:50:15.177-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-54523783955932409332012-03-24T18:23:00.001-07:002012-03-24T18:26:29.677-07:00Texas Close To Accepting Low-Level Nuclear Waste<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ftlGJqdtr_k/T25uHZreXNI/AAAAAAAAMgo/XJ-JCuu3vvw/s1600/TexasNuclearWasteProposedDump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ftlGJqdtr_k/T25uHZreXNI/AAAAAAAAMgo/XJ-JCuu3vvw/s1600/TexasNuclearWasteProposedDump.jpg" /></a></div>
Texas is close to allowing low-level radioactive waste from dozens of states to be trucked in and disposed at a site in West Texas, which would become one of only four in the nation that could take low-level radioactive waste shipped from out of state. Three other sites currently accept low-level radioactive material: Richland, Wash., since 1965; Barnwell, S.C., since 1971; and Clive, Utah, since 1991. <br />
<br />
A state agency with oversight of waste imports adopted rules Friday that help clear the way for the 1,338-acre dump near the New Mexico border, despite concerns expressed by environmentalists that such a facility may be unsafe. Its operator, Waste Control Specialists LLC, still needs final approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, but expects to receive it within several weeks. The company is majority-owned by Texas billionaire Harold Clark Simmons, one of the nation's wealthiest men and a major donor to Republican state and national political candidates.<br />
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Supporters of the project, located in a remote red-clay formation just east of the New Mexico-Texas state line about 31 miles from the town of Andrews, Texas, maintain it is environmentally safe and note that it will generate needed revenue for Texas.<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="U603765744121FBC"></a>Critics contend that water near the disposal site could become contaminated by the waste, which can include radioactive material from nuclear-power plants, research facilities and hospitals. They also say that truckloads of refuse will be traveling through Texas with insufficient oversight, creating a recipe for trouble if they get into accidents.<br />
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Waste Control Specialists estimated that Texas would receive as much as 25% of the revenue from the disposal of imported waste, up to a total of $20 million annually. (<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303812904577299893342178550.html?mod=googlenews_wsj">WSJ</a>, 3/23/2012, photo courtesy WSJ)Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-75212472639446308002012-01-17T15:36:00.002-07:002012-01-17T15:38:53.850-07:00$8.7 Billion in Transmission Projects Planned In Next 5 Years<div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FTrjJJ98Kc8/TxX3uzf_5GI/AAAAAAAAMSU/gHECWnz2jzg/s1600/ElectricityTransmissionTower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FTrjJJ98Kc8/TxX3uzf_5GI/AAAAAAAAMSU/gHECWnz2jzg/s320/ElectricityTransmissionTower.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><h2></h2><div><h3><i>More than $870 million in transmission improvements completed last year</i></h3><br />
Nearly $8.7 billion in transmission improvements are planned in the next five years, according to the annual transmission report from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, (ERCOT), the state grid operator and manager of the wholesale electric market.<br />
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The planned projects are expected to improve or add nearly 7,000 circuit miles of transmission lines and more than 17,000 megavolt amperes (MVA) of autotransformer capacity to the grid, including the <a href="http://www.texascrezprojects.com/">Competitive Renewable Energy Zones</a> (CREZ) transmission additions that are scheduled to be in service by 2013.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.ercot.com/content/news/presentations/2012/2011%20Constraints%20and%20Needs%20Report.pdf">2011 Electric System Constraints and Needs Report</a>, filed Friday with the Public Utility Commission, identifies existing and potential constraints in the transmission systems that pose reliability concerns or may increase costs to the electric power market and Texas consumers. <br />
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Since 2010, ERCOT transmission providers have completed construction and improvements to approximately 966 miles of transmission and more than 5,000 MVA of autotransformer capacity, at an estimated capital cost of $870 million. The largest project completed last year was a 173-circuit-mile 345 kilovolt (kV) line in South Central Texas, the Zorn/Clear Springs – Gilleland Creek – Hutto Switch.<br />
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<b>TRANSMISSION PLANNING PROCESS</b><br />
<br />
As the transmission planning coordinator for the region, ERCOT works with the region’s transmission and distribution providers and other stakeholders to identify the need for new transmission facilities based on engineering analysis of operational results, load forecasting, generation interconnections, and transmission and system studies. As part of the planning process, ERCOT seeks input from all market participants and stakeholders about options and possible solutions through the ERCOT-led <a href="http://www.ercot.com/committees/other/rpg/">Regional Planning Group</a>. Major projects must be also endorsed by the ERCOT Board of Directors.<br />
<br />
<b>TRANSMISSION COSTS </b><br />
<br />
In the ERCOT region, the cost for transmission construction and upgrades is rolled into costs that all ratepayers pay – also known as a “postage-stamp transmission rate” because it is the same access fee regardless of location. Transmission and distribution providers must offer access to their wires to all electric providers on a non-discriminatory basis. The Public Utility Commission regulates <a href="http://www.puc.state.tx.us/industry/electric/rates/TDR.aspx">transmission and distribution providers</a> and approves the rates they are allowed to charge for the delivery of power to retail customers.<br />
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<b>ERCOT TRANSMISSION SNAPSHOT</b><br />
<ul><li>40,530 miles of high-voltage transmission, including: <ul><li>9,249 miles of 345 kV </li>
<li>19,565 miles of 138 kV </li>
<li>11,715 miles of 69 kV</li>
</ul></li>
<li>$8.7 billion under development in five-year plan, including approximately $5 billion to support 18,000 MW of renewable generation </li>
<li>More than 8,500 circuit miles of transmission improvements since 1999 </li>
<li>Approximately $6.6 billion in transmission improvements added since 1999 (<a href="http://www.ercot.com/news/press_releases/show/475">ERCOT</a> Press Release)</li>
</ul></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to 23 million Texas customers -- representing 85 percent of the state's electric load. As the independent system operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects 40,500 miles of transmission lines and more than 550 generation units. ERCOT also performs financial settlement for the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers retail switching for 6.6 million premises in competitive choice areas. ERCOT is a membership-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature. ERCOT's members include consumers, cooperatives, generators, power marketers, retail electric providers, investor-owned electric utilities (transmission and distribution providers), and municipal-owned electric utilities.</span></div>Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-81000493378616776592011-11-11T15:32:00.001-07:002011-11-11T15:33:18.240-07:00$480,000 EPA Grant to N. Central Texas Council of Gov'ts<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>EPA Awards North Central Texas Council of Governments Over $480,000 in Climate Showcase Communities Grant</em></span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bhpFx9VtgE8/Tr2iL8-2CYI/AAAAAAAALzQ/SW61pYApfX4/s1600/NorthCentralTexasCOG.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bhpFx9VtgE8/Tr2iL8-2CYI/AAAAAAAALzQ/SW61pYApfX4/s1600/NorthCentralTexasCOG.gif" /></a></div>The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is receiving $486,767 in Climate Showcase Communities grant funding to establish a Freight Efficiency Outreach Center in North Central Texas. This center will support NCTCOG’s current role as an affiliate of the EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership, which focuses on increasing <br />
efficiency and reducing emissions from the freight sector. <br />
The Climate Showcase Communities Program consists of 50 local and tribal governments <br />
<br />
that received $20 million in EPA grant funding in 2009 and 2010 to pilot innovative, cost-effective and replicable community-based greenhouse gas reduction projects. These projects will help their communities increase energy efficiency and save consumers money with new practices involving waste management, energy production and land use management. <br />
<br />
These Climate Showcase Communities are showing their commitment to combat climate change by contributing matching funds as well as sharing lessons learned to help other communities replicate successful projects. Communities selected for the Climate Showcase funds were required to show their ability to track, measure and show progress toward achieving ongoing greenhouse gas reductions. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NgDrymMB34w/Tr2iYvdOg6I/AAAAAAAALzY/VlNcP-tHVjQ/s1600/EPALogoSmall.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NgDrymMB34w/Tr2iYvdOg6I/AAAAAAAALzY/VlNcP-tHVjQ/s1600/EPALogoSmall.gif" /></a></div>The pilot communities estimate that by 2014 the projects will avoid more than 350,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year. This is equivalent to the annual emissions from almost 70,000 passenger vehicles or the energy used by 30,000 homes and would save nearly $19 million per year in energy costs. The projects will improve public health and quality of life by improving indoor and outdoor air quality, <br />
increasing walkability and reducing household energy bills. <br />
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In North Texas, greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be reduced by about 2,540 metric tons per year, and the freight industry is projected to save 277,102 gallons of diesel fuel per year. <br />
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The Climate Showcase Communities Grant Program is administered by the EPA, providing technical assistance, tools and guidance to help state, local and tribal governments implement policies and programs to mitigate climate change. <br />
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More information of the <a href="http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/local/showcase/">grants and grant recipients</a> <br />
<br />
More about activities in <a href="http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html">EPA Region 6</a> <br />
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<a href="http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/nov2011.html">EPA Audio File</a>Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-57646678889916152052011-10-01T21:58:00.002-07:002011-10-01T22:02:59.446-07:00Happy World Vegetarian Day!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SrD8oUsY3l0/TofweLWs0qI/AAAAAAAAAIw/K5tnjIwMZjc/s1600/GoingGreen.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SrD8oUsY3l0/TofweLWs0qI/AAAAAAAAAIw/K5tnjIwMZjc/s320/GoingGreen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658755858049061538" border="0" /></a>There are a lot of exciting things going on this month. In fact, one of those things includes a daily diary of small, but significant things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, become vegetarian and be nicer to the planet!<br /><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>Stay tuned!<br /><br /><em><strong>Get Active. <em>Go Green</em>!</strong> with delmetria millener, a freelance writer based in Texas. Contact her at <a href="mailto:thawriter@thawriter.biz">thawriter@thawriter.biz</a></em>.<br /><br /><br /></div>thawriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782497562221500857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-35419539237040881222011-09-07T15:17:00.000-07:002011-09-07T15:17:16.366-07:00Greenpeace Needs a Facilities AssistantORGANIZATION: GREENPEACE USA<br />
<br />
POSITION TITLE: FACILITIES ASSISTANT <br />
LOCATION: WASHINGTON, DC <br />
<a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/about/jobs/Facilities-Assistant/">http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/about/jobs/Facilities-Assistant/</a> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UGg7cECfC30/TmftWKz5z9I/AAAAAAAALS0/fKg5L7BXwpM/s1600/Greenpeace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="57px" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UGg7cECfC30/TmftWKz5z9I/AAAAAAAALS0/fKg5L7BXwpM/s320/Greenpeace.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>RESPONSIBILITIES:<br />
<br />
Office Appearance and Functionality:<br />
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• Maintain a clean and productive office environment <br />
• Keep storage area neat with an up to date inventory <br />
• Regular walk through and pickup of common areas including the three kitchens <br />
• Respond to staff facilities requests in a prompt and pleasant manner <br />
• Perform basic maintenance needs <br />
• Assist in facility maintenance including escorting vendors working in the building<br />
• Assist Facilities Manager with internal office moves <br />
<br />
Meeting Preparation:<br />
<br />
• Prepare meeting rooms for all staff-requested meetings, including equipment, food and beverage service<br />
<br />
• Break down meeting rooms following all meetings <br />
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New Employee Duties:<br />
<br />
• Set up work areas for new employees <br />
• Assign phone extension and reset voice mail <br />
• Train new staff on organizational facilities policies including security procedures, phone and voice mail system, and all other office equipment<br />
• Document and maintain phone extension locations <br />
<br />
Mail Room:<br />
<br />
• Responsible for the daily posting of all outgoing mail, including management of the weekly international and domestic inter-office packages<br />
• Distribute all incoming mail, packages and large shipping deliveries daily <br />
• Work with other departments to prepare, produce and send large mailing and copying projects<br />
<br />
Office Supplies and Equipment:<br />
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• Place service calls on copiers and other office equipment <br />
• Order and track usage of office supplies <br />
• Keep all printers and copiers supplied with paper <br />
• Compile monthly printer logs <br />
• Must be able to lift 40 lb <br />
<br />
Other:<br />
<br />
• Book reservations of the organization’s DC apartment for out of town staff <br />
• Respond to Facilities support ticket requests from staff <br />
• Maintain the Facilities team’s Google docs <br />
• Maintain documentation and filing system for the facilities department <br />
• Assist with Facilities’ spreadsheets tracking phone and facilities costs by department<br />
• Prepare invoices for Facilities Manager’s approval <br />
• Other duties as assigned by the Facilities Manager <br />
<br />
QUALIFICATIONS:<br />
<br />
Education:<br />
<br />
• High School Diploma or equivalent <br />
<br />
Skills:<br />
<br />
• Strong organizational skills <br />
• Basic computer skills <br />
• Good attention to detail <br />
• Solid communication skills <br />
• Ability to work well as part of a team and individually <br />
• Good self-starter <br />
• Ability to effectively manage projects and time <br />
• A sense of humor <br />
• Commitment to the mission of Greenpeace <br />
• Customer service oriented <br />
<br />
EXPERIENCE/ACCOMPLISHMENTS:<br />
<br />
• Experience in a mailroom or administrative assistant position <br />
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks<br />
<br />
TO APPLY: <br />
<br />
Please send cover letter, including where you heard of this position, and resume to <a href="mailto:resumes@wdc.greenpeace.org">resumes@wdc.greenpeace.org</a> by September 19, 2011.<br />
<br />
Andrea Cimino, Recruitment Fellow<br />
Greenpeace USA, Washington DC<br />
202-319-2477Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-66863358408518254122011-09-06T05:29:00.009-07:002011-09-06T05:34:48.421-07:00Wildfires Devastate Texas<div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2g4dvCWFRvc/TmYSEYQgF_I/AAAAAAAALSI/sTvxhV9WK04/s1600/Wildfire2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139px" nba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2g4dvCWFRvc/TmYSEYQgF_I/AAAAAAAALSI/sTvxhV9WK04/s200/Wildfire2.jpg" width="200px" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TttRtcK3Mo0/TmYSBayL7_I/AAAAAAAALSE/PiRjTDlWlKw/s1600/Wildfire1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" nba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TttRtcK3Mo0/TmYSBayL7_I/AAAAAAAALSE/PiRjTDlWlKw/s200/Wildfire1.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div>Wildfires burning across Texas destroyed hundreds of homes and killed at least two people. Texas Governor Rick Perry (R), who is running for president, canceled his appearance at a candidate roundtable in South Carolina Monday to return to Austin.<br />
<br />
More than 3.6 million acres in Texas have been scorched by wildfires since November, fed by a continuing drought that has caused more than $5 billion in damage to the state’s agricultural industry. (<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/todays_paper?dt=2011-09-06&bk=A&pg=3">Wash Post</a>, 9/6/2011)Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-66532801049788854682011-04-27T05:43:00.002-07:002011-04-27T05:45:13.691-07:00Entergy Announces Intent to Join MISO<div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Integration Would Create Country's Largest RTO</em></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-veiExWc_IPc/TbgPO_kwHAI/AAAAAAAAK3I/5Jkn_LJz4Y0/s1600/Entergy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="78px" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-veiExWc_IPc/TbgPO_kwHAI/AAAAAAAAK3I/5Jkn_LJz4Y0/s200/Entergy.jpg" width="200px" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YO0Ra_gJxHc/TbgPHW8At7I/AAAAAAAAK3A/yn6o3Ea-3QE/s1600/MISO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YO0Ra_gJxHc/TbgPHW8At7I/AAAAAAAAK3A/yn6o3Ea-3QE/s1600/MISO.jpg" /></a></div>Entergy Corporation announced today its intent to join the MISO (Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator) as a fully integrated transmission owning member. Entergy’s integration, if approved by regulators, would expand the MISO footprint to Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The Entergy region will add about 15,000 miles of transmission lines and 30,000 megawatts of generation capacity to the MISO footprint. The new MISO footprint will extend from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. <br />
<br />
Independent analysis, as well as analysis completed by MISO, show that the Entergy region will benefit from joining MISO. These benefits flow from improved transmission reliability, more efficient use of existing electric system assets and a reduced need for future generation assets. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pt3iOBU9mf8/TbgPKLhPHLI/AAAAAAAAK3E/nk4uc7Hbfak/s1600/MISO1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pt3iOBU9mf8/TbgPKLhPHLI/AAAAAAAAK3E/nk4uc7Hbfak/s1600/MISO1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The combined footprint also will benefit from increased electrical generation diversity. The MISO will feature an improved mix of generation assets, including coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind, biomass and other sources. The addition of Entergy’s generation portfolio will bring more options to the region for the commitment and dispatch of energy.<br />
<br />
The move will need to be approved by elected officials and regulators in each of Entergy’s jurisdictions. The Entergy operating companies are Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C., Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Entergy Mississippi, Inc., Entergy New Orleans, Inc. and Entergy Texas, Inc. The integration has a targeted implementation date of December 2013. (<a href="https://www.midwestiso.org/AboutUs/MediaCenter/PressReleases/Pages/EntergyAnnouncesIntenttoJoinMISO.aspx">MISO Press Release</a>)<br />
<br />
<strong>About MISO</strong> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The </span><a href="http://www.midwestiso.org/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> ensures reliable operation of, and equal access to, interconnected, high-voltage power lines in 13 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Manitoba. The Midwest ISO manages one of the world's largest energy markets, clearing more than $27 billion in energy transactions in 2010. The Midwest ISO was approved as the nation's first regional transmission organization in 2001. The non-profit 501(C)(4) organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors, and is headquartered in Carmel, IN with operations centers in Carmel and St. Paul, MN. Membership in the organization is voluntary.</span><br />
<div></div></div>Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-3005069651620405852011-04-26T16:38:00.002-07:002011-04-26T16:38:09.987-07:00AAEA Texas Launches New Website<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cyIufnO5zN0/TbbyuC597EI/AAAAAAAAK2s/5vbPZ_u8Uro/s1600/DelmetriaMillenerNorrisMcDonald.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="129px" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cyIufnO5zN0/TbbyuC597EI/AAAAAAAAK2s/5vbPZ_u8Uro/s200/DelmetriaMillenerNorrisMcDonald.JPG" width="200px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delmetria Millener & Norris McDonald</td></tr>
</tbody></table>AAEA Texas just launched a <a href="http://www.aaeatexas.org/"><strong>new website</strong></a>. It looks great and is packed with interesting information about our activities in the Lone Star state.<br />
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AAEA Texas Director Delmetria Millener is busy greening Texas.Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-43850007673213621662011-04-22T07:14:00.000-07:002011-04-22T07:14:25.881-07:00AAEA Texas Director Speaks at Black Chemists Conference<div></div><br />
AAEA Texas Office Director Delmetria Millener described the chapter's goals at the 38th Annual Technology Conference sponsored by the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers. Millener gave her presentation on April 19, 2011 at ehe Hilton-Americas Hotel in Houston, Texas.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BxBI_-40yYY" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div>Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-37307032385085069842011-01-28T14:56:00.001-07:002011-01-28T14:56:27.956-07:00EPA Administrator's Latino Texas EJ Tour<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><em>EPA Administrator Jackson and Representatives from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Wrap Up Texas Visit with Focus on Environmental Justice</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><em>Two-day visit highlights EPA efforts to protect human health and facilitate clean energy innovation</em></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nSWYLEsuCeY/TUM57WOIshI/AAAAAAAABV4/s9dUMAmVlsA/s1600/LisaJacksonOnBrown.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567357256100000274" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nSWYLEsuCeY/TUM57WOIshI/AAAAAAAABV4/s9dUMAmVlsA/s200/LisaJacksonOnBrown.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 153px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 150px;" /></a>Today U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and representatives from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus wrapped up a two-day trip to El Paso and San Antonio, Texas. The trip is a part of the administrator’s ongoing effort to highlight the benefits of clean energy innovation for all Americans and draw attention to environmental pollution’s disproportionate health impacts on poor and minority communities.<br />
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Administrator Jackson discussed the agency’s work safeguarding Americans from health threats like toxic air and water pollution and observed clean energy innovation in action. The administrator kicked off the trip on Thursday in El Paso, where she was joined by representatives from Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) member U.S. Representative Silvestre Reyes’ office. (Congressman Reyes was unable to attend after bad weather in Washington, D.C. grounded his flight)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nSWYLEsuCeY/TUM6P18zgdI/AAAAAAAABWA/EJBnPbfH-_A/s1600/Texas.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567357608214626770" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nSWYLEsuCeY/TUM6P18zgdI/AAAAAAAABWA/EJBnPbfH-_A/s200/Texas.gif" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 190px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></a>The administrator started the visit with an on-site briefing on the cleanup of the former ASARCO smelting plant. After that she met with local leaders to talk specifically about water quality and access concerns. The administrator also hosted a forum on environmental justice issues at El Paso Community College on Thursday where she listened to and spoke with citizens about their environmental concerns and addressed the health and economic benefits of clean air and water for communities. Administrator Jackson also visited the El Paso Water Utilities Desalination Plant and Tech H2O Center, which is expanding El Paso’s access to clean water and creating jobs in the region. Today, the administrator was joined by CHC chair U.S.<br />
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Representative Charles Gonzalez in San Antonio for meetings with local community members, business leaders and students. She and Gonzalez toured St. Philips College, where they got a first-hand look at the college’s green jobs training program and sustainable power infrastructure efforts. Later, Administrator Jackson hosted a round table discussion on environmental justice issues with community members. She finished the Texas tour at St. Mary’s University where she hosted a student forum and answered questions about winning the future through investment in green job innovation and other major environmental issues.<br />
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Over the past several months, Administrator Jackson has visited a number of impacted communities across the country and met with local leaders and community members to discuss EPA’s work to address these environmental concerns. <a href="http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice">More information</a> about EPA’s environmental justice efforts. (EPA)Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-67009536014035665732011-01-05T16:30:00.002-07:002011-01-05T16:30:49.808-07:00Court Blocks EPA From Controlling Texas GHG RegulationsThe U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has blocked until Friday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) plan to seize control of greenhouse gas permits from Texas.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TST-qrJD9tI/AAAAAAAAKbU/AG2OfGlw34U/s1600/Texas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TST-qrJD9tI/AAAAAAAAKbU/AG2OfGlw34U/s200/Texas1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TST-l-I06-I/AAAAAAAAKbQ/qOAjxV9Xjr4/s1600/EPALogoSmall.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TST-l-I06-I/AAAAAAAAKbQ/qOAjxV9Xjr4/s1600/EPALogoSmall.gif" /></a></div>The first federal rules on emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases took effect Sunday. Texas is the only state to refuse to implement the new rules — a position that prompted the EPA's intervention. In its petition, the state accuses the EPA of abusing its powers by taking control of the permitting program without proper notice. The agency, in response, criticized Texas officials for filing suit instead of working with it to protect public health.<br />
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The federal rules require new controls for reducing emissions from power plants, oil refineries and other large industrial facilities. Such rules would have a profound impact on Texas, which pumps more carbon dioxide into the air than any other state. The EPA has said that 167 facilities in Texas would be subject to the new permitting requirements. (<a href="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7365185.html">Chron</a>, 1/4/2010)Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-43992313982854180052011-01-05T09:30:00.000-07:002011-01-05T09:30:27.851-07:00Texas To Import Low-Level Nuclear Waste From 36 StatesThe Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission, which manages the state's radioactive-waste dump, voted 5-2 to approve rules governing the process for accepting importation of low-level radioactive-waste from 36 other states. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TSScGZ7h6HI/AAAAAAAAKbE/NV-Foh4P2yI/s1600/WasteControlSpecialistsLLC1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TSScGZ7h6HI/AAAAAAAAKbE/NV-Foh4P2yI/s200/WasteControlSpecialistsLLC1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TSScAFMH3NI/AAAAAAAAKbA/3mjNERqFPrI/s1600/WasteControlSpecialistsLLC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TSScAFMH3NI/AAAAAAAAKbA/3mjNERqFPrI/s200/WasteControlSpecialistsLLC.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The waste will be stored at the 1,338-acre site in concrete-reinforced underground units. The site will permanently store low-level radioactive waste—contaminated materials and equipment from nuclear plants, research laboratories and hospitals. The material includes everything from parts from dismantled nuclear-energy plants to booties worn by scientists working in labs where radioactive materials are present. More highly contaminated waste, such as spent fuel from power plants, wouldn't be stored at the site. Waste Control Specialists LLC is the site owner. In the Oct. 14, 2009 photo at left, canisters filled with uranium byproduct waste are placed into a burial pit at at Waste Control Specialists near Andrews, Texas. The 1,340-acre site is the nation’s only dump licensed to take all three categories of low-level waste, which come from nuclear power plants, hospitals, universities and research labs, but not nuclear fuel or weapons material. (AP)<br />
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States are responsible for handling low-level radioactive waste produced within their own borders, but space for it is limited. And the three disposal sites for it in the U.S. don't take all kinds of materials within the low-level category or can only take waste from certain states. That leaves 36 states without a permanent storage place.<br />
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Controversy had surrounded the proposal in part because the dump, set to open by year's end, was conceived and built to take waste from only two states—Texas and Vermont. Opponents also note that the site is near the Ogallala aquifer that provides drinking water to several states. Texas regulators already deemed the site safe, and thus granted a license for the project. The state will receive a cut of disposal fees as well as a $136 million fund to help pay for any future liabilities, he added. <br />
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The commissioners agreed to reserve 20% of the space for Vermont. (<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703808704576062162594317064.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1">WSJ</a>, 1/5/2010)Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-69845607521313479682011-01-03T18:42:00.000-07:002011-01-03T18:42:58.173-07:00Court Gives Texas Temporary Greenhouse Gas ReprieveThe US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit temporarily blocked EPA's plan to strip the state of GHG permitting authority. The court agreed to an emergency request by Texas officials to stay "pending further order of the court" EPA's plan to take over GHG permitting responsibility from the TCEQ. <br />
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According to the judges:<br />
<blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TSJ650f8UuI/AAAAAAAAKaE/4EJuanHM3BI/s1600/CO2Yellow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TSJ650f8UuI/AAAAAAAAKaE/4EJuanHM3BI/s200/CO2Yellow.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>"The purpose of this administrative stay is to give the court sufficient opportunity to consider the merits of the emergency motion for a stay and should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits of that motion,"</blockquote>They directed EPA to respond to Texas' request by Thursday and for Texas officials to file any reply to that response one day later. Just before Christmas, as it announced new GHG rules, EPA also said it planned to assume responsibility for Texas' greenhouse gas-related permitting January 2. Texas AG Greg Abbott and Gov. Rick Perry have been on an anti-EPA rampage lately, filed several lawsuits to block EPA action against Texas. The recent stay came a day after a New Orleans-based federal appeal court rejected Texas's request to stall the agency's plans. (<a href="mailto:Frank.Maisano@bgllp.com">Frank Maisano</a>)Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-27708307385733170652010-12-27T16:37:00.001-07:002010-12-27T16:38:16.055-07:00More on EPA Versus Texas on Climate Change Reg Fight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TRkiqUlhQhI/AAAAAAAAKYw/c9lohJqCeeU/s1600/EPALogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TRkiqUlhQhI/AAAAAAAAKYw/c9lohJqCeeU/s200/EPALogo.png" width="183" /></a></div>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking control of carbon-emission rules in Texas after Governor Rick Perry rejected new federal regulations intended to combat climate change. The EPA will decide directly on greenhouse-gas permits for companies seeking to build or upgrade power plants and oil refineries in Texas. The EPA’s nationwide carbon rules, imposed under the Clean Air Act, take effect January 2, 2011. Texas is the only state that has refused to implement the new rules. <br />
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AAEA supports EPA's regulation of greenhouse gases. We believe the rules can lead to increased job creation via innovative methods and technologies. These standards will help American companies attract private investment to the clean energy upgrades that make our companies more competitive and create good jobs here at home. <br />
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Texas critics believe the rules are unnecessarily burdensome mandates on the state’s energy sector and threatens hundreds of thousands of Texas jobs. Business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Republicans and some Democrats in Congress are pushing to halt the EPA’s authority over greenhouse gases.<br />
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The EPA’s rules are set to start 13 months after the agency declared carbon-dioxide emissions a danger to public health and welfare. The EPA’s “endangerment finding” followed a Supreme Court ruling in 2007 that the agency has the authority to regulate carbon emissions under the Clean Air Act.<br />
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According to EPA, most states are prepared to grant the permits starting Jan. 2. Seven have agreed to have the agency issue permits while they revise their programs to accommodate the new rules.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TRkjFeyG4YI/AAAAAAAAKY0/tR2dNd_ivj4/s1600/Texas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TRkjFeyG4YI/AAAAAAAAKY0/tR2dNd_ivj4/s320/Texas1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>According to Texas EPA, Texas emits about 11 percent of U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions, more than any other state. If Texas were a country it would be the world’s eighth-largest polluter. According to the San Francisco-based Sierra Club, Texas is home to about a fourth of U.S. oil refining capacity and has more coal-fired electrical capacity than any state in the U.S.<br />
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The EPA remains in talks with Texas and views federal control of greenhouse-gas permits in the state as a temporary arrangement.<br />
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The EPA will propose new standards for utilities by July and for oil refineries by December. Those rules will be made final for power plants by May 2012 and for refineries by November 2012, she said.<br />
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The EPA officials said today it’s too early to know what the new rules, known as “new source performance standards” for pollutants under the Clean Air Act, will entail. (<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-12-27/epa-texas-feud-escalates-over-new-carbon-regulations.html">Bloomberg Business Week</a>, 12/27/2010)Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-87478819682393080832010-12-07T18:45:00.000-07:002010-12-07T18:46:21.372-07:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pynklMA_Fkw/TP7Z2zzt8-I/AAAAAAAAAHE/NxmPbAj8OO0/s1600/GoingGreen.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548111326610322402" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pynklMA_Fkw/TP7Z2zzt8-I/AAAAAAAAAHE/NxmPbAj8OO0/s400/GoingGreen.jpg" /></a>Texas is making improvements toward sustainability all over the state in education, energy and the environment. Are you doing your part? <strong>Get Active. <em>Go Green</em>!</strong><br /><br /><strong><u>Education</u></strong><br /><br />Beginning in January, 2011, the University of Texas at Arlington will offer a Master of Science in Sustainability program in its downtown Dallas location. The one year, 36-hour program, targeted to attorneys, architects, government employees and educators, will focus on the green building (LEED) project, the Energy Star program and high-density development. <a href="http://www.uta.edu/ucomm/mediarelations/press/2010/11/sustainability-masters.php">Full story at UTA</a>.<br /><br /><strong><u>Environmental</u></strong><br /><br />Through a partnership between the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the University of North Texas in Arlington, four air quality monitors will be installed in North Texas to check for pollution from gas drilling. <a href="http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/air/sip/texas-sip">Full story at TCEQ</a>.<br /><br /><strong><u>Energy</u></strong><br /><br />According to a recent report by the Dallas Morning News, electricity prices across Texas are finally below the national average. Now, you can shop for less expensive energy! <a href="http://www.powertochoose.org/">Full story at Power to Choose</a>.<br /><br /><em><strong>Get Active. <em>Go Green</em>!</strong> with delmetria millener, a freelance writer based in Texas. Contact her at <a href="mailto:thawriter@thawriter.biz">thawriter@thawriter.biz</a></em>.thawriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782497562221500857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-59271605106204653742010-11-23T13:55:00.004-07:002010-11-23T14:10:10.583-07:00Heal Holiday Depression Naturally<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pynklMA_Fkw/TOwtl6vTchI/AAAAAAAAAG0/Flr9EwK056k/s1600/depression.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 135px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542855370832310802" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pynklMA_Fkw/TOwtl6vTchI/AAAAAAAAAG0/Flr9EwK056k/s400/depression.jpg" /></a> The holiday season is a time of love and happiness, joy and peace—a joining of family and friends, eating, celebration and sharing. However, for some people it can also be a time of depression and desolation. People who suffer from what experts refer to as "holiday depression" battle during the holidays with financial burdens, loneliness, unrealistic expectations, stress, fatigue, nostalgia, anxiety and other psychological factors.<br /><br />But there are cures—natural cures—that not only help heal holiday depression, but prevent the disorder from returning each year. These natural remedies can also be used throughout the year anytime stress, anxiety or depression becomes an issue. These remedies are easy to pull off and do not require much preparation or activity.<br /><br />To start, make sure you are eating an abundance of colorful, fresh fruits and vegetables and drinking lemon and water. The sour flavor helps activate the liver which promotes natural healing. Be sure to include green, leafy vegetables like as a nice, big salad with olive oil dressing and drink plenty of water. A spinach salad with walnuts sounds great right about now!<br /><br />Getting through holiday depression doesn’t stop with what you eat. How you dress, your activities and thought process can also play a part in your high or low mood. To that end, wear bright colors when the weather’s gloomy, volunteer and ease into the holidays with thoughts of helping and hearing other people’s stories—good or bad—because it will allow you to see how valuable your contributions are and that your situation is not always as bad as you think.<br /><br />During the holidays, depending on your geography, the weather is cool and breezy. So, whenever you can, get outside and take a walk or run. Breathe deeply so the fresh air can generate more oxygen to clear your head.<br /><br />One thing we all need to do is minimize expectations of family and friends, to avoid unnecessary stress and intensity. Realize that the season is not about what fits your family’s or friends’ image of you and how you’re living. Trying too hard to please or convince your family and friends that you “fit” in some category or image that they have of you can rapidly spiral you into depression<br /><br />The holidays are the perfect season to catch up on your rest. Getting enough sleep is critical to ending holiday depression because when you’re awake many hours, the liver cannot regenerate like it’s designed to do during late hours.<br /><br />By all means, avoid consuming too much sugar, refined carbohydrates and empty calorie snacks. Instead, snack on raw vegetables or eat healthy foods you have at home before going to a party so you won’t feel obligated to pile up on energy zapping foods.<br /><br />Finally, herbs are also a natural way to heal depression. St. John’s Wart and lemon balm are just two of the hundreds of natural, already prepared products that will help restore your energy. A visit to your local, natural food store can help you find out what’s available.<br /><br /><strong>Other Tips:</strong><br /><ul><br /><li>Take a warm shower with a cold rinse</li><br /><li>Get lots of natural light</li><br /><li>Laugh a lot to produce hormones that lift your mood</li><br /><li>Exercise</li><br /><li>Plan for next year (home projects, business projects, etc.)</li><br /><li>Write out at least 10 things you plan to accomplish and share with family and friends</li><br /><li>Practice postive self-talk</li></ul><br /><p><em><strong>Get Active. Go Green! </strong></em><em>with delmetria millener, a freelance writer based in Texas. Contact her at </em><a href="mailto:thawriter@thawriter.biz"><em>thawriter@thawriter.biz</em></a>.</p>thawriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782497562221500857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-12318050493974665532010-11-20T09:56:00.001-07:002010-11-20T09:56:32.667-07:00African American Environmental Association: 25th Anniversary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TOfuknIPhuI/AAAAAAAAKPY/wdpi1cJCvvk/s1600/EJ2010+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TOfuknIPhuI/AAAAAAAAKPY/wdpi1cJCvvk/s1600/EJ2010+047.JPG" /></a></div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>PRESIDENT'S CORNER</strong></span><br />
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<strong>By Norris McDonald</strong><br />
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Today is our 25th anniversary. We was incorporated on November 20, 1985. The African American Environmentalist Association (AAEA) is the outreach arm of the Center for Environment, Commerce & Energy (<a href="http://cenvironment.blogspot.com/">Center</a>).<br />
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You can see a listing of many of our activities during that time at our <a href="http://aaenvironment.multiply.com/"><strong>original website</strong></a>, which we converted to Multiply when the original Msn Groups platform ended). There is more activity information at our <a href="http://www.aaenvironment.com/History.htm"><strong>History</strong></a> page. My career has been very satisfying. From my beginning in the Fall of 1979 at the Environmental Policy Center (now Friends of the Earth) until today, the adventure has been incredible. I started out in the Washington, D.C.-based environmental movement. Jimmy Carter was president and was just finishing a rough 4-year run. I shook his hand at the Democratic National Convention in New York in 1980 not knowing that Washington was about to get a completely new makeover. The Reagan era was interesting and quite the challenge for the environmental movement. I still remember his 'no standard standard' for appliance efficiency standards. I also remember the Air Florida crash and the Metro subway accident on the day that I was walking back from the U.S. Department of Energy after testifying on appliance standards.<br />
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Well, without sounding like the old guy in the room sharing old war time stories that nobody really wants to hear, the situation today is as exciting as ever. We are embarking on trying to build biomass power plants in <a href="http://cenvironment.blogspot.com/2010/10/2nd-center-scoping-visit-for-biomass.html">Mississippi</a>, <a href="http://cenvironment.blogspot.com/2010/11/catalina-island-energy-water-project.html">California</a> and in <a href="http://aaeakenya.blogspot.com/2010/11/woodchip-to-methane-to-electricity.html">Kenya</a>. The adventure continues and I am having more fun than ever. Our team is lean and mean and green. <br />
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I have kept the AAEA small on purpose and will continue to do so. I almost died from respiratory failure in 1991 and 1996 (intubated for 4 days in ICU each time). After getting divorced and full custody of my son when he was 2 years old, I decided that I wanted to stick around to see my son grow up. But I also wanted to continue with my entrepreneurial environmentalism. So keeping it small worked. Although I still struggle with a chronic acute asthma that could kill me any day, my son is now 18 and I am still 'doing my green thing.' Life is good. Hey, and we just opened a new <a href="http://hollycenterwood.blogspot.com/"><strong>Center Hollywood</strong></a> blog this week (Also see <a href="http://aaea-la.blogspot.com/">AAEA Hollywood</a>). Oh, and if you're feeling generous, feel free to click on our <a href="https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=CczNsT5XtxWUKLvixCLUA2oA8deKR9eQFa7G_DheiK1qLpfbDkbhSCUwB-4&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d9384d85353843a619606282818e091d0">Donation</a> button on our sites.Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-72821066489593604882010-10-11T14:05:00.003-07:002010-10-11T14:07:06.178-07:00Texas v. Lisa P. Jackson Over Carbon Dioxide Regulations<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TLN8D6Mre7I/AAAAAAAAKEg/TXjeGb2BssA/s1600/CO2Yellow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="176" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TLN8D6Mre7I/AAAAAAAAKEg/TXjeGb2BssA/s200/CO2Yellow.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Texas is resisting the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to regulate carbon under the clean air laws of the 1970s. EPA is also threatening to punish Texas and other states that do not comply with the CO2 reduction program with a de facto moratorium on any major energy or construction projects. Under the Clear Air Act, the EPA's national office chooses priorities, but state regulators run the programs and issue the necessary permits. When orders from HQ change, as with carbon over the last year, states get three years to revise their "implementation plans." But in August, EPA decided that the law posed too long a wait and decreed that if these plans aren't updated by an arbitrary January 2011 deadline, that EPA will override the states and run the carbon permitting process itself. <br />
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Texas believes this coercion is illegal and that EPA cannot usurp the law's statutory language about the federalist balance of power between Washington and the states. Texas filed an unusual lawsuit last week with the D.C. appeals circuit calling it an "ultra vires" act—literally, "beyond the powers"—and requesting an emergency stay of the EPA's regulations because of the imminence of irreparable harm.<br />
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No major construction project in America can go forward without EPA air quality and pollution permits. Texas believes that EPA's decision to strip permitting authority from the states is equivalent to a ban on major construction or building expansion—not merely Texan refineries but any kind of carbon-heavy utility, industrial production, manufacturing plant or even large office buildings. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the state EPA branch, estimates that 167 current state projects would have to be junked in 2011, more after the first year. (<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704696304575538834180153298.html#articleTabs%3Darticle">WSJ</a>, 10/10/2010)</div>Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-62846462257302276382010-08-09T09:26:00.001-07:002010-08-10T15:57:29.072-07:00Remembering Environmental Justice Legend Dana Alston<p><br />Dana Alston was 47 years old when she died 11 years ago on August 7, 1999.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TGAozi1p9wI/AAAAAAAAJk4/FY5pb8nLiB4/s1600/DanaAlston.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 110px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 156px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503443610637039362" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TGAozi1p9wI/AAAAAAAAJk4/FY5pb8nLiB4/s400/DanaAlston.jpg" /></a>Dana Alston, left, was a leader of the original environmental justice movement that started in the 1980's. She was one of the organizers of the first National Environmental Justice Leadership Summit in 1992. She participated in the meetings to convince the U.S. EPA to open an Office of Environmental Justice. She was a committed environmental justice activist and the movement clearly benefited from her leadership. We remember you Dana. And we will never forget you.<br /><br />Dana Alston received a Bannerman Fellowship in 1992 in recognition of her leadership in the development of the environmental justice movement. The Bannerman Fellowship Program was founded in 1987 on the belief that the most effective approach to achieving progressive social change is by organizing low-income people at the grassroots level. In 2002, the Fellowship Program was renamed the Alston/Bannerman Fellowship Program in honor of Dana Alston.<br /><br />Dana died on August 7, 1999 at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. Dana was a native of New York and lived in Washington, D.C. She was in San Francisco for treatment of kidney disease and consequences of a stroke when she died.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TGApcxH-53I/AAAAAAAAJlI/M1pGJNNsKBU/s1600/KhalilAlstonCobb.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 184px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503444318846642034" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TGApcxH-53I/AAAAAAAAJlI/M1pGJNNsKBU/s200/KhalilAlstonCobb.jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TGApJTlRYfI/AAAAAAAAJlA/6DhAXHSwkng/s1600/KhalilAlstonCobb1.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503443984498909682" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TGApJTlRYfI/AAAAAAAAJlA/6DhAXHSwkng/s200/KhalilAlstonCobb1.bmp" /></a>Her son, Khalil Alston-Cobb, now 17, resides in Clinton, Maryland. He is (or was at 16) a skateboard enthusiast (<a href="http://www.hookit.com/search/contentviewergallery.aspx?eid=ab62ccd1-808d-4da5-8ac6-daa475ff6d51&rt=2&rcid=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000">see videos</a>). Here is how Khalil describes himself on his <a href="http://www.myspace.com/kc-sk8r">MySpace</a> page:<br /><br /><blockquote>"I like Skateboarding, Playing videogames, listening to music, talking to Gurls, surfing the Web, and Chillin wit the Homies."</blockquote>Khalil is also on <a href="http://twitter.com/sk8rjabril">Twitter</a>. He has a great skateboarding video on <a href="http://monsterarmy.hookit.com/members/kcsk8s/videos/?resourceId=3db0b0f2-ec85-437a-9052-6c7d5a20210e">MonsterArmy.com</a>. He is listed on <a href="http://struggleskateboards.ning.com/profiles/profile/apps?screenName=3a8ul5ydld3mr">Children of the Struggle</a>. Dana would be very proud of her teenage son. All who knew her are not surprised that Khalil is an energetic and productive young man.Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-91822922935987800272010-06-30T15:58:00.003-07:002010-06-30T16:03:34.503-07:00EPA Disapproves Texas Flexible Air Permit Program<p><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TCvM8X4137I/AAAAAAAAJOo/VY6dt3JSEa0/s1600/EPALogoSmall.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 184px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 161px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488705908457725874" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TCvM8X4137I/AAAAAAAAJOo/VY6dt3JSEa0/s200/EPALogoSmall.gif" /></a>Today, EPA announced final disapproval of the flexible permit program that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) had submitted for inclusion in its clean-air implementation plan. EPA has determined that this program does not meet several national Clean Air Act requirements that help to assure the protection of health and the environment. EPA is disapproving the permit program after determining that it allows companies to avoid certain federal clean air requirements by lumping emissions from multiple units under a single “cap” rather than setting specific emission limits for individual pollution sources at their plants.<br /><br />The Clean Air Act ensures that businesses across the country operate efficiently and cleanly to safeguard public health from harmful levels of air pollution. Under the Act, all states must develop State Implementation Plans for meeting federal requirements to protect public health. Those plans must include an air permitting program to set pollution levels for industrial facilities.<br /><br />In 1992, EPA approved Texas’ State Implementation Plan but since 1994 the state has submitted over 30 regulatory changes to the air pollution permitting part of the plan. Today’s action represents a final EPA decision to disallow one of the most important changes made by Texas for failing to meet the protective measures of the Clean Air Act.<br /><br />In September 2009, EPA proposed to disapprove the state's flexible permits program and invited public comment. EPA has carefully reviewed comments and decided to finalize its proposed disapproval of the program. To insure no disruptions for facilities, EPA has reached out to industry, the environmental community and TCEQ to discuss how to convert flexible permits into more detailed permits that comply with the Clean Air Act. One tool proposed by EPA is encouraging flexible permit holders to participate in a voluntary compliance audit program. The program will expedite efforts to identify emission limits, operating requirements and monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping data. Public comment on the proposed audit program closes on July 2, 2010.<br /><br />On June 16, 2010, the TCEQ approved proposed revisions to the state’s flexible permit rules. The public comment period on the rules package opens on July 2, 2010 and runs through August 2, 2010. The state must then finalize its proposal and submit it to EPA for review. EPA will examine the new rules when submitted but believes that public health and federal law require disapproval of the existing program without further delay.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.epa.gov/region6">More</a> about activities in EPA Region 6</p>Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-63822689266617011972010-04-25T18:06:00.003-07:002010-06-30T16:04:16.565-07:00America the Beautiful? Not So Much!<p><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pynklMA_Fkw/S9ToOkowWmI/AAAAAAAAAFI/9oKJbROPz-w/s1600/pollution.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 281px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 168px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464247584957684322" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pynklMA_Fkw/S9ToOkowWmI/AAAAAAAAAFI/9oKJbROPz-w/s400/pollution.jpg" /></a> <strong>Erykah Badu.</strong> In her "Window Seat" video, the neo-Queen stripped naked as she walked along the JFK assassination site in downtown Dallas. According to Badu, she was speaking out against "groupthink," or conforming. The singer further noted on Twitter, "the butt naked truth is powerful America!"<br /><br /><strong>People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, PETA.</strong> When <em>Golden Girls</em> star, Bea Arthur, died a year ago on April 25, she left money to the animal rights organization in her will. To mark the one-year anniversary of her death, PETA published an ad that features the "Golden Girl" attacking the "Golden Arches," <em>McDonald's</em>, for their refusal to stop their chicken-slaughtering practices.<br /><br />On Earth Day, April 22, on a full-page in the <em>Chicago Tribune</em>, the ad read, "McCruelty: It's enough to make Bea Arthur roll over in her grave." Arthur was a firm supporter of PETA and animal rights activist.<br /><br /><strong>Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.</strong> In a reality-show format, world-renowned chef and best-selling author, Jamie Oliver, attempts to keep Americans alive by improving our eating habits. By teaching America how to cook and prepare healthier foods, Jamie is on a mission to keep (especially) our youth from dying too soon of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and other diseases related to unhealthy eating habits.<br /><br />Last week, I visited a park with a pond that was riddled with pollution. That's the picture that I have shown. Driving down the street, the expressways are bumper-to-bumper with only one person in each car, all going the same way. Animals are being cloned and treated cruelly, foods are being genetically modified and salt and sugar is abundant in everything because Americans are spoiled, greedy, overindulgent brats.<br /><br />As I look around at all the unneccesary pollution, poison and savagery, I wonder, <em>how can anyone with a clear conscious treat where they live like we do and not feel "funny" about it?</em><br /><br />Seeing such blatant disrespect for Mother Earth gets under my skin like almost nothing else. Like the others, in my capacity as the Texas director of the African American Environmentalist Association, I'm taking on an environmental cause with a fierce vengence.<br /><br />As a writer, it is my job, my duty and my responsibility to report news and information. I'm obligated to tell the facts and not make shit up. Therefore, in honor of Mother Earth's 40th year, <em>I. will. take. my. pen, and. I. will. write.</em><br /><br />I will tell the truth, no matter how harsh. I will reveal the truth no matter how insensitive it may sound. I will appeal to my colleagues and other writers to help me with my mission, and I will cause change. This is my cause. I am an advocate.<br /><br />Finally, I loved and "got" Erykah's video; I applaud PETA and Bea in life and death and I strongly support Jamie. But for those of you that turned your nose up in disgust at Erykah, rolled negativity off your tongues at PETA or dismissed Jamie as rubbish, *eff u!*<br /><br />I challenge you to discover something that you're the <em>utmost</em> passionate about; something so meaningful that it keeps you up at night thinking of ways to change it, challenge it, revise it or amend it, and tell me what extremes would <em>you</em> be willing to go, to resolve it.<br /><br /><strong>Revolution. Start yours because I'm starting mine—<em>Get Active. Go Green!</em></strong><br /></p>thawriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782497562221500857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-30963684672187392862010-03-31T23:06:00.008-07:002010-06-30T16:04:44.015-07:00Make Earth Day Last All Year Long! Get Active. Go Green!<p><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pynklMA_Fkw/S7RFDOjctfI/AAAAAAAAAE4/hL1LPTGA9tk/s1600/earth+month.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 115px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455060970401215986" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pynklMA_Fkw/S7RFDOjctfI/AAAAAAAAAE4/hL1LPTGA9tk/s400/earth+month.jpg" /></a> <strong>As part of our environmental responsibility, by recycling, reusing, reducing and educating, we are protecting and restoring the Earth’s resources. Do your part to help make Earth Day last all year long!<br /><br />To enter my "Green Week" contest, meet me each week to donate as many used books and magazines that you can find around your home or office to recycle!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Attach your name, contact information and the week's Green Blog topic to your donation. The person that donates the most will win their choice of a FREE writing coaching session, FREE editing or a FREE writing project!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Meet me in Dallas each Wednesday at TBAAL (The Black Academy of Arts & Letters), located on the corner of Akard and Canton between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Or, meet me in McKinney each Thursday at the Starbucks on the corner of Custer and Eldorado between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. </strong><em>(Disclaimer: TBAAL and Starbucks are not affiliated with this contest.)</em><br /><br />April 1st marks the beginning of Earth Month. Like last year, I'm reminding you that April is <em>Earth Month</em>, and April 22nd is <em>Earth Day</em>! I hope that you spent the entire year making small lifestyle changes that will make a huge, positive impact on Planet Earth.<br /><br />This year marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. For the past 365 days, you've been taking action to save the Planet. To celebrate, make of list of exactly what you did to clean up the Earth.<br />Are you embarrassed by your lack of effort? Are you proud of the small, but significant effort you put forth? Did your small deeds turn to big deeds until eventually they became part of your lifestyle? Who else did you try to educate? Are you eager to do more?<br /><br />Whatever you did, there are so many more ways to help save our planet. As a booster, I've made a list to get you started or keep you advocating:<br /><br /><strong>Get Involved. Go Green! </strong><br /><br />www.earthday.org/arts<br /><br /><a href="http://www.earthday.net/">http://www.earthday.net/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.earthdaytexoma.org/">http://www.earthdaytexoma.org/</a><br /><br /><strong>Get Educated. Go Green! </strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.earthday.wilderness.org/">http://www.earthday.wilderness.org/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.earth911.com/">http://www.earth911.com/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.dallascityhall.com/sanitation/recycling.html">www.dallascityhall.com/sanitation/recycling.html</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.epa.gov/">http://www.epa.gov/</a><br /><br /><strong>Get Conscious. Go Green! </strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ecofashionworld.com/">http://www.ecofashionworld.com/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.latricedesigns.com/">http://www.latricedesigns.com/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.vegweb.com/composting">www.vegweb.com/composting</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thegreenparent.com/2008/04/21/green-food-for-green-pets/">www.thegreenparent.com/2008/04/21/green-food-for-green-pets/</a><br /><br />www.carbonfootprint.com/minimisecfp.html<br /><br /><strong>Get Well. Go Green! </strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.localharvest.org/csa">www.localharvest.org/csa</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.goveg.com/">http://www.goveg.com/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.indigo-amber.com/">http://www.indigo-amber.com/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.dinahdaniel.com/">http://www.dinahdaniel.com/</a><br /><br /><strong>Get Savvy. Go Green!</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.robinwilsonhome.com/">http://www.robinwilsonhome.com/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theneststore.com/">http://www.theneststore.com/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.greenirene.com/">http://www.greenirene.com/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.greenshopper.com/">http://www.greenshopper.com/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.bagsontherun.com/">http://www.bagsontherun.com/</a><br /><br />These and many other such efforts will not only positively impact your daily lifestyle by saving you money, food, paper and other resources, they will protect our planet!<br /><br /><em><strong>Get Active. Go Green!</strong></em><br /></p>thawriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782497562221500857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-92097180923818470552010-03-16T17:29:00.006-07:002010-03-16T17:42:57.903-07:00"TEXAS TOUGH: The Rise of America's Prison Empire"<p><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>By Robert Perkinson (Metropolitan Books - March 2010)</em></span><br /><br />The United States of America, land of the free, imprisons a greater share of its people than any other country, about 1 out of every 100 adults. On any given day, some 2.4 million people are incarcerated, more than the populations of Boston, D.C., and San Francisco combined. But despite the magnitude of imprisonment, the story of how one state came to dominate criminal-justice practices nationwide has never been told.</p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/S6Akk2YYRDI/AAAAAAAAH_o/iwzx459s570/s1600-h/leasedinmates1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 147px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449395764609958962" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/S6Akk2YYRDI/AAAAAAAAH_o/iwzx459s570/s200/leasedinmates1.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/S6AkXM2gVII/AAAAAAAAH_g/ndM2YWNzVjc/s1600-h/TexasToughCover.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449395530123728002" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/S6AkXM2gVII/AAAAAAAAH_g/ndM2YWNzVjc/s200/TexasToughCover.jpg" /></a>Covering 150 years of American history, Robert Perkinson’s "TEXAS TOUGH: The Rise of America’s Prison Empire" (Metropolitan Books; on sale: March 16, 2010) is a sweeping account of race, politics, and imprisonment from slavery to the present, with an emphasis on the country’s most locked-down, politically influential state: Texas. With its expansive territory that stretches from South to West, its racially mixed demographics, and its uniquely turbulent history, Texas has played the vanguard role in America’s punitive revolution: from assembly-line executions to isolation supermaxes, from prison privatization to sentencing juveniles as adults. While previous histories have emphasized the North’s rehabilitative approach to criminal justice, this is but a fraction of the story. It is the retributive and profit-driven regime of the South that has ultimately triumphed, and a plantation-based penal system once dismissed as barbaric has become the template for the nation.<br /><p></p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/S6AlD8dqYHI/AAAAAAAAH_w/r9U0EGhtO6A/s1600-h/MidwayPrisonWorkFarm67.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 136px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449396298818674802" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/S6AlD8dqYHI/AAAAAAAAH_w/r9U0EGhtO6A/s200/MidwayPrisonWorkFarm67.jpg" /></a>Most provocatively, Perkinson argues in TEXAS TOUGH that just as convict leasing and segregation emerged in response to Reconstruction, so today’s mass incarceration, with its vast racial disparities, must be seen as a backlash against civil rights. A Southern style of punitive justice has become increasingly dominant as the nation’s politics have swung to the right. Based on a decade of archival and legal research—plus hundreds of interviews with prisoners, guards, activists, judges, and politicians—TEXAS TOUGH illuminates for the first time the origins of America’s prison juggernaut. At stake is not just the fate of those living behind bars but the vitality of the country’s democratic ideals.<br /><p></p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Robert Perkins</span><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/S6AjuhgAORI/AAAAAAAAH_Y/-OhQzDZcLM4/s1600-h/RobertPerkinsonHeadshot.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 146px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449394831291857170" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/S6AjuhgAORI/AAAAAAAAH_Y/-OhQzDZcLM4/s200/RobertPerkinsonHeadshot.jpg" /></a>ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Robert Perkinson, left, is a professor of American Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. His writing has appeared in The Nation, The Progressive, and Boston Review, among others. Texas Tough is his first book. He lives in Honolulu, Hawaii. TEXAS TOUGH: The Rise of America’s Prison Empireby Robert Perkinson ISBN-10: 0-8050-8069-8. ISBN-13: 978-0-8050-8069-8$35.00, March 16, 2010Metropolitan Books/Henry Holt and Company<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pitchengine.com/brands/representagency/images/52308/TexasToughCover.jpg" rel="external" target="_blank"></a>Texas Tough: The Rise of America's Prison Empire<br /><a href="http://www.pitchengine.com/brands/representagency/images/52308/RobertPerkinsonHeadshot.jpg" rel="external" target="_blank"></a>Robert Perkinson, Author and Professor of American History at University of Hawaii<br /><p></p>Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332532943414142010.post-83410966592586867882010-02-08T11:21:00.005-07:002010-02-08T11:40:00.157-07:00The Tea Party Movement & The Environmental Movement<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/S3BY9tTPexI/AAAAAAAAHTQ/fuoDnzbSsxo/s1600-h/TeaPartyCup.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435942567391755026" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/S3BY9tTPexI/AAAAAAAAHTQ/fuoDnzbSsxo/s200/TeaPartyCup.jpg" /></a>The first Tea Party Convention in Nashville, Tennessee was broadcast on C-SPAN and the attendees looked to be all White. They even bemoaned the lack of minority participation and cited Blacks hither and yon who are participants. It reminded us of the Environmental Movement. Highly racially segregated yet pointing out 'hither and yon' participation. The Environmental Movement is privately proud of its exclusive make up. It makes us wonder if the Tea Party Movement is secretly proud of its elitist status too. Oh they do the 'corn pone' but we know all about that kind of corn bread. <a href="http://cenvironment.blogspot.com/2010/02/sara-palin-will-support-cap-and-trade.html"><strong>Sarah Palin</strong></a> was their keynote speaker at the end of the conference.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/S3BZEVFHjyI/AAAAAAAAHTY/Dk6rLm5rf5g/s1600-h/EnvironmentFlag.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 106px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435942681149148962" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/S3BZEVFHjyI/AAAAAAAAHTY/Dk6rLm5rf5g/s200/EnvironmentFlag.bmp" /></a>Interesting that the Environmental Movement has racial segregation in common with the Tea Party Movement. Yet they both give empty lip service to 'wanting' minority participation. Welcome to far left and far right racial hypocrisy. Do you have to drink the Kool-Aid to participate? Of course you do. We are wary of both of these movements because they have zero interest in Black communities. In fact, they do not even want to acknowledge the existence of these neighborhoods. Except in some sort of abstract way, as in they don't go there but surely some sort of 'program' can address the needs of 'those people.' We prefer President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush to these exclusive movements. At least those presidents let us in the door in high-level positions. And acknowledge our existence. Even the GOP recruited Micheal Steele. So don't go thinking you are 'all that' Tea Party Movement. Neither you nor your step sister the Environmental Movement are 'all that' to us.Norris McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564345494443383507noreply@blogger.com0