Are compact florescents good for the environment?

Fox news has recently slammed the use of compact florescents as a replacement for traditional incandescent bulbs. What to know the "rest of the story?" Click HERE to read what Mr. Green of the Sierra Club has to say about this.

Via BBC News "Ozone has 'strong climate effect'"

Our friends across the pond seem to be far less skeptical about climate change than those of us here in the USA. That is why it doesn't surprise me to see this report from the BBC.

Ozone could be a much more important driver of climate change than scientists had previously predicted, according to a study in Nature journal.

The authors say the effects of this greenhouse gas - known by the formula O3 - have been largely overlooked.

Ozone near the ground damages plants, reducing their ability to mop up carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.

As you may or may not know, one of the major sources of ground level ozone is tailpipe emissions from cars. Another reason to encourage public transportation, walkable communities, and a safer environment for bicycling. Look for a future forum event on the subject of using the bicycle for daily transportation needs, including getting the groceries and hauling the kids around! Click on the title above for a link to the whole article.

Encouraging article in the Deseret News

"Utahns back alternative fuels
Polled residents want to fight global warming"

A very encouraging article appeared recently in the Deseret Morning News. I strongly encourage you to read it. At left is a graphic that summerizes some of the findings of an important recent poll.

<<-- Click on the graphic to ENLARGE it. And click HERE to read the rest of this informative article.

A Deseret Morning News Article about UVSF

Sierra Club forum is blossoming in valley
By Amy Choate-Nielsen
Deseret Morning News

OREM — After 10 years of dissolution, the Sierra Club is slowly being resurrected in Utah County by a group of environmental enthusiasts.
It's been about six months since the environmentally conscious group re-activated the Utah Valley Sierra Forum, but already the organization is growing in number and purpose. The county is seen as one of the most conservative in the state, but Mapleton resident Bepe Kafka, a leader in the county group, which counts some 200 people among its ranks, says the group's monthly discussions have been piquing the interest of people from all kinds of backgrounds.

"I think we're on the cusp of a wave because everybody's starting to be worried about global warming," Kafka said. "People from all over come to our meetings, from Lehi on down. ... Our membership has the full spectrum of people."

Please read the rest of the article by clicking HERE.

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UVSF Cleanup Team Strikes Diamond Fork Hot Springs: takes many "prisoners"

Seven UVSF members hiked up to beautiful Diamond Fork Hot Springs and bagged 5 trash sacks full of junk. After lunch and a refreshing soak in some delightfully cool pools (the springs have both hot and cool pools, and it was about 96˚ in the shade), we hiked back the 2.25 miles to the trail head before carpooling it to Spanish Fork to deposit the "goods" in proper receptacles.

A really good time was had by all while we did a little deed to help the environment and Mother Earth. As it turned out, the majority of us were Native Americans.

It should be noted that Earl Owen, one of a stalwart members, who is pictured in the "pool," passed on in September of this year. See the other postings in tribute to this quiet, gentle, caring spirit.

Photos ©2007JNW

Protect our Kids From New Freeway Pollution!

Help get the word out on the dangers to children from the health risks of the Mountain View Corridor. Click on the poster at right to ENLARGE. -->>

As several recent scientific studies have shown, children living near freeways are at extreme risk for severe health problems. For example, children within 250 yards from a freeway are 8-times more likely to develop leukemia and 6-times more likely to develop other cancers. In addition, children aged 12-18 living within 500 meters from a freeway are at highest risk for permanent deformities in lung development. There are also many other studies.

The proposed 8-lane freeway of the Mountain View Corridor (MVC) would travel along 5800 West in Salt Lake County. It will place several neighborhoods and schools in this deadly zone of distance next to this new freeway. Whittier and Hillside elementary schools and Hunter high school specifically would be inside this zone. [MVC would also split Lehi yet again, pollute the air, create health problems, create noise pollution and hurt residential property values. -Chair]

In the beginning of planning, UDOT appeared to be looking at new rail transit along 5600 West with the Mountain View Corridor studies. However, we have recently found that they have scrapped any new transit plans for this area until over a quarter of a century from now and have proposed the freeway to be even wider. Transit and non-freeway road expansion is the only solution to keep our children safe from these concentrated pollution threats.

Please contact me with any questions.

Marc Heileson, Sierra Club, (801) 467-9294, marc.heileson@sierraclub.org