August 2007

Can you cut down?
Transportation accounts for 50% of greenhouse gas emissions in the San Francisco Bay area according to the Bay Area Transportation and Land Use Coalition. Other sources and their contributions are: Industrial and commercial activities, 26%; residential activities, 11%; electricity generation, 7%; and oil refining, 6%.

Don't use cypress mulch
If you use cypress mulch in your garden, stop right now. This product is made from cypress trees which act as storm buffers during hurricanes. Gulf area swamps are being clear cut to produce mulch. Sierra Club is urging stores and nurseries to stop stocking this product. For more information visit www.saveour cypress.org.

Dam removal being studied
The California Coastal Conservancy is studying the technical and environmental aspects of removing the San Clemente Dam on the Carmel River. The aging dam poses a seismic hazard in the event of a 6.5 or greater earthquake. The study should be completed by December. Removal of the dam would recover the full potential of the Carmel River as a viable steelhead run.

Sign the petition
If you've watched Fox News, you know they're working overtime to prop up the myth of uncertainty about global warming, calling it a "hoax" and characterizing climate scientists as "alarmists." To expose this inaccurate coverage Sierra Club and others have launched a petition campaign targeting Home Depot, a major Fox advertiser. To see video clips and sign a petition visit foxattacks.com.

Toxic trailers
Despite documentation that disaster-relief trailers are out-gassing toxic levels of formaldehyde, FEMA has said it will continue to distribute trailers made with formaldehyde-based glues to disaster victims and even sell them to Native Americans across the country. Testing by Sierra Club showed that 88% of such trailers had formaldehyde levels above the EPA's recommended limit. At press time FEMA was reevaluating its decision in the face of massive public outcry. Check the internet for latest developments.

What's your footprint?
The June National Geographic contains a website that helps you calculate your personal impact on climate change. Check it out: safeclimate.net/calculator.

Hang out
Did you know that if you line-dry just half of your laundry instead of using the dryer, you save 720 pounds of CO2 from being emitted? Start with a few loads and work up to more. Saves money too!

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