March 2008

What's in it?
Senator Joe Simitian has sponsored a bill (SB 509) which would require manufacturers of consumer products to publish on the Web a list of ingredients. Current ingredient laws pertain only to food and cosmetics. Knowing what is in a product will enable purchasers to evaluate claims of greenness.

What's your transportation footprint?
How much CO2 do your transportation choices produce? You can calculate the amount at this website: safeclimate.net/calculator. It has been estimated that most Americans can decrease their motor vehicle trips by one fourth without difficulty by combining trips, walking and biking for shorter trips, using transit, and carpooling.

Clean coal?
Representatives Henry Waxman and Edward Markey have introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would require all new coal plants to address global warming by capturing and storing at least 85% of their CO2 emissions. The bill also prohibits free pollution allowances. The coal industry has announced it is spending $35 million to convince Americans that coal can be burned cleanly. This bill holds their feet to the fire. For more info visit www.sierraclub.org/coal.

Want cancer with those fries?
Sierra Club is supporting a bill in Sacramento that would ban Teflon chemicals in food packaging. Greasy foods such as french fries or pizza are being served in boxes lined with carcinogens. SB 1313 would eliminate this chemical feast.

Trailwork opportunity
Mark Readdie, director of the Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve in Big Sur, reports that trailworkers are needed on Saturdays until May. Be prepared to work hard on steep terrain starting at 10:00 a.m. Bring gloves, wear work clothes, bring water, lunch, sunscreen. Tecnu provided. Hiking and camping traded for work. Email with dates you can work.

Club to sue over dunes
The Santa Lucia Chapter has notified the California Dept. of Parks and Rec. of its intent to sue for allowing vehicles on 584 acres of Oceano Dunes in San Luis Obispo County. Despite prohibition of vehicles on the dunes by the Local Coastal Plan, the County and State have allowed off-road vehicles to varooom over snowy plovers and other threatened and endangered dune species.

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