Protest Fracking of the Delaware River basin on Nov 21

SAVE THE DELAWARE from JFOX on Vimeo.

Saying Yes to Alternative Energy - Saying NO to Fracking

A few of years ago we learned about hydraulic fracturing for natural gas at our local, yearly Ithaca Parade. There was a curious float all decked out with anti-fracking signs. It was clear the float was against some kind of fossil fuel energy. It was equally clear that the people walking with the float were wanting to get our attention.

When we returned home, Doug and I began researching fracking. What we discovered was that it was something that was already occurring in many places around the world, including most other States in the US. Many of the dangers of fracking were being revealed publicly by our neighbours in Pennsylvania.

According to Dr Sandra Steingraber, hydraulic fracturing would directly and negatively impact the fresh water supply in our area, and remove hundreds of thousands of fresh water from our water cycle forever:



The Catskill Citizens for Safe Energystated that "despite a three year de facto moratorium on high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing, more than 10,000 oil and gas wells have already been fracked in New York State, and that number is growing every day." People were already turning on taps in their homes to find methane coming out:



Not to mention:

* the hidden dangers from cocktail of chemicals (yet to be fully disclosed) that are used by Halliburton in the hydraulic fracturing process,

* the documented negative affects to air quality around the region of the wells,

* the loss in property value to those who lease their land to the gas companies for drilling,

* and the depletion and pollution of our valuable agricultural lands, especially the local family farms that sustain us.

So, to make a long story a little less long, Doug and I set out to turn off our gas. We have finally gotten the Geothermal system installed:

Several months ago we made the decision to install Geothermal in our home.

We were all excited to see the drill arrive. Ironically, this is a similar kind of drill to the ones that drill the fracking wells in our area. Ethan thinks they should all be converted to Geothermal work.

Most of the hoses were in by this point. They needed to be looped together in a trench system, filled with water and non-toxic, biodegradable propylene glycol (an antifreeze), directed into our house, and, finally, looped into the heat exhange pump system on the furnace. It was truly amazing to have heat from the earth coming out of the vents of our house!


This is what the system looks like in our home. It is attached to our hot water tank, because the leftover heat that is generated by the heat exchange unit is used to heat our water, giving us about 80% free hot water as a bonus. Heating and cooling our home (I've never lived in a place with cooling!) should cost us less than $30 per month.

This is where the underground system of tubing come into our home.

Today we signed up to have the gas to our home turned off! How great that felt!

Next step...sustainable electricity. While we do buy a good many wind credits, we still use coal as the primary source of electric power in our area. That also needs to change.

Chief Raoni Cries

The chief Raoni cries when he learns that Brazilian president Dilma released the beginning of construction of the hydroelectric plant of Belo Monte, even after tens of thousands of letters and emails addressed to her and which were ignored as the more than 600,000 signatures. That is, the death sentence of the peoples of Great Bend of the Xingu river is enacted. Belo Monte will inundate at least 400,000 hectares of forest, an area bigger than the Panama Canal, thus expelling 40,000 indigenous and local populations and destroying habitat valuable for many species - all to produce electricity at a high social, economic and environmental cost, which could easily be generated with greater investments in energy efficiency.

There's a petition you can sign against the building of the dam - here.

Sir David Attenborough Talks About Plastic

Stand Against Nestle Water Grab

Breaking news: Last night, Nestlé Waters announced that it is abandoning plans to pump the Wacissa River to manufacture bottled water.

Over the last 15 years, Nestlé’s water grab in rural America has been ugly. Nestlé has made backroom deals with public officials against widespread public objection and even tried to bankrupt community groups with lengthy legal battles. The community of Wacissa was no exception to Nestlé’s bullying.

In April, over 1,400 people contacted Nestlé Water's CEO Kim Jeffery calling on the corporation to stop undermining local control of water and pull out of Wacissa.

Then dozens of people across the country chipped in to run a full-page ad in the local paper exposing the corporation’s long history of undermining community water rights. On the ground organizing by the Friends of the Wacissa, backed by the ad and national media exposure, led to a groundbreaking resolution being passed in Jefferson County. The resolution called on the water management board to deny permits like Nestlé’s to pump and sell water from the headwaters of the Wacissa.

Let's create a Wacissa Victory Fund to support other communities working to protect their springs from Nestlé's water grab. Your donation will fund local and national media work, online ads and trainings for activists to bring Nestlé's backroom deals to the light of day.

If just 110 of us donate a small amount, we can seize this moment to build a rapid response fund to support communities challenging Nestlé. Click here to chip in. 

Across the U.S., Nestlé is trying to control water resources to profit at the expense of the environment. Nestlé's strategy is to lock in support from local public officials and seal the deal before the community has a chance to have a voice.

The Wacissa Victory Fund will give us the ability to respond when it matters most – before the drilling starts – and partner with local activists to wage and win campaigns that combine on the ground organizing with media exposure and online organizing that gets results.

Let’s protect more communities from Nestlé's water grab. Click here to donate.

As the people of Wacissa celebrate today, we know that there is more work ahead. Our movement is showing that the people can take on Nestlé and win – let’s build the movement.

Onward,

Kristin Urquiza
Think Outside the Bottle Campaign Director

Plastic: A Toxic Love Story

"FREINKEL'S SMART, WELL-WRITTEN ANALYSIS OF THIS LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP IS LIKELY TO MAKE PLASTIC LOVERS TAKE PAUSE, PLASTIC HATERS RELUCTANTLY REALIZE ITS VALUE, AND ALL OF US UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF INDIVIDUAL ACTION, POLITICAL WILL, AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IN WEANING US OFF OUR ADDICTION TO SYNTHETICS."—Publisher's Weekly

Buy a copy of Plastic: A Toxic Love Story by Susan Freinkel from Amazon.com or your favorite local bookstore.

Tell Governor Cuomo: Ban Natural Gas Fracking

Go to Food and Water Watch and tell governor Cuomo to Ban Natural Gas Fracking now.

Cap and Trade - Not the Solution We Are Led to Believe

The Story of Cap & Trade from Story of Stuff Project on Vimeo.

The Story of Cap & Trade is a fast-paced, fact-filled look at the leading climate solution being discussed at Copenhagen and on Capitol Hill. Host Annie Leonard introduces the energy traders and Wall Street financiers at the heart of this scheme and reveals the "devils in the details" in current cap and trade proposals: free permits to big polluters, fake offsets and distraction from what’s really required to tackle the climate crisis. If you’ve heard about Cap & Trade, but aren’t sure how it works (or who benefits), this is the film is for you.

--The Story of Stuff Project 

Play for the Environment

Ecotopia is a revolutionary social game that blends the virtual world and the real world - while you transform an unsustainable environment into your very own green utopia, and connect with friends. When you play Ecotopia from now until July 15th, you can help be part of an amazing challenge to get 25,000 real trees planted in 25 days! When players plant a combined total of 25,000 trees in the game, a sponsor will plant 25,000 real trees in Brazil.

--Surfrider Foundation

Recycling Labyrinth by Mona Sfeir

The "Recycling Labyrinth" by Mona Sfeir at the United States Mission to the United Nations in Geneva. Intended to commemorate World Environment Day, the work of art consists of 8,000 plastic bottles, which is the number of bottles that go into landfills worldwide every second, according to the artist.

Fracking Home

ITHACA -- With a July 1 deadline looming for a draft plan on how New York will regulate horizontal, high-volume hydraulic fracturing of gas-rich Marcellus shale, Tompkins County towns are struggling to protect public roads and develop regulations for drilling operations. 

"It could literally be this fall when they start issuing permits, and I think gas drilling will eventually get to Tompkins," said Town of Ithaca Supervisor Herb Engman. "We're going to try our best to get everything in place before a single gas well is drilled in Tompkins County."

Read the entire article in the Ithaca Journal.

New York Water Ranger Super Heroes

Do you care about New York's water? Then take the Water Rangers pledge!

I pledge to protect this body of water, to protect rivers, lakes, and streams, to protect my town's and New York State’s drinking water from dirty gas drilling using hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.”

I pledge to protect this body of water from the hundreds of toxic chemicals used in fracking fluids.

I pledge to protect the precious resources that provide millions of New Yorkers with their drinking water.

I pledge to protect my family from the dangers of dirty gas drilling.

As a New York Water Ranger, I’m prepared to share my concerns with state leaders and to tell my friends and neighbors about the dangers of dirty gas drilling.

Because everybody is a body of water, we must protect our health, water, and communities before we allow gas development in New York State.

Benefits of joining the New York Water Rangers include opportunities to get free Water Rangers gear, updates from the team at Clean Water Not Dirty Drilling, and the satisfaction of knowing you're not standing on the sidelines while your drinking water is at risk.

Join the New York Water Rangers today!

The Story of Bottled Water

In the last few decades, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestle and other big beverage companies have spent untold millions making us afraid of tap water. They've told us that if we want to be sure what we drink is pure and clean--not to mention hip and fashionable--we should buy bottled water. After all, nobody cool or environmentally conscious drinks tap water, right?
The thing is, there are a lot of inconvenient truths the bottled water ads don't mention:
• Bottled water is subject to fewer health regulations than tap water. In 2006, Fiji Water ran ads bragging that their product doesn't come from Cleveland, only to have tests show a glass of Fiji water is lower quality than Cleveland tap. Oops!
• Up to 40 percent of bottled water is filtered tap water. In other words, if you're concerned about what's in your tap water, just cut out the middleman and buy a home water filter.
• Each year, according to the Pacific Institute's Peter Gleick, making the plastic water bottles used in the U.S. takes enough oil and energy to fuel a million cars. And that doesn't even include the fuel required to ship, fly or truck water across continents and state lines.
• Three-fourths of the half-a-billion plastic water bottles sold in the U.S. every week go to the landfill or to incinerators. It costs our cities more than $70 million to landfill water bottles alone each year, according to Corporate Accountability International.
But there's good news: People are getting the message. Last year, for the first time this decade, bottled water sales fell--not that much, but they went down. Restaurants are proudly serving tap water, adding carbonization on site for customers who want something fizzy. Consumers who want economy, portability and convenience are switching to refillable metal bottles.
Still, we've got a ways to go until everyone realizes that bottled water makes as much sense as a $10,000 sandwich.
So, if you haven't already, you can get started by making a personal commitment to drink from the tap.
Then join a campaign for investment in clean tap water for everyone, like those sponsored by Food & Water Watch, Environmental Working Group or Canada's Polaris Institute. Work to ban the purchase of bottled water by your school, company or city--Corporate Accountability is helping states kick the bottled water habit--and lobby local officials to bring back drinking fountains.
Together, we can send Coke, Pepsi and the rest of the industry a message as clear as a glass of crystal-clean tap water: We're not buying into your manufactured demand anymore. We'll choose our own demands, thank you very much, and we're demanding clean safe water for all! 

Read more by Annie Leonard in the Huffpost Green "The Story of Bottled Water: Fear, Manufactured Demand and a $10,000 Sandwich."

 

No Reason by Eric Daigh

In making this video for Circle of Blue, reporters of the global water crisis, Eric Daigh comments:

“We took a different approach to illuminating the topic,” said Eric Daigh, the film’s producer. “In the video we step sideways and do something that connects with people in new ways. We all know how many people lack access to safe fresh water. We all know how many die each year from dirty water. But we need to have the epiphany moment, to grasp the interaction between water and agriculture, the economy, culture and conflict.”

Circle of Blue goes on to report:

According to a press release by WEF, “Water security links together food, energy, climate, economic growth and human security challenges, which the world economy will face over the next two decades…. The world is now on the verge of water bankruptcy in many places with no way of paying the debt back.”

Hanging Clothes Out to Dry

I love the Spring for many reasons, one of them being I can begin hanging our clothes out to dry again.  I love the fresh air.  I love the act of pulling the wet, wrinkled clothes from the basket, shaking them, and attaching them to the line with aged and new wooden clothes pins.  I love the sound of the wind and the birds in the trees.  I love the grass and weeds beneath my feet.  And, I love those fresh, crisp clothes that come down from the line once air dried.

I wondered to myself how much energy and money I saved by doing this task that pleased me so.  A blog on The Simple Dollar answered some of my questions.

We have friends that hang their clothes indoors, close to their wood-burning stove, during the Winter months.  The savings and fun can happen year round!

Hydro Logic From the EPA

FACT: More water is used in the bathroom than any other place in the home.

ACTION: Turn off the water when you brush your teeth and shave. Install low-flow toilets, shower heads and faucet aerators and you’ll save thousands of gallons/liters of water a year. It’s a savings that should reduce your water bill.

FACT: Today there are many more people using the same amount of water we had 100 years ago.
ACTION: Don’t waste water. Use it wisely and cut back wherever you can.

FACT: A dripping faucet can waste up to 2,000 gallons/7,600 liters of water a year. A leaky toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons/260 liters of water a day.
ACTION: Check your plumbing and repair any leaks as soon as possible.

FACT: Lead in household plumbing can get into your water.
ACTION: Find out if your pipes are lead or if lead solder was used to connect the pipes. If you have lead in your plumbing system,when you turn on the tap for drinking or cooking, let the water run until it’s cold. Never use water from the hot tap for cooking or drinking.

FACT: What’s dumped on the ground, poured down the drain, or tossed in the trash can pollute the sources of our drinking water.
ACTION: Take used motor oil and other automotive fluids to an automotive service center that recycles them. Patronize automotive centers and stores that accept batteries for recycling. Take leftover paint, solvents, and toxic household products to special collection centers.

FACT: On average, 50% - 70% of household water is used outdoors for watering lawns and gardens.
ACTION: Make the most of the water you use outdoors by never watering at the hottest times of the day or when it’s windy. Turnoff your sprinklers when it’s raining. Plant low-water use grasses and shrubs to reduce your lawn watering by 20% - 50%.

FACT: Lawn and garden pesticides and fertilizers can pollute the water.
ACTION: Reduce your use of pesticides and fertilizers and look for safer alternatives to control weeds and bugs. For example, geraniums repel Japanese beetles; garlic and mint repel aphids; and marigolds repel whiteflies.

FACT: Although most people get their water from regulated community water supplies, others rely on their own private wells and are responsible for their own water quality.
ACTION: If you own a well, contact your local health department or Cooperative Extension Service representative to find out how to test the quality of your well water.

FACT: Your city government and state officials regularly make decisions that affect the quality of your drinking water resources.
ACTION: As the population grows and housing and industrial interest expand, attend local planning and zoning meetings and ask what’s being done to protect water resources from contamination. Let elected officials know that you expect them to use their hydro-logic to protect the water.

FACT: Public water utilities regularly test the quality of the drinking water they provide to customers.
ACTION: Call your water utility and ask for a copy of their latest water quality report.

Tompkins County Water Week

Our family visited the Water Week Taste Test at our own Ithaca Farmer's Market this past Sunday.  People could sample from the seven different water treatment plants in the area and decide which water tasted best. 

 Participating water plants included:

      • City of Ithaca
      • Bolton Point
      • Cornell
      • Trumansburg
      • Groton
      • Dryden
      • Newfield

Two hundred people participated in the testing, and it appears Bolton Point was the tastiest, followed by the Trumansburg plant, while Dryden and Groton tied for third.

Besides water tasting, there were several other booths sharing information of water, water conservation, soil erosion, invasive plant species and agriculture. 

Represented were Ithaca Floating Classroom Project, The American Water Works Association, Environmental Protection Agency, National Ground Water Association, and Cayuga Lake Watershed Project.

50 Easy Water Saving Tips

1. When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing.
2. Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
3. Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
4. Choose shrubs and ground covers instead of turf for hard-to-water areas such as steep slopes and isolated strips.
5. For cold drinks keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
6. Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.
7. Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation.
8. Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap, and use the water in the pan to water houseplants.
9. Spreading a layer of organic mulch around plants retains moisture and saves water, time and money.
10. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk and save water every time.
11. We're more likely to notice leaks indoors, but don't forget to check outdoor faucets, sprinklers and hoses for leaks.
12. Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you'll save up to 150 gallons per month.
13. Upgrade older toilets with water efficient models.
14. Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn shades roots and holds soil moisture better than if it is closely clipped.
15. When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your plants.
16. Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
17. When running a bath, plug the tub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
18. Collect water from your roof to water your garden.
19. Don't use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator for water efficiency and food safety.
20. Reduce the amount of lawn in your yard by planting shrubs and ground covers appropriate to your site and region.
21. Teach your children to turn off faucets tightly after each use.
22. Use a water-efficient shower head. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month.
23. Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
24. Water your plants deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance.
25. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 25 gallons a month.
26. Encourage your school system and local government to develop and promote water conservation among children and adults.
27. If your toilet flapper doesn't close after flushing, replace it.
28. If installing a lawn, select a turf mix or blend that matches your climate and site conditions.
29. When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it the most.
30. Consult with your local nursery for information on plant selection and placement for optimum outdoor water savings.
31. Insulate hot water pipes for more immediate hot water at the faucet and for energy savings.
32. Direct water from rain gutters toward water-loving plants in the landscape for automatic water savings.
33. Make suggestions to your employer about ways to save water and money at work.
34. Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and industrial uses.
35. Share water conservation tips with friends and neighbors.
36. If your toilet was installed before 1992, reduce the amount of water used for each flush by inserting a displacement device in the tank.
37. Setting cooling systems and water softeners for a minimum number of refills saves both water and chemicals, plus more on utility bills.
38. Leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.
39. Report broken pipes, open hydrants and errant sprinklers to the property owner or your water provider.
40. Let your lawn go dormant during the summer. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three weeks or less if it rains.
41. Plant with finished compost to add water-holding and nutrient-rich organic matter to the soil.
42. Listen for dripping faucets and running toilets. Fixing a leak can save 300 gallons a month or more.
43. Re-use the water left over from cooked or steamed foods to start a scrumptious and nutritious soup.
44. Wash your pets outdoors in an area of your lawn that needs water.
45. When shopping for a new clothes washer, compare resource savings among Energy Star models. Some of these can save up to 20 gallons per load, and energy too.
46. Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it.
47. Aerate your lawn at least once a year so water can reach the roots rather than run off the surface.
48. When you give your pet fresh water, don't throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.
49. While staying in a hotel or even at home, consider reusing your towels.
50. Have your plumber re-route your gray water to trees and gardens rather than letting it run into the sewer line. Check with your city codes, and if it isn't allowed in your area, start a movement to get that changed.