On the Alert

•Rally Caps: A new report from the National Environmental Trust ranks New York ninth in the nation in terms of global warming pollutants emitted. New York could be first in solutions, however, by capping power plant carbon dioxide emissions at 30 percent below 1990 levels. Dirty fossil-fuel power plants are the biggest industrial source of carbon dioxide, the primary global warming gas. Join a coalition of more than 50 groups who are urging Governor Pataki to cap carbon emissions now. Contact the Governor at 518-474-8390. For more information, contact Christine Vanderlan, Environmental Advocates of New York, at 518-462-5526 ext. 240 or cvanderlan@eany.org, or visit: www.capcarbonnow.com.

•Defend UNFPA: The Bush Administration has announced it will defund the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which provides health care, education and voluntary family planning services that ease population pressures on natural resources. In response to this decision, NY Representative Carolyn Maloney introduced the Still Saving WomenÍs Lives Act of 2002. This bill earmarks $50 million for UNFPA in FY 2003, and clarifies previous appropriations bill language to ensure that women around the world will not be deprived of health services. Contact your Congressional representatives and urge them to cosponsor HR 5293 to ensure funding for UNFPA in the 2003 Appropriations bill. To send a fax, go to www.nwf.org/population, or call the Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121). For more information, call the National Wildlife Federation at 202-797-6800.

•Scary Business: This Halloween season, join Greenpeace and the GE-Free Markets Coalition in getting genetically engineered foods off supermarket shelves. From October 26th to November 2nd, demand that supermarkets stop using genetically engineered food in store brand products. The coalition is currently building pressure on supermarkets by calling their customer call-in numbers. Contact your local supermarket, especially ShawÍs/Star Markets (1-888-431-7429), Safeway (1-800-723-3929), Food Emporium (1-800-837-9237), Publix (1-800-242-1227) and Food Lion (1-800-210-9569). Call 1-800-555-1212 for the number for the store in your area. Tell them that GE foods are risky and untested and should not be in the food supply. For a National Week of Action action packet, email geteam@sfo.greenpeace.org. For more information, visit: www.truefoodnow.org.

•Bottled Up: The NYC Council Sanitation Committee has scheduled a public hearing on Res. No. 384, supporting the Bigger, Better Bottle Bill (A. 11442/S.7521). This bill would expand the stateÍs Bottle Bill law to include more types of beverage containers, such as Snapple, bottled water, juice drinks and other noncarbonated beverages, and mandate that unredeemed deposits be used to fund local recycling programs. An endorsement from New York City would help build momentum for this important legislation in Albany. The hearing will take place at City Hall on October 8th at 10:00AM. For more information, contact Laura Haight at NYPIRG, lhaight@nypirg.org or 518-436-0876.

For Your Information

The Votes Are In: Want to know how your elected state officials are doing on the environment? Watch for EPL/Environmental AdvocatesÍ annual VotersÍ Guide: An InsiderÍs Guide to the Environmental Record of New York StateÍs Legislature and Governor. For a copy of this yearÍs report, call 1-800-SAVE-NYS or visit: www.eany.org. Also, to help cover the costs of printing and mailing the VotersÍ Guide, EPL/Environmental Advocates is looking for volunteers to participate in a phone-a-thon, October 22-24. Contact Ericka Small, 518-462-5526 ext. 234 or esmall@eany.org, for details.

Working Women: The Population & Environment Program of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has a new initiative open to career-minded college and graduate student women. NWFÍs Women for Sustainable Development Program will sponsor a conference on January 10-12, 2003 in Washington, D.C. Participants will meet with professionals in the sustainable development field and receive training on career building skills. Participants will learn how to organize campus and community events and will be matched with mentors through a network of professionals and activists. For more information or to apply, contact Julie Starr at 802-229-0650 x315 or jstarr@nwf.org.

Garden Spot: Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg reached an agreement in September on the fate of many of the cityÍs community gardens. Nearly 200 community gardens will become permanent additions to NYCÍs greenspace, but some will be developed as low-income housing and some remain in limbo. To find out which gardens will be saved, visit: www.oag.state.ny.us/environment/community_gardens_sum.html.

Money for Something: Help support a good cause and maybe drive away with a new electric car. Kids Against PollutionÍs (KAP) earth-friendly raffle will support ongoing efforts, including a ChildrenÍs Sustainable Solutions Summit in 2003. The drawing will be held on November 2, 2002 at 2:00PM at the ChildrenÍs Museum, 311 Main Street in Utica. The Grand Prize is a 2002 Toyota Prius hybrid gas/electric car. Second prize is a Husqvarna Robot Mower. Third prize is a 141 Radisson Canoe, and there are two $100.00 cash prizes. Tickets are $20 (tax-deductible) and are available at all Herb PhilipsonÍs Stores. For more information, call 315-266-0185, or visit: www.kidsagainstpollution.org.

Activists' Corner

Something Fishy: The Coalition Against Riverfront Pollution (CARP), formed in March 2002, is a growing coalition of community groups, organizations and concerned citizens, including Rensselaer Improvement Committee, Citizens for Riverfront Action, CitizensÍ Environmental Coalition, Rensselaer County Greens and Historic Action Network.
   CARP was formed to monitor the cleanup of the BASF riverfront property in Rensselaer, NY, an 80-acre state Superfund site, and to challenge the Empire State Newsprint Project, a proposal by Besicorp-Empire Development Company to construct and operate an integrated recycled newsprint manufacturing plant and a 505MW combined cycle cogeneration electric power plant. CARP has developed informational materials and holds regular bi-monthly meetings.
   To contact CARP, call Eric Daillie at 518-273-8970 or email edaillie@nycap.rr.com.

October

1: Second annual Charms and Challenges of Western NY Toxic Bus Tour, sponsored by the Coalition of Impacted Neighborhoods. Learn about the toxic hazards that exist in area communities. Call CitizensÍ Environmental Coalition at 716-885-6848.

3-4: Celebrating the Clean Water Act, a review of its successes and problems, sponsored by Hudson River Environmental Society (HRES). HRES, 26 Federal Plaza, NYC. 10:00AM-3:00PM. Call 518-861-8020.

4-6: Quality Communities, the 2002 Conference on the Environment sponsored by the NYS Association of Environmental Management Councils and the NYS Association of Conservation Commissions. Corning, NY. Contact Lee Younge at lhy2@cornell.edu or 607-734-4453.

5: Green Buildings Open House, sponsored by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Alliance. Green homes and buildings throughout the Northeast, including NYS, will open their doors to the public. Call 413-774-6051 or visit: www.nsea.org.

5-6: A Growing Concern, the Baum ForumÍs weekend of educational and culinary activities designed to inspire action and raise awareness about critical food and farming issues. Call Hilary Baum at 718-884-5716.

9: Pale Male, a documentary on the red-tailed hawk that was first sighted in Central Park in the winter of 1991, by Frederic Lilien and discussion with Marie Winn, sponsored by the NYC Audubon Society. The Lighthouse Ames Auditorium, 111 East 59 Street, NYC. 6:00PM. Call Peter Mott at 212-691-7483.

15-16: 2nd Annual Empire Energy & Environmental Exposition (E4), hosted by the Environmental Business Association of NYS (EBA/NYS). Empire State Plaza Convention Center, Albany. Call 518-432-6400 or visit: www.eba-nys.org.

18: Environmental Summit, sponsored by the PeopleÍs Environmental Network of NY (pENNY), to optimize public awareness, education, cooperation, input and decision-making power toward sustainable, environmental health. SUNY ESF, Syracuse. Call 315-469-5347.

21: Behind Closed Doors, a presentation sponsored by People for Animal Rights and the Iroquois Group of the Sierra Club on the effects of factory farming on animals and the environment. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. 7:00PM-8:30PM. Call 315-668-2473.

22-23: Quality Communities, Quality Coasts Conference & Exhibition, sponsored by the NY Department of StateÍs Division of Coastal Resources. The conference will feature how-to sessions, instructional workshops and network opportunities. Empire State Plaza, Albany. Call 518-474-6000.

25: NYSAR3 13th Annual Recycling Seminar and Annual Membership Meeting. Holiday Inn Arena, Binghamton. Contact Robin Kane at 518-736-5501 or recycle@superior.net.

27: Population, Sustainable Development, and Faith Communities: Youth and Adolescence, talk by Werner Fornos, Population Institute. First Presbyterian Church, 1915 Fifth Ave, Troy. 6:30PM. Call Carl McDaniel at 518-276-8421.

28: Population and Sustainable Development: A Perspective from Earth Summit 2002, talk by Werner Fornos, Population Institute. Room 203, Ricketts Bldg., RPI, Troy. 7:00PM-8:00PM. Refreshments to follow talk. Call Carl McDaniel at 518-276-8421.

November

11: The 2002 Advocate Awards, Environmental Advocates of New YorkÍs (EANY) annual gala. This yearÍs honorees are CIVITAS, Federated Conservationists of Westchester County and Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington. Laura Belle, NYC. 5:30PM. Contact Deb Sgambelluri at 518-462-5526 ext. 230 or dsgambelluri@eany.org.

20: Cool New York Æ A Global Warming Summit, sponsored by Environmental Advocates of NY (EANY) and the National Council of Churches of Christ. Join local activists, environmental groups and faith community leaders to help plan how to reduce our impact on global climate change in local communities. Albany. Contact Christine Vanderlan, EANY, at 518-462-5526 ext. 240 or cvanderlan@eany.org.