Community News

Remembering John Arum

By kerry from "Environmental News from our Community" via Environmental in Google Reader. Published on Sep 07, 2010.

John Arum's work has made an incredible difference for environmental protections in Washington - from Manastash Creek to Maury Island to Cherry Point to the forests of the Olympic Peninsula.

New Blog Series: 100 Useful Tips for Car-Less Living: Tip #1 Buy a Bus Pass

By Andrew from "Environmental News from our Community" via Environmental in Google Reader. Published on Sep 07, 2010.

I am starting a new series on the blog that will provide you with quick, functional, and easy to use tips on how to live car-less or car-free. One of the biggest complaints I hear about living a car-free lifestyle is that it is inconvenient and too time prohibitive. In my social network of younger middle class white collared professionals I often hear that it is simply impossible to live without access to a car at all times with all of the demands of work, family, & social engagements.

I will post a tip or two a week that hopefully will give you practical advice on how leaving your car at home will actually simplify your life, not complicate it. I'm approaching this from personal experience. During college at PLU I never owned a car and by necessity became proficient at riding Pierce Transit and my bike as primary modes of transportation. After school I re-appropriated my old beater Volvo from High School because I needed it to cruise around the peninsula for a campaign I was working on. After the campaign I lived for over a year car free in Tacoma. In 2008 I once again bought a car due to the need to cruise around the State for campaign work, and then last month I had the liberating pleasure of selling my car and moving into a car-less lifestyle yet again. In all of this I've found that living car-less has decreased my stress and improved my quality of life.

Right about now you are probably calling me crazy... that is expected; here you'll be able to read #100 tips I have learned that are necessary for car-less living in the Puget Sound. Hopefully, over time these tips will make leaving the car at home for the weekend, switching from two to cars to one, or simply eliminating the need to own a car all together, a possibility for you.

Car-Less Living tip #1: Buy a Bus Pass

Sometimes I wish I lived in a world where I could always walk or bike to get around, but with our West Coast geography the truth is; transit is a crucial for mobility when living car-free. Transit works best when it is convenient and easy to use. One of the least convenient aspects of transit is always making sure you have a bundle of change in your pocket to pay the exact fare, because let's be honest, nobody wants to give more money than is due or embarrassingly not have enough to pay the fare. Thankfully there are ways around the, "my pants are falling down because my pocket is weighed down with change" problem.

Almost every single transit agency in Washington State has some sort of monthly pass that allows you to ride their system for free.

In the Puget Sound we have a nifty little tool called ORCA (One Regional Card for All). ORCA is often times criticized for its shortcomings. Its also at times praised for being visionary and comprehensive. In my experience, like any large new system, ORCA is not perfect but is incredibly convenient and works well 97% of the time.

In short, ORCA allows you to buy a monthly pass or put money on a card that can be used on pretty much any transit system in the Central Puget Sound (including buses, trains, light rail, and ferries). It is great for the occasional rider because you can put money on the card which means you can avoid carrying around a bag of change. For the frequent rider you can put a monthly pass on your card as high as the value you normally take for your trips, plus add extra cash in case you take a more expensive trip than your normal commute.

In terms of not having to worry about having the right change or cash, the ORCA card and other agency bus passes are a must have when it comes to living a transit oriented lifestyle.

Stay tuned for the next series or Car-less living tips! If you have any questions feel free to email me at Andrew@transportationchocies.org or comment below.

From the Field: Toy Testing and Tips on Toxic-Free Living in Spokane

By anna from "Environmental News from our Community" via Environmental in Google Reader. Published on Sep 07, 2010.

Last Saturday I had the pleasure to meet a great group of parents and activists interested in creating a safer, less-toxic world for their kids and the next generation. I was there armed with our trusty XRF analyzer to test toys and other products for harmful chemicals like lead.

Phthalates, Formaldahyde and...Baby Bottles? Oh My.

By Earth Ministry from "Environmental News from our Community" via Environmental in Google Reader. Published on Sep 07, 2010.

By Dana Swanson

When someone mentions environmental contamination, some images that readily come to my mind are a hazy cloud of pesticides being sprayed behind a tractor, the stale odor of exhaust billowing behind a car and dark clots of oil floating in the Gulf of Mexico.

Initially, my thoughts are of outdoor pollutants, disrupting ecosystems and plant life. However, there are several sources of environmental contamination much closer than the Gulf coast. Within our homes, a substantial amount of the products we use on a daily basis are laden with toxic chemicals. The prolonged exposure to household chemicals—from bleach to phthalates in lotions— can be detrimental to one’s personal health, as well to the environment.

Proper labeling by the chemical industry helps consumers to make more informed decisions, choosing products that are better for themselves and the environment. Rather than be “consumers” whose main objective is to use without regard to consequence, what if we were to regard ourselves as stewards of the earth? Acting as stewards, perhaps we would be more likely to act with the earth in mind even while peruse the cleaning supplies aisle in the grocery store.

Unfortunately, the chemical industry is not always straight-forward about toxic chemicals, making it challenging to act as a steward. Recently, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families released a viral video mocking the lobbying efforts of the chemical industry. The video depicts household chemicals—led by a menacing, cigar smoking baby bottle—plotting to thwart Congress’ reform efforts. Although a bit wacky, the video is intended to expose the industry’s contradictions and encourage people to tell Congress to vote against toxic chemicals. You can watch the two minute video below.

Supporting legislation that keeps our homes green, as well as our forests, is one of the ways we can each serve as a steward of creation.

Additional resources about Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families efforts to pass federal policies that protect from toxic chemicals can be found at www.saferchemicals.org.

Earth Ministry is a 501(c)3 non-profit engaging people of faith in environmental stewardship. We work in partnership with individuals and congregations to respond to this great moral challenge through education, modeling sustainable lifestyle choices, and organizing for social change through environmental advocacy. While rooted in Washington State, our resources are utilized across the U.S. and internationally.

WA initiatives attract millions in out-of-state money

By (author unknown) from "Environmental News from our Community" via Environmental in Google Reader. Published on Sep 07, 2010.

Soda pop sellers, liquor distributors and warehouse retailers are pouring millions of dollars into Washington to influence residents' votes on a slew of statewide ballot measures. Some $30 million so far--the majority from out of state--has flooded the coffers of campaigns for or against an array of initiatives, a process in Washington that lets voters enact laws they feel their legislators won't.

Garbage-to-energy? California has second thoughts

By (author unknown) from "Environmental News from our Community" via Environmental in Google Reader. Published on Sep 06, 2010.

Government officials from around the world used to come to Long Beach, Southern California's industrial port city, to catch a glimpse of the future: Two-story piles of trash would disappear into a furnace and eventually be transformed into electricity to power thousands of homes. Nowadays, it's US officials going to Canada, Japan and parts of Western Europe to see the latest advances.

McKibben: A symbolic solar road trip

By (author unknown) from "Environmental News from our Community" via Environmental in Google Reader. Published on Sep 07, 2010.

An activist caravan to bring one of Jimmy Carter's solar panels back to the White House symbolizes not only the time the US has lost in developing new energy technologies--but also the urgent need for taking action on climate.

Are Energy Star ratings too lax?

By (author unknown) from "Environmental News from our Community" via Environmental in Google Reader. Published on Sep 07, 2010.

Energy Star standards, which rate the energy efficiency of buildings and products, need an update, according to Consumer Reports. On the heels of criticism of Energy Star last week from a New York congresswoman, the magazine said the ratings program needed to raise the bar on qualifying products and develop better testing standards.

BC to shut down salmon harvesting in some areas

By (author unknown) from "Environmental News from our Community" via Environmental in Google Reader. Published on Sep 05, 2010.

The coming week will mark the end of salmon harvesting in some parts of BC due to coho salmon conservation concerns, according to a Department of Oceans and Fisheries head.

Critical mass for safer cycling in Vancouver

By (author unknown) from "Environmental News from our Community" via Environmental in Google Reader. Published on Sep 05, 2010.

Although almost 50 per cent of Vancouverites live within five kilometres of their work, only 4 per cent of commuting trips in Vancouver are made by bicycle. Prof. Lovegrove estimates that for critical mass, 25 per cent should be riding their bikes to work.