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Countdown to the 2009 Legislative Session that is...
The first day of session is January 12 and we can't wait to get to work.
We'll be working on critical environmental legislation as a member of the Oregon Conservation Network (OCN), a coalition of fifty of Oregon’s leading environmental groups.
Implement Global Warming Solutions We
must take action to reduce global warming pollution, which if left
unchecked will lead to increased forest fires, water shortages, and
major disruptions to our economy. The Legislature should place a
mandatory, declining cap on global warming pollution.
Promote Water Conservation Farmers,
fishermen, cities, businesses and local communities all need adequate
water supplies to thrive. It’s our responsibility to ensure a legacy of
healthy rivers for everyone and everything that depends on them
Preserve Oregon’s Coastal Legacy Global
warming, pollution, increasing population, and coastal development are
taking a toll – and our ocean’s future health is at risk. The
Legislature should create a system of marine protected areas and
reserves in Oregon’s Territorial Sea.
Increase Transportation Options As
the Oregon Legislature considers new transportation investments, we
must make sure to use more efficient land use planning and invest in
transportation options. This will reduce the amount of time Oregonians
spend in traffic, improve our health, and reduce the amount we spend on
gas.
Ensure New Energy Supplies are Responsible Liquefied
natural gas (LNG) emits 20-30% more global warming pollution than
domestic natural gas. LNG terminals planned for Oregon would mainly
send gas to California, which has rejected LNG because of safety and
environmental concerns.
Stop the Spread of Invasive Species Oregon
must take action to stop the spread of invasive plant, animal, and
aquatic species. The Legislature should require boats entering the
state be cleaned, to prevent the introduction of invasive snails and
mussels into Oregon’s waterways.
Recycling
Advocates' much anticipated recycling event of the summer has been rescheduled
and relocated to accommodate the anticipated large turnout for this important
and topical meeting. The meeting will focus on the debate raging around the
use, recycling, and banning of plastic and paper bags.
If you
have already sent us an RSVP for September 15th, please take a moment
to reconfirm your RSVP for the new date of September 22nd. . .Thank you
Solving the Plastic Bag Dilemma: Is Oregon Ready?
A forum
hosted by Recycling Advocates
When: September 22, 2008
6:30
pm - Reception
7-9
pm - Annual Member Meeting & Public forum
Where:
Portland City Hall, Council Chambers, 1221 Southwest Fourth
Avenue
Countries as diverse as Ireland, China, Bangladesh, Uganda and
South Africa have all passed laws that in some way restrict the free
distribution of plastic check-out bags and many more are currently considering
it.
Last year San Francisco became the first major US city to
pass a bill that will eventually ban all plastic bags from grocery stores and
pharmacies. Los Angeles followed suit and Seattle's City Council voted to
implement a 20-cent fee for plastic and paper bags at grocery, drug and
convenience stores.
Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams recently announced his plans
to bring a resolution forward before the end of 2008 that will impose a fee on
both paper and plastic check-out bags.
What are the implications of the massive and widespread use of
plastic and paper bags?
How does Commissioner Adams' proposal compare to Seattle's or San
Francisco's?
How will
grocery stores and consumers handle the fee?
Where do compostable bags fit into
the equation?
Now that Portland is considering a solution, when can the
rest of Oregon expect the same?
During my morning news review I stumbled upon a post on PDX Green laying out 10 good reasons not to impose a fee on shoppers for disposable shopping bags.
While away in Seatle, the person ahead of me in line at Pike's market - the only person ahead of me in a deep line that didn't have a cloth bag over their shoulder - sheepishly looked around and answered, "Yes, I need a bag."
I laughed a little inside my head. Wow, times have changed. He is actually so embarrassed that he didn't bring his own bag that he can't make eye contact with the clerk!
Still, the debate continues locally:
Paper or plastic?
Where does that plastic bag come from?
Plastic is a petroleum product - it comes from oil.
Plastic is a by-product of oil refining and accounts for 4% of
the worlds total oil production. It is a 'biogeochemical' manipulation
of certain properties of oil, into polymers. Plastic polymers are
manufactured into five main types; plastic bags are made from
polyethylene. Polyethylene, as a raw material, can be manipulated into
any shape, size, form or color. It is watertight and can be made UV
resistant. Anything can be printed on it and it can be reused.
For the most part, the whole process of making plastic bags
requires only electricity (minus the large, fuel burning heavy
machinery required to acquire the oil). The electricity used in the
actual production and manufacturing of plastic bags comes from coal
fire power plants, which, it is interesting to note, 50% of that
electricity is generated from the burning of old tires (made from
rubber which is essentially, plastic).
Maybe if we didn't waste so many of our resources on such an unnecessary evil, we'd have cheaper prices at the pump, cleaner air and feel a little better not having to answer paper or plastic.
There are many alternatives to plastic bags: you can bring your own bag (BYOB - the most environmentally friendly choice) or urge your store to start using biodegradable or compostable bags.
But remember - the best way to shop is with your own reuseable bag. There are tons of styles out that and you'll look really cool doing it.
It is long overdue for Portland to shift from plastic. Let's make it happen!
I had the opportunity to spend 15 days touring around Guatemala in February with my friend Arianne.
It was an outdoor cornucopia. We experienced forests and jungles, lakes and rivers, volcanoes and canyons. We got to reach out and put our walking sticks into lava and watch them catch fire, swam through a cave holding a candle, and spent an afternoon basking in a series of crystal blue pools.
Of course, there was culture to experience too -- wonderful indigenous markets, live music, and the mixing of Catholicism and Mayan religious practices were the most notable.
The food was a mixed bag. We had some excellent, interesting meals. But my number one advice to future travelers to Guatemala is not to order a cheese sandwich, unless you're okay with two pieces of toast surrounding a Kraft singles slice with a reddish substance that tasted vaguely of ketchup.
Perhaps the most disappointing thing was that Guatemala desperately needs a new approach to solid waste - their current approach generally is throw it away by the side of the road, in the gully, or wherever. You'd be walking through a lovely little village and then there was this huge pile of trash thrown right by the road. I don't know how to say reduce, reuse, recycle in Spanish, but it's a mantra they need to learn if they want to keep their country from being spoiled.
I know they also face other big environmental challenges - deforestation, overuse of pesticides, and contamination of water were the most obvious, but I steered clear of learning much about them.
Now NYC is one of the first to require stores to recycle them.
Back in April we reported that the San Francisco City Council voted to
ban petroleum-based plastic bags from large supermarkets. After Mayor Newsom signed the ban, San Francisco became the first American
City with such a ban. Plastic bags were replaced with paper and corn-based plastic bags that can be recycled through San
Francisco's city-wide
curbside compost program.
I'd like to take a moment to remind you that similar bans already exist in South Africa,
Taiwan, and Bangladesh.
The New York Times reports that the NYC Council overwhelmingly passed a sweeping measure today that
would require stores to collect, transport and recycle the plastic bags
they issue to customers. This puts New York City at the forefront of a growing movement to curb plastic bag use.
I appreciate that many local stores have taken the first steps to make
plastic bags obsolete. Promotions for reusable bags abound. But this is
not enough. Plastic bags can still be waving in trees or sailing in the
air on a windy day (a performance I see frequently through my office
window).
Our original post asked if the Portland City Council will one day take on this
issue, after all it doesn't seem unreasonable with our current city council.
The waters have been tested. The public will is there. We just need our leaders to act.
What were the top 5 environmental victories of 2007?
1.) Measure 49
OLCV E-bulletin subscriber, Stan Seleen, said it best, "The passage of Measure 49 must be the most important
success in 2007. It is a tremendous relief to know that Oregonians have once
again shown their support for our land use planning."
2.) Passage of SB 838, the renewable Energy Standard
The 2007 Legislature passed legislation setting a new renewable energy standard that is among the best in the country. 3.) Passage of all five Oregon Conservation Network's (OCN) Priorities for a Healthy Oregon
You can find out what these priorities are and what they mean for you at OCN's website
4.) More positive pro-environment bills became law in 2007 than in the period from 1991-2005 combined
The record number of environmental bills passed through the Legislature
can be attributed to strong leadership fueled by the urgent need to
take responsibility to combat global warming, promote energy
independence, and a strong wish to protect our children from toxic
pollution in our air and water.
The passage of legislation requiring municipal water quality enforcement in
Oregon, a major breakthrough in an area where we have had few major victories
since the heyday of the 70s, is just one example of such legislation. Thanks to OLCV E-bulletin reader, Chuck Johnson, for this contribution.
5.) The average scores in both the House and Senate climbed to heights
not seen since 1977. The average Senate score was 73% and the House
was 69%.
Voters have made the environment a priority and they are choosing to vote for people that understand this. Expect to see even more environmental leaders elected locally and statewide in 2008.
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