Category Archives: Water

Education, Environment, Events, Justice, Protection, Water

Native tribes hold public Prayer For the Earth

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Saturday, May 5, 2012
12:00pm
95 Halifax Rd. Mahwah, New Jersey 07430

Native Tribes & Local Communities BAND TOGETHER to Bridge Cultures
for the Preservation & Protection of our Water from Hydraulic Fracking

The Ramapough/Lunaape Nation is calling on all humans of good conscience to join a Prayer Rally/Vigil on our Ceremonial Land:

Why? This is the time, this is the hour to speak out for the protection of all US Watersheds that supply everyone with fresh drinking water, preserve Native traditions, and for the healing of Grand Mother Earth.

The Ramapough are expecting an array of communities, native peoples, environmental groups, representative of diverse cultural and spiritual traditions. Several of the guest speakers include:

-Professor Airy Dixon/Saponi
-Chief Vincent Mann/ Ramapough Nation
-Dean Hutchins Cherokee Nation
-Monica Evans/Haida Nation.

There will also be light entertainment. Please bring chairs and blankets. This event will close in Ceremony with a Prayer for Grand Mother Earth.

The Ramapough’s traditional land has met with imprudence from numerous outside groups, including Ford Motor Company – which used our land as a “toxic dumping ground”, and now gas/oil corporations want to endanger our vital watersheds by hydrofracking for export to foreign markets. To create this supply of fracked gas would involve blasting and clearing of public and private land, creating hazards for communities in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York regions which includes the beautiful Long Island Sound. Fracking fluid contaminates water sources, poisons ecosystems [animal & plant], and is currently suspect to have caused earthquakes in Ohio.

The Ramapough believe that callous disregard for humans and Grand Mother Earth cannot go unanswered. The Ramapough assert: it is the civic duty of all people of good conscience everywhere to ensure change be just, rather than a reinforcement of finance inequities that have so long divided us. To that end, we are asking everyone to join in making their voices heard on behalf of families, community, our watersheds, and Grand Mother Earth against this current atrocity.

Ramapough Lunaape Chief Perry(Kihkay Maqua) states:

“We have chosen to hold this event now because the hour is critical for America. The destructive extraction of gas/oil resources from our Grand Mother Earth is almost complete. We hope this event will result in “An Awakening, an Occupation of the Spirit”, whereby each and every human concerned with the Earth and Future Generations will stand together as “One Voice”, accumulating the collective strength of millions. Knowing we are not alone, that each action is not an isolated action but supported by millions who vote, sends an important message to our elected officials & the gas/oil corporations that our tax dollars can no longer be used to literally poison us. The potential increase to medicaid costs will skyrocket for these toxins will cause long term damage.

I ask in a good way, that each and everyone of you who hold a drop of knowledge to come forth now; share, teach, put down some medicine, send up some sounds, help in any way you can for our Grand Mother is in pain. Join those who have been speaking out and those who have been keeping us alive. Stand Up Now, help us to pray. Show us how to heal in a good way our Grand Mother Earth for she is crying out for our assistance. Remember who you are, Humans. Remember you are dependent on Grand Mother Earth to sustain your lives.”

The Ramapough have lived in this area for over 15,000 years, with unfortunately a long tragic history that drove a wedge between the Ramapough and the community at large; a gap we are seeking to bridge with this event. We are honoring our past and seeking to move forward as a strong coalition that will address issues common to all communities.

Rain Date: Sunday, May 6th, 2012

for more information contact: Charlene – charlene@ramapoughlenapenation.com
Jill – jillll@optimum.net
Jon – jonlrucker@gmail.com

Events, Nature, Protection, Water

Saddle River County Park watershed cleanup 3/24!

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Water is one of our most valuable resources with less than 1% of the water supply on Earth used for drinking. This precious resource is being threatened, whether from fracking or pollution, but we can and must protect it. World Water Day is March 22nd: what better way to celebrate and help care for this precious resource than by a water way (watershed) clean up? Please join ours on Saturday, March 24. If you have gardening or work gloves please bring them and dress appropriately.

Saturday March 24th from 10am to 12pm
Saddle River County Park
Meet at Saddle River Road in Fairlawn Exit Off of Route 4 parking lot P on your Right
Here is a map to better understand: http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/bcparks/maps/FairlawnAreaMap.pdf
Everyone Welcome! Friends, family, neighbors spread the word to whoever wants to come out & make a difference!

Please RSVP to the clean up

Nicole Dallara, Outreach Coordinator, New Jersey Sierra Club
609-656-7612

Environment, Health, Justice, Nature, Protection, Water

Help protect national forests – sign petition

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America’s national forests provide essential habitat for lynx, grizzlies and other wildlife — and clean water for millions of Americans. Yet new rules could threaten the sanctity of these special places, paving the way for more logging and more destructive development on our national forests. Help protect these special places. Sign the petition online at: http://dfnd.us/vYt93D

All, Environment, Justice, Protection, Water

Take Back Port Newark forum

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Take Back Port Newark
When: Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Where: Essex County College
Siegler Hall, Room 2132
303 University Avenue, Newark, NJ 07102

SPEAKERS:

  • Larry Hamm, Chairman of People’s Organization for Progress
  • Reverend Jethro James, Paradise Baptist Church
  • James Harris, President NJ NAACP
  • Kim Gaddy, Environmental Justice Organizer, NJ Environmental Federation
  • Henry Rose, Statewide Coordinator – NJ Environmental Justice Alliance

It’s time to take back the Port and make it work for Newark and its people!

The Two Faces of Port Newark

For corporations in the Tri-State Area, Port Newark means:

  • $50 billion dollars worth of imported goods per year!
  • “. . . the most important engine for economic growth in our state” (Gov. Christie)

    • Eating Very Well!!!

For Newark residents, Port Newark means:

  • Only $71 million dollars in rent piad for both the Port and Newark Airport
  • Budget woes that lead to cuts in residents’ services, and more pollution and ashtma in our communities.

    • Washing Dirty Dishes!

For more information contact:
Take Back Port Newark Coalition: 978-573-6013 or 201-878-8482

Environment, Events, Water

Rain barrel education and training on 3/7

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Are you interested in helping rainwater get into the ground? Rain barrels are a great way to do this! In this program, you’ll not only learn how to make rain barrels, you’ll also learn about their environmental benefits, why stormwater management is important and how to do rain barrel building workshops in your own community!

Rain Barrels are a great tool for promoting water conservation and reducing stormwater runoff. The Rain Barrel Train the Trainer program is for environmental commission members, educators, municipalities, garden clubs, and environmental organizations interested in learning how to teach their communities about the environmental benefits of rain barrels.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 6:30-9:00pm
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County
Davidson Mill Pond Park
42 Riva Avenue, South Brunswick, NJ

Covered at the workshop:

  • How to get barrels
  • Tools and materials needed to build a rain barrel
  • Rain barrel installation examples
  • Methods for painting rain barrels
  • Preventing mosquitoes, and other maintenance issues
  • Education on water conservation and stormwater management
  • Brochures, fact sheets and other resources for educating the public and promoting your program

For those building a rain barrel, the cost is $50.00. For those not building a rain barrel, the cost is $12.00. Call 862-203-8814 to register or email info@greenwei.com. Payment must be made in advance by Wednesday, February 29th in order to reserve your space. Class size is limited so register early!

Abuse of public trust, All, Environment, Food, Health, Plants, Pests, Rescue, Water

Death of the Honey Bee: the Decline of Mankind

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Sadly I’m finding more support for something that I have long suspected. Monsanto is a major player in the deaths of honey bees, which could in turn cause mankind to starve. The shame is that it is not a direct cause so many are duped into believing that these genetically manipulated products cause no harm. For a long time bee colony deaths have been attributed to pests, pesticides, and environment. The primary pests were Varroa mites which are like microscopic vampires sucking the life out of the bees. But healthy bee hives where there is no smoke or antibiotics have been able to survive these attacks. There are a variety of pesticides which also kill bees but these are obvious because death is fairly immediate. The biggest factor in the environment seems to be widening holes in our planet’s ozone layer. These holes are allowing more ultraviolet light to come through causing an increasing incidence of human skin cancer, as well as the deaths of frogs and many insects. However, while these attacks are significant most bees have been surviving in spite of them.

Then Monsanto comes on the scene. They took a previously used bacterial disease, Bacill Thuringiensis ( also known as “Bt” ), but instead of spraying it on the plants as was previously done, Monsanto incorporated Bt into the produce itself, genetically. Spraying put most of the poison on the outside of the plants where bees had less contact. Genetically modified plants are the poison. Genetically engineered plants containing Bt were approved for use with the understanding that there would be no harm to non-target insects. (There was no mention of us humans, of course.)

So Bt was studied for its effect upon bees, but only as a direct cause of death. The actual mechanism for death seems to be ingestion of the poison by bees through plant nectar and pollen, then Bt produces a sort of bee Alzheimer, if you will. Normally when bees die of other direct causes, the bodies are piled outside of the hives by workers. Bt affected bees get memory loss and lose their ability to navigate to and from the hive. In the winter months, when the bee has to travel further to get food, they simply lose their way and don’t return home. Beekeepers just find an empty hive in the spring when they go to check on their colonies.

There are scientists who are giving us a 30 year life span until starvation. Personally, I would think that event could come sooner unless some is done to stop the present proliferation of Bt-laced products as well as the build up of Bt levels in water and soil along with the increasing cross pollination of Bt plants with organic ones. Some organic farmers are even using Bt pesticides since they are listed as “natural”. This only adds to contamination levels, hastening the time when honey bees could become extinct.

Abuse of public trust, Energy, Environment, Health, Protection, Water

Act For a Permanent Ban on Delaware Basin Fracking

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Groups instrumental in advocacy against Marcellus Shale fracking suggest future action towards achieving a permanent ban.

The vote on fracking the Delaware Basin was postponed when Delaware Governor Jack Markell announced before the Trenton rally on November 21, 2011 that Delaware would vote No on the proposal, and New York’s Governor Cuomo had already decided to cast a No vote too. Because there weren’t enough votes to win, the vote was postponed.

The Food & Water Watch Group, which wants fracking banned in New York, asks that people, “please keep the pressure on President Obama to oppose fracking in the basin and urge Governor Cuomo to maintain his opposition by calling

President Obama: 866-586-4069
Governor Cuomo: 866-961-3208

The group has produced a movie exposing false claims that fracking would produce a landslide of jobs in the region. And, they invite people to join a protest against fracking in Manhattan on Wednesday, November 30 at 4:30 pm at the DEC hearing.

The other message was sent out by Environment New Jersey:

Last Thursday, Environment New Jersey helped to deliver an important victory to protect the Delaware River and our drinking water from dangerous gas drilling—and we couldn’t have done it without your ongoing involvement and support.

After months of deliberation, a little-known agency called the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) delayed a proposal to open the Delaware River Basin—and our drinking water —to harmful gas drilling. Why the delay? Because there weren’t enough votes to approve drilling.

It looks like we won by the skin of our teeth—representatives from the Obama administration joined the governors of New York and Delaware to voice their disapproval for any proposal that would put our Delaware River at risk.

But we’re not done yet. President Obama holds the deciding vote on the commission.

Please, “>Email President Obama today, and tell him to stand up for the 15 million of us who get our drinking water from the Delaware.

PROTESTS
Fracking protests around New York

Energy, Environment, Protection, Water

What Is Marcellus Shale/Delaware Basin Fracking?

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Fracking is an abbreviation for hydro-fracturing, a practice in which a cocktail is made of chemicals and thickeners mixed with water drawn from local water supplies and injected deep underground to force natural gas trapped in shale to rise to the surface, where it is captured and can be sold. Once used, treated water that rises to the surface cannot be reused because it becomes way too contaminated. Much of the water stays trapped in the shale and can neither rise nor filter down into underground aquifers which would bring it through soil to be cleansed before depositing it into natural bodies of water

There are deposits of shale throughout the United States, but the Marcellus Shale formation is the biggest one in the country and the 2nd largest in the world.

The New York City Council has a great synopsis about why fracking shouldn’t be allowed in the Delaware River Basin where the Marcellus Shale formation sits.

Other Green Wei blog posts relating to fracking:
Dangers of Fracking – Fracturing Shale With Water
Act For a Permanent Ban on Delaware Basin Fracking

Abuse of public trust, All, Energy, Environment, Food, Health, Protection, Water

Dangers of Fracking – Fracturing Shale With Water

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Update: See separate post on actions for moving towards a permanent ban on fracking

The New York City Council has a great synopsis about why fracking shouldn’t be allowed in the Delaware River Basin where the Marcellus Shale formation sits

The Delaware River is the critical water source for over 15 million people — five percent of the U.S. population — including residents of New Jersey, Delaware, Philadelphia, and 8 million New Yorkers. Furthermore, experts agree that hydraulic fracturing could contaminate drinking water, causing irreparable harm and costing taxpayers billions of dollars. The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), an agency composed of representatives from four states and the federal government, is taking steps to finalize regulations for hydraulic fracturing in the area near the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. While thousands of gas wells have been developed in Pennsylvania in recent years, development of hydraulic fracturing has been much more limited in the area near the Delaware River due to the area’s status as a critical drinking water source for five percent of the U.S. population.

On September 29th, Councilmember James Gennaro introduced a resolution calling on the DRBC to halt the issuance of regulations for gas production using hydraulic fracturing for water withdrawal for the purpose of hydraulic fracturing within the Delaware River Basin until a cumulative impact study is completed to assess the risks and inform the development of adequate regulations for hydraulic fracturing in the Delaware River Basin.

New York Times writer Eliza Griswold reports on the local environmental dangers of fracking, a practice which in the regions it takes place is ruining water supplies in locations across the country, corroding home and business water delivery pipes and appears to be killing pets and farms animals too. Griswold was directed by a Range Resources spokesman to move away from a “fracking pond” containing chemically treated waste water that had been used in the company’s fracking process which Griswold observed to be sitting in a catch basin at the top of a watershed (EPA definition).

Griswold points out

In Amwell Township, your opinion of fracking tends to correspond with how much money you’re making and with how close you live to the gas wells, chemical ponds, pipelines and compressor stations springing up in the area. Many of those who live nearby fear that a leak in the plastic liner of a chemical pond could drip into a watershed or that a truck spill could send carcinogens into a field of beef cattle. (According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 65 Marcellus wells drilled this year have been cited for faulty cement casings, which could result in leaks.) But for many other residents, including Haney’s neighbors, the risks seem small, and the benefits — clean fuel, economic development — far outweigh them.

One of her escorts through Amwell Township was 64 year old farmer and science teacher Ray Day of who, “like most of his neighbors, trusted the companies to use best practices. A man’s word means a lot here. After all, without regulation or oversight, he and other farmers worked together to do things like fence streams to keep cattle out of them.”

I first learned of the danger to water supplies caused by fracking when my friend, Sabastian Belfon, returned from visiting family in Arizona. “Kimi, I kept seeing all these pickups driving around with huge tanks in their beds in the back, so I asked my family what was going on.” They told me that’s how most people have to get their water now – by trucking it in. Because of hydrofracking, groundwater’s contaminated now. Just Google the phrase arizona people truck drinking water frack to produce a long list of problems people in that state are having with their drinking water, which some apparently can ignite simply by putting a flame near the water as it runs out of their kitchen sink faucet. Bob Donnan of Pennsylvania blogs about the water in his region turning putrid due to fracking,

TDS, or total dissolved solids in our drinking water were blamed for its chunky state. But water company officials were quick to tell us that even though it may spot glasses in your dishwasher, there is nothing to worry about — the water is safe to drink. Sure, if you can get past drinking something tasting nearly as bad as the prep for your last colonoscopy!

Turns out some of the low river flow, and much of the TDS chunkiness, resulted from the Marcellus Shale gas boom. Unless you have been sleeping, or residing on Mars for the past year, you know about this madhatter gas drilling boom that’s going on, with the epicenter in Hickory, Pennsylvania. Estimates indicate the Marcellus Shale holds enough gas to supply the entire US for 14 years, so main players ante up like it’s the California Gold Rush.

Water is pumped out of streams anytime, anywhere . . . The Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law is supposed to protect drought- stricken streams from de-watering, but is this law being enforced?

Mark Ruffalo stood with Occupy Trenton at the huge anti-fracking rally in Trenton yesterday (on 11/21) with Josh Fox, creator of the movie Gasland, to address the hundreds of protestors and Green Drinks co-host Sally Gellert was there too. Gasland‘s home page features a FAQ on fracking terms, including:

What is the Halliburton Loophole?
In 2005, the Bush/ Cheney Energy Bill exempted natural gas drilling from the Safe Drinking Water Act. It exempts companies from disclosing the chemicals used during hydraulic fracturing. Essentially, the provision took the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) off the job. It is now commonly referred to as the Halliburton Loophole.

What is the Safe Drinking Water Act?
In 1974, the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was passed by Congress to ensure clean drinking water free from both natural and man-made contaminates.

What is the FRAC Act?
The FRAC Act (Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness to Chemical Act) is a House bill intended to repeal the Halliburton Loophole and to require the natural gas industry to disclose the chemicals they use.

Slicing and dicing up the earth for natural gas through fracking = no good, no way.

All, At Green Drinks, Education, Environment, Protection, Water

Recently Discussed at Green Drinks 3

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Discussed at Hackensack and Paterson/Clifton Green Drinks in the past week:

President Obama is postponing pushing for large scale environmental legislation until after the 2012 election. Decision on the XL Pipeline is one of the projects being put on his agenda for 2013, and particulate matter in our air (affects air quality) is another issue being postponed to receive attention that year. While environmentalists are understandably disappointed that issues of concern are being tabled instead of dealt with decisively right now, I think that Obama’s very wise to not push for changes in these areas right now. That might give big business and the politicians and media outlets they own, enough fuel to engulf our president in a storm of controversy which could easily distract voters from the most important task facing us this year: re-electing the president. Obama might not be perfect, but on a bad day he’s worlds better for average North Americans, and environmental protection, than any Republican is going to be, for the simple reason that Republicans support big business and the 1% – the guys who got us into this environmental mess. We’d have to be nuts to count on them to get us out of it.

Of course, we talked about the two major recent wins in the environmental world which everyone in New Jersey is happy about this week: postponement on voting to approve the Keystone Tar Sands XL Pipeline (for which Green Drinks co-host Sally Gallert was arrested in DC for protesting against). AND the postponement of @ivanwei‘s Fair Lawn Green Team committee for making Fair Lawn a healthier, more sustainable town by improving access for bikers and walkers. Ivan and Sacha are both bikers, and Ivan bikes as his primary mode of transportation. With @kimiwei‘s help the team of three has decided that our first task is working on establishing a safe, direct route from the Bergen County Bike Path to Bergen Community College. Currently, the bike path runs through Fair Lawn to within 1/4 mile of Bergen Community College but does not feature a safe route directly onto college grounds. To get to the college, bikers must emerge from Dunkerhook County Park, cross heavily trafficked Paramus Road without the benefit of any signs advising traffic to slow down or watch out for biking (or walking) traffic and then make their way on a narrow strip of pavement adjacent to the east side of the road. Because a librarian died traveling home from BCC on Paramus Road, we know that it’s a dangerous place for bikers.

Biking and walking are healthy activities which progressive health officials like Carol Wagner, Health Department Director, wants to encourage in the town of Fair Lawn. These activities also impact the environment by reducing vehicles miles travelled – a provision called for in the visioning statement of Bergen County’s master plan, and also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That’s an issue on so many people’s minds these days now that mainstream resources such as the climate change study funded by the Koch brothers and NASA’s Climate Change education initiative reveal that climate change is a real concern and the temperature really is rising around the globe.

By the way, take a look at this kicking climate change video produced by (you really won’t believe this when you see how good it is) NASA. For a full screen version (but no lyrics showing) watch it on YouTube

Naturally, we discussed #OWS @occupywallstreet. What progressives aren’t talking about this movement?

It isn’t well known that in the field of Sustainability, social justice is as important a concern as environmental justice. Events led to our discussion touching on prisoner re-entry for a while: a young man of color approached our table towards the end of the night saying he had just been let out of the county jail and needed money to get to Morristown. I explained to him that I’m not in the habit of giving money to people but I could offer him a meal, if he wanted one, and a ride to Morristown if he could wait 15 minutes until our gathering wrapped up. The young man politely declined the meal, and decided to move on after asking a second time for cash and hearing my offer of a ride repeated. We wondered what help inmates are given to get on with their lives, and at least reach a destination of choice, when they leave the penal system and are released from jail. I’m checking into this question – if you have tips or info, please share.

At Green Drinks Hackensack last week on 11/14 we were joined by a fellow couchsurfer, Joanneh, and a couple of her family members, one of whom – Michael Hakim – is a well-known landscape architect and environmental professional. Ivan and I promote Green Drinks in the Couchsurfing community and were delighted to have couchsurfing friends join us.

Clifton/Paterson has been the slowest group out of the three we run, to establish, but it seems to be picking up impetus. Our little group talked about The Sultan food as well, but that part of the conversation lasted only as long as the food – which is to say, not long at all. Like Thanksgiving birds, we gobbled it all up and, it was great!