I hate your SUV

As an environmentalist, it has annoyed me for too long that SUVs aren't held to stricter vehicle emissions. It's bad enough that 90% of the SUVs will never be driven on any other surface than asphalt, they are heavily contributing to global warming.

Well now there is some retribution, thanks to the rising fuel prices. We as humans are slow to react to the things we "should do", but we are quick to react to our pocketbooks. Now that fuel prices are rising I feel that we will see some REAL progress in the area of alternative fuel sources.

So next time you're at the gas station, be sure to laugh at those suckers paying $60 to fill their stupid SUVs.

Got Milk? Buy from Organic Cow!

To celebrate The Organic Cow of Vermont's 15th anniversary, The Organic Cow is continuing the Clip for a Clean New England program through 2005. In 2003, they raised $30,000 for Earth Share of New England. That number grew to $50,000 in 2004 and can reach $75,000 this year. For every clipped strip you send in before December 31,2005, The Organic Cow of Vermont will make a $.50 donation to Earth Share of New England, up to $75,000. The more you clip, the more you can contribute to organizations that further environmental education, conservation of natural resources, preservation of family farms and animal welfare.

Call to Action: Stop Development in and around Middlesex Fells

This morning, I visited the Friends of the Fells website and was confounded by the news that I found there regarding development in the neighborhood surrounding the Middlesex Fells park. The city of Stoneham is reviewing a Development Proposal ("Langwood Commons") from The Gutierrez Company who wants to build a more than one million square foot development on the site of the former BRMC (Hospital) that will include over 450 housing units plus 250,000 sq. ft of office space. The company is trying to persuade the city that the development will not impact the reservation environmentally. Common sense suggests otherwise when you factor in the increase in traffic from 1,660 to 8,660 vehicle trips every day.

Mike Ryan who is the Executive Director of the Friends of Fells comments, "The issues are many, from traffic impacts, public safety, noise, pollution, sprawl, and numerous open space and environmental impacts to the Middlesex Fells, our neighborhoods, and our emergency public drinking water supply at Spot Pond; all of which adds up to severe negative impacts on the quality of life in this region for a project which is still way too big for the middle of a park. The Stoneham Zoning Board of Appeals must do the right thing and deny the comprehensive permit for this ill advised over-blown project. Such a denial will be in the communities' best interest as it will open the process to discussion as to what is the true best use for the site for us, our children and their children as well."

Get involved. Contact the Friends of the Fells today to see how you can help shut out the development.

Save our Environment

Get involved and take action to save our environment - visit my blog often to read updates and action alerts. You can also click on the above link and visit "Save the Environment" - a national coalition committed to the environment.

Save the Clean Water Act!

Keep raw sewage out of our water! Recently the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a draft policy that would relax restrictions on discharging untreated sewage into our lakes, rivers, streams and coastal waters. EPA's policy will allow more viruses, parasites, toxic chemicals, and other pollutants into our waters by weakening the safeguards that have protected them for decades!We need your help to keep raw sewage out of our water! Click on "Save the Clean Water Act" above and fill out the form. A message on your behalf will be sent to your Representative in Congress urging him or her to co-sponsor the Save Our Waters from Sewage Act, a bi-partisan bill that will block this dangerous EPA proposal.