Natural resources such as water and gas belong to future generations as well. We cannot simply burn it all up, sell if off cheaply and trash our planet with more plastics. Building a huge chemical refinery within an urban center holds too many dangers for our safety, air and water and the well being of our sensitive natural environment.

The Bureau of Land Management proposes to lease 31,000 acres of public mineral rights under the Wayne National Forest to fracking companies. Fracking on the Wayne would cause significant socioeconomic and environmental problems. The Wayne Forest Supervisor has the power to withold consent and block the sale. Instead of bowing to political and corporate power, Scardina needs to listen to the public, follow environmental law, and just say #leaveitintheground

Hydraulic Fracturing or "fracking," a dangerous, dirty and extreme form of fossil fuel extraction puts the public health of communities at risk and increases emissions that contribute to climate disruption. Recently, Governor Andrew Cuomo banned the practice in New York citing public health concerns. Florida should follow this example to better protect citizens, water quality and, given its particular vulnerability, address climate change. Senate Bill (SB) 318 and House Bill (191) would not only allow for an expansion of fracking throughout the state, they would also prevent local jurisdictions from banning this harmful practice in their communities. Your citizens deserve a Frack-Free Florida and the ability to make local decisions that best serve and maintain the safety of their communities. Additionally, the many tourist who frequent and bring commerce to the state are also concerned about the health risks associated with an expansion of fracking that would be unregulated at the local level. Therefore, we the undersigned demand that you veto any bills that would expand fracking and/or preempt local communities from banning fracking. Sources: 1. Text of House Bill 191: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2016/0191/BillText/Filed/PDF 2. Text of Senate Bill 318: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2016/0318/BillText/Filed/PDF 3. Industry Backed-Fracking Bill Clears Florida House Panel. Margie Menzel, WJCT 11/4/2015: http://news.wjct.org/post/industry-backed-fracking-bill-clears-florida-house-panel 4. Florida Bill Draws Complaints About How Far it Goes to Block Local Governments. Jenna Buzzacco-Forester. Napels Daily News, 11/3/2015: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/government/fracturing-bill-draws-complaints-about-how-far-it-goes-to-block-local-governments-23a950d2-9457-1379-340007721.html

DEADLINE: November 12! The United States has moved away from waste incinerators as an energy source because the miniscule amounts of energy produced comes at a high price that pollutes communities and bankrupts local governments. But now the New York company Energy Answers is trying to build one of the first new waste incinerators in the country in over two decades in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, an area already overburdened by polluting industrial facilities. Opposition to this project is strong in Puerto Rico: coalitions representing every local government on the island have spoken out against the project as a burden on their already troubled municipal finances, and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources has denied a permit to the company in order to preserve the ecosystem of a nearby Natural Reserve. Unable to find private financing, Energy Answers is now asking USDA to use taxpayer money in a last-ditch attempt to fund this boondoggle of a project. The project will lock Puerto Rico into the most polluting method of energy production for decades and severely compromise the island’s recycling goals. Don’t let USDA fund a project that will pollute Puerto Rico and bankrupt its municipalities. Tell USDA not to waste your taxpayer money to build a dirty, uneconomical waste incinerator in Arecibo.

I love New Mexico's wildlife, and the practice of leg hold traps and snares is cruel and painful. Traps ensnare the animal, which is then forced to wait, immobilized and frightened, until the trapper comes and dispatches them. It is not right to treat our wildlife this way. Ghandi said it best: "The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Jon Steverson, whom Gov. Rick Scott appointed to lead the DEP last year, is trying to make the parks pay for themselves by adding in previously banned activities. He has said that parks pay only 77 percent of their expenses, and he wants that number to be 100 percent. In March, he told a state legislative committee that he wanted to make the parks pay for themselves by adding timber harvesting, cattle grazing and other money-making activities. Three months ago, "they added stuff like hunting, timber harvesting and cattle grazing," said Ehrbar, who quit her job as a DEP park planner on Oct. 21 because she disagreed with the direction of the division. The goal was to "implement wherever possible" by Dec. 31. Steverson has had two directors of the state's land division quit in the last two years after questions arose about their efforts to monetize public property. In August, Steverson was chided by members of the Florida Cabinet for not being forthcoming with the public on how he plans to alter the parks. Even Scott advised his appointee that he should be "sitting down with all the people that use the state parks and make sure we're doing the right thing." Repeated requests by the Tampa Bay Times to interview Steverson have been declined by his staff. They say he is far too busy to talk to reporters. -- "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Millions are affected by the drought, but many of the wealthy in Hollywood who can afford it are guzzling thousands of gallons of water daily. Such monopolization of an already rapidly decreasing supply is dramatically worsening the situation for those in counties all over California. California legislature must put a stop to this as the drought is only worsening with a few elite using a substantial amount of water.

As part of First Lego League competition, our team Lego Plus researched glass recycling and would like to request this. The team consists of Sreeja Gudiseva, Tanya Singhal and Zahra Izzi.

In mid-September 2015, an aquifer in Pennsylvania's Potter County was illegally polluted by a fracking fluid spill that contained prohibited ingredients. The company is JKLM Energy, and this is their fifth violation this year. This time, the spill at their drill site impacted the drinking water wells for at least five families.

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a beloved canoeing, fishing and hiking destination, known around the world for its wild landscape, deep silence and opportunities for solitude. Those qualities are threatened by Twin Metals mining company’s proposal to drill hundreds of wells as it seeks to develop a massive sulfide-ore copper mine on the edge of the Boundary Waters. Earlier this month, the US Forest Service released an Environmental Assessment of Twin Metals’ request to begin drilling hydrogeologic wells on Superior National Forest land. Twin Metals itself argues that the hydrogeologic study is necessary so it can develop its proposed mine on the edge of the Wilderness. Sadly, however, in acting only on the application, the Forest Service’s Environmental Assessment ignored the devastating impacts that mining itself would have on the Boundary Waters and the communities it supports. By dodging this opportunity to study the cumulative impacts of mining-related activities, the Forest Service has acted in a way that will allow these harmful impacts to the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters to multiply until their wild characteristics are fatally undermined and permanently lost. The proposed drilling program, combined with previously approved exploratory drilling, is estimated to subject 6,968 acres of the Boundary Waters Wilderness to drilling and mechanical noise. A total of 13,406 acres of the Superior National Forest open to recreation (including the Boundary Waters Wilderness acreage) would be impacted by the noise. Instead, the Forest Service should assess the impacts of sulfide-ore copper mining on America’s most popular Wilderness before allowing mining companies to carve up the Superior National Forest and threaten the solitude of the Boundary Waters. This proposal is just the tip of the iceberg. We're counting on your continued support to make sure we protect the clean water and unspoiled forests of the Boundary Waters for this and future generations. You have until November 9, 2015, to comment on the Forest Service’s Environmental Assessment. Please take action now.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, has engaged itself in Sustainable practices. The community is now calling for a policy that aim for a ban on plastic bottles to reduce the plastic waste on campus and spread a culture of sustainability throughout the campus.

Nevadans know that clean energy development benefits our state, and that Nevada knows best how to develop its energy policy. Every day should be Nevada Day with investments in our natural resources. As we work to develop the Nevada Clean Power Plan, we should harness our own resources.