Oil companies are trying to expand their Northwest operations, putting our communities at risk from explosive oil train derailments, huge increases in rail traffic, and oil spills from trains, tankers, and barges. And with each additional project, they add to climate disruption. Dangerous types of oil – volatile Bakken crude from the Midwest and toxic tar sands oil from Canada – pose unique dangers to public health and the environment. Unchecked, the oil industry will turn our region into a thoroughfare for crude oil with terminal proposals that impact the Northwest, the country and the world. We remember the disaster in Lac Megantic Canada —a derailment and explosion that killed 47 people. We also remember the Exxon Valdez, the BP Horizon, and the ominous warning of the 1989 Nestucca oil barge spill off Grays Harbor that fouled beaches from Oregon to Vancouver Island, and killed 56,000 sea birds. But we have an opportunity to say no to the oil industry’s proposed expansion through our region: A public comment period is now underway to evaluate the risks of two of the terminals in Grays Harbor, Washington – the Westway and Imperium terminal proposals. Our job is to let the Department of Ecology and the City of Hoquiam know that the risks outweigh the benefits of these projects.

Oil companies are trying to expand their Northwest operations, putting our communities at risk from explosive oil train derailments, huge increases in rail traffic, and oil spills from trains, tankers, and barges. And with each additional project, they add to climate disruption. Dangerous types of oil – volatile Bakken crude from the Midwest and toxic tar sands oil from Canada – pose unique dangers to public health and the environment. Unchecked, the oil industry will turn our region into a thoroughfare for crude oil with terminal proposals that impact the Northwest, the country and the world. We remember the disaster in Lac Megantic Canada —a derailment and explosion that killed 47 people. We also remember the Exxon Valdez, the BP Horizon, and the ominous warning of the 1989 Nestucca oil barge spill off Grays Harbor that fouled beaches from Oregon to Vancouver Island, and killed 56,000 sea birds. But we have an opportunity to say no to the oil industry’s proposed expansion through our region: A public comment period is now underway to evaluate the risks of two of the terminals in Grays Harbor, Washington – the Westway and Imperium terminal proposals. Our job is to let the Department of Ecology and the City of Hoquiam know that the risks outweigh the benefits of these projects.

The December 18th 2015 debut of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is a chance to tell vast audiences to defeat the dark side of man-made climate change and awaken the force of worldwide actions that will allow us to live sustainably on Mother Earth. One excellent series of Hollywood-produced film shorts is the "Nature Is Speaking" series made by Conservation International narrated by major actors, including Harrison Ford and Lupita Nyong'o who are members of the Star Wars cast. Ford and director James Cameron brought us the recent Showtime Documentary series,"Years of Living Dangerously," demonstrating the entertainment industry's ability to elevate environmental realities. Ford spoke out passionately for the earth by confronting Indonesia's president and condemning that country's palm oil industry for destroying its forests. With Ford's return to star in "The Force Awakens" -- a blockbuster that may well set world records for theater viewership -- he and James Cameron should use their star power and status to demand that theaters precede each showing with a film short for the Earth. We are also targeting Star Wars creator George Lucas, distributor Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Director/Producer J.J. Abrams, co-producer Bryan Burk, and Kathleen Kennedy, president of co-producer Lucasfilm. as well as the CEOs of large Theater and Cinema Companies like Carmike, AMC, Regal, Harkins, Cinemark, and more. Perhaps the best film short to suggest is the Louie Schwartzberg/Morgan Freeman film short to the 2014 UN Climate Meeting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4r5OsKyTUU

As Batteries contain dangerous chemicals and valuable resource deposits, and we need to maximize this factor by recycling these batteries more often. Lead acid batteries from cars are one of the most recycled items in America. If this wasn’t the case, lead would slowly be coming out of landfills and polluting lots of land and water, and developing nations typically pay less attention to mounting environmental problems. This would lead to a lot of lead poisoning if the lead got into food or water. To make people recycle batteries (in general) more we could put deposits of 10-20 cents per battery. This would give people more of an incentive to return these batteries to a recycling center. People would get the deposits back after they gave the batteries to the recycling center. With the money that is earned from the batteries not being recycled we could make more recycling centers to bring batteries too. Recycling batteries saves energy in the long run, reduces pollution, reduces the need for a landfill, generates income and jobs, lessens the amount of regulations, and reduces imports. Laws have been passed to promote disposal, and 98% of all lead batteries are recycled. In North America only, one in six households recycles rechargeable batteries. Some steps that we can take to reduce or minimize the damage caused to the environment due to improper battery disposal includes the recycling of used batteries, using rechargeable batteries more, buying batteries containing less mercury, lead and cadmium, providing information to customers about recycling, using alternative energy storage in devices, and looking for renewable sources of energy. The metals in batteries such as, cadmium, nickel, and lead, are harmful to people and the environment. Some of the dangers include burns and danger to the eyes and skin, polluted ground water, and the vaporized form becoming trapped in the atmosphere and polluting lakes and streams through form of rain. Recycling saves the recovered plastics and metals can be used to make new batteries. It also keeps toxic metals out landfills. Additionally, a key step to disposing of any battery is reading the label. With all that being said, batteries contain dangerous chemicals and valuable resource deposits that we can really take advantage of for our own good.

We, the citizens of Escambia County, demand that the Commissioners of Escambia County and the RESTORE Committee Members do not support the development of the Clark Sand Pit property for any use other than what was agreed upon in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the North West Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD) and Escambia County. And that the Clark Sand Pit not be developed for a Wakeboard Park or other recreational use for the following reasons: a. The north lake is the only lake in the Clark Sand Pit that may be used for Bayou Chico Sediment. b. If the Clark Sand Pit is developed for recreational use, Bayou Chico sediment will not be permitted in the Pit and the restoration of Bayou Chico will become too costly to fund. c. Escambia County agreed to use the Clark Sand Pit for Bayou Chico dredge sediment and storm water retention as its primary use. See MOU with NWFWMD. d. Recreational use of the Clark Sand Pit jeopardizes the restoration of Bayou Chico and is not in the best interest of the home owners and businesses within the Bayou Chico water shed district comprising of over 24,000 privately owned business and residential land partials.

As a Marine Biologist and lifelong Maui resident, I am passionate about saving Olowalu because I have witnessed the die-offs of coral reefs all around Maui due to land development. I know the importance of Olowalu for the recovery of adjacent reefs, and we can't afford to lose this reef. My kupuna have taught me that we need to try every day to be great ancestors; this is one of those moments when I feel I must do everything in my power to set the stage for future generations here on Maui.

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