Will Ferrell as President Bush, speaking on global warming
It's funny.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Friday, December 30, 2005
great lakes town hall
Madison's Biodiversity Project has started a new website called "The Great Lakes Town Hall". The purpose of the website is stated on their "About" page:
Sounds like a great effort. Hopefully people will take advantage of it and become involved because we DON"T want THIS:
Like the town meetings on which it is modeled, the Great Lakes Town Hall provides a "space" where residents from all across the Great Lakes basin - and all walks of life within the basin - can come together to identify common concerns, set the political agenda, share and develop collective solutions, and demand - as a public - that the Lakes are clean, abundant, and natural for generations to come.
Sounds like a great effort. Hopefully people will take advantage of it and become involved because we DON"T want THIS:
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
DO SOMETHING: attend a Lasee "hearing"
State Senator Alan Lasee (De Pere) loves to hate the DNR. It is one of his favorite targets. During the month of January, Lasee is holding “hearings” to once again try to get people to take pot-shots at the DNR. It would be great if local environmentalists could show up and tell Lasee what we REALLY think of the DNR. The Green Bay "hearing" is scheduled for Tuesday, January 10, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. It will be held in the Brown County Library Auditorium.
This could be the first time the Senator has ever stepped inside of a library. Yes Alan, those are BOOKS, and please take your hat off when you are inside of a building.
You can also submit comments through this website. Notice that he is asking for “comments and complaints”. He is definitely not fishing for examples of jobs well-done or pleas for more enforcement, funding, and manpower.
The RIVER ALLIANCE of Wisconsin has a very accurate description of what is going on, and what you can do, in its current C.A.N.O.E. newsletter:
Lasee is definitely no friend of the environment. His last score from the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters was dismal 11%. During the current legislative session, he has NEVER voted for the environment.
This could be the first time the Senator has ever stepped inside of a library. Yes Alan, those are BOOKS, and please take your hat off when you are inside of a building.
You can also submit comments through this website. Notice that he is asking for “comments and complaints”. He is definitely not fishing for examples of jobs well-done or pleas for more enforcement, funding, and manpower.
The RIVER ALLIANCE of Wisconsin has a very accurate description of what is going on, and what you can do, in its current C.A.N.O.E. newsletter:
Don't They Have Something More Important To Do?
Campaigns for next fall's elections are getting underway, so it's time to trot out everyone's favorite target, DNR. Senators Lasee (De Pere) and Zien (Wheaton) lead the new "Senate Select Committee on DNR Regulatory Reform" to study DNR's so-called overzealous enforcement of environmental regulations. We've seen this one before - rile up a few folks, then win a few points by proposing legislation to weaken environmental rules, and follow that with a few more staff cuts at DNR. The committee will hold hearings some time after the first of the year to hear complaints against DNR, and Senator Lasee is seeking email complaints.
Well, we've got a few complaints of our own, but they're probably not what the committee hopes to hear.Sometimes due to political pressure, and more often than not, sheer lack of adequate funding and staffing, DNR can not provide the enforcement we depend upon to protect our resources. We've all seen examples - the new subdivision under construction with rivers of mud flowing off site into the nearest stream; the questionable wetland fill permit granted; the house built too close to the water. We suggest using Senator Lasee's email form, and the upcoming hearings if you've got the stomach for it, to let the committee know what DNR does right, as well as personal experiences with lack of enforcement. Glad the wardens have nabbed poachers? Angry that DNR couldn't respond to a problem in a timely way? Think DNR needs more stormwater inspectors? Let Senator Lasee know
Lasee is definitely no friend of the environment. His last score from the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters was dismal 11%. During the current legislative session, he has NEVER voted for the environment.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Sign Up! for Conservation Lobby Day 2006
Make Your Voice Heard – Attend Conservation Lobby Day 2006 - January 25!
Visit http://conservationvoters.org/lobbyday/ to sign-up!
The Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters is once again organizing an opportunity for you to make your voice heard in the Capitol.
Last year, more than 120 citizens and 70 organizations descended on the Capitol to share their conservation values and speak with a unified voice for clean water, clean air and sporting opportunities.
As Chuck Manske from Stevens Point said, “I wasn't alone. There was a roomful of people like me, citizens who had come to Madison to talk to elected leaders about the conservation issues important in our lives.”
The event, organized by the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, gave conservationists a chance to speak with Legislators and Gov. Doyle about the need to remedy Wisconsin’s leading water quality problem – polluted runoff.
Polluted runoff, generated when pesticides, manure, motor oil and other pollutants run into surrounding water bodies, contaminates 90% of Wisconsin’s lakes and 40% of its streams. In 2002, the legislature passed the toughest rules in the country for reducing polluted runoff. Since the rules were implemented, however, funding to reduce polluted runoff and other water protection programs has decreased.
Conservation Lobby Day 2005 got results.
In large part because of the unified voice of citizens on Lobby Day, funding for polluted runoff was not one of the issues on the chopping block when the legislature negotiated the state budget.
You can be a part of building on the success of the 2005 Lobby Day, and continue to work to ensure that legislators vote for the things Wisconsinites values - clean water, clean air, special places and sporting opportunities.
According to Jeremy Jansen of La Crosse, who attended Lobby Day 2005, “Far too often special interest groups dominate lobbying and leave citizens feeling powerless. Conservation Lobby Day was very rewarding.”
The Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters is already planning Conservation Lobby Day 2006 which will be held on January 25. To register, or for more information, contact us at 608-661-0845 or anne@conservationvoters.org.
Visit http://conservationvoters.org/lobbyday/ to sign-up!
The Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters is once again organizing an opportunity for you to make your voice heard in the Capitol.
Last year, more than 120 citizens and 70 organizations descended on the Capitol to share their conservation values and speak with a unified voice for clean water, clean air and sporting opportunities.
As Chuck Manske from Stevens Point said, “I wasn't alone. There was a roomful of people like me, citizens who had come to Madison to talk to elected leaders about the conservation issues important in our lives.”
The event, organized by the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, gave conservationists a chance to speak with Legislators and Gov. Doyle about the need to remedy Wisconsin’s leading water quality problem – polluted runoff.
Polluted runoff, generated when pesticides, manure, motor oil and other pollutants run into surrounding water bodies, contaminates 90% of Wisconsin’s lakes and 40% of its streams. In 2002, the legislature passed the toughest rules in the country for reducing polluted runoff. Since the rules were implemented, however, funding to reduce polluted runoff and other water protection programs has decreased.
Conservation Lobby Day 2005 got results.
In large part because of the unified voice of citizens on Lobby Day, funding for polluted runoff was not one of the issues on the chopping block when the legislature negotiated the state budget.
You can be a part of building on the success of the 2005 Lobby Day, and continue to work to ensure that legislators vote for the things Wisconsinites values - clean water, clean air, special places and sporting opportunities.
According to Jeremy Jansen of La Crosse, who attended Lobby Day 2005, “Far too often special interest groups dominate lobbying and leave citizens feeling powerless. Conservation Lobby Day was very rewarding.”
The Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters is already planning Conservation Lobby Day 2006 which will be held on January 25. To register, or for more information, contact us at 608-661-0845 or anne@conservationvoters.org.
Friday, December 23, 2005
WISCONSIN AIR ADVISORY 12/23/05
Air quality health advisory issued for large portion of Wisconsin
DATE: December 23, 2005
CONTACT: Larry Bruss, DNR, (608) 267-7543
Henry Anderson, DHFS, (608) 266-1253
Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is issuing an air quality health advisory for approximately one-half of Wisconsin,
effective today Friday, December 23, 2005 until 12:00 p.m., Saturday, December 24, 2005. This advisory affects people living in the area south of a line from Rice Lake through Wausau and Green Bay to Kewaunee, and north of a line from La Crosse through Madison to Milwaukee.
The advisory is being issued because of persistent elevated levels of fine particles in the air. These fine particles come primarily from combustion
sources, such as power plants, factories and other industrial sources, vehicle exhaust, and outdoor fires. Current weather conditions leading to this advisory are air stagnation, light winds and warmer air aloft, trapping particle pollution near the ground. The air may continue to be stagnant through the Christmas weekend and people affected by fine particle pollution should check the web pages listed at the bottom of this advisory for more information on current conditions.
Due to the holiday weekend, DNR will not issue any additional health advisories before December 27, 2005. If you are sensitive to particle pollution, use caution this weekend and reduce your exposure to unhealthy levels of particle pollution.
The Air Quality Index is currently in the orange level, which is considered unhealthy for people in sensitive groups and others, including people who are not in sensitive groups but who are engaged in strenuous activities or exposed for prolonged periods of time. People in those sensitive groups include those with heart or lung disease, asthma, older adults and children. When an air quality health advisory is issued, people in those groups are advised to reschedule or cut back on strenuous activities.People with lung diseases such as asthma and bronchitis and heart disease should pay attention to cardiac symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath or respiratory symptoms like coughing, wheezing and discomfort when taking a breath, and consult with their physician if they have concerns or are experiencing symptoms. To receive air quality health advisories by e-mail, visit http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/air/health/listserv.html.
There are several actions the public can take to reduce their contributions to this regional air quality problem.
-Reduce driving when possible and don’t leave vehicle engines idling
-Postpone activities that use small gasoline and diesel engines.
-Avoid burning leaves, brush, grass or wood. Composting is preferred, but if you must burn and your community allows it, do not burn on an air quality health advisory day.
-Never burn household garbage, plastic, rubber, painted wood or other
materials that must be recycled or landfilled and cannot be legally burned.
-Practice electrical energy conservation.
For more information:
-Federal interagency air quality web site, for information on the Air Quality Index and nationwide air quality forecasts and air quality conditions, http://airnow.gov
-DNR’s statewide air quality monitoring web page, http://maps.dnr.state.wi.us/wisards
-For local DNR air management program contacts, http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/air/staff/regions.htm
lumps of coal
This recent "RUSTLE THE LEAF" (which you can always read on this site) was pretty funny.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
BROWN COUNTY AIR ADVISORY 12/22/05
DATE: December 22, 2005
CONTACT: Larry Bruss, DNR, (608) 267-7543
Henry Anderson, DHFS, (608) 266-1253
SUBJECT: Air quality health advisory issued for Waukesha, Brown Counties
Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is issuing an air quality health advisory for Waukesha and Brown Counties of Wisconsin effective immediately, today Thursday, December 22, 2005 until 12:00 p.m.(noon), Friday, December 23, 2005.
The advisory is being issued because of persistent elevated levels of fine particles in the air. These fine particles come primarily from combustion sources, such as power plants, factories and other industrial sources, vehicle exhaust, and outdoor fires. Current weather conditions leading to this advisory are air stagnation and warmer air aloft, trapping particle pollution near the ground. Air quality is expected to gradually improve for the affected area by midday Friday.
The Air Quality Index is currently in the orange level, which is considered unhealthy for people in sensitive groups and others, including people who are not in sensitive groups but who are engaged in strenuous activities or exposed for prolonged periods of time. People in those sensitive groups include those with heart or lung disease, asthma, older adults and children. When an air quality health advisory is issued, people in those groups are advised to reschedule or cut back on strenuous activities.
People with lung diseases such as asthma and bronchitis and heart disease should pay attention to cardiac symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath or respiratory symptoms like coughing, wheezing and discomfort when taking a breath, and consult with their physician if they have concerns or are experiencing symptoms. To receive air quality health advisories by e-mail, visit http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/air/health/listserv.html.
There are several actions the public can take to reduce their contributions to this regional air quality problem.
-Reduce driving when possible and don’t leave vehicle engines idling.
-Postpone activities that use small gasoline and diesel engines.
-Avoid burning leaves, brush, grass or wood. Composting is preferred, but if you must burn and your community allows it, do not burn on an air quality health advisory day.
-Never burn household garbage, plastic, rubber, painted wood or other materials that must be recycled or landfilled and cannot be legally burned.
-Practice electrical energy conservation.
For more information:
-Federal interagency air quality web site, for information on the Air Quality Index and nationwide air quality forecasts and air quality conditions, http://airnow.gov
-DNR’s statewide air quality monitoring web page, http://maps.dnr.state.wi.us/wisards
-For local DNR air management program contacts, http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/air/staff/regions.htm
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