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Sounds like a Win-Win for Car-less Urbanites

The Kheel Report, sponsored by Ted Kheel- who the New York Times named “the most influential peacemaker in New York City in the last half-century,” came out just a few days ago. It is a bold- surely to be controversial and scoffed at- plan that will increase the initially suggested fare for congestion pricing, while making mass transit absolutely free.
Subway charity? Or justice?

Having heard the complaints and uproar from the initial congestion pricing debate, it will be interesting to see how a $16 congestion pricing fare will float with already aggravated politicians and constituents. Interestingly enough, aggravated subway riders are also against it. One person claimed on the Streetsblog that public transportation should be paid for, other wise it is seen as charity. I would see this as more of an act of justice, rather than charity. Bottom line: The government should be providing for the enormous mass of people who ride public transportation every day. New Yorkers already pay a higher percentage of their ride than in any other public transportation system in the world. Why not swing it to the other extreme? We already have a detailed, comprehensive road map of how to get there. Imagine it.

Because they Give us Perspective

And with climate change it is no different. Here are some of the best illustrations of what our world, country (and city) might look like if the worst (or best) case scenarios regarding sea level rise occur.
What does this map show? Use your imagination.

NPR Climate Connections: Regional Maps of Sea Level Impact

National Geographic’s Map of Global Warming Effects

Global Warming: Early Warning Signs

And then of course, there is the “High Water Line Project” which meshes art and education to display what the borough of Brooklyn might look like with higher seas.

Posted on Jan 28, 2008 by The Green Queen Bee | Post a Comment

But what about other fish?

For years the EPA has been warning us about high levels of mercury in certain types of fish, tuna being just one of them. Beginning in 1996, the New York State Department of Health warned New Yorkers to limit their consumption of certain fish from 15 waters because of the amount of mercury in them. In 2006, the Department strongly urged women of child bearing age and children against eating most fish that was caught in the Adirondacks and Catskills. And the general population- not just women and children- is now advised to limit consumption of fish from 87 bodies of water across the Empire State.
How much mercury is in this school of tuna?

So yesterday’s news, that at least 20 Manhattan restaurants were found to have tuna with higher than acceptable levels of mercury should not come as that much of a surprise. Yes, Tuna is a salt-water fish and the above mentioned are fresh-water. But the process is similar. Mercury that has been released into the air, eventually reaches the oceans and rivers through precipitation, where bacteria convert it to a more toxic form of the metal-methyl mercury. In fresh water situations, coal burning power plants release mercury and it also comes into water ways through precipitation. It just has less of a travel time if you will.

So, what does this tell us?

We are doomed and should eat no fish? Well, perhaps. But I would recommend minimal tuna or other fish consumption. (Some would say eating tuna out of a can is just not right, but I like it. I really do.) And perhaps we should take a look at the NUMBER 1 CAUSE OF MERCURY EMISSIONS and reassess whether coal should have a prominent place in our energy plan. The main arguments for it- It’s cheap and China is doing it- do not match up against the stolen opportunities of the 630,000 babies that are born with high levels of mercury in the U.S.A. every year.

It sounds like a Reality TV Show, Doesn’t It?

While the initiative is important, I couldn’t help but see a Xena like warrior combating climate change when I read this in The Times earlier today. “The venture is being coordinated by the Carbon Disclosure Project, a British nonprofit organization that helps companies and investors to cooperate in the battle against climate change.”   
Apparently some multi-national corportaions are now joining the Eco-Warriors.

The venture is the Supply Chain Leadership Collaboration. Essentially, some of the largest multinational corporations have teamed up to work with their suppliers to minimize their environmental impact, by examining where exactly their emissions occur within their supply chain. Their end goal is to publish a report which will create a standardized process for cutting emissions.

Who is Leading the Warriors?

The list of corporations involved have varying records according to certain environmental and public interest groups. Proctor and Gamble has long been a target of animal rights groups for their testing on animals, DELL only recycles computers if you purchase a new DELL, and Nestle has come under scrutiny for social practices involving child labor on cocoa plantations.

Hopefully this initiative will begin moving these companies away from such reputations- not because of greenwashing. Rather because they are actually doing the right thing and approaching their business practices with a triple bottom (or top) line and this is just one of many indicators.