| Unborn Babies Face Toxic Chemical Onslaught That OB/GYNs Can Help Guard Against from Huffington Post Green Laura Vandenberg worries whenever she hears a pregnant friend talk about painting a nursery. She gets even more concerned when she learns of a childbearing woman spraying chemical pesticides on her lawn. “It sounds like a no-brainer, but you see it,” said Vandenberg, a postdoctoral fellow in biology at Tufts University. “If there is a group of people that could inform these women about the dangers to an expected child,” she added, “it is absolutely their OB/GYNs. “Many reproductive health doctors remain largely unaware of both the lengthening list of toxic chemicals their patients are exposed to every day and the widening range of risks the chemicals might pose to a vulnerable, developing baby — from cancer to obesityto lower IQ. A pair of papers published this month highlight this dilemma, as well as the public health benefits that could come with solving it. More babies would grow up healthy, researchers say, if more obstetricians and gynecologists use their unique positions to counsel women and inform policies that eliminate toxic chemicals from a woman’s environment in the first place. It took a patient asking if growing up in Love Canal, N.Y. — home of the infamous toxic waste site — could have anything to do with her recurrent miscarriages for Dr. Linda Giudice to connect environmental exposures and human health. |
| FDA Close to BPA Decision Crucial For Health of Poor Children from Huffington Post Green UPDATE: 3/30 4:00 p.m. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Friday that it will continue to allow bisphenol-A (BPA) in food and beverage containers— denying a petition from the Natural Resources Defense Council. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to decide by Saturday whether to continue allowing bisphenol-A (BPA) in food and beverage containers, Americans’ main source of exposure to the chemical implicated in everything from asthma to diabetes. Studies show that developing fetuses and young children are most vulnerable to the risks. Impoverished kids, whose meals more often come out of BPA-leaching plastic packages and coated metal cans, may bear the brunt of the burden. “Hormonally active chemicals such as BPA have no place in our kids’ life,” Sarah Janssen, senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council, told reporters last week. < full article> |
| Legislative Update from the Environmental League of Massachusetts Budget: The House Budget is scheduled to be released on April 11th with amendments likely due by April 13th and debate beginning on April 23rd. ELM will be tracking environmental line items and working with legislative allies on amendments for our priorities. Committee Reports: March 21st was the deadline for all legislative committees to act on bills before them. The choices for the Committee are to: 1) report a bill out favorably in which case it will continue to move through the legislative process; 2) report a bill out unfavorably; 3) ask for an extension so they can continue to work on the language; 3) put a bill into a study – which generally means there will be no action on the bill. The deadline does not apply to the Senate or House Ways and Means Committees where most bills are sent after being reported out favorably. Actions on ELM Priorities: Comprehensive Land Use and Partnership Act (S. 1019) – extended to 4/4/12 An Act to Sustain Community Preservation (H. 765/S. 1841) – reported out favorably on 6/6/11 and currently before House Ways and Means Committee Public Lands Preservation Act (H. 1124/S.350) – reported out favorably on 5/4/11 and currently before House Ways and Means Committee Sustainable Water Resources Act (H.255/S.349) – put into study An Act to Phase out Coal Burning (H.2612) – extended to 6/15/12 Oil Heat Efficiency Bill (H.2612) – reported out favorably and currently before House Ways and Means Committee Transportation, Economic Development and Ridership Act (H.2660) – extended to 5/1/12 Updated Bottle Bill (S.1650/H.890) – extended to 6/15/12 Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals (H.1136) – reported out favorably on 11/21/11 and currently before Senate Ways and Means Committee For more information on these bills, please go here. |
| DCR’s Landscape Designations
On Friday, March 2nd, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) presented the final version of the Landscape Designations for DCR Parks & Forests: Selection Criteria and Management Guidelines to the DCR Stewardship Council, and made these guidelines available to the public on the DCR website. Since then, the landscape designation maps have been finalized, and incorporated into the appendices of the final Management Guidelines. These landscape designation maps, and the guidelines, can all be found on the DCR website at: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/ld/landscapedesignations.htm |
| 2012 Draft National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change Open for Public Comment from Water Headlines for the week of April 2, 2012 EPA has released the draft “National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change,” which describes how EPA’s water-related programs plan to address the impacts of climate change and provides long-term visions, goals and strategic actions for the management of sustainable water resources for future generations. The 2012 strategy, which builds upon EPA’s first climate change and water strategy released in 2008, focuses on five key areas: infrastructure, watersheds and wetlands, coastal and ocean waters, water quality, and working with Tribes. It also describes geographically-based strategic issues and actions. EPA will accept public comments on the draft strategy until May 17, 2012. To read or submit a comment on the draft “National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change,” visit: http://epa.gov/water/climatechange. |
| New CSA in Stephentown, NY
Wyomanock Farm of Stephentown, NY, is proud to announce their public offering of CSA shares. For a set price, members will pick up farm produce for at least 20 weeks from June to October. Full and half shares will be available, which will include”U-Pick”, an optional egg share and discounted pasture raised Scottish Highland Beef. All shareholders will have access to the 75 acre farm property – a diverse ecology of field, wood and wetland – a host for rare plants and plant communities. Vegetable pick-up will be on Tuesdays from 4-7 and Saturdays from 9-1. Wyomanock Farm is home to, and supports, the Wyomanock Center for Sustainable Living (a 501c3 organization) donating 5% of sales to programs. See our past and upcoming activities and events at www.wyocenter.org. The Farm is conveniently located about one mile north of New Lebanon, 1/3 mile west of NYS Route 22 at 68 Wyomanock Road. For more info visit our Local Harvest listing: http://www.localharvest.org/wyomanock-farm-M51002 Thom Pecoraro, Wyomanock Farm Founder Wyomanock Center for Sustainable Living 68 Wyomanock Rd 413 3291400 |
| Housatonic River Walk Announces Annual Earth Day Cleanup and 25th Anniversary Riverside Celebration
The Great Barrington Housatonic River Walk—Berkshire County’s only National Recreation Trail—will hold its annual Earth Day workday on Saturday, April 21, from 9 AM to 2 PM. It will celebrate its 25th Anniversary of ecological cleanup and trailmaking on September 8. This year’s work season includes a variety of restoration techniques for severely abused river locations—planting thousands of native plants propagated from seed collected locally, while ridding the riverbank of knotweed, bittersweet, garlic mustard, multiflora rose and other exotic-invasives. For more than fifteen years, River Walk has propagated the bulk of its inventory with species genetically native to Berkshire County. Work plans also include trail repair and maintenance and riverbottom cleanups. Fragile riverbanks compromised by recent storm events will be stabilized with bioengineering techniques. On April 21, volunteers will meet at the W. E. B. Du Bois River Garden Park by the former Searles Middle School parking lot on River Street, near Bridge Street. Morning coffee and lunch will be provided. Tours will be given in the afternoon. Volunteers are invited to work on other days. Special workdays with other schools and groups may also be arranged. On-site education programs include student workdays, tours, and lectures about river ecology and the river’s rich historical heritage. River Walk is also pleased to announce that Greenagers, the Berkshire organization that fosters the ethics of service and stewardship in area youth, will serve as River Walk’s community stewards in the coming years—managing trail improvements, riverbank reclamation and educational outreach. A riverside festival on September 8, 2012, celebrating River walk’s 25 years, will formalizes the partnership with this local youth group. In addition to meeting this year’s budget, River Walk hopes to raise $100,000 to help Greenagers manage River Walk’s next 25 years and train the next generation of trail stewards. Each donation of $250 or more will be matched by an anonymous donor. Also to reach this important goal, tickets for an “Our Town” raffle go on sale May 10. Director Rachel Fletcher says, “Involving these teens brings our collective efforts to a new level of community building and ensures that the trail gets the care it deserves. As part of this partnership, the young people in Greenagers will receive 80 hours of training in real job skills.” Says Greenagers Director Will Conklin, “Wendell Berry called the River Walk ‘an enormously suggestive thing.’ Greenagers suggests that youth stewardship is the surest way toward ennobling our youth and solidifying the future of our natural and cultural resources. As local youth work on and care for the River Walk, they are investing in themselves and their community in the most meaningful way. Thanks to the River Walk for creating such an opportunity.” River Walk’s 25th anniversary year is supported by grants from Housatonic Heritage, The Roy Foundation, Town of Great Barrington, Katherine L. W. and Winthrop M. Crane III Charitable Trust, and the Berkshire Environmental Endowment of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Local foundation and business sponsors include The Turkeybush Fund, Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Corporation, Triplex+ Cinema, The Snap Shop, Wheeler & Taylor Insurance, and Windy Hill Farm. River Walk—a National Recreation Trail—is a public walking trail entering between Rite Aid and Pink Cloud on Main Street. An additional section follows the river adjacent to the former Searles Middle School and the Berkshire Corporation parking lot. River Walk easements are granted in appreciation of volunteer clean-up activities, including the removal of 400 tons of rubble and debris from various sites. To date, more than 2300 volunteers have worked to restore the riverbank to its native ecology and to produce ½ mile of public trail. River Walk easements are managed by the Great Barrington Land Conservancy. For more information, visit www.gbriverwalk.org or contact Rachel Fletcher at 528-3391, or e-mail river@gbriverwalk.org. For information about Greenagers visit www.greenagers.org or call Will Conklin 413-644-9090. |
| Summer Camp Registration Begins Today for the Summer Outdoor Learning Adventure a Nature Day Camp at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, Grafton, New York Download a brochure and registration form:http://ourdykenpondcenter.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/brochure2012page1.dochttp://ourdykenpondcenter.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/brochure12-page2.doc The Summer Outdoor Learning Adventure will kindle interst and spark curiosity about the natural world in which we live. Each one-week session offers age-appropriate activities in outdoor living skills, ecology, plants and wildlife. Each day is an exciting blend of adventure-based fun and learning taught through games, crafts, hikes and hands-on discoveries. Ages 6 – 14. Please visit our website at: www.dykenpond.org for more information, highlight video and scholarship application. Our camp accepts 20 kids per session. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first served basis. Register early |
| Project Native Seeks Temporary Spring Help
Project Native, a non-profit horticultural farm and wildlife sanctuary growing native plants in Southern Berkshire County, needs some spring help! Temporary work for the next few weeks! Any takers! This is HARD but really gratifying spring work! You will be working alongside the coolest group around! We will be potting up baby plants, sorting seed, moving plants out from winter slumber, working the compost piles and having fun all the while. The plants will love you and so will we. Please call Project Native 274-3433 or email projectnative@gmail.com. |
| Job Opening, Director of Conservation Programs, NH Chapter of The Nature Conservancy
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:The Director of Conservation Programs is responsible for providing leadership and management oversight for all aspects of the conservation programs of the New Hampshire Chapter. Additionally, the position oversees many aspects of the Chapter’s engagement on multi-state priority projects across the Northern Appalachian Forest, the Connecticut River Watershed and the Gulf of Maine. This core chapter position has direct supervision responsibilities for the land protection, science, stewardship and restoration functions of the Chapter. The Director of Conservation Programs serves on the Chapter’s management team, and collaborates closely with the Board of Directors to advance short and long term conservation priorities both in the state and across the region, and works to marshal the resources necessary to accomplish strategic goals. This position is supervised by the State Director. This position serves a critical role as a principle Chapter contact and communicator for conservation issues and planning within the Conservancy as well as to the broader conservation community, Conservancy members, and the general public. This position is a key point of contact for multiple partnerships across the Conservancy, with government agencies, other non-profit organizations, foundations, and the academic community. This position: REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
TO APPLY: Online applications only. Go to www.nature.org/careers click on “how to apply”, then click on “view positions” and search for Job ID# 39929. Please complete the online employment application and upload a cover letter and resume, as requested, by April 30, 2012. |
