While many North Carolinians are starting to bathe daily again as the state is coming out of a months-long drought, we want to remind folks of that not-so-distant past of mandatory conservation.

And, while our rivers and streams are flowing again, our groundwater isn't. You just need to take a look at this map of North Carolina's ground water network and then look at the data for each spot - most of the groundwater levels are below normal.  Even Brunswick County, in the eastern part of the state (where the drought wasn't as severe) is below the 'mean' water level.

This is all to say that we still need to protect and conserve our water resources in North Carolina. And, with this in mind, the NC Conservation Network is working with the NC Watershed Alliance (a coalition of twenty watershed protection and state-wide organizations working on the top water issues in our state) to host the 8th annual Clean Water Lobby Day on June 4 in Raleigh. Please consider joining us. We all need to remind legislators of the not-so-distant past and the continued need for state-wide water conservation.

Join us and make your voice heard.

Last week The New York Times featured an op-ed by Thomas Friedman titled Generation Q.

I just spent the past week visiting several colleges — Auburn, the University of Mississippi, Lake Forest and Williams — and I can report that the more I am around this generation of college students, the more I am both baffled and impressed.

I am impressed because they are so much more optimistic and idealistic than they should be. I am baffled because they are so much less radical and politically engaged than they need to be.

...I’ve been calling them “Generation Q” — the Quiet Americans, in the best sense of that term, quietly pursuing their idealism, at home and abroad.

To read the full op-ed click here.

Friedman offers a thoughtful take on the 20-somethings of 2007 and concludes that "Generation Q" spends a lot of time quietly building houses for the poor, volunteering for "Teach for America", and signing online petitions.

Friedman continues,

But Generation Q may be too quiet, too online, for its own good, and for the country’s own good. When I think of the huge budget deficit, Social Security deficit and ecological deficit that our generation is leaving this generation, if they are not spitting mad, well, then they’re just not paying attention. And we’ll just keep piling it on them.

As Friedman closes his op-ed, he makes what seems a pressing (almost desperate) call to action to the 20-somethings; telling them that they need to "speak truth to power, face to face, in big numbers, on campuses or the Washington Mall," while referencing MLK and Bobby Kennedy.

Do you think Friedman is right? Does "Generation Q" spend too much time quietly volunteering and signing online petitions? Or do they strike a healthy balance in expressing their opinion while not getting involved in sometimes seemingly nonstrategic protests?

In a follow up to a June post on organic standards, the USDA is considering a rule change to allow industrial processors to make organic foods with a long list of non-organic ingredients—undercutting small producers, organic farmers, and consumer confidence.

In 2005 a federal judge ordered industrial food processors to stop using conventional ingredients in foods they labeled “organic.” Rather than comply with the order, the industry petitioned the USDA to add their non-organic ingredients to the “approved substances” list for organic food processing. If this final rule is approved, grocery manufacturers will be able to use 38 conventionally-produced ingredients, including plant colorings, gelatin, and sausage casings in the organic products consumers pay a premium for—it would even allow non-organic hops in certified organic beer!

Consumers put a high value on products made without toxic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and genetically-modified ingredients, and grocery manufacturers must respect those wishes if they want to serve the organic market.

At our Annual Retreat last weekend, we talked about creative ways to get the message out for the campaigns we are working on. I stumbled across a great example of this in a recent campaign by Greenpeace. A group of Greenpeace activists "hijacked" a Kleenex ad campaign--Kimberly-Clark (the makers of Kleenex) representatives were on the streets of New York asking passersby to tell their sob stories and "let it out" by crying into a Kleenex tissue.

What most folks don't know is that Kleenex tissues are made from 100% virgin fiber from the Boreal ancient forest. Greenpeace activists made up pretend sob stories to get behind the Kleenex camera. Once the tape was rolling, they claimed what makes them really sad is the way that Kleenex is destroying ancient forests and clearcutting trees. They call their thwarting of the Kleenex ad their "Kleercut" campaign and passed out information trying to get Kleenex to change their ways. Check out the YouTube video--for a laugh, for ways to get involved on the campaign, and for a great example of thinking outside the box in terms of campaigning.

Last night the Oscar’s went green in several different ways. Thanks to our friends at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Leonardo DiCaprio, and former Vice President Al Gore this year's Oscar producers implemented Earth friendly practices to do their part to curb global warming pollutants. According to NRDC:

“This innovative project, which will be further enhanced at Oscar events in years to come, targeted ecologically significant impacts, including global warming pollution and energy use, paper products, set design, transportation, and food service.”

The night got even greener when “An Inconvenient Truth” took home Oscar’s for Best Documentary and Original Song for Melissa Etheridge's "I Need to Wake Up."

"People all over the world, we need to solve the climate crisis. It's not a political issue. It's a moral issue," said Al Gore.

You can join the growing number of people taking action in their personal life by participating in the National Day of Action on Global Warming. Come rally at the North Carolina State Capital from 1:00pm-4:00 pm on Saturday, April 14th. 

Join Environmental Defense, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Interfaith Power & Light, SURGE, NC WARN, NC Conservation Network, Environment NC, and the Sierra Club as we stand up together to curb the impact of global warming. As Melissa Etherige said,

"... caring about the earth is not Republican or Democrat, it's not red or blue. It's all green."

Click here to let us know you will be attending the National Day of Action to Stop Global Warming Rally in Raleigh!

Have you made changes in your daily life to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions? If so, what are they? If not, why not?

I was pleasantly surprised to read an interesting article by the Fayetteville Observer regarding the town's growth. The city is planning a series of eight meetings to discuss cutting carbon dioxide emissions and reducing sprawl. Through the help of a local retired surgeon (Menno Pennink), activists in the city have formed a group called Fayetteville Area Citizens for Transformation and Sustainability. According to Pennink:

"...the main thing that must be accomplished is changing people’s minds and mindsets about the environment and how a community uses its natural resources."

Very well said. But just how do they plan to do this? Well, for starters they've enlisted the help of their mayor who is trying to secure funds for "cities and urban counties to improve energy efficiency, find alternative energy sources and develop ways to reduce carbon emissions." In addition, they are looking to work with other environmental groups in their community like Sustainable Sandhills.

It's great to see a local community taking such an active, vested interest in energy conservation. Especially since our state ranks 46th for investments in energy efficiency! (In fact, check out our current campaign on finding a better way for NC's energy future!)

What other communities are working hard like Fayetteville to address the issue of energy conservation?

As an Organizer for the NC Conservation Network I travel all over my home state fighting to protect our health and our environment. I meet and talk with lots of different people in my travels. Often I hear from folks that they have a hard time seeing the link between their daily life (and health) and the importance of protecting our environment. 

Making Connections, which aired this week on UNC-TV, does an excellent job of showing the links between our everyday life, our land, farms, forests, natural habitats, water usage, air quality, and tourism.

Our friends at Environmental Defense worked with the Director of NC Zoo, Dr. David Jones, to create this wonderful program.  Dr. Jones says “It is time to ask tough questions about polluted air, dirty water, and development…See why now is the time for making connections." He travels across our state exploring how our health and wealth are in danger.

Click here to watch this program online.

They have also created an informative website with lesson plans and activity guides for teachers as well as ways for folks like you to get involved.

Dr. Jones asks "What will our legacy be?" 

I have hope that our state will be a leader in the recycling industry, renewable energy field, eco-tourism and organic farming. I see these replacing the vanishing small town textile mills and farms with industry that creates jobs, saves our small towns and preserves our beautiful environment.

What about you? What do you think our legacy will be?

The other day, my friend (a biochemist working on her Ph.D.) was telling me about a new organization she had just joined--Scientists & Engineers for America (SEA). This organization, launched in September of this year, works to protect the research of scientists and incorporate their scientific research into the political realm. Hark! Imagine a United States where sound science, technology, and those who know it best are incorporated into the decision-making process! Check out this excerpt from their website:

The principal role of the science and technology community is to advance human understanding.  But there are times when this is not enough.  Scientists and engineers have a right, indeed an obligation, to enter the political debate when the nation’s leaders systematically ignore scientific evidence and analysis, put ideological interests ahead of scientific truths, suppress valid scientific evidence and harass and threaten scientists for speaking honestly about their research.

We ask every American who values scientific integrity in decision-making to join us in endorsing a basic Bill of Rights for Scientists and Engineers.  Together we will elect new leadership beginning in 2006, and we will continue to work to elect reasonable leadership in federal, state and local elections for years to come.

SEA has six main issues of focus: national security, energy, environment, health, education, and economic growth. They support innovative technologies to reduce mercury emissions, to make "economically attractive and environmentally intelligent use" of our waterways and our land, to set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to increase energy efficient standards for vehicles, and much more.

If you're interested in getting involved, sign SEA's Bill of Rights and receive more information on how you can help the effort.

Wait...I do? Well, after reading an interesting commentary on the work MTV has been doing to educate their young viewers on social initiatives...most particularly environmental issues, I actually kind of do want my MTV. According to the article:

The connection makes sense, considering the recent MTV/CBS poll that asked America’s youth, “Which is the most important problem your generation will have to deal with?” For the first time ever, the environment was the number one answer. An overwhelming 81 percent also said that steps need to be taken right away to counter global warming.

The new campaign, launched in May 2006 and named think MTV, highlights five major social causes but focuses on the environment with their Break the Addiction Challenge to fight global warming:

The Break the Addiction Challenge offers cash prizes to schools, colleges and universities with outstanding achievement in reducing global warming emissions and reversing their schools’ bad energy habits.

Already, schools all over the country are taking part in this crusade to fight climate change in a country that is rapidly contributing to the warming taking place. Additional schools interested in getting involved should check out the Campus Climate Challenge.

Wow. All of this from the network that brought us Madonna's scandelous videos, Remote Control, Hammer Pants, and The Osbournes?

Maybe they really have come a long way.

We're back from Clean Water Lobby Day -- tired but happy.  The day was great, with more than 150 people coming from across the state to tell their legislators to protect North Carolina's waters.

By the end of the day, we'd met with 23 out of 50 Senators and 56 out of 120 Representatives (and left information for all of them) to let them know about our two main concerns: the safety of our drinking water wells and mercury pollution in our waters. 

Thanks to everyone who came out, emailed, or made a donation to help make this day such a success!

Have you seen the commercials running on TV from the American Chemistry Council (formerly known as the Chemical Manufacturers' Association)? The ACC has just launched a new ad campaign called "essential," and they're spending $3.5 million dollars to convince the American public that their toxic by-products are essential to our safety and quality of life. Um... better living through chemistry? What year is it, again?

So why does this industry need to spend millions of dollars to promote toxic waste? It seems that campaigns to substitute safer alternatives are getting too much traction with the public. From cosmetics to pest control, there are safer alternatives to many of the toxic chemicals that the ACC says are "essential" to our happiness and health. Maybe they're feeling a little threatened.

Toxics organizations, from the folks who live at the fencelines of polluting facilities to international advocacy groups, are promoting a safer approach to chemicals policy in a groundbreaking document called the Louisville Charter. The charter states:

A first step to creating a safe and healthy global environment is a major reform of our nation’s chemicals policy. Any reform must:

• Require Safer Substitutes and Solutions: eliminate the use and emissions of hazardous chemicals by altering production processes, substituting safer chemicals, redesigning products and systems, rewarding innovation and re-examining product function.
• Phase Out Persistent, Bioaccumulative, or Highly Toxic Chemicals: Prioritize for elimination chemicals that are slow to degrade, accumulate in our bodies or living organisms, or are highly hazardous to humans or the environment.
• Give the Public and Workers the Full Right-to-Know and Participate: Disclose chemicals and materials, list quantities of chemicals produced, used, released, and exported, and provide public/worker access to chemical hazard, use and exposure information.
• Act on Early Warnings: Prevent harm from new or existing chemicals when credible evidence of harm exists.
• Require Comprehensive Safety Data for All Chemicals: This is the principle of “No Data, No Market.”
• Take Immediate Action: When communities and workers are exposed to levels of chemicals that pose a health hazard, immediate action is necessary to eliminate these exposures. We must ensure that no population is disproportionately burdened by chemicals.

Last night Veronica Butcher and I had a great visit with activists, like Melanie and Debbie (below), in Greensboro at the Take Action Tour!

We gave a presentation on children and toxics, and how activists can get involved to end the use of toxic chemicals such as pesticides in our public schools. We also discussed the School Children’s Health Act, an excellent bill that the NC Senate will take up during the 2006 short session. It was great to meet new folks and to see friends from the Deep River Project and the NC Pediatric Society.

The presentation took place at the Edwards Library, a beautiful, environmentally-friendly building with lovely trails for nature walks. If you go, don’t miss the mural in the foyer! You have to look up – the ceiling contains a spectacular nature mural by Chip Holton, depicting four seasons in the Piedmont and adorned with poetry by Thomas Berry. Look carefully for the dozens of hidden images!

More Take Action Tour stops are coming up in Wilmington, Fayetteville and Elizabeth City. Are you going to be there??

What would you do, with a little help from your friends?  Clean up a local park?  Donate money to a local nonprofit? 

Pledge Bank is a new online tool that helps you connect with other folks to make the world a better place.