Category: Environment

Commuting Habits Have Not Gotten Greener

Commuting habits have changed, and not for the greener. While the percent of Americans worked from home has risen to 4.2 percent in 2011 from 2.2 percent in 1981, according to NPR.org, that is significantly less than in 1960 when 7 percent did.

The reason is attributed to the number of those working on family farms a half-century ago, along with it being much more common for doctors and lawyers to work from their homes.

Also far more Americans walked to work back in the day — 9.5 percent in 1960 to 2.7 percent in 2011, which it should be noted is half that of 1981.
And yes, the use of public transportation has dipped from 11. 8 percent to 6 percent to 4.9 percent.

Commuting Habits Have Not Gotten GreenerOf course what has increased significantly is the use of private automobiles for commuting when rose from 62.7 percent to 82.3 percent to 84.4 percent.

Still environmentalists, fret not to much. These stats apply only to those who have jobs. The real unemployment figure has been estimated by some as at 23 percent, still far higher than the still too high official 7.4 percent.

Commuting Habits Have Not Gotten Greener

Brandywine Open Space Music Fest

Brandywine Open Space Music Fest — Ten bands and craft beer are slated for Open Space Music Festival which runs noon through the evening, tomorrow, Aug. 10 at the Newlin Grist Mill, Cheyney Road and Baltimore Pike in Concord Township, Glen Mills, 19342.

There will be great food, pony rides for kids and face painting.

Tickets are $20 now and $25 at the gate.There will be great
music from 10 different bands, craft beer, and good food. Kids under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult.

Proceeds will be used to help fund the attempt to save 324 acres of open space on the Beaver Valley Conservancy along Beaver Valley Road and Route 202 in Concord.

Brandywine Open Space Music Fest

 

Local Pubs Help Stop Pro-Environmental Law

Local Pubs Help Stop Pro-Environmental Law — An attempt to de-fang the anti-environmental Davis-Bacon Act was defeated, June 5, after 36 Republicans joined all Democrats to vote down an amendment to the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs appropriators bill to bar the use of its funds to enforce the Davis-Bacon  prevailing wage requirements.

The Davis Bacon Act is a 1931  federal law that mandates  paying the local prevailing wages on public works projects over $2,000.

The law inflates the costs of such products by an estimated 15 percent, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

This means there is less money to repair bridges, fix roadways and resolve polluting traffic snarls that waste gas and clog our atmosphere.

Just consider that the historic Rose Tree Tavern in Upper Providence was moved back from the intersection of Route 252 and Rose Tree Road in 2004. When is PennDOT going to put in the desperately needed turn lanes? Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to wait until 2017 for an interchange between I-95 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike?

In fact, with less money needed for construction projects maybe we could get rid of the turnpike tolls ending the smog producing toll lanes.

Davis-Bacon is a significant part of the reason for our declining infrastructure.

Here are, courtesy of Bob Guzzardi, the Pennsylvania Republicans that voted against the amendment: Jim Gerlach (PA-6), Pat Meehan (PA-7), Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8), Bill Shuster (PA-9), Lou Barletta (PA-11) and Tim Murphy, (PA-18).

Guzzardi also notes the last year’s vice presidential GOP nominee Paul Ryan of Wisconsin also opposed the amendment.

And this is why things don’t get better.

Local Pubs Help Stop Pro-Environmental Law

Beaver Valley Applications Withdrawn But Return Expected

Beaver Valley Applications Withdrawn But Return Expected
The festival outside the meeting hall.

Beaver Valley Applications Withdrawn But Return Expected — A crowd of a thousand packed into the Garnet Valley Middle School auditorium, May 14, to hear the Concord Supervisors announce that the applications for a zoning change to allow three developers to put a big box store, and various residences on 324 acres belonging to
Woodlawn Trustees has been withdrawn.

It was pointedly noted, though, that new applications are expected.

The meeting scheduled to start at 7 p.m. began five minutes late and was officially closed at 7:15 although Woodlawn Chief Operating Officer Vernon Green gave an off-the-record statement afterwards noting that Woodlawn founder William Bancroft started the trust to provide parkland and inexpensive housing for workers with the expectation that some land would be sold to fund these goals.

Cameras for all the local television stations were present. The
supervisors noted that they had received a petition of 5,500 names
against the development.

Supervisor Dominic J. Cappelli said that it will be at least
60 days before  any new applications would be received and hearings
will be  announced well in advance on the township website.

Cappelli during the hearing noted that Supervisor Chairman Dominic
Pileggi had recused himself from the matter in October due to a conflict
of interest.

A note to Republicans: among those attending were Democrat County Council candidate Bill Clinton and Democrat Register of Wills candidate Frank Daly. Expect a fight this year.

Beaver Valley Applications Withdrawn But Return Expected
A plea to save the bridle trails

 

Beaver Valley Applications Withdrawn But Return Expected

Beaver Valley Conservancy, Save It

By 
Michele Daviduk

The Beaver Valley Conservancy is a group of people who have joined forces to help preserve 324 acres of beautiful open spaces.

The property belongs to Woodlawn Trustees in Wilmington, Del., but is under agreement with 3 developers for town homes, 55+ community, single family homes and a commercial aspect with a 180,000 square foot big box store.

The property is between Beaver Valley Road and Rte 202 South in Concord Township, Pa. The property has been used as a wildlife refuge for over 50 years. This property has been used for many generations for mountain biking, dog walking, hiking, horseback riding and enjoying nature. It supports many wildlife species including fox, deer, raccoons, turtles, hawks, owls and bald eagles.
The Concervancy’s mission is “To protect and preserve the natural beauty, wildlife and open space in Beaver Valley for the enjoyment of people in Concord Township and surrounding communities now and for generations to come. To educate the public on development plans through publications, online communications and word of mouth.”
Concord Township supervisors are holding a public meeting scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 14.

We would like the residents to be made aware of this meeting so that they may voice an opinion regarding the rezoning necessary for this developing to occur. There was a preliminary meeting held Oct. 2, 2012 that was continued until this May 14 date.

Many Garnet Valley resident have no idea of this pending change. The goal is to NOT allow rezoning.
It would be a bonus if we could have this property as an extension of Delaware’s National Monument since the property is adjacent to the Delaware parcel recently granted this status. Concord Township is losing precious open space at horrible speeds.  We believe the residents would prefer keeping the open spaces.  But they need to be made aware of it.
We have a FB page: BeaverValleyConservancy; website: www.BeaverValleyConservancy.org and a group linked from us: SavetheValley.org.

What a crime to destroy this beauty!

Beaver Valley Conservancy, Save It

Beaver Valley Conservancy, Save It

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful — The Great American Cleanup is the nation’s largest annual community improvement program that features more than four million volunteers working together to make communities clean and beautiful.

Each year, more than 1,200 affiliates and participating organizations engage volunteers to take action in their communities through events focused on waste reduction, recycling, beautification and community greening.

For  information on participating organizations in Pennsylvania or to volunteer, click here.

 

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful

Mayor Bloomberg Styrofoam Ban

Mayor Bloomberg Styrofoam Ban — Reader Tom C informs us that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is now seeking to ban Styrofoam.

Very unwise. What will the people of Staten Island use to store their food the next time they lose power for a month or so?

Mayor Bloomberg Styrofoam Ban

Blame Democrats For Sunoco Closings

Sunoco announced, Sept. 6, that it will be closing its refineries in Philadelphia and Marcus Hook next July if it can’t find a buyer for them. Blame Democrats For Sunoco Closings

Sunoco CEO and Chairman Lynn Elsenhans said the refineries have lost $772 million since 2009, which not coincidentally is the first year of the Zerobama Administration.

It will be unfair to pin all the blame on President Zero, however. First year Congressman Pat Meehan, a Republican, has been practically screaming that this was going to happen since he took office, Jan. 3, while his Democrat predecessor Joe Sestak; and Democrat Chaka Fattah, whose 2nd District includes the Philadelphia plant; and Democrat Bob Brady, whose 1st District borders both facilities and includes many of the workers, have been silent partners in Obama’s plan to wreak economic ruin when they were not loudly marching in lockstep with it.

So blame the Democrats and remember to shake the hand of Meehan, who has still not surrendered on saving the plants.

By the way, the massive new unemployment that will result from the closings — the Marcus Hook plant has about 600 workers while the facility in southwest Philly has about 800 — may not even be biggest problem. What does one do with 2,200 idle acres of tanks, towers and hazardous waste?

The Philadelphia plant is 1,400 acres while the Delaware County facility weighs in at 788.

And let’s not forget how the loss of the property tax revenue is going to affect Marcus Hook Borough, the  Chichester School District and the City of Philadelphia.

And for those of you who do claim to care about the environment, do you really think it better that our oil be refined in Nigeria and Venezuela rather than Pennsylvania?

The Marcus Hook plant is where NASCAR racing fuel is produced.

Blame Democrats For Sunoco Closings

Green Energy Technology Sailing Away to China

China has moved pass Germany, Denmark, Spain, and the US to become the biggest wind turbine producer in the world.  It is expected that China will be the largest producer of solar energy technology in two years.  In the meantime, as China has been allowed to take the bull by the ring and take all of the green jobs that were proposed during the presidential race, US leaders are still arguing and posturing about whether the government should support the creation of green jobs with taxpayers money or oil companies should be allowed to lead in the production of green energy.  Probably after all the oil is gone.


 I saw a documentary where Bangladesh was even creating solar cells and getting their people to build up their infrastructure with green energy.  Something is definatley wrong with this whole discussion.  I think that a government is supposed to tax people and to spend what they collect with the taxes for the betterment of the people whom they tax.  The idea is that the government takes a little from each person and then spends it to get more than each person possibly could because of the amount of money they have collectively. I believe in big government–government of the people by the people and for the people, that works, instead of a government with no money who has to beg corporations to finance programs.  I guess that I am just old fashion though.  I think of this as I watch all of the green technology projects and jobs floating over to China where they will remain because we, like in most of the manufacturing sector, cannot afford to compete because of their low labor costs. Let’s just wave bye bye to those new jobs everyone wanted.
Green Energy Technology Sailing Away to China
Green Energy Technology Sailing Away to China

Enviro-Freaks Advocate Murdering Child Dissidents

Enviro-Freaks Advocate Murdering Child Dissidents — Proving that some things are impossible to satirize, the British environmentalist group 10:10 has produced a short propaganda film that at first glance appears to be something that Rush Limbaugh would’ve created to mock environmental extremism.

Oh, but it’s not.

10:10, which gets its name from the goal of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 10 percent annually starting in 2010, means it for real.

The four-minute commercial, which can be found here , is called “No Pressure” and is divided into three main segments: a teacher with her class of middle schoolers, a corporate pep-talk in an office building lobby, and a soccer team being visited by a former star player.

All follow the same format. The leader, such as the teacher, gives a lecture on the need to cut CO2 emissions, and then asks the subordinates if they agree insisting that there is no pressure to do so and that dissent is quite all right.  Well, most of them happily agree and pledge to ride their bike instead of asking for a ride or convincing their parents to take a train to their next vacation. Still, there are a few ornery dissenters. The leader confirms they don’t buy the speil then pushes a button blowing them to bloody  bits in a gory explosion. In the case of the classroom segment the dead are a young boy and young girl.

The commercial was written by Richard Curtis, the  writer of such Brit lameness such as Blackadder and  Four Weddings, and according to 10:10 was meant to be funny .

Well, ho, ho, ho.

Anyway, 10:10’s propaganda has inspired me to action. Since I just took out the air conditioners I can’t  crank them up and it’s still too warm to raise the thermostat.

I guess I’ll just have to fire up the stereo and turn the volume to 10. What to play? Definitely something British. David Bowie’s “1984”, would be appropriate. Or maybe “Silent Running” by Mike & the Mechanics. The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” would be a good choice as would “Street Fighting Man” by The Rolling Stones.

I know, Led Zep’s “Immigrant Song”. Always a fine selection for matters like this.

Oh yeah, and I’m turning on all the lights.

Hat tip to Zombie at PajamasMedia.Com

 Enviro-Freaks Advocate Murdering Child Dissidents