Want to know more about rail security?

I know it doesn't sound as sexy as saving the whales and climate change, but it's a pretty important issue that affects communities as much as the planet. If you have listened to any news about the war in Iraq then I'm sure you have heard about attacks on chlorine trucks. If we don't clean up and tighten security in our chemical plants as well as the train cars that are transporting all those nasty chemicals then you might be hearing about similar attacks in your own neighborhood. I am not a big believer in the theory that telling upsetting stories is going to motivate people to act. I really do believe, however,  that part of becoming an agent of change means that something you saw or heard hits you in the gut and makes it impossible for you not to act.

I think these stories just might hit you in the gut.

NPR's June 18th Morning Edition story, "Toxic-Freight Threat a Challenge to U.S. Cities," can be heard
at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11151826

and 

The PBS program "Expose" features a two part program on chemical
& rail security at: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/air/about.html

Thanks. Renee.

A few words from our National Legislative Director Rick Hind:  

On March 27th, the U.S. House of Representative voted 299 to 124 for a rail security bill (H.R. 1401). The bill included an amendment by Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) to  re-route ultra-hazardous cargoes, such as chlorine gas, around high threat urban areas. This bill was scheduled to go to a "Conference Committee" where the House and Senate would iron out differences between their bills. However, on June 26th Senate Republicans blocked efforts to bring the bill to Committee which will delay any further action until at least after the 4th of July recess.

If the House bill is accepted it will represent a giant step toward eliminating the risks these rail cars represent to densely populated areas. In addition to re-routing, H.R. 1401 limits the storage on rails of these chemicals in populous areas. Later this year Congress will take the next step in moving legislation to require chemical plants to convert to safer chemicals so that toxic cargo will not be shipped anywhere.

The good news is that these toxic cargoes represent only 0.3% of freight rail. However, the railroads are one of the most vulnerable domestic sectors to terrorist attacks. In 2003 the FBI warned, “You’ve heard about sarin and other chemical weapons in the news. But it’s far easier to attack a rail car full of toxic industrial chemicals than it is to compromise the security of a military base and obtain these materials.”

In the last six months dozens of people have been killed in terrorists attacks in Iraq using chlorine gas. The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory estimates that more than 100,000 people could be killed or injured within the first 30 minutes of a terrorist attack on one rail car of chlorine or similar chemical cargo passing through a major city such as Washington, D.C. They warned that “lethally exposed people can die at the rate of 100 per second.”

Almost six years after the 9/11 attacks Congress should act today to send the House re-routing bill to the President and he should be urged to sign it as soon as it arrives on his desk.

Rick

May 27 marked the 100 birthday of a real activist, scientist, and legend, Rachel Carson. You know, the woman that wrote 'Silent Spring'. She talked pesticides and cancer before the statistics of getting cancer was one in two for men and one in three for women (and two-thirds of these women have no family history of cancer).

 
In 1972 the US got rid of DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane), but the substance is still found in our fish, animals, land and bodies. This is why strong chemical legislation based on the precautionary principle is so important. In 1976 the Toxics Substances Control Act was passed and is the key law protecting us from harmful chemicals in the United States, but it lacks the authority to make real change.

Alright back to Rachel Carson. She was born May 27, 1907 on a family farm just up the Allegheny River near Pittsburgh. She was an avid reader growing up and a remarkable writer at a young age. Her first story was published at the age of 11 and she spent most of time outside enjoying the land and animals around her home. She attended Pennsylvania College for Women originally studying English, but in January of 1928 she switched her major to Biology. Carson graduated in 1929 magna cum laude. That summer she took a course at the Marina Biological Laboratory and then continued her studies in Zoology and Genetics at John Hopkins University in the Fall of 1929. (Ok . . .  June 4, 1920 women received the right to vote. Just let that info marinate in your 'there is currently a female African American Secretary of State" world for a moment)

 After taking a part-time position working on an educational radio program called "Romance Under the Sea" with the US Bureau of Fisheries and her supervisor, noticing her extraordinary work, attempted to get her the first full time position that came up. She took the Civil Service exam and outscored everyone that took it in 1936. She was hired as a Junior Aquatic Biologist, becoming only the second woman ever hired by the Bureau for a full-time professional position.

After writing articles for the Baltimore Sun and the Atlantic Monthly, Simon and Schuster publishing house contacted her to write an expanded version on her article, "Undersea", which resulted several years later into "Under the Sea-Wind". Her next book "The Sea Around Us" was published in 1951 and resulted in a National Book Award, two honorary doctorates, and an Oscar award winning film documentary. Her third book "The Edge of the Sea" was published in 1955. Beginning in the 1940's Carson was concerned about DDT and had been studying its effects on the environment and the health of those exposed to this chemical. "Silent Spring" was released in 1962 amid controversy and threats. She was even called an hysterical woman wanting to lead us back into the dark ages for her thoughts, but the book has since become the basis of the environmental movement in the west.

She died of breast cancer April 4, 1964 at the age of 54.  

The best part about Vegas isn't the free drinks and the do anything lifestyle, the best part is the heavyweight championships. And the one between the two most well known electronics companies has just begun.

It seems that not only has our Guide to Greener Electronics caused quite the stir in the Web 2.0 world, but it has created quite the frenzy among two certain CEOs. In January Michael Dell made this announcement and on May 2 Jobs made a pledge to green his machines too. But you don't think Dell would let Jobs simply get away with being greener (a full year earlier might I add), do you?

Now for an actually interesting version of this story check out Greenpeace International's version. (I sure didn't pick up any creative writing skills while I was hanging out with Tobias. Maybe I should try to get Nick Hornby on this campaign too.)

Take care, Renee.