Protect our air from hazardous pollutants

We could save over 5,000 lives just by cleaning up acid gases, mercury and dioxins from dirty old boilers scattered across the country, yet over one hundred polluter allies in the House of Representatives signed a letter pressuring the EPA to put industry profits over our health. I just sent a public comment supporting EPA efforts to save lives with new standards, and you could too! Check it out: action.sierraclub.org/mact

Calamity on the Kalamazoo

Anne Woiwode and Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune coauthored an op-ed piece in the L.A. Times about how last month's oil spill upstream of Lake Michigan spotlights what's wrong with the nation's energy direction.

Read here: http://tinyurl.com/23gg75l

What happens to your smartphone data -- and is it safe?

(CNN) -- This week, news out of the Middle East saw BlackBerry, the handheld communication device of choice in the corporate world, assailed on multiple fronts over a security problem.

Story highlights include:

• The BlackBerry controversy has highlighted how smartphone privacy works
• Many plans encrypt data, meaning it can't be deciphered if it's intercepted
• BlackBerry data is stored on a private server; others stored by mobile service providers

Click here to read more: http://bit.ly/9hO4NV

Protect Communities from Toxic Coal Ash

The Benefits of Wall Street Reform

Click to enlarge.

AT&T dropping more calls than ever

Three times as many as Verizon, according to a consumer survey released Tuesday.

Click here to read more.

End of Nutritious Rice for the World project

"World Community Grid is pleased to announce, that as a result of the generous contribution of computing power from our members, the Nutritious Rice for the World project finished on April 6, 2010."

Click here to read more.

OMRF scientist finds missing protein stops immune cell development

"In a paper published Sunday in the journal Nature Immunology, OMRF scientist Jose Alberola-Ila, M.D., Ph.D., found that a single missing protein in mice makes their immune systems unable to produce a potent defensive cell. The findings could be key to a deeper understanding of autoimmune disorders like type I (juvenile) diabetes."

Click here to read more.

Flagship Initiatives Shine in Open Government Plans

Ever since Open Government Day – the 120 day deadline in the Open Government Directive when agencies had to release Open Government Plans – I’ve been pouring over them hoping to get a better understanding of how openness is going to be implemented. If we are to judge government openness by the barrage of documents we received last Wednesday, then we open government advocates ought to be very happy! But what are these documents made of, anyway? A word cloud illustrates it quite well – all the buzzwords that you would expect: Information, government, data, open, public.

Click here to read more.

No Cops in the Cloud Without a Warrant

What do Google, Microsoft, AT&T, Intel, Americans for Tax Reform, ACLU, the American Library Association, the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have in common?

Click here to find out.

Dial-Up Law in a Broadband World

The Internet has given the government powerful 21st-century tools for invading people’s privacy and monitoring their activities, but the main federal law governing online privacy is a 20th-century relic. Adopted in 1986, it has had trouble keeping up with technological advances and is now badly out of date.

Click here to read more.

Green up!

Recycle your mobile phones and find out what to do with your old phone books:

• April 5-11 is National Mobile Phone recycle week!
• Thinking about upgrading to an iPhone or Droid? Recycle your old phone: http://bit.ly/aQAjoo 
• Last year, Americans turned in approximately 11.7 million mobile phones for reuse and recycling.
• The energy saved by recycling even one mobile phone is enough to power a laptop for 44 hours.
• If Americans recycled the 130 million mobile phones tossed each year, enough energy would be saved to power more than 24,000 homes.
• Where can I turn in my mobile phone for donation or recycling? Mobile phone collection programs can be found here: http://bit.ly/c5ko9u
• Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program collects used wireless phones & accessories to support victims of domestic violence. http://bit.ly/c2mrH3
• Have you gotten your 2010 phone book yet? Approximately 540 million phone book directories are delivered to our front steps every year.
• Though many are 40% post-consumer recycled, phone books still require enormous quantities of paper, oil and ink.
• Opt out: Visit PaperlessPetition.com to request that your name and address be removed from the Yellow Pages printed directory mailing list.
• Get Just One: If you still want to get one phone book, not 10 at a time, then call the individual titles directly to let them know.
• What can you do with your old phone books? Recycle them of course! Find out where: http://bit.ly/aGAklT
• According to the EPA, 500 recycled phone books saves 7,000 gallons of water, 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space, 24 trees & 4,100 kWh of power.
• 500 recycled books provides 6 months enough power for an average home. Thanks to Eco-Chick for the tips! http://bit.ly/c4dmlY

Read the original post here.

The Courts Can't Take Away Our Internet

Megan Tady, Huffington Post

The ruling for Comcast by the D.C. Circuit Court could be the biggest blow to our nation's primary communications platform, or it could be the kick in the pants our leaders need to finally protect it. Either way, the future of the Internet, the fight for Net Neutrality, and the expansion of broadband are hanging in the balance.

Click here to read more.

CDT Reaction to Comcast v. FCC Decision

"Either the FCC or Congress is going to have to go back to the drawing board and reconsider the authority that the agency can exercise over 'last mile' providers of Internet access."

Click here to read more.

Elegant Readings with Michael Ian Black: Taco Party

I find this amusing.

Four Days to Defend the Open Internet

Only four days left to debunk the telco lies about Net Neutrality. Take action http://bit.ly/cLAIBP

AT&T Apologizes for Luke Wilson Ads

By Megan Tady

AT&T this morning apologized for their advertising series featuring once-credible actor Luke Wilson. The ads, which began in early November, show Wilson awkwardly touting the company’s 3G network – which the company admits would be difficult role for any actor, given the network’s terrible reputation.

Click here to read more.

Goodyear Develops Tires Made of Renewable Rubber

The future of tires could mean using rubber made from plants, and it could happen within the next five years, according to TechNewsDaily.

Click here to read more.

Support Clean Air and Greener Cars

The EPA is poised to announce new clean cars standards this week, but some members of Congress want to take away the EPA's Clean Air Act authority to set vehicle standards. I just sent a message to my representative to support clean cars, and you should too! Check it out:

http://action.sierraclub.org/caa

Colorado Adopts Ambitious Renewable Energy Standard

"On March 22, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter...signed into law a bill requiring that 30 percent of the state's electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2020, giving Colorado the highest renewable energy standard in the Rocky Mountain West and one of the highest nationally."

Colorado Adopts Ambitious Renewable Energy Standard

The Quake

A powerful report on Haiti’s tragedy, with never-before-seen footage of the moments after the quake. What can be done now -- and who will do it?

Check it out: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/haiti/

Top Electronics [for recycling] Questions

Electronics was the top search on Earth911’s Recycling Directory in 2009. There’s no question that the current demand is great for electronics recycling, and with increased demand comes increased confusion.

We get lots of questions from consumers looking to dispose of e-waste, and we’re here to help. Here are some answers to some of the more common questions about electronics.

Click here to read more.

Mislabeled Plastic a New Problem

Two major plastics recycling associations recently announced that they are seeing a startling increase in mislabeled bottles.

The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) and the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) say several brand owners are improperly labeling plastics as PET or PET-compatible, creating a huge contamination problem in the recycling stream.

Click here to read more.

Sarah Palin on Discovery?

This is unbelieveable.

Discovery Communications has just announced that they'll be producing a "reality TV" series starring Sarah Palin.

Yes -- the same Sarah Palin who escalated Alaska's war on wolves and offered a $150 bounty for the severed front-forelegs of dead wolves. The same Sarah Palin who fought against increased protections for America's struggling polar bear populations. And the same Palin who fought against the increased protections for the dwindling Cook Inlet beluga whales.

I'm troubled that Discovery Communications -- known for their stunning wildlife-focused productions -- would choose to embrace such a controversial and anti-wildlife person as Sarah Palin to represent Alaska and the wildlife that lives there.

That's why I've joined Defenders of Wildlife's fight to get Discovery Communications to drop Sarah Palin's new show, and I am hoping you will too.

Please sign the petition online at http://action.defenders.org/palin.

Thanks for helping…

Paper Recycling Hits Record High

A record-high 63.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2009, according to PaperRecycles.org, which is funded by the American Forest & Paper Association.

Click here to read more.

Say "Yes" to a New Vision for Media

Right now, the FCC is debating an overhaul of the media policies that shape everything that we watch, read and hear. We need to make sure that they get it right--ensuring vibrant public media and local journalism while protecting free speech. This is a unique chance for the public to promote a bold new vision for our media.

Sign on now to make sure the FCC puts the public first! http://bit.ly/bnvPAN

Free Press and New America Foundation Demand Immediate FCC Action on Broadband

Today, Free Press and the New America Foundation released an early analysis of the National Broadband Plan that argues that while the Plan takes several critical first steps toward solving the nation's broadband deficiencies, the FCC must act decisively and quickly in several key areas in order to reach its goals.

Click here to read more.

Blow to Local Journalism

by Josh Stearns

Local journalism received a major blow Monday when a U.S. court allowed an old media ownership rule to go into effect, permitting businesses to own more media outlets in one market – and essentially, more runaway media consolidation in our communities.

Click here to read more.

Water Pollution Tops List of Global Eco Concerns

While many of the environmental headlines over the past few years involve climate change, deforestation and air pollution, a recent Circle of Blue/GlobeScan survey found that water is the biggest environmental issue in the world today.

Click here to read more.

A Social Media Enthusiast's Privacy Conundrum

by Adam Rosenberg

If I learned one thing at SXSW (other than the fact that man cannot live on BBQ alone) it was that working in both the social media and privacy advocate space can be really challenging. My experiences with the draw of new social media toys like location-enabled devices combating the push of raising awareness of oversharing and online privacy have been documented in our video adventures, but still I find myself intrigued by what seem to be two opposing core values instilled in the privacy and social media communities, respectively.

At the conference I spent a lot of time with social media and new media communications specialists from various organizations. While they did vary in age – a majority, would be considered millennials and were definitely the younger, savvy "I grew up using the Internet" types of folks. They all said pretty much the same thing when it came to their approaches and goals from social media outreach: they were looking to be able to connect with as many people interested in the same subject matter as they are. Oversharing? Not a concern, as long as they have control over what is sent out. Privacy settings?

Click here to read more.

Help Save Endangered Wolves in the Southwest

Just 42 Mexican gray wolves remain in the wild. These amazing animals exist nowhere else in the wilds of Arizona and New Mexico and they are quickly running out of time in their fight for survival. Please help save these wolves by taking action online here.

Your Browsing History Belongs to Us

by Justin Brookman

For several years, it has been a poorly kept secret that any Web site you went to could secretly search your browser's history file to see what sites you had previously visited. All the site owner had to do was ask. And while browser history "sniffing" has been around for a long time, companies are finally starting to actively take advantage of it. The time to act to prevent this clear threat to personal privacy is now.

Click here to read more.

Google sends China users to Hong Kong for uncensored results

Google has officially stopped censoring search results in China, but in a somewhat roundabout way... [continue reading]

What NOT to Put in the Bin

Ever wondered if that cryptic greasy paper plate could go in your recycling bin? Or would it really be a big deal if you threw in just one plastic bag?

It may seem simple to determine what doesn’t go in a recycling bin because of the labels, but unfortunately, it’s not that straightforward.

So, where do you begin to find out of the specific materials that shouldn’t go in a recycling bin? Listed below are some materials that you can pretty much guarantee should be kept out of your community’s recycling bins (unless of course the bin or the program specifically says that you can drop it in).

Click here to read more.

Biology explains why St. Patrick’s Day leaves many feeling green

"Overindulging in alcohol isn’t unique to St. Patrick's Day, of course, but a lot of people do their heaviest drinking of the year that day," said Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation President Stephen Prescott, M.D. "And that means a lot of people will open their eyes the day after with their heaviest hangover of the year."

Click here to read more.

The hot topic of cool roofs

Changing weather conditions and energy efficiency concerns are raising the awareness of roof cooling solutions, writes Roland Langset of Envirocoatings.

Read full article here.

Protecting Privacy in Online Identity: A Review of the Letter and Spirit of the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s Application to Identity Providers

by CDT

1. CDT Submits Comments in regards to the FTC’s Third Consumer Privacy Roundtable
2. Understanding Identity Management
3. The Letter: Identity Providers May Be Consumer Reporting Agencies under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
4. The Spirit: Ensuring Identity Providers Protect Privacy

Click here to read more.

The Urban Umbrella: Street Trees Stem Flash-flooding

As the Xynthia storm batters Europe and southern England, recent studies compiled by the urban tree charity Trees for Cities have been finding that even the familiar London plane is protecting people from flooding more than previously thought.

Read entire article.

CDT Testifies on Location Privacy

1. CDT Testifies on Location Privacy
2. Location Information is Poorly Protected in the Commercial Context
3. Statutory Protection of Location Information is Woefully Outdated
4. Existing Legal Standards for Access to and Protection of Location Information Are Woefully Inadequate

Click here to read more.

Tell the Obama Administration to Protect America's Wetlands

Every year over 80,000 acres of wetlands are destroyed in the United States. In March, the Sierra Club along with Ducks Unlimited and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership will meet with the EPA to ask for federal protection for our nation's wetlands. At the meeting we will present this petition to show our decision makers just how much Americans want to protect our wetlands.

Please add your comments and sign our petition below to call on the Obama Administration to protect our wetlands.

Link.

Speak Out for Sea Otters, Polar Bears and Other Marine Wildlife

Right now, President Obama’s Ocean Policy Task Force is considering the future of America’s coastal ecosystems. The lives of threatened sea otters, threatened polar bears, endangered bowhead whales and other wildlife that need clean, healthy coastal waters hang in the balance.

Over-industrialization, oil spills and pollution could doom these species… unless we speak up today. I just took action to protect these amazing animals and promote responsible management of our ocean resources, and I hope you will too. Take action online at http://action.defenders.org/oceanpolicy.

Lead in Your Drinking Water

What would you do if your state's environmental agency told you your drinking water was contaminated? What if no other source is provided?

This is the question two families in Oakwood, Illinois faced when boron, lead, iron and manganese from a nearby coal ash site polluted their wells.

Don't let another family face this choice--send a message supporting coal ash standards today.

Click here.

There are over 500 coal ash sites across the country like the one in Oakwood, putting communities at risk from dangerous toxins that can seep into water sources and pollute the air. In fact, residents living near these sites face a heightened, 1 in 50 risk of cancer.[1] We need strong, federal regulations to enforce necessary safeguards.

When the Illinois EPA sent a notice in 2001 informing the owners and operators that the Oakwood site was an illegal dump, they responded by claiming that the site was not a landfill, but a beneficial use site and that a building would be constructed on top. We're still waiting for that building.

It's time to protect communities near these sites with federal regulations governing coal ash disposal.

Click here.

In response to the 2008 coal ash disaster in Tennessee, the EPA moved quickly to submit draft regulations to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review, but now the coal industry is putting intense pressure on the White House to stop or weaken the rule.

We cannot afford further delay--send a message to the White House and help us give the Obama Administration the public support it needs to protect hundreds of communities across the country from the hazards of toxic coal ash!

Click here.

Thanks for all you do to protect the environment.

[1] "Holding EPA and coal plants accountable for pollution," The
Hill,September 15, 2009. Link.

Move Your Money

Watch this advert about moving your money out of the big banks and into the smaller institutions where they are not liable to rip you off.

While I support not keeping a dime in places such as Bank of America or Citibank, an alternate idea is what I do. I keep $25 in one of the big banks--that will remain nameless--just as a base and because I can easily deposit money into any of the thousands of their ATM locations, I use it just for the deposit and then immediately transfer funds to my other bank where I get decent interest. I think that if all of their customers took the time to do this and only consistently kept $25 in their accounts, those big banks would be destroyed. Thank about it.

Will Canada Stop Trade in Polar Bear Parts?

In some countries, collectors can still buy polar bear skin rugs, claws, skulls and other parts of these beloved bears--even as they struggle for survival in a warming world.

The Canadian government can strengthen protections for polar bears under international law by supporting a proposal to halt international trade in polar bear products--a move that could save the lives of hundreds of polar bears each year. But Canadian officials need to hear from us to understand just how many people care about these struggling bears.

Take action now--urge Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and conservation officials to support an international ban on the trade of polar bear products.

American Character Along Highway 50

Earth Hour 2010

Who Controls Your Clicks?

This year will be a defining year for the Internet. Will control remain in the hands of its millions of users? Or will a few phone and cable companies decide which Web sites we can and cannot see?

The Federal Communications Commission must hear from us in the next few days before it creates a final rule that, if done right, will protect Net Neutrality--the Internet's First Amendment--once and for all.

But they're facing intense pressure from giant telecomm companies that want to strip away our right to an open Internet.

Tell the FCC: Don’t Cave to Comcast and AT&T

The FCC needs our feedback by Thursday. The window for commenting is closing fast. We must act now to stop these companies in their tracks.

The phone and cable companies and their phony front groups have already flooded the FCC with comments calling for an end to Net Neutrality. It's time that the FCC heard the voices of people like us who rely on the free and open Internet every day. Just click on the link below:

Demand Net Neutrality Before It’s Too Late

The phone and cable companies are trying to stuff the FCC docket with lies and misleading statements. That’s why we need you to tell the FCC that you care about Net Neutrality and the open Internet.

By filing comments today, you can make sure that no FCC commissioner can in good conscience side with the phone and cable cartel against an open Internet.

Tell the FCC to protect Net Neutrality.

Fight Attacks on Global Warming Progress

Just last month, President Obama's EPA declared that global-warming pollution endangers human health and welfare and announced plans to limit emissions from big polluters. Now this plan is under attack in Congress by Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and other friends of Big Coal and Oil.

Tell your senators to oppose an amendment from Senator Murkowski to stop President Obama from enforcing limits on global-warming pollution. Click here.