Earth Share of Washington

No Idling Zones - coming soon to South End neighborhoods!

- By Holly Unger of Earth Share organization Community Coalition for Environmental Justice

Have you spent much time in the South End of Seattle? If so, you may have noticed how different it looks than the rest of our city. If not, consider going on an environmental justice tour led by the Community Coalition for Environmental Justice (CCEJ). In this part of town, bus depots, diesel trucks, high-traffic roads, polluting industries and toxic sites converge. In Rainier Valley, toxins from diesel and auto emissions are a major source of air pollution. Not surprisingly, asthma hospitalization rates are among the highest in our city.

This scenario plays out again and again across our country. Low-income communities and communities of color bear the brunt of exposure to environmental toxins in their workplaces, homes and neighborhoods. Children of color are more likely to have asthma due to air pollution in their neighborhoods. The American Lung Association reported that in 2005, penalties to polluters who violated federal hazardous waste laws were 500% lower in people-of-color communities, compared to areas where whites live. Our regulatory agencies simply aren’t doing enough.

Since 2005, CCEJ has worked with South Seattle residents on the Partnership for Environmental Health and Asthma (PEHA). This community organizing campaign is led by impacted residents who are creating visible solutions to air pollution. The project will reduce asthma suffering by educating residents and business owners about diesel and asking them to sign “No Idling� pledge cards. In the long term, PEHA will build community and agency support for improved air quality in poor communities.

Why a No Idling campaign?

• Data from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency shows that high traffic areas, like Rainier Avenue and South Seattle roads that lead to the freeway, are at particular risk for bad air.
• Diesel exhaust from trucks in these high traffic areas contains small particles and 40 chemicals that are classified as “hazardous air pollutantsâ€?.
• The South End has a high number of quick marts where people leave cars running to make quick stops and delivery trucks idle.
• Children breathe 50 percent more air per pound than adults.
• Children’s asthma symptoms increase as a result of car exhaust.

PEHA has already made a tremendous impact. After a series of educational meetings about air pollution and asthma, a nine-member steering committee formed, which is led by parents of children with asthma. The group takes a community-based approach by educating fellow community members about the impact of idling near the many convenience stores and businesses in poor South End neighborhoods. Because there are many quick stop marts in South Seattle, the results will be tremendous in the long term.

To truly engage impacted community members in solving environmental problems, we have to take leadership from them and start where people can see the results of their efforts. CCEJ’s No Idling campaign will not only improve air quality in South Seattle, it will empower low-income people and people of color to create environmental health in their communities. It will also pressure agencies and policy makers to make improving air quality in poor communities a major priority. We’ve had victories before by building grassroots power - we know that impacted people can lead change in their communities!

For more information on the Partnership for Environmental Health and Asthma, contact Yalonda Sindé at (206) 720-0285. For more information on environmental justice tours, contact Holly at (206) 720-0285. Visit www.ccej.org to learn more!

Understanding the Impacts of I-933

- By Angela Uhl of Earth Share organization Futurewise

STAFF NOTE – William Borden, Executive Director - Earth Share of Washington endorses no legislation nor candidates for political office. With that as a preface, few issues have galvanized community opposition as initiative 933. As author Angela Uhl points out in story #2, several Earth Share non-profits – plus organizations representing farmers, firefighters, commercial workers and others – share concerns about this initiative. I hope you will read her story below.

Bryan and Renee Ross in Oregon learned the hard way what Oregon’s measure 37 could do to neighborhoods. They have owned their rural property in Clackamas County for 13 years. But now, under Measure 37, the county commission has approved a gravel mine right next to their home. As Bryan and Renee explained in a recent letter to the editor, “this gravel mine could very likely ruin our property value... This measure has given our neighbors special rights and taken away our rights.�

The impacts of I-933 are dramatic and far-reaching. I-933 will cost taxpayers millions of dollars, allow governments to waive rules that protect our communities, and create loopholes for development leading to increased traffic and pollution. I-933 will also take away a neighborhood’s right to protect themselves and their property, and will lead to bureaucratic chaos and endless law suits.

Understanding and educating the public about the impacts of I-933 is critically important. Futurewise and a diverse coalition to defeat I-933 are working together to eliminate confusion and to deliver the facts to the people of Washington.

How can you get involved?

The good news is that a strong coalition is has joined together to defeat I-933 in Washington. The No on 933 Campaign has organized a remarkably broad coalition of opposition – over 200 organizations ranging from Futurewise to the League of Women Voters to the State Council of Firefighters to the Union of Food and Commercial Workers to the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

Local coalitions are also organizing their activists in counties around the state to spread the word to friends and neighbors about what I-933 would really do. The push is on to reach hundreds of thousands of voters to educate them about this destructive initiative before the November Election. For more information on what’s happening in your community, volunteer opportunities and other ways you can help defeat I-933, visit www.NOon933.org.

Bicycle Alliance of Washington supports the Fish Lake Trail

The Bicycle Alliance is teaming up with the Inland Northwest Trails Coalition, Spokane REI, and other interested parties to organize Friends of the Fish Lake Trail. This group of volunteers will be trained to lead walks and bike rides along the undeveloped portions of the corridor so citizens can experience and envision what this trail could be like. Members will also lead work parties to clean up segments of the corridor, and advocate for the trail’s completion. This project is supported by a grant from REI. Interested in getting involved? Contact Louise McGrody, 206.224.9252.

The Fish Lake Trail is an abandoned Burlington Northern railway line that runs from Spokane towards Cheney, and currently ends at Fish Lake. The corridor is currently owned by the City of Spokane, and is considered a city park. It starts from behind the Sunset Hill Baptist Church at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Government Way and runs South across I-90. It follows the West side of State Highway 195 and then veers West to follow the Cheney-Spokane Road past Marshall to Fish lake. The three main access points are: 1) just across I-90 at the stop sign on Lindeke Street; 2) where the trail is broken, one mile south on Marshall Road after it takes off from Thorpe; 3) at Scribner Road just off the Cheney-Spokane Road.

The Fish Lake Trail is a crucial link in a potential cross-state bike route that includes the Centennial Trail, the Columbia Plateau Trail and the John Wayne Trail. At the Spokane end, it could be easily connected to the Centennial Trail at the Sandifur Bridge. Its terminus at Fish Lake is the current trailhead of the Columbia Plateau Trail, which is paved as far as Cheney and continues as a gravel trail to the Tri-cities.

There are several challenges to overcome for the Fish Lake Trail to achieve its potential as a transportation corridor and recreation resource. At least one of the three bridges over the I-90 corridor needs re-decking. A bridge will need to be constructed over Marshall Road where the trail is currently discontinuous. Two railroad lines will need to be crossed, either by bridges or tunnels in order to make the connection at the West end. Once these obstacles have been hurdled, the trail will need to be paved. (A short section from opposite the Spokane Memorial Gardens, through Marshall to Scribner Road is already nicely paved.)

What can you do to help?

As more people use the trail, the more widely known it will become. The best methods for traveling on the trail at this time are by foot or mountain bike. When there is snow in Spokane, it is an excellent cross-country ski trail.

You can also contact the mayor and members of the Spokane city council to let them know how important this is for the community.

On the Trail - with AmeriCorps Volunteer Sean Bulthaup

Every Wednesday and Saturday, from spring to fall, Earth Share organization Volunteers for Outdoor Washington (VOW) sends out a work party to the Iron Goat Trail just west of Stevens Pass. This beautiful trail network provides a lovely hiking experience to outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and expertise. There are three separate trailheads leading to nearly 10 miles of hiking. Historically the site is home to the old Great Northern Railway grade. There are a number of breathtaking tunnels and towering stone walls. These walls once formed large snow sheds that protected the trains from falling snow and avalanches. Through more than 17 years of volunteering efforts, VOW has worked to make accessible many of these fascinating sites. This October a new trailhead, interpretive site, and Highway 2 rest area will be officially opened. The site will contain restrooms, easy access to the trails, informative new panels, and a restored 1951 caboose.

Earlier this fall, a VOW work party met early in the morning and, after getting our tools and hard hats, we had a brief talk about safety and headed out to the trail. Even though it was raining a little bit the trees were still gorgeous with the leaves just starting to change colors. But enough looking at the pretty scenery, it’s time to get to work! As the new Americorps VISTA member for VOW, I had never done trail work before and I didn’t realize how much work goes into each step.

My job was to clear out the brush so that we could fill in the trail with a solid bed of rock and dirt. It is slow and hard work to get it all out, but after you’re done you feel a great sense of accomplishment. I can only imagine how some of the volunteers who have been working for over 15 years on the same trail feel. I encourage you to check out this trail before the season finishes at the end of October. Work parties take place every Wednesday and Saturday. Sign up at www.trailvolunteers.org to join the fun.

Earn Commuter Cash for Carpooling

Earth Share member Transportation Choices Coalition, in addition to their work statewide for more and better transportation choices, is teaming up with the City of Seattle and King County Metro to get the word out about a program called Commuter Cash. It's open to anyone who lives or works in Seattle. There's no better time to get serious about busing, walking or biking to work more often!

Save yourself stress and do something that's good for your health, your pocketbook and the environment all at the same time -- and for a limited time only get paid for doing it! Commuter Cash gives you a way to lower the number of days you're driving alone to work and earn up to $150 on a debit style gift card that you can use anywhere Visa is accepted, for whatever you want.

Do you already commute without driving alone? You can earn $20 for each person you successfully refer to the Commuter Cash program.

Sign-up today on the Commuter Cash website:
http://www.seattle.gov/waytogo/commutercash.htm

To learn more about Transportation Choices Coalition, visit their website www.transportationchoices.org or give them a call at 206-329-2336.

Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities

• October 5 - 2006-2007 Speaker Series: All Wet, and Happy That Way with Jeff Renner - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM - REI Flagship Store, 222 Yale Ave, N, Seattle, WA - King 5 News weatherman Jeff Renner will share what he sees as some of the changes in Northwest weather and the changes in weather forecasting technology over the last 15 years. Also an avid SCUBA diver, Jeff will combine his presentation with some examples of his underwater photography and be your tour guide to some of his favorite parts of Puget Sound. He is the author of Northwest Marine Weather, Northwest Mountain Weather and Lightning Strikes: Surviving Thunderstorms. Admission: $6 People For Puget Sound members, $8 non-members, $40 season pass (8 programs) for People For Puget Sound members, $55 season pass non-members. To register, Contact Lynne Jordan at (206) 382-7007 or email ljordan@pugetsound.org.
• October 7 - Longfellow Creek Restoration Work Party - 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM - Join EarthCorps, Longfellow Creek Watershed Council, and Seattle Parks and Recreation/Green Seattle Partnership (GSP) as they work to restore habitat along Longfellow Creek! Located in West Seattle, Longfellow Creek is one of only three natural waterways left within Seattle city limits. Salmon stopped using the creek in the 1930s due to pollution and blocked stream passage. The efforts of many community groups and volunteers made the return of the salmon possible in the 1990s. Now they are working to improve conditions in the creek. Projects will include the removal of invasive plants, maintenance of restoration sites, and planting of native plants in areas along Longfellow Creek. For more information, contact Elizabeth White, Outreach Project Manager at (206) 255-4160, ext. 221 or email elizabeth@earthcorps.org.
• October 11 – Volunteer at the Washington Toxics Coalition Auction for Action - 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM, Seattle WA - The Washington Toxics Coalition is seeking volunteers for their 25th Anniversary Auction for Action. They would like to invite you to be a part of this year’s event by volunteering for the many available positions, including entry greeter; coat check; registration; data entry; silent auction assistants; live auction assistants such as spotter, floater, runner, and item handler; and check out. The reception and silent auction begin at 5:30 p.m., and the dinner program and live auction begin at 7:30 p.m. Please visit the Washington Toxics Coalition website to sign up for a shift – http://www.watoxics.org/
• October 14 - Duwamish Alive! Habitat Restoration - 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM - Duwamish River - Come join People for Puget Sound as hundreds of volunteers roll up their sleeves to work on six simultaneous habitat restoration projects along the Duwamish River. Duwamish Alive! is a chance for people to reclaim the river by weeding invasive plants, planting native species, mulching the planting areas, and picking up debris and trash from the riverfront sites.
  
  Schedule of Events: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Volunteer at any of the six sites along the Duwamish River; pull weeds, mulch planting areas, plant native vegetation, and pick up debris and trash in the restoration areas. To learn more about the event or sign up, please contact Eliza Ghitis at eghitis@pugetsound.org or by calling 206-382-7007 ext. 220.
• October 16 - Pioneer Park Restoration Work Party - 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM - Work with EarthCorps and the City of Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Dept. to help restore Pioneer Park! Pioneer Park is 113 acres of forested habitat, the largest forested park on Mercer Island. This park is home to over 70 bird species and 12 different mammals, and offers the most extensive trail system on the island. The restoration goals for this park include planting native conifer trees; removing non-native plants, such as ivy, that prevent native plants from growing; and site maintenance activities. For more information, contact Ashley Adams, Project Manager at (206) 793-4813 or email ashley@earthcorps.org.
• October 25 - Lecture: "Our Outdoor Sporting Tradition" – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Centerplace, Mirabeau Point Park (Room 108) 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane - Join John Roskelley, National Wildlife Federation, and Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition for an evening of adventure stories abroad, and reflections on this place we call home. They'll have a candid discussion about the current state of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and Snake River systems, and how you can help assure their survival for future generations of anglers. He event is free! Everyone present will receive a free ticket for a drawing to win a St. Croix fly fishing rod.
  
  Keynote speaker John Roskelley is considered one of the world's top Himalayan climbers and adventurers. A Spokane native, he started climbing at the age of 16, and he reached the summit of four 8,000-meter peaks, including Everest and K2. John has written three adventure books and many articles for national magazines. His photography has appeared on the cover of National Geographic. Please RSVP to Joelle Robinson at robinsonj@nwf.org or by calling 206.285.8707 × 105.
• October 28 - Llandover Woods Open Space Stewardship - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm - Join EarthCorps, the Green Seattle Partnership, and the Friends of Llandover Woods for the day and volunteer to create healthy forests! Llandover Woods is an urban haven located right along the Seattle-Shoreline border. Following its 1/2-mile trail, you can see huge Douglas Fir, giant Big Leaf Maple and forget that the noise of the city is right around the corner. Help us keep this urban haven safe and make Llandover Woods a healthy forest! For more information, contact Elizabeth White, Outreach Project Manager at 206-255-4160 or email elizabeth@earthcorps.org