[let us know if you can join us for press conf. on this tomorrow 3 pm in front of 22 Market St. in Poughkeepsie!....Joel]
[recall-- http://dutchessdemocracy.blogspot.com/2011/04/dutchess-air-quality-rated-f-third-in.htm (letter I sent out in late April to my Co. Leg. colleagues on this originally after Amer. Lung Assoc. of NY report came out showing Dutchess air quality ranked "F" third year in row; tons of great recommendations there; if you haven't yet, join 100+ signed on to my http://www.PetitionOnline.com/Breathe effort; recall as well this-- http://activistresource.org/calendar/cal_event.php?id=3221 ; the struggle continues, folks!)]
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From: Joel Tyner
To: countylegislators@co.dutchess.ny.us
Subject: Colleagues-- hot enough for you?...time for Dutchess Co. Air Quality Task Force!...
Hi all...
Hot enough out there for y'all?...(thought so!)...
If you agree with me that it's high time that we work to put together the best and brightest minds in the county to tackle the atrocious state of Dutchess County air...
.....please let me know if you'd be willing to co-sponsor with me this brand-new resolution of mine!...
[......would love to get this started/passed at our Aug. mtg.'s....but if not then, Sept. better than nothing...]
Stay cool, all...
Joel
444-0599
[seven reasons here below why (click on these seven links for supporting documentation re: below--
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2011/April/27/HV_air_ALA-27Apr11.html ;
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20110720/NEWS01/110719027/If-some-like-hot-they-ll-love-week-s-forecast ; http://www.CaryInstitute.org ; http://www.ALANY.org ;
http://www.nyalert.gov/Public/News/AlertView.aspx?notID=3451621&refer=&source=WEB&messageID=AghxO4T6A& ; http://www.350.org ;
http://m.rollingstone.com/v/Politics/PoliticsClimateDenia/?p=0&KSID=29914983926880c7b43cd5d9394c6e51 ]
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WHEREAS, this April Dutchess County earned an "F" for ozone pollution for literally the third year in a row, with 15 orange days for ozone pollution, one more day than in 2010, according to the American Lung Association of New York State, and
WHEREAS, Dutchess County was one of only two counties in the state whose number of high ozone days increased when compared to last year, according to the American Lung Association of New York State, and
WHEREAS, there are over 35,000 Dutchess residents with asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema, according to the American Lung Association of New York State; this summer, as summers before, is proving to be not just painfully but dangerously hot for tens of thousands of county residents, and
WHEREAS, Dutchess County's average hourly concentration of ozone is actually quite a bit higher than even that of New York City's, according to a recent study conducted at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies by Dr. Clive Jones, Jillian Gregg, and Todd Dawson that was reported July 10, 2003 in the New York Times and in the Poughkeepsie Journal as well, and
WHEREAS, according to NASA, 2010 was tied with 2005 as the hottest year on earth measured since instruments were first used systematically in the 1880's, and nine of the 10 hottest years in history have occurred in the last 13 years; the past decade was the hottest ever measured, even though half of that decade represented a "solar minimum", the low ebb in the natural cycle of solar energy emanating from the sun, and therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Dutchess County Legislature create a Dutchess County Legislative Air Quality Task Force, to meet monthly, research, discuss, and make recommendations about how to clean up the critical state of Dutchess County air, with the first Task Force report to be made to the County Legislature as soon as is practicable, and
RESOLVED, that the Chair of the Dutchess County Legislature and the Minority Leader of the Dutchess County Legislature each appoint eight members of the Dutchess County Legislative Air Quality Task Force, with one environmental expert each from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Cornell Cooperative Extension's Environmental Program, Dutchess Area Environmental Science Advisory Network, Dutchess County Environmental Management Council, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Scenic Hudson, and Sustainable Hudson Valley, and one environmental professor each from Dutchess Community College, Marist College, Vassar College, and Bard College, and one respiratory-expert doctor each from Vassar Brothers Medical Center, St. Francis Hospital, and Northern Dutchess Hospital, and be it further
RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Cornell Cooperative Extension's Environmental Program, Dutchess Area Environmental Science Advisory Network, Dutchess County Environmental Management Council, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Scenic Hudson, and Sustainable Hudson Valley, Dutchess Community College, Marist College, Vassar College, Bard College, Vassar Brothers Medical Center, St. Francis Hospital, and Northern Dutchess Hospital.
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Recall-- from Apr. 27 http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2011/April/27/HV_air_ALA-27Apr11.html ...
Hudson Valley air still stagnant, says Lung Association report
ALBANY - The American Lung Association's State of the Air report released Wednesday shows no signs of improvement in the quality of Hudson Valley air.
Dutchess County earned an earned an "F" for ozone pollution with 15 orange days for ozone pollution, one more day than in 2010. Dutchess was one of only two counties in the state whose number of high ozone days increased when compared to last year.
Ulster is again the only county in the Hudson Valley to receive a passing grade for ozone pollution. The county earned a "C", the same as last year, and reduced its number of orange ozone days from six to three.
The lead author in the national State of the Air report, Janice Nolen, has concerns about the possible watering down of the Clean Air Act by Washington.
"The American Lung Association is working hard to fight to make sure that we take steps to clean up even more air pollution," she said. "We are calling for EPA to clean up some of the biggest sources remaining including coal fired power plants, existing diesel engines like trucks, buses, tractors and heavy equipment, to be able to provide the funding for cleaning up those additional resources."
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From yesterday's Poughkeepsie Journal...
If some like it hot, they'll love this week's forecast
Written by
Shantal Parris Riley
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20110720/NEWS01/110719027/If-some-like-hot-they-ll-love-week-s-forecast
Scorching temperatures are set to hit the region this week, with the mercury expected to near 100 degrees Thursday and Friday.
Today will be sunny with a high of 91 degrees and a low of 71, the National Weather Service said.
Thursday's high is expected to reach 97 degrees, with a low of around 72. Friday's temperature is forecast to rise to 98 degrees, with a low of around 71. Both days are expected to be mostly sunny.
The weekend will bring more sun but cooler temperatures, with a high of 93 degrees Saturday and 88 degrees Sunday.
Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. advises residents to close doors, windows, curtains and shades to keep heat out and block sun from entering homes during the hottest hours of the day, to set thermostats on air conditioners to 78 degrees and higher when homes are unoccupied, and to change dirty filters on air conditioners.
Heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the Unites States, the weather service said. Excessive heat kills more people each year in the U.S than floods, lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes combined, the agency reported.
For more heat wave safety tips and information, visit www.co.dutchess.ny.us.
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http://www.nyalert.gov/Public/News/AlertView.aspx?notID=3451621&refer=&source=WEB&messageID=AghxO4T6A&
Headline: (CONTINUATION) Excessive Heat Watch issued July 21 at 4:27AM EDT expiring July 21 at 5:00PM EDT by NWS Albany
Activation Time: 07/21/11 4:27 AM
Expiration Time: 07/21/11 5:00 PM
Issued By: NWS Albany (Eastern New York and Western New England)
Affected Jurisdictions: Dutchess County (All)
Description: ...Excessive Heat Warning In Effect From Noon Today To 8 PM EDT This Evening... ...Excessive Heat Watch Remains In Effect From Friday Afternoon Through Friday Evening... The National Weather Service In Albany Has Issued An Excessive Heat Warning...Which Is In Effect From Noon Today To 8 PM EDT This Evening. The Heat Advisory Is No Longer In Effect. * Locations...Eastern Dutchess County. * Hazards...The Combination Of Heat And High Humidity Levels Creating High Heat Indices. * Temperatures...Highs In The Mid 90S Both Today And Friday. Temperatures Only Expected To Drop Into The Lower 70S Tonight... Which Will Not Allow For Much Cooling To Take Place. * Heat Index Values...Around Or Over 105 Degrees During This Afternoon And Early Evening...And Between 100 And 105 Possible Friday Afternoon.
Instructions: An Excessive Heat Warning Means That A Prolonged Period Of Dangerously Hot Temperatures Will Occur. The Combination Of Hot Temperatures And High Humidity Will Combine To Create A Dangerous Situation In Which Heat Illnesses Are Likely. Drink Plenty Of Fluids...Stay In An Air-Conditioned Room...Stay Out Of The Sun... And Check Up On Relatives And Neighbors. Take Extra Precautions If You Work Or Spend Time Outside. When Possible...Reschedule Strenuous Activities To Early Morning Or Evening. Know The Signs And Symptoms Of Heat Exhaustion And Heat Stroke. Wear Light Weight And Loose Fitting Clothing When Possible And Drink Plenty Of Water. To Reduce Risk During Outdoor Work The Occupational Safety And Health Administration Recommends Scheduling Frequent Rest Breaks In Shaded Or Air Conditioned Environments. Anyone Overcome By Heat Should Be Moved To A Cool And Shaded Location. Heat Stroke Is An Emergency - Call 911.
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[below is from current Rolling Stone now out on the racks]
Politics: Climate of Denial
BY AL GORE
JUNE 22, 2011 | 7:45AM
http://m.rollingstone.com/v/Politics/PoliticsClimateDenia/?p=0&KSID=29914983926880c7b43cd5d9394c6e51
Is the climate crisis real? Yes, of course it is. Pause for a moment to consider these events of just the past 12 months:
Heat. According to NASA, 2010 was tied with 2005 as the hottest year measured since instruments were first used systematically in the 1880s. Nineteen countries set all-time high temperature records. One city in Pakistan, Mohenjo-Daro, reached 128.3 degrees Fahrenheit, the hottest temperature ever measured in an Asian city. Nine of the 10 hottest years in history have occurred in the last 13 years. The past decade was the hottest ever measured, even though half of that decade represented a "solar minimum" - the low ebb in the natural cycle of solar energy emanating from the sun.
Floods. Megafloods displaced 20 million people in Pakistan, further destabilizing a nuclear-armed country; inundated an area of Australia larger than Germany and France combined; flooded 28 of the 32 districts that make up Colombia, where it has rained almost continuously for the past year; caused a "thousand-year" flood in my home city of Nashville; and led to all-time record flood levels in the Mississippi River Valley. Many places around the world are now experiencing larger and more frequent extreme downpours and snowstorms; last year's "Snowmaggedon" in the northeastern United States is part of the same pattern, notwithstanding the guffaws of deniers.
Drought. Historic drought and fires in Russia killed an estimated 56,000 people and caused wheat and other food crops in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan to be removed from the global market, contributing to a record spike in food prices. "Practically everything is burning," Russian president Dmitry Medvedev declared. "What's happening with the planet's climate right now needs to be a wake-up call to all of us." The drought level in much of Texas has been raised from "extreme" to "exceptional," the highest category. This spring the majority of the counties in Texas were on fire, and Gov. Rick Perry requested a major disaster declaration for all but two of the state's 254 counties. Arizona is now fighting the largest fire in its history. Since 1970, the fire season throughout the American West has increased by 78 days. Extreme droughts in central China and northern France are currently drying up reservoirs and killing crops.
Melting Ice. An enormous mass of ice, four times larger than the island of Manhattan, broke off from northern Greenland last year and slipped into the sea. The acceleration of ice loss in both Greenland and Antarctica has caused another upward revision of global sea-level rise and the numbers of refugees expected from low-lying coastal areas. The Arctic ice cap, which reached a record low volume last year, has lost as much as 40 percent of its area during summer in just 30 years.
These extreme events are happening in real time. It is not uncommon for the nightly newscast to resemble a nature hike through the Book of Revelation. Yet most of the news media completely ignore how such events are connected to the climate crisis, or dismiss the connection as controversial; after all, there are scientists on one side of the debate and deniers on the other. A Fox News executive, in an internal e-mail to the network's reporters and editors that later became public, questioned the "veracity of climate change data" and ordered the journalists to "refrain from asserting that the planet has warmed (or cooled) in any given period without IMMEDIATELY pointing out that such theories are based upon data that critics have called into question."
But in the "real" world, the record droughts, fires, floods and mudslides continue to increase in severity and frequency. Leading climate scientists like Jim Hansen and Kevin Trenberth now say that events like these would almost certainly not be occurring without the influence of man-made global warming. And that's a shift in the way they frame these impacts. Scientists used to caution that we were increasing the probability of such extreme events by "loading the dice" - pumping more carbon into the atmosphere. Now the scientists go much further, warning that we are "painting more dots on the dice." We are not only more likely to roll 12s; we are now rolling 13s and 14s. In other words, the biggest storms are not only becoming more frequent, they are getting bigger, stronger and more destructive.
"The only plausible explanation for the rise in weather-related catastrophes is climate change," Munich Re, one of the two largest reinsurance companies in the world, recently stated. "The view that weather extremes are more frequent and intense due to global warming coincides with the current state of scientific knowledge."
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