SJV LEAP

Health hazards similar in San Joaquin, Coachella valleys

UPLIFT the Valley! — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:59:13 +0000

http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201111280600/NEWS01/111280303

A new study on the the environmental health risks across Central California describes conditions strikingly similar to those confronting many eastern Coachella Valley residents.

More than 1 million people living in the sprawling San Joaquin Valley face serious health risks from toxic air, polluted water and other environmental factors, according to a University of California, Davis report published earlier this month.

Residents there buy bottled water to avoid the arsenic-tinged water supplies where they live, according to researchers. They’ve also fought expansion of an unpermitted rendering plant, and they pushed to close a hazardous waste facility spreading noxious odors.

Those incidents in the report, called “Land of Risk/Land of Opportunity,” paint a portrait familiar to many in the eastern Coachella Valley.

The report shows that the health risks faced by thousands of residents in hundreds of small mobile home parks stretching from Coachella to the Salton Sea are endemic, statewide problems.

In the east valley, many agriculture and service-sector workers have also bought bottled water to avoid bacteria-contaminated and arsenic-tinged wells at the trailer parks where they live.

Like their San Joaquin Valley counterparts, many east valley residents are counting on public money to eventually help connect their communities to nearby water district pipes.

And in Mecca, students and residents have endured overwhelming, noxious gas-like odors that authorities say stem from the nearby Western Environmental, Inc., which treats contaminated soil.

State regulators acknowledge Western lacked the proper permits to operate, although Western officials dispute they needed that state approval because they operate on tribal land.

The UC Davis report is based on a three-year study that researchers say is the first of its kind for the San Joaquin Valley. Its authors hope regulators, policy makers and community leaders will use it to help resolve the area’s pervasive environmental issues.

No such comprehensive report exists for the eastern Coachella Valley. However, academics and community advocates have taken steps to understand the scope of the environmental health problems in the east valley.

Ryan Sinclair, a Loma Linda University environmental health assistant professor, has spent the past year mapping mobile home parks to assess health risks from wastewater that isn’t properly disposed.

“I’m doing this to demonstrate that there is a wastewater problem out there,” said Sinclair, who grew up in Desert Hot Springs. A team of Loma Linda students assists him on the project.

The Loma Linda map is hosted on a website, the Imperial Visions Action Network (www.ivanonline.org), which collects reports of illegal dumping, burning and other hazards in the east valley and verifies them.

But Sinclair’s mobile home park map is still a work in progress. Sinclair said he’s had less than $10,000 in funding so far to work the project and he intends to finish it as soon as he finds more money.

“Getting out there, getting these parks mapped, you can see how bad the problem is or how minor the problem is,” Sinclair said.

To read the UC Davis report, visit:http://regionalchange.ucdavis.edu/projects

Reach Desert Sun reporter Marcel Honoré at (760) 778-4649 or atmarcel.honore@thedesertsun.com.

Land of Risk, Land of Opportunity: Cumulative Environmental Vulnerabilities in California’s San Joaquin Valley

UPLIFT the Valley! — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:21:22 +0000

Getting Jumped by Pollution: To read the full report or the executive summary, please visit: http://bit.ly/ucdceva.

Statement from Rey Leon, Founder and Executive Director of SJV Latino Environmental Advancement Project (Valley LEAP):

Valley LEAP’s economic equity arm, the Regional Green Jobs Coalition, is made up of over 300 allies representing, community, entrepreneurs, labor, non-profits, government and business. Being consistent with this reports findings, we are striving to develop a region with a new economy that has a moral character and culture to provide a social structure that cares for people first while enhancing the environment and building local high road jobs and economy.

Study after study has shared the story of poverty and vulnerability. This report helps connect the dots with how pollution is involved and effectively impacts the socio-economic downward spiral that has paralyzed our regions human development.

This is concerning to us because of the consequences entailed to the Latino community which currently represents over 40% of the Valley and is disproportionately impacted by these indicators. While the region is the fastest growing in the state, the Latino community is the fastest growing community in the region. Without a doubt, the future of the Latino community is the Future of the Valley, hence, to have a strong and prosperous region we must remedy the issues impacting the Latino Community.

In order to advance the economic development of the region we need to focus on a sustainable green economy that can provide benefits and co-benefits to advancing the social and environmental status of all residents and communities in the region. These advancements would include localized manufacturing of new technologies to enhance the environment, including air, water and land, while creating jobs, impacting at least 80% of the region. This would require vocational opportunities to build the skills of farmworkers and others in preparation of high road jobs, educational opportunities for students, and English learning programs for adults. The goal is to allow employers and employees to effectively participate, together, in diversifying the economy with a new culture of engagement to improve quality of life for all with particular attention to those communities that are most vulnerable.

Apart from the other challenges, siloes are contributing to the downward spiral. Economic Development must focus to remedy economic inequities where the identified vulnerabilities exist. Less healthy and less educated people provide for an unstable regional economic foundation. Innovative and firm regulations to enhance environment paired with creative incentives to stimulate job creation can help green the economy (Green Economic Empowerment Zones) and develop the human potential of our regions greatest resource, the people. Not only will the 51% of the residents in elevated risk and the 31% at extreme risk will benefit immensely of what can result as a response to this reports findings but also farmers, small businesses, entrepreneurs and all air breathers!

10 Facts About Latinos

UPLIFT the Valley! — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:25:59 +0000

Hispanic Heritage Month brings with it a series of celebrations across the country that highlight our culture and accomplishments. In the spirit of this occasion, we compiled our Top Ten Latino Facts that together represent a snapshot of where we are and where we’re going.

1. One in six people in the U.S.is Latino. That’s 16.3 percent of the country’s population or 50.5 million Latinos. And we’re growing at a faster rate than any other group. In 2000, the Latino population was 14 percent of the population; in 2050, it is estimated it will be 29 percent.

2. Six hundred thousand Latinosturn 18 every year. That’s 1.2 million every two years, enough to create 1.5 new congressional districts.

3. Only 50 percent of eligible Latinoscame out to vote in the 2008 elections, among the lowest voting rate of any group.

4. Latinos make up 50 percent of inmates in federal prisons. The majority of Latino federal prisoners are jailed on felony immigration charges. The growth might be due to the increased use of the Secure Communitiesprogram, which checks the fingerprints of every person booked by local law enforcement agencies against Department of Homeland Security databases for immigration violations. This number could continue to grow as the Secure Communities program is expanded to every county in the nation.

5. Meanwhile, Latinos account for only 15 percent of student enrollment in two- and four-year colleges across the country. The numbers are growing. From 2009 to 2010, there was a 24 percent enrollment jump, bringing Latino enrollment up to 1.8 million.At the same time, only half of these students are graduating from college.

6.More Latino children are living in poverty, 6.1 million in 2010, than children of any other racial or ethnic group. This marks the first time inU.S. history that the single largest group of poor children is not white. In 2010, 37.3 percent of poor children were Latino, 30.5 percent were white and 26.6 percent were black.

7. Looking for a job? You’re not alone. Unemployment among young Latinos (18-24) was at 20.1 percent, compared to 15.9 percent for whites and 31 percent for blacks in July of this year, nearly the same as in 2010. In response to these rates, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis created employment programs intended to help young adults join the workforce. Learn more at http://www.dol.gov/dol/audience/aud-students.htm.

8. One of every 10 Latinos over the age of 20 lives with diabetes.When left untreated, diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and blindness, among other health problems. Although family history increases the risk for diabetes, you can control this with healthy eating habits and regular exercise.

9. Latinos own nearly one in every 10 businesses across the country. Latino-owned businesses grew 47 percent to 2.3 million in comparison to the non-Latino increase of 14.5 percent between 2002 and 2007. They generated over $400 billion dollarsin 2007.

10. In addition to opening new businesses and creating new jobs, Latinos are also spending big bucks. Latinos contributed more than $1 trillion to our economy in 2010.

Without a doubt, Latinos are vital to the sustainability of our country. As the youngest ethnic group in the country (median age of 27), not only are we the labor force of the future, but we are helping keep theU.S. competitive in the global market. We are creating new jobs and spending more than ever. And most importantly, we are becoming an increasingly larger voting block that can not be ignored. But it’s not enough to be a large community. We need to vote and be a powerful community!

Johanna N. Perez is an intern at Voto Latino. She is currently a Chicana/o-Latina/o Studies and Political Science double major at the University of California, Irvine.

Solar Installations Rise, but Manufacturing Declines

UPLIFT the Valley! — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:52:39 +0000

from

September 20, 2011, 7:14 AM

By MATTHEW L. WALD

Solar Energy Industries AssociationSolar installations in the United States in 2010 and the first two quarters of 2011. Economies of scale make it easier for nonresidential buildings to foot the cost.

Installations of solar panels are still expanding in the United States, but manufacturing is down, and a great deal of factory capacity is idle, according to a report on the solar energy market for the second quarter of this year.

The number of solar cells put on the roofs of houses has retreated, yet nonresidential rooftop installation is thriving, according to the report, produced by the Solar Energy Industries Association and a consulting firm, GTM Research.

The industry is facing challenges, with a credit crisis in Europe cutting into demand, the worldwide supply of equipment increasing, and some American utilities’ subsidy programs fully subscribed. But Rhone Resch, the executive director of the solar association, predicted nonetheless that installations would continue to grow significantly each year.

In April through June, installations were 69 percent higher than in the comparable period of 2010, and 17 percent higher than in the first quarter of 2011. The industry suggests that this is impressive because first-quarter installations may have been artificially inflated.

By fall of last year, companies were worried about the potential expiration of tax credits at the end of 2010, so they started on an unusually high number of projects and finished them in the first quarter.

But the shape of the market is changing. Installations on house roofs were down 5.7 percent in the second quarter from the first; installations by utilities were up 37 percent, and installations on commercial roofs grew 22 percent.

The report gives a detailed financial explanation for the trend. It is far cheaper, per watt of capacity, to put a solar panel on a commercial roof or out in the open desert than on a house.

In the second quarter, residential installations cost $6.42 per watt; nonresidential installations cost $5.20 per watt and installations done by the utilities themselves cost $3.75 per watt. Because home installations are usually counted in thousands of watts and installations on warehouses and other big commercial roofs are counted in hundreds of thousands or even millions of watts, the 20 percent price difference can add up to a lot of money.

The report blamed the slowdown in manufacturing largely on the financial situation of Germany and Italy, which together accounted for almost two-thirds of global installations in 2010. In the second quarter, American cell manufacturing capacity was 561 megawatts for the three months, but actual production was just 333 megawatts. Production dropped 11 percent in the second quarter from the first quarter.

“We have a global market,” Mr. Resch said. As markets have softened and as new manufacturing has come on line, “instead of running at three shifts, you’re running at two shifts” at factories.

That spare production capacity and decline in manufacturing is one reason that the solar manufacturing company Solyndra went bankrupt in September despite taking $528 million in loans from the federal government.

But new production continues to come on stream. On Friday, Stion, which makes thin-film modules, cut the ribbon on a factory in Hattiesburg, Miss., that will produce 100 megawatts a year in solar cells. (By comparison, in the second quarter, the entire country was installing little over 1,200 megawatts a year.)

The international drop in solar cell demand has pushed down prices, which has helped spur the rise in American installations, the report said. An open question for the future is how much more demand will be created by these lower prices.

Mr. Resch said that the drop in prices had an up side. “We have a very competitive market, and prices are declining, and those who can’t compete are going out of business,” he said.

“The good news for the consumer is we enjoy the lowest cost of solar in history,” he said.

Good Green Use for Old Tires

UPLIFT the Valley! — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:43:54 +0000

Please share with us what you think about this practice. Seems to be a good green option for the use of old tires but does it impact water efficiency? What do you think?

UPLIFT the Valley! — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 21:08:32 +0000

View This Poll

Regional Green Jobs Coalition helps STOP BIG Texas OIL for Clean Energy in California!

UPLIFT the Valley! — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 23:23:43 +0000

Check out the Video from our Press Conference: No on 23!

Top 10 Green Trends for 2011

UPLIFT the Valley! — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 22:36:10 +0000

http://www.greenhostit.com/green-business-practices/185-top-10-green-trends.html

There is no doubt that 2010 was a difficult year for the economy, yet the hope for the coming year is high. And for good reason — Many leading U.S. economists predict that the economy will grow an astounding two to four percent in 2011. This is welcome news after two years of a painful recession.

What can businesses do to prepare?

What can executives, entrepreneurs and webmasters set in place so as to benefit from the projected economical growth of 2011? As economists begin to try and answer this question, we must first look at the possible trends and business motives that grasp the world economy. A common theme within the economy that has shown increased popularity is green technologies, products and services.

Why go green?

Because by “going green” we are protecting the environment. But an added benefit is that by going green, businesses are seeing long-term business growth and opportunity.

There are few segments of the financial system today that have shown continued growth during what economists call the “great recession”. One thing is clear; the trend toward green technology is not fading. Every economic region has seen significant growth in the eco-friendly industry and companies are aware of the growing trend toward green-technologies. It is apparent that the green power movement shows no sign of decline. Indeed, the green movement continues to grow, despite the contraction in the economy since 2008. Green technology is one segment of the world-economy which has shown steady growth during the recent difficult economic times.

Green Trends and Predictions for 2011

This can serve as a guide for businesses as a place to prepare for green trends that will continue throughout the coming year.

1. Energy and Air Emissions

Many industries around the world are faced with two primary energy challenges: how to efficiently provide clean, secure and affordable energy and how to minimize the impact on the environment.

Two major power-hungry segments of the economy include:

Airline industry
Data center industry

Traditionally, these energy hogs utilized the most energy of any other industry in the United States and generated the largest carbon footprint. Business owners are looking for options within these industries that are more eco-friendly with a reduction in carbon emissions.

What to do?
Many companies that utilize a great deal of travel are looking for ways to not only minimize their carbon footprint, but also reduce their expenses. Companies are deploying various means of eco-friendly business models so as to reduce the amount of air-travel they utilize. And, in order to reduce the demand for power-hungry data centers, web masters, site designers and businesses are moving their web sites to green web hosting, which provides more efficiency and uses less energy than hosting in traditional data centers.

Telecommuting is becoming more popular among businesses with the use of VOIP services such asPress8 telecom. With the Press8 Hosted phone systems, companies are able to offer their employees the option of telecommuting — an attractive option because of high gas prices, nightly traffic jams and long commutes. Press8 phone systems offer methods to ensure employees working at home or from a remote office location are making productive use of their time.
Green web hosting among businesses is becoming more popular because it presents a clear solution for a reduction in the utilization of traditional, power-hungry data centers. Many webmasters are moving their web sites to companies that utilize green data centers. A word of caution: many so called “green web hosting” companies are merely web hosts that purchase Renewable Energy Credits (REC’s) and then these companies market their services to the Internet community as “green”. In order to be a “true” green web hosting provider, the web host must utilize a “green data center”. GreenHostIt, an Austin, Texas web hosting firm, offers green web hosting for personal and business web sites and hosts its servers in a “true” green data center.

2. Water and Wastewater

As part of a progressive replacement program, companies will continue to develop and install innovative water-saving technology and procedures. The challenge is to implement conservation measures to reduce water consumption, and thus the “water footprint” a company generates. Many strong industries within the economy are moving toward improving their wastewater treatment facilities. The investment is high but the payoff is significant.

What to do?
Companies can explore the option of updating their wastewater facilities. And those companies that do not have the resources for a large infusion of cash to update these facilities might consider outsourcing to treatment facilities that already have this technology in place. Many companies are implementing reverse osmosis systems which operate by pumping water under very high pressure through a semi-permeable membrane. Today’s systems provide the same amount of water for only about 35 percent of the electricity consumption.

3. LED Lighting

Commercial, Residential, Marine, and Solar — each of these industries is seeing strong movement towards “advanced lighting”. By upgrading lighting, these industries are recognizing substantial savings through alternative energy and efficient lighting. A leader in this industry is NeuTex Lighting and through their comprehensive catalog of advanced lighting products, companies and individuals are able to capitalize on significant savings in energy expenses by “going green”.

What to do?
Before building a new house, commercial building, marine operation or solar configuration, consider speaking to your local city government about green building practices.

Neutex Lighting is a good source of information and their web site describes the ever increasing group of ways that companies and individuals can be less wasteful.
GreeningDetroit.com offers a unique directory designed to provide building solutions, products and services, green news and environmental responsibility options.

4. Eco-friendly automobiles

Trends in the automobile industry show strong growth in hybrid and fuel-efficient diesel engines. New product development with these types of engines is accelerating. Fuel-hogs such as large SUV’s and vans are harder to re-sell and more expensive to maintain at the fuel pumps.

What to do?
Before purchasing your next automobile, consider a hybrid or diesel powered engine. The up-front cost is higher, but long-term savings in terms of fuel and overall maintenance is significant.

4. Reduction in waste

Consumers have taken notice and appreciate companies that produce products packaged in eco-friendly materials.

What to do?
Reduce, reuse, and recycle. The first step in managing waste is to reduce the amount of material used. To further cut back waste generation, companies can work with suppliers on container return programs. By recycling trash, companies are diligently working to decrease the amount of waste generated. Companies world-wide are showing signs of more often utilizing alternatives to packaging their products in materials that are harmful to the environment — specifically plastics. Consumers notice and show their appreciation with their wallets.

These companies are examples of cutting-edge corporations that are “going green” to reduce, reuse, and recycle:

Chantal Cookware, a major cookware manufacturer, encourages recycling in the day-to-day business operations at their facility and with their suppliers. For example, when shipping products Chantal only uses recycled paper and air pillows rather than cheaper Styrofoam pellets.
Thirsties, a company that manufactures modern cloth baby diapers, boasts the use of only the best made-in-America components in order to reduce their carbon footprint, to help support domestic textile mills, and to ensure diapers will last wash after wash. This company provides an excellent product that reduces the buildup of disposable diapers in our landfills.
WexelArt frames manufacturer produces art frames that can be re-used by simply removing the art and replacing with new art. The frames can also be used by companies to display brochures, promo posters, or sales and special offers. A genius product that allows companies and individuals to reuse frames for many different purposes.

5. Improvements in the food industry

Soy growth among farms across the world is showing rapid growth in this economy. Soy foods are a source of high-quality protein and has the potential to be a key source of income for farmers.

What to do?
Many farmers and food producers are developing management plans for sustainable growth and promoting standards and verification mechanisms which help to grow crops that are more efficiently utilized. The soy industry is showing significant growth because of the high nutritional components of soy. Many food manufacturers who are not yet involved in production of soy food materials are now exploring the options and benefits of including soy in their product line.

6. Higher use of post-consumer recycled fiber

Consumers appreciate the use of post-consumer recycled fiber in packaging and its use among responsible corporate entities is growing.

What to do?
Many companies are utilizing 10% post-consumer recycled paper. Examples include coffee cups at your favorite coffee shop. Consumers notice and companies will continue to explore the benefits of higher use of this renewable resource.

7. Higher use of recycled rubber materials

Used automobile tires liter landfills and are among the largest and most problematic source of waste at landfills due to their large volumes. Tires can be recycled for use on basketball courts, new shoe products, hot melt asphalt, and recycled asphalt pavement – among other things. Industries that recycle these materials and re-use them in construction are showing strong growth.

What to do?
Where there is growth, there is strong interest. Companies might consider researching possible use of these types of materials in the construction of their products and market them as “recycled” automobile tires. This benefits the environment and benefits the companies that recycle them in terms of possible economic gain.

8. Higher incidence of recycled batteries and computers

Companies are more and more often recycling old computers when they are replaced with better and faster machines. Apple recycling program, HP recycling program and Dell recycling program are among a few of the top programs that offer this service.

What to do?
Companies can utilize these services and consider advertising to their consumer base that the company participates in programs to recycle used computers in an effort to reduce landfill waste.

10. Clothing material trends

The fashion industry is seeing strong trends toward renewable resources such as eco-friendly bamboo. Not only is bamboo considered one of the most renewable resources in the world; it is also one of the softest materials, even more so than cotton.

What to do?
Companies that are involved in the fashion industry should take note of this growing trend and explore the possibilities of including these items in their product line.

SavageDesigns – an ecologically and socially conscious clothing and design company that is committed to increasing the health of its consumers by providing healing clothing with nettle fibers.
Cariloha – bamboo clothing manufacturer that offers franchising opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Green marketing for business

Along with the rise of green consumers, we see the rise of eco-labeling, which is “green advertising”. That creates the opportunity for just about anything to be marketed as green. It is important that the marketing strategies that companies use are “true” and companies that market their products and services as eco-friendly are indeed “green”. This article can help entrepreneurs and business owners find “true green” companies and services for the growing eco-friendly economy.

Happy Human Rights Day!

UPLIFT the Valley! — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 06:26:04 +0000

Or unhappy weighing in the situation on the planet with global warming induced by abusive industrial practices’ and the impact to indigenous nations/tribes and people of color. Even in the most financially advanced state of the Union and 8th strongest economy on the planet, we are observing the dismissal of the poorest Americans and workers who fuel the most single potent industry in the state. According to 2008 figures from CDFA, the industry banks on $36.6 billion dollars that then generate close to $100 Billion in related activity. Why then are the farmworker communities/regions the poorest in the state/nation? The Measure of America Human Development report highlighted the fact that the Valley continues to be one of the unhealthiest, least educated and with the most concentrated poverty in the nation. To achieve a respect for the human right to exist and subsist we need new industries based on green footprints rather than carbon. We need new industrial models that look at full circle and not bottom line. We need new culture that looks at what we can create not destroy or exploit towards inutility. Each of us Humans has the right and the power to bring all of this into fruition but we must ACTION! Join us in the effort to do all of this a bit at a time at the SJV Regional Green Jobs Coalition where we know that to grow the good is by doing it together! We are in dire need of volunteers to initiate our Millenial campaign for a new future and a new people with green capes. Check out our developing website: regionalgreenjobs.org. Ofcourse we can!

We will have a functioning donor button in the near future, stay tuned!

80% of Product Footprint is determined in Design Phase

UPLIFT the Valley! — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:34:43 +0000

80% of Product Footprint is determined in Design Phase

THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2010

0 COMMENTS

Autodesk and Granta Partner to Help Enable Sustainable Product Design

Access to Best-in-Class Materials Information Technology Empowers Manufacturers to Make More Eco-Responsible Design Decisions

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Oct 19, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Autodesk, Inc. (ADSK 34.41, +0.40, +1.18%) and materials information technology innovators Granta Design Ltd. have announced a new strategic partnership, combining Autodesk’s Digital Prototyping vision with Granta’s materials information and eco design technology to help enable sustainable product design.

Granta and Autodesk are co-developing software that will add new sustainable design capabilities to the Autodesk solution. The companies are working closely to integrate Granta’s eco design methods into Autodesk software, helping designers to estimate the environmental impact of a product and make more sustainable design decisions. The new tools will access and use data from Granta’s world-class materials information database.

As nearly 80 percent of a product’s environmental footprint is determined during the design phase, the combination of the companies’ technologies stands to significantly impact manufacturers of all sizes seeking to optimize product sustainability. ”The ability to optimize material selection based on environmental impact, in addition to cost and performance, is crucial to today’s manufacturers,” said Robert “Buzz” Kross, senior vice president, Manufacturing Industry Group at Autodesk. “We believe that companies of all sizes–not just large enterprises–deserve ready access to this information, and our partnership with Granta will help deliver that capability to Autodesk customers worldwide.”

Materials analysis and selection is increasingly important for companies to control a product design’s environmental impact, both to respond to customer demand and to comply with regulation. For example, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is in the process of updating its “Green Guides,” requiring manufacturers that claim their products are made with renewable materials to say how much of the product is manufactured with those materials, what those materials are, how they are sourced and why they are considered renewable.

In Europe, the European Union’s recent Eco-design of Energy-Related Products Directive requires companies to use best practice in design for the environment to minimize the environmental impact of energy using products and energy related products. ”The market must consider sustainability for myriad reasons,” said Dr. David Cebon, Managing Director at Granta Design. “Granta is a leading innovator in data and tools for practical eco design. By partnering with Autodesk, with their breadth of industry-leading manufacturing solutions, we hope to make it easy for companies to adopt sustainable design practices into their processes.”