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Environmental News Update 4/26/02 COALITION NOTES The Bayou Beckons 2002 On May 4 and 5, 2002, Buffalo Bayou Partnership and the Houston Chinese American Lions Club in partnership with Storm Water Management will host The Bayou Beckons 2002. The two-day festival will be held in Sesquicentennial Park at Preston and Smith on Saturday and at Allen’s Landing Park at Commerce and Main on Sunday. Activities include the 31st Annual Buffalo Bayou Regatta, the Anything That Floats Parade, the 2nd Annual Dragon Boat Festival, and children’s programs. For a schedule of events, see the links below. Film Premier: Become the Sky Academy Award winning documentary film maker Laura Dunn and Clean Water Action (CWA) will host a viewing of Become the Sky, which investigates energy production in Texas, on Monday April 29 at 7 pm at the Rice Media Center. Following will be a discussion of energy, pollution and politics in the state. Admission is free, but a $5 donation to CWA is suggested. The event is sponsored by Two Birds Film, CWA, Houston Independent Media Center, and Rice Environmental Club. For more information, email aphillips@cleanwater.org. A preview of the film is available on the Two Birds Film website: www.twobirdsfilm.org Free Computers United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast and IBM Corporation, in coordination with Gifts In Kind International, are providing 2002 Technology Grants to qualified area non-profits. The equipment to be distributed includes 16 IBM NetVista A21 PC computers and two IBM ThinkPad laptops. Qualified organizations include those that offer youth education opportunities/early learning programs, youth development programs, adult services in literacy and job training, community and family services, and support for the disabled/disadvantaged. Applications are available from Kevin Wollin, United Way Gifts in Kind Manager, at kwollin@uwtgc.org, and are due by May 8. LOCAL Mark Your Calendar for Brownfields Workshop The city of Houston will host the fourth Annual Brownfields Redevelopment Workshop on Friday, June 14 from 8 am to 4:45 pm at the George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas. The workshop will provide opportunities to learn from and interface with individuals who have been directly involved with the successful risk-based cleanup, financing, insurance, transfer, and redevelopment of local brownfields. Workshop components include a plenary session, breakout discussions, a keynote address during lunch, an awards ceremony, and a bus tour of several local brownfields. For more information Contact Dawn Moses, Brownfields Program Coordinator, at 713-437-6552 or dawn.moses@cityofhouston.net. The proposed agenda is available at: http://www.houstonbrownfields.org STATE Sierra Continues Fight Against Padre Drilling The Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club is asking for the public’s help in fighting new oil and gas wells along Padre Island National Seashore. The National Park Services has already issued one permit to BNP Petroleum to drill along the public lands, and is currently considering another one. The public has until May 6 to comment on NPS’ environmental assessment of the proposed project. Sierra says the drilling and related truck traffic threatens rare and endangered sea turtles and spoils the seashore for hundreds of thousand people that love the park. To send a pre-written, editable fax or email to NPS, visit either of the links below: Mexican President will Fight for Water Rights Mexican President Vicente Fox met recently with several governors from northern Mexico, promising to help them battle drug smuggling and support them in their fight with the United States over water, according to a recent ENN report. The United States says Mexico owes it 1.4 million acre-feet of water under a 1944 water treaty, but Mexico says it doesn't have the water to return. One acre-foot is 325,851 gallons of water. The treaty requires Mexico to release 350,000 acre-feet through the Rio Grande annually, but the country has not done so since 1992. NATIONAL Searching for Med Waste Solutions Health Care Without Harm has launched an international competition in search of low-cost, non-incineration technologies to dispose of medical waste in rural areas. As you may know, many rural clinics and small hospitals throughout the world are incinerating medical waste - and sending harmful dioxin and other toxic pollutants into the environment - because they cannot afford the non-incineration alternatives that are available in urban centers and developed countries. This contest seeks to engage students, professors, researchers, and innovators in finding an appropriate low-cost alternative technology that can be easily replicated and used in poor rural communities. Applicants must submit letters of intent by October 1, 2002. Winners will receive cash prizes and international recognition. For more information, including application instructions and design criteria, contact Health Care Without Harm at 202-234-0091 or info@medwastecontest.org. http://www.medwastecontest.org GREEN JOBS Summer Position – Nature Discovery Center The Hana and Arthur Ginzbarg Nature Discovery Center is searching for an energetic, dynamic individual who enjoys nature and people. The individual should have or be in pursuit of a college degree: preferably biology, education, or liberal arts. Most importantly, a successful applicant will have demonstrated that he or she can complete an assigned task, have initiative to develop an idea with an expression of their unique talents, and have a desire to work with young children outdoors interpreting nature. Summer programs include weekly science camps, day classes for 3-5 year old children, outreaches to community centers and libraries, and group visits to the Discovery Rooms. Summer staff will be primarily focused on animal care, Discovery Room duties, group visits, and Summer Science Camp 5-10 year old children classes. Hours for this temporary position are 9-5:30 five days a week. The position pays $8 and hour for undergraduates and $10 for graduates. No benefits are provided. The job will begin June 5, 2002 and run through August 11, 2002. The center is also currently looking for Saturday and Sunday part time help. If you are interested, please email your CV or resume to Fred Collins, Director, Nature Discovery Center at fcndc@juno.com. ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION CEC Environmental News Update is a weekly publication by the Citizens' Environmental Coalition, a 501(c)3 dedicated to fostering dialogue, education and collaboration about environmental issues in the Houston-Gulf Coast Region. Visit the CEC online at www.cechouston.org. To subscribe or unsubscribe, or to suggest items for inclusion, send your request via e-mail to Sarah Doss at sarah@cechouston.org. |
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