CEC Notes
Question the Candidates
CEC, Neartown, University Place, and Upper Kirby District will host a Candidates’ Forum on Tuesday, September 4 at 7 pm at Rice University’s Hamman Hall. Candidates for mayor, city council at-large positions, district c, district d, and district g are being invited to participate. CEC encourages the environmental community to attend and ask our city’s future leaders relevant questions. For more information, contact Evalyn Krudy at 713-807-1787.

Coalition Notes
Water for Wildlife
On Saturday, September 29, the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club and others will host a conference titled “Water for People and the Environment” at the University of Houston Hilton Hotel, 4800 Calhoun. Participants will learn how the water needs of Southeast Texas can be met while maintaining flows for fish and wildlife. The day-long event runs from 8 am to 4 pm and costs $15. Updated conference information will be posted as it becomes available at www.texas.sierraclub.org. For more details, contact Glenda Callaway at 713-520-9031.

Preserving Prairie
The Katy Prairie Conservancy (KPC) will host a workday at one of their prairie preserves on Saturday, September 8. Bring your gloves and help with prairie-keeping chores. For more information, contact KPC at 713-523-6135.

Work for Wildlife
The Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition (TWRC) is looking for volunteers to rehabilitate orphaned and injured wildlife in their homes. The group provides training, educational meetings, and a mentorship program. They can also help those who are interested acquire state and federal wildlife rehabilitation permits. For more information, call TWRC at 713-468-8972.

EcoNotes
Park Pollution
Due to air pollution, Big Bend made the National Parks Conservation Association’s list of 10 most endangered national parks. Rules that could help clear the air over Big Bend and other national parks are now being debated in Washington. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman recently signed the national park visibility protection proposal, which stipulates Best Available Retrofit Technology or BART rules. The regulations, which have not been finalized, guide state and tribal air quality agencies in setting air pollution controls for some older power plants and other industrial facilities. The SEED Coalition is encouraging citizens to write to Whitman, asking her to uphold and strengthen the BART rules. A pre-written, editable, faxable letter is available online at www.seecoalition.org/act.bigbend.htm.

Targeting Wind Power
Target is now selling windmill generators for home use online. The Bergey XL.1 wind turbine costs about $1,700 and can generate up to 1,000 watts of power with wind speeds of 24 miles per hour, according to the manufacturer. The 30- or 40-foot tower on which to mount the turbine, is available for $490 or $690, respectively. For details, visit www.target.com.

9 Billion Served
World population will likely peak at 9 billion around 2070, according to a report in the journal Nature. However, this peak does not mean the end of population concerns, say the demographers in Austria who calculated the figures. Numbers will continue to increase in the world’s poorest areas. And the population will become older, with up to 40 percent over 60 years old by 2100. (Nature 7/01)