Despite the nasty heatwave ripping through the northeast that day, the un-airconditioned room of the Walt Whitman Arts Center was filled with interested community members – mainly Hispanics. After a few introductory remarks from myself, the National Vice President of Democracia USA, Rafael Collazo, shared some great opening remarks (video below).

“It’s critically important that all of us as leaders take this message [about how we care about our community and environment] to the rest of our community and let them know that we can make a difference.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Melissa Castro, Director of Outreach for Souther NJ for U.S. Senator Menendez, spoke on behalf of the Senator and had some inspiring things to say as well:

“Too many children and families live with the nightmare of severe asthma triggered by pollution. The health problems that these children suffer remind us of the dangers of air pollution for ALL Americans…When it comes to protecting the lives and health of our citizens there is no room for compromise.”

The event didn’t just focus on the national Clean Air Act issues though – there were a lot of related topics that were addressed by the other panelists who ranged from local elected officials to Environmental Justice leaders and lawyers. Some of these topics included:

• Clean water and fish contaminants in the Delaware River Watershed
• Air pollution, soil contamination, and creating organic urban gardens
• State and regional initiatives to cut back global warming pollution

In the end though, what I found most inspiring was the amount of enthusiasm and energy from the participants after the panelists spoke. They were coming up with questions about how to better engage young kids in schools, what they could do to be more involved, how they could help out in some lawsuits to help cleanup local Superfund sites, etc. It was powerful stuff. I suppose I haven’t gone to enough townhalls to realize that these events can be quite powerful – you don’t typically go to townhalls JUST to listen. You go there to be inspired and find ways you can help. One woman at the event put all of this into perspective:

“I’m here tonight because I’m American…We are ALL in the same boat – and that boat has a hole in it.”

It’s my dream that each of us can find a way to do our part to fill that hole and inspire others to do the same.

It’s no mystery that clean air is good for all – who honestly wants more mercury, smog, arsenic, and other nasty toxics and metals invading their communities and wreaking havoc on their health? Is there such a thing as too much clean air? I don’t think so – and neither does the growing Latino population in the U.S.

Two weekends ago, I had the pleasure of participating in the National Latino Congreso in Austin, TX which is put on by some of the largest Latino organizations in the country. At this event, Latino community leaders from around the country gathered to discuss, learn, and take action on issues that are affecting the Latino population – anything from immigration policy to telecommunications. But I was especially encouraged by the amount of interest and passion around the issue that I was asked to speak on - the Clean Air Act.

• A 2010 poll by the University of  Southern California showed that 75% of Latinos worry a great deal about air pollution.
• A similar poll by the Public Policy Institute of California showed that 87% of Latinos believe government should regulate emissions.

Just two weeks ago, the EPA released new proposed limits for pollutants like mercury and arsenic. Cleaning up these pollutants is vital for the health of all communities but will especially benefit low-income and minority communities which are disproportionately affected.

TAKE ACTION TODAY and tell the EPA why clean air is important to you and why they should enact and enforce strong air toxic rules. You can  quickly send your comments by:

1. E-mail: Comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to a-and-r-docket@epa.gov, Attention Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR- 2009-0234.
2. Regulations.gov website (http://www.regulations.gov). Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
3. EPA Air and Radiation Docket Web Site ( http://www.epa.gov/oar/docket.html). Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

If you’re having trouble coming up with the right words then take a look at some sample language below and feel free to use them as your own!

I strongly support the new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that would limit mercury, arsentic, dioxin, and other toxic emissions from power plants.

Coal-fired power plants are the single largest source of mercury contamination in the U.S, amounting to about 50 percent of emissions affecting humans and wildlife. The pollution settles on lakes, rivers and forests where it exposes fish and other wildlife and makes its way into the food chain. In many places, mercury warnings are increasingly common.

A highly potent neurotoxin, mercury adversely affects the function and development of the central nervous system in both people and wildlife. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to mercury exposure.

For too long, mercury and other toxic pollution has gone unchecked in America. It is time that we require power plants to clean up the pollution that is inflicting such devastating damage to our health and environment.

Thank you for moving forward with the proposed Mercury and Air Toxics standards. I urge you to move forward and finalize strong rules that reduce these harmful emissions. These pollution limits will be one of the largest steps forward in protecting our nation from toxic air pollution in a generation.

Air pollution from smoke stacks

The National Wildlife Federation was one of several groups testifing yesterday in support of the Environmental Protection Agency taking reasonable action to reduce carbon pollution.

The “listening session” is one of several being held around the nation to gather input as the EPA prepares to rein in carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and petroleum refineries under the Clean Air Act.

Yesterday’s session focused on input from environmental and environmental justice organizations, but the EPA plans on holding three more of these sessions:

• February 17th (Chicago, IL) – State and Tribal Representatives
• February 23rd (Washington, DC) – Coalition Group Representatives
• March 4th (Washington, DC) – Petroleum Refinery Industry Representatives

John Hammond, NWF’s Southeast Regional Executive Director based in Atlanta, said the following:

“Today’s listening session occurs in the midst of a congressional sneak attack on the environment through a budget bill.  Polluters are trying to use the deficit to mount a reckless and irresponsible attack on the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act that endangers the air we breathe, the water we drink and the wildlife and lands we cherish.

We must reject the notion that our kids must breathe polluted air, drink toxic water, or eat contaminated fish in order for our economy to prosper.

Carbon dioxide poses serious threats to Americans’ health, our economy, our wildlife, and our future, yet there are currently no limits on the amount of carbon pollution.

A recent study by the EPA found that heat-related deaths nationwide could jump by 3,500 to 27,000 by midcentury if carbon pollution is not reined in. Asthmatics and others with existing cardiovascular disease are especially at risk. Just last month, the federal government reported an uptick in asthma rates across the nation.  Asthma rates are higher for women and communities of color, especially African Americans and Puerto Ricans. With climate change heating our air, urban areas in the South already prone to bad air quality are becoming especially vulnerable.

Now is the time for EPA to get serious about reining in carbon pollution that cleans up our air and secures a better environment for future generations.”

It is time to speak up and make our voices heard for this important action on behalf of our clean air and water. Visit the Listening Sessions on Greenhouse Gas Standards website for more details.

On my ride home from some Christmas shopping, I took a look across a reservoir in northern Washington, DC where I spotted what looked like a very large seagull on the ice. As I got closer to the bird though, I realized that it was no gull but was, in fact, a magnificent bald eagle.  I watched the bird  for several minutes before a smaller second eagle arrived and I realized that I’d never seen a bald eagle before out in the wild (let alone in a big city like Washington, DC.).

Why was this moment so inspiring to me? Well, living in a big city, I don’t typically get to see too much ‘wildlife’ outside of a few squirrels and the occasional deer. To me, the presence of wildlife in my community makes me feel a little bit healthier about my living environment because, hey, if a bald eagle wants to live here then it must be a pretty good spot, right? I think we all need this ‘wildlife connection’ every now and again to help us realize just how important our natural surroundings are to our well being.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The National Wildlife Federation has a 75 year history of caring for wildlife, but we also care deeply about our communities because we understand that the health of both are dependent upon one other. Clean air, clean water, and healthy habitat are just as important for people as they are for wildlife but, unfortunately, we are not always guaranteed these necessities in our communities.

As Americans, we have the wonderful ability to come together in great times of need and, right now, we are all in need: Special interest groups continue to fight for their right to pollute in our communities and make us, the planet, and all of our critter friends sicker. They are targeting bill’s meant to protect the public health, like the Clean Air Act, and cutting out giant loopholes for themselves. Instead of talking about the health of our children and the environment in which we raise them, these public-health-haters are attempting to politicize the issue.

So go take a look out on your street: see any wildlife? Wouldn’t it make you feel a little bit better about your health, or the health of your children, if a few more geese, deer, or eagles were wandering around in your smog-free neighborhood? Let’s protect the health of our communities, and the health of local wildlife, by rallying behind one of the greatest public health laws ever enacted, the Clean Air Act, and ask the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to hold polluters accountable.

Learn more about the Clean Air Act (CAA) and NWF’s Fair Climate Project which engages a diverse network of underserved and low-income community leaders on the CAA and climate change.