Wise Words

"Our children may forgive us the debts we’re passing on to them, they may forgive us if terrorism persists, they may forgive us for waging war instead of pursuing peace, they may even forgive us for squandering the opportunity to put the nuclear genie back in the bottle. But they will spit on our bones and curse our names if we pass on a world that is barely habitable when it was in our power to prevent it."
"And they will be right to do so."
John Atcheson, author

Wise Words

"The most populous and wealthiest of the world face a moral challenge greater than colonialism or slavery. They are failing in that challenge. Men have lost reason in the fossil fuel economy. . . Inhabitants of small islands have not agreed [to be] sacrificial lambs on the alter of the wealth of the rich."
Ambassador Lionel Hurst, of Antigua-Barbuda (March, 2003)

Wise Words

Scientists tell us "global warming is real; the science is sound; and the effects are likely to be severe." We add "this is a religious issue!" We are called to care for all of God's children, especially the most vulnerable, and to protect and restore God's creation. Climate change is a threat to all people and all of creation.
National Council of Churches of Christ Eco-Justice Programs

Energy stewardship is about justice

For people all over the world today
For future generations
For God's nonhuman creations

Global warming will affect our children's future

For more information about the following two ads produced by Environmental Defense, go to FightGlobalWarming.com.

Train

Tick

Just use of energy?

The use of energy per person around the world (from Clean Energy Project)

Africa: 5 GigaJoules(GJ) per person each year
India: 10 GJ per person each year
China: 40 GJ/person/year
WORLD AVERAGE: 65 GJ/person/year
European developed countries: 140 GJ/person/year
United States: 360 GJ/person/year - the same as an African village of 72 people

Health effects of air pollution

More than any other single source, fossil fuel power plants contribute to unhealthy outdoor air.

Nationally, even though only 50% of our electricity comes from coal, coal-fired power plants are responsible for the lion's share of dangerous pollution from the electric power industry.

According to Clear the Air, these power plants generate:

97% of deadly fine particle soot and sulfur dioxide emissions;
92% smog-forming nitrogen oxide emissions;
86% of emissions of carbon dioxide, the primary global warming pollutant; and
almost 100% of toxic mercury emissions.

Ozone

Older power plants are also partially responsible for ground level ozone, which is also known as smog. One of the key ingredients in the chemical reaction that yields smog is a gaseous form of nitrogen, a common byproduct of these plants. Ground level ozone presents a threat to our respiratory system. Smog frequently irritates an asthmatic person, triggering an attack. Children are especially susceptible to this because their delicate respiratory tracts are not fully formed and they breathe proportionately far greater volumes of air.

Smog

Smog can also irritate eyes and respiratory tracts, causing coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath at high concentrations.

Asthma and air pollution - Environmental Advocates of New York
Air pollution and asthma - Natural Resources Defense Council
Air pollution and heart attacks - Clear the Air

Mercury

The largest uncontrolled source of mercury is power plants.

The effect of mercury on human health - EPA
The facts on mercury - NYPIRG
One example: Effects on a favorite Adirondack bird

Call of the Loon - Reseach on the impact of mercury pollution on the Adirondack loon population is featured in this video. The documentary provides an overview of the problems caused by widespread mercury pollution in the northeastern. Mercury emissions spewing from Midwestern coal-fired power plants are tracked as they are blown eastwards to contaminate the Adirondack lakes, affecting fish, wildlife, and people. The film examines the status of federal and NYS mercury emission regulations, which are crucial to protecting the health of the environment and its wild and human inhabitants. For more info and to order...

Lung cancer and heart attacks

A recent scientific study by researchers affiliated with the American Cancer Society found that people living in the most polluted cities have approximately a 12% increased risk of cardiopulmonary death over those living in the cleanest areas of the country.

Similarly, for lung cancer, there is approximately a 16% increased risk for those living in the more polluted cities.

Effects on children

Power plant pollution and children

More than three million of our children live within 30 miles of a power plant, the area in which the greatest health impacts are felt?

Infants in areas with high levels of particulate matter pollution face a 26% increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and a 40% increased risk of respiratory death.

Study: Traffic pollution can stunt kids' lung development

Kids who grow up near busy roads could be more likely to suffer heart and lung problems, according to the Lancet medical journal. "Traffic pollution can prevent the lungs of children who live near busy roads from developing properly, making them more likely to suffer respiratory and heart problems later in life..." For more info...

Environmental racism

Many times and in many ways people of color are disproportionately affected by environmental problems. Here are some resources concerning this issue:

Air of Injustice Report - Clear the Air, released October 2002
Environmental Justice and Climate Change Fact Sheet
Environmental justice - Environmental Advocates of New York
Latinos is proportionately vulnerable - NRDC

Birds and global warming

Many creatures will be affected by global warming and power generation, but here's some information about birds as an example.

Impact on birds - EPA
Global warming and birds - American Bird Conservancy
Global warming may threaten birds- Scientific American
Global warming does affect birds - Cornell Chronicle
Birds and wind turbines
- Birds and wind turbines - Danish Wind Energy Association
- Birds and offshore wind turbines - Danish Wind Energy Association
- Birds, wind turbines, communications towers, and glass buildings: The real story - Green Energy Ohio

In New York State

The EPA estimates that fine particle pollution from power plants shortens the lives of 1,212 New Yorkers every year. Fine particle pollution from power plants also causes 164,612 lost work days, 1,191 hospitalizations, and 28,665 asthma attacks every year, 829 of which are so severe they require emergency room visits.

Based on EPA data, each year, 129 lung cancer deaths and 2,445 heart attacks in New York are attributable to power plant pollution.

For more New York State-specific information:

* Environmental health issues in NYS - EANY

* New York's Dirty Power Plants - Clear the Air

Profile of exposure in NYS to coal-fired power plants - Clear the Air

Stern Warning from an Economist

Sir Nicholas Stern, a distinguished development economist and former chief economist at the World Bank warned that by NOT taking action to slow global warming we're creating economic and social disruption on a scale similar to those created by the great wars and the great depression of the first half of the 20th century. He says that action now will cost a mere 1% of global GDP by 2050, whereas business as usual could cost up to 20%.
(BBC News, Oct 2006)

And not just costs!

Besides environmental and health benefits, there are economic benefits of moving toward a clean energy future.