Activistas

Should we ban plastic shopping bags?

In March 2007, San Francisco became the first city to ban plastic shopping bags.  Here in Portland, Commissioner Sam Adams has started the discussion on whether we should 'Bag' the Bags.  A Portland Business Journal quick survey shows that 57 percent of respondents think we should bag the bags.  A concerned urbanMama Gillian would love to hear your thoughts on pushing this issue to the forefront.  Save the Earth and the PPS budget crisis in one fell swoop?

I've been stewing this idea around in my head for a while and chatting with other mom's in my neighborhood and I thought someone out there in the urbanMamas community who might be able to help me get the idea out, or even help me iron out the details.

I try my best to use cloth grocery bags when I do my shopping. Although some stores (Fred Meyer in particular) always seem to have clerks that are openly irritated by my wanting to use my bags, most people are great about it. But even though I tote several around in my car and my stroller, I forget, I buy too much or sometimes I just space it and wind up with a dozen non recyclable plastic bags floating around at the end of the week.

Our family moved back to Portland last spring after a stint in Dublin, Ireland. One of the things that we quickly got used to there was that there was a 15 cent tax on plastic grocery bags and I have been thinking that Portland could do something similar. So if you had your own bags, you pay nothing, if you need a bag, you pay a minimal price for them. Now, if that little tax went straight to Portland Public Schools which are always struggling, all the better.

It seems like the kind of progressive thing Portlanders could be persuaded to do and I know from experience, it forces you to be more conscious of bringing those bags than a 5 cent discount on your groceries does.

Do you have suggestions on how this idea could be made better and how we could push it forward?

Public Hearing on PGE/Boardman coal-burning power plant

Last summer there were DEQ public hearings regarding the PGE/Boardman power plant, a coal-burning facility built over 30 years ago that has very little emission control technology. The hearings had an impact on how DEQ handled situations with PGE, but only because there was a large and loud public response at these hearings. We also benefited from a sympathetic reporter, Michael Millstein, who wrote well in the Oregonian on the issues and will almost certainly be at the hearing on Thursday evening.

This Thursday is a great opportunity for you to have an effect. The hearing is a Title V renewal hearing for the PGE/Boardman power plant. Title V is the part of the Clean Air Act that provides large polluters a permit to pollute and this hearing is the public's opportunity to comment on PGE's 5-year renewal of that permit.

Our DEQ has so far failed to require that PGE install sulfur and nitrogen pollution controls that are common equipment in power plants across the country. Recent studies have shown that pollution in the gorge is directly attributable to Boardman. This pollution damages the health of Oregon's fish, ecosystems and people and is one of the causes of asthma in our children.

I ask you to join me at this hearing. Your presence alone is valuable. Any written or oral comments you can give would be that much better, even brief ones.

Thank you for being an advocate for our childrens' health.

Tile V Permit Public Hearing:
Thursday night at 6 p.m. at DEQ headquarters: http://www.deq.state.or.us/news/publicnotices/uploaded/070417_2015_PGEhgt4202007.pdf

Thursday, May 31 6:00 PM
Department of Environmental Quality Room EQC A on the 10th floor
811 SW Sixth Avenue,
Portland, Oregon

Eric R. Miller, PT, MHS Sellwood

Governor to Present SOLV Awards: Volunteers from Around Oregon to Be Honored at the Capitol

On Tuesday, June 5th, 2007 Governor Ted Kulongoski will kick off SOLV’s Project Oregon program for the coming year, and present awards to Oregonians who led exceptional volunteer efforts in their communities in 2006.  The speech and ceremony will take place at the State Capitol in Salem at 12:00 noon. Governor Kulongoski and SOLV will honor four outstanding projects in the following categories:

• Best Project By a First Time Coordinator
• Best Development of Partnerships the 2006 Project Oregon Award
• Best Youth Involvement award for 2006
• Enduring Community Builder Award

What do you want in a PPS Superintendent?

With Vicki Phillips leaving the Portland Public School system to serve as the Gates Foundation's director of educational strategy, the Portland School Board wants to hear from YOU:

What do our schools and our city want and need in our next leader? What is the right combination of knowledge, skills, and leadership experience that will help our schools take the next steps toward excellence for all? These are the questions we want our community to help us answer.

Here are the four public meetings scheduled:

Saturday, May 19, 10 a.m. to noon
Wilson High School, 1151 SW Vermont St.
Child care and translators will be provided

Wednesday, May 23, 7 to 9 p.m.
Gregory Heights Middle School, 7334 NE Siskiyou St.
Childcare and translators will be provided

Thursday, May 24, 7 to 9 p.m.
Abernethy Elementary School, 2421 SE Orange St.
Childcare and translators will be provided

Friday, May 25, noon to 2 p.m.
Multnomah County Central Library, U.S. Bank Room, 801 SW 10th Ave.
Translators will be provided

If you cannot attend one of the meetings, please email SchoolBoard@pps.k12.or.us or call the School Board at (503) 916—3741.

Free Skin Cancer Check

Olay and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) have teamed together and invite you and a friend to get a free skin cancer screening. That’s right - FREE! Did you know?        

* One person dies every hour from skin cancer.        
* One in five Americans will develop skin cancer.        
* Skin cancer in women under 40 has tripled in the past 30 years.        
* Five sunburns double a woman’s chance of getting skin cancer.        
* UV exposure at tanning salons is just as risky as sunbathing outside.        
* People with fair skin that burns rather than tans, people with red hair and people with blue eyes are at greater risk of developing skin cancer.        
* People who have many (extensive) freckles on their upper back are at a greater risk of developing skin cancer.        
* People who have a history of sunburns, especially during childhood, are at a greater risk.

Where can I go to learn more? http://www.olay.com/skincancer/index.jsp

One uM & her Bike To Work Day 2007

Last night, before I put the girls to bed, I asked Philly if she wanted to join me for today's Bike to Work 2007 festivities.  Excitedly, she said, "yes, yes!" and she went straight to sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.  Early to bed, early to rise ...

At 7AM this morning, we pedaled away from our N. Portland home, in hopes to catch up with the bikepool going from Arbor Lodge into downtown Portland for the breakfast celebration at Pio Square.  We met up with the group, around 10 or so folks from our Overlook neighborhood and more points north.  What I loved most about our ride was pedaling alongside an 11-year old fifth grader from MLC, who was a confident and savvy bike commuter at such a young age.  I was impressed, and my daughter was excited to ride in her tag-along next to a young bike commuter.

At the celebration on square, we enjoyed smoothies a la bike, morning nosh, and seeing bikey pals from yesteryear.  Philly even saw a couple schoolmates.  As we cruised to her school from the Square, she reflected on our family's recent stretch of car-free days.  She said, "I'm proud of daddy for not wasting gas for three whole days."

When it comes to reducing our reliance on the car, I feel that it starts with us.  We want to try to be role models for our girls and show them how alternative forms of tranpsortation are viable, easy, and fun.  This morning's experience has gotten me jazzed to do a couple of things:

1. Plan a big Bike, Bus, & Walk Day for our School.  I know that fall-time bring the annual Walk & Bike to School day as a part of the Safe Routes program, and maybe that's a place to start.  I'm not sure if charter schools have traditionally participated in the program.  Regardless, I think a Bike, Bus & Walk Day for the school would bring an already-close community even closer together.
2. Explore biking options for kids who are too big for the trailer and too small for solo biking.  What to do if one parent needs to transport two early elementary children?  A double-trail-a-bike?  I've been talking with folks at Transportation Options at PDOT to see about doing a brown-bag, a workshop, or a clinic on parents & kids on bikes.  Interested?

* photo credit: goes to Jon Maus of BikePortland.org

Portland stepping it up at the C40

This morning, I heard a snipet on OPB, but I couldn't find the article online. There was mention of mayor's getting together at a big meeting to discuss issues of global warning. I should've known to look on BlueOregon, for they were already all over how Portland Plays with the big boys. With Portland showcasing itself as 3 out of the 36 studies being presented at the C40 Climate Summit, I think it shows that Portland is a force to be reckoned with.

The three studies involve: 1) LED-lit traffic signals, 2) optimizing signal timing and 3) SmartTrips as an educational tool that incentivizes alternative transport.

I know I am not the only urbanMama obsessed with calculating my carbon emission footprint on the earth. I am proud to see Portland on the national level sharing best practices.

As slight testament of how special Portland is in terms of sensitivity regarding global warming issues, I am so proud of our 6-year old daughter, whose class recently paid a visit to the wind turbine at the Sunderland Recycling Facility. The class learned more about human applications for wind and how wind generated electricity for the facility's offices. Our daugher's day for their school's version of 'show and tell' is tomorrow. A couple of weeks back, she discovered her new favorite cereal, some shredded wheat made by Mom's Best. On the back of the box is a picture of a wind turbine and a statement that the company purchases "100% of the electribity consumed b y the production of [their] natural cereals" from wind turbines. Our daughter has stated that she now only wants to buy cereal produced with power from wind turbines.

I am proud to be the parent of a child who - at such an early age - knows that she is a consumer that holds the power of these choices.

Taking it to the vote: Fluoride

Previously, in an urbanMams discussion, we talked about Fluoride: Yay or Nay. Needless to say, it was and still is a hot topic.

HB 3099 is set to get a vote soon. The bill amends existing 'safe drinking water' legislation and will require water suppliers of 10,000 people or more to fluorinate the water.

The Centers for Disease Control says that water fluoridation is a highly-effective method of reducing dental decay. Fluoridation has been shown in dozens of high-level reviews to be completely safe Fluoridation has been used for eons (over 60 years) in the U.S., and have any hazards or problems emerged?

Should the government add stuff to our H20? Is it all that different than chlorinating and otherwise treating our drinking water? Can we save the government money by fluoridating water as a means of preventing dental health issues? Should we do everything we can to make sure our families have healthy smiles? Should we follow suit with all the other states that fluoridate?

If you have a strong feeling either way, let your legislators know.

Recycling On Wheels

Recycling for most families is second nature.  But it's a total pain trying to stuff everything into the yellow recycling bin.  We have two and it's overflowing most weeks, not to mention the "slap on the hand" we get most weeks for not doing a good job of sorting, or separating out glass.  Well good news, Portland has a recycling plan looking at up-sizing to a big blue rolling carts (decision pending this summer).  And the best part?  We will be able to recycle yogurt containers and need to separate paper, plastic and metal. Glass will still need to be separated, but in another bin.  The proposal also calls for yard debris pickup to change to weekly (no more getting our weeks mixed up) and allowing for compostable food scraps to be hauled away along with the yard debris. Neat-O! Offer your support for the plan or provide feedback on ways to increase recycling citywide by visiting the City of Portland Web site.

Breastfeeding in the Workplace - the bill that passed

Last week, Oregon's Senate passed HB 2372. The law requires most employers to provide two 30-minute unpaid rest periods for pumping during an 8-hour work day. Employers are also required to provide a private location for the employee to express milk. The law does not cover employers with fewer than 25 employees, and it exempts employers if the requirements pose an “undue hardship” in light of the size, financial resources, nature or structure of the employer’s business. This new law comes with a stiff penalty for violations: the Oregon Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries may assess a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for willful violations of the law.

Progress? Room for improvement? Have you encountered issues previously when trying to pump or nurse at work?