|
A 2000 study by the World Health Organization showed that 3 million people die every year as a result of air pollution. Today, 130 million Americans still live in areas where the air is polluted and unhealthy to breathe. Air pollution has been known to cause asthma attacks, respiratory and heart problems, lung cancer, premature death and other illnesses. Those that live in poorer communities are generally closer to the sources of pollution and are much more likely to feel the harmful effects of the air they breathe. “Greenhouse” gasses are being emitted trapping in the sun’s heat and causing the earth’s temperature to rise. Sources such as electric power plants, oil refineries, paper mills, cars, trucks, SUVs, and household appliances emit pollutants like carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide, mercury, nitrogen oxides, radon, lead, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). The Clean Air Act, passed in 1970, helped to improve the air we breathe. It regulates the amounts of pollutants that power plants and factories are allowed to emit. It has set fuel efficiency standards for cars, trucks, SUVs, and busses in an effort reduce the amount of fuel they use as well as the pollutants they emit. There remains much work to be done, however. The Clear Skies Initiative, which was introduced into Congress in February 2003, aims to weaken the regulations of the Clean Air Act. The Clear Skies Initiative would greatly increase the amount of harmful pollutants allowed under the current law, in some cases doubling the allowed amounts. The plan has no regulations for carbon emissions which are the leading cause of global warming. Not only are the Clear Skies’ goals much more lenient, they also take much longer to come into full effect. Most of the Clean Air Act’s goals will be met by 2010 but the new plan’s goals aren’t supposed to be completed until 2018. Delays may even push that back as far as 2025.
The 2000 General Board resolution entitled Clean Air Principles declares that “clean air for all is a God-given right, and that appropriate measures must be taken to preserve this right for all God's creation.” The same resolution also states that “We have a responsibility to future generations to protect our natural environment from the harmful effects of air pollution and leave a legacy of clean air” and that “There is no inherent right to pollute.” The 1991 annual conference statement, Creation: Called to Care, invites all CoB members to “Learn of the environmental damages facing the planet” and “Become involved in organizations and actions to protect and restore the environment and the people in our communities.”
Write to your Congresspersons and ask them to vote against the Clear Skies Initiative (S.485, HR.999). Tell them that you are a member of the Church of the Brethren and as a constituent you do not support legislation that will allow the pollution of our air. Ask them to support the enforcement of the Clean Air Act and to work to end air pollution. Call the Capitol switchboard at 1-800-839-5276 and ask to be connected to your member of congress. See www.brethren.org/genbd/washofc/linkgov.htm for more information on contacting to your congresspersons.
  |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
