June 24, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
April 24, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
Photo: Courtesy EYCEJ: Mark! Lopez, Dr. Robert Bullard, Taylor Thomas, and Zully Juarez
mark! Lopez, executive director of MFN member East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice (EYCEJ) was awarded the 2017 Goldman Environmental Prize yesterday.
mark! is a third generation resident of East L.A, and member of a family with a long history of community activism. His grandparents cofounded Madres del Este de Los Angeles Santa Isabel (Mothers of East LA Santa Isabel – MELASI), and he has continued that tradition through years of work with the EYCEJ.
The Goldman Environmental Prize is widely viewed as the highest environmental accolade possible. It “honors grassroots environmental heroes from the world’s six inhabited continental regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America, and South & Central America” for “sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment…”
To learn more, check out the video and linked news articles below, and read about his award at The Goldman Environmental Prize.
Congratulations mark! Lopez!!
Estadounidense Mark López gana el premio ambiental Goldman 2017 por liderar lucha contra la contaminación de plomo y arsénico en Los Ángeles, Univision
Goldman Environmental Prize winners work hard to protect planet, SFGate
April 13, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
One of the founders of the Moving Forward Network and most accomplished EJ activists in the U.S., Margaret Gordon, is going to speak on Thursday, April 20 in Oakland about the pollution caused by freight transportation in communities of color, and share lessons learned on how to improve community health. Her presentation and talks by three other outstanding speakers makes this a “must-attend” event. Sign up today!
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ANNOUNCED! Youth, Public Health, Enviro Justice Speakers @
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 Aaron Lehmer-ChangDirector California Trade Justice Coalition A Citizens Trade Campaign affiliate |
 Will WiltschkoLead Organizer California Trade Justice Coalition A Citizens Trade Campaign affiliate |
More About California Trade Justice News & Alerts
California Trade Justice News is a quarterly publication of the California Trade Justice Coalition (CTJC), a project of Earth Island Institute, and proud affiliate of the Citizens Trade Campaign. The CTJC is a new coalition of labor, environmental, family farm, public health, immigrant rights, human rights, pro-democracy, and socially conscious business leaders — all committed to building a strong California economy that works for all.
PUBLISHER: Aaron Lehmer-Chang, ED
CONTRIBUTORS: Will Wiltschko, Lead Organizer, Jake Soiffer, Social Media & Communications Intern
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CONTACT INFO:
California Trade Justice Coalition
436 14th Street, Suite 1216
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Web: www.catradejustice.org
June 10, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
As the Moving Forward Network members that do air pollution monitoring know from on-the-ground experience, EPA regulatory air monitors may show an area to have low levels of particulate matter from diesel exhaust and other air pollution when in fact, nearby hot spots can have high and dangerous levls of air pollution.
For example, while the city’s only EPA regulatory monitor showed air was relatively clean, monitoring by the Diesel Health Project around the BNSF Argentine Rail Yard in Kansas City, Kansas revealed dangerous levels of elemental carbon (an indicator of Diesel Exhaust pollution) in nearby resident’s yards, very likely from a nearby locomotive maintenance yard at which as many as 50 locomotives at a time, many running, await load testing.
Currently, measuring air pollution in overburdened neighborhoods at a high enough level of granularity to comprehensively identify hot spots is very difficult and expensive, and beyond the capabilities of most environmental justice and other community organizations.
However, research published this week shows how this can be done – and that the results are of great value. A study carried out by MFN member West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP), the Environmental Defense Fund, Aclima, and the University of Texas at Austin using data collected by Google Street View cars produced findings that were concerning and surprising.
Most significantly, the data shows pollution variations within single blocks in Oakland of as high as 5X, and revealed hotspots that were often very persistent and stable.
The wide range of pollution levels and the persistence of hotspots tells us something else – in many cases workers and residents are being exposed to much higher levels of pollution and hence higher health risks than they or anyone else knows. We need to build on this research to develop the capability of community-based groups to conduct this level of monitoring in overburdened neighborhoods throughout the U.S. There are children growing up in these neighborhoods who will sooner or later suffer from underdeveloped lungs, asthma, heart disease, cancer, and other health problems. The sooner we identify and clean up these hot spots, the more people we can save from air pollution’s health effects, misery, and in some cases, premature death.
To learn more, view the excellent video with commentary by WOEIP founders Margaret Gordon and Brian Beveridge or read the news articles linked below. For a deeper dive, click the last link to read the entire journal article.
Google collects air pollution data using Street View cars and offers it to scientists, VentureBeat
Google shares Street View pollution maps, Left Lane News
Tracking Air Quality Block By Block, California Healthline
High-Resolution Air Pollution Mapping with Google Street View Cars: Exploiting Big Data, (complete study) Environmental Science and Technology
June 1, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
Image: Northwestern University
Even as the current U.S. presidential administration is slashing regulations and funding for reducing air pollution and protecting public health, a new English study found that long-term exposure to diesel exhaust particulate matter at levels far below EPA standards can cause enlargement of the heart, which is associated with increased heart disease and deaths.
“There is strong evidence that particulate matter (PM) emitted mainly from diesel road vehicles is associated with increased risk of heart attack, heart failure, and death” Dr. Nay Aung, Queen Mary University of London
Lead researcher Dr. Nay Aung said that reducing diesel emissions should be a public health priority. She recommended that people with cardiac and respiratory diseases limit time spent outside during rush hour and that everyone reduce their exposure to diesel exhaust by bicycling and walking on less-polluted routes and as far from traffic as possible.
For more information, see:
Study: Diesel Pollution (PM 2.5) Tied Directly To Heart Damage, CleanTechnica
Diesel pollution linked to heart damage, European Society of Cardiology
May 21, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
The Brawley, California community organization Comite Civico Del Valle has tremendous accomplishments under its belt, including installation of a very robust set of fixed air pollution monitors throughout the region, and establishment of the IVAN environmental reporting system, used by residents in the Imperial Valley and communities across the state.
Working with long-time partner Loma Linda University Medical Center. Comite Civil and other partners are now expanding their services. They are training high school students to be citizen scientists, and encouraging residents to install Purple Air monitors to measure air quality in real-time outside of their homes to ensure the air they breathe is safe before engaging in outdoor physical activities. This will be especially valuable to children and others with asthma. To learn more, check out the resources below and the article that follows.
In California’s Imperial Valley, Residents Aren’t Waiting for Government to Track Pollution, Yes! Magazine
AIResiliency on Twitter
I.V.A.N., Identifying Violations Affecting Communities, IVAN Online
Read More›
May 9, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
EJScreen is a very powerful tool that puts capabilities previously available only to mapping experts in the hands of environmental justice groups and others.
If you or your organization have used EJScreen, please let EPA know how they can improve it by filling out the EJScreen User Survey. Just follow the instructions below.
To learn more about this great tool, check out the links at the end of this blog post.
Read More›
May 2, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
The Moving Forward Network is composed of over 40 member organizations, and virtually every organization participated in the People’s Climate Marches in Washington, DC, or at a sister march in another city. Check out a few examples:
Chicago IL
Great looking group of @NRDC supporters ready for the #Chicago #climatemarch pic.twitter.com/Ywj8wMenlT
— Guyadeen (@Guyadeen) April 29, 2017
Concord NH
I'm at the People's Climate March in Concord NH with my family. #climatemarch @NRDC pic.twitter.com/6CkttkDv5Q
— Franz Matzner – NRDC (@FranzMatzner) April 29, 2017
Kansas City, MO
Long Beach CA
Los Angeles CA
This photo was provided by Comite Civico del Valle, one of many MFN members who marched in the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles to call attention to an urgent regional issue – the expansion of the Tesoro Oil Refinery.
New York City NY
Ironbound presente! @The_MFN @CJAOurPower @FundforNJ @kresgenviro pic.twitter.com/v2QltAESIU
— ICC (@IronboundCC) April 29, 2017
Marching with NRDC Executive Director Peter Lehner and NRDC colleagues and members
Oakland CA
In the San Francisco Bay Area, several thousand people converged on the shores of Oakland’s Lake Merritt for a rally that included indigenous leaders and local environmental justice groups. There, 70-year-old Margaret Gordon, an organizer with a group called No Coal in Oakland, summed up the crowd’s concerns with a fiery one-minute speech from the stage. “Keep the fossil fuels in the ground. Clean up our air, water, and soil,” she said. (Source http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/indigenous-communities-lead-massive-peoples-climate-march-dc)
Portland OR
Neighbors for Clean Air marched in Portland!
The Portland Peoples Climate March was a great event with frontline communities voices front and center.
San Diego CA
Washington, DC
NRDC Marching to defend the Paris Agreement
Thank you indigenous & frontline communities for leading the way! #climatemarch #peoplesclimate pic.twitter.com/9sRyQ4XJ3T
— Earthjustice (@Earthjustice) April 29, 2017
Follow along with Clean Water today at the @Peoples_Climate march in DC! #climatemarch #climatechangeiswaterchange pic.twitter.com/ltqByk3E8h
— CleanWaterAction NJ (@CleanWaterNJ) April 29, 2017
This is #WhyIMarched at the #Climatemarch today-Why did you march and what will you do back home? @HipHopCaucus #ClimateJustice pic.twitter.com/WyBkrCwAZQ
— Mustafa Santiago Ali (@EJinAction) April 30, 2017
Marching with masses and demanding that we #ActOnClimate before it's too late…@Peoples_Climate pic.twitter.com/MqOXcnMlgr
— Clean Air Council (@cleanaircouncil) April 29, 2017
April 20, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
Photo: East Bay Express.
Zero emissions Class 8 heavy-duty Class 8 18-wheelers are a reality today. The innovative Kansas City company Orange EV is the first and only company to make all-electric big rigs commercially available. Their electric terminal trucks are operating throughout the country.
However, over-the-road electric Class 8 trucks are another story – to date only prototype and demonstration zero emissions Class 8 trucks capable of operating on public highways have been produced.
But, the marketplace is changing rapidly, and other companies, some established and some new, are jumping into the fray. As a result, within a few years we may see a strong shift from dirty diesel to zero-emissions trucking on public highways. A few examples, followed by references for more information:
As we reported late last year in Nikola announces “The end of diesel engines”… electric Class 8 heavy-duty trucks using power generated by hydrogen fuel cells will be truly zero-emissions if the hydrogen is generated by solar energy. Nikola Motors has an ambitious and innovative plan to do that on the national level by 2020, with solar-powered refueling stations on major truck routes throughout the country. Their solution has a number of other innovative features, and they have produced a very impressive demonstration vehicle.
By the end of 2016, Nikola reported that they had received over 7,000 preorders worth over $2 billion.
“Say goodbye to the days of dirty diesel…”
Trevor Milton, CEO of Nikola Motor Company
Mercedes-Benz is also moving into this market, and has promised to deliver prototypes of its all-electric mid-range (124 miles) Urban eTruck this year, and produce it commercially in 2020.
Last week, two more firms joined the zero emissions trucking race – Tesla announced that they have an electric semi under production, and Toyota developed a prototype hydrogen-electric drayage truck for use at the Port of Los Angeles.
For the latest news, check out the articles below.
Rail Management Services Orders 9 More Orange EV T-Series All-Electric Yard Trucks, CleanTechnica
Big Rigs to Pickups — Toyota Could Develop Full Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck Line, Trucks.com
Mercedes’ electric Urban eTruck will hit the road this year, Road Show
Toyota Rolls Out Hydrogen Semi Ahead Of Tesla’s Electric Truck, Forbes
Morgan Stanley likes the idea of a Tesla semi-truck, Business Insider
April 11, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
Image source: National Breast Cancer Foundation