WE ACT for Environmental Justice
In a WE ACT Minute
The Periodic e-Newsletter of WE ACT for Environmental Justice

March 2010
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Coming Up
 
Greetings!

We are pleased to announce an exciting upcoming event co-sponsored by WE ACT. On April 13th, 2010, WE ACT, the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, the Columbia NIEHS Center for Environmental Health in Northern Manhattan and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) will host a Scientific Session and Community Dialogue at the Harlem School of the Arts. The program will include a report and discussion of research results in Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx that affect health and exposure at home to indoor air toxins. More...

We also thought the following articles, which feature some of WE ACT's work, would be of interest to you.
Fighting for Environmental Justice Uptown
WE ACT in The Manhattan Times  
"I guess when people see the passion you have for something, it's contagious," Ana Parks remarked with a smile as we sat in her office late one recent weeknight, long after the workday has ended for most people.
 
Judging from her history and current projects, Ms. Parks is no stranger to the kind of work that requires passion and fortitude.
Ms. Parks has been the Community Organizing and Outreach Coordinator for WE ACT for Environmental Justice (West Harlem Environmental Action, Inc.) since January of 2007, and her focus is on health homes and lead poisoning prevention.
 
Ms. Parks works with the New York City Lead Outreach Campaign, a collaboration between 17 organizations that target eight New York City communities that have a high risk for child lead poisoning. Washington Heights and Inwood have a high proportion of pre-1978 housing stock, where lead-based paint was likely used, and are among the neighborhoods being targeted. They are two of the places where Ms. Parks will be working to outreach to families on lead poisoning risk. Read full article...
Activists, Industry Agree on Heating Oil Standards
WE ACT in The Buffalo News 
New Yorkers have a chance to dramatically improve air quality through a sensible and long overdue requirement that heating oil meet the same federal requirements currently applied to automotive diesel fuel. The State Assembly has already passed a bill that would lower the sulfur content of the heating oil used in homes and buildings across the state. However, so far, the State Senate has failed to act.

From a regulatory standpoint, unlike automotive fuels like gasoline and diesel, heating oil is often treated as a regional issue (the product is mostly used in the Northeast). It is therefore up to us - the people of New York State and the nation's largest consumers of heating oil - to demand change from our elected representatives. Read full article...
Thank you so much for your continued support of our work. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Scientific Session and Community Dialogue.
 
Sincerely,
 
Team WE ACT