Environment
The Headworks would collect and
should pre-treat incoming
sewage for Southerly. The Central Ohio Sierra Club has testified and written to OEPA that it is premature to proceed at this time without first having a permit issued for the Southerly Plant. The Headworks project needs to be reworked to save public dollars and to allow for the creation of a truly efficient sewage treatment program.
This new Headworks project would not eliminate plant bypasses. It would pump up to 300 million gallons/day, but the plant can only process 172 mgd. Southerly cannot handle the flow it already has. The key to a proper Headworks lies in restricting solids, which requires new digesters. These must be the first item on the books, and digesters are not even being proposed—a glaring omission. Southerly needs a high treatment process with equalization tanks and digesters and very large primary tanks. The grit tanks being proposed are undersized and will plug in a storm.
This new Headworks project would not eliminate plant bypasses. It would pump up to 300 million gallons/day, but the plant can only process 172 mgd. Southerly cannot handle the flow it already has. The key to a proper Headworks lies in restricting solids, which requires new digesters. These must be the first item on the books, and digesters are not even being proposed—a glaring omission. Southerly needs a high treatment process with equalization tanks and digesters and very large primary tanks. The grit tanks being proposed are undersized and will plug in a storm.
October 18, 1972, thirty one years ago, it all seemed so easy, when Congress
passed the Clean Water Act and Senator Muskie stated on the Senate floor:
"This Act simply means, that we can not use our rivers any longer to treat
our sewage".
Even tough many claim that this second largest federal public works program has been successful; neither of the Act's goals -- swimmable and fishable waters by 1983 and elimination of all water pollution by 1985 -- have been achieved.
Neither can they ever be achieved, because the regulations implementing the Act ignore 40% of the pollution caused by fecal waste and all the pollution caused by urine waste in sewage. All this is the result of an incorrectly applied pollution tests.
This pollution test is called the BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) test, which measures the oxygen used by bacteria that feed on the organic matter in sewage. Sewage contains carbonaceous matter (fecal), which is used by heterotrphic bacteria and nitrogenous matter (urine and proteins), which is used by autotrophic bacteria.
Even tough many claim that this second largest federal public works program has been successful; neither of the Act's goals -- swimmable and fishable waters by 1983 and elimination of all water pollution by 1985 -- have been achieved.
Neither can they ever be achieved, because the regulations implementing the Act ignore 40% of the pollution caused by fecal waste and all the pollution caused by urine waste in sewage. All this is the result of an incorrectly applied pollution tests.
This pollution test is called the BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) test, which measures the oxygen used by bacteria that feed on the organic matter in sewage. Sewage contains carbonaceous matter (fecal), which is used by heterotrphic bacteria and nitrogenous matter (urine and proteins), which is used by autotrophic bacteria.
Located in the rolling hills of rural Belmont County, Dysart Woods is the largest remnant of the ancient forests that once covered 95% of Ohio. To walk through Dysart woods is truly a moving experience, one is immediately awe struck by the imposing beauty of 400-500 year old towering oak trees gentling swaying in the breeze. The majestic forests of Dysart woods were once a part of the Dysart family farm, but in 1966 the 455-acre farm was bought by the Ohio University to use as a land laboratory. It was widely believed that Dysart woods would be protected from logging and mining forever when Ohio University purchased the land, but that all changed in 1988 when the Ohio Valley Coal Company approached Ohio University about mining under Dysart Woods. How could they do that you ask? Well, it seems that before the Dysart family sold the land to Ohio University they sold the mineral rights under the land to Ohio Valley Coal. Here begins the saga of Dysart Woods.
In answer to PETA’s lawsuit filed in July against KFC and its parent company, Yum! Brands, accusing the corporations of lying to the public about their animal-welfare policies, KFC and Yum! Brands have made sweeping changes to their Web sites and their customer service scripts.
Lawyers for KFC provided the text of the new customer service script to PETA to review in order to determine whether they were sufficient to stop the lawsuit. The changes amount to what PETA had asked the court to require of KFC, and as a result, PETA will now end its lawsuit.
PETA’s victory in this lawsuit—which PETA believes to be unprecedented in that it is a successful suit for false representations about the treatment of farmed animals—puts corporations on notice that they cannot abuse animals and lie about it with impunity. The false claims that have now been removed from the KFC and Yum! Brands Web sites include the following:
• that chickens raised for KFC suffer no pain
• that chickens raised for KFC suffer no injuries
• that KFC suppliers use “state-of-the-art” slaughter equipment
• that humane treatment of the birds is “ensured”
Lawyers for KFC provided the text of the new customer service script to PETA to review in order to determine whether they were sufficient to stop the lawsuit. The changes amount to what PETA had asked the court to require of KFC, and as a result, PETA will now end its lawsuit.
PETA’s victory in this lawsuit—which PETA believes to be unprecedented in that it is a successful suit for false representations about the treatment of farmed animals—puts corporations on notice that they cannot abuse animals and lie about it with impunity. The false claims that have now been removed from the KFC and Yum! Brands Web sites include the following:
• that chickens raised for KFC suffer no pain
• that chickens raised for KFC suffer no injuries
• that KFC suppliers use “state-of-the-art” slaughter equipment
• that humane treatment of the birds is “ensured”
"Though people lack not wealth, they cannot afford to breathe clean air. Rain and streams cleanse not, but remain inert and powerless liquids. Human beings and countless beings that inhabit water and land reel under the yoke of physical pain caused by malevolent diseases. Their minds are dulled with sloth, stupor, and ignorance. The joys of the body and spirit are far, far away. We needlessly pollute the fair bosom of our mother earth; rip out her trees to feed our shortsighted greed, turning our fertile earth into sterile desert. As a noble being recognizes the kindness of a sentient mother and makes recompense for it, so the earth, the universal mother, which nurtures all equally, should be regarded with affection and care. Forsake wastage, pollute not the clean, clear nature of the four elements and destroy the well being of people, but absorb yourself in actions that are beneficial to all. Being attentive to the nature of interdependence of all creatures, both animate and inanimate,one should never slacken in one's efforts to persevere and conserve nature's energy."
Bhikshu Tenzin Gyatso
The XIVth Dalai Lama
Bhikshu Tenzin Gyatso
The XIVth Dalai Lama
The Green Party is looking for progressives to run for elected office.
Across the US a 177 Green office holders in 24 states are hard at work. They are creating public policy on important issues including civil rights, a living wage, affordable housing, alternative voting systems, and peace. They are advocating for peace and opposing urban sprawl and expansion of corporate power. Green office holders ran to make an immediate impact on their communities as town council members, county commissioners, school board members etc. These Greens reached out to voters of diverse backgrounds, brought together coalitions of community organizations and individuals to begin to reclaim their local governments.
Across the US a 177 Green office holders in 24 states are hard at work. They are creating public policy on important issues including civil rights, a living wage, affordable housing, alternative voting systems, and peace. They are advocating for peace and opposing urban sprawl and expansion of corporate power. Green office holders ran to make an immediate impact on their communities as town council members, county commissioners, school board members etc. These Greens reached out to voters of diverse backgrounds, brought together coalitions of community organizations and individuals to begin to reclaim their local governments.
The Green Party of Ohio is proud to announce the Making Democracy REAL!
campaign, a major statewide, 18-month effort to get the people of Ohio
involved in the democratic process. Part of the freedom in the democratic
process is for people to be able to participate in government which daily
makes decisions that affects their lives. There is a disconnect between
most Ohioans and their government at the local, state and national levels.
Our Making Democracy REAL! campaign aims to address this issue on several
fronts: To 1) Get more people to run for office 2) Create a coalition of
groups to work towards changing Ohio's undemocratic electoral laws 3)
Initiate a major voter registration drive 4) Hold a series of local events
across Ohio for communities to discuss these issues 5) Gain Ballot Access
for the Green Party of Ohio.
Greetings, Activists!
Please read this ENTIRE e-mail message, as it contains important, detailed information regarding our KFC Campaign, which is NOT being called off. In fact, it’s going full speed ahead. Please continue to organize as many demonstrations as you possibly can, write letters, and so on. The pressure must continue!
As you may have heard, KFC’s president, Cheryl Bachelder, recently flew to PETA’s hometown of Norfolk, Va., for a meeting with PETA president Ingrid Newkirk and Bruce Friedrich to discuss our demands of KFC. As a result of the meeting, KFC has pledged to make several important improvements in the way chickens are treated. Here’s what KFC has pledged to do:
· put cameras in all U.S. slaughterhouses to help discourage the sadistic abuse of chickens and to help catch and punish any employees abusing birds
· implement humane mechanized chicken-gathering at one-fourth of all U.S. slaughterhouses by the end of next year
· increase the amount of living space for each bird by about 30 percent
Please read this ENTIRE e-mail message, as it contains important, detailed information regarding our KFC Campaign, which is NOT being called off. In fact, it’s going full speed ahead. Please continue to organize as many demonstrations as you possibly can, write letters, and so on. The pressure must continue!
As you may have heard, KFC’s president, Cheryl Bachelder, recently flew to PETA’s hometown of Norfolk, Va., for a meeting with PETA president Ingrid Newkirk and Bruce Friedrich to discuss our demands of KFC. As a result of the meeting, KFC has pledged to make several important improvements in the way chickens are treated. Here’s what KFC has pledged to do:
· put cameras in all U.S. slaughterhouses to help discourage the sadistic abuse of chickens and to help catch and punish any employees abusing birds
· implement humane mechanized chicken-gathering at one-fourth of all U.S. slaughterhouses by the end of next year
· increase the amount of living space for each bird by about 30 percent
Corporation continues to support the worst abuses
On May 1, KFC issued a news release claiming to be adopting “industry-leading poultry guidelines.”
PETA is disgusted that KFC would attempt to deceive compassionate consumers: KFC’s release is worded so as to reassure chicken consumers who are anxious to hear that chickens are not cruelly treated by KFC and its suppliers and slaughterers. But, in fact, KFC continues to ignore its own animal welfare advisory board’s recommendations as well as those of the humane community, still has not adopted the eight key minimum reforms, and instead continues to hide behind the chicken industry’s skirts, hoping that this will all go away and pretending that it needs government permission to switch to gas killing, an accepted method that requires nothing more than the decency to implement it.
On May 1, KFC issued a news release claiming to be adopting “industry-leading poultry guidelines.”
PETA is disgusted that KFC would attempt to deceive compassionate consumers: KFC’s release is worded so as to reassure chicken consumers who are anxious to hear that chickens are not cruelly treated by KFC and its suppliers and slaughterers. But, in fact, KFC continues to ignore its own animal welfare advisory board’s recommendations as well as those of the humane community, still has not adopted the eight key minimum reforms, and instead continues to hide behind the chicken industry’s skirts, hoping that this will all go away and pretending that it needs government permission to switch to gas killing, an accepted method that requires nothing more than the decency to implement it.
The Historical Trekkers group will tour Dysart Woods this Saturday, May 3 with muskets and 18th century attire. They say that Dysart Woods is one of the extremely rare places where they can see a historic tract of the old growth forest that once covered 95 percent of Ohio.
They will arrive at the ancient forest between 10-10:30 a.m. this Saturday. Media are welcome to record the event. “With the current permit to mine directly under the ancient forest, this may be the last opportunity of its kind to tour a significant historic forest in Ohio, unless the permit can be stopped in the Ohio Division of Mineral Resources or in court,” said Dysart Defenders Coordinator Chad Kister.
“With only .004 percent of old growth left, this is an extremely important historic resource,” said Kister. “For the Ohio Valley Coal Company to request to mine under every acre of Dysart Woods is wrong and it needs to be challenged and stopped.”
The following is a statement from Thom "Swanny" Swan, Coordinator of Historical Trekkers:
They will arrive at the ancient forest between 10-10:30 a.m. this Saturday. Media are welcome to record the event. “With the current permit to mine directly under the ancient forest, this may be the last opportunity of its kind to tour a significant historic forest in Ohio, unless the permit can be stopped in the Ohio Division of Mineral Resources or in court,” said Dysart Defenders Coordinator Chad Kister.
“With only .004 percent of old growth left, this is an extremely important historic resource,” said Kister. “For the Ohio Valley Coal Company to request to mine under every acre of Dysart Woods is wrong and it needs to be challenged and stopped.”
The following is a statement from Thom "Swanny" Swan, Coordinator of Historical Trekkers: