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Earth Hour is only one day away and World Wildlife Fund has confirmed that the Space Needle, Pike Place Market sign, and the State Capitol Dome will turn out the lights this Saturday, March 27 from 8:30 – 9:30 Seattle claims to be and frankly has been one of the greenest cities in the nation in recent years. But recently the green vote in Seattle has been disturbingly absent. Over a year ago Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels ordered a ban on bottled water in public buildings and offices. His announcement of the bottled water crackdown garnered national headlines. The citizens of Seattle will have an opportunity to support or reject a 20-cent plastic and paper bag fee. This bag fee was approved in July 2008 by the Seattle City Council with a 6 to 1 vote. Shortly after the bag fee was approved the American Chemistry Council started an all out media blitz portraying the bag fee as a tax and imposition on the residents of Seattle. Yesterday Seattle hosted the last of only two public EPA hearings on climate change at pier 66 on the Seattle waterfront. The hearings were designed to allow public comment on the impact of global warming and pollution to public health and welfare. Yesterday I peddled my bike in support of Earth Day. I live in the city and I work in the city so why not ride my bike? My first stop was the Jones Soda headquarters in downtown Seattle. There was a crowd of people outside and curiosity lured me to check it out. In support of Earth Day, Jones Soda decided to go off the grid for an day and generate their own electricity. At Blue Sky they use naturally occuring and reclaimed CO2 as an alternative to the traditional toxic dry cleaning chemicals. The CO2 is pressurized and takes the form of a liquid which has unparalleled cleaning characteristics. The process is heat free avoiding further setting of stains, which preserves the longevity of colors, fibers and fabrics. This April 22nd is Earth Day! Seattle has roots in the creation of this day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. In 1969 at a conference in Seattle, US Senator Gaylord Nelson announced that in the following spring their would be a grassroots demonstration designed to draw attention to the environment and protecting the planet. Wouldn’t it make sense that for every public trash can there be a recycle can next to it? To the pleasure of many Seattle neighborhood leaders and environmentalists, Michael McGinn announced he is running for Mayor of Seattle. He is the first to officially announce his candidacy and to challenge the current Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. In his announcement McGinn noted three of the keys issues he would address as mayor being schools, transportation and technology infrastructure. |
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