Advocacy Project: Understanding Emissions

Motor vehicle emissions are composed of the by-products that come from the exhaust systems of automobiles or other emissions such as gasoline evaporation. These emissions contribute to air pollution and are a major ingredient in the creation of smog in some larger cities.

Purpose:
The purpose of this activity is to increase awareness regarding the hazards of motor vehicle emissions, and the benefits of walking on our environment.  The facts and details provided will not only increase an understanding of the negative impact of motor vehicle emissions, but they will also provide an understanding of the positive steps we can take to protect our environment.

Aside from the benefits of walking we have been exposed to from a health standpoint, the environmental benefits are just as important.

A fact sheet highlighting the positive impact of walking on the environment

Walkable Communities Video:

Calculate your vehicle pollution impact

A few fact sheets from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency:

• Buying A Cleaner Car
• Causes of Motor Vehicle Pollution
• Challenge Your Notions About Commuting
• Health Effects of Motor Vehicle Pollution  

Now that you have read the information provided, you should have an increased understanding of motor vehicle emissions and the steps we need to take to reduce them.  It is easy to see that the steps we can take to protect not only ourselves, but our environment as well are not too far "out of the box."  To finish this activity, please comment on 2-3 things you learned from this information that you did not know before.

Advocacy Project: Letter and Fact Sheet

December 4, 2010

Ron J. Kind
House of Representatives
131 S. Barstow St.
Suite 301
Eau Claire, WI 54701

VOTE YES ON H.R.2724 Title: National Transportation Objectives Act of 2009


The proposed nationwide objectives for transportation will have a significant impact on the overall environmental health and safety of our entire nation. As a health education student at the University of Minnesota Duluth, I believe that setting national transportation performance targets will result in overwhelming positive outcomes for our communities both urban and rural. This will set a standard by which we as Americans must meet and abide by.

This bill seeks to not reduce vehicle emissions as well as promote alternate forms of transportation as a way to lower traffic congestion and reduce traffic accidents. The national transportation targets developed by this bill include reducing per capita vehicle miles traveled by 16% and transportation-generated carbon dioxide levels by 40%, triple walking, biking, and public transportation use, increase freight transportation provided by railroad and intermodal services by 20%, and improve public safety.

Opponents to this bill may argue that this act may impact the automobile industry, however this is the opposite of the truth. By establishing performance targets and objectives that must be met will make the automobile industry more competitive. By mandating manufactures to follow the framework developed by this act the innovations in safety and efficiency that will result are almost endless. These guidelines are set as a means for reducing vehicle emissions but as a result create a new competitive edge within the industry.

We appreciate your past support of the bill protecting our environment and reducing automobile emissions. By supporting alternate forms of transportation we are not only promoting cleaner air, we are lessening cluttered roadways and decreasing traffic accidents as well. Vote Yes to H.R.2724 National Transportation Objectives Act of 2009.

Adam

Fact Sheet

• Ten percent of all vehicles cause 90% of the mobile-source pollution.
• Cheaters tamper with their cars. About 10% of all vehicles have some form of tampering, but over 40% of gross emitters have been tampered with.
• It’s not only the old cars that cause pollution. Both new and old cars can be gross emitters. Only timely maintenance prevents one from attaining the “status” of a gross emitter. New car technology, while helpful, is expensive and will malfunction over time.

How much to Automobiles contribute to global warming?

• Automobiles are America's biggest reason for oil dependence, and represent the single largest piece of our global warming problem. A gallon of gasoline weighs 6 pounds but when burned and combined with oxygen in the air, the resulting compound weighs nearly 20 pounds. Chrysler’s Jeep Grand Cherokee, which weighs just under two tons, emits over three times its body weight in CO2 per year.
• One-third of the United States’ carbon emissions are transportation-related. If American cars and light trucks were a nation, they would be the world’s fifth-largest carbon emitter.
• SUV fuel efficiency has remained virtually unchanged over the last decade; the typical SUV has a rated fuel economy of 20 m.p.g. (29 percent lower than that of the average car), and a consequent CO2 emissions rate of 6.2 metric tons per year (40 percent higher than passenger cars).

How much does the U.S. contribute to CO2 Emissions?

• The United States has the highest rate of carbon emissions in the world, with close to 1,600 million metric tons of carbon released annually (or about 25 percent of the world’s total). Our country’s total output is double that of the next largest polluter, China.
• U.S. carbon emissions are linked to our uncontrolled consumption of fossil fuels, especially oil. The United States is the world's largest "oil burner," with petroleum products accounting for 42% of U.S. global warming

What if Automobile Fuel Economy standards were higher?

• If fuel economy were improved by 5 m.p.g., American consumers would save 1.5 million barrels of oil per day, more than half of what the U.S. imports from the Middle East.
• Cars and light trucks could achieve a combined Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard of 40 m.p.g. if automakers made the best use of available technology over the next ten years. Reaching such a standard would cut global warming pollution by 133 million metric tons per year in 2020, and cut America’s oil demand by 3.6 million barrels per day.

What can be done to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases?

• The most important step is making the political commitment to put a cap on oil demand and global warming pollution, using improved technology to cut fossil fuel use without shifting the size or performance of the vehicles we drive.
• California’s landmark law to regulate greenhouse gases from cars and light trucks is a crucial start. Extending this approach to other states and the nation would be the single biggest advance Americans can take to stop global warming.

For more information visit the EPA or Environmental Defense

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Introduction

• What is the issue/problem?
• Increase use of alternative modes of transportation to reduce motor vehicle emissions and improve the Nation’s air quality (trips made by walking). 
• What current legislation has been proposed to address this? (Identify bill # and name)
• H.R.2724 National Transportation Objectives Act of 2009

Who is affected by the issue?

• Who is affected the most?
• Individuals who work in the automobile industry and the oil industry
• Who loses, and what do they lose?
• People in the automotive industry stand to lose hours at work and potentially their jobs if cars are not at as high of a demand as usual. And individuals within the oil industry stand to lose incredible amounts of money from the decline in gas consumed by Americans.
• Who gains, and what do they gain?
• People living in metropolitan areas stand to gain the most from this because the air they breathe will be cleaner as well as they will be saving money on fuel and other driving related costs.

What are the consequences of the issue?

• For the individuals mostly affected?
• The consequences of this issue would be effects to our economy by the reduction of automobiles being produced and the amount of oil being used. Also as a result we could end up with more individuals jobless and living in less fortunate conditions.
• For their families?
• People who work in the automobile industry could become jobless and their families would then suffer because they would be forced to transition into a different lifestyle.
• For society?
• Our society would be impacted by more unemployed individuals and have to find a means to provide these people with what they need.

What is the economic impact of the issue?

• What are the economic costs of the issue, and who bears these costs?
• The economic costs of providing for more unemployed individuals would be directed upon those who remain employed and pay taxes.
• What are the economic benefits of the issue, and who benefits?
• The economic benefits include, less money to be put into roads since they will be traveled less, and also by people walking we could see lower health care costs because individuals will be participating in more exercise. Also with people consuming less oil, fuel prices may decline and in turn when driving is absolutely necessary it will not be such a burden because of gas prices.

What is the social impact of the issue?

• What are the social costs of the issue, and who bears these costs?
• The social costs of this will be reflected on taxpayers because they will have to pay to support more individuals who are jobless and seeking employment.
• What are the social benefits of the issue, and who benefits?
• The benefits of this issue are that people will be interacting in more physical activity and in turn more likely to seek other forms of physical activity, resulting in group exercise increasing in popularity.

What are the barriers?

• What are the barriers to addressing this issue?
• The barriers of this are that the automobile industry will fight until its last breath I order to not loose its profit from car sales. Not only is the sales of automobiles important to the industry, it is the lively hood for many individuals.
• How can they be overcome?
• Individuals my have to resort to more manual labor jobs to maintain the size of a workforce and lesson machine use. With less automobiles being created there will be less need for individual workers within the industry.

What are the resources?

• What resources will we need to address this issue?
• Individuals who strongly support air quality and environmental health are very strong resources who will support this issue, such as the EPA.
• Where and how can they be tapped?
• Strong evidence based data will need to be provided to insure that theses resources are not just jumping into the situation blind, and they will also need a lot of support within specific communities.

What is the history of this issue?

• What is the history of the issue in the community?
• Air quality has been steadily decreasing for a number of years, and the amount to pollution linked to automobiles continues to increase rapidly.
• What past efforts were made to address it?
• The EPA has started multiple campaigns to address this issue and increase the number of individuals who resort to walking and only drive when necessary.
• What were the results?
• Results are pretty minimal, but continue to improve and progress. The busy hustle-and-bustle lifestyle we as Americans life makes it inconvenient to walk somewhere because it takes time and we feel like that is something we don’t have.

Allies & Opponents

• Who would support this issue?
• Groups and organizations that strongly support environmental health and increasing air quality.
• Who would oppose this issue?
• People who work within the automobile industry and individuals who work in the oil industry will strongly oppose this issue because it is a means of living for them and their families
• How can you involve allies and opponents in advocacy efforts? (What common ground can you share? How can you create a win-win for your allies and your opponents?)
• They can find a common ground on building a healthier, cleaner environment for us all to live in. They can also involve efforts toward supporting fuel-efficient and eco-friendly cars.

Your Recommendation

• How do you want policy-makers to vote on this proposed policy?
• I recommend that policy makers vote yes to this specific policy. Not only does it lower emissions and improve air quality, but it also increased the amount of physical activity people participate in. To me this policy has noting but an up side, it may result in the automobile industry taking a hit, but in the long run we are preserving our plant. Our generations will not be directly impacted by this change but it is about preserving our planet for generations to come.

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

1. The area of Healthy People 2010 that I have chosen to focus on for Advocacy Project is Environmental Health

Screenshot from healthypeople.gov

8-2. Increase use of alternative modes of transportation to reduce motor vehicle emissions and improve the Nation’s air quality.
      8-2b. Trips made by walking

Screenshot from healthypeople.gov

Thus far through this sub-objective (8-2b.) is  about 59% complete, and progress is continuing to me made towards the target goal. Shown in the product quotient chart

2.

Progress:  Tracking data is available and progress has been made for alternative forms of transportation regarding walking. Also the number of trips made by walking is steadily increasing.

Disparities: No real disparities were highlighted for the transportation of the environmental aspect of Healthy People 2010.

Opportunities & Challenges:  The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has been making a continuing attempt to improve outdoor air quality.  As part of this effort they are targeting whole industries or sources of this pollution, such as power plants and motorized vehicles.  The three key air pollutants they are targeting are nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and mercury. As well as aiming to reduce smog, acid rain, fine particles, visibility impairment, and mercury deposition.

Emerging Issues:  The first major issue surrounding air measuring progress for this objective is the weather. The weather may vary quite a bit and short term statistics my not account for the weather change. The second issues is that not all counties have monitoring stations and cannot accurately account for the amount of air pollution in a specific area.

3.

Bill From: Thomas

H.R.2724
Title: National Transportation Objectives Act of 2009
Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] (introduced 6/4/2009)   Cosponsors (32)
Latest Major Action: 6/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials

Recommended Vote:
Vote 'YES' for the "National Transportation Objectives Act" to promote energy efficiency and clean outdoor air.

My Political Representative:
Ron J. Kind (D)
Eau Claire Office
131 S. Barstow St.
Suite 301
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm
(715) 831-9214
Fax: (715) 831-9272

Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

President:
Barrack Obama (D)
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
202-456-1111

Congress:
Senate:
Russ Feingold (D)
La Crosse Office
425 State St., Room 225
La Crosse, WI 54601-3341
(608) 782-5585
Fax (608) 782-5802
Hours: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Herbert H.Kohl (D)
Eau Claire Office
402 Graham Ave., Suite 206
Eau Claire WI 54701
(715) 832-8424
Fax: (715) 832-8492

House:
Ron J. Kind (D)
Eau Claire Office
131 S. Barstow St.
Suite 301
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm
(715) 831-9214
Fax: (715) 831-9272

Governor:
Jim Doyle (D)
Madison Office
P.O. Box 7863
Madison, WI 53707
608-266-1212

State Legislator:
State Senate:
Kathleen Vinehout (D)
Madison Office
Room 104 South
State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707

State Assembly:
Chris Danou (D)
Madison Office
Room 303 West
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708

County Board President:
District 11 Representitive
Olin Femreite
36087 Sheila Blvd
Whitehall, WI 54773

District 12 Represtntitive
John Aasen
W15478 Aasen Ln
Whitehall, WI 54773

City Mayor:
Rod Moen (n/a)
P.O. Box 215
Whitehall, WI  54773-0215

**I provided the location of each individuals office closest to my hometown, because multiple office locations were listed

Welcome to Adam's Outdoor Connection

I am a 21 year old senior at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and I was born and raised in a town of about 1,500 people in West Central Wisconsin (Whitehall). At a very young age I developed an extreme passion for the outdoors and everything that encompasses it. I grew up hunting and fishing all of my life, and I since coming to college I have really started to enjoy just being in nature in general and discovering all that it has to offer. My blog will be a broad view of my journey through the outdoors along with anyone that chooses to join me.

There are 6 possible types of posts on my blog. They include:

1. Advocacy Project
2. Eye Openers
3. Reflections
4. Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change
5. Reed 'n' Seed
6. Share & Voice

If you notice at the bottom of this post, the categories will be listed as labels. This post is has been labeled with all five kinds of posts. You will also see the number of each kind of post in my Labels Gadget at the top of the page. All post titles from now on will begin with one of the categories above.

The members of my group are:

1. http://samanthagreenwithenvi.blogspot.com/
2. http://treeifictimewithalyssa.blogspot.com/
3. http://eco-questwithemily.blogspot.com/
4. http://kristenscoralreef.blogspot.com/
5. http://throughgreeneyeswithkatie.blogspot.com/
6. http://gobluetoowithcarly.blogspot.com/

You can subscribe to my blog by clicking the subscribe gadget in the gadget column. You can also follow my blog by clicking "Follow this Blog" in the gadget column. I am subscribed to all the blogs in my blog list gadget. You can see my complete profile and all the blogs I am following by clicking on "See Complete Profile."

I would just like to end by saying how much I look forward to seeing what exciting information and experiences other people will share throughout this blog. I am excited to see the different activities and different endeavors that we are all either involved in or participate in within our everyday lives. Enjoy!!