Luxomedia

Bike-to-School

2008-03-12T07:00:00.001-07:00

The weather is nice, and suddenly all the bicycles have come out of the woodwork. As bicycle ridership amongst youth increases, so does the need for bike racks at local schools.

Art for Walk SF

2008-03-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

Call for art to benefit Walk SF, via the SFBC mailing list.

DIY Silkscreen

2008-03-08T16:18:00.000-08:00

Getting creative: Make a silkscreened shirt from start to finish with this 15 minute video I put together.

Time to Plant Trees

2008-03-07T06:58:00.001-08:00

Common Vision is kicking off their 5th Fruit Tree Tour, planting trees with youth all over California. They've added a new biodiesel bus to their veggie-powered caravan, with inspirational artwork! Did I see a sasquatch in there?

Ralph Nader picks Matt Gonzalez for running mate

2008-02-28T12:46:00.000-08:00

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader selected Matt Gonzalez, a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, to be his running mate.>>

Pinpointing Pollution

2008-02-23T07:38:00.000-08:00

The 20 Biggest US Polluters >>
EPA Toxic Release Inventory >>

Google Earth Map Layers:

EPA Toxic Air Emissions Data >>
CEC Industrial Pollution Data >>
more environmental pollution data >>
WWF: Track Polar Bears and exploration tours >>

Howard Street

2008-02-06T12:46:00.001-08:00

Howard Street
Originally uploaded by luxomedia

Al Gore in Bali

2007-12-15T12:40:00.000-08:00

"Political Will is a Renewable Resource"

The new energy bill leaves out federal incentives for renewable energy such as wind and solar.
see how oil lobbyists affected the vote >>

Climate Message in a Bottle

2007-12-02T18:06:00.000-08:00

Here is our response to the Greenpeace Climate Message in a Bottle video for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Indonesia next week.

December 8 is the Global Day of Action against Climate Change >>

Climate Message in a Bottle

2007-11-27T10:33:00.000-08:00

China's Grime Belt Air Pollution

2007-11-22T10:39:00.000-08:00

Cleaning Up Diesel Emissions - Let's Get it Done!

2007-11-19T09:58:00.000-08:00

From California ARB:
"We have posted an on-line survey to gather information on the use of certain on-road diesel vehicles in California. The purpose of the survey is to better understand the age and use of diesel vehicles used in different operations such as long-haul, local delivery, and other types of operations. We are working on a proposal that would currently require all diesel trucks and buses subject to the regulation to meet 2007 engine standards by 2013 and 2010 engine standards by 2021. We would like any person, business or corporation that owns or is leasing, for twelve months or more, any diesel powered truck, bus, pickup, or other vehicle to complete the survey. The survey is available at the following website:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/onrdiesel_new.htm
A hard copy version is also available at the website.

California Air Resources Board Meeting Webcast

2007-11-15T10:11:00.001-08:00

On the Agenda today: Health Update: Environmental Justice, Air Pollution, and Health, Alternative Fuels >>

I like riding the ferry BUT...

2007-11-14T20:14:00.001-08:00

A plume of deadly diesel exhaust pours from the Blue and Gold Fleet Ferry service to Oakland Alameda. They do not use diesel particulate filters and the ferry manager said they do not have any plans to install them. An average of 900 people ride the ferry every day, including school children. The people who work on the ferry get the most exposure to it.

The company received roughly $1.5 million in Carl Moyer grant funding from Bay Area Air-Quality Management in 2006, including $677,531 for this vessel to be upgraded. They also raised their ticket prices for capital improvements. It seems that the vessel just "goes in for service" often, but no long-term air quality improvements are made. I usually enjoy riding the ferry, and the service and people who work there are great, but what's the point when you can't breathe fresh air? What is also concerning is that B&G claim to be clean, green and environmentally sound. I don't see any "green waves" here, do you?

I am looking forward to when this is really a clean, green commute. Until then, I think I WILL hold my breath.

Check out the California Air Resources Board, and the Clean Air Task Force public health information about Diesel Exhaust, which causes cancer and other health problems contributing to thousands of premature deaths per year.

Fuel Spill - No Fishing

2007-11-13T10:29:00.001-08:00

Fuel Spill Closes San Francisco Beaches >>

No Fishing
Originally uploaded by luxomedia

Bunker Fuel causes cancer. Do not get this stuff on your skin!

Fuel Spills Everyday from Container Ships...Into the Air >>

Most Polluted Air - Top Ten Cities 2007

2007-11-09T11:19:00.000-08:00

Here are the top ten cities most polluted by short-term particle pollution according the the American Lung Associations "State of the Air 2007" Report.

1 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, CA
2 Pittsburgh-New Castle, PA
3 Fresno-Madera, CA
4 Bakersfield, CA
5 Logan, UT-ID
6 Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman, AL
7 Salt Lake City-Ogden-Clearfield, UT
8 Detroit-Warren-Flint, MI
9 Eugene-Springfield, OR
10 Cleveland-Akron-Elyria, OH

San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose region are in the top 20 at #15. We can do better.

California has to be at the frontlines of this issue, because we have the worst air in the nation.

Governor sues EPA for failing to act on California’s Tailpipe Emissions Request >>

The National Center for Atmospheric Research analyzed the emissions and estimated that the fires emitted 7.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from Oct. 19-26, the equivalent of about 25 percent of the average monthly emissions from all fossil fuel burning in the entire state of California.

Particulate Matter Pollution is not just a global warming issue, it's an immediate danger to our health. It can contribute to diseases such as cancer, asthma and bronchitis. We respond and take urgent action against things like the recent fuel spill, but what about the air we breathe everyday?

Dirty Diesel

2007-11-09T11:12:00.000-08:00

70% of Cancer Risk comes from Diesel Exhaust

No Escape from Diesel Exhaust.Fine particulate matter pollution in the air is responsible for at least 70,000 deaths a year...Studies throughout the world show that people who live or work around diesel engines are at highest risk. But what about the rest of us? Exposure studies suggest that commuters on busy roadways, on diesel transit buses, and on commuter trains receive above-average exposures to fine particles. Studies by California Air Resources Board (CARB) researchers estimate that during the relatively small part of the day when we are in our vehicles, we experience over half of our exposures to ultrafine particles and black carbon.

Diesel Exhaust =Toxic Emissions

2007-11-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

American Lung Association of California

This is how I roll

2007-11-09T11:03:00.001-08:00

SSPX1403.JPG
Originally uploaded by luxomedia

Lights Out San Francisco

2007-10-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

Blog Action Day / Lights OUT

2007-10-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

...Every Day...
Lights Out SF! 1 night, 1-hour & 1-bulb on Saturday, October 20, 2007 8-9 p.m.

The Year of Being Green

2007-10-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

This year, green has really hit the mainstream. It's about time!

The Green Festival is coming soon. Naresh Ramchandani and Andy Hobsbawm have started a site called do the green thing where you can sign up and participate in doing an envirofriendly action every month with an online community. As you know I have a fondness for greenthings! Color me GREEN!

"Do the green thing"

Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act

2007-10-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

H.R.2776, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 will give incentives for employees who bike to work:

SEC. 205. EXTENSION OF TRANSPORTATION FRINGE BENEFIT TO BICYCLE COMMUTERS.

...QUALIFIED BICYCLE COMMUTING REIMBURSEMENT- The term `qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement' means, with respect to any calendar year, any employer reimbursement during the 15-month period beginning with the first day of such calendar year for reasonable expenses incurred by the employee during such calendar year for the purchase of a bicycle and bicycle improvements, repair, and storage, if such bicycle is regularly used for travel between the employee's residence and place of employment.

...APPLICABLE ANNUAL LIMITATION- The term `applicable annual limitation' means, with respect to any employee for any calendar year, the product of $20 multiplied by the number of qualified bicycle commuting months during such year.

Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007.

Of course, the whole energy bill is much larger in scope and the incentive to bicycle commuters is only a tiny fraction of it, yet it is already being used as a tool of ridicule by Congressman Patrick McHenry, whose campaign coffers happen to be stuffed by the automotive and oil industry.

Fruit Tree Tour featured on Natural Heroes tonight on PBS

2007-10-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

Natural Heroes: Fruit Tree Tour Story
Traveling in a veggie oil-powered caravan, 25 earth educators teach students about sustainable ecology through a day long program that includes West African agricultural drumming and earth-conscious hip-hop, planting over 1000 fruit trees at urban schools.

Electric Lollipop

2007-09-30T14:13:00.001-07:00

Tigerbee Boxes
Originally uploaded by luxomedia

The Electric Lollipop
organic art by my sis, Patricia Rodriguez!