NJ Teachers Can Apply for PSEG Environmental Education Grants

New Jersey teachers are encouraged to apply for funding through PSEG's Environmental Education Grant Program. The program provides funding to educators who can link their students' understanding of math, science, computer science, and technology with an enthusiasm and appreciation for the environment.

"We've long been committed to education and the environment, and this program, which provides direct funding for hands-on environmental education, is one we're particularly proud of," said Vaughn McKoy, president of the PSEG Foundation. "Now in its 20th year, this program is a prime example of PSEG's commitment to sustainability, and of the ways in which we're working to improve the communities in which our employees live and work."

Teachers of grades K-9 are encouraged to apply. The grants, which may be as large as $3,500, can be used to purchase materials and equipment, fund field trips, and develop curriculum-related activities. Applications that focus on the development of one or more classroom units, the expansion of an existing course or curriculum, or the extension of classroom work to community or after-school activities will be considered. Projects must be conducted over at least two years.

Teachers from schools in PSE&G's utility service area, PSEG's estuary enhancement program area and PSEG's emergency planning zone may apply. Applications, which are available online, must be postmarked by Wednesday, June 30th. For more information on the towns, and to download an application, visit www.pseg.com/eegrants.

PSEG has awarded more than $335,000 to 143 project grantees since the program began twenty years ago.

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

Information Technology Generates Extraordinary Water Savings in Los Angeles

What's the best way to save water? The evidence suggest that it may be using information technology and controls systems.

Using wireless water management services from Water2Save, Cal State University in Los Angeles saved $100,000 on its water bills. The university reduced consumption by more than 27 million gallons of water since 2008, which is about 2,000 gallons of water an hour. That is enough to sustain 129 families in Los Angeles. The wireless technology remotely manages daily water usage based on a patented forecasted and measured weather data methodology.

"Not only are we saving water, but Water2Save does not require my employees to learn a new system, which saves my staff a lot of time. They also do not have to change watering schedules when the weather changes or shut the controllers off before it rains," says John Ferris, Director of Facilities Services at Cal State L.A.

This type of simple solution highlights the great possibilities that are available when information technology is used to control and manage water and energy costs. Simply by using information to better manage our consumption, we can achieve significant energy and water savings. Best of all, these systems pay for themselves very quickly. It is, as they say, a no-brainer.

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

Bi-Partisan Global Conservation Act Introduced in US Congress

Today members of Congress from both parties introduced legislation—the Global Conservation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4959)—that for the first time places the strategic and diplomatic resources of the U.S. government behind efforts to address extinction and natural resource depletion worldwide.

With the accelerating destruction of forests, reefs and other natural ecosystems, scientists say half of all species could be driven to the brink of extinction by the end of the century.  And experts are tracking trends showing people around the world losing sources of fresh water, fuelwood, medicines and other products from nature.

"By working with nations and partners around the world we can confront conservation challenges that have a direct impact on U.S. security and economic interests," said Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-MO), the bill's lead Democratic sponsor.  "If we tackle this problem together, we can build economic strength here and around the globe, adding more stability to the world."

Even as six federal agencies conduct conservation programs around the globe, the U.S. government still lacks a coordinated, overarching strategy for stopping the environmental destruction.  The Global Conservation Act would mandate such a strategy.  Under the coordination of the White House, the bill requires that agencies come up with a plan to:

• Protect millions of square miles of land and sea,
• Address illegal and unregulated fishing around the world,
• Safeguard the natural sources of fresh water to several major population centers around the world,
• Stop the worst wildlife trafficking operations, and
• Stabilize environmental destruction trends in areas vulnerable to conflict and instability.

The bill identifies a coordinator in the executive branch to ensure action and encourages the administration to secure additional funding and support for a global conservation strategy from other countries—including European nations, Japan, China, and India. It is cosponsored by Representatives Russ Carnahan (D-MO), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Dave Reichert (R-WA), Norman Dicks (D-WA), James Moran (D-VA), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), Judy Biggert (R-IL), and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).

"The Global Conservation Act of 2010 presents a wonderful opportunity for genuine and effective bipartisan cooperation on prudent, cost-effective environmental stewardship.  I am proud to join in this worthy effort to help protect some of our world's most fragile and magnificent ecosystems," said Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), the lead Republican co-sponsor of the bill.

"This bill represents a major step forward in our efforts to address worldwide resource destruction and species loss," said Jeff Wise, who directs the Alliance for Global Conservation.  "It lays out a common sense strategy that will help protect the world's most ecologically and economically important wilderness and marine areas, promote global security and even increase U.S. competitiveness."
Healthy terrestrial and marine ecosystems are also critical to food security and disaster prevention.  An analysis by David Pimental at Cornell University concludes that wild species such as birds and insects provide US$100 billion worth of pest control services to world agriculture every year.  And according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, healthy coral reefs reduce the impact of large storms on coastal populations, a protective function valued at US$9 billion a year.

The destruction of natural areas comes at a tremendous cost. Research by the World Resources Institute has found that medicines derived from natural sources, including 10 of the world's 25 top-selling drugs, have a market value of US$75-$150 billion per year. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, current extinction rates could eliminate at least one prescription drug from entering the market every two years.

"Environmental degradation and the loss of species dramatically reduces our ability to discover and develop new drugs for the treatment of diseases like cancer, diabetes, and infectious diseases," said Dr. Gordon Cragg, retired Chief of the National Cancer Institute's Natural Products Branch, an Institute of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

PBS KIDS(R) Celebrates Fifth Annual 'Share The Earth Day' April 22

On April 22, PBS KIDS will host "Share the Earth Day" as 15 different series present eco-friendly, earth science and outdoor exploration-themed episodes. Families can join favorite characters from CURIOUS GEORGE, SESAME STREET, SUPER WHY! and more as they learn about solar power, pollution, water conservation, biospheres and saving the rainforest. 2010 marks PBS KIDS' largest "Share the Earth Day" event.

"'PBS KIDS Share the Earth Day' encourages kids to explore earth science as part of their daily lives, from backyard adventures with Sid the Science Kid to cooking using solar energy with Curious George," said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President of Children's Media, PBS. "PBS KIDS is a leader in science learning, with the most comprehensive, dedicated content and resources on TV, on-line and in classrooms."

Continuing the Earth Day learning on digital platforms, PBSKIDSGO.org/video will feature the online premiere of WORDGIRL's "Earth Day Girl" episode, as well as a themed channel of Earth Day episodes. Beginning today, PBSKIDSGO.org will launch new content on EekoWorld, an interactive website designed to introduce children to the basics of ecosystems, conservation and pollution, and on April 5th, PBSKIDSGO.ORG/designsquad/contest will feature the launch of the 2010 Trash to Treasure competition which challenges kids to recycle, reuse and reengineer everyday items into new inventions. PBSKIDS.org will feature more than 20 environment and nature games, as well as an Earth Day specific playlist at PBSKIDS.org/video.

PBSPARENTS.org will feature tips for making recyclable crafts, throwing an eco-friendly birthday party and supporting children's interest in nature. The site will also host an Expert Q&A with Kimberly Brenneman, education advisor for SID THE SCIENCE KID. PBSTEACHERS.org will host a webinar on April 5, titled "Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day," exploring environmental curriculum and its impact on student preparedness for green jobs.

Earth Day Episodes, Airing on "Share the Earth Day," April 22 (check local listings)

For preschoolers:

(NEW) CURIOUS GEORGE – "Something New Under the Sun"

It's too hot to do anything except cool off in front of the air conditioner...until the power goes off. To beat the heat, George and the Man with the Yellow Hat visit the museum, which is the only place in town with power, due to its new solar energy panel. George sees how the sun can charge batteries, and the Man agrees to make his famous lasagna for Dr. Levit's birthday. But how can the Man make his lasagna without power for his electric oven? Can a monkey's knowledge of solar power be the key to baking the world's first solar energy birthday lasagna?

BARNEY & FRIENDS – "Home Sweet Home: The Rainforest"

It's Earth Day, a great time for everyone to learn how to help take care of our world, but Ben is wasting paper while BJ isn't too concerned about cutting down a tree to make room for a new playground. After a trip to the rainforest and a meeting with Mother Nature, everyone learns the importance of taking care of our world. As Earth Day comes to an end, Barney reminds us all that taking good care of our Earth is the natural thing to do...for the people we love.

CAILLOU – "Outdoor Adventures"

When Caillou, Grandpa and Daddy go on a canoe trip, Caillou is amazed to see a dragonfly, a blue heron and a beaver working on his beaver lodge. Later, when Caillou and his family are on a picnic at the park, his beach ball accidentally rolls into a pond. Caillou sees a family of ducks swimming in the pond and wants to take a closer look.

CLIFFORD – "Doggie Garden"

Its Keep Birdwell Beautiful month and the kids are doing their part by planting a flower garden. Seeing this, the dogs decide to create a doggie flower garden of their own. But when Cleo hears that almost anything grows in Birdwell Island soil, she decides she'd much rather grow a garden full of dog toys! She soon learns, however, that working alone for a selfish end is not nearly as rewarding as working together for the whole community.

DINOSAUR TRAIN – "Tiny Loves Fish"

After Mr. Pteranodon teaches the kids his fishing method, Buddy and Tiny work together as a team to catch fish in the Big Pond.

DRAGON TALES – "Green Thumbs"

Following a torrential storm, the gang discovers Lily, a baby flower, helplessly floating downstream after being uprooted by the rain. They learn that she was separated from her family and misses them dearly. The gang knows that she's too little to take care of herself, and they use what they know to plant her in a bucket of soil and promise to take her back where she belongs.

IT'S A BIG BIG WORLD – "World Tree Day"

It is World Tree Day and Snook has made badges to give to all of the residents who do something nice for the tree. While they all find their own ways to care for the tree, Bob is worried because he can't think of anything to do. After a talk with Snook and Oko, Bob writes a song to celebrate the tree and earns a badge from Snook.

SESAME STREET – "Wild Nature Survivor Guy"

Wild Nature Survivor Guy is accustomed to surviving in the wilds of nature and thinks he needs to "survive" out on Sesame Street. First, Wild Nature Survivor Guy finds a tomato plant and bites into a ripe tomato. Not only do tomatoes come from nature, but so do all the fruits and vegetables on display outside Hooper's store. Next, Wild Nature Survival Guy looks for water to quench his thirst. He finds leaves with drops of water and gathers the droplets to drink.

SID THE SCIENCE KID – "The Dirt on Dirt"

Sid wants to know what makes dirt so dirty. At school, Sid and his friends discover that dirt is really important to the Earth because it helps things grow, and it's also filled with tiny rocks, pieces of leaves, and even living things like bugs and worms!

SUPER WHY! – "Tiddalick the Frog"

Whyatt's mom tells him that he's wasting water. This is a really big problem and he's not sure how to fix it. So the Super Readers dash into the Australian folk tale of Tiddalick the Frog and make the acquaintance of a funny amphibian whose puddle jumping is using up all the water and leaving his neighbors in the dust literally! As the Super Readers help Tiddalick and his dry friends, they learn how important water is to the planet, along with a valuable lesson about conservation.

WORDWORLD – "Caterpillar Gets a Home"

Duck makes a new friend on a windy, rainy day: Caterpillar. It soon becomes apparent that Caterpillar needs a home to protect her from the elements. Together, she and Duck learn to sound out some words that might make suitable homes, such as BAG, CAN and BOX. But which one will be just right?

For early elementary school children:

WORDGIRL – "Earth Day Girl" (NEW – Online Premiere)

When the Birthday Girl learns that the Earth is having a special celebration (on her birthday!), she decides to teach the Earth a lesson. Will WordGirl find a way to stop the Birthday Girl and save Earth Day?

ARTHUR – "The Cherry Tree"

Muffy will do anything to have a gigantic Dream Bouncy Castle at her party, or so she thinks. When her favorite cherry tree is cut down to make room for the castle in her yard, she starts to have regrets. Then to make matters worse, she learns that cutting down trees hurts the environment, too. What can Muffy do to fix the damage she's done?

CYBERCHASE – "The X Factor"

All is not well in Perfectamundo, a dome-enclosed cybersite, when orange spots are discovered building up on the dome's interior surface, blocking the site's precious sunlight. What source could be responsible for the spots multiplying so fast? Is it Hacker's new factory that pours out orange clouds through smoky stacks? It can't be that new Digifizz toy, with its tiny burst of colorful sparkles shooting into the air each time it gets used. With time running out, the CyberSquad must come to grips with the power of multiplication and use it to undo the site's pollution problem.

ELECTRIC COMPANY – "The Flube Whisperer"

Keith sends away for a Skeleckian pet that lives in a biosphere. But when the biosphere malfunctions, will Manny save the day?

MAYA & MIGUEL – "Every Day Is Earth Day"

For a school Earth Day project, the kids decide to clean up an old lot and plant a community garden. But as the deadline approaches, a rainstorm hits, turning the patch of dirt into a muddy mess. How will Maya get her friends out of the muck this time?

SOURCE PBS KIDS and PRNewswire.com

Governments Fail to Protect Red and Pink Coral

International governments today failed to grant trade protection to the unique and valuable red and pick corals (Coralliidae) used in jewelry and home decor, despite sound science showing that regulation is needed for their continued survival. SeaWeb, an ocean conservation organization whose campaign Too Precious to Wear had called for governments to protect Coralliidae under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), called the decision "a major step backward for the long-tem survival of red and pink coral and the industries that depend on them." Intensive lobbying by coral industry interests occurred in the days leading up to the vote.

The vote to protect red and pink coral failed to receive the two-thirds majority needed at the 15th Conference of Parties of CITES (64 countries voted in favor, 59 against and 10 abstained), and comes just three days after a proposal to protect bluefin tuna was overwhelmingly defeated by delegates after intensive lobbying by fishing interests. The sought-after Appendix II listing for Coralliidae would have required countries wishing to export these species to prove that trade is not harming their continued survival. Trade in red and pink coral will now continue unchecked, with no guarantee as to its sustainability or the industries that depend on this resource. The United States and European Union, who put forward the proposal, have the opportunity to bring the issue back to a plenary vote on Thursday, but it is unclear whether or not this will happen.

"For the second time in three days, governments have put short-term political and economic interests ahead of sound science - first with bluefin tuna and now with red and pink coral," said Kristian Teleki, vice president of science initiatives for SeaWeb. "Coralliidae are in desperate need of a mechanism that controls the immense trade in these species. CITES could have provided that, but today the representatives failed to heed the science showing these populations are in steep decline. It is now up to the jewelry and design industries, and their customers, to act where governments have failed." SeaWeb's Too Precious to Wear campaign is calling on jewelers and designers to refuse to use or purchase red and pink coral until sound management is in place and populations of these long-lived, slow growing species have recovered.

Red and pink coral are among the world's most valuable wildlife commodities but have been intensively fished for centuries to meet consumer demand for jewelry and curios. These long-lived species support some of the slowest-growing fisheries in the world. They grow less than one millimeter a year and can live to more than 100 years old. Research shows that for populations to be sustained indefinitely, red coral should not be fished until it is 98 years old. Current practice is to remove colonies 7 to 10 years of age. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's data, more than 30 to 50 metric tons are taken from the ocean each year, but unlike other coral species in trade, Coralliidae receives no international trade protection.

The United States alone imported 28 million pieces of red and pink coral between 2001 and 2008. A finished red coral necklace can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co., jewelry designer Temple St. Clair, ocean conservationist Celine Cousteau and many others supported the United States and European Union's proposal to protect red and pink coral under Appendix II of CITES.

"The irony is that the Italian artisans who work in coral and helped create this resistance to an Appendix II listing feel that it would threaten their livelihood," said jewelry designer Temple St. Clair, who has lived and worked in Italy for over 25 years. "As we know, the real threat to their livelihood is not protecting these corals. If they stay on their current track, there will be no more coral for them to harvest. It's now up to the jewelry and design industry to stop buying and using this coral so populations can recover. If consumer demand is lessened, perhaps governments and the coral industry will get serious about protecting these precious animals for future generations," St. Clair added.

Conservationists have decried the decisions at the Doha CoP, with bluefin tuna and now red and pink corals failing to receive trade protection, despite showing clear populations declines due to overharvesting. Protection for eight species of sharks will be voted on in the coming days.

SeaWeb staff are in Doha at the 15th Conference of Parties, providing real-time updates as decisions are made from the conference at http://seawebvoicesinaction.blogspot.com/

For further information relating to the red and pink coral proposal, visit http://www.seaweb.org/markets/cites.php

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/SeaWeb_Coral

Facebook: Too Precious to Wear

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SeaWebOrg

SeaWeb, founded in 1996 to raise awareness of the growing threats to the ocean and its living resources, is a communications-based nonprofit organization that utilizes social marketing techniques to advance ocean conservation. By increasing public awareness, advancing science-based solutions and mobilizing decision makers around ocean conservation, SeaWeb brings together multiple, diverse and powerful voices for a healthy ocean. www.seaweb.org

Too Precious to Wear is a SeaWeb campaign to create a demand for coral conservation. The campaign raises awareness of the need for coral protection among the fashion, jewelry and design industries and addresses the threats posed to coral by the often-unregulated and illegal trade in these species. The campaign is seeking an Appendix II listing for red and pink corals (Coralliidae) under CITES. Coralliidae are the most valuable and widely traded of all precious coral species (called precious because of their use in jewelry and home decor), but they are among the least protected. www.tooprecioustowear.org.

SOURCE SeaWeb and PRNewswire.com