Letter-writing+Contest


 * // Letter Writing Contest //**

The Sustainability Day letter-writing contest offers you an opportunity to think about a local, regional, national, or global environmental issue, //and to do something about it//. Write a letter to the official who is connected to this project.

Interested students should write a letter of 150-250 words on one of the following sustainability-related issues.

Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

Send your submission to Cynthia.wiseman@gmail.com. Deadline for submission: April 26, 2013.

Letters will be judged by a panel of faculty, staff, and students. Winning submissions must present a compelling argument that is logical, sound, and well developed, showing evidence of editing and proofed for errors.


 * 1) **A local issue: The New York City Bike Lane Controversy**

Under Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s leadership, New York City has become a leader in the national trend to make bicycling viable and safe. The improved bicycle infrastructure is part of the city’s initiative to balance the mix of cyclists, pedestrians and cars on the streets and slow motor traffic. More than 250 miles of traffic lanes have been dedicated to bicycles on New York City streets and several laws have been passed to promote cycling. There has recently been opposition to the new bike lanes and recently a 2.35-mile painted bike lane along Father Capodanno Boulevard on Staten Island was removed. In Manhattan a community board held a special hearing for business owners to vent about problems related to the bike lane on Columbus Avenue – fewer parking spaces and problems getting deliveries.

Write a letter to Mayor Bloomberg and James Vacca, City Councilman, Chair, Transportation Committee, at his Legislative Office at 250 Broadway, Suite 1749, New York, NY 10007, to express your opinion about bike lanes in New York City – should the City continue its efforts to create a cycling culture in the interests of reducing traffic, increasing safety, reducing our carbon emissions, and fighting obesity, or should the city cut back on this initiative in the interest of small businesses, convenient parking for city drivers and business customers, and respecting the rights of drivers?

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg City Hall New York, NY 10007 PHONE 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC) FAX (212) 312-0700 E-MAIL: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html

Hydrofracking—or “slick water hydraulic fracturing”—is a means of extracting natural gas from dense shale. The process involves injecting “fracturing fluids,” a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals under very high pressure to create fissures in the gas-containing shale. The gas is thus able to flow out and be collected. There is much debate about whether and to what extent hydrofracking is ecologically and/or socially acceptable. To date, Governor Cuomo has withheld permits for hydrofracking pending further study of the safety and economic viability of the process. A decision to ban the practice or not is coming soon.
 * 2. A Regional issue: Hydro-fracking in New York State**

Stop The Gas Rush In New York: Let Science Guide The Process In response to overwhelming public pressure, legislation was introduced in both the NYS Senate and Assembly that would enact a two-year moratorium on fracking and allow for important health studies to be completed. The NYS Assembly has passed the moratorium, and now it is up to the Senate to pass the bill and the Governor to sign it into law! Write a letter to Governor Cuomo to express your opinions about whether to ban or permit hydrofracking in New York State. In your letter be sure to convey your understanding of the basic process of hydrofracking and your reasons for supporting or rejecting it. If you advocate limited hydrofracking, be sure to specify the conditions under which you believe it would be permissible.
 * Share why protecting public health from the inherent dangers of frackign is important to you.
 * Urge your NYS Senator and Governor Cuomo to support a two-year moratorium on fracking and allow for important health studies to be completed.
 * The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
 * Governor of New York State
 * NYS State Capitol Building
 * Albany, NY 12224
 * PHONE: 518.474.8390

http://www.citizenscampaign.org/campaigns/hydro-fracking.asp

=2.= Generate Affordable, Homegrown Energy New Yorkers can get back to work installing solar on our schools, stores, and homes for only 39 cents on our monthly electric bills, which is less than the cost of a postage stamp! The hidden costs of dirty fuels, such as poor air quality and environmental degradation are not included in their price. The continued burning of coal alone includes an unaccounted cost of $62 billion a year in the U.S. New Yorkers suffer a disproportionate share of the cost through more hospital visits resulting from severe damages to our respiratory systems; and acid rain polluting our lakes, streams, and rivers.

Invest New York’s Energy Dollars in New York Unfortunately, NYS is dependent on out-of-state energy imports. New Yorkers send approximately $38 billion annually to out-of-state energy corporations. That’s $2,000 for every man, woman, and child living in NYS! Solar power can be produced in-state, keeping New York’s precious energy dollars in New York while creating local jobs. More than 100 years ago, NYS made an investment harnessing the power of Niagara Falls to generate electricity. Today, the falls generates emission-free energy that is the cheapest power in NYS. Committing to generating 5,000 MW from solar energy by 2026 is an investment in a renewable energy source that will benefit current and future generations. **NY Solar Jobs Act** The NY Solar Jobs Act, which was introduced during the 2011 legislative session, would establish a baseline market for solar power in New York, requiring that 5,000 MW of solar are generated in NYS by the year 2026. The public demonstrated overwhelming support for the bill, with more than 42,000 signatures on petitions and 37,000 individual letters sent in support in 2011. In 2012, CCE continues to advocate for passage of this important legislation.  How you can help: Email your NYS senator, Assembly member, and Governor Cuomo. Urge them to support passage of the Solar Jobs Act in 2012! Email Tips: > > **3. A national issue: the Keystone Pipeline (and Alberta Oil Sands)**
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Include your name and address in your email.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Urge your NYS senator, Assembly member, and Governor Cuomo to support passage of the Solar Jobs Act (A. 9149 / S. 4178a)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Ask them to respond in writing, informing you of their position. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">

“The Keystone Pipeline System is a pipeline system to transport synthetic crude oil and diluted bitumen from the Athabasca Oil Sands in northeastern Alberta, Canada to multiple destinations in the United States, which include refineries in Illinois, the Cushing oil distribution hub in Oklahoma, and proposed connections to refineries and export terminals along the Gulf Coast of Texas. It consists of the operational "Keystone Pipeline" (Phase 1) and "Keystone-Cushing Extension" (Phase 2), and two proposed Keystone XL pipeline expansion segments. After the Keystone XL pipeline segments are completed, American crude oil would enter the XL pipelines at Baker, Montana and Cushing, Oklahoma. The Keystone XL has faced lawsuits from oil refineries and criticism from environmentalists and some members of the United States Congress. The U.S. Department of State in 2010 extended the deadline for federal agencies to decide if the pipeline is in the national interest, and in November, 2011, President Obama postponed the decision until 2013.” (Wikipedia)

Write a letter to President Obama and Kenneth L. Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, in which you express your opinion about whether or not to proceed with the proposed extensions of the pipeline. In your letter be sure to convey your familiarity with the keystone project, the associated oil sands (A.K.A. “tar sands”) oil extraction process, and be sure to provide reasons to support your position.

President Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Phone Numbers Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 Kenneth Salazar Mailing Address: Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. WashingtonDC 20240
 * Phone: ** (202) 208-3100
 * E-Mail: ** feedback@ios.doi.gov

As described on the Rio+20 website, “Rio+20 - the short name for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012 - is an historic opportunity to define pathways to a safer, more equitable, cleaner, greener and more prosperous world for all. Twenty years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, where countries adopted Agenda 21 - a blueprint to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection - the UN is again bringing together governments, international institutions and major groups to agree on a range of smart measures that can reduce poverty while promoting decent jobs, clean energy and a more sustainable and fair use of resources. Rio+20 is a chance to move away from business-as-usual and to act to end poverty, address environmental destruction and build a bridge to the future…The preparations for Rio+20 have highlighted seven areas which need priority attention; these include [green] jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness.”
 * 4. A global issue: The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)**

Write a letter to Ban Ki-moon and XXX, in which you press for action on one of the seven priority areas identified by the coordinators of the Rio+20 Conference. In your letter, be sure to convey your understanding of the issue in question, its environmental //and// social significance, and possible steps to be taken to address it.

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
United Nations New York, NY 10017 USA 212-963-5012 fax: 212-963-7055 Email: ecu@un.org