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We Can Solve It The We Campaign is a project of The Alliance for Climate Protection -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan effort founded by Nobel laureate and former Vice President Al Gore. Our ultimate aim is to halt global warming. Specifically we are educating people in the US and around the world that the climate crisis is both urgent and solvable.

Take Immediate ACTION! (action items with specific due dates)

• 5/12/08 - **ACTION**  - Pass the Bigger Better Bottle Bill!   For Cleaner Communities and a Healthier Environment   The bottle bill is New York’s most effective recycling and litter prevention program.  Since 1982, more than 90 billion bottles and cans have been returned and recycled in New York because of the 5-cent refundable deposit on beer and soda containers.  The bottle bill has worked hand in hand with local recycling programs to make our communities cleaner and healthier places to live -from Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club. 

• 4/30/08 - **ACTION**  NestWatch Anyone can monitor nests - it's a rewarding way to spend time outdoors and participate in science. NestWatch is a continentwide citizen-science project and nest-monitoring database of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, funded by the National Science Foundation and developed in collaboration with the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.

• 4/29/08 - **ACTION**  Curb Your Car Week For at least one day during the week of May 18-24, walk, bike or ride the bus to work, the grocery store, exercise class, piano lesson, or anywhere. “Way to Go” is a nationwide program encouraging the use of cheaper, healthier, and more earth-friendly transportation alternatives. During the week of May 18-24, if you normally use an automobile for daily transportation, please consider walking, biking, car pooling, or riding the bus as alternatives. -- - Color Brighton Green

• 04/23/08 - **ACTION**  Help yourself/ help our environment: State grants available for parks, trails, and other environmental programs - deadline June 30 - State grants available for parks, trails, and other environmental programs - deadline June 30 Applications are now available for several grant programs that can fund park and trail projects. Materials can be downloaded from the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation website for the Parks, Historic Preservation, Heritage Areas, Acquisition and Land and Water Conservation Fund programs.This is a matching grant program, therefore recipients will be expected to provide at least 50 percent match to these awards. The due date for completed applications is June 30, 2008. Public Workshops will be held across the state throughout the month of May to present information on application requirements and procedures for these programs. --from Parks & Trails New York - working to expand, protect and promote a network of parks, trails and open spaces throughout our state for use and enjoyment by all

• 04/09/08 - **ACTION** Take Action: Congress Must Protect Our Drinking Water Congress Must Protect Our Drinking Water Recent Supreme Court rulings have narrowed the scope of protections of the Clean Water Act, putting the drinking water of millions of Americans at risk for contamination. But, Congress has an opportunity to restore the original protections of the Clean Water Act. Contact your Members of Congress TODAY to insist that they support the Clean Water Restoration Act. --from League of Conservation Voters - Turning Environmental Values Into National Priorities

• 03/28/08 - **ACTION** Important public input asked by the EPA: EPA > Water > National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change EPA Seeks Public Comment on Water Strategy to Respond to Climate Change - Contact: Roxanne Smith, (202) 564-4355 / smith.roxanne@epa.gov The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on a draft strategy that describes the potential effects of climate change on clean water, drinking water, and ocean protection programs and outlines EPA actions to respond to these effects. The National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change focuses on actions designed to help managers adapt their water programs in response to a changing climate. Other elements of the draft strategy include steps needed to strengthen links between climate research and water programs, and to improve education for water program professionals on potential climate change impacts. The strategy also identifies contributions that water programs can make to mitigate greenhouse gases. Some of the potential impacts of climate change on water resources reviewed in the strategy include increases in certain water pollution problems, changes in availability of drinking water supplies, and collective impacts on coastal areas. The public comment period is open for 60 days. Information on the National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change: http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange

• 02/19/08 - **ACTION** -  Got ideas on transportation in New York State for the Next Twenty Years? NYSDOT | 20 year needs assessment The New York State Department of Transportation’s 20-Year Needs Assessment discusses the transportation challenges facing New York State during the next several decades and NYSDOT’s recommendations for new capital investment policies and strategies to better meet these challenges. -from New York State Department of Transportation

On -going environmental Actions you can take for in and around Rochester, New York

•   Save the Net -Act now to continue to get complete and unbiased environmental information - If you don't know about this developing issue on the Internet, Net Neutrality, it might seem at first like some obscure plea for your hard earned dollars. It's not. It's not about a donation and it's not about an obscure issue that will have little effect on your life. It's about your freedom to use the Internet as you wish: to start a business, communicate to whomever and however you want, to say and be heard by whatever audience you can make yourself heard. Those who took away the ordinary individual’s ability to send over the radio and television are now trying to take charge over those who can freely use the Internet.

  This concern is especially important as the Internet becomes the medium of choice for entrepreneurs and how the public receives information for future—and as most of the other media mediums blend into the Internet with the fantastic bandwidth of fiber optics. If you are truly concerned about your fundamental right to chose who you communicate to and from, learn about Net Neutrality and connect with those hoping to preserve the freedom of the net.

  As environmental issues pile up in these extraordinary times, it is more important than every that you have the opportunity to listen to as many voices as possible on the environmental issues we face and possible solutions to those problems. Not a corporate giant who interests might, in their opinion, be in jeopardy. In my opinion, the only way you’ve been able to get continual and comprehensive information on the state of our environment in the past several years is through the Internet because only environmental groups and small dedicated informational services have had the insight and tenacity and freedom to pursue the

• OMB Watch - ALERT: EPA Proposes Rollback on Toxic Pollution Reporting -- ALERT: EPA Proposes Rollback Global Warming and other high profile environmental issues have grabbed public concern, but few think about Stormwater pollution. And yet, the things we do around the home—wash our car, our pet’s droppings, chemicals we use on our lawns, grass clippings, repairing our house and property, and maintaining our swimming pools—can have a profound effect on our area’s water quality. These are things that each of us can do to prevent contamination to our area’s waters, by learning about the potential pollutants going down our drains and into our area’s sewers and into our streams, rivers, and lakes. Check out The Stormwater Coalition of Monroe County and especially print out this important flyer and post it so you can remember. Make Your Home the Solution to Stormwater Pollution
• On the newly rebuilt Monroe County web site, the PublicHealth Alerts and Warnings has several useful features: 1. a quick explanation of our new 48 Hours Neighborhood Notification Law, a form for contacting Monroe County for the discovery of a dead crow (which helps in identifying the West Nile Virus problem), how weather tips and more.
• Take Action: Take the pledge - Don't transport firewood! You probably already know that to protect the beauty of these special places you should remove your trash and put out your campfire before you head home. But did you know that you also should not transport firewood? --from Union of Concerned Scientists
• One way you can help fight Global Warming, is join EANY's CARBON CAP CAMPAIGN --from Environmental Advocates of New York  New York should take responsibility for its share of the problem. Like all Americans, New Yorkers produce a larger share of global warming pollution than the great majority of the world’s citizens. In fact, the Empire State produces more than all of Central America and Mexico combined. New York has a responsibility to clean up its share of the problem. As the world’s 9th largest economy, action to control emissions here will make a difference.
•  JOIN A STUDY TO MEASURE LEVELS OF TOXIC CHEMICALS IN OUR HOMES! - Environmental and public health organizations working in six states are launching a major project to demonstrate the presence of high risk chemicals commonly used in our everyday household products. Citizens' Environmental Coalition is asking for volunteers in New York to have their homes vacuum cleaned so that we can collect dust samples, which will be sent to independent laboratories for analysis. We will be looking for chemicals that have been identified as some of the most dangerous around in their potential for long-term health and environmental impacts. --from Citizen's Environmental Coalition: Home
•  Help the House Finches - House Finches need your help! Since 1994, participants in Project FeederWatch have helped scientists document House Finch eye disease as it spread across the country. We still need participants, especially in the West, an underrepresented region. Data are essential to find out whether the House Finches at your feeders are healthy or diseased, so sign up even if you only see healthy individuals. Participation is free and is a great activity for any level of birding experience! Sign up at http://birds.cornell.edu/hofisignup/signup.html  or email questions to housefinch@cornell.edu .
•  Help the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and get a free subscription to their magazine. Highlights of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation "Please fill out our web site survey and help us serve you better. A free issue of the NYS Conservationist magazine is offered to all participants."
•  Take Action on Global Warming in New York: UCSAction Center --from The Union of Concerned Scientists - "New York's economic health is closely linked to the health of its environment. Agriculture, forestry, recreation and tourism--major components of the state's economy--all rely on nature's good fortune. These industries, as well as the health of New Yorkers, could be negatively impacted by the region's changing climate. Today, we possess the solutions to the global warming problem. Sign the following letter to New York's governor urging him to actively support legislation that will implement global warming solutions."
• Good animal cause for the Rochester area: Greyhound Adoption of Greater Rochester NY Greyhound Adoption of Greater Rochester, NY, is a racing neutral non-profit 501(C)(3) all volunteer organization. We believe every greyhound retired from racing deserves the chance for a real home and loving family. Our goal is to bring hounds and homes together. To that end, we will make every effort to provide information on not only the unique qualifications of greyhound adoption, but on realistic expectations as well ... to offer ongoing support and guidance to those families who have made an educated, responsible commitment to adopt ...and to hold the welfare and well-being of the greyhounds above all other considerations.
• Notch up your recycling:  In my opinion, few specific actions that most Rochesterians can do for our environment have the impact that recycling does (besides voting for the right candidate and not using dangerous pesticides and herbicides).  Learn about the Monroe County expanded recycling program at Monroe County Recycling Center and then consider the BiggerBetterBottleBill. Here the justification of the bill - Bill Summary - A03922 - "JUSTIFICATION: The bottle bill has been one of New York's most successful recycling initiatives. Not only has it reduced litter along our roadways and in our public spaces, but it has reduced the burden of solid waste disposal that is shouldered by our municipalities. Nonetheless, since enactment of the bottle bill in 1982, beverages such as bottled water, juices and teas have been introduced into the consumer stream and the containers have been introduced into the waste stream. It is time to update the bottle bill to include these new products, and this bill will accomplish that. As municipalities across the state struggle financially, it is time to dedicate the unclaimed deposits to support municipal recycling in New York State. Right now the bottlers and distributors who initiate the deposit collection system enjoy a five-cent windfall for each container that is not returned. This bill would return those unclaimed deposits, which currently total at least $85 million annually, to the people of the State for the purpose of recycling. As municipalities receive additional funding for recycling, it will bolster their efforts to ensure that curbside programs are effective."  Then sign up to help get this bill passed in New York State: BiggerBetterBottleBill - Action
•  Adopt a Pet Pet Adoption Network  -  Our Mission will be to rescue homeless pets, obtain veterinary care for them and make them available for permanent placement with responsible guardians. No adoptable pet will be euthanized solely for lack of a permanent home. We will strive for increased public awareness of the need to spay/neuter and vaccinate pets, and educate the public on the proper care of companion animals. This effort is intended to reduce the large population of homeless pets, primarily in the City of Rochester.
•  Think there are too many SUV's out there gobbling up too much gas? Earth On Empty What's the story? We came together because of our frustration with SUVs, the US oil and environmental policies, and our desire to make people think about the impact of their consumer choices has on their neighbors. We started out as three creative people with an idea, but received such a great response, with over a hundred people turning out to help ticket boston and surrounding neighborhoods. You bet we got attention. Look at all our media coverage after just a few days of ticketing! Since the organized action, we have had many requests from people all over the country who want to get in on the act. Now you all can join the National Ticketing Effort, we hope to hear from you soon! -EOE
• Recycle your computer for a worthy cause: Computers for Humanity Flower City Habitat for Humanity and the Micrecycle Computer Recycling for Education Program have partnered to help close the Digital Divide by putting a computer into every Habitat for Humanity home in Rochester, NY. " A Mouse in Every House" Each Habitat homeowner will receive a quality computer refurbished by the Micrecycle computer-recycling program, Internet access provided by Netsville, helpdesk and hardware support provided by the CommuniTech and The Academy for Career Development HelpTech programs. Additionally, free training will be available to the one hundred and twenty one Habitat for Humanity homeowners through the network of 27 Cyberlink Community Technology Centers located in the Rochester area. To make this project a success, we are depended upon individuals, groups and companies like yours to donate the computers, internal computer hardware, monitors and peripherals, or cash to purchase the items listed below that will be used to create the systems that will be delivered to the Habitat
•  Keep your pet protected from Rabies: Free Clinics are provided by the Monroe County Health Department: Rabies Clinics - Get Clinic locations and times here: The Monroe County Health Department works closely with municipalities to host rabies clinics for pets belonging to Monroe County residents. Dogs, cats and ferrets can be immunized, but must be at least three months old. Dogs should be leashed; cats and ferrets must be in a pet carrier. Shots are provided at no charge. --from the Monroe County Public Health Department
•  Do your part to prevent West Nile Virus in Rochester: Dead Crow Report Form -  The Monroe County Health Department uses reports of dead crows as one tool to track the spread of West Nile Virus (WNV) in our community and to gauge the risk of this illness to humans. There are several options to report dead crows: During business hours (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri), call (585) 274-6171 - After business hours or on the weekend (to leave a message), call (585) 234-9600 - Submit the attached online form anytime.