The Association for Environmental Justice in Israel

Letter Regarding Community, Energy & Technology in the Middle East (COMET-ME)

26 October, 2009

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Allowed us to tell you about a unique project that literally does the impossible in the Middle-East perspective: Change the Reality of People. Ours colleagues Elad and Noam, from COMET-ME for the last three years skillfully combined environmental innovation and activism for peace with social and economy welfare development of the most deprived population in the Middle East region - the Palestinians who live at South Hebron area mountain. This project for sure, in the long term, will positively affect the future of one of the most conflicted region historically. On their web site you can find further details and information, including on the technology in use.

Why am I telling you this now?

Comet-ME recently was announced as being one of only 12 finalists world-wide in the BBC World Challenge for 2009. This global competition focuses on grassroots projects and small businesses worldwide that are taking effective, innovative action in environmental and socioeconomic issues. In 13 November, the winning project will receive an award of $20,000. Comet-ME would use this prize to expand its project and to provide sustainable energy to
another community.

How can you help?

The winning project will be determined by online voting between 28 September 2009 and 13 November 2009. Amar and Anuawar, the two boys 5 and 8 years old in the above pictures yesterday were taken, proudly presented us, while visiting their family tent, the light they have for doing School homework, the small refrigerator and mixer that change their mother life, their nutrition and health. The chances to provide assistance in time of emergency, and purely chances for better life. We will be grateful for your time to circulate this message to your lists, post it on web pages and encourage your acquaintances to support COMET-ME in this voting.

Yours Sincerely,
Carmit Lubanov
The Association for Environmental Justice in Israel
don1298@netvision.net.il , Tel: ++972-3-5497064, ++972-52-3554737

Call for Abstracts 2010 Conference on Environmental Justice

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards (OAQPS), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Education and Training Program (WETP), and Dillard University's Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) are hosting the 2010 Conference on Environmental Justice, Air and Green Jobs: Evolution and Innovation being held January 25-27, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Thye are issuing this call for abstracts for poster presentations on Environmental Justice by community residents. Abstracts will be accepted October 14, 2009 through November 13, 2009.
Please note that abstracts must be original material and ideas of the authors; abstracts may include work that has been published in journals or for use by the authors and stakeholders. They are particularly encouraging community and Tribal groups to share their experiences and best practices. In addition, abstracts should relate to the conference theme, Environmental Justice, Air & Green Jobs: Evolution and Innovation. In particular, abstracts should address the 4 conference tracks of: Goods Movement, Ambient Air/Climate Change, Hazardous Waste Cleanup Job Training, and Sustainability/Green Jobs. Further instructions on the criteria for submitting the abstracts can be found on the Call for Abstracts website.

Abstracts must be submitted electronically through the abstract submission website.

For more information about the conference, please visit the conference website.

Questions?

For abstract questions, contact Dr. Myra Lewis at Dillard University's Deep South Center for Environmental Justice at 504-816-4036 or Dr. Myra Lewis

For assistance with the abstract submittal form, contact the National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training at 202-331-7733 or National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training

CDC National Public Listening Session Set For Oct 28

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is sponsoring a National Conversation: Public Listening Session October 28, 2009 Atlanta, Georgia. Interested members of the public are invited to an open, facilitated discussion to exchange ideas and explore issues related to the National Conversation on Public Health and Chemical Exposures. Join CDC for a listening session Wednesday, October 28, 2009 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM in the Athens Room at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel.

Through the National Conversation, many individuals and organizations are helping to develop an action agenda that will outline steps the nation can take to achieve the vision that chemicals be used and managed in ways that are safe and healthy for all people. They look forward to exploring questions like:

How can we best protect all communities from harmful chemical exposure?
How can we gain more knowledge about the health effects of chemicals?
How do we ensure the public is involved in government decision-making?
How do we ensure that the National Conversation is successful?

National Center for Environmental Health/ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (NCEH/ATSDR) staff, RESOLVE (a non-profit organization) staff, and others involved in the National Conversation project will be in attendance to engage in discussion and collect participant input.

This free, public listening session will follow the National Environmental Public Health Conference. While pre-registration is closed for the conference, on-site registration will be available and conference keynote and plenary sessions will be available for free by webcast.

The National Conversation Team

EPA'S A. STANLEY MEIBURG TO KEYNOTE EJ SUMMIT

A. Stanley Meiburg, right, Acting Regional Administrator for EPA will be the Keynote Luncheon speaker for the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 11:30am 1:00pm during the 11th NC Environmental Justice Summit.

Mr. Meiburg brings many years of experience with EPA to this position. He also has a North Carolina connection as he received his B.A. Degree from Wake Forest University.

Others participating from EPA's Region IV Office:

Cynthia Peurifoy: Regional Environmental Justice Program Manager Office of Special Programs

Historic Franklinton Center
Brick, 281 Bricks Lane, Whitakers, NC 27891

Contact: Gary R. Grant Director North Carolina Environmental Justice Network PO BOX 61 Tillery, North Carolina 27887 (252) 826-3017 - (252) 826-3244 Email: NCEJN1@aol.com Web: http://www.ncejn.org/

Dillard University, EPA & NIEHS Sponsor EJ Conference

2010 Conference on Environmental Justice, Air, and Green Jobs: Evolution and Innovation

Who: Communities, tribes, advocates, city/county/state governments, colleges/universities, faith-based organizations, businesses and other stakeholders interested in learning about opportunities to move toward environmental justice in their communities.

Where: New Orleans, LA

Date: January 25-27, 2010

More info: For more information

Contact:

Lena (Vickey) Epps-Price
Workshop Coordinator
Phone:919-541-5573
Email:epps-price.lena@epa.gov

Poster session: The Planning Committee invites abstracts for poster presentations during this conference. A call for abstracts will be posted on the website soon.

TOPICS

This Conference provides an opportunity for participants to learn about the following:

Goods Movement - New initiatives to reduce the impacts of transporting goods or produce.

Sustainability/Green Jobs -sustainability in the context of jobs aimed at preserving ecosystems and reducing consumption.

Ambient Air/Climate Change - impacts ofambient air pollutants and greenhouse gases on disproportionatelyaffected communities.

Hazardous Waste Cleanup/ Job Training - impacts and challenges of hazardous materials, waste exposure and cleanup activities.

Sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) and co-sponsored by Dillard University and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Worker Education and Training Program

While making your plans to attend the Environmental Justice Conference, you may want to consider staying in New Orleans for the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) meeting, which will also be held at the same location.

The NEJAC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 27 through Friday, January 29, 2010.