February 8, 2008
Editor’s note: On Jan. 13, State Assemblyman Adam Bradley, Congressman John Hall and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis conducted a panel discussion at Temple Beth El in Chappaqua titled “A Light Among Nations – Advocating for Real Energy Solutions for a Greater Future.” Several Bell Middle School students under the supervision of Annie Madden, 8th grade science teacher, and Danielle Runfola, 8th grade English teacher, attended this panel discussion. This report is the last in a series of three written by the students. The series covers each speaker’s presentation. This week Lea Ono reports on remarks by New York State Assemblyman Adam Bradley.
by Lea Ono
New York State Assemblyman Adam Bradley, along with his colleagues on the panel at the Temple Beth El environmental presentation, discussed reactions to global warming by government on all levels – local, state and federal. Assemblyman Bradley, in particular, described his role as a state legislator in regards to the environmental issues facing us today as a global society.
Assemblyman Bradley described California’s lawsuit last year against the Environmental Protection Agency for rejecting the state’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles. New York followed California’s lead when Governor Eliot Spitzer proposed legislation mandating a 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by motor vehicles in New York State by 2015. Governor Spitzer has supported California’s appeal of the EPA’s decision. Assemblyman Bradley believes that local and state governments are beginning to pay more attention to environmental issues and taking action on them.
Wetlands Protection Act
By way of example, Bradley listed a number of bills that were recently passed to protect the environment. One of the bills that he described was the Wetlands Protection Act. This act protects wetlands over one acre with an aim to reduce flooding. Floods are dangerous and repairing the resulting damage is costly. One acre of wetlands can hold 1.5 million gallons of water, so they serve as protection from the devastating effects of floods. Wetlands also serve as homes to many species; preserving their habitats preserves biodiversity. Wetlands also help to improve water quality because they capture contaminated runoff and absorb many unhealthy chemicals like nitrogen from fertilizers and hazardous chemicals used in common pesticides. Legislative decisions that protect these fragile ecosystems are of enormous benefit.
Throughout his presentation, Assemblyman Bradley spoke about sustainability. He said that we have to start incorporating it into our everyday lives. He stressed that an age appropriate, mandatory K - 12 sustainability curriculum should be implemented in schools. Currently, the Westchester County Global Warming Task Force is working with educators to design and implement sustainability education and to improve school campuses to make them environmentally-friendly. Schools in Scarsdale are leading the way through curriculum innovations and many other schools are following their lead. The Chappaqua Central School District is in the planning stages of developing a sustainability education program to commence in the near future.
The task force’s goal is to introduce sustainability education into all Westchester County schools by 2012. According to Assemblyman Bradley, educating young people is key to ensuring the future of this planet. In “The Ecology of Commerce,” author Paul Hawkin writes: “Sustainability can also be expressed in the simple terms of an economic golden rule for the restorative economy: leave the world better than you found it, take no more than you need, try not to harm the life of the environment, and make amends if you do.” Now that is a golden rule to live sustainably by.
Assemblyman Adam Bradley
by Alex Chepigin
In the New York State Assembly, Adam Bradley represents the 89th district, which encompasses the towns of Bedford, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, Pound Ridge, and most of the city of White Plains. He is a strong supporter of conserving the precious wildlife in the area, and he has dedicated 5 million dollars towards providing open spaces for the delight of people. He sponsored a bill that requires the Public Service Commission to conduct a security and decommissioning study on the Indian Point generating facility in consultation with the Office of Public Security. He pushes to hold polluters responsible for their actions affecting the environment. He also wishes to increase emissions controls and limit the growth of cities to a responsible and sustainable level.
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