Julia Roberts to urge America to clear the air
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Fri, 21 Jul 2006 16:00:00 GMT |
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Paula Cussons |
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Environment |
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Hollywood's been bitten by the philanthropy bug. Shortly after born-again philanthropist Brad Pitt announced his decision to support environment-friendly housing for Hurricane Katrina victims, Pretty Woman Julia Roberts has expressed solidarity with biofuel maker Earth Biofuels to promote the use of clean energy.
“It's very important that we expand our use of clean energy and make a long-term commitment to it. Biodiesel and ethanol are better for the environment and for the air we breathe,” the 38-year-old actress said in a statement released by the Dallas-based company, which has actor Morgan Freeman and country singer Willie Nelson on its board of directors.
Under her association with Earth Biofuels, Roberts will urge 500,000 diesel-run school buses throughout the United States to adopt environment-friendly biodiesel as fuel. “The use of biodiesel is a positive step toward minimizing pollutive emissions and greenhouse gases. By focusing on school buses, we can affect the health and well-being of the people most susceptible to that pollution – our children – today,” said Roberts, who is the mother of one-and-half-year-old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus.
Earth Biofuels not only produces its own biofuel but also distributes Nelson's brand. The company produces biodiesel from vegetable oils like soy, canola, and recycled restaurant grease, it said in a statement. “Today, B20 is the most common and fastest growing biodiesel blend in the United States. It reduces hydrocarbon emissions by 20 per cent and carbon monoxide and particulate emissions by 12 per cent. Additionally, biodiesel reduces vehicle sulfur emissions on average by 20 per cent, plus biodiesel is nontoxic and biodegradable. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel certified by the Environmental Protection Agency that fulfills the requirements of Section 211 (B) of the Clean Air Act,” the statement added.
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Saving our children from cancer causing pollution
By:
GAETANA INSERRA-ROWAN ,
Wed, 13 Sep 2006 02:43:06 GMT
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While Julia Robert's efforts to improve the air quality for our children are commendable, the immediate dangers to our children are much greater than just fumes from school buses.
Here is what our children in our community and children throughout America are exposed to everyday, one of my many letters to the media as an attempt at bringing attention to the health hazards our children are exposed to.
Well folks, here we are, it is not enough that our kids are exposed to the dangers created by the trucks while playing in their back yards, now that school is opened, our kids are once again forced to share the streets with all the trucks that are flying through our residential communities. Forcing our kids to be exposed to the smoke, noise and the danger that one of the trucks will swerve and hit one of them.
Now normally, when there is true concern for the safety of our children, our officials place an higher value on that and not on not disturbing or inconveniencing the businesses, but not in Cape May County, not in New Jersey.
The officials have however, painted fresh new white lines to distinguish that there is in fact a shoulder, making it OK for the trucks to be on our residential roads. I guess they figured, if the drivers can see the lines and fit between them, they will not cross over them when they are flying down our roads expelling smoke and making noise.
Well, call me stupid, but I don't think the lines are going to stop the noise and the smoke that our kids are being exposed to, or the speeding, or change the material they carry. Flammable material is flammable material, trash is trash and sand is sand. (and that is only what we know of).
But lets wait for the ultimate price to be paid before, um maybe, paint more lines? to show us that the trucks can fit on our roads and therefore can speed down our residential roads any time any day, pollute our environment and carry anything they so choose.
Here we have it, our officials at their best.
We have President Bush, who I am ashamed to admit, voted for, sacrificing our children's lives for the sake of what is it again? Someone Else's way of life or foreign born terrorists?
Here we have the officials in New Jersey, sacrificing our children's lives and safety for what? o yes, our home grown terrorist/business.
I ask you, Is there really a difference between the two? They both make money, just different methods.
It's OK, we can always make more babies.
Gaetana Inserra-Rowan
609-628-1872
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