Conscious Choice: Keep an Eagle Eye on Habitats to Preserve Illinois’ Soaring Bird Population

Don’t Get Mad, Get Active

Stop Wild Bison Slaughter
A total of 17 bison have been killed this fall from the country’s last wild bison herd, including one that was shot by a Yellowstone National Park ranger within the park. And during the last 10 years, the state of Montana and the federal government have killed nearly 2,500 wild Yellowstone bison, more than half of the existing herd, according to the Buffalo Field Campaign. Visit buffalofieldcampaign.org.

The Art of Peace
Contribute to Michael Mut’s art installation, “ … and counting …” by wrapping toothbrushes in fabric — mummy-style — to signify friends and loved ones lost to violence. Send them by Jan. 28 to Denise Bibro Fine Art Gallery, 529 W. 20th St., 4th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10011 Call 212-647-7030 or e-mail.

Keep Warm
Natural gas prices could go up 70 percent from last year’s, so learn how to seal heating ducts and apply for money for further weatherization at KeepWarmIllinois.gov. The website also lists winterizing workshops at community colleges.

Reduce Air Pollution
Help the Clean Air Counts campaign reach its goal to reduce air pollution emissions by five tons per day by using energy-efficient appliances and lighting. Walk or take public transit, avoid volatile organic compounds for cleaning, and ditch the snow blower for a shovel. Visit cleanaircounts.org.

Green $ense

No More Down & Dirty Dishwasher Water
IF YOU’RE LOOKING for a New Year’s resolution that’s relatively easy to carry out, you might want to consider doing something to improve water quality.

You can cut phosphorus pollution by either washing your dishes by hand to avoid phosphorus-laden automatic dishwasher detergents, or using Wave dishwasher detergent in gel or powder, manufactured by Earth Friendly Products of Winnetka, Ill.

Wave is free of phosphates and chlorine — which is important because phosphorus from dishwashers accounts for 8 to 34 percent of the phosphorus in municipal wastewater, according to a Massachusetts study. Visit assabetriver.org/nutrient/detergents.html. The remainder of phosphorus pollution comes from fertilizers and livestock.

Northwestern University graduate John E. Vlahakis started Earth Friendly Products in 1993, having decided, follwoing the birth of his daughter, to do his part to help keep the Earth clean.

Wave and other Earth Friendly Products are available in most Chicago area supermarkets and drugstores. As far as curbing phosphorus pollution from the lawn care and the agricultural sectors, you’ll have to write your state and federal lawmakers. Visit ecos.com.
— Susan DeGrane

Thumbs Up or Down

Thumbs down to fish stick producer Gorton’s of Gloucester, a wholly owned subsidiary of a Japanese whaling company that each year kills hundreds of whales in the name of “scientific research,” according to democracyinaction.org. The group says, thanks to a loophole in the international ban on commercial whaling, this year the Japanese company plans to double the number of whales it kills, including the endangered fin whale, and next year it plans to slaughter endangered humpback whales. To sign a petition against the whale slaughter, visit democracyinaction.org.

Thumbs up to the tens of thousands of people who wrote to their Congressional representatives to help preserve the Endangered Species Act which protects California sea otters, bald eagles, and grizzly bears, among other animals. Although the Senate decided not to take up the House-passed bill that would put hundreds of species at risk of extinction, the bill could be revived in January. Stay vigilant and visit actionnetwork.org

Thumbs down to the U.S. State Department thumbing its nose at the Geneva Conventions that require humane treatment of prisoners of war by resisting International Red Cross requests to gain access to detainees being held in secret locations.

Choice Quotes

“A bunch of grapes at a Chicago supermarket in 1972 would have traveled about 1,600 miles … but by 1989 Chile had become a major source of grapes, pushing their average food miles up to nearly 3,000.”

— A climate scientist quoted in National Wildlife magazine who concluded we should all buy locally produced food after he “calculated the cost in greenhouse emissions of his own lunchbox grapes, and figured they had added six times their weight in emissions to the environment before they landed on his desk.”

“Estimated cost of war per day (U.S.): $195 million”

— The Iraq Index in The Nation magazine, which also pointed out that nearly 66 percent of Army recruits in 2004 came from counties where household income is below the U.S. median.

“We know that selling candy and soda to elementary and middle school students is not good for their health, so let’s do what we can to stop it.”

— Gov. Rod Blagojevich in a letter to the Illinois State Board of Education, as quoted on teachersuportnetwork.com.

January 2006 | Choice News

Keep an Eagle Eye on Habitats to Preserve Illinois’ Soaring Bird Population

Tired of the same old cold weather activities? Well, this winter, trade in your sled and ice skates and try your hand at something new — bald eagle watching. The months of January and February provide some of the best opportunities to view our national bird. So now is the time to start digging out those binoculars. And you don’t have to even go far.

Eagles head to Illinois to winter in at least 27 different counties throughout the state, swelling the state’s population of the birds to more than 3,000, making it second only to Alaska in playing host to these magnificent creatures.

There are more than 100 special programs dedicated entirely to bald eagle watching in the state, including ones in Rock Island and Alton, Illinois. Many of these viewing locations, such as the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center in Utica, are along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, so you’ll see eagles swooping down and plucking fish right out of the water.

But all that could change as the presence of this species in Illinois is constantly at risk. The current threat is a proposal for a coal strip mine about 25 miles south of Peoria.

The Capital Resources Development Company of Chicago has applied for a permit to operate the strip coal mining operation on 643 acres of land between Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area and Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area.

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn is leading the charge against the mine, through an online petition. This is not the first time Quinn has taken on the eagles’ cause.

In 2001, developers wanted to build up real estate on Plum Island, a 55-acre island in the middle of the Illinois River where many bald eagles like to congregate. Quinn helped lead a successful charge to defeat that project, citing the irreparable damage that it could cause to the habitat of the eagle — not to mention to the Illinois economy. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that in 2001 alone, an estimated $6 million was spent on bird watching in the state. Visit saveoureagles.org.
— Christine Mangan

Low-power AM Radio
May Soon Emerge

WIDESPREAD DISCONTENT with homogenized, corporate radio has helped fuel national efforts to bring locally responsive radio into communities across the country.

The Federal Communications Commission has authorized one radio-related arrow in the quiver — licensed non-commercial low-power FM radio stations. Indeed, some 600 low-power FM radio stations across the country have taken to the air since the formal introduction of the service.

Unfortunately, in large cities like Chicago, low-power FM isn’t much of an option, either because the FM radio spectrum is often completely packed already, or those available community FM radio signals are of such weak strength that they don’t hold much hope of spanning across the entire city and suburbs of large urban areas.

But an opportunity could open soon for another responsive radio option: low-power radio stations on the AM band, LPAM

Repeated attempts to win the FCC’s ear as to the feasibility of LPAM finally succeeded in 2005, when the FCC accepted a multi-party petition requesting an investigation for a national LPAM service. The FCC then opened a preliminary one-month window in October and November 2005 soliciting comment on the matter. A preliminary count of the comments filed suggests that the overwhelming majority of respondents (including those filed by some Chicagoans) approve of LPAM. The only notable comments against LPAM were three filed, curiously enough, by the same attorney on behalf of three broadcast radio corporations.

The proposed LPAM service would license radio stations at signal strengths from 1 watt to 250 watts. (An LPAM signal 100 watts strong can reach a distance of about five miles.) But unlike LPFM, the proposed LPAM radio petition also allows for commercial LPAM stations, arguing that the current radio landscape doesn’t allow for many “mom-and-pop” commercial radio operations and thus impedes small-scale economic potential. Fortunately, the current petition also imposes strict limits on the number of LPAM stations any party may own — no more than 12 LPAM stations nationwide, and no more than a single LPAM in an individual vicinity.

With the initial comment window now closed, the FCC may announce its next steps within the next four months. This may include a window for individual LPAM radio stations. Or the FCC may simply decline to pursue the action with no announcement whatsoever, as it has done many times before. And even if the FCC grants its blessing, a national LPAM service may require Congressional authorization, given current laws regarding commercial media. The major corporate media lobbies that prowl Congress are likely to oppose LPAM, but these lobbies have endured some high-profile lobbying losses in recent years.

To learn more about the LPAM petition, including the latest developments in LPAM and possible future actions, consult the websites of the low-power radio lobby group REC Networks at recnet.com, and DIY (“do it yourself”) Media, a website that tracks new developments in radio and other media, at diymedia.net.
— Mitchell Szczepanczyk

Earthquake Relief for Pakistan

AFTER THE December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, disaster upon disaster followed in 2005, including Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Wilma in the U.S. Gulf Coast and a whole host of other violent tropical storms, tornadoes, earthquakes and mudslides that devoured entire villages and cities in other parts of the world.

October’s earthquake in Pakistan claimed 80,000 lives and left 3 million homeless, but unlike the other cataclysms, it seemed to fade almost immediately from the American media. It didn’t seem to garner much charitable relief from Americans. Or did it?

“A majority of the relief goods coming to Pakistan from the U.S. has originated from Pakistan’s diaspora (immigrant population) in the U.S., both U.S. citizens and permanent residents,” said Bilal Waqar, president of the Chicago GSB Pakistan Club at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. “Support from a broader spectrum of the U.S. population has not been forthcoming.”

The reason? “Donor fatigue” from having already given for similar catastrophes at home and abroad, “as well as the fact that Pakistan, as a country, still has an image problem in the U.S.,” said Waqar.

Even so, a conference of international donors raised $6 million, with the U.S. pledging more than $510 million and dispatching 1,200 troops, 24 helicopters and two mobile hospitals into the quake zone, according to Associated Press reports.

The response of the U.S. government has “been substantial, yet more can still be done,” said Waqar.

In the private sector, entire associations of physicians and professionals, as well as students, have devoted time and money and spearheaded employer-matching contribution programs to help their countrymen, he said.

“The support has been absolutely overwhelming,” Waqar said. “The community has found a certain sense of purpose and has come together.” He adds that numerous doctors have flown out from the U.S. to the earthquake areas, mosques have been filled to the brim with donations and relief supplies and national airline carriers have hauled tons of goods.

Motorola employee donations and matching company donations totaled $3 million in cash and $800,000 in equipment, much of it going to unicef.

The GSB Pakistan Club has not been collecting funds, but it has generated awareness through its website, which lists donor agencies such as unicef, World Food Programme, the Kashmir International Relief Fund and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The university students also are working with the Human Development Foundation (yespakistan.com) to establish sustainable endowments for projects in earthquake-affected areas. Visit chicagogsb.edu.
— Susan DeGrane

Squirrels for Topinka

ILLINOIS STATE Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka may have turned over more than a few scenarios in her head while deciding to run for governor, but when it came to joining the Squirrel Lover’s Club, she did not hesitate.

Likewise, the Elk Grove Village-based club — which claims 2,000 members nationwide — welcomed the 61-year-old Republican with open arms.

Prior to Topinka’s announcement that she intended to “take out” Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the club’s November/December newsletter, “In a Nutshell,” encouraged Illinois club members to support Topinka in her bid to move into the governor’s mansion.

Offering the premature endorsement, club president Greg Bassett informed readers: “Having her as Governor would be good for us squirrel lovers… She is a true animal lover, with squirrels being her favorite. In fact, she feeds two sets of squirrels: the squirrels in North Riverside, Ill., where she lives, and the squirrels in our state capital, Springfield, where she serves as treasurer.” Topinka’s office did not respond to requests for comments on the subject.

Bassett plans on featuring Topinka in a “Member Spotlight” column for the January/February issue of the publication that regularly encourages people to: “Think squirrel.” Visit thesquirrelloversclub.com. Incidentally, January 21 is Squirrel Appreciation Day.
— CC

New Year’s Resolution: Recycle

Even if you didn’t celebrate Christmas with a cut fir tree, you can can still receive fresh mulch, a Blue Spruce sapling and blue recycling bags at the City of of Chicago’s annual Christmas tree recycling event.

Thanks to Rob Sherman of Buffalo Grove — an atheist and staunch advocate of the First Amendment and “separation of state and church” — Chicago has broadened its requirements for participation to include a bag of clean recyclables, such as bottles and cans.

The city’s Department of Streets and Sanitation will hold its annual citywide Christmas tree recycling “Green into Blues” program from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 7 at 23 locations.

Trees free of all ornaments and decorations will be converted into mulch, which will then be given away to participants. The mulch can serve as premium bedding for shrubs and evergreens, which is far more desirable than throwing the tree away and sending it to a landfill. It also beats burning the tree in a fireplace, which can cause hazardous creosote deposits in chimneys.

While supplies last, participating Chicago residents will receive an entire year’s worth of blue bags as an incentive to recycle throughout 2006.

If you don’t want to drag your tree to a local park, the not-for-profit recycling company called Do the Right Thing will pick up your tree and take it to a local nursery for chipping and composting for a $10 donation. The service, conducted by volunteers, is available only to Chicago’s North Side residents due to limited manpower and resources. Contact Adam Goldstein or Oliver Santos at 312-286-9136 or 773-213-6271 or e-mail.

For more information about the “Turn Green into Blue” program, including participating tree recycling locations, or any of the City of Chicago’s other recycling opportunities, visit cityofchicago.com or call 311.
— CC

‘Take 2 Cloves of Garlic and Call Me in the Morning...’

“FEED A COLD; starve a fever.” Chances are, at one time or another we’ve all heard this popular adage. In fact, throughout our lives we’ve been bombarded with old wives’ tales about remedies certain to cure the common cold: a bowl of chicken noodle soup or even a shot of whiskey. Now, with the flu season upon us, there are other remedies to add to the list. One remedy that promises to keep the doctor away is a clove of garlic.

But before you get too excited, note that garlic won’t cure a cold that has already settled in, although some claim it can help speed up the recovery time and help prevent a cold from taking hold in the first place. “If you start to get sick, taking garlic might be a way to help knock it out,” said Dr. Elson Haas, a physician and author of several nutrition books. Hass credits allicin, a natural antibiotic found in garlic. But here’s the catch: you have to eat the garlic raw, as cooking it will destroy the antibiotic. Haas recommends dipping whole cloves into honey or adding two or three raw pieces to soup. For those who find the idea of eating raw garlic too unappealing, companies now sell garlic supplements that manage to keep the allicin intact. Visit Haas’ website at elsonhaas.com.

Another remedy to consider is vitamin D, according to Tom O’Bryan, of Chicago Healers, a group of holistic health practitioners. Vitamin D, associated with exposure to sunlight, is crucial for strong bones and a healthy immune system, and regulates immune responses so that individuals exposed to airborne viruses and bacteria don’t experience excessive mucous buildup in the lungs. A simple blood test can determine the need for a vitamin D supplement, O’Bryan said. For more information, visit chicagohealers.com.

Chinese ginseng, which works to increase stamina and enhance memory, can also stave off cold and flu, according to the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. Only one out of 10 individuals taking ginseng extract suffered two or more colds over a four-month period, according to a study published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal in 2005. Visit PacificCollege.edu.
— Christine Mangan

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