Pelosi Statement on the Passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Photo Credit: Etonline.Com

11 Aug 2009 17:01 Africa/Lagos

Pelosi Statement on the Passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on the passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver.


"Eunice Kennedy Shriver's fundamental belief that every human has inherent worth and dignity revolutionized perceptions in this country and around the world. She enriched the lives of millions of individuals with intellectual disabilities; by unmasking discrimination and encouraging acceptance, she enriched the lives of all of us. The Special Olympics, and the joy it brings to countless children, will long stand in tribute to her life and work.


"Eunice Kennedy Shriver was comforted and strengthened by her deep faith, which inspired her work for justice. She was immeasurably proud of her family, her accomplished brothers, but also her sisters, her children and grandchildren, and her husband, Sargent, whom she loved fiercely for more than half a century.


"On behalf of all Members of Congress, I express our condolences to our colleagues, Senator Ted Kennedy and Congressman Patrick Kennedy. My thoughts are also with California's first family, First Lady Maria Shriver and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. I hope it is a comfort to the Shriver and Kennedy families that so many are grieving their loss and praying for them in this sad time."


Source: Office of the Speaker of the House

CONTACT: Brendan Daly, Nadeam Elshami or Drew Hammill, +1-202-226-7616,
all of the Office of the Speaker of the House


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California Leads U.S. in Recycling and Waste Reform

28 Feb 2009 00:42 Africa/Lagos


California Leads U.S. in Recycling and Waste Reform

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- A bill introduced by Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata) aims to reduce waste, litter, and greenhouse gases and create thousands of green jobs. The California Product Stewardship Act, AB 283, would incentivize producers to design products and packaging that are less toxic, more durable, reusable, recyclable and/or biodegradable.


"AB 283 moves California towards a more sustainable environment and economy," said Chesbro, chair of the Assembly's Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. "Product stewardship will reduce government spending and greenhouse gases, while creating jobs that are desperately needed in our state. This bill will help move California out of its budget crisis and into a 'cradle to cradle' state that takes care of its own."


AB 283 is supported by the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC). CPSC is an organization of local governments and other partners, formed to support development and implementation of product stewardship, otherwise known as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). EPR is a policy approach that shifts waste management costs from local governments to the producers who make design and marketing decisions. CPSC works collaboratively with other local government stewardship councils such as the Northwest Product Stewardship Council (NWPSC).


"CPSC and NWPSC have developed Framework Principles that address many products at once, rather than the product-by-product legislation that is slow and costly," said Kevin Hendrick, Director of the Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority. "Framework legislation will streamline the process to include other products over time."


AB 283 uses EPR Framework Principles that address climate change and the growing waste problem. Even with new recycling programs, California is still generating more waste than ever - 40-million tons annually. In a free market, EPR reduces waste while creating opportunities to grow businesses and jobs in recycling and manufacturing industries.


"EPR policies are working in Canada, Europe, Japan and other countries," said Heidi Sanborn, Executive Director of CPSC. "The primary responsibility should rest with producers because only they make design and packaging decisions. It is far less expensive to design a product and packaging to reduce waste than it is to create expensive end-of-life disposal and recycling systems."


California Product Stewardship Council: Heidi Sanborn, (916) 480-9010 or heidi@CalPSC.org or go to www.CalPSC.org.


Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro's Contact: Andrew Bird (707) 445-7014


Source: California Product Stewardship Council

CONTACT: Heidi Sanborn of California Product Stewardship Council,
+1-916-480-9010, heidi@CalPSC.org; or Andrew Bird, +1-707-445-7014, for
Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro


Web Site: http://www.calpsc.org/


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Deadly Fires Prompt National Warning

31 Mar 2008 05:00 Africa/Lagos


Deadly Fires Prompt National Warning

Fire safety experts say most home fires preventable

WASHINGTON, March 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

Fires strike across the country, killing on the average nine people each day (one every 162 minutes) and injuring thousands. Each one is a tragedy, and just within the past two weeks we have seen several particularly horrific ones. Five children died in a house fire in Arkansas, six people were killed in two fires within days of each other in New Hampshire and four more died in Alaska. Fires in Arizona, California, Iowa, New York, Colorado, Michigan, Washington and Delaware have claimed lives, all within just the past few days. On average, more than 3,200 people are killed in fires and 16,400 are injured each year and, ironically, over 82% of these deaths occur in the very place that people feel the safest from fire -- their homes. These are tragedies for the families, the communities, and the nation.


So often these fires and their fateful outcomes are avoidable through the use of proven fire prevention strategies and education. By making the public more aware of the role that they have in helping to build a fire-safe community we can make tremendous strides, one home at a time, towards reducing the loss of life and property that occurs every single year.


We have joined together to redouble our efforts to reach out to people across the nation to raise the national awareness of fire prevention. We know, without a doubt, that by educating our citizens about fire-safe practices and what to do if a fire should break out we can reduce the losses in our communities and work towards a fire-safe future for today's generation and beyond. Each of the organizations listed is committed to a simple mission -- saving lives. Some of the actions are ones that can be done today, others are for the future. However, by starting right now, we can someday point back and say that it started today.


We have reduced fire deaths nationally during the last 20 years but the problem and sadness continues to exist. We believe that we can further reduce our national life loss in this area by focusing on these key areas:


-- Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside all sleeping areas and on every level of your home. For the best protection interconnect them so when one sounds they all sound.


-- Test them monthly to make sure they are working at all times.


-- Residential sprinklers save lives. If you are building or remodeling, consider installing residential sprinklers in your home.


-- Smoking is one of the leading causes of fatal fires. If you smoke, put them out every time.


-- Cooking fires are the leading cause of all fires. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food.


-- Know two ways out, no matter where you are -- your home, office, restaurant, movie theater.


-- Always react to a fire alarm immediately.

QuickStats
The Overall Fire Picture -- 2006
-- There were 3,245 civilians that lost their lives as the result of fire.
-- Nationwide, there was a civilian fire death every 162 minutes.

-- There were 16,400 civilian injuries that occurred as the result of fire.


-- Nationwide, there was a civilian fire injury every 32 minutes.
-- There were 106 firefighters killed while on duty.
-- Fire killed more Americans than all natural disasters combined.
-- 82 percent of all civilian fire deaths occurred in homes.

-- 1.6 million fires were reported. Many others went unreported, causing additional injuries and property loss.


-- Every 19 seconds, a fire department responds to a fire somewhere in the nation.


-- Direct property loss due to fires was estimated at $11.3 billion.


-- An estimated 31,000 intentionally set structure fires resulted in 305 civilian deaths.


-- Intentionally set structure fires resulted in an estimated $755 million in property damage.


Source: National Fire Protection Association Fire Loss in the U.S. During 2006 and USFA's Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2006


Source: People's Burn Foundation

CONTACT: Ed Comeau, +1-413-323-6002, cell: +1-413-896-5718,
ecomeau@writer-tech.com, for People's Burn Foundation


Web Site: http://www.peoplesburnfoundation.org/