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Call for applications: Mesa Refuge Writers' Retreat
APPLICATION DEADLINE FEBRUARY 1st, 2008
Located on the southern tip of Tomales Bay near Point Reyes, California, the Mesa Refuge is a writers retreat program established to support writers in their work to examine and disseminate strategies for restructuring the human economy and its relationship to people and nature. Since its inception 1998, the Mesa Refuge has hosted nearly 400 resident writers.
The Mesa Refuge offers free 2-or 4-week residencies that provide writers with a unique and effective space to advance their writing projects. Situated on a bluff overlooking Tomales Bay and surrounding wetlands, the Refuge offers full amenities and catered meals for writers looking for a time away from the interruptions of daily life.
We invite writers, journalists, editors, filmmakers, and essayists focusing on issues of environmental sustainability, the human economy, and related social equity issues to apply for a residency at the Mesa Refuge. (Please be advised that while we carefully review each application, this invitation is not a guarantee of a residency.)
The application deadline for spring and early summer 2008 sessions is February 1st, 2008. These sessions begin in April and run through early August.
You can access the application here. For additional information, visit our website at www.commoncounsel.org or call 510-834-2995 x304, or email mesa@commoncounsel.org.
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Integrated Pest Management in Maryland Hospitals: Free Seminar February 12
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Location: Maryland Hospital Association, 6816 Deerpath Rd., Elkridge, MD
Participants will learn the answers to these questions: ~ What is integrated pest management?
~ What are the results and status of the Maryland Hospital IPM Pilot Project?
~ What are the experiences of pilot project participants?
~ What are the public and environmental health impacts of using pesticides?
~ How can a hospital reduce the use of toxic pesticides?
~ How can an effective employee education plan be developed?
To register for this free seminar, contact Linda Lindquist at llind001@umaryland.edu or 410-706-6832.
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Implementing Integrated Pest Management in Multi-Family Housing: Training on February 12
The Philadelphia School and Community IPM Partnership will be offering an all day training on implementing IPM in multi-family housing. This workshop is provided at no cost to you through the National Center for Health Housing. It will be an engaging, hands-on day of activities. For details and registration information, click here.
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Save the Date: A Forum on Engaging Minorities in Our Watershed & Increasing Minority Participation in the Environment: June 12
Sponsored by Patapsco/Back River Tributary Team
6:00 - 8:00 pm, Thursday, June 12, 2008
Baum Auditorium, Harbor Hospital, Baltimore MD
Presenters, attendees and invited guests will address one or more of the following questions:
(1) How do we engage minority communities to increase their participation in environmental activities and organizations and insure their communities' environmental concerns are addressed?
(2) How do we invest public/philanthropic funds to mitigate environmental injustices? Note: agency/foundation contacts are being invited to address accessing their funds!
(3) How do we increase minority environmental career development?
(4) How do we engage minority children and youth to have an environmental ethic?
For more information, contact Joe Stewart, P/BRTT Events, Organizing & Education Comm.: 410.767.1354 or Jstewart@dat.state.md.us
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Call for applications: the South Texas Environmental Education and Resesarch (STEER) program
The South Texas Environmental Education and Research (STEER) program is seeking applications for positions in February and April for students in nursing, medicine, allied health and public health who have interests in international health, border health, cultural aspects of health and environmental health. Students participate in experiential learning in the communities of Laredo/Nuevo Laredo or Harlingen/Matamoros at the U.S.-Mexico Border. The STEER program has received state and national awards for its community-based "hands-on" approach to training health professionals in public health. Tuition and housing are provided free of charge. For more details, see http://steer.uthscsa.edu.
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Going Green, One Shade at a Time: Article in ADVANCE for Nurses
This article by Maria Sanzo, MSN, RN, CPN, with Kathy Visinski, MSN, RN discusses the potential risks that common household cleaners and other products could pose to you and your family. To view the article, visit: http://nursing.advanceweb.com/editorial/content/editorial.aspx?cc=105675
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Waiter, There's Mercury in my fish! Online guide helps consumers make healthy choices
Tuna with unsafe levels of mercury is on dinner menus at some of New York's most well known and expensive eateries, according to a report in the New York Times. At some restaurants, mercury levels in tuna sushi even exceeded limits set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Environmental Defense described the report as a wake up call that FDA was not protecting consumers from dangerous seafood.
"The FDA is failing the American people when it comes to seafood safety. As illustrated by recent news stories about illegal drug residues in
Chinese seafood, FDA inspects less than one percent of imported seafood annually. Far less seafood is ever tested for environmental toxins such as mercury," said Tim Fitzgerald, marine scientist with Environmental Defense in New York. "The FDA does so little mercury testing that they can't even come close to enforcing their own safety standards. Unfortunately, the situation is "buyer beware' for U.S. consumers."
Consumers can learn more about making wise seafood choices at www.EnvironmentalDefense.org/seafood. The website includes a list of
contaminated fish based on data compiled from 200 studies by academic and government scientists, as well as recommendations of seafood choices that are healthy for both consumers and the environment.
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Childhood Seizures Associated with the Use of Camphor Products In the past two weeks, three children under two years of age were poisoned by ingesting camphor products, resulting in seizures and requiring hospitalization. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is investigating seven additional cases potentially associated with camphor use. All three confirmed cases occurred in the Bronx and resulted from children accidentally ingesting or mouthing camphor cubes and/or having excessive skin and inhalation exposure. Camphor is commonly used as an over-the-counter treatment for colds and congestion, or as an insecticide or air freshener.
Camphor is readily and rapidly absorbed through the skin, gastrointestinal and respiratory tract. Being lipophilic, gastrointestinal absorption is enhanced by fatty foods and it readily crosses the blood-brain barrier. The main symptoms of toxicity in children include stomatitis, nausea, vomiting, epigastric distress and CNS effects such as irritability, agitation, and seizures. This may eventually progress to CNS depression characterized by apnea and potentially, coma. Onset of symptoms is generally within 5 to 20 minutes of ingestion and peaks within 90 minutes.
Camphor is a white crystal with a familiar characteristic, fragrant, and penetrating odor. It is widely used in many different cultures and has varied applications. Camphor associated with the current poisonings are commonly sold in small white tablets or cubes for varied uses, including: adding to room humidifiers and vaporizers; placing it in a bowl of water to ward off illness or evil spirits; using as an insecticide; applying to the skin as an insect repellant; and using as a room air freshener.
For more information on the risks associated with camphor, see the press release and health alert released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
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Free student access to Members Only section of NursingWorld.org
ANA wants to expose students to all that ANA has to offer while they are in nursing school by giving them access to the Members Only section of NursingWorld.org at no cost to them! This will give them access to information that they can use in school and help prepare them for their nursing career. Highlights include ANA Position and Policy papers, members only daily news feed, access to online journals, discount opportunities, and much more.
Go to http://nursingworld.org/students/ to sign up. The promotional code is "FUTURE".
Also, check out ANA's video on YouTube at http://youtube.com/watch?v=y_TOVIKuMLc
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Register online to eliminate unsolicited catalogs from your mailbox
Sign up for Catalog Choice, a free service that allows you to decline paper catalogs that you no longer wish to receive. Reduce the amount of unwanted mail in your mailbox while helping the environment! Visit http://www.catalogchoice.org to register.
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