A realNEO member posted information on the Greater Cleveland Clean Air Campaign, which refused to grant me permission requested in advance IN WRITING to videotape proceedings of their last meeting - I sought to put these proceedings online for citizens to view over the Internet. As we are denied public access and participation in the Greater Cleveland Clean Air Campaign, I believe it is important for the public to see who is on the membership, which is entirely funded by the Cleveland and Gund Foundations, and is the regurgitation of a similarly chartered committee that has not met for 10 months, which has significant responsibility for the failure of all air monitoring and controls in the region, under their watch. Their watch include the eyes of many major regional and global polluters, including BP and other major source point polluters, and far too many pollution enablers.  I protest!

Greater Cleveland Clean Air Campaign – Revised Framework

Mission:  Improve public health by reducing local and regional contributions to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and Local Impact Air Pollution (LIAP).  Building on the successes of the Cleveland Clean Air Century Campaign, engage local air quality stakeholders in assessing and reducing local and regional GHG and LIAP contributions.

Dear Senator Brown,

Did you know the Air Quality Was Unhealthy for Everyone if not Severe July 27 & 28, 2010? That is what appears buried in the incomplete, deceptive EPA data largely hidden by the Federal government funded City of Cleveland, local EPA, NOACA and Ohio EPA air pollution control services - such data is sometimes possible to locate with great effort by the public, as illustrated in the screenshot above. There is reported a highest 1-hour average PM 2.5 level of 123 - UNHEALTHY FOR ALL - meaning the level spiked much higher during the hour. That was at NOON, in downtown CLEVELAND, July 27, 2010.

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

Meaning

Literal meaning.

Origin

Kylie Roulet gasping at astoundingly poor visibility from significant pollution in Cleveland, Ohio - July 28, 2010 - 3:00 PM

Dear realNEO:

I have forwarded the following request to Senator Sherrod Brown, who I have contacted regarding poor air quality and defective pollution monitoring in Northeast Ohio, and I expect a response this week that I will share with this community for action.

Norm

Mr. Ryan,

I'm sorry I missed your call.

I'm beginning to compile an issues list for air quality and perhaps you may introduce a staffer capable of answering the following:

Why is our air reading from the State EPA AirNow Site (screenshot attached) Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups now - what monitor data is this based upon - what formula determines that - what software calculates that - what human intervention has touched our air quality data today, where, by whom, under what authority - what are the air pollution conditions for the monitors that never work (Medina and Painesville) and the monitors that appear to sometimes work (Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, Sheffield Lake, Canton) - why does Cleveland only have one monitor when we had two before this Summer and which monitor location is reporting - why does Warren show a 24 hour reading yet no one hour - who is personally responsible and paid for maintaining the monitor equipment on site at each site - where are the performance records - where is the raw data - who is personally responsible and paid for the data transmissions to the Ohio EPA and any other data management and reporting services and who does have access to our monitor data in what formats -  who is personally responsible and paid for maintaining the data transmissions to Ohio University and the data analysis equipment and software at Ohio University and who has access to the equipment and data - what human interaction with the data and software is legal and authorized - who is responsible for the data at the Ohio EPA AirNow site http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_city&cityid=148 and the NOACA AirOhio site http://ohioair.info/quality/currentmap1hrPM25.asp that are always wrong - who is responsible for determining the air quality forecast for the following day that is always wrong - how are all these people able to be consistently wrong?

As Introduced by the Stanford University News, March 16, 2010, in Urban CO2 domes increase deaths, poke hole in 'cap-and-trade' proposal, Stanford researcher says: "Not all carbon dioxide emissions are equal," said Jacobson, professor of civil and environmental engineering. "As in real estate, location matters".

"In the first study ever done on the local health effects of the domes of carbon dioxide that develop above cities, Stanford researcher Mark Jacobson found that the domes increase the local death rate. The result provides a scientific basis for regulating CO2 emissions at the local level and points out a significant oversight in the carbon dioxide "cap-and-trade" proposal that was passed by the House of Representatives in June 2009 and is awaiting definitive action by the Senate."

Everyone knows that carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas driving climate change, is a global problem. Now a Stanford study has shown it is also a local problem, hurting city dwellers' health much more than rural residents', because of the carbon dioxide "domes" that develop over urban areas. That finding, said researcher Mark Z. Jacobson, exposes a serious oversight in current cap-and-trade proposals for reducing emissions of heat-trapping gases, which make no distinction based on a pollutant's point of origin. The finding also provides the first scientific basis for controlling local carbon dioxide emissions based on their local health impacts.

Cleveland skyline illuminated by Progressive Field and lightning

Dear citizens of Northeast Ohio who are concerned about health, prosperity and/or the environment....

There is a coal burning power plant operated by Medical Center Company (MCCO) in University Circle, and another has been planned by MCCO for construction in East Cleveland, and that is harmful to the environment, our economy, and the health and educational achievement and so success in life of all citizens in neighboring communities, like Cleveland, East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights, and regionally and worldwide.

This Saturday, 3-5 PM - at Peace Park and around Coventry Village, in Cleveland Heights - you are encouraged to meetup with a representative of the Sierra Club to learn more about the pollution and harm caused by MCCO - and alternatives to burning coal in your neighborhood.

Location

Dear citizens of Northeast Ohio who are concerned about health, prosperity and/or the environment....

There is a coal burning power plant operated by Medical Center Company (MCCO) in University Circle, and another has been planned by MCCO for construction in East Cleveland, and that is harmful to the environment, our economy, and the health and educational achievement and so success in life of all citizens in neighboring communities, like Cleveland, East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights, and regionally and worldwide.

This Friday, 5-7 PM, you are encouraged to meet a representative of the Sierra Club to learn more about the pollution and harm caused by MCCO, and alternatives to burning coal in your neighborhood - the Sierra Club is supporting our community to "Move Beyond Coal" and in preparation for a Federal EPA hearing on the renewal of the permit for the MCCO plant to continue burning coal in your neighborhood - August 10, 2010, 4:30-6:45 PM at the MLK Branch of the Cleveland Public Library

You are encouraged to attend that public meeting to speak out against needless pollution of your neighborhoods and families by MCCO, to "Move Beyond Coal".

Location

C'harm'ing Little Italy Double for rent - free cancer brought to you by MCCO, Green City Blue Lake Institute
University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University and 20 other great non-profits

As shall be made abundantly clear before August 10, 2010, when "EPA Hosting Public Hearing to Discuss Citizen Concerns Over MCCO University Circle Coal Powerplant Permit Renewal", over 20 major University Circle institutions including Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals and the Cleveland Natural History Museum - home of the "sustainability"-oriented "Green City Blue Lake Institute" - are connected to utility services provided by the Medical Center Company, which burns coal in the heart of a residential community of University Circle, bordering East Cleveland, Cleveland Heights and the Little Italy neighborhood of Cleveland. Burning coal causes pollution that kills people and the MCCO coal plant is very old and very dirty - one of the most polluting point sources in Ohio.

In honor of "Councilman Cimperman - WHY ARE YOU DOING NOTHING?????" with 801 reads as of today - "TNK - Tomorrow Never Knows" - from one of the greatest bands few people know - 801 - featuring Brian Eno, Phil Manzanara, and other Roxy Music greats, covering John Lennon's Tomorrow Never Knows - the video is filmed in Second Life, it appears... which is interesting in itself... never been there before

Like in Sue Coe's painting of this organized crime -
"Woman Walks into Bar - Is Raped by Four Men on the Pool Table - While 20 Watch"
- Tremont bars are home to real organized criminals violent against Guy Templeton Black

Organized crime means people organizing together to commit crime - like leaders of development corporations, councilmen, the mayor, police and prosecutors, and business owners organizing to violate city laws, ordinances and human rights in Tremont. 

While the most obvious examples of organized crimes in Tremont have been intentional, collusive, proactive violations of restaurant building, parking, patio, occupancy, handicapped accessibility, waste management, property, health and safety laws and ordinances, recent incidents involving reported gunplay and documented violence by TWDC staff and their friends against Guy Templeton Black prove there is a violent organized crime syndicate in Tremont, willing, able, and happy to inflict physical harm upon the weak.

realNEO Cuyahoga Council Candidate Question #1: Explain The Cost To Society Of This Pollution Point Source.

Where is this major air pollution source located, what is the business responsible, what are the economics of the business and its pollution relative to the regional and state economies, what are the costs to society of the pollution caused, at all levels, and how well informed are citizens of all these facts, to protect them from significant physical harm?

In Case You Are Wondering If The Cleveland Plain Dealer Will Cover The Pollution From MCCO?!?!...

Will the plain Dealer promote the upcoming EPA hearing on the licensing of the MCCO coal burning plant that provides steam heat to University Hospitals, among over 20 University Circle institutions...

The first rule of the Art Of Surviving Cleveland is PROTECT YOUR DNA!

As reported on realNEO: "what we have learned after sampling and genetically profiling many gull families is that colonies close to integrated steel mills transmit DNA mutations to their offspring more frequently than those at rural sites. In addition, the closer the colony to steel mills, the higher the mutation rate".  Further, "Our genetic analyses of environmentally exposed mice revealed that offspring from the steel site inherited nearly double the frequency of DNA mutations compared to their rural counterparts. Clearly, air pollution near integrated steel mills can induce genetic damage. At this time we cannot identify the class of chemical pollutant responsible, but suggest that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, by-products of coal combustion, are a likely candidate."

In other words, and further: if you want to live a long, healthy, normal life and perhaps have offspring... DON'T live, work, eat, visit or play near a steel mill or any coal-burning facility... DON'T DO THIS:

Broken Air Pollution Monitoring Station in Cleveland, Ohio, on an UNHEALTHY DAY - July 5, 2010

As highlighted in my posting on realNEO July 8, 2010 - "Texas regulators are failing to properly monitor, control and enforce federal emission standards! Like in Ohio?!" - I've concluded that "Ohio regulators are failing to properly monitor, control and enforce federal emission standards, and that I believe that political, business and environmental leadership are hiding the violations of polluters by causing ineffective and so publicly harmful and dangerous pollution control practices here, which are made possible by government failure here to really monitor, control and enforce federal emission standards."

Further, I make clear, "the Sierra Club and the Federal EPA are taking legal action AGAINST the Texas STATE REGULATORS and the world's largest corporations because they are not in fact protecting the environment, as required by the Federal government," I go on to report "I have been compiling evidence of corrupt and/or incompetent pollution control in Ohio for many years, and have now formally requested the help of the Sierra Club and their affiliates around the world to force change upon Ohio regulators who are failing to properly monitor, control and enforce federal emission standards here."

I conclude: "As I am seeking real, good outcomes for here - elimination of physical harm from Mittal and other excessive polluters in this region - like being realized through real environmentalism in Texas, my role in this community is not Mr. Nice Guy. I am the uncompromising polluter-killer who makes the Sierra Club seem like a breath of cool fresh air on an astoundingly dangerous Cleveland July afternoon, like today..."

Right on cue, like a breathe of fresh air, I recieved copies today of correspondence from the Sierra Club addressing this very issue, and I asked permission to share that on realNEO as public information and motivation for citizens to engage the government on these issues

Real bicycle commuter riding to work in a lumber yard in the Cleveland Flats. His work didn't cause this smog.

Why am I so hostile toward Ohio leadership?

Must be the poison in the air!

And, the life in hell lived by real environmentalists.

Consider what is necessary to clean up the air in environmentally-compromised Texas, where "Environmental groups say Exxon Mobil refinery violates U.S. air law" - "The environmental groups' legal maneuvers are part of broader accusations by the organizations and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that Texas regulators are failing to properly monitor, control and enforce federal emission standards."

You think it is any easier to deal with the greatest corruption on Earth - the corruption of our environmental laws - right here in highly corrupt, polluted, old-economy Northeast Ohio?

Air Quality Advisory Extended for Northeast Ohio 
Thursday, July 8, 2010 - Ozone and Fine Particles

Location

Air Quality Advisory Issued for Northeast Ohio 
Tuesday and Wednesday, July 6 and 7, 2010 due to Ozone

Location

Location

Air Quality Advisory Issued for Northeast Ohio

 

Location

Map 7.1: Potential Energy Distribution among Ohio Counties (in Billions)

Joe Koncelik's Ohio Environmental Law Blog recently reported "Benefits of Biomass Power Questioned - Implications for Ohio", about a renewable fuels permitting issue that has surfaced with a FirstEnergy coal powerplant being converted to biomass, which offers great insight on the development and future of our biomass industry, and links to valuable source material for those considering the economic and environmental future of energy in Ohio, America and worldwide. In this excellent posting, Koncelik points out, "

Ohio's best hope for reducing its overwhelming dependence on coal for electricity generation is  biomass.  While wind and solar have significant benefits, it is unquestioned that current technology does not allow these renewable sources to be forms of base-load power generation. 

Biomass does have that potential in Ohio, as is evidenced by the recent announcements of the conversion of 312-megawatt First Energy's Burger coal-fired power plant to biomass generation.  Now that proposal is meeting opposition by environmental groups. As reported in Biomass Magazine."

In fact, environmentalists and regulators are demanding that FirstEnergy identify what biomass they intend to use from where to power their proposed-to-be "renewable" fuel plant - that is good economics and environmentalism. The dynamics of the Burger plant application are interesting and important for the future of the biomass sector in Ohio - while Ohio has a bright biomass renaissance ahead, we are still in the dark ages of its development.

Canadian Hemp Factory to Create Jobs, Green Energy, and Economic Stimulus

By Joyce Cassin - Sunday, January 25 2009

After nearly 10 years of research and development in industrial hemp, Stonehedge Bio- Resources Inc. of Sterling is ready to lead the way in commercializing hemp in North America. Building on a business case developed through the Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Innovation Network (ELORIN), Stonehedge is now set to establish a bioprocessing facility in Eastern Ontario to serve North American markets.

Some of the products and co-products are aimed at the automotive, energy, agriculture, construction material, and pulp and paper markets. This fibre separation facility (decortication plant) is expected to provide new farm income for about 200 farmers, putting more than 12,000 acres into cultivation, said John Baker, president and founder of Stonehedge.

They secured $2 million in funding from Great Britain and met with the British Consulate on Wednesday, Northumberland County chief administrative officer Bill Pyatt told County council Wednesday afternoon. "Hopefully they'll be able to obtain provincial and federal dollars as well," Mr. Pyatt said. "This industry will supply all of North America."

Tip of the Hat and Props to the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Michael McIntyre, and his Tipoff column today - First Reporter to Recognize "A new cash crop" for Ohio.

I look forward to discussing this initiative in detail with Michael and others in the media and public, as it is important to educate the community on the economic benefits we will receive from "Growing a Bright Green NEO PAC for Legalization & Commercialization of Cannabis Crops, Products & Services".

Here is Michael McIntyre's correct and intelligent impression of our initiative to make Northeast Ohio the Open Source Capital of the Brightest Greenest State of Earth:

A new cash crop

Some Northeast Ohio boosters are pushing for a new product to revive the local economy: Marijuana. And, no, stoners, they're not talking about boosting sales of Doritos.

Norm Roulet of the RealNEO blog announced last week that a political action committee, Real Green NEO PAC, was formed to push for a November ballot issue for "enlightened legalization of cannabis crops."

It is safe to say the #1 financial and empowering supporter of realNEO is and has always been my wife, Evelyn Kiefer Roulet. A founding member of realNEO (member #7),  who has consistently posted some of the most interesting and globally appreciated content, she administers the Putnam Sculpture Colledction at Case (beautifully presented in Drupal), conducts art appraisals, consults in art history - maintains the brightest greenest home and garden in town - all to significantly support our large family so I may focus on realNEO and other regional and global initiatives. She has allowed this flower to grow.