Cities around the county have toyed with the idea of banning plastic bags — but they tend to drop the idea as soon as the word “lawsuit” is heard from bag manufacturers.
In an effort to fend off legal challenges, several cities are now calling for the City/County Association of Governments to conduct a countywide environmental review of the project — a move they say could free each city to choose to ban the bags without worrying about repercussions.
But the countywide agency has been reluctant to endorse the idea, worrying it could take time and money away from other priorities.
In an attempt to reduce the number of plastic bags that wind up in the Bay and ocean, San Francisco, San Jose and several other California cities have banned the bags at large stores.
About two years ago, Millbrae tried to follow suit, but was told that if it didn’t conduct a full environmental review, it would be slammed with a lawsuit by companies that produce the bags, said Councilwoman Gina Papan.
With budgets shrinking, the city council couldn’t justify conducting an expensive environmental review for the project, she said. She said they were hoping a state law would be passed that would eliminate the need.
“As smaller cities we can’t afford it, but we’re all members of C/CAG,” she said. “We thought we could just have the county do it as a whole so we could be a lot more efficient.”
Papan, who is a member of C/CAG’s board, proposed the idea earlier this year, and C/CAG Executive Director Richard Napier said the association’s attorney has been exploring the idea.
“We haven’t decided if it’s something we can accommodate, given our staffing,” Napier said. “We’re already having a tough time doing everything we have on our plate now.”
Daly City Councilman David Canepa proposed a plastic bag ban in that city earlier this year, but said the proposal also had to be tabled after the Save the Plastic Bag Coalition threatened legal action if the ban went forward. That organization, which says it has no financial relationship with the plastic-bag manufacturing industry, has filed legal challenges to similar ban attempts in Marin County, Los Angeles, San Jose and Palo Alto.
2011年5月31日星期二
A collection of well-used heavy bags
A collection of well-used heavy bags and speed bags surround a ring that has seen thousands of rounds of sparring. The faded canvas is spotted with blood stains and patched in places with duct tape. A locker is filled with scuffed head gear and worn gloves that must have struck both leather and jaws countless times.
The “change room” is simply a corner of the gym behind walls of lockers. If I want to use the bathroom inside, one of the coaches has to do a “change room check” to make sure no women are dressing. Or, if they’re busy, someone just yells, “Boy entering the change room!”
The walls of the gym are decorated with weathered posters of famous fighters and fights, alongside framed photos of the gym’s women boxers in various poses, looking fierce and fearless.
Only once did my being male cause trouble. One Tuesday evening, I walked into the gym a few minutes early. A woman lifting weights took offence at my presence. She stopped, glared, pointed at me, then at the door and yelled at me to get out. Humiliated, I stood frozen as she continued to yell. I bowed my head, turned around, closed the door and stood in the hallway, feeling absolutely foolish.
Thankfully, the majority of women have no problem with me and work out here for the same reasons I do – a love of boxing as a great form of exercise and an unequalled stress reliever.
However, some of these women were born to fight. There are a number of highly skilled boxers who train for amateur fights. They are something to watch. And when I watch them spar or train, anything to do with gender vanishes. What I see is dazzling footwork, silky-smooth defence and lightning-quick punch combinations. What I see are fighters.
And yet while these accomplished pugilists train hard to destroy their next opponent, the gym has a remarkably friendly vibe, a refreshing change to the “bet I can kick your ass” mentality at some men’s boxing gyms. At my age, my days of puffing out my chest are long gone. Here, the atmosphere is unintimidating and informal. There’s nothing to prove.
The “change room” is simply a corner of the gym behind walls of lockers. If I want to use the bathroom inside, one of the coaches has to do a “change room check” to make sure no women are dressing. Or, if they’re busy, someone just yells, “Boy entering the change room!”
The walls of the gym are decorated with weathered posters of famous fighters and fights, alongside framed photos of the gym’s women boxers in various poses, looking fierce and fearless.
Only once did my being male cause trouble. One Tuesday evening, I walked into the gym a few minutes early. A woman lifting weights took offence at my presence. She stopped, glared, pointed at me, then at the door and yelled at me to get out. Humiliated, I stood frozen as she continued to yell. I bowed my head, turned around, closed the door and stood in the hallway, feeling absolutely foolish.
Thankfully, the majority of women have no problem with me and work out here for the same reasons I do – a love of boxing as a great form of exercise and an unequalled stress reliever.
However, some of these women were born to fight. There are a number of highly skilled boxers who train for amateur fights. They are something to watch. And when I watch them spar or train, anything to do with gender vanishes. What I see is dazzling footwork, silky-smooth defence and lightning-quick punch combinations. What I see are fighters.
And yet while these accomplished pugilists train hard to destroy their next opponent, the gym has a remarkably friendly vibe, a refreshing change to the “bet I can kick your ass” mentality at some men’s boxing gyms. At my age, my days of puffing out my chest are long gone. Here, the atmosphere is unintimidating and informal. There’s nothing to prove.
2011年5月26日星期四
Think of all the things a Swiss Army knife
Think of all the things a Swiss Army knife can do -- open a tin can or bottle of wine, file your nails, or even stab a former fraternity pledge, like the cops say 28-year-old Janseel Singh did yesterday.
Police say Singh -- one of the "founding fathers" of Florida Atlantic University's chapter of the Beta Chi Theta fraternity -- was hanging out with his frat boys at Hookah Hut in Boca Raton before going to smoke some weed in the parking lot with two of the guys after the place closed.
As they said their high goodbyes around 2 a.m., police say Singh decided to pull out a Swiss Army knife and stab a 20-year-old former pledge in the gut.
The man told police he thought Singh was kidding and wasn't even aware he'd been stabbed until he noticed his bloody shirt.
While the stab victim was treated at a Boca Raton hospital for a two-inch stab wound, Singh resorted to text-message-threatening him, the cops say, which is just about as badass as stabbing someone with a Swiss Army knife.
"The beef is on... U better pick ur side... or risk getting hit up," police say Singh sent to the man via text message. (For those not hip to badass jargon, "hit up" apparently means attacked, according to the cops.)
Back at the police station, the other man in the car told the cops that Singh probably stabbed him over a bag of weed that went missing, which Singh presumed he had stolen.
Also, he told police he thought Singh could have been upset about the stab victim dropping out of the fraternity, which doesn't really sound any better than stabbing someone with a Swiss Army knife over a bag of weed.
The cops say Singh turned himself in to police yesterday afternoon and now faces a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Police say Singh -- one of the "founding fathers" of Florida Atlantic University's chapter of the Beta Chi Theta fraternity -- was hanging out with his frat boys at Hookah Hut in Boca Raton before going to smoke some weed in the parking lot with two of the guys after the place closed.
As they said their high goodbyes around 2 a.m., police say Singh decided to pull out a Swiss Army knife and stab a 20-year-old former pledge in the gut.
The man told police he thought Singh was kidding and wasn't even aware he'd been stabbed until he noticed his bloody shirt.
While the stab victim was treated at a Boca Raton hospital for a two-inch stab wound, Singh resorted to text-message-threatening him, the cops say, which is just about as badass as stabbing someone with a Swiss Army knife.
"The beef is on... U better pick ur side... or risk getting hit up," police say Singh sent to the man via text message. (For those not hip to badass jargon, "hit up" apparently means attacked, according to the cops.)
Back at the police station, the other man in the car told the cops that Singh probably stabbed him over a bag of weed that went missing, which Singh presumed he had stolen.
Also, he told police he thought Singh could have been upset about the stab victim dropping out of the fraternity, which doesn't really sound any better than stabbing someone with a Swiss Army knife over a bag of weed.
The cops say Singh turned himself in to police yesterday afternoon and now faces a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Auto driver returns laptop bag to NRI
A honest auto driver on Tuesday returned a handbag containing a costly laptop, credit cards and other documents to a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) who forgot to collect it while getting down from the vehicle at the Secunderabad railway station on Monday night.
The NRI Md Yousuf S Jilani is working as an analyst at Equiniti in London. Jilani, who came to the city few days ago, boarded an auto near Hill Fort Road near Kalanjali to go to the Secunderabad Railway Station to catch a train Monday night.
"In a hurry to catch the train, Jilani got down from the auto without taking his hand bag which he had kept in the luggage area at the back of the auto," Central Zone deputy commissioner of police Akun Sabharwal said.
The auto belonged to Mir Hyder Ali, a resident of Moin Bagh. He also did not notice that the bag was left behind and left the railway station. He noticed the bag only late in the night and immediately went back to the railway station to find Jilani.
Meanwhile Jilani also had not boarded the train after he realised that his bag was missing. He went about in search of the auto till late into the night.
Failing to trace Jilani, the auto driver went to the Police Control Room and handed over the bag to the night duty sub-inspector of police Babu.
Police went through the documents and other articles in the bag and found the phone numbers of some of Jilani's relatives who stay in Vijayawada. Jilani was finally traced on Tuesday and the bag was returned to him.
The bag contained a Toshiba laptop, eight credit cards mostly of England, identification documents and driving licence, three cheque books and other documents.
The NRI Md Yousuf S Jilani is working as an analyst at Equiniti in London. Jilani, who came to the city few days ago, boarded an auto near Hill Fort Road near Kalanjali to go to the Secunderabad Railway Station to catch a train Monday night.
"In a hurry to catch the train, Jilani got down from the auto without taking his hand bag which he had kept in the luggage area at the back of the auto," Central Zone deputy commissioner of police Akun Sabharwal said.
The auto belonged to Mir Hyder Ali, a resident of Moin Bagh. He also did not notice that the bag was left behind and left the railway station. He noticed the bag only late in the night and immediately went back to the railway station to find Jilani.
Meanwhile Jilani also had not boarded the train after he realised that his bag was missing. He went about in search of the auto till late into the night.
Failing to trace Jilani, the auto driver went to the Police Control Room and handed over the bag to the night duty sub-inspector of police Babu.
Police went through the documents and other articles in the bag and found the phone numbers of some of Jilani's relatives who stay in Vijayawada. Jilani was finally traced on Tuesday and the bag was returned to him.
The bag contained a Toshiba laptop, eight credit cards mostly of England, identification documents and driving licence, three cheque books and other documents.
2011年5月24日星期二
The board seemed in favor of the proposition
The board seemed in favor of the proposition and with at least presenting a referendum for the public to vote on. But Mason has some leg work ahead of her.
Keefe asked that Mason attempt to generate signatures, and from there the board can take over and propose a referendum. The board said they believed she would have to generate around 1,000 signatures, but they were not able to corroborate that number with attorney Sam Drayo. She said she has about 65 signatures thus far.
The referendum, Keefe said, could possibly go along with the vote in November, or village election in March.
Mason also offered some data to the board on single-use disposable bags:
The U.S. uses roughly 100 billion plastic bags a year with the average family using 1,500 per year.
To create 100 billion plastic bags it takes an estimated 12 million barrels of oil.
Less than 5 percent of plastic bags are recycled.
The average plastic bag is only used for 12 minutes before it becomes waste.
For every square mile of ocean, there are roughly 46,000 pieces of plastic.
Ten percent (1 cent) of the proposed fee would go back to the business to help with the administrative costs associated with doing this, and the other 90 percent (9 cents) would be put into a sustainability fund. The fund would be joint between the village, city and town and it would be overseen by a committee. People, Mason said, would present projects to the committee and it would decide how that money would be spent.
Keefe asked that Mason attempt to generate signatures, and from there the board can take over and propose a referendum. The board said they believed she would have to generate around 1,000 signatures, but they were not able to corroborate that number with attorney Sam Drayo. She said she has about 65 signatures thus far.
The referendum, Keefe said, could possibly go along with the vote in November, or village election in March.
Mason also offered some data to the board on single-use disposable bags:
The U.S. uses roughly 100 billion plastic bags a year with the average family using 1,500 per year.
To create 100 billion plastic bags it takes an estimated 12 million barrels of oil.
Less than 5 percent of plastic bags are recycled.
The average plastic bag is only used for 12 minutes before it becomes waste.
For every square mile of ocean, there are roughly 46,000 pieces of plastic.
Ten percent (1 cent) of the proposed fee would go back to the business to help with the administrative costs associated with doing this, and the other 90 percent (9 cents) would be put into a sustainability fund. The fund would be joint between the village, city and town and it would be overseen by a committee. People, Mason said, would present projects to the committee and it would decide how that money would be spent.
Downtown Springfield Inc
Downtown Springfield Inc. wants to persuade downtown merchants to help eliminate both paper and plastic bags.
The goal is to reduce the number of bags that end up in landfills, especially the non-biodegradable plastic that is the bag of choice at many stores.
Victoria Ringer, DSI executive director, said her organization is talking to retailers about a reusable bag that would become consumers’ “downtown bag” when purchasing items.
Ringer said a handful of merchants and DSI’s Image and Design Council heard a presentation from Joan Barenfanger, who, along with Jane Denes, has been driving the Better Bag Project.
According to the Better Bag Project’s Facebook page, others in Springfield — including the local hospitals, Office Depot, Schnucks, Springfield Clinic, and Wiley Office Furniture -- already are participating. Communities, businesses and groups nationwide have launched efforts to wean consumers off plastic bags and to use more eco-friendly paper and reusable bags.
Barenfanger said she and Denes also are working with the Springfield School District, the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and the Springfield Art Association and others to promote the program. The idea began a year ago under the aegis of Sustainable Springfield Inc. and the newly formed Green Business Network of Springfield.
“We’ve had a problem getting the word out,” Barenfanger said. “We’re not on any speaking-engagement list, but we’d love to talk to organizations. We want more retailers across the city to participate.”
The goal is to reduce the number of bags that end up in landfills, especially the non-biodegradable plastic that is the bag of choice at many stores.
Victoria Ringer, DSI executive director, said her organization is talking to retailers about a reusable bag that would become consumers’ “downtown bag” when purchasing items.
Ringer said a handful of merchants and DSI’s Image and Design Council heard a presentation from Joan Barenfanger, who, along with Jane Denes, has been driving the Better Bag Project.
According to the Better Bag Project’s Facebook page, others in Springfield — including the local hospitals, Office Depot, Schnucks, Springfield Clinic, and Wiley Office Furniture -- already are participating. Communities, businesses and groups nationwide have launched efforts to wean consumers off plastic bags and to use more eco-friendly paper and reusable bags.
Barenfanger said she and Denes also are working with the Springfield School District, the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and the Springfield Art Association and others to promote the program. The idea began a year ago under the aegis of Sustainable Springfield Inc. and the newly formed Green Business Network of Springfield.
“We’ve had a problem getting the word out,” Barenfanger said. “We’re not on any speaking-engagement list, but we’d love to talk to organizations. We want more retailers across the city to participate.”
2011年5月19日星期四
The plastic shopping bag levy
The plastic shopping bag levy
The plastic shopping bag levy will be extended to all 60,000 retail stores but, in a surprise move, the government says the stores will get to keep the money.
At present, the levy applies to only 3,000 chain stores and supermarkets, adding between HK$5.7 million and HK$6.7 million to the public coffers every quarter.
But with up to eight billion plastic bags being dumped in landfills annually, the 50-cent levy could add up to HK$4 billion.
In kicking off a three-month consultation yesterday, Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah said the administration is also proposing to extend the levy to include bags without handles - except for those necessitated by hygiene considerations such as for fresh food, vegetables and bread.
Yau said the first phase of the levy has effectively cut the number of bags distributed by about 90 percent.
However, while plastic bags from the 3,000 retailers only make up 14 percent of the total that find their way to landfills, disposals from other sources increased by 6.7 percent.
However, nearly 98 percent of the SAR's retail outlets are owned by small and medium enterprises that have minimal administrative resources and collecting the levy will add to the costs, Yau said.
"If we require them [SMEs] to keep records of such transactions, as is being done at supermarket chains, it will be a heavy burden for them and we will have to handle as many as 250,000 submissions annually," he said.
A bureau spokesman said "appropriate manpower" will be arranged for inspections if the levy is extended to all 60,000 stores. So far there has been only one prosecution, with the offender fined HK$4,000.
The plastic shopping bag levy will be extended to all 60,000 retail stores but, in a surprise move, the government says the stores will get to keep the money.
At present, the levy applies to only 3,000 chain stores and supermarkets, adding between HK$5.7 million and HK$6.7 million to the public coffers every quarter.
But with up to eight billion plastic bags being dumped in landfills annually, the 50-cent levy could add up to HK$4 billion.
In kicking off a three-month consultation yesterday, Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah said the administration is also proposing to extend the levy to include bags without handles - except for those necessitated by hygiene considerations such as for fresh food, vegetables and bread.
Yau said the first phase of the levy has effectively cut the number of bags distributed by about 90 percent.
However, while plastic bags from the 3,000 retailers only make up 14 percent of the total that find their way to landfills, disposals from other sources increased by 6.7 percent.
However, nearly 98 percent of the SAR's retail outlets are owned by small and medium enterprises that have minimal administrative resources and collecting the levy will add to the costs, Yau said.
"If we require them [SMEs] to keep records of such transactions, as is being done at supermarket chains, it will be a heavy burden for them and we will have to handle as many as 250,000 submissions annually," he said.
A bureau spokesman said "appropriate manpower" will be arranged for inspections if the levy is extended to all 60,000 stores. So far there has been only one prosecution, with the offender fined HK$4,000.
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