Hello WESCers,

You are all invited to join the campaign for better air quality on school grounds THIS WEDNESDAY, AFTER SCHOOL, WHITE PLAINS. We have a name...

Students for Less Air Pollution NOW! or SLAP NOW! Although we are starting at schools, the sky's no limit! Below is the media advisory which went out today. Come hear WESC officers announce the campaign, sign on, and slap on it!

PLEASE bring a sign if you can, for example, (Idle Threats CAN Hurt You!), or anything you can think of that fits with below.

Remember! I put into the press advisory those schools where I am absolutely sure we will have a rep coming for the press conference. If you are planning to come, and do not see your school mentioned below, then email me.

Remember! We are launching the effort (just getting started). If you are questioned about what your school is doing about air quality threats, you can say "I will be learning about the issues and looking into what my school is doing. I hope YOU (PRESS) will continue to follow our story."

Remember! You may be asked "Why are you involved?" Think about it. That's your answer to give.

And don't be late! Any questions?

Heather Baker-Sullivan
666-3047 or email (no calls after 9:30 P)

For February 28, 2005 Release
Contact: Heather Baker-Sullivan 914-666-3047 or Adiel Gavish 914 422-4053

MEDIA ADVISORY

High School Students of the Westchester Environmental Student Council (WESC) Lead Campaign to Improve Air Quality At Westchester’s Schools, and Join Budding Statewide School District-by-School District Movement

WHO: Westchester Environmental Student Council, (WESC), a program of the Federated Conservationists of Westchester County (FCWC), a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental advocacy and education since 1965

WHAT: Press conference

WHEN: 3:30 PM, Wednesday, March 2nd 2005

WHERE: In front of the Martine Ave. steps of Westchester County Michaelian Office Building (Martine Avenue and Court Street), White Plains, NY

WHY: High school students from WESC, a Westchester county-wide extracurricular environmental education program of the Federated Conservationists of Westchester County, will announce a student initiated campaign to advocate for improving air quality on school grounds in at least six Westchester school districts (Chappaqua, Scarsdale, Mamaroneck, John Jay, Hastings and Harrison). The initiative was sparked by information they learned from “The Healthy Air Action Plan for Westchester County”, a report composed by the Healthy Air Task Force, which FCWC chaired, and released last month.

The Action Plan, commissioned by the Westchester County Board of Legislator’s Environment Committee, outlines local air pollution sources, health impacts and action the County can take to reduce air pollution in Westchester. Westchester’s air quality is documented as one of the worst in the state. Recent studies point to the special threat that air pollution, and in particular, diesel exhaust, poses to children’s health (For a report released this month on the dangers of diesel emissions, and local data, see www.alanys.org).

WESC students will be arranging meetings with school officials to educate them and advocate for formal policies to eliminate unnecessary bus, passenger vehicle, and truck idling on school property; the use of ultra low sulfur diesel fuel for school buses; and retiring or retrofitting older buses.

Members of the Task Force responsible for the report, legislators, including Hon. Tom Abinanti, chair of the Legislators Committee on the Environment, and FCWC board members are expected to attend.