EE-News @NAAEE - January 4, 2001

["Katharine N. Wang" <wangkn@xxxxxxxxxx>]

EE-NEWS @NAAEE
January 4, 2001

The semi-monthly email bulletin for members of the
North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE).

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EE-NEWS ITEMS
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* RESEARCH/PUBLISHING OPPORTUNITIES*
1. Rainwater International 2001 - Call for Papers
2. The Mesa Refuge

* GRANTS*
3. Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowships
4. Office of Environmental Justice Small Grants Program
5. Mobile Source Outreach Assistance Competition

* UPDATES FROM THE HILL*
6. The 107th Congress
7. National Organic Standards
8. Bush Cabinet Nominations

* EE RESOURCES*
9. Social Issues and the Environment: A Green Approach to Improving Our
Communities


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RESEARCH/PUBLISHING OPPORTUNITIES
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1. RAINWATER INTERNATIONAL 2001 - CALL FOR PAPERS
September 10-14, Mannheim, Germany

The conference will reflect on the growing realization that rainwater
harvesting offers great potential in solving domestic and agricultural water
problems in humid and semi-arid areas and also many critical urban-related
water issues. It will provide a global platform and an exchange forum for
technologies and concepts across countries and continents.

Abstracts of less than 200 words will be accepted until January 31st -
potential topics include public/official support and awareness creation
about rainwater harvesting (legal aspects, policy, attitudes, education,
training, etc).  For more information visit:

http://www.rainwaterconference.org/english/



2. THE MESA REFUGE

The Mesa Refuge invites people to think and write about the edges between
human activity and the natural world we are obliged to preserve. Situated on
a bluff overlooking Tomales Bay (CA) and surrounding wetlands, the Refuge
offers full amenities and catered meals at no cost for writers looking for a
time away from the interruptions of daily life.

The application deadline for the Spring-Summer 2001 sessions is February
15th.  The Selection Committee will meet in March to make a final selection
of candidates.  Spring-Summer sessions begin in April and run through July.
For more information and an application, call the Common Counsel Foundation
at (510) 834-2995 or visit:
http://www.commoncounsel.org/pages/mesa.html




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GRANTS
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3. ALBERT EINSTEIN DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR FELLOWSHIPS

The distinguished educator fellowships for elementary and secondary school
mathematics and science teachers are administered by the Department of
Energy under the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Act of
1994.  Selected teachers spend up to one year in a Congressional Office or a
federal agency. During the fellowship period, fellows receive a stipend of
$5,000 per month.

Applicants must be a citizen of the U.S. at the time of their selection (May
1st), have a minimum of five years' full-time experience in a public or
private elementary or secondary school, have a current teaching assignment
with at least seventy-five percent of the classroom hours devoted to
science, mathematics, and/or technology (applies to secondary school
teachers only), and provide three recommendations (one of them from a school
district official). Applications are available online.  Deadline: February
1st.

http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/einstein/



4. OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM

The purpose of this grant program is to provide financial assistance to
eligible community groups (i.e., community-based/grassrootsorganizations,
churches, or other nonprofit organizations) and federally recognized tribal
governments that are working on or plan to carry out projects to address
environmental justice issues. Preference for awards will be given to
community-based/grassroots organizations that are working on local solutions
to local environmental problems. Funds can be used to develop a new activity
or substantially improve the quality of existing programs that have a direct
impact on affected communities. All awards will be made in the form of a
grant not to exceed one year.  Deadline: March 9th.

Federal Register: December 26, 2000 (Volume 65, Number
248)
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2000_register&doci
d=00-32667-filed

EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance - Environmental Justice
Grants
http://es.epa.gov/oeca/main/ej/grants.html


5. MOBILE SOURCE OUTREACH ASSISTANCE COMPETITION

EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality is soliciting proposals from
state, local, multi-state and tribal air pollution control agencies for
mobile sources-related public education and outreach projects.  To allow for
efficient management of the competitive process, EPA is requesting that
agencies submit an informal "Intent to Apply" by January 7th - submission
instruction can be accessed online.

For more information: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/rfp.htm



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UPDATES FROM THE HILL
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6. THE 107TH CONGRESS

The House will convene jointly with the Senate for the counting of the
ballots cast by the Electoral College in the election of the President of
the United States on Saturday, January 6th.



7. NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS

The final national standards for the production, handling, and processing of
organically grown agricultural products was passed on December 20, 2000.
The new organic standard details the methods, practices and substances that
can be used in producing and handling organic crops and livestock, as well
as processed products. It establishes clear organic labeling criteria, and
specifically prohibits the use of genetic engineering methods, ionizing
radiation, and sewage sludge for fertilization.

Consumers are expected to see the new organic labeling on products in their
local grocery stores by the summer of 2001, with full implementation by
mid-2002. For more information:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/



8. BUSH CABINET NOMINATIONS

President-elect George W. Bush has nominated the following people to serve
on his cabinet:

Agriculture Secretary:
Ann Veneman, former California Agriculture Secretary.

Department of Health and Human Services:
Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-Wisc)

Education Secretary:
Rod Paige, superintendent of Houston public schools.

Energy Secretary:
Sen. Spenser Abraham (R-Mich.).

EPA Administrator:
Gov. Christie Whitman (R-NJ).
(Bush plans to elevate the EPA administrator's job to a full Cabinet-level
position)

Interior Secretary:
Gale Norton, former Colorado Attorney General.

Labor Secretary:
Linda Chavez, director of the U.S. Commission on Civil
Rights under President Reagan.

Secretary of Commerce:
Don Evans, chair of the Bush campaign and Bush's
national finance chairman.

Secretary of Defense:
Donald Rumsfeld, President Ford's defense secretary
from 1975 to 1977.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development:
Mel Martinez, chairman of the
Orange County, Florida board of commissioners.

State Department:
Retired Gen. Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff under President Bush.

Transportation Secretary:
Rep. Norman Mineta (D-Calif.).

Treasury Department:
Paul O'Neill, chairman of Alcoa Corp.

Veterans Affairs Secretary:
Anthony Principi, deputy secretary of Veterans
Affairs under President Bush.


Biography: The Bush team, CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/12/22/bush.transition/index.html


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EE RESOURCES
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9. SOCIAL ISSUES AND THE ENVIRONMENT: A GREEN APPROACH TO IMPROVING OUR
COMMUNITIES
March 6 - 8, Lied Conference Center, Nebraska City, Nebraska

This national conference has been designed to provide an exchange of
information and an opportunity for community leaders to better understand
the inter-relationship of societal and environmental issues.  Presenters
will look at how natural resources and the use of green space contribute to
the success of communities. Key topics will include community gardens,
improving open spaces, business district revitalization, youth projects, and
their impact on societal concerns such as crime, economics, and public
health. Situations from across the U.S. will be described along with
programs designed to address them and show how these programs have led to
positive results. A goal of the conference is to provide concepts and
materials that are transferable to communities of all sizes. Ample
opportunity will be provided for discussions with speakers and for
participants to share information from their own community experiences.  The
Social Issues and the Environment conference is sponsored by the National
Arbor Day Foundation.  Early registration ends February 20th.

For more information and to register online, visit:
http://www.arborday.org/programs/socIssBrochure.html



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