We must fully fund America’s best conservation program

Bucks County Courier Times

Guest Opinion by Jessica Bellwoar

Posted Jul 2, 2019 at 11:34 AM

As many of us get ready to kick off our July Fourth vacations, sightseeing and picnics, it’s the perfect time to celebrate America’s commitment to preserving the outdoors and our access to it.

But protecting and maintaining these iconic outdoor destinations don’t happen by accident. That requires sustained stewardship, as well as money. Right now, Congress has a chance to make sure Pennsylvania’s outdoor treasures are protected for generations to come.

That means fully funding America’s best conservation program: the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

In the early 1960s, President John F. Kennedy came up with the idea for the program, later signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965. The promise? To invest hundreds of millions of dollars in outdoor projects for the benefit of all Americans.

In the 54 years that the fund has been around, it has supported over 41,000 projects in all 50 states, whether national parks (think Valley Forge, the Appalachian Trail, Gettysburg and Delaware Water Gap), hiking trails or youth sports fields.

All Americans benefit from Land and Water Conservation dollars. Despite how long the fund has been around, most Pennsylvanians are unaware of how it enhances our quality of life and the environment around us. For example, the fund is the reason we could create the Flight 93 Memorial to both honor the victims from 9/11 and restore the surrounding area in Shanksville by planting hundreds of trees to build a new forest alongside the memorial.

Over the years, Congress has had to reauthorize the fund multiple times, but legislators have only twice fully funded the program at $900 million. Instead, common practice has been to divert the money elsewhere. In fact, Congress has raided $22 billion from the fund since its inception.

But in 2019, hope rises like spacious skies over amber waves of grain.

With overwhelming majorities, Congress passed a bill signed by President Donald Trump in March that permanently reauthorized the fund. Then, two weeks ago, a bipartisan group of representatives, including Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick from Bucks County, unveiled a bill in the House that would allocate the full annual allotment of $900 million. That bill has passed out of committee and now heads for a full floor vote. The Senate also held a hearing on June 25 on a similar bipartisan bill for full funding.

Fitzpatrick continues to be a vocal champion for Pennsylvania’s public parks and our outdoor treasures. If we are going to protect the Land and Water Conservation Fund for years to come, we need all of our Pennsylvania senators and members of Congress to fight for secure, permanent, long-term funding so that Bucks County can benefit from places like Neshaminy State Park, Tyler State Park and Core Creek Park.

So while we’re enjoying celebrating our nation’s birthday, we should remember that one of the reasons we have so many beautiful destinations to choose from is the Land and Water Conservation Fund. I think we can all agree that a dollar spent to protect America’s iconic landmarks today and for generations to come is a good investment.

I’m encouraged and inspired by the overwhelming public support behind the fund. Now it’s time for our elected officials to finish the job and fully fund America’s best conservation program.

Jessica Bellwoar is the conservation associate for PennEnvironment, a citizen-based nonprofit environmental advocacy group.

Photo Credit: Jackie Brochman

PennEnvironment, Rep. Mike Zabel join Local Townships as Thousands of Residents Recycle Electronic Devices

PennEnvironment, Rep. Mike Zabel join Local Townships as Thousands of Residents Recycle Electronic Devices

PennEnvironment News Release

For Immediate Release

Sunday, May 19, 2019

MARPLE, PA — PennEnvironment and Representative Mike Zabel of Delaware County joined Newtown, Haverford, and Marple Townships for their Annual Electronic Recycling Event on Saturday.

Thousands of residents took advantage of the townships free recycling event. Yet, many in Pennsylvania don’t have access to electronic recycling programs. It’s one reason PennEnvironment is working with Rep. Zabel and others State House legislators on the “Zero Waste PA” legislative package to address our state’s growing waste and to tackle our “throw-away” society.

Saturday’s recycling drive-through event took place at Delaware County Community College and drew township residents, whose cars zig-zagged in long rows around the parking lots as they waited to unload their old cell phones, computers, televisions, microwaves, fax machines, air conditioners, small appliances, and more. Township officials estimate that more than 4,000 residents took part in the electronic waste, or e-waste, recycling event this year. Residents waited in lines for up to 2 hours to make sure they were diligently recycling their obsolete and unused electronic products.

“Residents across Delaware County and across Pennsylvania want the ability to easily recycle their outdated electronics because it’s good for the environment,” said Jessica Bellwoar, PennEnvironment’s Conservation Associate, “but we have vastly inadequate e-waste recycling programs and facilities in Pennsylvania and challenged by a failing e-waste program”.

In 2017, there were 58.1 million pounds of covered devices recycled in PA by 62 manufacturers according to the Pennsylvania DEP. Despite this seemingly large amount, we only recycle 12.5 percent of e-waste nationally.

“It’s clear that Delco residents want a better way to recycle their our old electronics, and I am committed to making that process easier and more accessible,” said Rep. Mike Zabel. “This isn’t a partisan issue, just one of a common sense. Our electronics recycling law needs reform, and I am ready to lead the way.”

While e-waste represents only 2% of America’s trash in landfills, it represents 70% of the toxicity in the waste stream as electronics contain dangerous chemicals like mercury, cadmium, and lead. Research has shown that leached toxic materials in electronics can cause cancer, reproductive disorders, brain and kidney damage and many other health problems.

To better protect our environment from toxic run-off and properly dispose of our electronics, we need to dramatically update Pennsylvania’s e-waste programs to be more effective.

That’s why PennEnvironment is thankful to Rep. Mike Zabel for introducing legislation in the State House to modernize Pennsylvania’s e-waste law and make it easier for all of us to recycle our old or unused electronics.

“When over two-thirds of Pennsylvania counties do not have access to free and convenient electronic recycling,” said Bellwoar, “we need to act and make it easier for all Pennsylvanians to be good stewards of the earth by recycling their electronic products.”

Rep. Zabel’s legislation is part of the “Zero Waste PA” package of 13 house bills aiming to reduce how disposable our society has become.

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PennEnvironment is a statewide, citizen-based grassroots environmental advocacy group, dedicated to protecting our air, water and open spaces. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public and decision-makers, and help the public make their voices heard in local, state and national debates over the quality of our environment and our lives. For more information, visit www.PennEnvironment.org.

Zero Waste PA Plan Deserves Support

PA House Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler speaking at Zero Waste PA press conference in April 2019, alongside 10 other PA House Reps. Photo Credit: Author

Letter to the Editor of The Delco Times:

Published 04/27/19

Dear Editor,

As the nation celebrates Earth Day this week, it’s important to applaud the leadership of our local elected officials working to protect our environment.

In particular, I was excited to hear about Chester County Reps. Danielle Friel Otten and Melissa Shusterman introducing legislation to create composting systems and improve systems for “hard to recycle” items like plastic and styrofoam packaging.

The representatives proposals are part of a larger package of bills being introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly called the “Zero Waste PA” legislation.

In total, the Zero Waste Pa. legislation will promote more recycling across the state, address pollution from single use plastics and chronic litter problems facing many communities, and help divert waste from our landfills and incinerators.

This Earth Day, Reps. Friel Otten and Shusterman deserve a pat on the back from their constituents for their work to make sure that every day is Earth Day.

Jessica Bellwoar
Conservation Associate
PennEnvironment

House approves public lands bill, permanently reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund

America’s most successful conservation and recreation program is now one step away from being law

PennEnvironment News Release

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

PHILADELPHIA — In a bipartisan 363-62 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a public lands bill last week that, if signed into law by President Trump, will permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The bill passed the Senate 92-8 in late February.

LWCF, a historically bipartisan program that has funded projects in all 50 states since its inception in 1965, expired on September 30, 2018. The program supported everything from the expansion and maintenance of local parks and recreation centers to places like the Delaware River Water Gap, Valley Forge, Gettysburg National Park, and the Flight 93 Memorial

In Pennsylvania, LWCF has helped fund the creation and maintenance of more than 1,500 projects investing more than $315 million in the Commonwealth.

While the vote passed with broad support, sadly, Congressman Scott Perry was the only Pennsylvania House delegate to oppose renewing the program. PennEnvironment applauds the members of Congress who voted in support of protecting public lands.

Jessica Bellwoar, Conservation Associate for PennEnvironment, issued the following statement.

“America’s public lands — our National Parks, Forests and Wildlife Refuges — are the nation’s best known treasures and at the heart of a legacy of what makes America beautiful. By permanently reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Congress has reinstated one of our best tools for ensuring we can protect these iconic places.”

“We urge President Trump to sign the bill into law. Our public lands deserve no less.”

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PennEnvironment is a citizen-based, statewide environmental advocacy organization working to ensure clean air, clean water, and protecting Pennsylvania’s great natural heritage. For more information about this and other PennEnvironment projects, visit www.PennEnvironment.org.

For a list of projects funded by LWCF, go to https://www.lwcfcoalition.com/.

Help to preserve our places of natural heritage

Photo Credit: Valley Forge National Historical Park in Autumn (VFTCB)

Letter to the Editor of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

Published 09/01/18

Dear Editor,

Labor Day is a special weekend for families, and many Pennsylvanians will spend time outside visiting the state’s scenic landscapes and national parks.

What many Pennsylvanians may not realize is that many of these important natural heritages have been preserved through a program called the Land and Water Conservation Fund. They include places like Valley Forge, Gettysburg and the Flight 93 Memorial in Somerset County. Locally, it has helped fund more then $1.32 million in protection and maintenance of Settlers Cabin Regional Park, Brentwood Borough Community Park and North Shore Park.

Unfortunately, without congressional action this fall, LWCF will expire and put many of the greatest places here and across the country at risk. For decades, LWCF has protected the places we love and cherish. Now we must protect LWCF.

I hope concerned citizens will call and email Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey and U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb and ask them to reauthorize LWCF this fall.

JESSICA BELLWOAR
Conservation Associate
PennEnvironment
Philadelphia, Pa.

Vinyl Shops and Old Turkish Records

It smells faintly of dust and old cardboard as I stroll through the stacks of records in Deform Music. The floorboards squeak beneath my feet as I go from one row to the next. I am searching for something specific – one record. I can feel my mind focusing as my hands touch each sleeve and my eyes quickly glance at the artists. My heart speeds up when I find what I am looking for: an LP by Selda Bağcan. This second-hand vinyl record contains Turkish psychedelic rock and a glimpse into ’70s Turkey.

Vinyl records may be a thing of the past, but nostalgia lasts forever. The feeling of owning a vinyl record never wears off for me because there’s a certain physical investment involved. I can see, feel, and touch the record with my own hands instead of reading words that appear on my computer screen. As the crackle of the radio begins, I become more engaged and the record feels even more real. Listening to music on a record player is an entirely different experience to listening to an MP3 or CD even. You need a willingness to be patient when searching for new records and it never hurts to have a group of friends surrounding you as you sit back and soak up the melody.

Vinyl records changed society, and I’m not just talking about Western society.

Turkey has its own music history dating back thousands of years, but the record scene also made its mark on Turkish musical history. The 1970s can be described as a time for Turkish psychedelic artists in the age of funk and rock fusion. Some of Turkey’s most popular music icons thrived in this decade. Some of my favorites include:

Photo Credit: İklim Arsiya

Barış Manço was a Turkish singer, poet and TV celebrity. His ’70s Anatolian psychedelic funk and meaningful lyrics still resonate with Turks across the country.

The superstar, Ajda Pekkan, is not only known in Turkey, but in France and Germany with her first albums being in translated into different languages. She is Turkey’s first pop singer and represented Turkey at the Eurovision Contest in 1980.

My personal favorite Turkish psychedelic rock artist is Selda Bağcan. Her tunes remind me of Jimi Hendrix, with electrifying chords on the guitar.

Other famous classical Turkish artists include Zeki Müren, the most famous Turkish singer that you’re likely to hear played if you go to a meyhane restaurant, and Orhan Gencebay, a multi-instrumentalist singer, director, and actor.

If you’re searching for modern Turkish pop artists, some of the most famous include Sezen Aksu, Ibrahim Tatlises, and the hugely popular Tarkan. Sezen Aksu, known as the Queen of Turkish pop, has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. Ibrahim Tatlises is a Turkish-Arabic singer with Kurdish origins. He was active throughout the ’80s and had an acting career in addition to singing. Tarzan Tevetoğlu, aka Tarkan, is the Prince of Pop in Turkish music culture. He is widely popular with young people and frequently uses romantic themes in his songs. The German born pop-star has international recognition, though he sings solely in Turkish.

Photo Credit: Elion Paz

Whenever I’m hunting for souvenirs, I always try to find something that speaks to a city’s true culture and not its tourism. Leaving Istanbul with an old school vinyl record will leave you feeling unique and on a high that no keychain or Turkish lamp can achieve. It’s a piece of memorabilia that identifies with Turkish people, Turkish music.

Vinyl Shops in Istanbul:

Analog Kültür offers an intimate space to record search to your heart’s desire. This small boutique is located in Galata and has a great variety of contemporary and some classic Turkish records. It also offers an escape off of the busy street.

Deform Muzik sells second hand records and is located in the quaint district of Çukurcuma. It stocks diverse range of genres, including 50s and 60s soul, funk or rock as well as Turkish and international records.

Sitting right in Tünel Square, Lale Plak has a large stock of Turkish psychedelic music such as Barış Manço and Ajda Pekkan. The store also sells new Turkish and international records.

Mandala Müzik Evi is hidden inside the Aslıhan Pasajı in Galatasaray. Mandala’s stock focuses on 1970s music, both Turkish and foreign.

Though Mono Plak has a wide variety of Eastern and Western classics and unique records. The store also specialises in folk, rock, jazz, and vintage Turkish music. It is located in Çukurcuma near Museum of the Innocence.

Opus 3A is in Cihangir and focuses on jazz, as well as legendary Turkish 70s pop icons with some rock and classical music.

Vintage Records has a vast collection of second-hand LPs from Turkish pop/rock of the 60s and 70s to English-language classic rock. The Kadıköy store also sells musical equipment.

Located on the basement level of the passageway Akmar Pasajı in Kadıköy, Zihni Müzik has one of the biggest collections of LPs in Istanbul. The stock offers over 9,000 records with most being second-hand.

Zoltan Records sells a variety of records but focuses on Turkish psychedelic, while also selling artwork. The store is located in Kadıköy.

Look out for the album listening events held at Kontraplak. This hip Galatasary record store nestles in amongst the bars, restaurants and boutiques of Yeniçarşı Caddesi.

Original Posting on Istanbul Tour Studios.