Environmental Stewardship
There
is growing interest among many religious institution around the
country in good stewardship of the planet earth. The Neighborhood
Network is working to foster and harness this interest on Long
Island, to create positive change. To that end we have joined
with a number of representatives of religious congregations to
form the Long Island Interfaith
Environmental Network (LIIEN).
The Neighborhood Network
is helping a group of Massapequa residents to enhance appreciation
of the 423 acres of woodlands, ponds, and freshwater wetlands
known as the Massapequa Preserve. Stewardship of the Preserve
is desperately lacking, and the group is looking at alternative
activities for young people in the community who have been vandalizing
the Preserve.
Dedicated
Environmental Fund for Nassau County
The
Nassau Master Plan Task Force, which the Neighborhood Network
organized in 1996 was successful in convincing Nassau County Planners
to include in the County's first Master Plan a recommendation
for a Dedicated Environmental Fund. Although the recent Nassau
County fiscal crisis temporarily put this issue on the legislative
"back burner," the Neighborhood Network continued working
to see that it remained viable. In 2004, Nassau County voters
established a dedicated source of funding for the environment
by approving the $50 million Nassau
Clean Water, Open Space and Parks Trust Fund.
On election day, November
7, 2006 they approved by 73% a further $100 million environmental bond act.
Recent
polls show more public concern with energy costs than with any
other single issue. Energy conservation involves both the use
of new products and technology along with changed practices. The
Neighborhood Network was an early supporter of public power for
Long Island. The Neighborhood Network is now working to help educate
the public, businesses, and government about what we all can do
to conserve energy.
The current New York
State "Bottle Bill" exempts non-carbonated soft drinks,
although they make up more than 22% of the beverage market. Bills
have been proposed in the State Senate and Assembly, and in the
Suffolk County Legislature to put a deposit on these cans and
bottles.
A coalition of environmental
and civic groups have joined forces to save 450 acres of open
space in the Coram, Gordon Heights, Medford area. |
