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Breath Matters
The American Lung Association of California’s Monthly e-Newsletter
Improving Life, One Breath at a Time
To automatically connect with your nearest American Lung Association, or to speak with a nurse or respiratory therapist at our free HelpLine, call 800.LUNG.USA (800.586.4872).
June 30, 2003 Number 101
Content:
TOBACCO TAX CAMPAIGN HEATS UP
Associations across California are supporting the Coalition for a Healthy Future1s campaign to raise the tobacco tax $1.50 and allocate 20 cents to reducing tobacco use.
After months of meetings at the Capitol and the districts, 25 members of the State Assembly and Senate support the Coalition1s tobacco tax increase and 20-cent allocation proposal. American Lung Association staff and volunteers are working to secure more support among legislators. More than 10,000 postcards were delivered to Governor Davis and legislative leaders. Hundreds of phone calls have been made already this month to the 10 targeted legislative districts through paid phone banks. More than 35,000 e-mails have been sent to e-activists, which is generating faxes, e-mails and letters to legislators.
It1s an uphill battle in Sacramento with the tobacco industry wielding its power and legislators plagued with extreme budget deficits fighting for every last penny.
A recent study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, shows the tobacco industry is working overtime to undermine tobacco control efforts in California, spending $6 million on political activities and contributing $1.7 million to political campaigns in 2001-2002. A San Francisco Chronicle article about the report can be viewed at SFGate.com.
For more information, contact Paul Knepprath at 916.442.4446, ext. 13, or pknepprath [at] alac [dot] org.
CLEAN FLEETS PROGRAM FEATURED IN CALNGV NEWSLETTER
The American Lung Association of California1s Clean Fleets Program was featured in the June 9 issue of the California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition1s newsletter. The article touts the association1s success at encouraging nearly 40 cities and counties across California to pass clean fleets policies.
The Clean Fleets Program was recently refunded by the Energy Foundation and will continue to expand its efforts to reduce air pollution with cleaner-fueled vehicles. Efforts are focused on following up with agencies that have passed clean fleets ordinances and encouraging them to increase their purchases of cleaner-fueled vehicles, including light duty hybrid-electric and natural gas vehicles. Another focus is on finding new ways to demonstrate their cost-effectiveness by compiling data on cities and counties that have saved money with their programs.
The American Lung Association of Santa Clara-San Benito Counties has made significant progress with local cities through the Clean Fleets Program. Campbell, Cupertino, Morgan Hill, Palo Alto and Sunnyvale all unanimously adopted clean fleets ordinances in recent months. Recent additions in the Central Valley include Madera and Visalia.
For more information, contact Vandana Bali at 310.319.9438 or vbali [at] alac [dot] org.
"ITALIAN JOB" SHOWS AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION BILLBOARD
The movie "The Italian Job," which is currently showing in theaters and features Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron, shows a Los Angeles billboard that keeps a tally of people who die from tobacco use. The billboard prominently features the American Lung Association1s logo.
One of the main characters is stuck in traffic on Santa Monica Boulevard, where the billboard is located. He is smoking a cigarette when he looks over and sees the billboard. He immediately puts out his cigarette.
When he returns to his group of friends, the character tells them how many people died of tobacco use while he was stuck in traffic. He never smokes again in the movie.
The billboard has been sponsored by Web Services, Inc., since 1988. For more information, contact Andy Weisser at 818.703.6444 or aweisser [at] earthlink [dot] net.
EPA HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING ON "NON-ROAD" DIESELS
Representatives from the American Lung Association spoke in favor of a proposal to lower pollution from heavy diesel vehicles and clean up diesel fuel at a public hearing and news conference in Los Angeles. The June 17 public hearing was held by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to seek comment on "non-road" diesel equipment like farm and construction vehicles, as well as boats and trains.
Robert Berliner, American Lung Association of Los Angeles County board member, testified at the hearing and American Lung Association of California staff member Vandana Bali spoke at a related news conference held with other environmental groups.
For more information, link to the news release at http://californialung.org/press/030617epa.html, or contact Bonnie Holmes-Gen at 916.442.4446, ext. 11, or bhgen [at] alac [dot] org.
BRIEF SUPPORTING MEDIA CAMPAIGN FILED IN TOBACCO SUIT
The American Lung Association of California filed an amicus curiae ("friend of the court") brief along with the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association in the legal action brought by RJ Reynolds and Lorillard Tobacco Companies against the Proposition 99 media campaign.
The association1s brief supports the state Department of Health Services in their defense of the Proposition 99 anti-tobacco advertisements. The plaintiffs are claiming their First Amendment rights have been violated based on "forced speech" because tobacco taxes are being used on advertisements that are against their interests. They also claim their due process has been violated because they are unable to get a fair trial in the civil lawsuits being brought against them.
For more information, contact Paul Knepprath at 916.442.4446, ext. 13, or pknepprath [at] alac [dot] org.
CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON NATURALLY OCURRING ASBESTOS
Jenny Bard, communications and fundraising director for the American Lung Association of California-Redwood Empire Branch, was a featured speaker at a June 19 asbestos training workshop in Lakeport sponsored by the Lake County Air Quality Management District. Naturally occurring asbestos, which is present in Lake County as well as in 43 other California Counties, is a serious health hazard that can cause a deadly form of lung cancer called mesothelioma.
The workshop was held to educate government staff, private interests, and community groups about current regulations to control emissions from construction activities that can generate airborne asbestos.
Bard will also serve on an advisory panel for the air district to explore additional measures to educate homeowners about how to identify naturally occurring asbestos and reduce their exposure to it.
For more information, contact Jenny Bard at 707.527.5864 or jbard [at] alac [dot] org.
SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION HONORED WITH BLUE CROSS AWARD
The American Lung Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties was one of five agencies recognized with a Blue Cross Community Service Award recently for its outreach and educational programs. The association's Lung Express was one of a handful of projects included in a film produced by Blue Cross for its community awards events, which are taking place throughout the country.
The Lung Express is a 40-foot bus converted into a traveling museum that features state-of-the-art lung health educational exhibits that are colorful to look at and fun to experience. The natural gas-powered bus is teaching young people in San Diego about lung health.
For more information, contact Ross Porter at 619.297.3901 or ross [at] lungsandiego [dot] org.
SACRAMENTO KEEPS GRANT FUNDING FOR TOBACCO PROGRAMS
While recent budget cuts have forced many nonprofit organizations to restructure their programs, the American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails was able to hang on to two important projects.
The STARS Project, which works statewide to find solutions to tobacco use in entertainment, will now be combined with the Thumbs Up! Thumbs Down! Program (TUTD). The SceneSmoking.org Web site will continue to post the current movie data weekly and TUTD will take over maintaining the only youth-driven research on tobacco depiction in film to date.
The community college project STAND will also continue to work with 18 to 24-year-olds throughout the community and with the three main Los Rios Community College campuses.
For more information, contact Kori Titus at 916.444.5864 or ktitus [at] saclung [dot] org.
BIKE FOR BREATH SET FOR JULY 12
The American Lung Association of San Francisco & San Mateo Counties will hold its Bike for Breath bicycle ride on Saturday, July 12. Four routes are offered with varying degrees of "breathlessness."
The 16K Mini Breath Ride takes cyclists along the bay front bike paths of Foster City. The 30K Little Breath Ride follow the same paths and includes another loop through the peaceful neighborhood of Redwood Shores. The 80K Big Breath Ride travels along the rolling hills of the peninsula while the 100K Baaad Breath Ride includes the hills and adds a loop alongside the picturesque Crystal Springs Reservoir.
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