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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).
October 31, 2006 Number 141
Content:
Find your nearest Flu Shot Clinic through the American Lung Association’s free flu clinic locator at www.californialung.org
GET OUT THE VOTE: FIGHT BIG TOBACCO AND VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 86
The November 7, 2006, General Election is fast approaching and you can play a vital role in getting out a yes vote on the Proposition 86 tobacco-tax initiative by participating in a phone bank. To get involved, visit www.phi.org/phonebank
Proposition 86 would raise the state’s tobacco tax on a pack of cigarettes by $2.60 and would provide approximately $2.1 billion annually for anti-smoking programs, disease research and treatment efforts, children’s health insurance, emergency room care and nursing education. The American Lung Association of California joined a broad coalition of health advocates to sponsor the initiative.
For more information, visit www.yesonprop86.com or contact Paul Knepprath at 916.442.4446 or pknepprath [at] alac [dot] org
GET OUT THE VOTE: FIGHT BIG OIL AND VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 87
To help reduce our dependence on petroleum, the American Lung Association of California is actively supporting Proposition 87 on the November ballot, which would require oil companies to pay drilling fees similar to those paid in Alaska and Texas. The funds would support a $4-billion effort to reduce petroleum use in California by 25 percent over 10 years and increase renewable energy.
Several big name supporters have joined the campaign, including President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Senator Barack Obama and celebrities like Robert Redford and Ben Affleck.
At a recent rally speech at the University of California, Los Angeles, President Clinton met with American Lung Association of California volunteer families with children who have asthma before the event. During the rally he said, “There is a reason the American Lung Association and the nurses’ association and all the asthma and lung cancer experts are for Proposition 87; you’ve got an air quality problem here.”
Related news events have featured the following volunteers who addressed the health effects of air pollution, including Susan Sprau, MD, who introduced Robert Redford in Los Angeles; Matt Keener, who introduced Barack Obama who introduced Ben Affleck in Los Angeles; and Christine Bryant, who introduced Robert Redford in San Diego.
To view the ad featuring President Clinton and the American Lung Association of California, visit www.yeson87.com
For more information, contact Andy Weisser at 818.703.6444 or aweisser [at] earthlink [dot] net or Bonnie Holmes-Gen at 916.442.4446 or bhgen [at] alac [dot] org
ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES ATTEND GREENHOUSE GAS BILL SIGNING
American Lung Association of California representatives were on hand for the official signing of landmark legislation that will cut greenhouse gas emissions. Signing ceremonies were held in Los Angeles and San Francisco for AB 32 (Nunez/Pavley), which was strongly supported by the association.
Trisha Murakawa, board secretary and chair of the Communications Committee, attended the Los Angeles event while clean air activists Bonnie Holmes-Gen and Linda Weiner attended the ceremony in San Francisco.
To view the legislation, visit http://www.assembly.ca.gov and click on “legislation” to search for AB 32.
For more information, contact Linda Weiner at 415.282.8871 or linwiner [at] earthlink [dot] net, or Bonnie Holmes-Gen at 916.442.4446 or bhgen [at] alac [dot] org
VOLUNTEER SPOKESPERSON QUOTED ON MEN, AGING AND LUNG FUNCTION
In an October 16 Los Angeles Times article about men, aging and lung function, American Lung Association of California volunteer spokesperson Jeffrey Kupperman, MD, was quoted. Dr. Kupperman is also president of the association’s medical section, the California Thoracic Society.
Dr. Kupperman’s reference included the following: The lungs lose about 30 milliliters to 35 milliliters of function a year, says Dr. Jeffrey Kupperman, a Santa Barbara-based pulmonary specialist and spokesman for the American Lung Association of California. This decline is due to a gradual loss of lung elasticity, caused partly by a decrease in a protein, elastin. "The lungs don't get in the air in and out as well as they do you when you're younger," Kupperman says.
SOUTH COAST AIR BOARD VOTES TO OPEN POLLUTION CREDIT RESERVES
Despite the American Lung Association of California’s efforts to stop pollution credit trading, the South Coast Air Quality Management District voted to open its pollution credit “priority reserve.” The recent move could lead to the construction of new power plants in communities already disproportionately impacted by high levels of pollution.
The priority reserve is the portion of the district’s air pollution trading credits system reserved for important public services such as schools, hospitals, and public buildings. The board is opening its priority reserve to give it the opportunity to grant credits to build three power plants in the South Coast basin and to sell credits to two upwind air districts to build two additional power plants.
For more information, contact Colleen Callahan at 323.839.8116 or ccallahan [at] oclung [dot] org
MOLLIE STONE'S MARKETS ENDS TOBACCO SALES
Mollie Stone’s markets may be known for their wide selection of fine cheese, produce, meat and gourmet products, but now it’s making a name for itself by becoming the first major grocery store in the Bay Area to stop selling tobacco products. The eight-store chain removed all tobacco products from its shelves and will soon begin returning its $30,000 inventory to manufacturers. The decision makes the company the first in the Bay Area to ban tobacco products.
The American Lung Association of California applauded the move and association representative from its Emeryville office, Arleen Francisco, was quoted in an article by The Daily Journal as saying: “Hopefully other stores will follow suit.”
For more information, contact Arleen Francisco at 510.893.5474 or afrancisco [at] alaebay [dot] org
HEALTH COMMITTEE APPROVES LIMITS ON BAY AREA WOOD SMOKE
The Public Health Committee of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District recently adopted the American Lung Association of California’s recommendations for the control of wood smoke pollution in the Bay Area. If adopted by the full air board, the suggested control measures will place the air district in the forefront of protecting air quality in California.
An important provision includes a mandatory burn ban when particle pollution levels reach “unhealthy levels.” The association advocated for a 24-hour 2.5 PM level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter, the same as what the association is calling for nationwide.
For more information, contact Jenny Bard at 707.527.5864 or jbard [at] alac [dot] org
EAST BAY SUPPORTER NAMED NATIONWIDE VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK
John Bess was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the young age of 40. His condition worsened, and eventually he was not able to continue his work as an engineer and had to go on disability. A year ago, he approached the American Lung Association of California’s Emeryville office and expressed an interest in becoming involved with its COPD programs. He now volunteers with the American Lung Association approximately 16 hours per week.
Bess has reorganized and updated the Better Breathers program information for the Bay Area on the American Lung Association’s website; served as an association representative at the Heart Lung Games, where he earned two gold medals in the process; and spearheaded the Bay Area's first Respiratory Rally for people with COPD.
For more information, visit http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2091045
RESEARCHER HOPES TO PREVENT CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE IN BABIES
Babies who are born prematurely or who experience respiratory problems shortly after birth are at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Although most infants fully recover from BPD, it can be a serious condition requiring intensive medical care.
Vedang Londhe, MD, is hoping to find a way to prevent the chronic lung disease. The University of California, Los Angeles, researcher is studying whether exposure to infection in the womb is a potential cause of BPD. His project is one of 12 funded by the American Lung Association of California, which granted nearly $700,000 to lung disease research in fiscal year 2006-2007.
For more information about funded projects, visit http://californialung.org/research/research.html
GIVING THANKS Send a special Thanksgiving message to those close to you with a donation to the American Lung Association. It’s a meaningful and easy way to celebrate the holiday. To donate, visit http://californialung.org/donate/donate.html
TELL A FRIEND Forward this e-newsletter to friends, family and business contacts. Encourage them to subscribe for free at http://www.californialung.org. Signing up is easy. Just enter your e-mail address at the upper left corner of the Web site homepage below the logo.
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