Tired of pollution, Chicago students demand clean air

CHICAGO - "We deserve clean air in our neighborhoods, and we're tired of the pollution," said 18-year-old Luis Vega June 15 during a protest here against two local power plants he says are the leading cause of pollution.

Vega was joined by dozens of other students, calling themselves the "Anti-Pollution Revolution," from area high schools in the predominantly Mexican-American Pilsen neighborhood, where the action took place near one of the plants.

"This is extremely important not just because of the pollution, but this is about inequality," said Jimena Castorena, 19, one of the young activists. She notes the Midwest Generation-owned Fisk Coal Plant and the H. Kramer & Co. Brass and Bronze Smelting plant are located in two of the city's predominantly Latino southwest side neighborhoods. "If these plants were in any other neighborhood, the residents would not allow it," she said. "We deserve equality and clean air like any other affluent community."

The students, including members of local environmental justice and community groups, are urging the City Council to pass the Clean Air Ordinance, which would force the two power plants to reduce the pollution produced by 90 percent. They add the Pilsen-located H. Kramer & Co. plant is the main contributor to high levels of lead in the air.

Activists say dozens of people every year get sick and even die from the pollution produced at the plants. The amount of pollution responsible for these illnesses, including the epidemic of asthma-related cases in the city, are unacceptable, they add.

Graham Jordison, an activist with the Pilsen Environmental Rights and reform Organization said all the students have to do is look out their classroom windows to see the smoke stacks rising in the air. "Everyday, these kids are out here playing or taking breaks from school and have to breathe in the dirty pollution," he said.

Action on the part of state lawmakers has been stalled, which is why we are demanding action at the city level, said Christine Nannicelli, 26, with the Sierra Club.

She notes more people live near these two plants and their polluted air than any other plant in the nation.

"We need the mayor and the City Council to address the air pollution of these plants immediately," she said. "They need to pass the city ordinance and make the plants clean up by forcing them to stop burning coal or shut them down."

Reflecting on the youth activism and the pressure mounting by the community, Nannicelli said, "I think we can win this campaign and the city is ultimately going to have to take some action. And it's our generation that's going to have to step up and make our voices heard on this issue.

Mexican Walking Fish, an Adorable Endangered Critter | Fishing ...

A walking fish , also called an ambulatory fish is the general term referring to fish that are actually capable of walking on land for lengthy periods of time. This term can also be used to describe fish that “walk” along the floor of the sea.

The most adorable little fellow, sadly endangered resembles Stitch from the Disney motion picture Lilo and Stitch. The Axolotl salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum), is most commonly referred to as simply the “Mexican walking fish”, or “Mexican water monster”.

This cute little creature is threatened with extinction due to habitat destruction and water pollution. One very cool thing about the Mexican walking fish is its superhero-like ability to regenerate most body parts.

How endangered is it?

To show just how endangered these little critters are, according to the Yahoo News/Associated Press:

“The number of axolotls (pronounced ACK-suh-LAH-tuhl) in the wild is not known. But the population has dropped from roughly 1,500 per square mile in 1998 to a mere 25 per square mile this year, according to a survey by Zambrano’s scientists using casting nets.”

What exactly is it?

The Axolotl is not actually a fish. It is an amphibian (a salamander). Because it is actually a salamander, it belongs to a class of Amphibia, which also includes toads, frogs, etc.

Don’t confuse this little guy with a lizard. Though salamanders and lizards look similar, they are far different. Salamanders, for example have a three-chambered heart, whereas reptiles have four (like humans).

Scientific growth to maturity.

The Axolotl is a fascinating creature for a number of reasons, including its grotesque appearance, its ability to regenerate, and primarily the fact that it exhibits the phenomenon known as neoteny. Ordinarily, amphibians undergo metamorphosis from egg to larva (the tadpole of a frog is a larva), and finally to adult form. The Axolotl, along with a number of other amphibians, remains in its larval form throughout its life. This means that it retains its gills and fins, and it doesn’t develop the protruding eyes, eyelids and characteristics of other adult salamanders. It grows much larger than a normal larval salamander, and it reaches sexual maturity in this larval stage. Another term to describe this state is “perennibranchiate”. The animal is completely aquatic, and although it does possess rudimentary lungs, it breathes primarily through its gills and to a lesser extent, its skin.

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