Is Attorney General’s Office Stonewalling Gasp for Political Purposes?

Is Attorney General’s Office Stonewalling Gasp for Political Purposes?
Post Date September 18, 2017
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If you’ve been following the North Birmingham corruption investigation involving Drummond Company, Balch & Bingham, and former Rep. Oliver Robinson, you know that our work is a huge part of the story. (Robinson plead guilty on Sept 7.) Yesterday, al.com’s John Archibald reported that newly appointed U.S. Attorney Jay Town is asking for patience in the ongoing corruption investigation — which suggests more indictments may very well be on their way.

We’re trying to do our part to ensure everyone responsible for wrongdoing is held accountable. That’s why we sent …

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Science Project Idea: Create Your Own Solar-Powered Fan

Post Date September 18, 2017
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Our mission requires us to educate the public about the harmful effects of air pollution and about cleaner sources of energy. You might say we’re big “fans” of clean energy like wind and solar — and science in general! We’re always looking for creative ways to teach kids about air pollution, health, and renewable energy.

One of our fall interns, Vaishali, found this video (above) that shows how to make a simple and efficient personal fan using solar energy! So she assembled a list of materials and …

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Meet Fall Intern Kenneth Paik

Meet Fall Intern Kenneth Paik
Post Date September 15, 2017
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The fall semester is in full swing at Alabama’s colleges and universities and we’ve got some awesome new interns to introduce! Last week we introduced you to fall intern Vaishali Nijampatnam, a junior at UAB majoring in biomedical engineering. Today, we’d like you to meet Kenneth Paik, who is also interning with Gasp through UAB’s Academic Small Business Alliance internship program. Kenneth is a pre-med student majoring in biomedical sciences at UAB.

What is your major at UAB and why did you choose it?
I always favored the idea of pursing …

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Press Release: Gasp Calls on Sessions to Recuse Himself

Press Release: Gasp Calls on Sessions to Recuse Himself
Post Date September 6, 2017
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Category Blog, News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gasp Calls on Jeff Sessions to Recuse Himself from North Birmingham Corruption Investigation

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Sept. 6, 2017) — Gasp, a Birmingham-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the reduction of air pollution through education and advocacy, has asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from the ongoing investigation into public corruption related to the 35th Avenue Superfund Site in northern Birmingham.

The letter to Sessions reads, in part:

“Due to your well-documented connections to these two powerful companies, Balch & Bingham and Drummond Company, …

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Meet Fall Intern Vaishali Nijampatnam

Meet Fall Intern Vaishali Nijampatnam
Post Date September 6, 2017
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The fall semester is in full swing at Alabama’s colleges and universities and we’ve got some awesome new interns to introduce! Vaishali Nijampatnam and Kenneth Paik will be working with Gasp this fall through UAB’s Academic Small Business Alliance internship program. First, we’d like you to meet Vaishali, a junior at UAB majoring in biomedical engineering.

What is your major at UAB and why did you choose it?

In high school, I saw a video about a dog with 2 prosthetic legs and watched its before and …

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Gasp & Sierra Club Praise Rep. Terri Sewell for Opposing ‘Smoggy Skies Act’

Gasp & Sierra Club Praise Rep. Terri Sewell for Opposing ‘Smoggy Skies Act’
Post Date July 24, 2017
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This is how democracy ought to work.

Last year, Rep. Terri Sewell voted in favor of the so-called Ozone Standards Implementation Act. Fortunately, after House approval, the legislation stalled in the Senate and wasn’t signed into law.

This year, Rep. Sewell listened to her constituents and opposed the legislation when it was again brought up for a vote last week.

While the bill did ultimately pass in the House (229 to 199), we want to thank Rep. Sewell for exemplifying the best characteristics of our most responsive Members …

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Meet Summer Intern Sara Jones

Meet Summer Intern Sara Jones
Post Date July 19, 2017
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What are you studying at Birmingham Southern College?

I have not yet chosen a major, since I am hesitant on rushing into a career option without being sure of whether or not I would enjoy it. I am currently taking classes in order to figure out what career I would enjoy; however, I have discovered that I would like to focus specifically on human rights, and am studying on the different issues and concerns surrounding this topic as I go through school.

What is your dream job?

My …

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Gasp Responds to Corruption and Bribery Charges Related to North Birmingham

Gasp Responds to Corruption and Bribery Charges Related to North Birmingham
Post Date June 26, 2017
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Category Environmental Justice, News

The following is a statement from Gasp Executive Director Michael Hansen regarding corruption & bribery charges related to North Birmingham:

I was stunned to learn the extent of the conspiracy involving former-Rep. Oliver Robinson, Balch & Bingham, and Drummond Company to block EPA’s efforts to remediate contamination in northern Birmingham and Tarrant. We learned via Twitter that meetings with Robinson and Gasp representatives were recorded and shared with Drummond and their attorneys.

Gasp has been working in north Birmingham neighborhoods for years. In 2014, we petitioned the …

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Statement Regarding President Trump’s Decision to Withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement

Statement Regarding President Trump’s Decision to Withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement
Post Date June 1, 2017
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Category News, Opinion

Below is a statement from Gasp Executive Director Michael Hansen on President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement:

“Pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement jeopardizes our role in the world as leaders on climate action. Global problems demand global solutions — and we cannot go it alone. Climate change is real, and it is a health issue that we cannot simply ignore.

“In Alabama this is especially perilous. We have no comprehensive plans in place to mitigate climate risks, nor have we implemented …

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Trump Expected to Back Out of Paris Climate Agreement

Trump Expected to Back Out of Paris Climate Agreement
Post Date May 31, 2017
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Category Blog, Climate & Energy, News

Multiple news outlets are reporting that President Trump will announce this week his intentions to withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate change agreement. The move is likely to upset U.S. allies across the globe, especially considering that the accords were agreed to by 197 nations.

This is further evidence that the onus is on us to fight climate change. Here in Alabama, some of our vulnerabilities include extreme heat, increased ozone pollution, drought, wildfire, or coastal flooding. And yet our state government has not taken any action …

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