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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Federal Roundup: Trump’s First #100Days Edition

Federal Roundup: Trump’s First #100Days Edition
Post Date April 28, 2017
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Category Air Quality, Blog, Climate & Energy, Environmental Justice, Featured, News

The news is a buzz this week with assessing President Trump’s first 100 days in office. NPR did a great Q&A with Cokie Roberts about this Presidential benchmark and its significance, if any. I have been doing my best to keep you all up to speed since day one of the new administration and how actions at the executive and federal level are affecting clean air and health. It has been a very busy first 100 days to track, sadly mostly not in a good …

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Renew Alabama Conference to Shine a Light on Climate Change

Renew Alabama Conference to Shine a Light on Climate Change
Post Date April 20, 2017
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Category Blog, Climate & Energy, Environmental Justice, Featured

Countering a national agenda which seeks to divide us will require us to discover our shared values. Renew Alabama is a new coalition united under a common banner of social, environmental, and climate justice. Grounded in our shared humanity, experiences and faith, we are calling on community leaders and elected officials throughout Alabama to shift the paradigm.

On May 6, 2017, partner organizations will come together to host the inaugural Renew Alabama Conference. The free, full-day workshop will take place at The Edge of Chaos on the University of Alabama …

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BREAKING NEWS: Alabama Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Gasp

BREAKING NEWS: Alabama Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Gasp
Post Date April 14, 2017
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Category Air Quality, Environmental Justice, Featured, News

The Alabama Supreme Court today denied a petition from ABC Coke (a division of Drummond Company) and the Jefferson County Board of Health for writ of certiorari in ABC Coke and Jefferson County Board of Health v. Gasp, Inc. In other words, the Alabama Supreme Court has ruled in our favor, just as the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals and Jefferson County Circuit Court did.

They were seeking review of the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals decision affirming the Circuit Court’s decision reversing the Board of Health’s dismissal of our …

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Federal Roundup: Recent Executive and Legislative Actions

Federal Roundup: Recent Executive and Legislative Actions
Post Date April 11, 2017
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Category Air Quality, Blog, Climate & Energy, Environmental Justice, Healthy Kids, Issues, News

It’s been a few weeks since I updated everyone on executive and legislative actions. Sadly, this is not because there has been nothing to update; so this will be a long one! However, one reason this update is delayed is because I attended an inspiring conference two weeks ago that replenished my “hope budget” and gave me new energy to tackle the many and ever-growing attacks on clean air. Since I blogged last month, several new developments have cropped up and we have new updates:

New …

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Federal Roundup for March 6

Federal Roundup for March 6
Post Date March 6, 2017
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Category Air Quality, Blog, Climate & Energy, Environmental Justice

Wondering what’s been going on since I blogged about the most recent updates two weeks ago? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! This is the latest installment in our series on federal executive and legislative actions. Several new developments have cropped up and we have new updates.

New Developments
January 30
Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs (E.O. 13771)

President Trump signed this Executive Order that aims to offset the number and cost of new regulations. It says, “for every one new regulation issued, at least two prior regulations be identified for elimination.” Many have pointed out …

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My Experience at the Women’s March in Birmingham

My Experience at the Women’s March in Birmingham
Post Date January 25, 2017
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Category Blog, Climate & Energy, Environmental Justice

When we were asked if Gasp would participate in the Women’s March in Birmingham, we enthusiastically agreed. The March stands for principles Gasp absolutely supports. Plus, it would be great to set up a table and spread the word about healthy air and clean energy to the, ahem, few hundred folks expected.

The March was scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. When I arrived at Kelly Ingram park at 12:15, people were already congregating and milling around. By 1:30, the park was packed and we were …

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Alternative Facts: Air Pollution, Climate Change & Health

Alternative Facts: Air Pollution, Climate Change & Health
Post Date January 24, 2017
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Category Air Quality, Blog, Climate & Energy, Environmental Justice, Healthy Kids

This past Sunday, a Meet the Press interview featuring Counselor to President Donald Trump Kellyanne Conway went viral after she coined the phrase “alternative facts.” I couldn’t help but chuckle when I heard this euphemism coming out of the new White House. (I also cringed at the Orwellian undertones. But that’s a topic for a book club.)

WATCH: Kellyanne Conway defends WH press secretary's "alternative facts." #MTP pic.twitter.com/q4PVzhpA1g

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 22, 2017

Here’s the deal: Gasp is a nonpartisan, apolitical advocacy organization. We just want healthy air for …

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EPA Makes Positive Changes to Comply with Civil Rights Act, but Uncertainty Remains

EPA Makes Positive Changes to Comply with Civil Rights Act, but Uncertainty Remains
Post Date January 19, 2017
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Category Blog, Environmental Justice

On December 29, 2016, the EPA withdrew a proposed rule to amend its nondiscrimination regulation regarding compliance information for Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

Last year Gasp weighed in on the proposed changes and objected to the removal of deadlines in the proposed rule. We are happy to report that EPA considered Gasp’s and other groups’ comments opposing this change and has decided to withdraw the proposed amendments.

EPA is also moving enforcement of external compliance with Title VI from the Office of Civil Rights …

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19 copies of ‘Toxic City’ DVD donated to the Birmingham Public Library

19 copies of ‘Toxic City’ DVD donated to the Birmingham Public Library
Post Date December 28, 2016
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Category Environmental Justice, News

For Immediate Release

19 copies of ‘Toxic City’ DVD donated to the Birmingham Public Library

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- Gasp, a Birmingham-based health advocacy nonprofit, has given the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) 19 DVD copies of “Toxic City: Birmingham’s Dirty Secret,” an award-winning documentary about the impact industrial pollution has on area citizens.

Gasp produced “Toxic City” in 2014 to shine the light on how individuals in Collegeville, North Birmingham, other communities in the northern part of the city, and Tarrant are impacted by hazardous industrial pollution. The 26-minute documentary …

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