|
1) New Mobile Register Poll: Government Not Focused
Enough On Enviro Issues 1. New Mobile Register Poll: Government Not Focused Enough On Enviro Issues - Most coastal Alabama residents are concerned about the environment and feel politicians are not doing enough to protect it, according to a poll released Sunday April 4th in the Mobile Register. The Mobile Register/University of South Alabama poll surveyed 404 adult residents of Mobile and Balwin counties. It was conducted March 27-29 and has a plus or minus 5% margin of error. Here are the results of the poll. (DK/NA means did not know or no answer) Overall, how would you rate the quality of the environment here in the Mobile/Baldwin County area? Excellent - 8% Good - 46% Only Fair - 36% Poor - 9% DK/NA - 9% When it comes to environmental quality which, if any, is the most serious problem in our area? Air Pollution - 33% Pollution of Mobile Bay - 24% Pollution of Streams and Rivers - 18% Pollution of Groundwater - 12% Pollution of the Gulf of Mexico - 5% None are Problems - 3% DK/NA - 5% Do you think government officials give sufficient attention to the views of citizens like you on environmental issues? Yes - 27% No - 62% DK/NA -11% When it comes to protecting and preserving our natural environment, how much do you trust local politicians to do the right thing? A lot - 5% Some - 40% A little - 34% Not at all - 18% DK/NA - 3% When it comes to protecting and preserving our natural environment, how much do you trust the politicians in Montgomery to do the right thing? A lot - 5% Some 37% A little 35% Not at all -19% DK/NA - 4% When it comes to protecting and preserving our natural environment, how much do you trust the politicians in Washington D.C. to do the right thing? A lot - 5% Some -35% A little -36% Not at all 21% DK/NA - 3% In order to formulate appropriate environmental policies and regulations, politicians need reliable scientific information about the environment. How confident are you that the scientific community provides reliable information to politicians? Very confident - 15% Somewhat confident - 56% Not very confident - 17% Not confident at all - 6% DK/NA - 6% People who own property in coastal areas that are prone to
hurricane and other storms cannot get flood insurance from private
companies. Would you favor or oppose a government program to
provide flood insurance to these people? Do you favor or oppose establishment of a zone or greenbelt around your community where new homes and business could not be built on land that is currently undeveloped? Favor - 54% Oppose - 30% Neither - 7% DK/NA - 9% How concerned are you about over-fishing in the Gulf of Mexico? Very concerned - 21% Somewhat concerned - 31% Not very concerned - 27% Not concerned at all - 17% DK/NA -4% How concerned are you about the effects of pollution on the global climate? Very concerned - 50% Somewhat concerned - 39% Not very concerned - 6% Not concerned at all - 4% DK/NA - 1% Some people claim that pollution has already started to cause global warming. Do you agree or disagree? Agree - 67% Disagree - 19% Neither - 6% DK/NA - 8% 2. Longleaf Forest Habitat In Mobile Endangered By Proposed Road - Highway or a Bypass? That is the question facing Alabama Department of Transportation officials on whether to expand U.S. 98 (known as "Bloody 98" because of its many fatalities) between Semmes in western Mobile County and the Mississippi state line. According to state forestry officials, the proposed bypass will potentially churn up and destroy thousands of acres, of what foresters consider the best remaining longleaf pine habitat in Mobile County. Mobile forester Steve Lyda, in a Mobile Register interview, called the area where the bypass is being considered "the last remaining uncomprimised (longleaf) habitat in that section of the county." Dan Dumont, director of the Alabama Forest Resource Center stated, "If they put this road up there, they'll change the whole character of that area forever." The area where the bypass is being proposed is also home to the federally protected gopher tortoise and possibly the indigo snake and red-cockaded woodpecker. The Department of Transportation will be holding public hearings in the near future on whether to widen US 98 or create a bypass. To learn more about longleaf pine forests contact the Longleaf Alliance at: 334-844-1084 or visit their website at http://www.forestry.auburn.edu/la/ 3. Joining Forces: New Clean Air Coalition Forms - What does the Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce, Jefferson County Department of Public Health, Jefferson County Commission, the American Lung Association of Alabama and several environmental public interest groups have in common? They are all members of Alabama Partners for Clean Air (APCA), a new broad based community coalition that has been formed to fight Alabama's ozone air pollution problems. If you care about clean air in Jefferson and Shelby counties, this is the group for you. For information about APCA and how you can help reduce ozone air pollution, please contact Pam Lewis at 205-323-5461. ext 128. 4. Robert Kennedy, Jr. Headlines Mobile Bay Bash - Dust off those calendars and circle the date April 9th. On Sunday April 9th between 3-7pm Mobile Bay Watch will be holding their 3rd Annual Mobile Bay Bash fundraiser at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. Guest speakers will include the Natural Resource Defense Council's Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Conservation Commissioner Riley Boykin Smith. There will be an auction, music and great seafood. Monies raised will go to Mobile Bay Watch. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at local Greer's locations, Ward's Sporting Goods, Middle Bay Outfitters, Judge Roy Bean's and several other locations around Mobile. For more information about the event please call Casi Callaway at: 334-476-0328. * Also, please checkout the BEN Spring Calendar that was recently sent to you. There are some great events occurring this weekend in Birmingham (Earth Day at the Gardens Apr. 9), Dauphin Island (Spring Festival, Apr. 8) and at Gulf Shores (Gulf of Mexico Symposium, Apr.9-12). E-mail BEN at pkbyington@aol.com if you need us to resend the Spring Calendar. 5. Say You Want a Revolution? Join Alabama's Constitutional Rally - There is a revolution brewing in Alabama. For nearly 100 years, the state has been governed by an outdated constitution, that was designed to keep people from participating in the political process. Historians, public officials, civic organizations and citizens from all over Alabama will be rallying at Tuscaloosa, Alabama's Capitol Park on Friday April 7th at 10:00 am. Their message will be clear "rewrite the Alabama Constitution." If you are interested in attending this rally or would like to know more about efforts to rewrite Alabama's Constitution, visit the Chamber of West Alabama's website at: http://www.Tuscaloosachamber.com Please share BEN with friends and fellow conservationists. If you have any questions or comments about this publication, contact Pat Byington, the author and publisher of BEN at 205-226-7739 or pkbyington@aol.com We also encourage readers to visit our website at : http://www.BamaNews.com |
