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What Can Be Done About It?
In San Jose, California July 30, 2009 was the start of the "Got Your Bags" campaign. Backed by non-profit government and business groups, the campaign is a statewide effort to encourage Californians to recycle plastic bags and use reusable ones. Annually more than 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide with only a small fraction being recycled. Plastic bags ending up in landfills can take up to 1,000 years to decompose, while emitting toxins into the soil. Got Your Bags will supposedly help make California the cleanest and prettiest state. Of course, recycling politicians could help accomplish that too.
In Santa Ana, California a proposed anti-graffiti law would make parents financially responsible for their children's graffiti. What's being called "If You Spray, You Pay" was developed by a group of community leaders, businessmen and activists. It would make graffiti a misdemeanor and allow the city to collect fines and restitution from the vandals' parents - including putting a lean on the parents' houses. In the 2009 fiscal year graffiti abatement will cost Santa Ana about $2.4 million. If this law passes, parents will be forced to see the writing on the wall - and to pay for it.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania bicyclists, inline skaters and skateboarders will have to use hands-free devices for their cell phones as of November 1, 2009. Philadelphia has more than 200 miles of bike lanes and will be the fist U.S. city to include non-motorists in its hands-free cell phone law. Numerous studies have shown the dangers of using a hand-held cell phone while moving - even while walking. Those caught violating the law will have to pay a $150 fine for a first offense. Repeat offenders will have to pay more - but at least they won't have to pay with their lives.
In California, Pennsylvania and Illinois there are lawsuits against schools that won't allow children with autism to bring their specially trained service dogs to school. The issue being debated in 2009 is whether the dogs are essential to managing the disability or just to provide comfort to the children. Autism is a developmental disorder, which includes outbursts and difficulty both communicating and changing environments. The dogs are trained to provide a calming effect and a consistency between the changes in environments. Some dogs are tethered to children to prevent them from getting into dangerous situations. Schools need to be open to change - not be "dogmatic".
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