1 ORANGE SPIEL â¢ April - May 2012 - Home | Orange County Gov FL

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Art 4 Clean Air Art Contest Inspires Students to Think Globally By Laura Lord, Environmental Protection Division The Orange County Environmental Protection Division (EPD) recently partnered with Orange County Public Schools to feature an art contest to help students gain a better understanding of the importance of preventing pollution. “Art 4 Clean Air” was open to all Orange County high school students with submissions accepted in both 2-D and 3-D art forms. More than 60 entries were submitted and displayed at the Orange County Convention Center Climate Change Education Center in January 2012. Residents, students, their families and school faculty had the opportunity to enjoy the exhibit and even participate in a guided tour of the Convention Center Rooftop Photovoltaic Solar System. The contest introduced the concept of pollution prevention, a proactive approach to reduce or eliminate pollution at its source, to high school students. It inspired them to think critically about environmental impacts and how they can be reduced. By connecting art to science, the students created artwork to express actions that help keep our air clean. Students with winning entries were awarded prizes which included: a hot air balloon ride as the grand prize (donated by Orlando Balloon Rides), SeaWorld tickets, Florida State Park passes, and Adventures Outpost guided river tours. Orange County EPD will feature the winning artwork in a 16 month calendar coming out in September 2012. The Metropolitan Environmental Training Alliance (METRA) helped to make it possible to award art supply gift cards to the schools of students’ whose art is selected for the calendar. View the Winning Artwork • On exhibit at the Orange County Administration Center during the month of May in commemoration of Clean Air Month. • Featured in a 2013 calendar to debut during Pollution Prevention (P2) Week, the third full week in September 2012. Be on the lookout for more information in the Orange Spiel Extra online, contact EPD at orangetogreen@ocfl.net or call 407-836-1400. . 1st Place (Grade 10) Due Nguyen, Dr. Phillips High Title: “Man Tree” Grand Prize Winner Abigail Goetz, Grade 10, Edgewater High Title: “Solution to Pollution” 1st Place (Grade 12) Diandra Ferris-Francis, Freedom High Title: “Clean vs Corrupted” 6 ORANGE SPIEL • April - May 2012
Eco-Smart Shopping What’s Good for the Earth is Good for You By Nancy Rodlun, Environmental Protection Division When you conserve water and help keep the air clean, you support the availability of water for you and your family to drink and healthy air to breathe. However, did you know that how you shop can positively affect you, others, the economy and the earth? Buy Organic Better for you: The EPA reports that 60 percent of all herbicides (weed killers), 90 percent of all fungicides (mold killers), and 30 percent of all insecticides (insect killers) are suspects for causing cancer. Organic farming keeps harmful chemicals and pesticides out of the food we eat and beverages we drink. Organic farming strives to maintain biodiversity and prohibits the use of antibiotics in animal feed—antibiotics known to create dangerous antibioticresistant pathogens. Animals raised organically are not allowed to be fed the bovine human growth hormone (rbGH) or artificial drugs, nor any genetically modified foods. Animals are fed organic feed, a wide range of nutrients, and raised in a healthy environment. Good for others: Organic farming is one of the few survival tactics left for the family farmer and rural community. And it benefits farm workers who risk high exposure to chemicals and synthetic pesticides when working conventional farms. Kinder to the environment: Organic farming reduces toxic farming runoff and pollutants that contaminate our water, soil and air. Current agricultural practices of chemical intensive, mono-crop farming lead to critical loss of topsoil. Organic farmers focus on minimizing soil erosion and building the soil to help enhance crop production naturally. Eliminating polluting chemicals and nitrogen leaching protects conserves water resources. In addition, Organic farms use 70 percent less energy than industrial farms. Economically viable: Organic products are good for the economy and business. U.S. sales of organic food and beverages increased from $1 billion in 1990 to $26.7 billion in 2010. Buy Local Local one-of-a-kind businesses contribute a distinctive character and sense of place to a community. When located in cities or town centers, small businesses require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make efficient use of public services, thus helping to stretch tax dollars. When you buy from an independent, lo cally owned business, rather than a nationally owned one, significantly more of your money is then used to procure services and products from other local businesses and farms—strengthening the economic base of the community. Local products also travel a shorter distance to reach you, thereby generating less pollution in their transportation to market. Furthermore, small local businesses are responsible for the majority of new job growth. Buy Fair Trade Certified Products This enables you, the consumer, to make a difference with your dollar to help people and the planet work in tandem. Fair Trade is a market-based approach that gives farmers fair prices, workers safe conditions, and entire communities’ resources for healthy and sustainable lives. Consider Other Third-Party Certified Products By choosing products certified by independent third-party organizations that have a lower environmental impact, you can help reduce pollution and waste. This includes: • Energy Stars - the most energy efficient appliances • WaterSense - the most water efficient appliances • Recycled Content - essential to make recycling work • USDA Organic Foods - grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides MORE INFORMATION: About Fair Trade Certified products, visit www.fairtradeusa.org 7 ORANGE SPIEL • April - May 2012
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Page 3 and 4: APRIL MAY 2012 On The Cover For Apr
Page 5: BLACK HISTORY MONTH Commissioner Mo
Page 9 and 10: BENEFITS Leave Bank Donation Drive
Page 11 and 12: NEW ORANGE TV PROGRAM Get Connected
Page 13 and 14: Water Conservation Partnerships Tea
Page 15 and 16: Ways to Save Water Help Orange Coun
Page 17 and 18: Growth Management 2012 Redevelopmen
Page 19 and 20: WELLNESS Wellness Opportunities for
Page 21 and 22: JANUARY 8 Daphne N. Adkins Classifi
Page 23: APRIL APRIL 9 Mobile Spay/Neuter Cl

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