SOUTHEAST HOUSTON CHAPTER OF MOTHERS FOR CLEAN AIR RELEASES
2002 CALENDAR AND REPORT
WITH STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHS AND AIR TOXICS INFORMATION

For more information contact:
Linda Block
Mothers for Clean Air
713/802-0405
713/526-0110
Lblockhead@yahoo.com

The Southeast Houston Chapter of Mothers for Clean Air released a 2002 calendar and report featuring photographs taken by students of Raul Yzaguirre School for Success. The calendar, titled "Cleaner Communities for Better Health," contains images that portray local air pollution sources such as industrial sites, household products, and cars, along with quotes from the students about each photograph. The calendar, which resulted from a Mothers for Clean Air sponsored Photography Workshop, was one of several educational projects conducted by the southeast Houston chapter in 2001 with funds from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Justice Small Grants Program and the North American Fund for Environmental Cooperation

Bilingual community organizer, Linda Block, worked in southeast Houston to empower community members to take action on local environmental problems. The report to the community, included in the calendar, contains easy-to-understand information about hazardous chemicals in southeast Houston (air toxic emitters, health effects, air toxic monitors), ozone air pollution, ground contamination, and health research (cancer cluster investigation results). Importantly, the report also includes steps to follow when one is worried about the air, procedures to carry out in an emergency, a directory of resources that can help solve problems identified in the report, and a list of on-going projects. A copy of the report can be downloaded at http://www.mothersforcleanair.org/about/ch-southeast_houston.html.

BACKGROUND
Mothers for Clean Air (MfCA) is a 501(c)(3) local, environmental organization concerned with protecting children's health from the risks associated with air pollution. Our mission is to educate ourselves and the public about Houston-Galveston air quality and its effects on children's health, to encourage the participation of children in learning about air quality, and to do what we can as individuals to prevent air pollution and reduce children's exposure. MfCA advocates for clean air on behalf of children and organizes residents in communities heavily impacted by air pollution. MfCA holds quarterly programs that are open to the public and publishes a newsletter four times a year. Membership is not limited to mothers and is open to everyone who cares about Houston's air. The next chapter meeting will be held Wednesday, March 13, 2002, from 7-9 p.m. at the Park Place Library. The Chapter will identify priorities for the upcoming year and discuss participation in the Houston Citizen Air Monitoring Project - a research project between the EPA, TNRCC, Harris County Pollution Control, and citizens.