Many environmentally related posts appearing at Daily Kos each week don't attract the attention they deserve. To help get more eyeballs, Spotlight on Green News & Views (previously known as the Green Diary Rescue) appears twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The most recent Saturday Spotlight can be seen here. So far, more than 17,500 environmentally oriented diaries have been rescued for inclusion in this weekly collection since 2006. Inclusion of a diary in the Spotlight does not necessarily indicate my agreement with or endorsement of it.
The American Monsoon - the Southwest's Summer Rains—by
Dave in AZ: "Most folks probably don't associate the word "monsoon" with the American Southwest. Well, we have one - it's our life giving summer thunderstorm season from late June through mid September, when we in southeastern Arizona receive 2/3rd to 3/4th of our annual rainfall. Unfortunately, it's also when receive the side effects - violent lightening thunderstorms. And microbursts, a very localized column of sinking air caused by a small and intense downdraft of heavy, wet and cool air sinking down into the lighter dry, warm surface air. [...] June is the worst month in Arizona, hot and dry. It's in the high 90s to low 100s here in Cochise County, 100s in Tucson, and hundred teens in Phoenix (one of the several reasons I don't do Phoenix). But then we know it's only weeks until the onset of Monsoon, dramatically cooling things down. And overnight the desert turns green."
Climate Change Stupid - It Burns: House Forbids Pentagon to Plan for Climate Change—by
xaxnar: "
The amendment, from Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.), passed in what was nearly a party-line vote. Four Democrats voted for the amendment, and three Republicans voted against it. The bill aims to block the DOD from taking any significant action related to climate change or its potential consequences. It reads:
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to implement the U.S. Global Change Research Program National Climate Assessment, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fifth Assessment Report, the United Nation's Agenda 21 sustainable development plan, or the May 2013 Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 12866."
Solar Roadways - $1,000,000!—by
New Minas: "Solar Roadways has raised over $1,000,000 dollars of seed money for the development of solar powered roads, pathways, parking lots and public use spaces. [...] Because of the global benefits of this technology, the entire globe's population has contributed. This issue has transcended national bounds. It is a collectivist movement that is working to change the way that society generates its electricity."
You can find more rescued green diaries below the sustainable squiggle.
Climate Chaos
"Global Warming" Or "Climate Change"? For Political Impact, It's Global Warming.—by pollwatcher: "So if you want to have the biggest impact, according to a study by Yale University, Global Warming has the bigger impact on the uninformed. [...] This report provides results from three studies that collectively find that global warming and climate change are often not synonymous—they mean different things to different people—and activate different sets of beliefs, feelings, and behaviors, as well as different degrees of urgency about the need to respond [...] almost without exception, global warming is more engaging than climate change. Compared to climate change, the term global warming generates: • Greater certainty that the phenomenon is happening, especially among men, Generation X, and liberals. • Greater understanding that human activities are the primary cause among Independents. • Greater understanding of the scientific consensus among Independents and liberals. • More intense worry about the issue, especially among men, Generation Y, Generation X, Democrats, liberals and moderates."
What's in a Name? Study shows we need to call it 'Global Warming' to convey any urgency—by Lefty Coaster: ""Republicans are more effective in using emotionally evocative language than Democrats usually have been. They've taken the lessons consultants like Frank Luntz has taught them to heart. Democrats and Environmentalists think enumerating facts that support our arguments is enough to be more persuasive than our opponents, when its proved insufficient in our recent efforts to create national policies that address Global Warming in a meaningful way. Now a new poll sheds some light on why our calling it Climate Change makes it seem less urgent and a less compelling reason for making substantial changes to the status quo."
The best climate debate you'll ever see—by VL Baker: "The Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire has completed new polling (pdf) which shows that climate change is now the most divisive issue of our time. Survey researcher Lawrence Hamilton polled 568 New Hampshire residents and found that Democrats and Republicans disagree most on climate change — moreso than on abortion, gun control, the death penalty, or evolution. Specifically, 83 percent of Democrats acknowledge that humans are contributing to global warming, while only 36 percent of non-Tea Party Republicans believe the same. Tea Party Republicans are even worse on the issue, with only 23 percent agreeing with the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change. The findings, Hamilton wrote, represent 'a changing political landscape in which scientific ideas and information that are accepted by most scientists are, nevertheless, highly controversial among the general public.'"
“Gov. Scott, what’s your plan for climate change in Florida?” you get $100 for his response—by VL Baker: "We're getting desperate here in Florida. We live in the state most vulnerable to climate change due to increasing sea rise and stronger and more frequent storms and our wingnut governor not only does not believe in anthropogenic climate change but he also doesn't believe in putting resources into strengthening infrastructure. Insurance companies are already pulling out of Florida and still no answer from our governor about his plans to mitigate and adapt to the worst effects of climate change. So we are trying to put him on the spot and perhaps make a clearer distinction between Scott and his opponent for governor in November, Charlie Crist.
The What's Your Plan, Gov? campaign is offering a $100 reward to the first ten individuals who send in usable video footage of you or a friend speaking with the governor in person and capturing his response to the question, 'Gov. Scott, what’s your plan for climate change in Florida?'"
Rick Scott's evolves to 'climate change-mutism,' refusing to take a position, he used to be a denier—by HoundDog: "Marc Caputo of the Miami Herald writes, Rick Scott won't say if he thinks man-made climate-change is real and significant, which is a major change from his position in 2011 when he said "I've not been convinced that there's any man-made climate change... Nothing's convinced me that there is.' I guess we need to make up a new category for Rick Scott—'climate-change mutism,' for those unable or unable to express an opinion. This is substantial progress. When politicians see others in retreat, who will volunteer to be on the bloody edge?"
If Government Officials won't listen to Scientists -- Maybe they'll listen to Investors and Lawyers—by jamess: "'Denialism' used to have a limited shelf-life. Reality and its evermore costly consequences of such Denial, should give it that once again. Perhaps much sooner than the Deniers dare think. After all, the one thing that the Deniers know more than Science—is that Money Talks! Listen to it whisper now ... Climate change is a business problem."
SE Florida is leading the US on how to respond to Climate Change—by Pakalolo: "Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, two slimy and buffoonish politicians, who by their own words do not believe in science or climate change have willfully ignored the dire warnings on climate change impacts to the State of Florida that they claim to represent. So how can SE Florida be leading the way on climate change mitigation? The answer, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties local politicians and planners formed the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact to share strategies, make joint plans and speak with a more unified voice to the state legislature."
John Oliver's 97% to 3% climate change debate goes viral getting 2.5 million hits & Guardian review—by HoundDog: "John Oliver tells us that NASA and 97 percent of scientists all agree climate change is real, here now, and that human activity is the driving force behind climate disruption. On his new HBO show, Last Week Tonight, John Oliver dramatized this 97% to 3% ratio demonstrating just how senseless this so-called debate really is. The Guardian describes John Oliver's viral video: the best climate debate you'll ever see, in an article written by John Abraham and Dana Nuccitelli. Oliver shows what the debate should look like by having 96 additional scientists join Bill Nye, the Science Guy, on stage to debate 3 climate-change deniers, instead the kind of debates we usually see, which imply a false equivalence of "here's 1 scientist and here 1 science-denier, 50%-50% balance, giving far too much sense of credibility to climate-change deniers."
Food, Agriculture & Gardening
Maui GMO Ban Initiative turns in 9,200 signatures—by Karen from Maui: "Six days ago, GMO Initiative organizers got word that the county had disqualified so many signatures (for being 'illegible,' not having the exact and complete registered address and for not being registered to vote) that they needed 3,745 more to qualify for the ballot. Although organizers have 20 days to submit more signatures, they needed to get the required number in by today in order for the initiative to get on this November's ballot. Today they turned in over 9,200 more signatures."
Grow Your Own Resistance-Twin Cities March Against Monsanto—by
nicolemm: "A beautiful day in so many ways here, some real spring weather at last, a festive family-friendly atmosphere, great speakers, music and dancers all combined to protest the corporatocracy's contamination of our food supply. The actual march was sandwiched between before and after rallies on the Capitol lawn. [...] I chose Grow Your Own Resistance for the title because that is a follow up action most of us can do. I live in a townhome and have no yard of my own, but I have some organic herbs and veggies on my deck and my biggest container this year is devoted to wildflowers, free of neonicotinoids, for the pollinators."
GMOs good or bad?—by rgantibully: "Just like every other money-making scheme that threatens the health of the lower classes and/or threatens the Common Good, the GMO labeling question is a class issue. It is easier for the very rich to control and use the less economically fortunate masses when more lower class people are struggling with family health problems."
Energy
If EPA's CO2 emissions rule being announced June 2 can overcome foes, it could make a big difference—by Meteor Blades: "Next Monday, June 2, the Obama administration (perhaps the president personally) will announce an Environmental Protection Agency rule governing carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. A rule on new plants was announced in September. By various accounts, the new rule would grant flexibility to the states, allowing them to employ cap-and-trade systems and expand renewable energy sources of electricity as a means of complying with emissions limits. Obama has said he wants the existing plant rule in place by the time a new president takes the oath of office in January 2017."
Tomgram: Michael Klare, What's Big Energy Smoking?—by Michael T. Klare via TomDispatch: "The fossil fuel companies—producers of oil, coal, and natural gas—are similarly expanding their operations in low- and middle-income countries where ensuring the growth of energy supplies is considered more critical than preventing climate catastrophe. 'There is a clear long-run shift in energy growth from the OECD [Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the club of rich nations] to the non-OECD,' oil giant BP noted in its Energy Outlook report for 2014. 'Virtually all (95%) of the projected growth [in energy consumption] is in the non-OECD,' it added, using the polite new term for what used to be called the Third World. As in the case of cigarette sales, the stepped-up delivery of fossil fuels to developing countries is doubly harmful. Their targeting by Big Tobacco has produced a sharp rise in smoking-related illnesses among the poor in places where health systems are particularly ill equipped for those in need. 'If current trends continue,' the WHO reported in 2011, 'by 2030 tobacco will kill more than 8 million people worldwide each year, with 80% of these premature deaths among people living in low- and middle-income countries.' In a similar fashion, an increase in carbon sales to such nations will help produce more intense storms and longer, more devastating droughts in places that are least prepared to withstand or cope with climate change’s perils."
Renewables
The British prime minister wants to ban new onshore wind energy—by Nathan Empsall SierraRise: "Climate change doesn't recognize international borders, so this matters: David Cameron, the British prime minister, wants to cut subsidies for onshore wind energy—and potentially ban new turbines. This is a terrible move for our shared global climate, yet Cameron's allies insist the turbines are a 'blot on the countryside.' Priorities, amiright? You and I know better. Weather disasters fueled by climate change—like Superstorm Sandy or the devastating floods Britain itself experienced just this winter—are a far bigger 'blot' than any wind farm. Rolling back clean energy is an absurd move that would have devastating consequences far beyond the British Isles, so we can't just look the other way and let it happen."
Fracking
Work Related Fracking Deaths Way Up—by StewartAcuff: "The American federation of unions, the AFL-CIO just released their annual report on workplace safety and fracking deaths are on the rise. Deaths rose by 23 percent just in 2012 alone. The climb in fatalities in oil and gas procurement go back to 2008, when the industry began the dangerous drilling known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking."
What Happened When Martin O'Malley's Dark Money Group Met With The Fracking Industry?—by
JesseC: "Last week in Washington DC, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s political dark money group met with corporate funders at the DC headquarters of the American Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA). ANGA is the lead lobby group for the fracking and shale industry, with a budget of $69 million in 2012. O’Malley’s group is called newDEAL, which describes itself as a 'national network searching the country for state and local elected leaders who are pro-growth progressives to help them share their innovative ideas.' [...] O’Malley created newDEAL with Alaska Senator Mark Begich, and the group is co-chaired by democratic politicians Cory Booker, and CO Governor John Hickenlooper. They bill themselves as “pro-growth” Democrats, but an exposé by Lee Fang in Vice revealed that newDEAL was funded by some of the largest corporations in the US, the same corporations that provide the majority of funding to Republican politicians."
California: to frack or not to frack—by T C Gibian: "Most people don't think of California as a desert state, but except for the North Coastal region, it definitely is. Most of the state is habitable and suitable for agriculture, our greatest industry, only because of imported water. Whoever controls that water is a demigod. The oil and gas crowd is drooling to assume this position in a state where water is a necessary and scarce resource. If you think people are quick to fight over oil, wait till you see how they fight over water. We could probably learn to live successfully without most of the oil and gas we now use, but never the water."
IL State Rep. John Bradley Guts Fracking Law & Betrays All Constituents—by BrentRitzel: "Illinois State Representative John Bradley, in introducing amendments #1 & #2 to Senate Bill 649, is attempting to circumvent the legal process that he himself set into motion just a year ago, when he claimed that his number one priority in putting together the Illinois Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act was protecting Southern Illinois’s water. In playing the most cynical and intolerant game of politics possible, John Bradley’s holiday weekend legislation attempts to completely bypass the fracking rule-making process that includes consideration of more than 36,000 public comments from online citizen responses and more than 1,000 participants in 5 public hearings, which featured 97% of all speakers talking against allowing fracking to take place in Illinois."
The California Frack Wars: Episode V - The Industry Strikes Back—by
FractivistForce: "In an email that I sent back in February, I urged delegates within the California Democratic Party to join me in confronting Governor Jerry Brown during his keynote speech at the state convention in March: 'Imagine the events of March 8th for a moment. Imagine 100 delegates interrupting his speech. Imagine the response from the rest of the room, the people who agree but have yet to state their frustration. Imagine the reaction of the media. We have a golden opportunity to make this election an election focused on Climate Change. We are their most "supportive members," demanding an end to fracking, and demanding bold action on climate change. At that point, there will be absolutely no ambiguity with the party platform's position on Fracking. We want a moratorium, and we expect to see one immediately.' And, on March 8th, we did just that. That morning, hundreds of Democratic delegates interrupted the Governor's speech to demand an end to fracking."
Keystone and Other Fossil Fuel Transportation
MN Governor Mark Dayton's concern about pipeline safety a good start—by ImpeccableLiberalCredentials: "Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton made some statements and demands to the DFL state legislature on tarsands pipeline safety that are a baby step towards winning over younger voters and environmental activists in what is projected to be a close election contest this year. [...] What's really needed is a significant tax on each gallon of tar sands crude that passes through Minnesotan pipelines that can be either a strong disincentive for Enbridge to build new pipelines or expand capacity on existing pipelines that threaten Minnesota's northern lakes and Mississippi headwaters, or would be sufficient to replace them with brand new ones when the inevitable pipeline disasters occur."
The Great Outdoors
The Daily Bucket - Weeds in My Garden—by
Milly Watt: "Cardamine oligosperma is a cute little early spring plant. It is also known as Little western bittercress, Wild cress, and Pop-in-the-eye weed. It starts out as a pretty little rosette that seems fairly innocuous. Next, comes its pretty little white flowers that seem welcome in early spring. It is edible with a peppery taste. It likes cool weather and flowers even during our mild winters. However, once it goes to seed, it turns into the menace that inspires that final common name above. When the seed pods ripen, any disturbance—a gust of wind or a weeder's slightest touch—sends the seeds shooting off in all directions, including into your eye. It is very very good at distributing its seeds! It will go through multiple generations in one summer."
South Beach State Park (Photo Diary)—by
Ojibwa: "South Beach State Park, located just 2 miles from Newport, Oregon, is one of a series of state parks located along Oregon’s Pacific coast. The park has 227 campsites with electric hookups for recreational vehicles, 50 tent sites, 27 yurts, and 3 group tent camping sites. It provides access to a sandy beach as well as to a jetty. There is also a 1.75 mile nature trail."
Critters
Dawn Chorus: Salacious Limpkin Placeholder Diary—by matching mole: "A simple diary of photos of a pair of Limpkins mating (gasp! - out in broad daylight!) that I took just over a month ago. I was out kayaking this AM and lots of Limpkin activity put me in mind of this."
Big threats facing endangered Florida manatees -- and how you can help—by
AshleyAllison: "Shocking. And wrong. 830. That's the number of endangered Florida manatees that needlessly perished last year—largely victims of deadly boat strikes and toxic 'red tide' algal blooms. And now manatees are facing another disturbing menace. Each winter, these gentle giants retire to Florida's warm natural springs—but instead of rest and quiet, they find their habitat overrun with tourists who grab and harass them, blocking their access to the warm waters they need to survive. In some cases, calves have even been separated from their mothers. Last year's devastating death toll makes it clear: manatees need your voice to help them survive."
The Daily Bucket: Wrens and an alligator—by matching mole: "I went kayaking this AM on the lake for the first time in many months. I want up Meginnis Arm, a narrow extension of the lake extending south towards Tallahassee. Despite its proximity to urban areas (traffic on I-10 is clearly audible) it has a very quite secluded feel. Only a few houses are visible and in places you can almost believe you are in the wilderness. [...] As I proceeded down the channel there was suddenly an enormous splash off to the side and behind me which gave me quite a start. I figured it was a gator. I headed down to the end of the channel and then turned around and headed back. The channel is pretty small and I wanted to give the gator a chance to get clear. When I got back out to the entrance I saw a very large gator in the water just out from the entrance. It's hard to estimate size from just the head but I'd guess eight feet. It swam slowly off to the left and then turned and swam to the right. Always moving slowly and keeping an eye on me."
Turtles on the Brink—by Lenny Flank: "One of the least-noticed and little-discussed environmental disasters has been taking place around the world over the past two decades, as turtle species have dwindled at an alarming rate. The problem all traces back to just one nation--and this time, it isn't us ... By the time China opened itself up to trade with the outside world in the 90's, it had already wreaked havoc on all its native turtle species. Four species are known to have been driven extinct; another, the Giant Yangtze Softshell Turtle, is now the most endangered reptile in the world--only one male and one female are definitely known to exist, and wildlife conservationists are making desperate efforts to breed them to save the species."
Love bugs
Daily Bucket: Florida's Invaders--The Love Bugs—by
Lenny Flank: "The Love Bug, scientific name
Plecia nearctica, is a member of the Bibionidae family of flies, which are related to the mosquitoes, midges, and gnats. Some other common names for them include March Flies, Honeymoon Bugs, Double-Headed Bugs, and United Flies--but by far the most well-known name is 'Love Bugs.' [...] Until the 1950's, there weren't even any Love Bugs in Florida, and car paintjobs and uncovered Mai Tai's were safe from the scourge. This sudden appearance has led to the widespread urban legend in Florida that the Love Bug is actually a man-made creation. In the early 1950's, the story goes, researchers at the University of Florida in Gainesville were looking for a way to control Florida's mosquito population, and hit upon the idea of producing something that would be sterile but would breed with the female mosquitoes, making them produce infertile eggs. By crossbreeding a species of fly with a mosquito (and perhaps by genetically engineering the resulting hybrid), the scientists, the story goes, produced the Love Bug. But, through some accident, the GMO bugs escaped into the wild, where, in the absence of natural predators, they reproduced wildly and went beyond control, giving us our present-day twice-yearly plague. It's a great story, but alas it is simply not true. Love Bugs are actually a quite normal species of fly which is native to Central America."
Water & Drought
Water is the New Oil.—by StopMotionsolo: ""Water is the oil of the 21st century.” Andrew Liveris, CEO of DOW Chemical Company (quoted in The Economist magazine, August 21, 2008). The unique part about water being the oil of the 21st century is every country becomes the victim of the exploitation. In the world of oil there are certain countries which are exploited for their reserves. Other countries in the world of oil are exploited through the consumer market however this exploitation is far different. When you are exploited through the consumer market you still have a degree of power in the process through how much you buy based on the price. In the case of an exploited country those people usually just live under dictatorships which are there to maintain control of the region so that the oil trade (and exploitation of their resources) can continue."
Brown appoints BDCP manager as deputy secretary for water policy—by Dan Bacher: "Governor Jerry Brown today appointed three people to key water policy positions in his administration in an apparent effort to bolster his efforts to promote the Bay Delta Conservation Plan to build the peripheral tunnels. [...] 'The governor is circling his wagons and appointing proponents of BDCP to every vacant water policy in his administration,' said Bill Jennings, Executive Director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA)."
Environmental justice advocates: tunnel plan violates non-English speakers civil rights—by Dan Bacher: "The environmental justice representatives will charge [at a teleconference] that the BDCP process violates the civil rights of limited-English speaking Californians. '20% of Californians don’t speak English, and are being shut out of the public comment process on this massive project that would affect them deeply,' said Esperanza Vielma, executive director of CAFÉ COOP. 'The Brown Administration is violating the civil rights of limited English speaking Californians in its rush to build tunnels to serve the top 1% of industrial agriculture.'"
Pollution, Hazardous Wastes & Trash
Peak Concentrations of Radioactive Iodine From Fukushima in North American Rain Water and Seaweed—by MarineChemist: "Determining the activity of 131-I (half life ~8 day) in rain and seaweed, which serves as a biological monitor, is important because of the isotopes short half life and its propensity to concentrate in the human body, specifically the thyroid gland. This combination of rapid energy release and biological tissue targeting can represent a potential radiological health risk. Measurements of 131-I in rain collected in the San Francisco Bay area and southern British Columbia, Canada indicate that the atmospheric transport brought contaminated air from Fukushima to North America by March 18 roughly 1 week after the earthquake and tsunami. Depending on location, activities of 131-I in rain peaked between March 20-24 and were observed to decrease to background levels in the first week of April. Peak activities in seaweed occurred later on March 28 and were observed to return to background levels in mid-May. Maximum 131-I activities in rain resulting from Fukushima were a factor of 10 lower for rainwater and a factor of 40-80 lower for seaweed compared to similar measurements made following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. Observed 131-I activities suggest that the upper limit of radiation dose to the public resulting from Fukushima was similarly an order of magnitude lower than that from Chernobyl suggesting that the short and long-term impact on human health in western North America is expected to be minor."
Update: Is Fukushima Making the North Pacific Ocean a "Dead Zone"?—by MarineChemist: "Satellite measurements of ocean temperature and the abundance of marine algae going back to 1997 suggest that Fukushima has had little if any impact on phytoplankton in the coastal waters of Japan and offshore waters of the North Pacific to this point. This diary is not meant to be an exhaustive survey of the state of the North Pacific ecosystem but is aimed at using remote sensing to address whether or not widespread collapse of phytoplankton populations occurred in the Pacific following the Fukushima disaster. All the animations and data in this diary can be accessed using NASA's fantastic online portal called Giovanni."
Transportation & Infrastructure
Put Transit in the Town Plan- SC—by wjhamilton29464: "It's important to understand that the Town of Mount Pleasant is working to make transit work. Total transit ridership East of the Cooper has tripled since the CARTA restart in 2005. The town has built stops and supported outreach and educational efforts. Ridership is up sharply in the past year, 19.9% on the 40 route, 35% on the 41 route. However, the competition for time, attention and resources is very intense. It's unreasonable to expect improvements to happen unless Town officials hear from people who want them. If all they hear from are people screaming for more lanes and highways, that is all they're going to work on."
Eco-Philosophy, Eco-Essays & Eco-Poetry
The Climate New Deal—by Position2win: "The US is facing three huge problems: 1) Not enough good jobs: Six years after the great recession started, we still do not have enough jobs to grow the middle class. This is part of a long-term trend. Most Americans expect today’s youth to be worse off than their parents. 2) Rising inequality: The top 1% are getting richer, and the top 0.0001% are doing even better. Inequality has been rising for the past 40 years and has now reached 1929 levels. 3) Climate change: Global greenhouse gas emissions have increased 30% in the last decade. If we continue business as usual, temperatures could increase 4°C or more. These problems will not be solved by incremental change. There needs to be dramatic action to turn around decades-long trends. Fortunately, there is a plan that can solve all three of these problems at the same time. It is the Climate New Deal: 1. Massively build out renewable energy globally, 2. Invest in the middle class, 3. Tax the rich."
Miscellany
Facebook Post sympathizing with water protesters get Capitol Police officer fired in WV—by murrayewv: "Yesterday, the Charleston WV Gazette reported on the firing of a police officer over a Facebook post he made about sympathizing with water protesters after the Freedom Industries chemical spill. Day was fired on Feb. 6, three days after his Facebook post. He was writing about a protest over the state’s response to the Freedom Industries chemical leak and the subsequent water crisis.
'If there was any time I despised wearing a police uniform, it was yesterday at the Capitol during the water rally,' Day wrote. 'A girl I know who frequents the Capitol for environmental concerns looked at me and wanted me to participate with her in the event. I told her I have to remain unbiased while on duty at these events. 'She responded by saying, 'You’re a person, aren’t you?’ That comment went straight through my heart!' Day wrote on Facebook. His boss found this post 'disrespectful.' [...] It seems very wrong to fire anyone who sympathizes with clean water protesters in a state where you can't trust the government to protect your tap water."