Internet: 'Adopt the Sky' Online Petition for Stronger EPA Air Pollution Controls

Americans are breathing dirty air. As court-ordered deadlines approach for the federal government to decide on strengthening protections against air pollution, people from across the country will voice their opinion to the Environmental Protection Agency that clean air protections are important for our health, our environment, and our future through a new online project called "Adopt the Sky."

Americans are breathing dirty air. As court-ordered deadlines approach for the federal government to decide on strengthening protections against air pollution, people from across the country will voice their opinion to the Environmental Protection Agency that clean air protections are important for our health, our environment, and our future through a new online project called "Adopt the Sky."

Earthjustice, a non-profit public interest law firm, is launching "Adopt the Sky," as a virtual interaction that promotes clean air and better health. Air pollution is choking communities from Los Angeles to Philadelphia, and this website gives people a chance to tell those in charge why clean air is important to them.

"EPA has heard from environmental and public health groups, and now it's time they start hearing from everyone forced to breath dirty air," said Alexandra Allred, a Texas activist and mom whose son, Tommy, has severe asthma. "We deserve clean air. [Adopt the Sky is a way that we can tell EPA to clean up their act."

People visiting www.adoptthesky.org are greeted with a view of smoggy, dirty sky. As the smog clears, personalized messages appear from others who have signed the petition. Eric H. from Minnesota writes, "Clean air means fewer sick days." Mary K. from Tuscaloosa says, "My kids need to breathe easier." People from all over the country will begin to leave their own messages, telling others why clean air is important to them.

Visitors are then prompted to "Adopt the Sky," signing their names to an assigned virtual square-mile of sky over some of the dirtiest regions of the country. The user will see floating air molecules that represent those who have already signed the clean air petition. When people roll over the molecules, a name, home state location, adopted state location and user-generated comment or message related to preserving clean air are revealed.

Clean air advocates can navigate from state to state, revealing the numbers of children with asthma, or cities with the worst air quality. "The goal here is to help visitors really visualize the impact that dirty air has on our health and our environment, and to give them a sense that there is something we can all do together to let EPA know that weak protections against dirty air are not acceptable," said Georgia McIntosh, Director of Marketing. "Smog pollution doesn't know state or county boundaries. We're all affected by it and need to tell EPA and government regulators that it's time they moved toward stronger protections."

Later this summer, EPA is going to hold public hearings on whether to strengthen health standards for ozone, or smog. At the hearings, Earthjustice representatives, along with other environmental and public health groups like the American Lung Association and Public Interest Research Group will present the signatures gathered from Americans across the country who want clean air and stronger protections to EPA officials.

For more information, visit www.adoptthesky.org.

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