Local Authors Publish Children’s Book to Encourage Eco-learning By Joseph Baroud, Editorial Intern
Ask any student in grade school what they want to be when they grow up, the answers usually range from police officer to teacher. But rarely do we hear them mention a scientist. “A lot of girls say teacher, nurse, secretary,” said David Katz, an elementary school teacher “That’s all they know about.” Katz and his wife, author Judith Cohen, recently teamed up with artist Robyn Friend, to publish A Cleaner Port, A Brighter Future, a book that’s scientifically informative, but adolescently appealing. They wanted to do a book about helping the carbon footprint, which is part of their “green” series of children’s books. “So, it was important to tell [children] about science careers,” Katz said.
drove on port terminals. The port began using electric trucks. “I think the port is a great example of an organization that is trying to make the world better.” Katz said. “I really think this is a good model for the rest of the world.” Helping the environment and ultimately our society, takes an effort from all of us in the present and well into the future. “So, I encourage anybody who cares about our future to do their part,” Katz said. “The port is doing its part and we wanted to help our community, in Los Angeles and San Pedro.”
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It also gives the Port of Los Angeles some props. “Los Angeles port is an exemplary organization that cares about it’s community. Its Clean Air program is best in the entire country, if not the world,” Katz said. The Port purchased 6,000 copies of the books to be distributed at local schools and libraries. A Cleaner Port, A Brighter Future, is just one of a series of environmental books published by the environmental awareness publishing company, Cascade Pass. Katz and Friends reason that since children best positioned to combat the problems of the future, books like this would encourage them take up careers that protect the environment. “Maybe not all the adults will come up with the solution: maybe it’s for a newer generation,” Katz said. “People (ages) 12 or 13 will be thinking about it and by the time they become 24 or 25, [they might be] scientist[s]. They’re figuring out what to do [environmental issue] and that’s part of why we want to reach a younger generation.” The ports around the world contribute heavily to the pollution. Exhaust emissions, diesel fuel burning and dumping waste in the oceans, are major ways ships that travel from port to port
help increase adverse affects to the atmosphere. A Cleaner Port, A Brighter Future, also focuses on what the Port of Los Angeles has done to battle pollutants being emitted into the atmosphere. The port adopted the Clean Air Action Plan, which identified the sources of pollution. Replacing the burning of diesel fuel for gas, with
electric inputs for ships once they are docked was the first and foremost goal of the port. The Clean Air Action Plan also required ships to slow to 12 knots when within 20 nautical miles of the port. By running their engine at the most efficient speed, ships cut down heavily on air pollution. “The ships have to have some type of capability to switch to electricity,’’ said Judith Cohen, co-author of the book. “Once the ships have that, you could use it in Japan, you could use it in England, you can use it everywhere.” Not only did POLA require ships to cut down emissions, but also vehicles, such as trucks that
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PV Inn Fire
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February 8 - 21, 2013
placement. She said that after the fire, someone broke into the building and stole their belongings. Now, they are temporarily staying with a neighbor. She and her roommate find themselves homeless, jobless and without clothes. Most of the help they’ve been offered by outside agencies does not include long-term solutions. “They gave us a number to call and they offered a first aid kit,” she said.
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