June 27 Update:

Environmental Grants:

• Earthjustice
  
• Environmental Defense
  
• Environmental Grantmakers Association
  
• Merced/Mariposa County Asthma Coalition
  
• Natural Resources Defense Council
  
• Southeast Asian Institute for Advancement
  

Discretionary Grants:

• Asian Pacific Fund

Recent Articles
“Air district’s baby steps”
A new rule regulating dairies adopted by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Governing Board will “do little to roll back the Valley’s pollution.” Rather than requiring large confined animals facilities (LCAF) to do more to meet air quality standards, the new regulation reinforces the “status quo.” As a result of legislation passed in 2003, the District was required to pass the LCAF rule. The San Joaquin Valley is the state's biggest source of livestock emissions. “The air district clearly could have set the bar higher…” as it approved the LCAF regulation.
The Fresno Bee – Editorial, June 17, 2006
www.fresnobee.com

“Rethinking Nuclear Safeguards”
Mohamed ElBaradei, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, writes in The Washington Post: “Either we begin finding creative, outside-the-box solutions [to nuclear proliferation and arms control] or the international nuclear safeguards regime will become obsolete.” ElBaradei calls upon the international community to recommit to disarmament, tighten controls on uranium enrichment and plutonium separation practices, and cooperatively and realistically address the U.S.-India nuclear controversy.
The Washington Post – Mohamed ElBaradei, June 14, 2006
www.washingtonpost.com

“He’s opening windows to philanthropy – Gates' decision might spur donations from tech leaders”
Bill Gates announced that, in 2008, he will step back from overseeing the day-to-day operations of Microsoft in order to focus on the $29 billion foundation that bears his name. In the article, Gates is compared to Andrew Carnegie, a leading philanthropist of a prior generation. Silicon Valley philanthropists, including Steve Kirsch, and the Foundation’s CEO, Kathi Gwynn, hope Gates’ concentration on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will inspire other wealthy individuals to make a difference.
San Francisco Chronicle – Jessica Guynn, June 18, 2006
www.sfgate.com

“Buffett to give his billions to charity - With Gates, he sparks new era of mega-money philanthropy”
In a stunning announcement, Warren Buffett, the world's second-richest person, committed to give away his shares in his company, Berkshire Hathaway, to five foundations over time. This article describes his reasons for choosing the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as the primary recipient and notes that these charitable contributions make Buffett the largest philanthropist ever.
San Francisco Chronicle – June 26, 2006
www.sfgate.com

“Foundations taking lead in social change”
While hot-button issues become mired in a contentious political system, making it seemingly impossible for government to make any progress on social change, foundations are taking the lead toward solving society’s ills. Steve Gunderson, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations, expects that within 50 years, foundations’ grants will exceed $300 billion annually. But grantmaking is only one piece of the pie.
Casper Star Tribune.net – Tom Morton, June 18, 2006
www.casperstartribune.net

June 9 Update:

CA State Senator Joe Simitian Wins Clean Air Award
Breathe California gave its 2006 Clean Air Award for Leadership to California State Senator Joe Simitian for his “unwavering commitment to improving air quality and protecting the environment.” The Kirsch Foundation nominated Senator Simitian for this honor, which was presented at Breathe California’s 16th annual awards luncheon on June 2. Steve Kirsch and the Foundation were given a Clean Air Award for Leadership in 2000 for promoting the use of zero-emission vehicles and technologies.

Recent Foundation Grants
The Kirsch Foundation is pleased to announce the following grants:

Political Reform and Global Theme Grant:

• Institute for America's Future
  

Silicon Valley Community Grants:

• Computer History Museum
  
• Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
  
• Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT)
  
• San Jose Repertory Theatre
  
• Santa Clara University - School of Law
  
• Santa Clara University - Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
  
  

Discretionary Grants:

• Global Fund for Women
  
• Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream Foundation
  
• Mills College
  
• World Affairs Council of Northern California
  

Recent Articles
“What about weapons we already have?”
Hans Blix, the head of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission and former head of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, writes that the 27,000 nuclear weapons in the U.S., Russia and other nuclear states – many of which are on hair-trigger alert – should be of grave concern to foreign ministers. He questions why the U.S., U.K. and other nations are now developing new nuclear weapons rather than working to stop the proliferation of these weapons. Blix suggests that the recommendations from the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission be embraced by the U.S. and other countries.
The Philadelphia Inquirer – Hans Blix, June 4, 2006
www.philly.com

"Possible Extinction Crater Found Under Antarctica"
Scientists have found evidence of a meteor impact much larger and earlier than the one thought to have killed the dinosaurs. The 300-mile-wide crater lies more than a mile beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, and measurements suggest it could date back about 250 million years ago, to the time of the Permian-Triassic extinction when almost all animal life on Earth died out.
SpaceDaily – June 3, 2006
www.spacedaily.com

“US companies more charitable in 2005 – survey”
According to a survey by The Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy, US companies donated 14% more to charities in 2005 than the previous year. Companies are also encouraging their employees to be more involved in volunteering.
The Boston Globe – June 6, 2006
www.boston.com/news/globe/

May 2006 Archives

May 30 Update:

May 12 Update:

160 Groups Call for Stronger Air Pollution Standards
In late 2005, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new, weak standards for microscopic particles of air pollution called PM 2.5, also known as particulate matter or soot. The EPA proposal was met with disappointment from national and California environmental and public health organizations. According to the CEO of the American Lung Association of the U.S., the new standards “fall far short of what is necessary to protect public health.” Learn more about the deficient EPA proposal and read a letter sent to the EPA from 160 environmental, public interest, conservation, environmental justice, and religious organizations from 38 states regarding the soot proposal.

California Legislature Approves Record Bond Proposal
In what could be the largest bond measure ever passed in the nation, the California Legislature has agreed on a record $37.3 billion bond proposal package to put before voters in November. After months of grappling with divergent political interests, the Legislature passed a package that includes: $19.9 billion for roads and public transportation (including $1.2 billion for air quality); $10 billion to build and renovate schools; $4 billion for the state’s levee system; and $2.8 billion for affordable housing projects. California environmental, public health and environmental justice organizations all have an interest in ensuring that any final proposal includes adequate funding for environmental projects. Read about the Foundation’s work on improving air quality in California.

Connie Padre Leaves Foundation
After five years as the Foundation’s Executive Assistant and Communications Associate, Connie Padre decided to remain at home with her new daughter. Many of you knew Connie from her work on our grants or through our enewsletter. All of you “experienced” Connie’s work, however, as she managed our bi-weekly website updates and the production of our annual report. During Connie’s tenure with the Foundation, we won awards from the Council on Foundations for our website and for our annual reports. Those awards reflected her style and her commitment to excellence. While we are delighted that she has become a mother – and know that she will be fabulous in that role – we are going to miss her greatly.


Recent Foundation Grants
The Kirsch Foundation is pleased to announce the following grants:

Environmental Grants:

• Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment
  
• Environmental Grantmakers Association
  
• Fresno Metro Ministry
  
  

Silicon Valley Community Grant:

• Family and Children Services
  

Recent Articles

“UCSF resumes human embryo stem cell work”
Backed by private donations and following the appropriate ethical protocols for egg donation, UCSF scientists are using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), also known as therapeutic cloning, to create human embryonic stem cell lines. The goal is to create “patient-specific” stem cell lines in order to study disease paths and to help patients avoid rejection of cells by using their own genetic material. If successful, scientists would ultimately use DNA from someone with a particular genetic disease in order to produce patient-specific cells for conditions like Alzheimer's or ALS.
San Francisco Chronicle – Carl T. Hall, May 6, 2006
www.sfgate.com

“Microfinance: Services the Poor Can Bank On”
With the help of philanthropists, banks, and others, these institutions help local economies by providing small loans and financial services. “Some of the most powerful social changes brought about by microfinance occur when a family is able to earn that little bit extra, enabling them to keep their kids healthy and in school, thus open the doors of economic opportunity to the next generation,” says Caitlin Baron, director of the microfinance initiative for the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.
Businessweek – Chris Farrell, May 2, 2006
www.businessweek.com

"State pesticide curbs ordered"
State regulators have failed to meet their legal obligation to crack down on airborne pesticides and must do so now, a Sacramento federal judge has ruled. The regulators broke a 1994 promise to reduce smog-forming emissions from pesticides by 20 percent from 1990 levels by 2005; instead, the problem has only worsened.
The Sacramento Bee – Denny Walsh, April 28, 2006
www.sacbee.com

"San Joaquin tops list for worst smog"
IThe San Joaquin Valley has risen to the top of the nation’s worst-air chart at the American Lung Association. The rankings are the first in six years of annual “state of the air” reports to dethrone the Los Angeles basin as the nation’s king of smog.
The Sacramento Bee – Chris Bowman and Elizabeth Hume, April 28, 2006
www.sacbee.com

"NASA Employs Hubble To Reassure About Comet 73P"
NASA has determined that there is no danger that comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 – or any of its many fragments – will strike Earth during its closest approach next month. To provide further reassurance, the agency has employed the Hubble Space Telescope to take high-resolution images of the approaching object, and will soon follow suit with Spitzer to observe the fragments in infrared light. None of the comet’s fragments will come closer than 5.5 million miles, or more than 20 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon, during its closest approaches between May 12 and 28.
SpaceDaily – April 27, 2006
www.spacedaily.com

• AB 2865 (Torrico): Extends the Healthy Schools Act of 2000 to include licensed day care centers. The Healthy Schools Act of 2000 established right-to-know procedures for pesticide use in California’s public schools and deemed least-toxic pest management methods as the preferable method of pest control in schools.
  
• SB 1205 (Escutia): Increases the maximum civil penalties and criminal fines for specified violations of air pollution laws, creates a new category of "serious” violators, and mandates establishment of a state web site to track violations. A percentage of the penalties collected would be used to fund children's health and asthma initiatives.
  
  

Read more about these and other environmental bills we support.

Update – Pollution from Ports and Goods Movement
Two new articles on ports and goods movement have been published in the April 2006 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives. “Ships, Trucks, and Trains: Effects of Goods Movement on Environmental Health” by Andrea M. Hricko and “Ports in a Storm” by Dinesh C. Sharma highlight the air quality and other public health problems associated with shipping-related pollution. Read these articles as well as other articles and reports related to air pollution.

Prominent U.S. Physicists Send Letter to President Bush
Thirteen of the nation's most renowned physicists wrote to President Bush, calling reported U.S. plans to use nuclear weapons against Iran "gravely irresponsible" and warning that such action would have "disastrous consequences for the security of the United States and the world." The physicists include 5 Nobel laureates, a recipient of the National Medal of Science and 3 past presidents of the American Physical Society, the nation's preeminent professional society for physicists. Read the letter from the physicists and learn more about the Foundation’s positions on nuclear weapons.

Recent Articles

“What We Know About Iran”
David Isenberg, senior research analyst at the British American Security Information Council, makes a case in for why Iran’s nuclear program is not an immediate threat. Current evidence and available intelligence do not support the Bush Administration’s claims about Iran’s development of nuclear technologies. “Invading and occupying Iran is simply not an option,” writes Isenberg, as such moves would surely escalate into a war.
TomPaine.com – David Isenberg, April 25, 2006
www.tompaine.com

“Bombs Away”
A former nuclear arms treaty negotiator, Max M. Kampelman, writes in The New York Times that he has “never been more worried about the future” for his children and grandchildren than he is today. His chief worries are the increasing numbers of countries with nuclear weapons and the threat of terrorist use of such weapons. The author’s ultimate conclusion is that President Bush should ask the United Nations General Assembly to resolve to support the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction, with the United States leading the way.
The New York Times – Max M. Kampelman, April 24, 2006
www.nytimes.com

“Buried Truths”
This Harper’s Magazine piece on the dangers of nuclear “bunker busters” was originally printed in December 2004, but is still timely today. The author, Benjamin Phelan argues that “bunker-busting nuclear weapons are a wasteful and dangerous delusion.” The weapons don’t perform as they were designed and the notion that they are “low-yield” is a dangerous misconception. A 1-kiloton bunker buster, which is relatively small on the nuclear bomb scale, “could eject about 1,000,000 cubic meters of radioactive soil” upon detonation at 50 feet underground. Phelan concludes that deterrence is not an acceptable reason for the U.S. to build these weapons.
Harper’s Magazine – Benjamin Phelan, April 17, 2006 (originally printed December 2004)
www.harpers.org

"EPA Looks to Nix Rural Clean Air Protections"
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s most recent proposal to overhaul pollution regulations includes de-regulating coarse-particle pollution in urban areas with less than 100,000 residents as well as in areas with population densities under 500 per square mile. Critics say the new regulations would violate constitutional and Clean Air Act mandates by discriminating against rural areas that are more vulnerable to the pollution generated by mining and agricultural activities. “If the goal was to protect two industries – mining and agriculture – from having to be regulated, then that’s what these proposals do very well,” said Janice Nolen, director of policy with the American Lung Association. “But they do not do what they’re supposed to do, which is protect public health.”
The NewStandard – Michelle Chen, April 21, 2006
www.newstandardnews.net

"Deflecting Asteroids Difficult But Possible"
Over the last few decades there has been a great deal of debate about the level of danger posed by impacts from asteroids and comets, but it appears the world needs to take the threat of asteroid strikes a lot more seriously. While the chances of a major asteroid impact in this century are a mere 0.0002 percent, there is a 2 percent probability of Earth colliding with a 100 meter asteroid before the year 2100. A blast from such an asteroid would kill millions of people if it hit a populous industrial region harboring many hazardous enterprises.
SpaceDaily – April 23, 2006
www.spacedaily.com

“U.S. aid eclipsed by private donors”
U.S. foreign aid from private sources in 2004 was three times greater than the foreign aid the U.S. government provided that year, according to a study by the Hudson Institute. The study, titled Index of Global Philanthropy, was presented yesterday at a United Nations conference. This is considered the first comprehensive report to detail the sources and magnitude of American private giving abroad.
The Washington Times – Joyce Howard Price, April 20, 2006
www.washingtontimes.com


April 14 Update:

The Promise of Stem Cell Research: An Environmental Perspective
Environmental organizations, and particularly foundations that fund pro-environment causes, should be supportive of stem cell research, write two Kirsch Foundation staff members: Susan Frank, Vice President of Public Policy, and May van Scherrenburg, Program Officer, Environmental and Scientific Programs. In recent years a small segment of the environmental community has joined anti-biotechnology forces to oppose embryonic stem-cell research. But environmentalists can and should get behind emerging biotechnologies like stem-cell research and that support is not at odds with a pro-environment perspective. Read the author’s viewpoints in the Winter/Spring 2006 newsletter of the Environmental Grantmakers Association.

Hogging the Air: CAFO Emissions Reach into Schools
According to new research, confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) can pollute the surrounding air with malodorous compounds, bacteria, fungi, and endotoxin. CAFO-related health impacts have been investigated primarily in adults, but children may be at greater risk because of their size and developmental stage. Since children spend considerable time at school, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted an investigation of schools' proximity to swine CAFOs to determine the extent to which students may be exposed to airborne CAFO emissions. They determined that some students may encounter CAFO-associated exposures at school and also found that students of color and of low socioeconomic status were the most likely to be affected. Read about CAFOs in the San Joaquin Valley and the Foundation’s efforts to clean up the air in that part of the state.

Recent Foundation Grants
The Kirsch Foundation is pleased to announce the following grants:

Silicon Valley Community Grants: