Page 22 RAIN €usuc 1NTERES"~ Consumer Federation of America 'i(H2 14th St., N.W. Washington, DC 20005 A federation of over 200 nati'onal, state and local organizations, working for passage 9f consumer protection -laws, national health insurance, unit pricing, energy policy (through a special task force). Write to them to find out about the organization in your a:rea and/or for information about their news- , letter You've Got to Move. Other booklets available include: How to Prepare a Lif~line Proposal (75</.); How to Pre~ pare a Candidate Survey (25</.). GAO Monthiy Lis/ of Reports 3:nd GAO Reports are free ~o non-profit organizations, libraries, students, newspapers and local-state-federal gov. officials, and $1 each to the general public, from~ • U.S. General Accounting Office Distribution Section, Room 4522 441 G Street, N.W. Wa~hington, Dt 20013 The GAO, an independent agency of the federal government's legislative branch, has traditionally bee~ calied Congress's "watchdog" for its economy, efficiency and effectiveness reviews of executive branch programs. Most of their work originates through requests of congressional committees, individual members or of their own initiative. The Office of Special Programs, directed by Monte Canfield (formerly of the Ford Foundation Energy Policy Project),_coordinates GAO's.activities in energy, food, materials and regulatory reports reviews. OSP's objective is to focus GAO's attention on pertinent issues facing Congress in these areas and to educate GAO in methods of targeting and analyzing _ issues. OSP also analyzes government policy on critical issues in reports or issue papers to Congress,.such as "The Liquid ;Metal Fast Breeder Reactor: Promises & Uncertainties,'•' OSP-76-1, July 31, 1975. The most unique and useful characteristics of GAO Reports are 1) their layperson language-there is little jargon, and what there is is clearly explained in footnotes or glossaries; 2) ~heir vezy complete references, including understandab-le maps, graphs and tables; and 3)•their balance of both . pro and coq views on often controversial issues. An added bit of spice are the - inter-agency letters and memos which ever so gently try to persuade GAO to say something else, say it more eu- . phemistically, pat someone on the back in their reports, or not say anything .at all_, if it would prejudice some federal bureaucracy's budget or present policies. All in all, very enjoyable reading . .. might renew your faith in at least one part of government. Invaluable to public interest/environmental/consumer groups; would add excitement to college/high school classes. JN ~ i::'·-a-_: - ,,- •<·. ,i "c NSF "Science for Citizens" Program, write: Jack T. Sanderson, Deputy Ass't. Dir. for Science Education National Science Foundation Washington, DC 20550 NSF is making every effort, inoluding public meetings at various science, art and natural history museums around the country, to get comments and sug-- gestions on a program aimed-at 1) improving public understanding of public policy issues involving science and technology; 2) facilitating the participation of experienced scientists and engineers, as well as students, in public activities, including community-and citizens grnup activities, aimed at the resolution of public policy issues having significant • scientific and technological aspects; and 3) enabling non-profit citizens' public interest groups to acquire technical exp~rtise to assist them in dealing·with • scientific and technological aspects of public policy issues. Jack wants your ideas on a) what specific forms NSF involvement should take in each of these 3 areas, b) what kinds of policy issues a "Science for Citizens" program should address, and c) what policies, criteria and procedures should be e~tablished to identify individqals and activities for support and to assure that the program works in a fair and _cost-effective manner. This looks very encouraging, especially since we are being asked for common-sense before the federal government does something; also it fits in with what many RAIN readers both know about and warit·to encourage ... the humane use of knowledge-science in the neigh-. borhood-appropriate technology. The RAIN/Full Circle staff will be sending Ja·ck some thoughts, and Ecotope Group will mention the multiplier effect of its successful solar worl<shops. We hope ypu'll send him some advice too. · An Organizer's Notebook on Public . Utilities and Energy for New York State,' 300 pgs., $15 from: Human Affairs Program Cornell University 410 College·Ave. Ith~ca, NY 14853 Excellent looseleaf guide to "citizen action" against a utility or oil company. Specific,examples in NY state but recommended for any consumer or public interest group, or to any individual wondering what _to do abou't highhanded practices or high energy bills. €EcvcuNG ) Alternative to Waste Disposal ·Conference , • RAIN I Full Circle, along with people from Clackamas Cqmmunity College, OMSI, and the Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality, are planning a conference on present methods of large-scale sewage treatment and alternatives available, such as household size, composting, no-or-little watq use systems. 1 The·conference is planned presently for sometime in March. We would like outside input-would you.attend?-what should be cove.red?-cari you help? One of the reasons the conference idea has come up is because of the recent approval by the (Oregon) Dept. of Environmental Quality for the installation of 100 bacteria composting toilets. The units will be monitored by the DEQ ~very 6 months for 3-5 years. In order to install a composting type toilet, orie must apply at the DEQ. Contact:.Jack Osborne or Bob Jackman,·Dept. of Environmental Quality, 1234 S.W. Morrison, Portland, OR 97205. Rodale Press people have also announced plans to hold their 6th annual composting conference in Portland, 1 and discussion is underway to combine the two events. Continued on page 24
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc4NTAz