 |
| February 24 to March 3, 2011 |
|
 News |
Russia May Tweak Arctic Park Border for Oil Firms
Russia's Natural Resources Ministry wants to set an Arctic nature
reserve's borders in a way that environmentalists say will subvert
existing boundaries to accommodate the oil drilling plans of BP and
Rosneft.
Last month BP -- seeking to recover from the impact of the 2010 Gulf
of Mexico oil spill -- and Russia's state-run major Rosneft said they
would drill for oil in three huge offshore blocks in the Arctic Kara
Sea.
Two of these blocks, according to a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) map,
encroach on waters that are part of a protected national park and are
home to polar bears and whales. Read more here.
Cocaine to Blame for Rain Forest Loss, Study Says
Cocaine is destroying
lives and tearing homes apart—and not simply because of drug use.
Farming coca, the plant used to make cocaine, has been linked to rising
deforestation rates in Colombian rain forests, a new study says.
"In southern Colombia we found geographically that there is just
more probability of losing the forest close to [coca cultivation]," said
Dávalos, of the State University of New York in Stony Brook.
"And the more coca around you, the more forest you're likely to lose—the
sheer amount of coca in the vicinity has an effect." Read more here.
Fewer Big Fish in the Sea: Overfishing has culled larger fish from the world's oceans, leaving smaller fish to thrive.
Fewer big, predatory fish
are swimming in the world's oceans because of overfishing by humans,
leaving smaller fish to thrive and double in force over the past 100
years, scientists said Friday.
Big fish such as cod, tuna, and groupers have declined worldwide by
two-thirds while the number of anchovies, sardines and capelin has
surged in their absence, said University of British Columbia
researchers.
Meanwhile, people around the world are fishing harder and coming up
with the same or fewer numbers in their catch, indicating that humans
may have maxed out the ocean's capacity to provide us with food. Read more here.
Investing in greener economy could spur growth: U.N.
Channeling 2 percent, or $1.3
trillion, of global gross domestic product into greening sectors such as
construction, energy and fishing could start a move toward a low-carbon
world, a report launched on Monday said.
The investment would expand the global economy at the same rate, if
not higher, as under present economic policies, said the report by the
U.N. Environment Program (UNEP). Read more here.
Why the Kings of Bhutan Ride Bicycles
Bhutan has pioneered the use of Gross
National Happiness (GNH) as a measure of progress, instead of the more
commonly used GNP. GNH measures not only economic activity, but also
cultural, ecological, and spiritual well-being.
YES! Magazine Contributing Editor Madhu Suri Prakash attended a
meeting of educators from around the world, convened by the government
of Bhutan in December 2009, to encourage them to make the happiness of
all people the central organizing principle of their philosophy of
education.
In September 2010, Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley visited
the United States to promote GNH education and economic theory. Madhu
was granted an interview with the prime minister at the Pennsylvania
State University, hours after he received the university’s highest honor
as a distinguished alumnus. Read more here.
New Technology for Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cells
The sun provides more than
enough energy for all our needs, if only we could harness it cheaply
and efficiently. Solar energy could provide a clean alternative to
fossil fuels, but the high cost of solar cells has been a major barrier
to their widespread use.
Stanford researchers have found that adding a single layer of
organic molecules to a solar cell can increase its efficiency three-fold
and could lead to cheaper, more efficient solar panels.
Read more here.
Testing the Limits of Where Humans Can Live
On an isolated segment of islands in
the Pacific Ring of Fire, residents endure volcanoes, tsunamis, dense
fog, steep cliffs and long and chilly winters.
Sounds homey, huh?
"We want to identify the limits of adaptability, or how much
resilience people have," said Ben Fitzhugh, associate professor of
anthropology at the University of Washington. "We're looking at the
islands as a yardstick of humans' capacity to colonize and sustain
themselves."
Read more here.
Bees That Work for the Police
Here's a nerve-wracking
notion. Let's say you have an illegal plant in your garden or even in
your home. And let's presume this plant (because it's marijuana, or some
genetically altered vegetable that's illegal in Europe) will get you in
trouble if the police find out.
Now imagine that your local police have their own bees, bees they
release each morning to scour the neighborhood looking for illegal
plants.
Getting nervous? Now look at this interview with a man who appears
to be some kind of London Police Inspector with their "Genetics
Surveillance Unit"
Read more here.
Emissions Fell in 2009, Showing Impact of Recession
Greenhouse gas emissions in the United States declined in 2009 for the
second consecutive year, reflecting the impact of the recession on
industrial production and overall energy use, the federal government
reported.
Emissions of carbon dioxide and other climate-altering gases fell 6
percent in 2009 and were at their lowest level since 1995, according to
the Environmental Protection Agency, which produces the annual inventory
of emissions. The agency attributed the decline to the economic
slowdown and a shift from coal to cleaner-burning natural gas to produce
electricity as the price of natural gas has declined.
Read more here.
How Rising Sea Levels will Affect the US Coastline
Thankfully, no major US city has gone
underwater due to rising sea levels caused from global climate change.
What happened in New Orleans was an effect of Hurricane Katrina, a
failure of the levees, and the fact that part of the city was built
below the water level.
However, climate experts predict that sea levels will rise as ocean
temperatures increase and the polar ice caps melt. Contingency plans are
already being formulated by vulnerable US coastal cities.
According to a new study led by scientists at the University of
Arizona (UA), rising sea levels could cover up to nine percent of the
land area in 180 US cities by 2100.
Read more here.
Winsconsin: The First Stop in an American Uprising
It took a while,
but Wisconsin shows that the poor and middle class of the U.S. may be
ready to push back. Madison may be only the beginning.
In Wisconsin, public employees and their supporters are drawing the
line at Governor Scott Walker’s plan to eliminate collective bargaining
and unilaterally cut benefits. School teachers, university students,
firefighters, and others descended on the capital in the tens of
thousands, and even the Superbowl champion Green Bay Packers have
weighed in against the bill. Protests against similar anti-union
measures are ramping up in Ohio.
Meanwhile, another protest movement aimed at protecting the poor and
middle class is in the works. Cities around the country are preparing
for a February 26 Day of Action, “targeting corporate tax dodgers.”
Read more here.
The 6 Most Eco-Friendly Presidents
As we celebrate America's current and
past chief executives on President's Day, it's worth examining the
environmental contributions of the 44 men who have occupied the office.
Some did not care about protecting the environment, using their
powers to help corporations exploit the land and water in pursuit of
higher profits, but others have effected positive change for our country
and the world. U.S. presidents gave us the national parks and public
lands and laid the legislative groundwork that protects the air we
breathe and the water we drink.
Read more here.
Alaskan Forests Slowly Turning into Carbon Production Line
Alaskan forests used to be important
players in Mother Nature's game plan for regulating carbon dioxide
levels in the air. It's elementary earth science: Trees take up carbon
dioxide and give off oxygen.
But now, American and Canadian researchers report that climate
change is causing wildfires to burn larger swaths of Alaskan trees and
to char the groundcover more severely, turning the black spruce forests
of Alaska from repositories of carbon to generators of it. And the more
carbon dioxide they release, the greater impact that may have in turn on
future climate change.
Read more here.
Study: By 2030, World Can Run on Renewables
Scientists from Stanford University
and the University of California at Davis have crunched the numbers and
come up with a plan for how the world might economically and feasibly
make the move to renewable energy in the next 20 to 40 years.
Read more here.
The United States Postal Service is Green
Considering all the junk mail and
catalogs the post office delivers, many don't see them as an
environmentally-friendly institution. From Cradle-to-Cradle certified
boxes and envelopes to piloting recycling by mail programs, the post
office has been working on multiple levels to reduce their environmental
impact.
Read more here.
Report: How Polluted is U.S. Drinking Water
U.S. tap water is some of
the cleanest on Earth, generally safe from the microbes and chemicals
that have plagued humans' water supplies for millennia. While much of
the planet relies on paltry, polluted drinking water, Americans can fill
a glass without fear of cryptosporidium, chromium or chlordane.
This hasn't always been the case, however — and in many parts of the
country, it still isn't. More than 40 years after the first Earth Day
ushered in a new era of environmental awareness, millions of Americans
still drink dangerous tap water without even knowing it.
Read more here.
Mimosa Plant Could Inspire Machines of the Future
Airplanes might soon have
flexible wings like birds and robots could change shape as they please
thanks to research under way on mimosa plants, according to researchers.
The shrub's leaves, which can retract at the slightest of touches,
could inspire a new class of structures that can twist, bend, harden and
even repair themselves, explains University of Michigan professor of
mechanical engineering Kon-Well Wang.
Read more here.
Frog Deformities Tied to Pharmaceuticals and Plastics
Deformities in frogs in the
northeastern United States are far more common in suburban and urban
areas, not in and around farmlands, a Yale ecologist’s research shows.
The findings upend the conventional wisdom that agricultural pesticides
are largely responsible for the abnormalities. Rather, the combination
of many household chemicals, including pharmaceuticals and plastics that
mimic hormones, appear to be the root cause.
Read more here.
Mass. Towns Putting Solar Panels on Old Landfills
For decades, Canton residents hauled
their trash to the local landfill. Then, 25 years ago, it was capped,
covered with a lining and buried under a layer of soil and grass.
The land lay unused until last year, when the town decided to turn
the former dump into what officials say will be the largest solar array
in New England.
Across the state, dozens of other cash-strapped communities are also
hoping to install solar panels on their landfills. Massachusetts, which
requires utilities to purchase a percentage of power from renewable
sources, is hoping to spark a national trend.
Read more here
NStar signs deals, bypasses Cape Wind
The second-largest utility in
Massachusetts has agreed to buy electricity from three wind power
companies to help it meet renewable power mandates, but it won't be
buying from a high-profile wind farm off the coast of Cape Cod.
On Friday, NStar filed contracts with the Department of Public
Utilities to buy power from Hoosac Wind in Massachusetts, Groton Wind in
New Hampshire and Blue Sky East in Maine.
Cape Wind, the nation's first offshore wind farm, is still trying to
find a buyer for half its power. It agreed last year to a 15-year deal
to sell the first half to National Grid starting at 18.7 cents per
kilowatt hour, and increasing 3.5 percent annually.
If Cape Wind doesn't sell the rest of its power within the next
several months, it may be forced to move ahead with a project smaller
than the 130-turbine, 468-megawatt wind farm planned in Nantucket Sound.
Read more here.
Wind energy leasing plan under fire by Mass. lawmakers
Members of the state's congressional
delegation are pressuring the U.S. Department of the Interior to listen
to fishermen as the agency plans to lease waters south of Martha's
Vineyard and Nantucket to offshore wind energy developers.
"I'm disappointed in both state and federal officials," U.S. Rep.
Barney Frank, D-Mass., said Tuesday about potential leases in 3,000
square miles of ocean. "They should have been much more careful and
deliberate about this."
The Newton Democrat is concerned about the effect of wind energy projects on fishing grounds near Georges Bank, he said.
"I've supported the Cape Wind farm," Frank said, noting he and his congressional allies are "not anti-wind."
Read more here.
Going Gets Green: After-School Program at Talbot has Students Changing Habits
Bolt Dillon used to throw plastic bottles in the garbage and not think twice about it.
The Talbot Middle School sixth-grader has changed his habits, thanks
to his participation in an after-school group coordinated by the
Leadership for Educational Attainment Developed through Service Program.
Read more here.
Study: Going green promotes employee job satisfaction
A new study by UMass Dartmouth
Charlton College of Business Professor Adam Sulkowski and student
Cassandra Walsh suggests that company's commitment to the environment is
more likely to result in employee job satisfaction than a company's
financial success.
"The results of the analysis indicate a significant positive
relationship between employee satisfaction and level of perceived
environmental performance," the study concludes. "This study does not
find a significant relationship between employee satisfaction and firm
financial value."
Read more here.
New Cape land-based turbine regs proposed
In the world of wind energy, pleasing everyone is as hard to accomplish as predicting when the wind will blow.
In a move that has support from opponents of wind energy projects
but has been met coldly by project proponents, the Cape Cod Commission
voted Thursday to approve a revised set of regulations for land-based
turbines.
The Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates must now sign off on the
new rules for them to take effect. The assembly is expected to vote on
the rules in March.
Read more here.
Urban Greenhouse's First Winter Teaches Valuable Lessons
PROVIDENCE — The first winter for the Fertile Underground’s handmade greenhouse hasn’t been without its challenges.
Steady snowfall kept members from even getting into the group’s
fenced communal garden on Pearl Street for more than a month — never
mind making it across the snow-and-ice-covered lot to the greenhouse. A
10-foot-high chain-linked fence topped with barbed wire surrounds the
West Side community garden, and the gate opens in, which made it
difficult to push open until most of the snowbank blocking the entrance
melted.
The garden’s greenhouse construction began in October 2009, and
enjoyed its first growing season this past summer and fall. This winter,
however, has proved to be a learning experience.
Read more here.
Avoid Getting Greenwashed
Trying to buy green? Labels can be deceiving.
Consumers feel good buying countertop spray, baby bottles or other
products with claims like “earth friendly” on the label. But how are
these products really any better for the environment?
The term “greenwashing” was coined in 1986 to describe the
misleading, or sometimes entirely untrue, claims some companies make to
convince consumers that their products are good for the earth.
“Research shows that even with a down economy, consumers want to buy
more green products,” says Kevin Tuerff, president of environmental
marketing firm EnviroMedia. While this is positive news, it’s also
incentive for companies to stretch the truth to claim a product is
eco-friendly.
Read more here.
Sustainable Cooking with Local Products In the Dead of Winter
In this day and age, we hear a lot
about "sustainable" cooking. But in the middle of a harsh Connecticut
winter, when absolutely nothing appears to be growing locally, what can
that possibly mean?
We checked in with two Connecticut chefs, both proponents of
sustainable cuisine, to find out what they are doing and how they are
doing it.
"Obviously, it's New England; we're totally limited," says Sean
Farrell, executive chef at Firebox in Hartford. But only by imagination,
he suggests.
Read more here.
Warming Your Car is Warming the Globe
During the cold winter months, many
drivers succumb to the long-standing practice of pre-starting their cars
before driving. However, studies reveal that the need to “warm up” a
car is a myth, and in reality harms not only your car’s engine, but also
is bad for your wallet, your health and the environment.
In an informal survey performed in Providence, 75 percent of drivers
said they pre-started their cars in the winter, not only to warm up the
interior, but also to warm up the engine. One responder said, “I was
always told it was better for the engine to give it time to warm up
before driving.” While this may have been true in the past, it is no
longer relevant today.
Read more here.
Jamaica Plains Residents Bring Opposition to Whole Foods Chain
BOSTON - A week after Whole Foods
Market tried to woo the Jamaica Plain community, a group of residents is
stepping up its fight against the major chain's impending move into the
neighborhood.
The group -- called Whose Food? Whose Community? -- has launched a
Facebook page and is planning an anti-Whole Foods rally next Monday in
Mozart Park at which it will call for a locally based supermarket to
move in.
Rally organizers say Whole Foods is unaffordable to many families
and will lead to rising real estate and commercial prices in the Hyde
Square community.
“I can see the change of my neighborhood in front of my eyes and I
can’t believe it,’’ said Rosaldo Solis, a 38-year resident who was born
in Mexico. "I'm thinking about what is going on, and it's not just about
food.''
Read more here.
Housing in Warwick Saving with Green Retrofit
WARWICK — The green retrofit of Shalom
Housing, a nonprofit apartment complex for disabled and elderly
residents, is already paying dividends.
A new energy-efficient boiler that replaced a 30-year-old system was
projected to lower the cost of heating in the affordable housing
development’s main building, which has 100 apartments, by 15 percent.
Instead, since going on line last September, the monthly savings have
averaged between 25 and 30 percent.
And those benefits all came without the biggest item the apartment
complex was able to purchase with a $1.4-million grant from the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development: a 156-foot-tall wind
turbine.
Read more here.
Video: Southcoast Regional Bikeway Summit, February 15, 2011
Over 100 citizens, community
officials, students, bicycle enthusiasts, and organizations from all
across the Southcoast Region attended the Bikeway Summit.
View Video Here.
Benefits of Eating Local Explored
“Don’t eat anything your
great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize,” the members of the Mattapoisett
Women’s Club were advised at their latest meeting on February 18. The
group gathered to hear local whole foods expert, Margie Baldwin, and
Sarah Cogswell of Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership
(SEMAP) speak about the region’s vibrant local food community. Ms.
Baldwin explained how eating locally grown food can be fun and easy and a
delicious way to reduce one’s carbon footprint while stimulating the
local economy.
The demand for local, organic, natural foods is growing, said Ms.
Baldwin, who encouraged the group to think about where their food comes
from and how and where it is processed. According to Ms. Baldwin, the
agricultural business is dependent on pesticides and petrol chemicals
and food is grown to sustain many days of travel, whereas local food is
right here, without a middleman and has a superior taste to that of
produce shipped around the globe. Plus, money used to purchase local
goods stays within the community, she added.
Read more here.
Fairhaven Planning Board Asked to Endorse Healthy Living, Green Building
Two representatives of Voices For A
Healthy Southcoast appeared before the Board to request that it sign a
resolution containing initiatives the organization says willhelp build
and support healthy
lifestyles. They have sent the letter to other communities, including
New Bedford, and have met with Fairhaven’s Board of Health.
Read more here, Scroll to Page 24. |
|
This Week in Sustainability
|
Cabin Fever Week at Buttonwood Park Zoo |
Friday, February 25, 11AM-2PM,
Details here. |
Winter Flora Walk |
February 26, 10am-noon, Ridge Hill Reserve
With guest leader Mike Schroder.
Details here. |
Nest Box Building |
February 26, 1pm-4pm, Watuppa Reservation Headquarters
Help to improve bluebird habitat by building a nest box you can take
home with you! The populations of these beautiful birds have been in
decline due to a shortage of natural nesting cavities and competition
from non-native species. By helping to build well-designed nesting boxes
you can encourage the return of these birds and improve the
biodiversity of our region.
Details here. |
Lloyd Center Annual Owl Prowl |
February 27, 3;30AM - 8:00AM, Lloyd Center Headquarters, 430 Potomska Rd. Dartmouth
Venture out into various locations in the quiet, dark winter woods
of Dartmouth during the predawn hours when local owls of our region are
highly active. Screech, Great Horned, Barred and Long Eared Owls are
potential species heard and seen.
Pre-registration required - Limit 20
NOTE: To maximize field observation during peak hours of owl activity, van departs promptly at 3:30 a.m.!
Details here. |
The Age of Stupid |
February 27, 7 p.m., Agudas Achim, 901 N. Main Street, Attleboro
The Age of Stupid stars Pete Postlethwaite as a man living in the
devastated future world of 2055, looking at old footage and asking: why
didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance?
Discussion led by David Ammerman of the Green Reel Collaborative
Details here. |
Canada Goose Abatement for Livestock and Agricultural Producers |
March 1, 7:00PM, Tiverton, RI
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in partnership with
the RI State Conservation Committee and RI Conservation Districts is
offering two workshops on Canada Goose abatement for livestock and
agricultural producers in Bristol County and Newport County, RI. This
workshop will assist you in developing a plan for goose management and
is funded through the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(EQIP) which provides technical and financial assistance to address
conservation issues. Details here. |
Rhode Island CSA Fair |
March 2, 4:00PM - 7:00PM, Pawtucket, RI
Learn about Community Supported Agriculture and check out the farms in
Rhode Island that will be providing a CSA this year! All of the
information (prices, drop-off locations, item listings etc.) will be in
one spot alongside the Wintertime Farmers Market, so come shopping and
sign-up for a CSA!
Hosted by Farm Fresh RI at the Hope Artiste Village: 1005 Main Street,
Pawtucket, RI. Details here. |
17th Annual ELA Conference & Eco-Marketplace: Staying Ahead of the Curve |
March 3, 8:00 AM - 3:00PM, Springfield
Featuring keynote panelists William Cullina, Peter Del Tredici, and Jono
Neiger.
For a full brochure, click here.
Learn about the latest ecological and horticultural practices in
sessions given by some of the top speakers in their fields. Network with
vendors at the Eco-Marketplace, where you will find a wide selection of
ecological and organic products and services. Details here. |
DOE Webcast: Energy Savings Performance Contracts |
March 3, 1:30PM - 3:00PM, webinar
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Federal Energy Management Program
(FEMP) will present a webcast on Energy Savings Performance Contracts
(ESPCs) on Thursday, March 3, 2011.
If you are a Federal energy professional and have heard about ESPCs –
but thought they were too complex or beyond your reach - tune in for a
comprehensive introduction. This training will show you how easy it can
be to get started, and how FEMP resources can keep you on track. Details here. |
|
Save The Date
|
Sustain Your Farm's Future:
4th Annual One-Day Farm Conference & Resource Fair |
March 5, 8 am - 4 pm, Bristol County Agricultural High School, 135 Center St., Dighton MA
Newly opened to the public for the 2010 event, the One-Day Farm
Conference is an excellent source of information on growing, harvesting,
marketing, and networking for your farm business. Farm Attendees
can visit several discussions and demonstrations regarding specific
methods of food production and sales. Avid gardeners and
homesteaders are encouraged to attend the public courses on poultry,
farmers markets, and more!! Local Lunch Included! Cost: Farmers: $30; Non-farming individuals: $50; Students: $15. Details here. |
Blues for the Blue |
March 5, 7pm, Tifereth Israel Congregation, 145 Brownell Ave, New Bedford
Fundraiser event for The Ocean Explorium, featuring blues, and Latin
roots rock. Tickets are $30 in advasnce, $25 for Ocean Explorium
Members, and $35 at the door. Details here. |
Bluebird Monitor Training |
March 6, 1pm-3pm, Westport Town Farm
The open fields of Westport Town Farm provide ideal nesting habitat for
rare grassland birds such as Eastern Bluebirds. We need your volunteer
help to monitor nest boxes regularly during the spring and early
summer at locations in Fall River, Westport, Dartmouth, and Rochester.
Come learn how you can participate in this ongoing project to bring
back the Blues. Details here. |
Hungry for Answers |
March 6, 1pm-6pm, Providence
A Conference Addressing Barriers to Better Nutrition in the
United States and Around the World.
This interdisciplinary meeting will bring together experts from
different fields – doctors, researchers, nutritionists, government
leaders, representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and
other practitioners – who are leading the fight against domestic and
global malnutrition. $20 for the general public and free for students.
Hosted by Brown Univeristy, RI Food Bank, and Edesia at the Solomon
Center, Brown University: 91 Waterman St., Providence, RI. Details here. |
What's the Economy for, Anyway? & The Story of Stuff |
March 6, 7 p.m., Agudas Achim, 901 N. Main Street, Attleboro
Ecological economist Dave Batker questions whether GDP is an adequate
measure of society's well-being and suggests workable alternatives. In
this film produced by John de Graaf of Affluenza fame, ecological
economist Dave Batker presents a humorous, edgy, factual, timely and
highly-visual monologue about the American economy today, challenging
the ways we measure economic success–especially the Gross Domestic
Product — and offering an answer to the question: What's the Economy
for, Anyway?
Details here. |
Sustainability Film Series: End of the Line |
March 6, 7 p.m., Agudas Achim, 901 N. Main Street, Attleboro
The End of the Line chronicles how demand for cod off the coast of
Newfoundland in the early 1990s led to the decimation of the most
abundant cod population in the world, how hi-tech fishing vessels leave
no escape routes for fish populations and how farmed fish as a solution
is a myth. The film lays the responsibility squarely on consumers who
innocently buy endangered fish, politicians who ignore the advice and
pleas of scientists, fishermen who break quotas and fish illegally, and
the global fishing industry that is slow to react to an impending
disaster.
Learn more at http://endoftheline.com/film/ or http://www.amazon.com/End-Line-Rupert-Murray/dp/B002RB56W2Details here. |
Author Eric Herm to speak on his recent book: 'Son of a Farmer, Child of the Earth' |
March 14, 5:30 p.m., The New Bedford Public Library – 196 Williams Street, New Bedford MA
Son of a Farmer, Child of the Earth is written by 4th generation farmer
Eric Herm, who lives on his farm in Western Texas. Eric's
inspirational work teaches us first hand the struggles modern small
farmers face, and leaves us all empowered to make the changes needed to
fix our food system for the better.
Join us in New Bedford to hear Eric speak on his farming experience TX
and his work to help the next generation of farmers become more
sustainable and less dependent on corporately owned chemicals and seed.
Visit http://www.sonofafarmer.com/ to learn more about Eric and his vision for the future of small farms. Details here. |
Roots Down |
March 15, 5 pm, Lawler Branch Library, New Bedford
Free Organic Gardening Workshops - Seed Orders, Soil Testing, & (forgotten) Trace Minerals plus Top Notch Tomatoes!Details here. |
Sustainable Environmentalism in the 21st Century |
March 17, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m, Wheaton College, Norton
The forum will examine the new realities and responsibilities that make
it necessary to reinvent what it means to be an environmentalist in the
21st century. We will explore the state's goals for reducing greenhouse
gas emissions, the environmental implications of commuter rail, the
regulatory climate surrounding renewable energy, the role of science in
environmental decision making and how citizens can make a difference. We
hope that you can attend to listen, learn and contribute.
Please plan on attending this forum. There is no charge for the event.
More details to follow.
For more information, please contact Jen Gonet at (508) 910-6484 or (jgonet@umassd.edu). |
South Coast Sustainable Cinema - DIVE |
March 17, 7 p.m.- 9 p.m., Fairhaven Unitarian Memorial Church, Fairhaven
DIVE - Inspired by a curiosity about our country's careless habit of sending food straight to landfills, the multi award-winning
documentary DIVE! follows filmmaker Jeremy Seifert and friends as they dumpster dive in the back alleys and gated
garbage receptacles of Los Angeles' supermarkets. In the process, they salvage thousands of dollars worth of good, edible
food – resulting in an inspiring documentary that is equal parts entertainment, guerilla journalism and call to action. Details here. |
Green Futures
Monthly Meeting |
March 17, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m, Wheaton College, Norton
Union United Methodist Church, corner of Highland Ave.& Pearce St., Fall River, MA
Please try to attend and bring any other interested folks.
Email: info@greenfutures.org. Details here. |
Volunteer Training for SEANET Program |
March 19, 9AM-12PM, Bond Building, Lloyd Center Headquarters, 430 Potomska Road, Dartmouth
No charge; pre-registration required
The Lloyd Center for the Environment is holding a volunteer training
session for the Seabird Ecological Assessment Network (SEANET) program
on Sunday, March 19th.
The workshop will be led by a Tufts University SEANET Coordinator, with
assistance from Jamie Bogart, Lloyd Center Research Associate / SEANET
Coordinator for the Buzzards Bay region.
It will feature both an indoor session and a beach walk. Jamie Bogart
will provide information specific to the Buzzards Bay region. Details here. |
Starting and Sustaining School Gardens
|
Saturday, March 19, 9AM-3PM, Friends Academy, Dartmouth
Starting and Sustaining School Gardens – Teacher-Training Intensive with
Steve Walach and Derek Christianson at Friends Academy, Dartmouth, MA.
$15 includes materials and lunch. Registration Online. Space limited to
35. Details here. |
Compost Conference
|
March 22, 9AM, Providence
A conference for municipal officials, industry, entrepreneurs, the
hospitality sector, and institutions on large scale collection and
composting of food scrap possibilities and financial viability in RI.
Sponsored by the Environenmental Council of Rhode Island Education Fund,
Southside Community Land Trust, ECORI.org, RISD
Hosted by Environment Council RI at the Chase Auditorium - RISD Museum:
20 North Main, Providence, RI.
Contact Greg Gerrit at (401) 621-8048 for more information. Details here. |
Spring Woodcock Walk
|
March 22, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Noquochoke Wildlife Management Area (WMA), North Dartmouth
Pre-registration required
Join Lloyd Center Research Associate Jamie Bogart on a “spring woodcock
walk”. Experience a true spectacle in early spring as you observe the
American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) courtship flight in the fields of Noquochoke Wildlife Management Area, a known staging area for the species.Details here. |
'New Beginnings' Organic Gardening Talk
|
March 29, 7:30 PM @ The Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Museum, 396 County Street, New Bedford
Pre-registration required
SEMAP in collaboration with The Rotch-Jones-Duff House and local
organic landscaper and gardener, Jessica Duphily Cook to offer a 'New
Beginnings' talk on how to design and prepare your garden for springtime
planting. Learn more about the positive benefits of growing and
enjoying your own vegetables, fruit and herbs. Program content will
provide an overview of organic gardening techniques and tried-and-true
methods to guide you in creating a healthy landscape and beautiful
garden environment. Don't miss this opportunity to begin your garden
planning and kick-start the growing season!
Cost: RJD members, $8.00; non-members, $10.00, at door. Details here. |
|
Announcements
|
|
New Bedford Wetland Photo Contest
The New Bedford Conservation Commission is proud to announce the first
ever New Bedford Wetland Photo Contest! We are looking for your best
photograph(s) of any flora, fauna, or natural landscape in New Bedford’s
wetlands. The goal of this contest is for everyone to become more aware
of wetlands in New Bedford and of their beauty and benefit to the
environment. Photographs will be displayed at New Bedford City Hall
and the public can vote for their favorite photo(s). The top 12
photographs will have their credited picture in the 2012 Conservation
Commission electronic calendar. There is also a drawing to win great
prizes just for entering the photo contest. Pictures will be accepted
until September 30, voting begins October – November 4th and winners
will be announced in December.
For more information and to read official rules, view New Bedford wetland locations and to print an entry form visit http://www.newbedford-ma.gov/WetlandPhotoContest.htm
|
|
2011 Decision Maker Workshops with
The Coalition for Buzzards Bay
In the winter of 2011, The Coalition for Buzzards Bay will be hosting a
mini-series of workshops for the region's Decision Makers on the topic
of Reducing Nitrogen Pollution in Wastewater. These two, free workshops
will be highly beneficial for individuals whose professional or
community work involves the management of wastewater or natural
resources.
To register for either workshop, contact Rob Hancock at 508-999-6363 ext
222 or Hancock@savebuzzardsbay.org. More details here. |
|
DOE Technical Assistance Program February Webinar Schedule
The DOE offers free online training to
help you improve the energy performance of
your organization. No travel, no lost time out of the office, and no
cost - The DOE makes it easy to get the
information you need, today. Join your colleagues to
better understand how the DOE can help you lower operating
costs, improve your energy management
program, and expand your professional development. See the schedule here. |
|
Natural Beekeeping Course
Bristol Community College announces open
enrollment for its spring Natural Beekeeping Course. The course is an
introduction to the basic principles and practices of natural beekeeping
that emphasizes organic methods. The course prepares new beekeepers to
understand the basics well enough to begin their own beekeeping as a
hobby or small enterprise. Topics include biology and life cycle of
honey bees, equipment and supplies, starting a new hive, seasonal hive
management, hive pests and diseases, and harvesting honey. Students have
the opportunity to purchase new hives, equipment, and bees to establish
their own hive in the spring. At least one field day demonstrates
installation, feeding, and beginning steps of establishing a new hive.
The class will meet Monday evenings from 6-9:00 pm from February 28
through April 11 and the course can be taken for 1 college credit or as a
noncredit course. Contact Dr. Jim Corven for more information: james.corven@bristolcc.edu or 508 678-2811, ext, 3047. |
|
Buy Carbon Credits with the Marion Institute
Happy New Year from everyone here at the
Marion Institute, where to celebrate 2011 we have just introduced our
$7 Carbon Diet which is your chance to offset one ton of carbon
emissions for just $7. Your tax-free donation will go directly to our
Gaviotas Carbon Offset Initiative, which has been reforesting tropical
rainforest for over twenty years. So here's hoping you, and our planet,
have a great new year. Donate here. |
|
Sustainability Assessment: Responsibility and Renewal
Our sustainability assessment, "Responsibility and Renewal," the work of
dozens of UMD community members, was published a few weeks ago. Packed
with information about our current state and our collective dreams, the
publication is available online at:
http://issuu.com/umdpublications/docs/responsibility_renewal_assessment We also have beautiful printed copies for use in classes and offices--call
us for more information. Download it here (PDF). |
|
Sustainability Newsletter for Fall/Winter
We've launched out fall/winter
newsletter! Check out articles about our Living Classroom project, the
restoration of the Cedar Dell Vista, our partnership with John Perkins,
our mill project in New Bedford, and much more. Download it here (PDF). |
|
New Bedford's Ocean Explorium seeks volunteers
The Ocean Explorium is currently in need of adult volunteers for our admissions and gift shop operations.
All volunteers for the Ocean Explorium receive training, uniform shirts
and other benefits. Volunteers are invited to learn about aquarium
operations, behind the scenes as well as in the public eye. Learn more here. |
|
Brix Bounty Farm Hosts 3rd Annual
Winter Studies Series 2010/2011
Mondays at 7 PM (with an option to join us at 6PM for a simple Soup, Salad, and Bread Potluck Supper)
2 Six-week Sessions
Session I: Mondays Dec 13th – Jan 24th. Focus on Community, Economics, & Agriculture
Projects.
Session II: Mondays Feb 7th – Mar 14th – Topic: “Sustainable Agriculture In Depth"
Mondays February 7,14,21,28 & March 7,14 2011- Winter Study Session II at Brix Bounty Farm – Focus “Agriculture in Depth” - We’ll cover two texts: Biological Transmutations by C.L. Kervran and Anatomy of Life & Energy in Agriculture by Arden. B. Andersen.
Join us we examine 3 pieces which explore future possibilities for a
more complete and viable economic system focusing on sustainable wealth
and community connections. Learn more here.
|
|
SEMAP Announces First-Ever Membership Drive!
At Thursday's Annual Meeting, SEMAP's
executive director, Bridget Alexander Ferreira, announced SEMAP's
first-ever membership drive. "We want to keep the momentum from the
relaunch going," said Alexander Ferreira. "Our goal is 500 new and
renewing members by January 1, 2011," she continued. With SEMAP's newly
established 501(c)(3) designation as a charitable non-profit, donations
are now tax deductible and with the new website, memberships can be
taken on-line. Invest in your community – invest in you - support
SEMAP. See "Get Involved" above to become a member, volunteer or
sponsor. Join here. |
|
EPA Webcasts and Podcasts: Local Climate and Energy Webcasts
The Local Climate and Energy Webcast
Series assists local governments as they explore topics related to local
government climate change and clean energy efforts. These monthly
webcasts highlight EPA resources available to local governments and
present examples of successful climate and energy programs and policies
implemented locally. Presentations, recordings, and other supplemental
materials are available sorted by topic or sorted by date. Learn more here. |
|
Coalition For Buzzards Bay seeks Restoration Ecologist, and Vice-President of Advocacy
The Coalition for Buzzards Bay is
growing and we are looking for talented, energetic, and passionate staff
members and volunteers to help further our mission. Check out the
opportunities below: Learn more here. |
|
Take Action: Help Support EECBG Funding
We need your help.
In order to secure ongoing funding for the EECBG program, we must show
how cities and counties are effectively using their EECBG dollars to
create jobs, reduce energy consumption and curb carbon pollution.
The Energy Block Grants Work! campaign invites you to join us in
showcasing how your community and your colleagues throughout the nation
are effectively using your EECBG funding.
Right now we need information on how your community is using its EECBG
funding. We will develop a profile of your clean energy projects for our
national report and include your locality among the many EECBG stories
we intend to promote.
The EECBG program will not be funded again if cities and counties sit
on the sidelines. With your support, we can successfully demonstrate
that Energy Block Grants Work! Learn about the grants here. |
|
Essay Contest for Kids and Teens
Like A Drop of Water's writing contest
offers young people, ages eight through seventeen, world wide the
opportunity to share their ideas on how they and their countries can
reduce climate change and pollution. We hope parents, grandparents and
teachers will feel free to share their ideas with their young author.
Teachers and their students may submit a class essay as well as serve as
judges. Learn about the contest here. |
|
Weekly Green Tip
|
The Laundry Freshener...in your Liquor Cabinet
Use a spritz or two of vodka to freshen up clothes in between laundry loads.
Learn more here.
|
|
Have information you'd like to add to the Almanac? Send an email and we'll add it to the list.
Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the Sustainability Almanac. If you unsubscribe, we'd appreciate if you could tell us what prompted the unsubscription. |
