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Huge Victory for Berkeley Edible Gardens Initiative Last Wednesday!
Many of our staff and members have been following closely the trajectory of the Edible Gardens legislation in Berkeley. We are happy to report that it passed unanimously at the Planning Commission meeting last week, and moving forward, it will be significantly easier for gardeners to grow and sell produce, honey and eggs from their residential lots. The version of this legislation that was passed requires no permits or fees; instead, urban farmers agree to follow reasonable guidelines. Cheers to the Planning Commission, to the outspoken supporters, and the leadership of the Berkeley Edible Gardens Initiative, who worked hard to get this effort from concept to legislation. Read on for a letter to supporters that includes the specific language in the passed legislation. READ MORE »
Stop the Plastic Tidal Wave Event, Next Thursday, 5/24/12
The first of our in-house events as part of our Zero Waste series, this event is all about discussing the very big problem of plastics in a proactive, solution-oriented way. It will offer participants an interactive presentation by Green Sangha members Sanjen Miedzinski, Ph.D and Beth Terry. Can recycling plastics solve the problem of plastic litter, and the poisoning of the food web? Where are we going with ocean cleanup and product stewardship? What are the plastics of greatest concern? Learn about the effects of litter, how recycling falls short, and what businesses and governments can do to stop the plague of plastic pollution. To read more about the background of the presenters, or more details on this free event, click here. We hope to see you there, Thursday May 24th from 7 to 9 PM. Be sure to catch the other events in the Zero Waste series, all listed on our EcoCalendar!
[Photo by neoluk]
Plastics in Ocean Worse than Thought
The latest research from oceanographers show that wind and water currents can impact plastic pollution monitoring efforts. It seems that researchers have underestimated the volume of plastic pollution in the ocean because wind conditions push plastics out of reach of surface skim collections. One of the scientists coming out with new data on this, Giora Proskurowski, is quoted “‘I think what this research really shows is that I can go out in the middle of the ocean – five days away from land – into one of the remotest parts of the planet, and scoop up plastic … I think it’s a stark reminder of the impact our society has on the planet.’” The plastic problem is a huge one, and it is difficult to grasp both the scale and role that each of us play in it. We are excited about our Zero Waste event series in the coming weeks, that explores many facets of waste, from policy to personal impact, and hope that it will help participants digest some of the most pressing waste issues for our community. Check out our EcoCalendar for upcoming free events as part of that series, and for a full report on the latest plastic research, head over to California Watch.
Coming this November, GMO Labeling Initiative on Your Ballot!
California’s Right to Know Campaign turned in nearly a million signatures earlier this month to secure the GMO Labeling Initiative’s spot on the November ballot. While signature gathering volunteers deserve a moment of victory, it may be only a respite before the big push during election season. This historic effort may face a tough push back campaign from some of the major biotech corporations, including Monsanto, Bayer, and others. Case in point, Vermont should be the first state to put a GMO-labeling law on the books, but since Monsanto has been threatening to sue, legislators there have been dragging their feet. Public opinion polls show that GMO Labeling is a popular effort, with some showing 90% of Americans support labeling genetically-modified foods. We’ll keep following and post updates on this campaign. In the meantime, Californians should head over to California Right to Know to find out how they can support this important effort.
[Photo from www.carighttoknow.org]