Archive for September, 2011
Ecology Center Executive Director Martin Bourque sets stage for the 2nd Annual Food Summit of the Greater Everglades Foodshed
At the invitation on Earth Learning of Miami, Florida, I am here speaking to the emerging Food Policy Council of the Greater Everglades Foodshed. Like many areas of California and other food producing regions, South Florida has both rural areas producing foods that are shipped across the planet, and a lack of access to fresh [...]
Rebuilding Village Economy Through Local Exchange: Local Timebanks and other Alternatives 9/29/11
Come join us for an informational and inspirational event with Kellia Ramares-Watson (The End of Money) and Mira Luna, co-founder of the San Francisco Time Bank. Hear their ideas about why the economy cannot recover in the long term and how we can all continue to meet our needs elegantly and equitably. This event is [...]
Moving Planet Rally for a Cooler Climate
Any tourist strolling through downtown San Francisco this past Saturday was likely to be stopped in her tracks. San Francisco might have a reputation as an eccentric city, but surely your average tourist doesn’t imagine the streets lined with hundreds of banner-holding bicyclists, skateboarders, and pedestrians, some more easily recognizable as polar bears, tropical fish, [...]
Send Letters to Jerry Brown About Recycling
Please take five minutes to send a letter to Governor Jerry Brown, urging his signature on three important bills that will affect recycling in California. Californians Against Waste has created sample letters to make it convenient for you. Please send in your completed letters to Californians Against Waste by October 9 for hand delivery to [...]
Moving Planet Mobilization: Berkeley bike ride, BART gathering, and SF parade 9/24/11
Be part of Moving Planet: a worldwide rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis. Join the movement away from fossil fuels and participate in any or all of these events: Morning Bike Ride in Berkeley (9am – 11:15am): Kick off the day with a ride co-sponsored by the East Bay Bike Coalition, Transition Berkeley, [...]
Smart Growth and Just Growth: the quest for equity in transit-oriented development
In the next 25 years, the Bay Area population is projected to climb by about 2 million residents, nearly all concentrated in urban areas. How can we accommodate this tremendous influx of people and keep regional greenhouse gas emissions under control? Transit-oriented development may be the answer. On Thursday, September 22, join leaders from prominent [...]
Ask the EcoTeam: Homemade Cleaning Products
Ask the EcoTeam is created by Beck Cowles, the Ecology Center’s Program Manager of Information Services. Cowles and her team staff the Help Desk at the Ecology Center and answer the Ecology Center’s Information Hotline from 11:00am to 6:00pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Dear EcoTeam, I’d like to start making my own cleaning products at home [...]
The Savvy Consumer: Greening Your Laundry
by Alison Moreno, Store Manager In your quest to live a more environmentally responsible life, don’t overlook your laundry routine. How you go about washing and drying your clothes every week affects your energy and water use, as well as air quality and health. This article is intended to help you navigate the many choices [...]
Greenwashing and the Ecology Center’s Solution Salons
by Debra Berliner, Climate Action Coordinator Walk down the aisles of most stores and prepare to be inundated with the language of “green.” From Safeway to Saks, products claiming to be “sustainable,” “all natural,” “ecological,” or “earth friendly” cover the shelves. Turn on the TV or open the newspaper and you’ll be flooded with “green” [...]
Slow Money’s 3rd National Gathering
Slow Money: a new kind of investing for the 21st century. Join the Ecology Center as we partner with Slow Money to promote this emerging network of thought leaders, investors, donors, farmers, social entrepreneurs and everyday folks for our National Gathering this October 12-14 at historic Fort Mason in San Francisco. Listen to speakers such as David [...]
What comes next? After the Tar Sands Protest
The Ecology Center will be partnering with 350.org to participate in the upcoming Moving Planet Day of Climate Action on September 24th. Mark your calendars! Here is an update from Bill McKibben, who was recently jailed as he protested the proposed tar sands pipeline in Washington DC.
Crop Swaps Gain in Popularity
In Berkeley, backyard gardeners with excess produce can barter their goods at crop swaps, one in North Berkeley, and the other more recently started in South Berkeley. Both crop swaps were initiated by Transition Berkeley, partly in response to the need to strengthen neighborhoods in times of economic hardship. These two crop swaps are part [...]
From Auto-Cities to EcoCities: Examples from Around the Globe 9/8/11
Join us on Thursday 9/8/11 as EcoCity Builders presents a stunning slideshow and informative talk on examples of alternative city design from around the world. See how dense, compact urban habitats have implemented city plans that favor walking, cycling, and public transit, over motorized or mechanized transport. Kirsten Miller and Richard Register will discuss principles [...]
Roundup: Worse than We Thought
For years, Monsanto touted their pesticide Roundup as an environmentally benign pesticide. But this year, the reputation of Roundup has taken a beating, along with the genetically modified crops that Monsanto has created to withstand their pesticide. First was the study confirming the toxic nature of Roundup’s “inert” ingredients, then there was the revelation that [...]
Welcome Home the 2011 Food and Freedom Riders 9/1/11
Earlier this summer, Live Real hosted thirteen people to hop on a bus and, in the spirit of the Freedom Rides of the Civil Rights era, travel across the country to expose and uplift stories from farmers, food chain workers and Food and Freedom Fighters. Read more about the Freedom Rides here. Tonight (Thursday, September [...]
