Shifting baselines
Check out this cool blog called Shifting Baselines.
sustainability
People in any community on Earth are invited to join this "blog-alogue" on issues of global sustainability. Whether giving light to practical tips to achieve a carbon neutral lifestyle or watchdog commentary on legislators who "get it" (as well as those who don't), this blog is a search for truth on the big issue of climate change.
« February 2007 | Main | April 2007 »
March 28, 2007
March 23, 2007
School lunches
I just read a post on a listserv from a PTA mom who attended a meeting focused on improving the school lunch program in MCPS. How is this an issue that effects the environment you ask?
Well, the group named several initiatives besides the obvious one of offering more healthful cafeteria choices to children. One could argue that by serving more fresh and in-season (and produced locally) foods in the school lunches served by the humongous Montgomery County Public Schools, there would be a directly and indirectly positive impact on the environment, no question. But the other thing that got my attention is the following stated goal:
"Get rid of all polystyrene products in the school lunch room,
including those single-use disposable trays. Polystyrene is made
from styrene, a neurotoxin and known to be toxic to the reproductive
system. All polystyrene products still contain styrene. Plus all
55,000 trays/day are incinerated in our county waste incinerator
contributing to air pollution and global warming."
March 16, 2007
Clean Currents makes SilverDocs "Carbon Neutral" for 2007
Clean Currents, LLC, a DC area sustainably-operated clean energy business announced today that it is sponsoring SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel’s Documentary Festival and donating offsets to make the event the first ever carbon neutral documentary film festival in the U.S. The company will measure the carbon emissions from the energy used by the film festival and purchase clean energy credits to completely offset them. Clean Currents will also advise and help SILVERDOCS promote environmental initiatives during the week-long film fest in June.
“We’re pleased to help SILVERDOCS make an amazing statement about the need to fight global warming and protect our environment,” noted Gary Skulnik, Clean Currents’ President. “Silver Spring was home to the mother of the environmental movement, Rachel Carson, and now it’s home to the first carbon neutral documentary film festival in the entire country.”
It is the 100th anniversary of Rachel Carson’s birth. The Silver Spring activist and writer is commonly credited with starting the environmental movement with her book, “Silent Spring.”
“SILVERDOCS is thrilled to partner with Clean Currents to do our part in the race to save our planet. Documentary film has long been at the center of social awareness on environmental issues. Taking the lead from Al Gore and Davis Guggenheim's AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, now we're not only talking, but changing how we do business. This June, SILVERDOCS will be carbon neutral, and we invite the documentary community to join us in going green” said Festival Director Patricia Finneran.
Clean Currents is also providing offsets to make the Silver Spring Grand Prix bicycle race this July carbon neutral. The Clean Currents Cycling Team, part of DC Velo, is the host of the race. Clean Currents has been establishing a strong presence in Silver Spring, reaching out to businesses and consumers to increase demand for clean energy solutions.
“We want to make Silver Spring the green capital of the region,” added Skulnik. “Businesses, arts organizations, non profits, government and people all need to be part of the solution to global warming.”
About Clean Currents
Clean Currents is a DC-area sustainably operated clean energy business established in 2005. The company promotes a sustainable future through achieving economic solutions to global warming and air pollution. Clean Currents is a proud member of the Clean Energy Partnership, Sustainable Business Network of Washington, Chesapeake Sustainable Business Network and Co-Op American Business Network. www.cleancurrents.com
About SILVERDOCS
SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival brings the best new documentaries to Washington, DC audiences, with six days of programming, showcasing 100 films from over 40 countries, plus special screenings and the 4-day International Documentary Conference. Now in its fifth year, SILVERDOCS is fast becoming the most talked about documentary festival in the United States. The Festival was founded by AFI, a national institute providing leadership in screen education and the recognition, celebration of excellence in the art of film, television and digital media and Discovery Communications, Inc., the leading global real-world media company with operations in 170 countries and territories reaching nearly 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers.
The Festival—which will take place June 12 – 17, 2007—serves as a launch pad for independent documentaries, and affords international filmmakers access to US audiences. SILVERDOCS provides business and creative connections between filmmakers, broadcasters, distributors, and funders from both established and emerging media markets at the concurrent International Documentary Conference.
SILVERDOCS takes place at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, a year-round cinema complex presenting first-run art house film, calendared screening series and themed festivals. The 49,000 square-foot art deco complex houses three theaters—one historic, two new state-of-the-art stadium-style theaters—and a café; it is located in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, just across the street from Discovery World Headquarters. For more information, go to www.SILVERDOCS.com.
March 14, 2007
County Council asks residents for input on controlling global warming
ROCKVILLE, March 14, 2007—Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner today called on residents to provide “green ideas” to help make the County a model community in the battle against global warming.
Berliner asked residents to share thoughts on protecting the environment at The Response of County Government to Global Warming, a public forum held attended by more than 100 people at the Council Office Building in Rockville. The forum explored the necessity for taking action and identifying specific best practices.
“Given the international scope of this crisis, some may question why local governments should devote their energies and resources to solving it,” Berliner said in addressing the participants. “In response, I would suggest that there is hardly a more apt illustration of the power of the bumper sticker slogan, ‘Think Globally, Act Locally.’”
At today’s forum, which will be rebroadcast at various times on County Cable Montgomery Channel 6, Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Nancy Floreen, Mike Knapp, George Leventhal and Duchy Trachtenberg led four panel discussions. The forum brought together environmentalists, regional government officials, academics and business representatives to discuss not only the urgent need to reduce green house gas emissions, but also cutting edge public policy initiatives that have been implemented across the country to achieve significant reductions.
Berliner asked that innovative ideas be sent to him via e-mail (under the subject line “Green Ideas”) to Councilmember.Berliner@montgomerycountymd.gov . For further information, call 240-777-7828.