Events
1. Walk/Ride Day, Friday, Feb 29th
Wear Green (shirt, pants, socks, whatever!)
Commute Green (walk, bike, bus, carpool, GoLoCo (.org), telecommute, walk 5 or 10 blocks, etc.!)
And then Celebrate (with fantastic freebies, great discounts, & raffle items from local businesses - see www.GoGreenStreets for details of our sponsors' generous offers!)!
Check in on the website, with the link to the right. WALK/RIDE DAY CHECK IN AND RAFFLE HERE!!!!!
2. Low Carbon Diet Groups
On February 28, GreenPort's monthly action meeting will be devoted to The Low Carbon Diet. "This 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds is a fun, accessible, easy to use guide that will show you, step-by-step, how to dramatically reduce your CO2 output in just a month's time." Several copies of "The Low Carbon Diet" book will be available. Advance reading is not required. For more information about the low carbon diet, go to http://www.empowermentinstitute.net/lcd/
Thursday, February 28, 7:00pm at the Livable Streets office, 100 Sidney St.
On March 2nd, Sunday, from 7 to 8:30 pm, Mary Sacksteder will begin a new Low Carbon Diet group, which will meeting for four consecutive Sundays in March. If you would like to join the group, email Mary at s02116@yahoo.com.
3. Global Warming Solutions Act
Voice on Beacon Hill Lobbying Day, Tuesday March 18th. MCAN is encouraging everyone to visit their State Congressional Representatives and urge them to finish the energy bill and endorse SB 2423, the Global Warming Solutions Act, authored by Senators Pacheco (Taunton) and Resor (Acton). Green Decade/Cambridge is organizing visits to our representatives and we would like as many members as possible to join us. Please e-mail igdc@greencambridge.org. If you can join us. Otherwise, contact your state representative to express your opinion..
This Act will commit Massachusetts to join California, New Jersey, Florida and Hawaii in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by the year 2020 and 80% by the year 2050.
For further information, go to
http://www.EnvironmentMassachusetts.org.
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has released a highly favorable Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on Cape Wind - and now they want to hear from you!
There are 2 ways for you to make your voice heard.
1) Write a letter - MMS is now accepting written comments from the public, please go to capewind.org/mms for all the information you need to send in your comments.
2) Attend a public event - The MMS is holding 4 Public Hearings on Cape Wind, where you can speak out in favor of Cape Wind. The Boston hearing is:
Thursday, March 13, 2008, 6:00 pm
Campus Center Ballroom, University of MA
Boston, Massachusetts
5. Planning in Cambridge for new Mass Local Food Coop
Massachusetts Local Food Co-op: Cambridge/Boston Meeting, Saturday, March 8, 12:00-2:00pm at the Central Square Library (Lewis Conference Room)
The new Massachusetts Local Food Cooperative is holding a potluck lunch featuring an informational and organizational meeting. The aim of the new coop is to enable Massachusetts consumers to purchase from local farmers and food producers using an online shopping cart and a volunteer distribution system. The group's coop management software allows producers to post information about their products and allows consumers to search and view a variety of products. The payment goes to the farmer and the cooperative takes a small percentage to cover the coop's costs.
Anyone interested in this new way to find and purchase local food and products is invited to join the discussion. For more information about this meeting or others planned throughout the state during the next month contact Kelley O'Connor at 978-422-7669 or kelleyoconnor@gmail.com.
6. Environmental Bond Bill--Silver Maple Forest http://www.envirobond.org
The Environmental Bond bill has substantially increased this year, and there is a better opportunity than in many years to sustain a good environmental policy in Massachusetts, but competition for these funds is great. Please contact your elected officials to let them know the importance this bill has for you. Check who they are here: http://www.wheredoivotema.com . You may e-mail or send a note. Better yet, both call by phone and e-mail. This year, the Environmental Bond Bill included the acquisition of the silver maple forest, thanks to you and Representative Brownsberger's advocacy.
The full Bond Bill can be found on this website: http://www.envirobond.org/whynow.php.
For reasons why it is so important see www.envirobond.org.
7. DPW Announces Food Recycling Pilot Program: Cambridge DPW is now accepting food waste from residents for composting at the Department of Public Works. Cambridge residents can have a free special bucket from the city to collect kitchen waste. It's a pilot program from February to July 2008.
http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/departments/recycle/pdffiles/dropoff_compost.pdf
8. NESEA's Building Energy 08 Conference March 11 - 13, 2008, Seaport World Trade Center,Boston, MA
The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) conference , "The Practice of Sustainability: Tools, Actions and Solutions," will showcase the leading edge of green building and clean energy in high-performance buildings, retrofit and rehabilitation of existing buildings, and renewable energy. Online registration available now at:
http://www.buildingenergy.nesea.org/
9. Friends of Fresh Pond Events: listed at
http://www.friendsoffreshpond.org
These events are FREE and open to the public. Children are welcome in the company of an adult.
10. Second Annual Cambridge Science Festival on Apr 26 - May 4
Go to
http://www.cambridgesciencefestival.org for details on participating.
Articles and Web Sites:
11. Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard
Current information from MCAN at: www.massclimateaction.net/Legislation
12. Environmental Working Group, ewg.org, is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization dedicated to using the power of information to protect human health and the environment. Special topics include Skin Deep, Food News, EWG's Fish List. To join the Bulletin, their monthly eNewsletter, to stay up-to-date on the latest environmental and health issues at http://ewg.org
13. U.N. panel: IPCC: Peer Reviewed Climate Information and Policy at:
http://www.ipcc.ch/
14. Climate Dialogues: Greater Seattle Climate Dialogues at
http://www.climatedialogues.org/ is a campaign of community learning and discussion that begins with small group dialogues (in neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, etc.) and will culminate in a
Citizen's Climate Summit, where our informed, collective voice will be heard by local and national political leaders.
15. Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.
http://www.dsireusa.org/
