Letters :
...
Facebook "Our Green Challenge" is working very well for sharing new content. If you don't "do Facebook" and have requests or offerings let us know by emailing Roni at GreenChallenge@sonic.net
Also join us at local events. Please check for updates at our homepage.
Thank you very much for everything you do to create a positive future!
--7 Entries-- Please see below the ************* line.
Also please look below the double ************* line underneath the 7 "letters" entries for an example of a local mega event we had in Santa Rosa, and help plan the next one.
Where links are not live you may want to go to the source (where it is available) for better access and more information.
Possible future topics:
sensible management of resources
green safety
affordable in fill housing near transit, jobs, and shopping.
efficiency to save money and reduce carbon
promoting small homegrown businesses
promoting areas that are pedestrian and bicycle friendly
food forest gardens
water wise landscaping
local vacationing and everyday cycling and bus adventures
low carbon alternative transportation adventures
holding big business and developers responsible for costs that are unfairly imposed on the taxpayers, including environmental clean up costs.
protecting groundwater resources, water and air quality, agriculture, and greenbelts.
safeguarding against the spread of genetically engineered farming of crops and fish
focusing on effectiveness and efficiency in our advocacy
volunteer service with groups encouraging low carbon and green
and much more...
Together we are making a difference for our communities and we can continue to do more!
Thank you!
Veronica Jacobi
Contact Veronica at GreenChallenge@sonic.net
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(sorry about the lack of formating... if you have that ability please volunteer!)
--"Low Carbon Travel Adventures"- 2/11/2010--
ok... I put a footer on my signature for a number of weeks saying ~"If you are interested in learning about my ultra-low net carbon journey to NY, please take a look at www.OurGreenChallenge.org (OGC) around February 14th. I love my family & our planet! (Added bonus... I realized there are ways to go low carbon cross country skiing from Santa Rosa (and downhill or snowboarding without much additional carbon as well.))" As usual... just like you probably... there are many wonderful things to do... so I've written a "stream of consciousness" type account... to fulfill what my signature said but not take a lot of time...and if you want to know more... or improve it... please let me know. I encourage you to share your low carbon adventures (encourage your friends to share as well please) to be posted on OGC!
----The only times I used some extra avoidable energy (beyond my usual normally very low use compared to a typical U.S. resident ) on my trip from Santa Rosa CA to New York, NY and back was: taking my luggage less than a mile from my home to the Amtrak bus station (at 6AM) and riding an elevator about 4 to 8 times to deal with my luggage when I could not securely or safely transport it by myself without an elevator, and using a light for a few hours when I was by myself in my daughter's hotel room (she was on a business trip and we got to visit relatives together.) I would have also had my husband pick me up with our car on my return. but our solar trickle charger failed to keep the car battery charged due to lots of overcast days and our usual habit of only driving "when there is an extraordinarily good reason to". Fortunately we managed my returning luggage plus a reused bicycle box full of my Grandfather's paintings in two trips with a bike and bike trailer. The large bike box we walked with using the trailer and bike rack to prop up the box... fortunately we did not have far to go... and it was only raining lightly. The train was wonderful! My guess is the added weight of my luggage and myself was less than 300 lbs and didn't significantly increase the energy used by the train. The train was underfilled at all times... maybe close to capacity for only 2/3rds of one night in the area I was sitting (I didn't look in other sections of the train in the middle of the night to see what the overall occupancy was..., and for about 2 hours during one day. This was out of ~3.5 days towards NY and ~3.5 days returning to CA. I took the NY City bus, pedicab (very fun and I was really getting tired of lugging all my luggage!), subway, walked, used stairs, was assisted by numerous VERY kind people (including a very strong man with a hand cart) when I desparately needed help with my luggage. I was running late for my return train (very exciting going in the street with all the taxi's etc!). I took elevators when other people were anyway a few times, and rode in my cousin's car when my Aunt could not walk the distance, and took a taxi when my daughter refused to even try a subway to get us to my Aunt's ...I really did do my best to get her to walk at least a block toward the subway station and see how do-able it was... but no success on that effort. On my way back to the train alone (my daughter had already returned to California) I decided to use human power to the subway and then take the subway... do the lowest carbon alternative... I was open to a Prius taxi/car service because I had stayed longer than planned with my Aunt and her friend... but there wasn't a Prius available on short notice, if at all. So... there were some moments there... when two "it's not my problem" Amtrak personnel... rejected me taking the oversized box I had called ahead about and verified the large size was ok I just had to pay an extra $5...but I had not described the fragile paintings... no one asked either... every other passenger had boarded the train... and there I was... with the Amtrak attendant saying he would not let me aboard with my Grandfather's painting. (He was NOT a pleasant person to deal with... There were many wonderful Amtrak employees, and only a few that were lacking some skills.) I suggested a space where the oversized box would fit based on my trip from CA to Chicago (I don't really remember the train storage areas from Chicago to NY... it was beautiful in places and uneventful in others... and I had checked two of my bags into baggage claim at that point and only had one rolling suitcase to keep track of... so it was easy and I didn't pay much attention.) Anyway... there I was feeling that I had blown it... I had gone through a lot of effort, received wonderful, amazing, extraordinary help and support from 10 or more kind people (I only asked for directions from a few of them... they all offered more than I asked or offered without being asked!...plus offers of help from 2 or more people before I knew I needed it and how to use it... I had arrived ONLY a few minutes before all the passengers had completly boarded... after checking one bag late, so I wouldn't need to keep track of it, and I had still failed to get myself and my new oversized box of treasured family paintings safely on the train. (I did not have time to take the paintings box back to luggage check in and pretend they were not fragile and hope they would survive.) I had no options left where I could take care of the paintings, other than missing my train ...and then what would I do. I had cut it too close... I could have taken a taxi to the subway. I could have given up on going through my Grandma and my oldest Aunt's jewelry with my youngest Aunt earlier and stuck to the time I planned to leave. I had done my best to get everything really important to my family and I done, implemented the lowest carbon plan, many other people had jumped in to help when I most needed it... I was so close... and yet I was going to fail to get home when I had hoped to... to attend to important things at home... I was there with my luggage and painting boxes, I had gratefully given the wonderfully strong man with the Jamaican accent $40 because I was so grateful... because I never would have made it without his and the other people's help who wouldn't take money (and one of them had said to give it to someone who needed it.)(I gave a bit more than a cab and tip would have cost). I felt defeated... and then... other Amtrak personnel came to inquire about what my situation was. I explained as best I could while almost hyperventilating or whatever it is called. They promptly took the oversized box, found a safe spot for it... and allowed me on the train. Faith in all that is good and supports our best efforts was restored for me... and because one of my bags was a day behind me... I started thinking of other ways to turn lemons into lemonaid. When I got to Chicago where I needed to switch trains I had enough time to try and check my oversized box... the kind people there said it would really be best for the paintings to go with me on the train and to talk to the conductor... and how to do that as early as possible... I followed their detailed instructions and when the first people were allowed to go to the train I explained and got to go straight to the conductor at the 1st car... he had a big EMPTY luggage compartment... just waiting to safely carry the paintings to Martinez... so I went the rest of the way home with low stress and high gratitude... (I was prepared to be denied access after my stressful experiences in New York and was figuring out how to visit my relatives in Iowa for a day if need be - which could have been wonderful too). The paintings and one of my rolling suitcases was the only thing in the whole car for the majority of the trip! One bag from a Pennsylvania Dutch man was in there for a while... another ultra low carbon person... (Perhaps I should have asked to interview one of them... though when I was a child I heard they avoided contact and being photographed.) A reporter from the London Times asking to interview people taking the train to go skiing...interviewed a couple sitting near me. They take the train and a shuttle is waiting at the train station to take them to their condo. There were other shuttles also... perhaps to hotels or directly to the slopes. I no longer feel I "have to" give up cross country skiing until we have reached back down to 350ppm... though I don't know if I will give myself the time... but I may... taking work along on the train... just like I did on this trip... only not working when I was sleeping or the scenery was so rejuvenating that it was totally worth focusing on... which was a lot of the trip! Helpful tips... bring fresh (organic) produce and (organic) paper box soups (organic or non rbst) cheeses or vegan alternatives good bread or crackers... or buy 6 rolls for $3 from the sandwich shop in Chicago like I did (they were not on the menu), and the Chinese food court spot with paper to go containers if you ask (rather than styrofoam) had delightful tofu with fresh vegetables and veggie fried rice!
--"An Open Letter to Senators Boxer and Feinstein" Dec 27, 2009, additions Feb 11, 2010--
The Climate Justice Fast called attention to the link between climate change, crop destruction and famine world-wide. Participating constituents from Sonoma County donated the equivalent of what they would normally eat in a day to Redwood Empire Food Bank. But such local actions are not enough.
A call for green jobs!
Dear Senators Boxer and Feinstein, I am so very grateful to be serving on the Santa Rosa City Council and able to assist Santa Rosa in climate recovery actions. I need your help on the Federal level on many fronts, and I am thankful for your many efforts to date. When I was a child, being raised by my immigrant grandparents, they told me about a grandmother who during or after WWI gave up her portion of the food so the children in her family would hopefully grow right. She chose to die early to lessen the children's suffering due to inadequate food availability. I DO NOT want more grandmothers to be faced with that sad choice as climate impacts continue into the future. Therefore I participated in the Climate Justice Fast and Hunger for Survival to join with many others calling attention to the link between climate change, crop destruction and famine, world-wide. What happens abroad affects us here. And what we do here affects people in other countries to a higher level than ever before due to much more extreme temperature differences and storms, drought, wildfires etc.. (I am acutely aware of the impacts of food scarcity because my daughter is serving in the Peace Corps in Mozambique for another year. One of her favorite young friends has a distended belly. She is surrounded by need and cannot give enough, though she does a wonderful job of giving what she can. "Starving children in Africa" and too many places has always been real to me, but my daughter knows suffering children. I hope you get to view the film competition on hunger winner "Chicken Ala- cart" sometime. It is amazing.) As part of the fasting action, your participating constituents from Sonoma County donated the equivalent of what they would normally eat in a day to Redwood Empire Food Bank, in recognition that it is the moral thing to do to see that no one goes hungry. It is heartwarming to see filling bins at many locations around Santa Rosa. I and we strongly urge you to continue to sponsor, write and vote on legislation to require actions that will bring us to a 20% or much higher carbon emissions reduction cap by 2020. The draft legislation, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act "CJAPA" (that you, Senator Boxer,) prepared along with Senator Kerry, was recently approved by the U.S. House of Representatives. It establishes a cap and trade program to reduce greenhouse gases and contains extensive provisions to encourage clean energy development, regulate the cap and trade mechanisms, and address the economic impacts of the provisions in the bill. I actually prefer a "tax and share/ tax and dividend" approach. Hopefully that will come soon! I and we ask that in sponsoring, writing and voting for climate protection legislation, that you vow to keep the EPA's authority to regulate coal plants in the bill, (otherwise the bill could actually lead to INCREASED emissions). I and we ask that you fight to keep the part of the bill that calls for the creation of new working class green jobs. Thank you so very much for your ongoing efforts to protect the environment and the climate. Sincerely, Veronica Jacobi
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(sorry about the lack of formating and live links, we have been focusing on new content and progress instead... if you have that ability or dancing and/or choreography talents or want to develop new talents... please volunteer!)
--"Green/Blue Dancing" ideas--
awesome video info below ... so fun and a great message... How about green gloves and/or blue gloves or ribbons and green and blue clothes and hats dancing for Climate recovery and greater species survival... with pictures of endangered species and areas hit by climate impacts...drought...wildfires etc...including impacts on people, going between scenes of dancing to scenes of challenges as well as solution creators... actually... split screen... dancing on top... and "we can do it" kinds of messages in narrow center..and peoples OurGreenChallenge commitments or such...lower screen in scenes of difficulty as well as solutions etc.
anyone willing to contact the creator of the pink gloves and ask for permission to do something similar and/or to help make it happen? Thank you Veronica
...please check out www.350.org if you haven't already
On Sat 21/11/09 9:47 AM , Hi everyone, A friend's cousin is a survivor of breast cancer and she sent this to me . What an uplifting way to begin your day and continue the awareness. Check out the below email details and youtube link!
Subject: FW: Breast cancer "dance" Our daughter-in-law, Emily (MacInnes) Somers, created, directed and choreographed this in Portland last week for her Medline glove division as a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. This was all her idea to help promote their new pink gloves. I don't know how she got so many employees, doctors and patients to participate, but it started to really catch on and they all had a lot of fun doing it. When the video gets 1 million hits, Medline will be making a huge contribution to the hospital, as well as offering free mammograms for the community. Please check it out. It's an easy and great way to donate to a wonderful cause, and who hasn't been touched by breast cancer?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdVfyt-mLw
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(sorry about the lack of formating and live links... if you have that ability please volunteer!)
--November 11, 2009 | Scientific American--
Baked Australia: Water Management Lessons for the World from Down Under
Australia is at the forefront of a global water crisis. Some of the management lessons learned there could help bail out California and other parched regions before they meet the same fate By Lynne Peeples Another summer is heating up Down Under, and the forecast looks as worrisome and as potentially deadly as last summer's. A decade of drought is parching landscapes, devastating farmers, killing gum trees, and forcing a new definition of conservation into the continental nation's colorful lexicon. Could Australia see a day when a bottle of water is worth more than a bottle of Shiraz? They just might. "This is literally a country running out of water," says author�activist Maude Barlow, senior advisor on water to the United Nations. Barlow recently witnessed the reality of Australia's water woes firsthand, from a helicopter above the Murray�Darling river system. "We flew over this dead zone," she recalls. "There was nothing left. No trees. The river's gone." The Earth's driest inhabited continent is at the forefront of a global crisis. Its adaptations and maladaptations to dwindling supplies of freshwater offer useful lessons to many parts of the world�from the Middle East to Africa to the U.S. Southwest�where dire water trends seem to be following close behind. Global populations grew threefold and water use rose sevenfold in the 20th century, Barlow notes. Meanwhile, climate change continues to drive up temperatures, melt away glaciers and alter rainfall patterns. This, she says, is a "recipe for disaster." Every threatened region has its own variations of the recipe, including how long the issue will sit in the oven before it is put on the table. Last week, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed what has been called "historic" water legislation in his drought- burdened state. California decided its water infrastructure and ecosystems are cooked enough, although there is debate on whether or not the new series of bills�with goals that include restoring the fragile Sacramento�San Joaquin River Delta and reducing per capita water use�will be enough to keep residents, fisheries and industries from running out of water. Half a world and a hemisphere away the situation is severer. The Murray�Darling Basin covers a seventh of Australia, supporting about three million people and 40 percent of the continent's agricultural production. But it is drying up; the Murray River no longer reaches the sea and 90 percent of the basin's wetlands have been drained. Where is the water going? The answer is complicated. For starters, the Mediterranean-like landscape and climate of southern Australia is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Lacking a substantial mountain range and abutted by the cold Antarctic waters of the Southern Ocean, precious little moisture fills its air without the help of variable atmospheric circulation patterns�predicted to provide less precipitation to the region as global temperatures rise. Add to this decades of overextractions for dams, irrigation and urban use, and a devastating natural cycle is spun: Less water means more desiccated vegetation, leading to more bushfires that reduce the land's ability to store water, creating ever more kindling. As Justin Brookes, founding committee member of the University of Adelaide Water Research Center, explains, a 10 to 15 percent decrease in rainfall actually translates to a 50 percent drop in runoff given these compounding factors. Worse still, the water that remains contains more concentrated contamination. "The issues have been on the radar for a long time, but we've been slow to act," Brookes says. "Nothing spurs activity like disaster." Australia's adaptation strategies aim to recycle water, use it more efficiently, and find new supplies. Certain approaches are proving more successful than others, as exemplified by two cities at the terminus of the Murray�Darling Basin: Adelaide has enlisted hard technological solutions such as desalination; smaller Salisbury focuses primarily on recycling waste and storm water and utilizing natural filtration systems such as wetlands and lagoons. The latter "softer" options, according to the U.N.'s Barlow, are cheaper, less energy intensive, and have lower environmental impacts. But she also thinks solutions must run deeper, socially and economically: "We have to start living within our water footprint." Golf courses, swimming pools and green lawns are not sustainable� especially in the desert. Also outside that footprint falls the continual pumping of water from elsewhere and its virtual export through agricultural products, a mainstay of Australia's economy. "I don't think California has adequately learned the lessons from Australia that it ought to," says Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute in Oakland, Calif. He thinks Sacramento's new watered-down legislation "doesn't go far enough to prepare us for the real water crisis that is coming." In many ways, Southern California is looking more and more like a densely populated southern Australia. (Los Angeles is already home to more people than all of Australia, and growing.) Scientists predict the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada could shrink by as much as 90 percent by century's end. And the U.S.'s most populous state is no stranger to wildfires (record numbers have swept through its forests in the past decade) or the pressures of an agricultural economy�80 percent of the Golden State's water is used for irrigation. Like Australia, a substantial portion is dedicated to turning water into wine. But the new bills set no direct limits on agricultural water use, a target that also is missing in Australia, Gleick notes. At the same time, much of California's legislation reflects Australia's strategy of hard fixes, including new dams and pumps. Like Barlow, Gleick advocates the softer path, which starts with measuring water footprints before they are shrunk. "We don't even know who is using how much water to do what," he says. "We have to get better at using water more efficiently. That's true for the Murray� Darling; that's true for California; that's true everywhere."
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(sorry about the lack of formating... if you have that ability please volunteer!)
--"Thoughts on Bikes and Cars" 10/29/09 edits 2/11/10--
Hi Linda, Thank you. ... I love bicycling...I do it for transportation, and almost never just for fun... though I almost always have fun riding! (I did the Piccolo(sp?) of the Gran Fondo mainly for fun.. but I did videotape and interview people every chance I got... I learned someone bought a bike just to participate... so these events DO get people back into cycling!) Yes... some professional and recreational riders could use significant education on the Climate Crisis. Yes, even many environmentalists have a significant auto footprint. I have been thinking about what an 80 to 90% reduction in carbon would look like locally. (Scientists recently went from 80% reduction by 2050 to by 2020... and I would say NOW! (My household footprint is 1/20th of the typical American household and none of our reductions have been expensive. I am happy to help anyone reduce their footprint.) There "could be/might be" 1/2 to 1/20th the amount of cars on the road, frequent buses and trains... Cars would usually be full of people doing things together...being a pedestrian or cyclist or driver could be relatively twice to ~40 times safer. It would be much quieter and smell much better on our streets... How to get there? I see many ways... but how do we open people's minds to really doing everything they can as fast as they really can? In Australia Koalas are asking people for water... in 120' heat... this has never happened before.... I hope people are touched by this... I sure am. We can do so much more to solve this crisis... Some things can be easy most of the time... tough sometimes Thank you all for every positive effort you make!!! We can each make a difference!! Veronica *****
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(sorry about the lack of formating and photos... if you have either ability or want to learn please volunteer!)
"Koala's Asking for Water From Humans" received 10/29/09 but some of the photos were probably from 1/30/09--
Thanks to the Santa Rosa animal lover/ climate recovery advocate who sent this to me!
"Cute photos...yet scary how much the climate is changing. What a blatant message to all of us. AT 120 DEGREES IN AUSTRALIA , IT WAS SO HOT FOR A WEEK THAT KOALAS WERE ASKING PEOPLE FOR WATER. IT'S NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE. " (I have amazing pictures that were sent in an email... but I unfortunately do not know how to post them to the website yet. The pictures are of cyclists sharing a water bottle with a Koala at the side of a roadway and another Koala that climbed into a tub of water after taking a drink.) " ONE WENT TO A HOUSE TO TRY TO HIDE FROM THE HEAT AND TO GET A BIT OF SHADE AND HERES WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE OWNER GAVE HIM SOMETHING TO DRINK. IT'S REALLY CUTE."
"Until one has loved an animal, part of his soul remains unawakened."
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(Sorry about the lack of formating and live links... if you have that ability please volunteer!)
(From Environmental Defense Fund.) If you aren't sure why global warming is our top priority, please read this email. Moments ago, the White House released a detailed scientific report forecasting devastating impacts of global warming in the United States if we don't take dramatic steps now to cut our global warming emissions. The report, Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, breaks down climate impacts region-by-region The Northeast: Hartford and Philadelphia could average 30 days of 100+ temperatures per year while Boston could see more than 20 100-degree days per year; Native maple, beech, birch, spruce and fir forests could be almost entirely lost; The climate of New Hampshire could resemble the climate of North Carolina. The Southeast: Much of Florida and southeast Texas could see more than 180 days in the 90s per year while other southeastern states could see more than 100 90-degree days per year; Spring and summer drought has already increased by 12 percent and 14 respectively over the last 30 years. The frequency, intensity and duration of droughts in the region are likely to increase; Sea level rise and stronger storm surges could inundate and ultimately flood coastal communities along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The Midwest: The climate of Michigan could resemble the climate of Oklahoma and the climate of Illinois could resemble the climate of Texas; Deadly heat waves like the one that killed more than 700 people in Chicago in 1995, will become more frequent. Under higher emission scenarios, Chicago could experience up to three such heat waves every year; Higher emissions scenarios would cause a water level drop of 1-2 feet in the Great Lakes, threatening shipping, infrastructure, beaches and ecosystems. The Great Plains: Hotter, drier summers will threaten the already overused High Plains aquifer, which irrigates 13 million acres and provides water to 80% of the people in the region; Increased temperatures and higher carbon dioxide levels will threaten farming activities with more drought, pest infestations, and faster weed growth; Under higher emission scenarios, North and South Dakota, which currently see only a handful of 100-degree days, could see 50 or more days of 100+ temperatures per year. The Southwest: Under higher emission scenarios, the southern half of Arizona, southeastern California and Las Vegas could see more than 120 days with 100+ temperatures; Most of the region could see precipitation levels decline by more than 40%, pushing already water-strained areas over the edge; Southwestern forests will be decimated with less water, more wildfires and more invasive pests. Under higher emissions scenarios, California's mountain forests could decline by 60-90%.
The Northwest:
Mountain snowpack runoff, critical water needs, could run 20-40 days earlier, threatening water resources in summer months; Declining summer streamflows and warmer water temperatures could push salmon and other cold water fish species, already stressed by human activities, over the brink; 100-degree days are rare today in the Northwest. Under higher emission scenarios, much of the region could see 30-40 days of 110+ temperatures per year. Without action, this is the future that awaits our children. We can't let it happen.
The good news? The U.S. House could vote on a landmark energy and global warming bill as soon as next week. We're doing everything we can to pass this bill and keep the pressure on the Senate to move a bill of its own.
Here are three things you can do now to help:
1. Take action to urge passage of the bill (or current advancing bills -VJ) in the House (and Senate and locally - VJ). 2. Forward this email to all your friends and family. 3. Share facts about your region on Facebook or Twitter. Please include a link to our action alert: http://support.edf.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=118
Thanks for all you do, Environmental Defense Fund P.S. In addition to the human toll, this report reinforces the dire threat American wildlife face in a warming world. Go to our Warming and Wildlife campaign to meet and see seven "ambassador" species that face a bleak future in a warmer world.
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(Again, sorry about the lack of formating,photographs and live links in this section... if you have that ability and two or more hours occasionally please volunteer!)
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PAST EVENTS... Help us plan future PARTIES & events even more fun and effective than the ones below were!
EXCITING 35.0 HOUR EVENT!
Saturday, x/24, 8 AM - Sunday, x/25, 7 PM (or 9PM bonus activities- see below)
Save/Savor Our Community
Please Note- Due to the complexity of a mobile 35.0 hr event details are Subject to Change. Please check back for updates, rain details & additional info. Zero Waste event - please bring your own cup, plate, silverware and some snacks. Some food will be provided and available. Also bring a sleeping bag, pillow and pad etc if you are planning on sleeping.
35.0 Hour Environmental Forum & Party
Aka - Best Yet Mobile Earth Day Party for Our Planet and Our Future!
(aka 2 - Let's be less Fossil Foolish and have more Fun doing it!)
How Low Can We Go?! Series of Forums throughout one or two days with Fun, Connecting & Effectiveness
Yes We Can Reduce our Carbon & Eco-Footprint
Chops/Greenway > Finley Center > City Hall > Roseland Elementary School >former New College
Come to one or all of the activities. Join us anytime throughout the. 35.0 hours!
There is no charge for any events except a suggested donation for Awakening the Dreamer.
"I arise in the morning, torn between a desire to save the world, and a desire to savor the world. That makes it hard to plan the day." ~ E.B. White ~
8 AM Meet in front of Chops (a block west of 99 W. Sixth St.) to Bike Ride Greenway from Pierson Bridge to Finley Center
If you want to have some fun, exercise and join others on our way to the event meet us in front of Chop?s on W. 6th Street near the 6th Street Playhouse. We will head to the Greenway at 8:05 AM and arrive at Finley by 8:25 AM
Finley segment - ALL ACTIVITIES WILL BE AT THE FINLEY CENTER FROM 8:30 AM THRU 5PM SATURDAY
8:30 AM to 12:30 AM Green Team Convention First ever, Student Green Team Convention in Sonoma County. Co-sponsored by Students for Sustainable Communities (SRJC), Climate Protection Campaign and Alliance for Climate Education. Non students welcome as mentors or for separate complementary Green Team planning. Manzanita room. RSVP is important for this segment to Jessica Jones srjcsustainability@gmail.com or GreenChallenge@sonic.net (because we can move to a larger room if needed).
12 noon to 4 00 PM Food & Gardening Festival Sponsored by Community Alliance Partnership (CAP Sonoma) and the City of Santa Rosa
3 50PM to 4:15 PM at display tables outside The Art of Climate Change Create art to display during the NOT Fossil Fools mini Parade
4:15 - 5:00 PM Safe & Green... Mini intro
Family & individual Safety training/demonstration/participation/discussion especially focused on pedestrian safety for young people, cycling, taking mass transit, and hiking.
5:00 PM We are NOT Fossil Fools Mini Parade & Bus or Bike etc. Ride (5:15 #6, arrives TM 5:25 PM) ((or 5:40 #3 Bus arrives 5:55 at Transit Mall)) to City Hall!
We will walk, cycle, scooter, roll, take the bus or carpool to get a message out to our community encouraging low fossil fuels travel?Please feel free to dress in fun and noticeable attire and display signs encouraging anything green!
Santa Rosa Council Chamber segment
Approximately 5:30 or 6 PM to 7:00 PM Safe & Green
Family & individual Safety training/demonstration/participation/discussion especially focused on walking, cycling, taking mass transit, and hiking.
7 PM to 9:30 PM Awakening The Dreamer, Changing The Dream Symposium
If you are tired of the gloom, doom and crisis you see in the news, come and learn about the "un-named movement" and a possible new way of life for the future. We guide you through an inquiry from "Where are we?" and "How did we get here?" to "What is possible for the future" and "What can we do?" Video presentation with interactive exercises, networking & discussions.
Please register at www.awakeningthedreamer.org
Suggested donation $15 but no one turned away!
Contact Laura Baker at 707 322-7778 or atdsoco@sonic.net with questions.)
9:30 PM to 10:00 PM Planting for Carbon Sequestration and more!
10:00 PM to 10:30 PM Eco Eating
Hope Bohanec speaking on impacts and health.
10:30 PM to Midnight - Celebrating Change
MUSIC, Open mic, inspiring presenters and/or videos? GREEN & BLUE gloves Dancing/Video filming party? (Filming is optional. Parental permission form required before filming.)
Midnight to 3 50 AM 3hr50minutes DANCE etc. PARTY: Music & Video &/OR Video filming party! Open mic, inspiring videos OR COMBO
3:50 AM to 9 AM Do it Yourself Activism or Recharge for Future Change Quiet sharing and video filming session, in case some of us want to sleep a bit, and some of us want to keep interacting.
9 to ~10 AM - getting to Roseland (first CityBus #9 10:05 AM from TM arrives 10:09) or Bike etc. to Roseland Roseland segment
FROM 10 AM SATURDAY THROUGH 4PM AT ROSELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Roseland 2nd Annual Earth Day!
10 AM -12 Green Jobs - Roseland Elementary School
12 Noon to 1 - Safe, Fit & Green Discussion and Safety Workout - participate or observe...your choice!
1 to 4 PM Multi-cultural Earth Day Festivities - Roseland Elementary School
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New Details for Roseland's 2nd Earth Day segment...Join with us to celebrate on Sunday, April 25th, for the second annual Roseland Dia de la Tierra - Earth Day!
In addition to Earth Day Festivities from 12pm - 4pm there will be workshops at 10am in English and at 3pm in Spanish.
The theme for this year's event is Honoring Native Wisdom, Growing Green Careers and the festivities will be held at Roseland Elementary School, 950 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, CA
The event will highlight local Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo tribal culture and tradition. The event will also feature information and resources for people who seek employment in the rapidly expanding green economy. There will also be informational booths hosted by environmental and community based organizations, speakers, healthy food & drink, children's activities, music, Aztec dancers, educational workshops, The Hubbub Club, eco-skit by the Imaginists, and more! Free Admission!
This is an alcohol-free event.
Walk, ride a bike, take the bus, or share a ride to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions on Earth Day!
For more information contact:
http://roselandearthday.shutterfly.com/
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3 50 PM brief Earth Day Birthday Cake or treats... then on our bikes or other low carbon transportation to the Former "New College" at 99 Sixth St. near Railroad Square (99 W. Sixth St.)
4 PM to 7 PM/9 PM NEW UPDATE - Short Film Festival (99 W. Sixth St.) on Growing Healthy Food and such! (For some of us 7PM will mean 35.0 hours straight of Earth Day Celebrating... but this segment goes until 9PM)
Throughout this event at various points...Share YOUR experiences, ask questions, and discuss next steps! What more CAN we do? Lots!... networking, strategizing, brief updates on local Food Forest Gardens, Sustainability/Transition projects, Energy Wise Neighbors, Graywater Reuse/Rainwater Harvesting/Conservation, Alternative Transportation, Youth Green Jobs, Solar Sonoma County and steps individuals/groups/communities are taking to reduce their carbon.
It is not required, but please let us know the hours you are attending so we can adjust snacks etc! Email Veronica "Roni" Jacobi at GreenChallenge@sonic.net to RSVP and for information or to volunteer to help for an hour or two.
Everyone is invited to these public forums!
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