Updated Daily  2/09/2010 RochesterEnvironment.com

Our Environment is changing: Keep up with the Change.


Rochester, NY on a fall afternoon.

If it deals with the environment, Rochester, New York, and the Internet, it's here.

Since 1998, RochesterEnvironment.com has been an ongoing experiment to completely inform one community of all its environmental Newslinks, Events, Daily Updates, Resources, Environmental Education, and Environmental Issues. and more...

(Above scripts from Dynamic Drive)

My assumption is that if a community is given all the information they need to monitor their environmental health continuously, like an online newspaper, that community will respond by becoming engaged in the most critical issue of our day--our Environment.  Our environment is too important to be left up to any one media, business, or government.  Bookmark This Site

 

Anything else you're interested in is not going to happen if you can't breathe the air and drink the water. Don't sit this one out. Do something. You are by accident of fate alive at an absolutely critical moment in the history of our planet.-- Carl Sagan

Page Contents: Rochester-area NewsLinks | Daily Updates | Green Business | Green Discussions | Green Events | Green Actions | This month's Winner of the Environmental Site Award

 

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Rochester area NewsLinks.

NewsLinks: Get the most important environmental news of the day and monitor your environment daily.  Also: Get Newslinks since 1998…

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Green Business.

Green Business - We are working on finding Green Jobs for our area.  As always, we will post anything we can dip up on finding employment for people who want to sustain themselves and the planet at the same time.

Here's the Latest on Green Business for the Rochester, NY area:

 

Green Discussions.

Below are recent Rochester area environmental discussions.  Also, frequently we get questions about our local environment from our visitors. You can always chime in at Environmental Thoughts For some of the most popular questions to ask an environmental question, go here: Questions

Here's the latest Questions & Discussions the environment for the Rochester, NY area:

  • Reverting to a State of Green During these Extraordinary Times, where climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and our oceans are making human sustainability questionable, we must ask, how do we determine what constitutes Sustainability? But first, what is Sustainability and why is it so important? “For humans it is the potential for long-term maintenance of wellbeing, which in turn depends on the wellbeing of the natural world and the responsible use of natural resources…” (Wikipedia). In other words, we have to get Sustainability right, or the system that keeps us alive breaks down. You have to be alive to have‘wellbeing.’ We tend to assume that all those actively involved in monitoring our environment—official entities whose purpose is to monitor and maintain our environment, scientists, environmentalists, and the media—have at the very least a good idea of what a healthy environment looks like. Yet, I’m not so convinced that they do.  more...
  • We’re Going Blind Trying to negotiate the world as your sight gets worse does not make life easier. Rather, it becomes more difficult because you often miss critical warning signs. That’s worth keeping in mind as this week’s news illuminates a further decline in the public’s ability to ‘see’ the world around them. Story #1. Supreme Court Voids Campaign Spending Curbs - BusinessWeek.com- msnbc.com “A divided court strikes down decades-old restrictions on corporate campaign spending, 5-4, reversing two of its precedents and freeing companies to advertise” Although there has always been a disproportionate advantage for large corporations to self-servingly frame issues before public via the media, lately it has become more blatant and dire. Relying on corporations, who own most mainstream media, to report on environmental malfeasance is putting the fox in the henhouse. more...
  • The Loss of Rochester’s Biodiversity The United Nations has declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a wake-up call because we know that biodiversity around the world is crashing, which is why our age is sometime referred to as either the Holocene Extinction or the Sixth Great Extinction. However, unlike the other five mass extinction events (caused by asteroids, volcanoes, or global warming), this one is human caused. more...
  • Green Business As Usual Depending on your point of view, the Recession is either chugging along nicely (though cruelly) or it’s showing signs of a cascading collapse. Meaning, the banks we bailed out last year are thriving and many businesses are holding on, but job loss is dreadful. “The pace of layoffs has slowed sharply in recent months, but businesses still cut 85,000 net jobs in December, the Labor Department said.” (U.S. job loss report is blow to still-fragile recovery 1/09/10- washingtonpost.com) All these job losses make you wonder how we are going to recover our economy. Who is going to buy all that stuff from businesses if most of us are broke, can’t get loans, and are losing our houses? We could ask the rich (who horde a wildly disproportional share of the wealth in our country) to go out and spend more money. But, how many sneakers can even a rich person wear? more...
  • The State of Rochester’s Environment 2009 Summing up the year in a variety of ways (best films, biggest stories, funniest incidents, most tragic, etc.) has become such a tradition in the media at the end of the year that we expect it. It’s fashionable. (Not that this sort of thing is necessary, for has anyone actually forgotten the rotten economy and all the awful wars?) So as long as we are counting our chickens this New Year anyways, why not have a wrap-up about something useful, like the state of our environment? This kind of rundown does matter. We won’t have any more ‘best films’ or ‘most awkward moments’ for the year if our environment crashes.  more...
  • Connecting the Green Dots The Copenhagen Climate Conference is over and almost everyone, including President Obama himself, admits failure: “I think that people are justified in being disappointed about the outcome in Copenhagen.” (Obama on Health Reform Politics, Copenhagen Climate Outcome, 12/23/09 PBS: Newshour) Consequently, depending on how you connect the dots of this historic event, you will tend to view Copenhagen as positive, negative, or not relevant to your life. ‘Green Dots’, or specific environmental events like say an oil spill or an attempt by 190 nations to come to an agreement on how to tackle climate change, can be connected in many ways in the public’s mind. I mean this in the sense that one has the inalienable right to view these events in any way they wish. Logic or using science as your model for framing arguments may not be your thing. more...
  • Earth-fixing Gadgets In the back of many modern minds there probably nestles the comforting conviction that science will get us out of our twenty-first century environmental mess. It must be so because despite all signs that world-wide pollution rages on, our climate changes, and our oceans are dying, we go happily along as if there were no tomorrow. Instead of making the hard ethical choices need to get six billion souls focused on our environment, we trust in technology. more...
  • Bat News: One of the many reasons why I believe our present mainstream media are mostly dysfunctional concerns this story about a major decline in bats in our area.  Seems to the press that bats aren’t too popular and won’t bring in the big bucks the media wants.  So, connecting the dots about the major role bats play in our local environment (controlling insects, providing food for the predators we do like, etc.) and getting in the public’s face about this issue is not there.  We should care about this issue because it is a rapid change in our environment that may have grave consequences.  It has nothing to do about what the press might think the public cares about bats. more..

 

Green Events.

RochesterEvironment.com's Environmental Calendar is the longest running and most comprehensive environmental calendar for our area. Got an environment event? Contact me and I'll get it listed.

Here are some events coming up soon & lots more...

  • Wednesday, February 10, 3:00 pm | where  Xerox Auditorium 09-2580 James E. Gleason Building, One Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623-5603
    • THE TRUTH, TRAGEDY AND TRANSFORMATION OF E-WASTE ==   A FREE PUBLIC TALK BY WILLIE CADE FOUNDER OF PC REBUILDERS & RECYCLERS, CHICAGO, IL Wednesday, February 10, 3:00 pm Xerox Auditorium 09-2580 James E. Gleason Building Mr. Cade will also direct a workshop that focuses on new opportunities for E-Waste. Thursday, February 11, 9:00 am 78-2240/2230 Louise Slaughter Building     Co-sponsored by The Golisano Institute for Sustainability and the College of Imaging Arts & Sciences     ABOUT E-WASTE: Americans own nearly 3 billion electronic products, which quickly become obsolete and are replaced at alarming rates. About two thirds of cast-off devices still work, but only 15% are recycled. The remaining 85% are potentially a significant waste of energy and materials, possibly posing serious environmental and health risks—or with planning and foresight—they can be transformed into immensely valuable resources.     ABOUT MR. WILLIE CADE: Willie Cade founded PCRR in 2000 to bridge the digital divide by reusing or recycling e-waste. Since then, PCRR has delivered more than 40,000 refur­bished PCs to schools, nonprofits and the homes of at-risk children. Cade chairs the Industry Advi­sory Council of the newly launched Sustainable Electronics Initiative. SEI is a consortium led by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center dedicated to reforming the way electronic devices are designed, produced, refur­bished, remanufactured and recycled.     QUESTIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Alex Lobos College of Imaging Arts and Sciences 585-475-7417 – aflfaa@rit.edu Callie Babbit, PhD Golisano Institute for Sustainability 585-475-6277 - cbwgis@rit.edu
  • Wednesday February 10, 2010 7:00 – 9:00pm | Nottingham High School 3100 East Genesee St. Syracuse, New York
    • Citizens’ Community Forum On Hydro-Fracking Wednesday February 10, 2010 7:00 – 9:00pm Nottingham High School 3100 East Genesee St. Syracuse, New York Wednesday February 10, 2010 7:00 – 9:00pm Nottingham High School 3100 East Genesee St. Syracuse, New York  We have invited a variety of local through federal representatives. Confirmed Guests are: Lee Macbeth, Syracuse Watershed Control Coordinator Ken Lynch, Region 7 DEC Director Dave Valesky, State Senator Daniel Young, Regional Representative for Governor Paterson Mark Dunau, Northeast Organic Farmers Association and Delaware County Farm Bureau and Local landowners who have signed leases. 
  • Thursday, February 11, 2010 Time: 12:12 pm - 12:52  pm | Central Library - Kate Gleason Auditorium, Rochester, NY
    • Thursday Thinkers - Where's My Electric Car? Library:  Central Library - Kate Gleason Auditorium Date:  Thursday, February 11, 2010 Time: 12:12 pm - 12:52  pm Category:  Other (Miscellaneous) Age Level:  Adult Details:  Where is my electric car? What are the developments with new electric cars? There was a lot of activity on the subject at a recent European car show. General Motor’s Detroit-Hamtramck plant has been retooled for Volt production. Is GM banking its future on the Volt? And when will Volts arrive in the Rochester area for sale? When will we be plugging in instead of fueling up? Our speaker owns one of the largest car dealerships in the area. Join us as he shares his insider’s view of GM’s  answer to the consumers’ demands for “green” cars. Speaker: Rick Dorschel President, Dorschel Automotive Group 
  • February 12, 2010 • 8:00 – 10:00 a.m  | Laser Lab 240 East River Road | East Entrance Presentation | University of Rochester
    • The Economics of Biofuels   Dr. Thomas Drennen, Associate Professor of Economics, Chair of Environmental Studies, Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Senior Economist, Sandia National Laboratories   February 12, 2010 • 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. University of Rochester | Laser Lab 240 East River Road | East Entrance Presentation | Q&A | Networking RSVP (required) online by February 5: Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship Breakfast Series : Simon Graduate School of Business There is no fee for the series | Space is limited
  • Thursday February 18th, 7:00 – 9:00 PM | Baha’i Center, 693 East Avenue, Rochester (Entrance and parking off Oxford St.)  
    • TRANSFORMING ENVIRONMENTS From the Inside Out     PowerPoint by Dave Whitman   Thursday February 18th, 7:00 – 9:00 PM Baha’i Center, 693 East Avenue, Rochester (Entrance and parking off Oxford St.)   FREE and open to the public.   Climate change and the financial crisis are symptoms of an unsustainable world economy hitting planetary limits. The necessary rapid transformation faces barriers deeply rooted in our psyche, values and institutions, requiring spiritual as well as scientific solutions.  Rather than falling into a doomsday depression, we need to see the present chaos as an opportunity. The Bahá'í concept of oneness enables an integrated perspective and a profound reconsideration of every dimension of our lives, society and environment.  We can be empowered to provide spiritual and intellectual leadership to transform our personal lives, families, communities, nations and the emerging world society --from the inside out.

 

 

The Upstate Green Business Network, a program of the "Center for Environmental Information", is a network of businesses, institutions and organizations that share a mutual concern for the state of our environment.

Green Action.

ACTION: Often, I receive requests to pass on alerts, petitions, Public Comments on local environmental issues needing action by the Rochester Community and around the world. 

  • Action Due Date: Today
    •  Donate to a worthy cause: Christine Sevilla Project (Christine Sevilla Project) "Welcome to A Living Project to Preserve a Place in Christine's Honor  For All to Enjoy in Perpetuity Christine's family and friends envision a natural area, including wetlands, preserved in her memory.  This vision includes an educational component, like an interpretive trail to help others recognize what Christine saw - an interconnected natural community of flora and fauna, soil and water. Perhaps even an  Arts and Music Festival to celebrate what Christine so treasured. "
  • Action Due Date: Next Count: February 12-15, 2010
    • Get Involved — Great Backyard Bird Count "Your Help Will Make a Difference The success of the Great Backyard Bird Count depends on participants from every community to count birds across the United States and Canada. Help spread the word in your town by asking people to count birds for at least 15 minutes during the count. It's fun, easy, raises awareness of birds, and provides an important record of where the birds are--a record that scientists can use well into the future to track how birds are faring as their environments change. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon invite everyone to “Count for Fun, Count for the Future.”  --Great Backyard Bird Count — Great Backyard Bird Count
  • Action due date: February 23-34  | Washington, DC
    • » Great Lakes Day 2010 – February 23-24 – Washington, DC – Registration is now open! - Healthy Lakes - Healthy Lives Time for Action! With your help, the effort to restore the Great Lakes has made significant progress in the past year, which is why it is more important now than ever to attend Great Lakes Day, February 23-24 in Washington, D.C.! In 2009 Great Lakes advocates helped secure huge victories for the Great Lakes, including an investment of over $1 billion to repair aging sewers and restore habitat in the economic recovery package and an historic $475 million for the new Great Lakes Restoration Initiative aimed at restoring habitat, cleaning up toxic pollution and confronting invasive species.
  • Action Due Date: EPA will take public comment for 60 days after the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register. |
    • EPA Strengthens Smog Standard/Proposed standards, strictest to date, will protect the health of all Americans, especially children The United States Environmental Protection Agency today proposed the strictest health standards to date for smog. Smog, also known as ground-level ozone, is linked to a number of serious health problems, ranging from aggravation of asthma to increased risk of premature death in people with heart or lung disease. Ozone can even harm healthy people who work and play outdoors. The agency is proposing to replace the standards set by the previous administration, which many believe were not protective enough of human health.  EPA will take public comment for 60 days after the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register. The agency will hold three public hearings on the proposal: Feb. 2, 2010 in Arlington, Va. and in Houston; and Feb. 4, 2010 in Sacramento. More information: Ground-level Ozone | US EPA (January 7, 2010)  [more on Air Quality in our area]

 

 

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Daily  Updates.

Daily Updates: Connecting the dots on Rochester’s environment. Find out what’s going on environmentally in our area—and why you should care? Get Daily Updates since 1998...

  • 2/09/2010 - Get the facts on Climate Change from NOAA Climate Services With the rapid rise in the development of Web technologies and climate services across NOAA, there has been an increasing need for greater collaboration regarding NOAA's online climate services. The drivers include the need to enhance NOAA's Web presence in response to customer requirements, emerging needs for improved decision-making capabilities across all sectors of society facing impacts from climate variability and change, and the importance of leveraging climate data and services to support research and public education. To address these needs, NOAA embarked upon an ambitious program to develop a NOAA Climate Services Portal (NCS Portal). Our goal is for the Portal to become the "go-to" website for NOAA's climate data, products, and services for all users.
  • 2/09/2010 - Avoid mercury poisoning to you and your environment.  Those old thermometers, our fish, and those new energy-efficient florescent light bulbs (CFL) have mercury in them. Find out all about mercury and how you can prevent mercury poisoning.  Mercury Policy Project - Promoting policies to eliminate mercury use and reduce mercury exposure The Mercury Policy Project (MPP) works to promote policies to eliminate mercury uses, reduce the export and trafficking of mercury, and significantly reduce mercury exposures at the local, national, and international levels. We strive to work harmoniously with other groups and individuals who have similar goals and interests.
  • 2/08/2010 - Keeping our attention on Biodiversity: Because 2010 is the Year of Biodiversity, RochesterEnvironment.com highlights this issues and how it may pertain to our area’s environment.      BBC News - Biodiversity nears 'point of no return' The decline in the world's biodiversity is approaching a point of no return, warns Hilary Benn. In this week's Green Room, the UK's environment secretary urges the international community to seize the chance to act before it is too late. Much greater concerted effort is needed to stop the plunder of our ecosystems In 2002, the world's governments made a commitment to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. (February 8, 2010) BBC - Homepage
  • 2/08/2010 - Better Transportation Modes: Imagine the health benefits; the drop in greenhouse gases, and better urban planning if our city moved in the direction that Portland has.  Bicycling can provide good transportation for short distances, but it needs a lot of city infrastructure changes to do that—mostly because our region has been designed for the gas-guzzling car that is expensive to you and our environment.   Portland promotes urban cycling, but costs will be high / The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com The eco-conscious city plans to build more than 680 miles of new bikeways in the coming two decades at a cost of $613 million. If approved, the 2030 Portland Bicycle Plan will be the nation's most ambitious urban cycling project. When completed, city planners hope the hundreds of miles of new bikeways will dramatically cut carbon emissions and promote a more active lifestyle.
  • 2/07/2010 - This week's RENewsletter has been published - RENewsletter February 7, 2010 Each week get al the environmental NewsLinks, events, actions and comment free.  Click Subscribe.
  • 2/06/2010 - Energy Citizens from Every Rooftop: If this bill has even a remote possibility of passing, I am for it.  Except for the mega-greenhouse gas fuel corporations, I cannot understand why anyone would be against this renewable, clean, power source that we all could become a part of.  Another benefit, besides green jobs, energy independence, and reducing greenhouse gases, would be reducing the albedo effect of all our black rooftops absorbing more heat, especially in our urban area.  If all our rooftops were a lighter color they would reflect instead of absorbing solar energy and adding to our climate change issue.  Check out the actual bill, introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT).    A BILL To increase the quantity of solar photovoltaic electricity by providing rebates for the purchase and installation of an additional 10,000,000 solar roofs and additional solar water heating systems with a cumulative capacity of 10,000,000 gallons by 2019.
  • 2/06/2010 - You cannot really appreciate the purpose of RochesterEnvironment.com until you understand 'get' the severity of our media/investigating reporting crisis going on in our country. Though our cables, satellites, and Internet connections seem awash in news, they are simply awash in recycled news from a vanishingly few media sources doing real investigative reporting.  Especially, on the state of our environment: There are looming environmental concerns that the public does not fully understand the consequences of because mainstream media are not doing their jobs—for a variety of reasons. If you are continually listening to the same media sources that have their own agenda, which is not investigative reporting critical for a Democracy and a sustainable environment, you cannot see the severity of this problem.  But, listening to Robert McChesney and John Nichols on “The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution that Will Begin the World Again”You can get good picture of the media crisis we are in. Check out some short interviews about this issue:  Interview #1: Robert McChesney and John Nichols on "The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution that Will Begin the World Again" "University of Illinois Professor Robert McChesney and The Nation correspondent John Nichols, two leading advocates of the media reform movement, join us to talk about their new book, The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution that Will Begin the World Again. " --from (February 4, 2010) http://www.democracynow.org/  And. Interview #2: Robert McChesney and John Nichols on The Death and Life of American Journalism -from (February 5, 2010) Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR)
  • 2/06/2010 - A friend suggested this site before going shopping to determine the environmental impact of her shopping choices. Looks interesting: Green Options - Helping You Make Good Choices "Green Options Media’s rapidly growing network of environmentally-focused blogs provides users with a broad spectrum of information for making sustainable choices. Launched in February, 2007, Green Options Media has grown into a leader among “green” news and information sources aimed at general audiences. Written by experienced professionals and topic experts, Green Options Media’s individual blogs engage visitors with authoritative content, compelling discussions, and actionable advice. Users new to the “green life” can contribute to the conversation by joining in dialogue between our writers and visitors on individual blogs. We don’t preach to the choir, or require a commitment to our vision: we invite anyone with questions, or simply curiosity, to add their voices to the community, and share their approaches to achieving abundance while lightening their environmental footprint. "
  • 2/05/2010 - Consider bird watching. Lots of bird watching events coming up this spring. Check them out: Rochester Birding Association--Field Trips -- from Rochester Birding Association--Home Page "The Rochester Birding Association, based in Rochester, New York, was established in 1975. We are very well versed in birding, bird watching equipment, bird songs and everything else bird related. Contact us if you have questions regarding any birding activities. Situated on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, Rochester NY is a great place for birding, bird watching and bird field trips. Those of us who live and bird this area are very thankful for the diversity of birds we get to experience. We hope you can join us sometime. "
  • 2/05/2010 - Can we Solve our Environmental Problems: As we go forward in trying to solve our energy problems and climate change problems, we are going to be at the mercy of the most convenient, quickest, dangerous, and dirtiest solutions because we didn’t solve them earlier. Because of our need for jobs, our growing energy needs and the run-up to Climate Change runaway effect are we going to be forced to make really bad decisions on solving Climate Change?  It seems likely, that it’s just easier not to believe in the overwhelming evidence that Climate Change is occurring and much faster than we thought.  Has the EPA given in to bad science?  EPA capitulates on ethanol, hearts clean coal | Grist "The press release could have come straight out of the utterly disgraced Bush EPA—and if it had, I can well imagine the howls of outrage it would have provoked, because I would have joined the chorus. Its headline read as follows: “Obama Announces Steps to Boost Biofuels, Clean Coal.” "--from Grist | Environmental News, Commentary, Advice
  • 2/04/2010 - Watching an environmental invasion occur, or doing something about it. How will the Great Lakes ecology change if the Asian Carp takes hold:  Find out: Battling Back the Asian Carp The invasive Asian Carp has been detected past the electric barrier on the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal, just 6 miles upstream of Lake Michigan. This is nearly 20 miles closer than previous tests had shown. - from Welcome to Great Lakes United | Great Lakes United / Union Saint-Laurent Grands Lacs
  • 2/03/2010 -- What does the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) think of the Copenhagen Climate Change Talks, the hacked climate scientists emails, and the state of Climate Change now:  Check out their January newsletter IPCC News Jan. 1, 2010
  • 2/03/2010 -- News from film:  Now that we are in an era where some of the best investigatory news comes from independent filmmakers because, for some reason or another, mainstream media won’t or cannot tackle the important news we need to know (like the run-up to the Iraq War and environmental pollution) someone with a camera and willingness to dig deep into a story may be how we get important news in the future.  I haven’t seen this film, but at least someone in the media is looking at gas drilling in our area: GASLAND "When filmmaker Josh Fox discovers that Natural Gas drilling is coming to his area—the Catskillls/Poconos region of Upstate New York and Pennsylvania, he sets off on a 24 state journey to uncover the deep consequences of the United States’ natural gas drilling boom. What he uncovers is truly shocking—water that can be lit on fire right out of the sink, chronically ill residents of drilling areas from disparate locations in the US all with the same mysterious symptoms, huge pools of toxic waste that kill cattle and vegetation well blowouts and huge gas explosions consistently covered up by state and federal regulatory agencies. These are just a few of the many absurd and astonishing revelations of a new country called GASLAND. "
  • 2/02/2010  - Are We Falling Behind because we don't get it on Climate Change? China Is Leading the Race to Make Renewable Energy - NYTimes.com TIANJIN, China — China vaulted past competitors in Denmark, Germany, Spain and the United States last year to become the world’s largest maker of wind turbines, and is poised to expand even further this year. (January 30, 2010) The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia
  • 2/02/2010 - A reaction on the Copenhagen Climate Talk from the World Wildlife Fund - The Copenhagen Accord: A Stepping Stone?  "The Copenhagen Accord is far from the fair, ambitious and binding deal the world needs to prevent dangerous climate change. Based on an analysis of the Accord’s strength and weaknesses, however, WWF believes it could become a stepping stone towards a fair, ambitious and binding deal. "
  • 2/2/2010 - Here's a good way organizations can reduce energy costs and help our environment Green Power Partnership | US EPA The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that supports the organizational procurement of green power by offering expert advice, technical support, tools and resources. Partnering with EPA can help your organization lower the transaction costs of buying green power, reduce its carbon footprint, and communicate its leadership to key stakeholders. Green power is electricity produced from a subset of renewable resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and low-impact hydro. Buying green power is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve your organization’s environmental performance.
  • 2/01/2010 - What does the US public think of the Climate Change Issue?  Mostly, they have other thing on their mind.  But, Nature doesn't get pushed down the priority list. CHeck out this survey: Climate Change in the American Mind: Americans’ Global Warming Beliefs and Attitudes in January 2010
  • 1/31/2010 - Nuclear power, the way to go? For many who don’t believe in Climate Change, and for many who do, the increase in nuclear energy is seen as a way to solve our energy problems in the future.  However, there isn’t much room for error is this energy technology and the potential to contaminate is a constant possibility (and reality) that has not been addressed.  If we hitch our wagons to nuclear power (as Obama promised in his State of the Union Address) we are taking a big chance on an industry that has contamination issues and disinclined to admit to them.  Leaks imperil nuclear industry - The Boston Globe## VERNON, Vt. - The nuclear industry, once an environmental pariah, is recasting itself as green as it attempts to extend the life of many power plants and build new ones. But a leak of radioactive water at Vermont Yankee, along with similar incidents at more than 20 other US nuclear plants in recent years, has kindled doubts about the reliability, durability, and maintenance of the nation’s aging nuclear installations. (January 31, 2010)  Boston.com
  • 1/31/2010 - According to the National Wildlife Federation, Climate Change is going to affect North American in many unpredictable ways.  That unpredictability is what is going to make life for wildlife and various sorts of business problematic. So, if you’re planning for Climate Change, what do you base your planning on when the weather will be unpredictable? Odd-ball Winter Weather: Global Warming’s Wake-Up Call for the Northern United States N A T I O N A L W I L D L I F E F E D E R A T I O N 2 0 1 0 "Global warming is having a seemingly peculiar effect on winter weather in the northern United States. Winter is becoming milder and shorter on average; spring arrives 10 to 14 days earlier than it did just 20 years ago. But most snowbelt areas are still experiencing extremely heavy snowstorms. Some places are even expected to have more heavy snowfall events as storm tracks shift northward and as reduced ice cover on the Great Lakes increases lake-effect snowfalls. Even as global warming slowly changes the character of winter, we will still experience significant year-to-year variability in snowfall and temperature because many different factors are at play. "
  • 1/30/2010 - For those who tend not to consider Climate Change in their future, they should heed the warning from the business regulators.  Climate Change is going to have to be factored in how investors invest.  Climate Change is going to be part of our financial landscape because Climate Change is a real condition, not an ideological delusion. SEC to require disclosure of climate change risks - washingtonpost.com A politically divided Securities and Exchange Commission voted on Wednesday to make clear when companies must provide information to investors about the business risks associated with climate change. (January 28, 2010) washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines
  • 1/29/2010 - We all know businesses are going green, learning about their companies affect on our environment and that consumers are very interested that who they do business with are environmentally friendly.  But, some companies are going greenwashing.  What is greenwashing and who is doing it? The EnviroMedia Greenwashing Index  "Everyone’s heard the expression “whitewashing” — it’s defined as “a coordinated attempt to hide unpleasant facts, especially in a political context.” “Greenwashing” is the same premise, but in an environmental context. It’s greenwashing when a company or organization spends more time and money claiming to be “green” through advertising and marketing than actually implementing business practices that minimize environmental impact. It’s whitewashing, but with a green brush."
  • 1/29/2010 - While it is critical that we focus on Climate Change, some of the day-to-day fluctuations seem to provide fuel for those who intend not to do anything about climate except drag their feet and deny Global Warming.  The latest issue of contention for those hoping for an out is the relative climate stabilization for the past few years. What's the issue? Less Water Vapor Slows Earth’s Warming Trends, Researchers Say - NYTimes.com A decrease in water vapor concentrations in parts of the middle atmosphere has contributed to a slowing of Earth’s warming, researchers are reporting. The finding, they said, offers part of the explanation for a string of years with relatively stable global surface temperatures.  (January 28, 2010)  and Atmospheric Dry Spell Eases Global Warming : NPR "A new study helps explain why the planet didn't warm up dramatically over the course of the past decade, even though the gases that cause global warming increased dramatically."
  • 1/29/2010 - On High-Speed Rail from Louise Slaughter: Congresswoman Louise Slaughter - Contact Louise "Bringing high-speed rail to Upstate New York is one of Rep. Slaughter's highest priorities. The improvement of existing tracks and the creation of a third track dedicated to passenger rail will allow people to move efficiently back and forth across the upstate region, improve commerce, generate new tourism opportunities and spark revitalization in our region for years to come. "
  • 1/29/2010 - Learn how your organization can Recycle in our area and also raise funds.  There are numerous ways that we can green our economy and this idea is a one of them: Imagine It Recycling "Imagine it Fundraising Through Recycling is a unique niche in both the fundraising and recycling world. Established in 2002 with the intention to create a simple fundraising program with little effort to all involved. Companies can donate without opening a check book and charities maintain a consistent funding stream with little effort . Currently servicing over 2500 locations in the Upstate NY region, Imagine It has created an easy and FREE recycling program that concentrates on the most important component in out Sustainability efforts... REUSE! In this ever changing electronic evolution Imagine It offer to WIN WIN WIN solution. Together, we can do a world of good. "
  • 1/29?2010 - To learn all about how the new High-Speed Rail monies from President Obama will affect our area's transportation go to this page: rail NYSDOT considers the High-Speed Rail grant program a high priority for the Department under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The following resources provide additional information about this program and NYSDOT's role. --from NYSDOT Home "It is the mission of the New York State Department of Transportation to ensure our customers - those who live, work and travel in New York State -- have a safe, efficient, balanced and environmentally sound transportation system."
  • 1/28/2010 - A good way to give your old stuff to people in need: Community Wishbook The Community Wishbook is your source of wish list items and volunteer services needed by more than 220 not-for-profit agencies in and around Rochester, NY. Use the Wishbook listings to find an agency that needs your donated item* or  volunteer skill. Then call the contact person at the agency to make arrangements for delivery or pickup of a listed item, or for details on volunteering.
  • 1/25/2010 - Maybe this is a recycling concept whose time has come: unclutter your life – give your stuff away "Wouldn’t it be cool if we could magically shift ownership of all this stuff, in one weekend, all over America, with close to zero effort, at no cost? Cool happens all over America (and beyond) on May 15, 2010. It’s called Give Your Stuff Away Day and it will work (almost) like magic, as long as you help promote the idea and follow procedures about acceptable / prohibited items. "
  • 1/25/2010 - Hey, what do those plastic numbers mean? We know Monroe County only recycles #1 and #2 Plastics, but what do the numbers actually mean?  Here's what they mean: "Plastic Packaging Resins"  -from  americanchemistry.com : Chemistry is essential2living - The American Chemistry Council
  • 1/27/2010 - Getting the Planet’s temperature down: Because our government cannot seem to make a strong commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, some individuals have taken it into their own hands. Locally, the group Cool Rochester--Save money, energy, the planet tackles Climate Change according to the ideas set by  David Gershon: Empowering a Climate Change Movement: Low Carbon Diet and the Cool Community "This is the first of a six-part weekly series excerpted from chapter 11 of my book Social Change 2.0: A Blueprint for Reinventing Our World. It describes a bottom-up climate change movement that has sprung up in over 300 communities across America. Not content to wait for the slow and often torturous pace of government solutions, it is helping America reduce its carbon footprint household by household, community by community nationwide. "
  • 1/26/2010 - More on 2010 International Year of Biodiversity Check this out:  2010 BIODIVERSITY YEAR: URGENT ACTION NEEDED — Friends of the Earth International "SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA, January 11, 2010 – Commenting on today’s announcement by the United Nations that 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity and that “the world is invited to take action to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity”, Friends of the Earth International’s coordinator of the Forest and Biodiversity Programme Isaac Rojas said: “It is urgent to take immediate action to preserve biodiversity. Nearly half of the world’s forests and around one-third of its species have been lost in the past three decades. We especially need to protect our forests, which host more than 70% of terrestrial biodiversity. "
  • 1/26/2010 - How is New York State tackling Climate Change? Find out here: New York Climate Change Advisory Group In August of 2009 Governor David A. Paterson signed Executive Order No. 24  setting a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in New York State by 80 percent below the levels emitted in 1990 by the year 2050. The Executive Order also created the New York Climate Action Council (CAC) with a directive to prepare a draft Climate Action Plan by September 30, 2010. The Climate Action Plan will assess how all economic sectors can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to climate change. The Plan will also identify the extent to which such actions support New York’s goals for a clean energy economy.
  • 1/26/2010 - Climate Change is happening and you can get the facts.  Join a discussion /email with Dr. James Hansen on the latest developments: Dr. James E. Hansen "Storms of My Grandchildren", by James Hansen Drs. Makiko Sato and James Hansen are constructing a webpage, Updating the Climate Science: What Path is the Real World Following? In addition to updating figures in the book Storms of My Grandchildren (see LA Times review), this page will present updated graphs and discussion of key quantities that help provide understanding of how climate change is developing and how effective or ineffective global actions are in affecting climate forcings and future climate change. A few errata in Storms are also provided on the "Update" webpage.
  • 1/26/2010 - What we're hearing: Save the date, Saturday, April 10, 2010 for a massive Monroe County Pick up the Parks Day.  An opportunity for the public to help get our parks in shape for the spring.  You'll hear more in the months ahead. 
  • 1/25/2010 - This Asian Carp Thing: Why if we are living over here in Rochester, NY should we care if this Asian Carp gets into the Great Lakes way over in the MidWest? Here’s an interesting essay on this issue. Carp fiasco is latest stupid ruling | freep.com | Detroit Free Press "The U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to order immediate closure of a Chicago canal to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes demonstrates the primary roadblock to fixing any of America's environmental problems." freep.com | Detroit Free Press | Detroit news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Detroit, MI (January 21, 2010)
  • 1/25/2010 - We are hearing more stories in the NYS area about how communities are dealing with trash and landfills for the future. When we buy stuff, there is waste, and it has to go somewhere. Shouldn't it be recycled? Is burning trash really a good idea?  Albany trash plan draws criticism -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY ALBANY ­-- Environmentalists and community activists gathered Thursday night at City Hall to protest what they said was the city's apparent intention to replace the Rapp Road landfill with a trash incinerator. Albany NY News - Times Union - Serving Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, Troy (January 22, 2010)
  • 1/25/2010 - What we are watching: An important discussion on our Energy Crisis: Bill Moyers Journal . America's Energy Challenge: Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson | PBS "Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson of Public Agenda don't tackle simple stuff. When last on the JOURNAL, they were concerned with helping Americans grasp the very concrete ramifications of a national debt adding zeros at a rapid rate. Now they have taken on the energy crisis and climate change. In a new book WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS? YOUR GUIDED TOUR TO THE ENERGY CRISIS they aim to both educate the American public about the complex problem, and spark discussions leading to solutions. "
  • 1/23/2010 - Solving Climate Change should not be a political football.  But, it is.  In these extraordinary times, with many political sides fighting about Climate Change, including those who don’t even believe it is happening or due to human influence, there’s a player in the fracas that the media rarely allows to speak—Nature.  If our media doesn’t learn how to objectively, accurately, and deeply go after this issue, the increase greenhouse gases in our atmosphere will warm the planet up—regardless of the political spin.  Climate bill setback forces clean development rethink | Reuters "LONDON (Reuters) - Still reeling from disappointing UN climate talks in Copenhagen in December, clean energy project developers were dealt another blow this week when U.S. Democrats lost their Senate supermajority, potentially killing a federal cap-and-trade scheme for years to come.   Although the passage of a U.S. bill to cap greenhouse gas emissions in 2010 was far from certain, the election of a Republican in Massachusetts to the Senate on Tuesday derailed any momentum President Obama had following his healthcare push toward introducing a cap-and-trade scheme this year." (January 22, 2010) Business & Financial News, Breaking US & International News | Reuters.com
  • 1/22/2010 -- How big a role with Wind Power play in our future energy sources? World Environment News - U.S. Says Wind Could Power 20 Percent Of Eastern Grid - Planet Ark WASHINGTON - Wind energy could generate 20 percent of the electricity needed by households and businesses in the eastern half of the United States by 2024, but it would require up to $90 billion in investment, according to a government report released on Wednesday. For the 20 percent wind scenario to work, billions must be spent on installing wind towers on land and sea and about 22,000 miles of new high-tech power lines to carry the electricity to cities, according to the study from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. --from Planet Ark
  • 1/22/2010 - How will businesses go Green.  Here's one of the ways: Product Life Cycle Analysis  How good or how bad is a product from a green carbon footprint point of view? Several well known corporations like Airbus, Levi Strauss & Co., 3M, DuPont, and Kraft Foods are volunteering to road test a full life cycle greenhouse gas analysis on a wide range of products from blue jeans to manufactured steel. --from Environmental News Network -- Know Your Environment
  • 1/22/2010 - What can New York State do to solve it's Environmental Issues?  Here's suggestions form the the New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV)  -- Environmental Issues Facing New York | NYLCV - New York League of Conservation Voters New York State faces a wide range of sustainability challenges that differ from region to region. In urban areas like Buffalo and New York City, mass transit and green buildings are key to reducing energy use and fighting climate change. In suburban areas, smart growth is vital to controlling sprawl while in rural districts, farmland preservation and open space protection are top sustainability priorities.