RENewsletter | June 24, 2012
The
Free environmental newsletter from RochesterEnvironment.com
“Our
Environment is changing: Keep up with the Change.”
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[06/17/2012
– 06/24/2012]
Opening Salvo | NewsLinks
| Daily Updates | Events | Environmental Site of the Month | Take Action |
Opening Salvo: “Solving environmental issues from the
bottom up.”
If
you have been following the Rio+20 - United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development, the news is pretty dismal. Here’s a story
from The Guardian: Rio+20 Earth Summit: campaigners decry final
document | Environment | guardian.co.uk about our inability to solve
our environmental problems by world consent. The top down.
Lots of vague promises, no mandates, and only voluntary
compliances.
This
failure, of course, will be viewed by those against repairing Nature and not
compensating those who are ravaged by ruthless free market fundamentalism, as a
victory. It will encourage them to increase assaults on environmental
regulations and constraints. An odd place, indeed, for us to be at this state
in our knowledge of how our environment works.
In
the twilight of our inability to address world-wide environmental problems
including Climate Change, it looks hopeless.
It looks like we will continue until enough of us understand how unsustainable
our way of living is, but by then it will be far too late. Already, even if we
stop all anthropogenic warming right now a lot of glaciers will melt and the
atmosphere will warm up and the oceans will get very acidic. This is because we
failed to act a long time ago.
So
it appears that the solution to our environmental problems, including Climate
Change, must default to local solutions—bottom up. Work at a local, community,
and individual level, and decrease your use of greenhouse gases and stop
pollution. Sounds good, fuzzy and warm, but on the scale that our environmental
issues have ascended to these ad hoc personal efforts are not going to bring
down the temperature of our planet. It will be ‘business as usual.’ This is all
very convenient for world leaders who cannot find the political courage to lead
on these issues.
On
the home front, the City of Rochester, NY placed a moratorium on Fracking for a year.
Rochester City Council Votes for 1-year
Moratorium on Hydrofracking Rochester City
Council voted for a 12 month moratorium on hydrofracking
in the city Tuesday night. The moratorium is an amendment to the zoning code.
(June 19, 2012) RochesterHoomepage.net
While
speaking at City Hall the other evening I said:
Because
Rochester is the 3rd largest city in New York State, adopting a
moratorium on hydrofracking (or Fracking)
will send a strong message to Albany that there are serious flaws in the state
lifting its own moratorium on Fracking. For example,
the NYS DEC Hydraulic Fracturing SGEIS does
not adequately address public health issues.
Fracking
threatens our future as a water-safe destination state as Climate Change forces
water-refugees from the South and West to New York in the near future. (Read
the NYSERDA ‘ClimAID
’ on water issues related to Climate Change.)
Rochester, please pass this hydrofracking
moratorium. Our jobs, our environment, our ability to adapt to and mitigate
Climate Change depends on renewable energy options, like wind and solar, not on
another controversial way to drill for fossil fuels.
Speaking up and acting on a local level are important,
but without a world-wide consensus on what should be done through coordinated
action to stop and reverse the concentrations of greenhouse gases in our
atmosphere we our kidding ourselves. We are kidding ourselves that we on the
local level are making a difference on issues that must be orchestrated at the
top. We are allowing our political nature, our sense of what is conventional;
lead us on an issue that is entirely physics.
The failure at Rio + 20 must cause us great concern, as
if we have finally discovered in ourselves a deep and irresolvable flaw.
FrankRegan@RochesterEnvironment.com
(Click on my email for feedback)
__________________________________________
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I post local environmental events, news, and commentary as soon as it happens.
If you think this newsletter, which continually informs our community on our
local environmental news, events, actions, is worthwhile, please encourage
others to sign up. We
who care about our environment and future need to ‘Occupy’ the Rochester media
to change how the public views environmental news.
The great conundrum of our times is that in a time of
rapidly occurring Climate Change
and a rapid disintegration of the environment that we need to thrive and
survive, mainstream media still marginalizes environmental concerns. [Check often for this
continually updated list on the possible consequences of Climate Change in our
region--supported by facts.] If there isn’t a quick and substantial
change in how environmental concerns are reported, edited, and chosen in
mainstream media, the public will continue to believe that environmental
concerns are merely special interest matters, issues they can avoid if they
choose. How can we inform the public and monitor our environment without
abridging our Freedoms--in enough time to safe ourselves?
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
__________________________________________
NewsLinks – Environmental NewsLinks – [Highlights of major
environmental stories concerning our area from the past week]
- ***PEST ALERT - ARMYWORMS
INVADE PARTS OF NEW YORK***
- U.S. extends time for
public feedback on fracking rules | Reuters
- Rio+20 Earth Summit
results in nonbinding declaration with moderate goals - The Washington
Post
- Rio+20: Agreement Reached,
Now the Work Begins
- Rio+20 Earth Summit:
campaigners decry final document | Environment | guardian.co.uk
- Rio+20 Doesn't Get Further
Than Vague Declaration
- Cuomo: Hydrofracking
review 'will be done shortly' | Democrat and Chronicle |
democratandchronicle.com
- Methane Leak Detected at
Marcellus Fracking Well « EcoWatch:
Uniting the Voice of the Grassroots Environmental Movement
- Summer Comes in with a
Bang Setting Heat Records | Climate Central
- New York State Funded for
325 EV Charging Stations
- Rio+20: Billions Committed
for Sustainable Energy, Transport
- Pedestrian bridge joining
lots, public market opens | Rochester Business Journal New York business
news and information
- Injection Wells: The
Poison Beneath Us - ProPublica
- Cornell Chronicle: Cornell
institute recommends composting
- NCPR News - Cuomo,
legislature back two land swaps in Adirondack forest preserve
- NY Poised to Protect Seagrass —“Trees of the Sound”
- More young children
screened for lead poisoning, data shows | Democrat and Chronicle |
democratandchronicle.com
- Tompkins County official
rejects Cuomo fracking relaxation plan
- EPA wears the bull's-eye -
Jonathan Allen and Erica Martinson - POLITICO.com
- Environmentalists Risk
Their Lives in UN Summit Host Brazil - SPIEGEL ONLINE
- Northeast prepares to bake
on 1st day of summer - Gates, NY - Gates-Chili Post
- Public comments sought
about Great Lakes Study - Holland, MI - The Holland Sentinel
- Sierra Club reacts to
Governor's plan to limit drilling to economically disadvantaged counties
of New York.
- Groups call on Cuomo to
reject ‘fracking’ plan | NY Daily Record
- Mixed reaction to city fracking moratorium | NY Daily Record NCPR News - Green
coalition urges Cuomo to reject fracking
- FRACKING: Critics attack
Cuomo’s frack plan « City Newspaper
- On eve of Rio summit,
Americans see environment deteriorating - The Washington Post
- Rio+20 Brazil environment
conference gearing up - latimes.com
- Groundhogs Wreaking Havoc
in Rochester
- Plastic pollution study to
be conducted on Great Lakes for first time | cleveland.com
- Rochester City Council
Votes for 1-year Moratorium on Hydrofracking
- Finding a Solution to Lake
Ontario Algae - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events - 13WHAM.com
- Rochester City Council OKs
Moratorium On Hydrofracking - Rochester, News,
Weather, Sports, and Events - 13WHAM.com
- Fires in the Southwest
Symptom of Climate Change
- $15 million from feds will
help build new train and bus station | Democrat and Chronicle |
democratandchronicle.com
- DEC'S Sturgeon Restoration
Efforts Achieve Successful Milestone - NYS Dept. of Environmental
Conservation
- Rio Environment Meeting
Focuses On 'Energy For All' : NPR
- More Asian carp DNA found
near Lake Michigan
- State Net Capitol Journal
Legislative Updates: Natural Gas Fracking in
Ohio and New York
- Week ahead: Council votes
on fracking and budgets; activists promote bus
riding « City Newspaper
- NCPR News - Two attorneys
assist New York towns to ban fracking
- Threatened lake sturgeon
bearing eggs found in NY - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow
- Alert – Blue Green Algal
Bloom – Sodus Bay | Save Our Sodus
- EPA sets tighter standards
for soot pollution - Times Union
- Pollution, Poverty, People
of Color: Falling into the 'climate gap' — Environmental Health News
- NCPR News - Hydraulic
Fracturing supporters, opponents face off in Albany
- State lawmakers talking
about lowering cap on carbon emissions | Democrat and Chronicle |
democratandchronicle.com
- Algae blooms on Sodus Bay
| 520 – An Environmental Blog | Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
________________________________________
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? Clicking on -DISCUSSION –
will take you to my blog “Environmental Thoughts, NY, where you can add your
comments.]
- 6/23/2012 - What I find interesting about this article on The Maple Tapping Access
Program (Maple TAP) Act is that there is no mention of Climate Change.
It’s interesting because the maple syrup is threaten by Climate Change in
our NYS region and one of the solutions is to tap many more
trees—according to several Climate Change studies.
But, nary a word about the elephant in the room. Schumer Announces Senate
Passage of Maple Tap Act | WKBW News 7: News, Sports, Weather | Buffalo,
NY | Top Stories (WKBW release) Friday, New York Senator
Charles E. Schumer announced that his legislation, the Maple Tapping
Access Program Act, has passed the Senate as part of the 2012 Farm Bill.
According to a news release from Schumer's office: This legislation would
provide grants to states that create programs to help maple farmers access
trees that are currently untapped on private lands. The bill creates
grants to states to support the domestic maple syrup industry through the
promotion of related research, education, natural resource sustainability
and marketing, as well as the expansion of maple-sugaring activities.
(June 23, 2012) WKBW News 7: News, Sports,
Weather | Buffalo, NY
- 6/23/2012 - What the heck are ‘army worm’ and what
are they doing to NYS
and is this outbreak caused by Climate Change?
Pest Alert: Armyworms
"True armyworm (aka Common armyworm) larvae are being found across
New York State. They do not overwinter in New York, but fly north from
states to our south in the spring. Armyworm moth migrations are somewhat
sporadic, cyclic from year to year, and difficult to predict. Our last
notable infestations in New York occurred in 2001 and 2008. True armyworms
are primarily a pest of plants in the grass family: forage / pasture
/grasses & lawns, small grains and corn. " Cornell University
- 6/23/2012 -
Check out this web page by Save Our Sodus
on Blue Green Algae growth in our area. It has been suggest that the warm
weather, perhaps caused by Climate Change, should be investigated as being
influenced by Climate Change. (see Climate Change and Harmful
Algal Blooms by Center for Sponsored
Coastal Ocean Research: Home) Stay informed of harmful Blue
Green Algae growth: BG | Save Our SodusLibrary
of Blue Green Algae Information "Play it safe -- if you suspect a
blue-green algal bloom, do not come in contact with the water. Stick-test
-- Dip a stick or pencil in the bloom and observe the pencil as it is
moved horizontally and slightly vertically until it is removed from the
water. Did the algae coat the pencil like a brightly colored blue green
paint without separating or falling off? If both the visual and pencil
test are confirmed, it is likely a blue green algae bloom Report the
location -- Call 315-946-4136. All the information obtained is being
logged into a database. WCSWCD is doing it's
best to confirm visual sightings. Be a good Bay steward -- conserve water,
reduce uses of phosphorus based fertilizer don't mow right up to the
waterfront and consider using rain barrels and gardens for storm water.
Stay informed -- SOS has created a page of informational B/G links visit
"
- 6/23/2012
- Rio +20 hopeless, but I
may be wrongDoesn’t
sound like much progress on making Earth sustainable was made at Rio+20 - United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development, which just came to a
close. Lots of vague promises, no mandates, and voluntary compliances.
This failure, of course, will be viewed by those against repairing Nature
and compensating those who are ravaged by the ruthless free market
fundamentalism, as a victory. more...
- 6/22/2012 - State Health Department,
Office of Emergency Management Advise New Yorkers to Protect Themselves
Against Excessive Heat ALBANY, NY (June 20, 2012) -- With
temperatures forecast to climb into the 90s over the next couple of days,
the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the New York State
Office of Emergency Management (OEM) offer New Yorkers tips to help them
stay safe. "Although warm temperatures are a welcome sign of summer,
when it gets excessively hot for long periods of time, your health can be
jeopardized," said State Health Commissioner NiravLibrary
of Blue Green Algae Information R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H. "Heat-related
illnesses, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion, can cause serious
health problems, especially for the elderly, infants and young children,
people with respiratory ailments or chronic medical conditions, and those
who work outdoors. It is important to take steps to keep cool when
temperatures are high, to be aware of the symptoms of heat-related
illnesses, and to know what to do when you or someone else exhibits these
symptoms." (June 20, 2012) New York State Department
of Health [more on Climate Change
in our area]
- 6/22/2012 - Big jump in Rochester, NY for increasing
active transportation (bicycling and walking) to encourage folks to walk
and bike for those short distances—instead of jumping into the gas-guzzler
which is warming the planet. Pedestrian bridge joining
lots, public market opens | Rochester Business Journal New York business
news and information A $1.3 million pedestrian and shuttle
bridge over Union Street connecting parking lots with the Rochester Public
Market was officially opened Thursday. The bridge—built on an abandoned
CSX Corp. railroad trestle constructed more than a century ago—allows
visitors to the public market safer and quicker access after parking on
the other side of Union Street, officials said. In addition to serving
pedestrians, the new bridge accommodates a market shuttle bringing
shoppers and their goods to the parking lots. (June 21, 2012) Home | Rochester Business
Journal New York business news and information [more on Transportation
in our area]
- 6/22/2012 - Watch: THE SKY IS PINK:
Josh Fox's 18 minute short created for Governor Cuomo and released by
Rolling Stone Magazine: New Anti-Fracking Film by Gasland's
Josh Fox Targets Cuomo: 'Governor, What Color Will the Sky Be Over New
York?' | Jeff Goodell | Politics News | Rolling
Stone Gov. Andrew Cuomo of the great state of New York, I’d
like you to meet Josh Fox. As you may know, Josh, who is 39, wrote and
directed a film called Gasland,
which I’m sure is at the top of your Netflix queue. In 2010, the film was
nominated for an Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary and helped
bring the world’s attention to the dangers of hydraulic fracturing, aka fracking. To put it another way, Josh is the guy who
is largely responsible for the political minefield that you now find
yourself tip-toeing through as you consider whether or not to lift the
moratorium on fracking in New York State. June
22, 2012)
- 6/22/2012
- Live coverage of the Rio+20 - United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development .UN Live United Nations
Webcast "24 Hour Live and pre-recorded Programming The UN
Web TV Channel is available 24 hours a day with selected live programming
of United Nations meetings and events as well as with pre-recorded video
features and documentaries on various global issues. "
- 6/22/2012 - We are hoping that the new documentary Bidder 70
about Climate Change champion Tim DeChristoper
makes it to Rochester, NY. How far will you move out of your comfort zone
to address Climate Change?
Human Rights Watch Film
Festival 2012: Bidder 70 | The House Next Door "Tim DeChristopher was a 27-year-old economics student at
the University of Utah when he interfered with an auction by the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM). He bid on and won 12 parcels of beautiful land in
Southern Utah that he had no intention to pay for and, especially, to
drill for oil on. On the contrary, his motivation for his inventive form
of non-violent protest was to ensure that "oil stay in the ground so
that we can have a chance for a livable future." Beth and George
Gage's Bidder 70 is a highly inspirational account of DeChristopher's
life since then, including his beliefs on climate change, his activist
efforts to bring about necessary political changes to save the future of
our planet, and his reflections on his indictment on two federal charges
and the current state of our democracy. There are a lot of environmental
documentaries out there about inciting change, but Bidder 70 is one of the
most affecting. "
- 6/22/2012 - Important conference. Learn how your
business can be green all the way down. CEI: Center for
Environmental Information - Greentopia |
INNOVATION "Greentopia |
INNOVATION, scheduled for Friday, September 14th, is a
business-to-business conference meant to enlighten, inspire, and ignite
green ideas, action, and innovation. Formerly CEI's Triple Bottom Line
conference, this event is geared toward professionals from all walks of life,
creating the perfect opportunity to network, obtain new insights, and
share business practices. As an innovation conference including
presentations, case studies, and panel debates, our aim is to promote the
most cutting edge concepts in business incubation and innovation, green
practices, and showcase brilliance in environmentally conscious
technological design and implementation. " CEI: Center for Environmental Information - home
- 6/21/2012 - We are hearing more about ‘hydrilla in our area. What is it? Hydrilla: AN AGRESSIVE WATER WEED
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County The
highly invasive aquatic plant, Hydrilla verticillata, known commonly as 'hydrilla'
or 'water thyme' was first detected in August 2011 in the Cayuga Inlet by
staff from the Floating Classroom (the first spotting was in the Linderman Creek area
of the Inlet). In a follow‐up survey, Robert L. Johnson, a local plant expert
with Cornell University and Racine‐Johnson Aquatic Ecologists, located several areas of
the Inlet with extensive populations of hydrilla.
To date, hydrilla appears to be localized to the
Cayuga Inlet, with no evidence that it has yet rooted in Cayuga Lake. View
image of hydrilla and look-alikes, that is other water plants that look similar to hydrilla. --from Welcome to Cornell
Cooperative Extension Tompkins County
- 6/21/2012 -
Today's weather forecast is "102 - Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Health Message: Active children and adults, and people with lung disease,
such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. "AIRNow - Rochester, NY Air
Quality
- 6/21/2012 - Good blog post on the latest news on Fracking from the governor Shale Gas Review: New York
fracking trial balloon quickly loosing air...
Criticism of Cuomo plan comes from both sides A plan anonymously floated by the Cuomo administration
last week to allow shale gas development in economically distressed areas
of New York state while banning it in others is facing deflating criticism
from both drilling proponents and critics. The plan, reported Danny Hakim
if by New York Times on Wedneday, echoed a
proposal outlined by the National Resource Defense Council earlier this
year. Specifically, the NRDC advised
the state Department of Environmental Conservation to consider initially
issuing permits for fracking within designated
communities as part of a three-year pilot project. Permitting could then
proceed elsewhere when fracking was deemed safe.
(June 18, 2012) Shale Gas Review
- 6/20/2012
- Let’s not get too excited
about local media awards. Excuse me if I don’t get excited
over this news that Rochester, NY area media won all sorts of media
awards. Please. There is so much news the local media is not reporting on
that they should not be getting any awards at all. more...
- 6/20/2012 - Stations win statewide
broadcasting awards | Rochester Business Journal New York business news
and information Rochester radio and television stations
captured eight awards Monday night at the New York State Broadcasters
Association’s annual Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting. (June 19,
2012) Home | Rochester Business
Journal New York business news and information
- 6/20/2012 - ACTION:
Moratorium on hydrofracking for a year just
passed last night at the City of Rochester, the third largest city in NYS.
Now let’s get a moratorium for Monroe County too. Environment Petition:
Prohibit All Fracking Related Activities on
Monroe County Properties, NY | Change.org "The
magnitude of New York State’s upcoming decision to permit and regulate
high-volume, slick-water, horizontal hydraulic fracturing (fracking) demands immediate attention and action by
our County Legislature to ensure self-determination and the health and
safety of our community. "
- 6/20/2012 - Great news from our friends over at Rochesterians Concerned About Unsafe Shale-gas Extraction that
the City of Rochester, NY has passed a moratorium on Fracking
for a year. I didn’t see a lot of the media at the meeting last night so
it’s good we can get the news out ourselves. "In front of a full house,
the Rochester City Council voted unanimously to "establish a
moratorium on permits, certificates of zoning compliance and variances for
exploration and extraction of natural gas within the city". During
the hearing 15 people spoke (14 anti-drilling, 1 pro-drilling) and R-CAUSE
delivered about 400 petitions supporting a City moratorium. For Nedra and me, the most poignant comment was from a
woman who was wrapping a gift for her new grandchild and wished that what
she was wrapping was the promise that this child and all children of
future generations would have clean water and clean air for ever. Very powerful words. Council Member and
sponsor of the moratorium, Loretta Scott, spoke most eloquently this
afternoon with Bob Smith on 1370 Connection. Hopefully it will be
available Wednesday in case you missed it: 1370 Connection | WXXI
Remember, if you haven't signed the Monroe County petition to ban fracking on county properties please do so and forward
widely: Environment Petition:
Prohibit All Fracking Related Activities on
Monroe County Properties, NY | Change.org It's also attached
if you'd like to take to a group a get lots of signatures. We're still
trying to reach 5,000 signatures, but we'd be happy with 1,000!! "
- 6/19/2012 - If you think ‘Climate Change’
is too toxic to talk about in the US, just imagine how hard the ‘Climate Gap’
is going to be. Denial only works for awhile, then
it doesn’t. The Climate Gap Executive
Summary Inequalities in How Climate Change Hurts Americans & How to
Close the Gap "What we used to think was tomorrow’s
climate crisis is here today. Heat waves, wild fires and floods are making
headlines more often. What hasn’t made headlines—yet—is the climate gap:
the disproportionate and unequal impact the climate crisis has on people
of color and the poor. Unless something is done, the consequences of
America’s climate crisis will harm all Americans—especially those who are
least able to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the worst
consequences. This analysis is of California, which in many ways is a
microcosm of the entire United States. "
- 6/19/2012 - This sounds like a great program for the
whole family to learn about saving our water quality
for our environment in the Rochester, NY area: "FAMILY RAIN BARREL
WORKSHOPS It's a Green Summer!
Water usage increases by up to 30 percent in the summer months. Learn
about the benefits of using rain barrels to water your gardens, and create
your own barrel to take home. You’ll be conserving water in no time! Saturday,
June 30: 10am–12pm, Course #F1013 Saturday, June 30: 1-3pm, Course #F1014
Saturday, July 21: 10am–12pm, Course #F1015 Saturday, July 21: 1-3pm,
Course #F1016 Cost: $25 per family Pre-registration required: Call
(585)697-1942 " - from Rochester Museum &
Science Center—Rochester, NY
- 6/19/2012 - Is the reason why Rio+20 meeting
is not focusing on Climate Change because US finds it too toxic and so we
focus on energy instead? Rio Environment Meeting
Focuses On 'Energy For All' : NPR
Diplomats and activists from around the world are meeting in Rio de
Janeiro this week to talk about how the planet's growing population can
live better lives without damaging the environment. The Rio+20 meeting
marks the 20th anniversary of the United Nations
Earth Summit in Rio, a watershed meeting to address topics as diverse as
climate change and biodiversity. At this follow-up meeting, delegates hope
to highlight an issue that was almost absent from the Earth Summit: making
energy available to everyone in the world. (June 19, 2012) Environment
: NPR
[more on Climate Change
in our area?]
- 6/19/2012 - Are we hearing more about army worms in
NYS because Climate Change
is allowing this pest to gain a foothold further north than usual? Watertown Daily Times |
Army worms devour crops at 40 farms in Jefferson County Army
worms were given their moniker for a good reason. About 40 farmers now have
found out why, as an infestation of the worms spread to farms last week in
Watertown, Sackets Harbor and southern Jefferson County towns including
Adams, Ellisburg and Henderson. “They’re known
as army worms because they march from field to field and destroy crops,”
said Michael E. Hunter, field crops educator for Cornell Cooperative
Extension of Jefferson County. “We now have tens of thousands in the
county, and they can destroy a field within a couple of days.” (June 13,
2012) Watertown Daily Times |
Local News, Sports, Features, and Community Information for Jefferson
County, St. Lawrence County, and Lewis County in Northern New York.
- 6/19/2012
- Hope for the Environment: There seems to be a lot of hope for the U.N. Conference on
Sustainable Development in Rio and I hope this time a major
world-conference on our environment can wake the public and the media up
to the global environment crises were are enduring. What’s needed is a
list of specific actions on a scale that will actually reduce greenhouse
gas (GHG) in our atmosphere. (Here’s a plan that does that: Bridging the
greenhouse-gas emissions gap : Nature Climate
Change : Nature Publishing Group “Twenty-one coherent major
initiatives could together stimulate sufficient reductions by 2020 to
bridge the global greenhouse-gas emissions gap.”) Without engaging the
world’s populations via the media do we have a change of an environmental
revolution, a revolution in the way we treat our environment? Erik Rasmussen: The
Revolution in Rio
The U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio can be the
take-off for the next industrial revolution driven by business and civil
society. The conference can mark a change in leadership from a political
top down process to a bottom up movement. On the 20th of June, the U.N.
Conference on Sustainable Development can celebrate a sure success. The
day marks the end of a week's intensive meetings between thousands of
business leaders, institutions, NGOs, universities, etc. Through hundreds
of sessions, they have presented and discussed concrete solutions to the
biggest challenges of our time: How to transition the world society to a
sustainable economy -- and on the 20th of June, their efforts will be put
into perspective. Thus, Rio is without comparison the biggest and most
important business summit about sustainability we've ever seen. (June 18,
2012) Green News, Energy,
Environment, Animals, Climate Change, Extreme Weather - HuffPost Green
- 6/19/2012
- ACTION: With
accelerated anthropomorphic Climate Change
hot on our tail, it’s time to stop pumping more money to the fossil fuel
industry: 350 | Tell World Leaders
to End Fossil Fuel Subsidies! "We need real action from
world leaders at Rio's Earth Summit -- starting with the issue of fossil
fuel subsidies. This year our governments will hand nearly hundreds of
billions of dollars in government subsidies to the coal, gas, and oil
industries -- six times as much money as we
invest in renewable energy. Ending these subsidies could actually take a
giant step towards solving the climate crisis,
saving gigatonnes of carbon dioxide emissions
and helping make clean energy cheaper than fossil fuels. "
- 6/18/2012
- Green Drinks coming up: Third Thursday Event, June 21, 2012 Foodlink Headquarters 1999 Mount Read Blvd, Rochester,
NY Sponsored by: Foodlink CEI: Center for
Environmental Information - Green Drinks Events "Green
Drinks is a monthly networking event where people in the environmental
field and the sustainably minded meet over drinks (alcoholic or non), in
an informal setting to exchange ideas, find out who's doing what and
spread the word on what you're doing, find employment leads and make new
friends and contacts. "
- 6/18/2012 - For those addicted to the free market
system, they should note that the fossil fuel industry, which is making
more money since the history of money is still getting billions of buck
from government subsidies, something the renewable industries—solar and
wind—can only dream of. Get a visual on what those tax breaks by the
fossil fuel industries looks like: What Does $1 Trillion in
Fossil Fuel Subsidies Look Like? « EcoWatch:
Uniting the Voice of the Grassroots Environmental Movement
Recently we wrote about calling on
governments to end global fossil fuel subsidies. Well,
here’s yet another compelling reason why. In the graphic below you can see
that according to Oil Change
International analysis, governments around the world are
spending perhaps more than $1 trillion USD combined per year subsidizing
the fossil fuel industry. But what makes it even worse is that governments
aren’t willing to own up to the fact that this is the case. That’s a lot of
money to be wasting and hiding, and it could be put to better use for
education, hunger, poverty, renewable energy and many many
other far-more valid uses. It’s time for governments to own up to the
truth and come clean on the billions being thrown away to a dirty
industry. Check out more below: (June 14, 2012) EcoWatch: Uniting the Voice of the
Grassroots Environmental Movement
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Events – Rochester Environmental Events
Calendar – [The most complete listing of all environmental events
around the Rochester, New York area.] If you don’t see your event, or know of a local environmental
event, please send me the info: FrankRegan@RochesterEnvironment.com
with (EV event) in the subject line. Also, be sure to check other calendars and
environmental series for multi-day events.
June 2012
July 2012
August 2012
- Saturday, August 25, noon to 6pm | Monroe Avenue
between Rutgers and Oxford
- Spokes and Ink – A Bike and Poster Party Spokes and
Ink at the Genesee Center for the Arts & Education Saturday, August
25, 2012 Noon to 6pm Monroe Avenue at Oxford/Rutgers Spokes and Ink is a
new festival in Rochester that brings bicyclists and artists together.
This event on Monroe Avenue showcases the diversity of both
groups – avid cyclists, recreational riders, the environmentally
aware, letterpress printers, graphic designers and talented artists of
all sorts! There will be poster art, food and merchandise for sale, live
music and activities to attract a crowd. In the inaugural year of 2011,
Spokes & Ink drew 600+ guests. 2012 is expected to be bigger and
better! If you are interested in reaching this wide-ranging demographic
who are into bicycles and art or just want to support this activity for
others, please consider a sponsorship. Your business or organization
could benefit from the exposure that is possible at Spokes and Ink. What:
Spokes and Ink – A Bike and Poster Party Where: Monroe Avenue between
Rutgers and Oxford When: Saturday, August 25, noon to 6pm Proceeds from
the event will benefit the Genesee Center for the Arts & Education
and R Community Bikes. The Genesee Center for the Arts & Education is
a community-based 501(c)3 organization that
educates, encourages and inspires all people to create and enjoy the
visual arts. We have 40+ years of experience in serving the Rochester
community with great arts programming including classes, exhibits, studio
access and special events. R Community Bikes is a grassroots, 501(c)3 organization that collects and repairs used
bicycles for distribution, free of charge, to Rochester, NY's most needy
children and adults. Their mission is meeting the basic transportation
needs of those in the community who depend on bikes for recreation as
well as for transport to work, school, rehabilitation programs, and
training sessions. If you have any questions about the Genesee Center for
the Arts & Education or about Spokes and Ink, please call the office
at 585-244-1730. We look forward to hearing from you!
September 2012
- September 10th - 16th - High Falls region,
Rochester, NY
- Greentopia 2012 Greentopia 2012 is a week-long celebration of
inspiration through art, music, organic and locally grown food and
beverages, ideas and activism. The expanded event will contain four
programmatic aspects, which include Greentopia
Innovation, Greentopia Film, Greentopia Music and Greentopia
EcoFest. In its first year the event drew
between 18-20,000 people to the historic High Falls district. Through
how-to workshops and cutting-edge films, visitors learned about big green
ideas and how to apply them creatively in everyday life. There are
special family activities, a community recycled art installation,
mouthwatering organic and local food and beverages, and all kinds of live
music. Businesses and organizations showcased products and programs that
help to restore the planet, promote green living – even save consumers
some money.
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Action
– Take Action -
Often, I receive request to pass on alerts, petitions, Public Comments on local
developments, and environmental items needing action by the Rochester Community
and around the world. I’ll keep Actions posted until their due date.
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Award – Environmental Site of the Month
Award – [On the last Sunday of each month, we present an
environmental award for the Rochester-area environmental web site or blog that
best promotes the need to protect and offers solutions for our area's
environmental issues.]