Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts
2/28/2012
5/12/2010
5/06/2010
It's the Dirt, Y'all!
Moore County Sustainable Film Series
Join us for "Dirt! The Movie"
May 13th, 2010 6:30-8:00 PM
Clement Dining Room, Dempsey Student Center
Sandhills Community College
3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst, NC
Join us for a FREE screening of Dirt! The Movie.
DIRT! The Movie--directed and produced by Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow--takes you inside the wonders of the soil. It tells the story of Earth's most valuable and underappreciated source of fertility--from its miraculous beginning to its crippling degradation.
Join us for "Dirt! The Movie"
May 13th, 2010 6:30-8:00 PM
Clement Dining Room, Dempsey Student Center
Sandhills Community College
3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst, NC
Join us for a FREE screening of Dirt! The Movie.
DIRT! The Movie--directed and produced by Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow--takes you inside the wonders of the soil. It tells the story of Earth's most valuable and underappreciated source of fertility--from its miraculous beginning to its crippling degradation.
4/19/2010
Climate Change, Water Wars, Bolivia
* Jim Shultz on "Dignity and Defiance: Stories from Bolivia's Challenge to Globalization" * Jim Shultz, founder of the Cochabamba-based Democracy Center, gives a snapshot of Bolivia ahead of the World Peoples' Summit on Climate Change and Rights of Mother Earth. Ten years ago, Shultz helped expose the role of Bechtel in the privatization of Cochabamba's water supply. Listen/Watch/Readhttp://www.democracynow.org/2010/4/19/jim_shultz_on_dignity_and_defiance
* The Cochabamba Water Wars: Marcela Olivera Reflects on the Tenth Anniversary of the Popular Uprising Against Bechtel and the Privatization of the City's Water Supply * Ten years ago this month, the Bolivian city of Cochabamba was at the center of an epic fight over one of the city's most vital natural resources: its own water. The Water Wars occurred just months after the Battle of Seattle. The uprising against Bechtel on the streets of Cochabamba was seen as the embodiment of the international struggle against corporate globalization. Over the past week, water activists from around the world gathered in Cochabamba to mark the tenth anniversary of the Water Wars. Listen/Watch/Readhttp://www.democracynow.org/2010/4/19/the_cochabamba_water_wars_marcella_olivera
* The Cochabamba Water Wars: Marcela Olivera Reflects on the Tenth Anniversary of the Popular Uprising Against Bechtel and the Privatization of the City's Water Supply * Ten years ago this month, the Bolivian city of Cochabamba was at the center of an epic fight over one of the city's most vital natural resources: its own water. The Water Wars occurred just months after the Battle of Seattle. The uprising against Bechtel on the streets of Cochabamba was seen as the embodiment of the international struggle against corporate globalization. Over the past week, water activists from around the world gathered in Cochabamba to mark the tenth anniversary of the Water Wars. Listen/Watch/Readhttp://www.democracynow.org/2010/4/19/the_cochabamba_water_wars_marcella_olivera
12/16/2009
Copenhagen Via Democracynow
Indigenous Peoples of Canada March on Canadian Embassy in Copenhagen to Protest Tar Sands
Canada is the largest supplier of oil to the United States, and most of it comes from the Alberta tar sands. Described as the world's biggest single industrial source of carbon emissions, the tar sands have drawn widespread protest and civil disobedience from environmentalists. On Tuesday, as climate delegates met across town at the Bella Center, a protest led by indigenous peoples of Canada was held outside the Canadian embassy. Democracy Now!'s John Hamilton files a report.
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/12/15/indigenous_peoples_of_canada_march_on
Cap & Trade: A Critical Look at Carbon Trading
Will the expansion of carbon emissions trading help stop global warming or just create a new market for Wall Street to make billions? We air excerpts of Annie Leonard's The Story of Cap and Trade and speak with Larry Lohmann and Frank Ackerman.
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/12/15/cap_trade_a_critical_look_at
Canada is the largest supplier of oil to the United States, and most of it comes from the Alberta tar sands. Described as the world's biggest single industrial source of carbon emissions, the tar sands have drawn widespread protest and civil disobedience from environmentalists. On Tuesday, as climate delegates met across town at the Bella Center, a protest led by indigenous peoples of Canada was held outside the Canadian embassy. Democracy Now!'s John Hamilton files a report.
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/12/15/indigenous_peoples_of_canada_march_on
Cap & Trade: A Critical Look at Carbon Trading
Will the expansion of carbon emissions trading help stop global warming or just create a new market for Wall Street to make billions? We air excerpts of Annie Leonard's The Story of Cap and Trade and speak with Larry Lohmann and Frank Ackerman.
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/12/15/cap_trade_a_critical_look_at
9/08/2009
Van Jones Resigns Obama Adm.
White House Environmental Adviser Van Jones Resigns Citing "Vicious Smear Campaign Against Me"
The Obama administration's special adviser for environmental jobs, Van Jones, has resigned citing what he described as a "vicious smear campaign" against him.
For the past month, Fox News has run a series of reports on Jones's alleged association with communists and his decision to sign a petition calling for a congressional probe of the 9/11 attacks. Jones is the founding president of Green for All and author of the book The Green Collar Economy. We speak with James Rucker, who co-founded the group Color of Change with Van Jones, and with Malkia Cyril, founder of the Center for Media Justice. We also talk to Ben Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP.
The Obama administration's special adviser for environmental jobs, Van Jones, has resigned citing what he described as a "vicious smear campaign" against him.
For the past month, Fox News has run a series of reports on Jones's alleged association with communists and his decision to sign a petition calling for a congressional probe of the 9/11 attacks. Jones is the founding president of Green for All and author of the book The Green Collar Economy. We speak with James Rucker, who co-founded the group Color of Change with Van Jones, and with Malkia Cyril, founder of the Center for Media Justice. We also talk to Ben Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP.
8/19/2009
Mercury Contamination Nationwide
USGS Study Reveals Mercury Contamination in Fish Nationwide
The USGS released a study today that assesses mercury contamination in fish, bed sediment, and water from 291 streams across the nation, sampled from 1998 to 2005.
The report, along with a press release, podcast, and summary of major findings can be accessed at http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/mercury/
Scientists detected mercury contamination in every fish sampled in every stream. About a quarter of these fish were found to contain mercury at levels exceeding the criterion for the protection of people who consume average amounts of fish, established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). More than two-thirds of the fish exceeded the EPA level of concern for fish-eating mammals.
Atmospheric mercury is the main source to most of these streams — coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury emissions in the United States — but 59 of the streams also were potentially affected by gold and mercury mining. Since USGS studies targeted specific sites and fish species, the findings may not be representative of mercury levels in all types of freshwater environments across the United States.
For more information, contact Barbara Scudder, bscudder@usgs.gov, (608) 821-3832 or Mark Brigham, mbrigham@usgs.gov, (763) 783-3274.
The USGS released a study today that assesses mercury contamination in fish, bed sediment, and water from 291 streams across the nation, sampled from 1998 to 2005.
The report, along with a press release, podcast, and summary of major findings can be accessed at http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/mercury/
Scientists detected mercury contamination in every fish sampled in every stream. About a quarter of these fish were found to contain mercury at levels exceeding the criterion for the protection of people who consume average amounts of fish, established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). More than two-thirds of the fish exceeded the EPA level of concern for fish-eating mammals.
Atmospheric mercury is the main source to most of these streams — coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury emissions in the United States — but 59 of the streams also were potentially affected by gold and mercury mining. Since USGS studies targeted specific sites and fish species, the findings may not be representative of mercury levels in all types of freshwater environments across the United States.
For more information, contact Barbara Scudder, bscudder@usgs.gov, (608) 821-3832 or Mark Brigham, mbrigham@usgs.gov, (763) 783-3274.
Dow's New Pesticide
Dow Chemicals is pitching a new pesticide that also happens to be an extraordinarily potent greenhouse gas, 4,780 times more potent than carbon dioxide. A group of scientists and advocates have organized to attempt to block the request from Dow AgroSciences to use the pesticide sulfuryl fluoride on farm fields in four states.
http://www.greenmuze.com/climate/heat/1302-dows-potent-ghg-pesticide-.html
http://www.greenmuze.com/climate/heat/1302-dows-potent-ghg-pesticide-.html
8/18/2009
8/17/2009
SS Sustainability Film, Aug. 20, SCC
Thursday, August 20th, 6:30-8pm | Sandhills Community College, Dempsey Student Center, Clement Dining Room
Our Next Film: “The Greening of Southie” - Click here for movie trailer.
Sustainable Sandhills invites all interested residents to a free screening of the film “The Greening of Southie” on August 20th, 6:30-8pm in Clement Dining Room of the Dempsy Student Center at Sandhills Community College. Everyone is invited to participate in a Q&A discussion following the film. “The Greening of Southie” is the story of a revolutionary green building, and the union teams that bring it to life. The story is set on the rugged streets of south Boston and the jobsite has its skeptics. “The Greening of Southie” is a story of bold ideas, new environmentalists and the future of the way we live.
The discussion portion of the meeting will include the green building perspective of Thomas S. Blue, Fort Bragg Sustainable Facilities Planner. Mr. Blue has been the lead designer, modeler and supervisor of more than 100 projects. His work is focused on water resources and sustainable communities. He has served as a guest lecturer at NC State University, where he has also taught hydrologic analysis, storm water management and related subject matter. Fort Bragg is currently building LEED certified buildings and we are pleased to have Thomas Blue join our discussion.
Bring a friend! It’s FREE!!! We look forward to seeing you there!
Our Next Film: “The Greening of Southie” - Click here for movie trailer.
Sustainable Sandhills invites all interested residents to a free screening of the film “The Greening of Southie” on August 20th, 6:30-8pm in Clement Dining Room of the Dempsy Student Center at Sandhills Community College. Everyone is invited to participate in a Q&A discussion following the film. “The Greening of Southie” is the story of a revolutionary green building, and the union teams that bring it to life. The story is set on the rugged streets of south Boston and the jobsite has its skeptics. “The Greening of Southie” is a story of bold ideas, new environmentalists and the future of the way we live.
The discussion portion of the meeting will include the green building perspective of Thomas S. Blue, Fort Bragg Sustainable Facilities Planner. Mr. Blue has been the lead designer, modeler and supervisor of more than 100 projects. His work is focused on water resources and sustainable communities. He has served as a guest lecturer at NC State University, where he has also taught hydrologic analysis, storm water management and related subject matter. Fort Bragg is currently building LEED certified buildings and we are pleased to have Thomas Blue join our discussion.
Bring a friend! It’s FREE!!! We look forward to seeing you there!
7/17/2009
7/09/2009
7/06/2009
7/04/2009
Let's Dim the Lights for W.VA.
Published on Saturday, July 4, 2009 by The Charleston Gazette (West Viginia)
Mountaintop Removal: Fourth of July Festival Organizers Fear Violence
by Paul J. Nyden
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Larry Gibson, the well-known, 72-year-old activist against mountaintop-removal mining, will host his annual July 4 music festival at his Kayford Mountain home above Cabin Creek Saturday and Sunday.
"I've been having this event, which is open to the public, for 23 years. Everyone is welcome," Gibson said.
Maria Gunnoe, a Boone County native, who won this year's international Goldman Environmental Prize in April for her anti-mountaintop-removal activism, is among the many planning to attend.
"A lot of elders and a lot of children, show up," Gunnoe said. "Normally, it is very peaceful.
"People get together, socialize and listen to very diverse music," she said. "Some is traditional Appalachian music. Some is music for younger teenagers, including rock music. It is a good time with your family and friends."
But both Gibson and Gunnoe worry this year's festival could spark hostility and possibly violence, especially after last week's arrest of demonstrators protesting Massey Energy's mountaintop removal operations in Boone County.
Gibson, in particular, said he has received threats since the arrests.
No one could be reached at Massey Energy's offices in Boone County on Friday.
A spokesman for the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department said he had heard nothing about any rumors of violence at Gibson's planned July 4 celebration.
On June 23, 31 picketers were arrested, including: actress Daryl Hannah, National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientist James Hansen and former Democratic Congressman and West Virginia Secretary of State Ken Hechler.
Protesting near Sundial, the picketers were charged with obstructing police officers and impeding traffic after sitting in the middle of W.Va. 3 near a controversial Massey coal preparation plant next to Marsh Fork Elementary School.
A nearby Massey dam impounds about 3 billion gallons of coal sludge from company mining operations.
Gibson's festival started out as a family reunion, but quickly grew into an annual community event.
Last week, Gunnoe distanced herself from "out-of-state environmentalists," explaining, "We are connected to the environment around our home lands. We care about our culture. But that does not make us tree huggers."
Gibson hopes today's event is well attended.
"Everyone is welcome. Bring a covered dish. But this is not a place for any kind of violence. But bring a conversation to the table. I would be glad to talk to anyone," Gibson said.
Gibson, whose family has lived on or near Kayford Mountain since the late 1700s, travels around the country speaking about mountaintop removal at colleges, churches, public seminars and community groups
"The stand I am taking here is not so much for myself," Gibson said, "but for all of the people living in this part of the country."
Gunnoe said, "Some people have had windows broken out of their vehicles because they had 'We Love Mountains' stickers on their bumpers.
"For years, mountaintop removal blasting has covered our homes up with dust and polluted our water," she said. "People fight mountaintop removal because they have lost their water, their land and their quality of life."
Mountaintop Removal: Fourth of July Festival Organizers Fear Violence
by Paul J. Nyden
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Larry Gibson, the well-known, 72-year-old activist against mountaintop-removal mining, will host his annual July 4 music festival at his Kayford Mountain home above Cabin Creek Saturday and Sunday.
"I've been having this event, which is open to the public, for 23 years. Everyone is welcome," Gibson said.
Maria Gunnoe, a Boone County native, who won this year's international Goldman Environmental Prize in April for her anti-mountaintop-removal activism, is among the many planning to attend.
"A lot of elders and a lot of children, show up," Gunnoe said. "Normally, it is very peaceful.
"People get together, socialize and listen to very diverse music," she said. "Some is traditional Appalachian music. Some is music for younger teenagers, including rock music. It is a good time with your family and friends."
But both Gibson and Gunnoe worry this year's festival could spark hostility and possibly violence, especially after last week's arrest of demonstrators protesting Massey Energy's mountaintop removal operations in Boone County.
Gibson, in particular, said he has received threats since the arrests.
No one could be reached at Massey Energy's offices in Boone County on Friday.
A spokesman for the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department said he had heard nothing about any rumors of violence at Gibson's planned July 4 celebration.
On June 23, 31 picketers were arrested, including: actress Daryl Hannah, National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientist James Hansen and former Democratic Congressman and West Virginia Secretary of State Ken Hechler.
Protesting near Sundial, the picketers were charged with obstructing police officers and impeding traffic after sitting in the middle of W.Va. 3 near a controversial Massey coal preparation plant next to Marsh Fork Elementary School.
A nearby Massey dam impounds about 3 billion gallons of coal sludge from company mining operations.
Gibson's festival started out as a family reunion, but quickly grew into an annual community event.
Last week, Gunnoe distanced herself from "out-of-state environmentalists," explaining, "We are connected to the environment around our home lands. We care about our culture. But that does not make us tree huggers."
Gibson hopes today's event is well attended.
"Everyone is welcome. Bring a covered dish. But this is not a place for any kind of violence. But bring a conversation to the table. I would be glad to talk to anyone," Gibson said.
Gibson, whose family has lived on or near Kayford Mountain since the late 1700s, travels around the country speaking about mountaintop removal at colleges, churches, public seminars and community groups
"The stand I am taking here is not so much for myself," Gibson said, "but for all of the people living in this part of the country."
Gunnoe said, "Some people have had windows broken out of their vehicles because they had 'We Love Mountains' stickers on their bumpers.
"For years, mountaintop removal blasting has covered our homes up with dust and polluted our water," she said. "People fight mountaintop removal because they have lost their water, their land and their quality of life."
6/20/2009
6/06/2009
5/24/2009
5/07/2009
3-Week Window for Conversion to Organic
Organic and Transitional Farmers Restored to Rightful Status in EQIP*
*Washington, D.C. May 5, 2009* USDA today announced a special three-week sign-up for farmers in the process of converting to organic farming to receive technical and financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a move applauded by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and its grassroots member organizations across the country.
The organic conversion assistance was provided for by the 2008 Farm Bill but the plan went awry when the Bush Administration issued rules for the EQIP program just before leaving office which baffled state and local offices of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). As a result, in a majority of states organic farmers and transitioning farmers were simply not being served, in contradiction of Congress’ intent in the farm bill.
“This was a was a wrong that needed righting, and with today’s announcement USDA is not only setting it right, but doing so in an innovative and farmer-friendly manner,” said Aimee Witteman, NSAC Executive Director. “We thank NRCS and USDA leadership for listening to the concerns of organic farmers and applaud their new initiative.”
Today’s announcement sets aside $50 million out of the $1 billion EQIP program for a special three-week sign-up for farms converting to organic production, farms expanding their organic production, or existing organic farms who desire conservation support to reach even higher levels of environmental performance. The sign-up period begins Monday, May 11 and goes through Friday, May 29.
Six core conservation practices (conservation crop rotation, cover cropping, integrated pest management, nutrient management, rotational grazing, and forage harvest management) are being made available to transitioning organic farmers on a nationwide basis. Each state may then also add a variety of ‘facilitating’ conservation practices specific to the type of agriculture in their region.
“Obviously we would wish to have more than a very short three weeks to work with our farmer networks to get the word out and get farmers into local NRCS offices to sign up for this exciting new initiative,” said Witteman. “We will work quickly to get the word out far and wide and our member organizations with expertise in organic agriculture will be helping farmers understand their options under the new program terms.”
Organic farming has strong environmental benefits for soil and water quality, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity. In recognition of this fact, Congress retooled the EQIP program in the 2008 Farm Bill to provide a general EQIP priority for organic farming in the program overall as well as a specific EQIP subcomponent for farms converting in whole or in part to organic farming.
The new initiative addresses the special “organic conversion assistance?’ component of EQIP in particular. Funding under the organic conversion section of the farm bill is capped at not more than $20,000 per farm per year, and not more than $80,000 per farm in any 6-year period. Organic farmers may opt to compete in this special pool, with the tighter payment caps, or may opt instead to compete in the regular EQIP pool for which the 6-year cap is $300,000. However, under the terms of the new initiative announced today, farmers will receive higher payments, relative to conventional EQIP rates, for five of the six national core practices for organic conversion option. The higher payment rates reflect the higher management costs associated with the mandatory three-year organic transition period and the higher ongoing management costs associated with organic farming.
“We expect this program to evolve and grow over time,” said Witteman.
“NRCS has made a good faith effort to address the needs of organic farmers and appears to be willing to make this program even better on an iterative basis in future years. This is a very welcomed new day.”
Aimee Witteman, Executive Director
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
p: 202-547-5754
f: 202-547-1837
www.sustainableagriculture.net
Cheryl Ripperton Rettie, Bookkeeping & Member Services
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
PO Box 448, Pittsboro NC 27312
Tel: 919.542.2402 - Fax: 919.542.7401
cheryl@carolinafarmstewards.org
www.carolinafarmstewards.org
*Washington, D.C. May 5, 2009* USDA today announced a special three-week sign-up for farmers in the process of converting to organic farming to receive technical and financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a move applauded by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and its grassroots member organizations across the country.
The organic conversion assistance was provided for by the 2008 Farm Bill but the plan went awry when the Bush Administration issued rules for the EQIP program just before leaving office which baffled state and local offices of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). As a result, in a majority of states organic farmers and transitioning farmers were simply not being served, in contradiction of Congress’ intent in the farm bill.
“This was a was a wrong that needed righting, and with today’s announcement USDA is not only setting it right, but doing so in an innovative and farmer-friendly manner,” said Aimee Witteman, NSAC Executive Director. “We thank NRCS and USDA leadership for listening to the concerns of organic farmers and applaud their new initiative.”
Today’s announcement sets aside $50 million out of the $1 billion EQIP program for a special three-week sign-up for farms converting to organic production, farms expanding their organic production, or existing organic farms who desire conservation support to reach even higher levels of environmental performance. The sign-up period begins Monday, May 11 and goes through Friday, May 29.
Six core conservation practices (conservation crop rotation, cover cropping, integrated pest management, nutrient management, rotational grazing, and forage harvest management) are being made available to transitioning organic farmers on a nationwide basis. Each state may then also add a variety of ‘facilitating’ conservation practices specific to the type of agriculture in their region.
“Obviously we would wish to have more than a very short three weeks to work with our farmer networks to get the word out and get farmers into local NRCS offices to sign up for this exciting new initiative,” said Witteman. “We will work quickly to get the word out far and wide and our member organizations with expertise in organic agriculture will be helping farmers understand their options under the new program terms.”
Organic farming has strong environmental benefits for soil and water quality, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity. In recognition of this fact, Congress retooled the EQIP program in the 2008 Farm Bill to provide a general EQIP priority for organic farming in the program overall as well as a specific EQIP subcomponent for farms converting in whole or in part to organic farming.
The new initiative addresses the special “organic conversion assistance?’ component of EQIP in particular. Funding under the organic conversion section of the farm bill is capped at not more than $20,000 per farm per year, and not more than $80,000 per farm in any 6-year period. Organic farmers may opt to compete in this special pool, with the tighter payment caps, or may opt instead to compete in the regular EQIP pool for which the 6-year cap is $300,000. However, under the terms of the new initiative announced today, farmers will receive higher payments, relative to conventional EQIP rates, for five of the six national core practices for organic conversion option. The higher payment rates reflect the higher management costs associated with the mandatory three-year organic transition period and the higher ongoing management costs associated with organic farming.
“We expect this program to evolve and grow over time,” said Witteman.
“NRCS has made a good faith effort to address the needs of organic farmers and appears to be willing to make this program even better on an iterative basis in future years. This is a very welcomed new day.”
Aimee Witteman, Executive Director
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
p: 202-547-5754
f: 202-547-1837
www.sustainableagriculture.net
Cheryl Ripperton Rettie, Bookkeeping & Member Services
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
PO Box 448, Pittsboro NC 27312
Tel: 919.542.2402 - Fax: 919.542.7401
cheryl@carolinafarmstewards.org
www.carolinafarmstewards.org
4/03/2009
Cotton, World's Dirtiest Crop
Cotton is "the world's dirtiest crop": The Deadly Chemicals in Cotton, a joint report by Pesticide Action Network UK and the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), notes that $2 billion worth of chemicals are used on the world's cotton fields every year and "cotton is responsible for the release of 16% of global insecticides."
The World Health Organization classifies the cotton pesticide aldicarb as "extremely hazardous" while the joint report calls the organochlorine pesticide endosulfan "the most important source of fatal poisoning among cotton farmers in West Africa." Cotton chemicals also pose a major health risk to workers and children in Uzbekistan, India and other high-production countries. EJF's "White Gold- The True Cost of Cotton" about cotton's impacts in Uzbekistan won the Environmental Activism & Social Justice Award at the 9th Annual Earth Vision International Environmental Film Festival in Santa Cruz, CA this month.
The World Health Organization classifies the cotton pesticide aldicarb as "extremely hazardous" while the joint report calls the organochlorine pesticide endosulfan "the most important source of fatal poisoning among cotton farmers in West Africa." Cotton chemicals also pose a major health risk to workers and children in Uzbekistan, India and other high-production countries. EJF's "White Gold- The True Cost of Cotton" about cotton's impacts in Uzbekistan won the Environmental Activism & Social Justice Award at the 9th Annual Earth Vision International Environmental Film Festival in Santa Cruz, CA this month.
3/29/2009
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