Loading...

Greening your Community Part 2: The First Meeting

Most people don’t have much money at this point in time but that’s ok, by spending a small amount more or even the same amount, we can all benefit by saving energy and in turn reducing our electric bills. Solar panels are expensive, the majority of people won’t be able to afford them, but that doesn’t mean we can’t reduce their electric bill by helping them implement energy saving habits like turning off lights!

The Connection Between Climate Change and Migration

Not only have we settled in disaster prone areas, but when things get bad because of Climate Change, we move to even worse areas. Last year, according to the United Nations, 210 million people – about three per cent of the global population – migrated between countries, and in 2009 about 740 million people moved within countries.

The Climate Movement and Occupy Wall Street

We are all a movement for change for the better, whether that be towards a sustainable future, or whether it’s towards ending corporate rule over our economy. We must stand together for change, change that happens, change that makes sense, change that is in our hands, not in the hands of the 1% and not in the hands of people who put religion and their personal morals over our freedom.

Let's Occupy Together

Movements have broken out all across the US (and even across the world) with their subjects ranging from war to corporate greed. Kicking off the start of protests was (in my opinion) the Tar Sands action in DC, where 1,252 people got arrested. Then it was Occupy Wall Street. Now it’s Occupy EVERYWHERE.

Artists Get Inspired by Seeing Climate Change in the Arctic Up Close

In September 2010 Cape Farewell began its 9th Art & Science expedition to the Arctic. For 22 days the crew of 20 voyagers sailed around Svalbard and Spitsbergen on the Noorderlicht(an 100 year old ship), sailing north of the 80th parallel to the ice edge from Spitsbergen and east towards Russia.

Flooding in Pakistan

Heavy monsoon rains over the course of August 2011 have caused widespread flood damage in Pakistan. The southern province of Sindh was hit especially hard. The horrendous flooding has effected close to 5 million people, destroyed millions of homes, killed at least 361 people and displaced 600,000 who are currently living in refugee camps because of the continually rising waters.

Current Extremism and it's Toll on the Environment

A few weeks ago we were sorely reminded of the extremism of the majority of the current Republican candidates. Among many other alarming things said, Republicans suggested eliminating or privatizing: FEMA, NASA, the EPA, the Federal Labor Relations Board, Medicaid and food stamps. Herman Cain promised not to appoint any Muslims who want to kill Americans to his cabinet. Michele Bachmann supports states’ rights on gay marriage, but also supports a constitutional amendment outlawing it. Rick Santorum wants to “a system of discipline” to “punish” gay soldiers, which suggests that his problem with pornographic Google results is not likely to abate. Tim Pawlenty views Iraq as “one of the shiniest examples of success in the Middle East.”

How to Green your Community

I have spent hours researching how to turn my community green. I suppose I’m a little too anxious to create change. I went directly for who I should contact locally for changing laws and such. Again, I was reminded that all things take time. One of the first things pretty much every site said about community change was that you should form a group. And it’s true, there is great strength in numbers, so here’s how to go about it.

Upcoming Green Events & Conferences

First and foremost, I would like to mention September 24, 2011 and Moving Planet! It’s time to get away from dirty energy. Join in on an already organized event or start one of your own! More info can be found including the events nearest you, at the Moving Planet website.

From New York to Maryland, 100,000 Ordered to Evacuate their Homes because of Flooding

Still recovering from Hurricane Irene, the East Coast is being hit again by remnants of Tropical Storm Lee. Rain comes on and off for the East Coast, sometimes only drizzling, but the rivers and streams continue to rise. Among many of the areas flooded are the many towns along the Susquehanna River. Rural towns are nestled along 444 miles of water that lead down into the Chesapeake Bay. As water surged over flood walls built decades ago to protect residences from potential flooding from the Susquehanna River, 20,000 people were ordered to head for higher ground. This is said to be the worst flooding in the history of Binghamton, at least since the flood walls were built in the 1930s and ’40s. Besides the town of Binghamton, nearly 100,000 people from New York to Maryland were ordered to flee the rising Susquehanna River on Thursday.