Some may already know about my love affair with the Green Festival here in San Francisco, so it will not be shocking if i write another update on the state of green affairs and the rejuvenation i experienced being among my fellow humans who care and stand up for those things they cherish.
Again, missing Friday, i found my merry way via bicycle thru the streets of SF on the morning of what was to become a very hot Saturday. Just in case we were about to forget that global warming is happening... along comes a November day in the 80's to remind us.
Arriving to check in with the volunteer side of GF, i was immediately aware of my calm and premonition toward the betterment of humanity which was taking place. The various vendors were beginning their day, prepared for the onslaught of festival goers that was about to file in. I got my coffee, surprised to find they were using a Starbucks, supposedly fairtrade style, but would not pass up the free caffiene fix, nor chastise the ones responsible for our being there to experience this. I set out to help the Green Team out back by sorting the beginning of the day's garbage, in hopes of helping them create only 1% landfill waste for the whole event. I am doubtful now whether this was actually acheived, or if they fell short of their expectations for making the least waste possible. Regardless, last year's astounding 2% landfill waste is reason enough to be proud, and i was humbled as always by the chance to witness our frailties as a people so close at hand.
After 4 1/2 hours of sorting, i had to call it quits, since it really was hot out there, and i was so excited about what lie inside the Concourse doors. Note to self: Eat first! No one should stand outside in the heat sorting garbage on an empty stomach for that long! But i digress, I got inside just in time to enjoy a great veggie lunch from the ASIAN stand i often frequent at festivals. I love them the most for their utterly reliable and yummy sustainance, their mango lassis, and because they usually give out returnable & washable dinnerware instead of disposable. But of all the atrosities, they were denied the right to do so this year due to health code violations or some such nonesense. Argh! Thank you very much city of San Francisco!
Regardless, i took in the sights and sounds of the event over my fine faire, and was lucky to be on hand when Jahi (myspace/hotbutterflows) & Abba Yahudah were performing on the music stage. I loves me some solid hip hop and old-school raggae! I got over to Mark Shapira talk on The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products, and was disgusted to hear more about how our government has not demanded the same stringent rules for household and personal care products that they do in the EU; and of course, this is mostly due to our lack of a universal healthcare system, which would ensure our national interest in keeping the citizens healthy and the healthcare costs down. It is all cyclical, and we must pressure our representatives in Washington toward making sure our health comes first on EVERY level. He brought up the WTO protests in Seattle of '99, which i was lucky enough and/or cursed enough to be a part of... knowing then what i know now about our planet's health and our government's attrocities, as well as those of giant corporations & the IMF/World Bank, well.. i would fought much harder and more seriously those ten long years ago...
But i was uplifted in attending the Gift Center for the keynote speaker Dr. Cornell West, which was opened with a performance by Ricky Byers Beckwith. She must be one of the most soulful women of the 21st century... with lyrics that are so familiar and yet ancient, so enchanting and joyful, that they can't help but bring crowds into the light. I was entranced for several moments. Then came Dr. West, with his bright and dignified character. He grabbed hold of my heartstrings the moment he came on stage, because the look on his face just screamed: OBAMA!!!!!! He praised and surely he testified, yet in the end he said we should be wary and cautious of our next moves as a people. His evidence for this is the latest of Obama's chosen cabinet members, and the fact that it does matter whom one surrounds themselves with. Here, here! Yes, we must be vigilant if we want our voices to continue to raise above the rhetoric of the war mongers, the corporate lobbyists, and the political elite. Whew, we have lots of work to do!
On Sunday, i arrived bright and early to get there ahead of the massive crowd which would ensue, and to be on time to hear one of my all time favorite journalists, NPR's Amy Goodman, from Democracy Now. She began her tales with an beautiful bioptic of Obama's roots and the grass movement that took him to the White House; this led to her recanting the story of Mt. Misery, where "difficult" slaves were taken to be brutally broken by means of torture; Mt. Misery, it turns out is now owned proudly by none other than Donald Rumsfeld, she reports; Tied into this whole tale is her plea for us to be heard among our leaders in terms of not wanting our country to be perpetrating torture & to demand the closure of Guantanamo Bay. She then spoke about reporters being arrested at the NRC, and herself being rudely arrested for requesting that a journalist be released. Amy always is so good at reminding me that we are treading on very thin ice, our society is ready for something monumental, merely because we are at our wits end... and i love her for it! But she makes me cry every time..
After Amy was the Bay Area's own proud green warrior, Van Jones. He too praised the triumph and progress we made in electing Barack Obama, and also said we have alot of work yet to do, and statements yet to be made heard. But he did point out three initiatives to look at from Obama's campaign plan: cap & ban legislature to decrease carbon emmissions, infrastructure work on existing buildings and city plans, and ... oh now, i forget the third... but i think at that point i was already dreaming of a brighter tomorrow and a greener economy. He said the truth of the matter: that we will make money and create jobs simply by doing the right thing, right NOW. Ooh, he got me fired up like i knew he would!
So once again inside for "Asia" and music, this time playing was SeaSunz & Akosua... both thoroughly enjoyable hip hop & soulful lyrical accoustic. I made to just the right mix of musicality for me this year, so i was very pleased. Then i decided to shop...
Yes, that's right, i said it... after two whole days there, it is impossible not want something you see here, or maybe ten things... but nobody's counting.
Anyway, my top ten buys were:
One bottle of Olive Oil (from Plaestine) whose proceeds go to rebuild a bulldozed school in in the region;
One copper reusable water canister from the green dentist (www.sfgreendentist.com);
One organic cotton T-shirt which will read "Buy Local www.weaddup.com" and has myself counted as a specified number in a total sum of people making a difference in the little things they do daily;
One bottle of "Napa VinJus" which tastes bitter & alittle tangy like a white wine but is only concentrated pure grape bliss;
Two peace dove pins handcarved from wood of trees from Palestine from a booth hoping to end the occupation;
A pair of the most comfortable colorful and rhythmic shoes this side of fairtrade Columbia from "Kuna prints" (www.KunaPrints.com);
Three bodycare products from a local organic supplier who told me his products were cheap ($6.99 for a decent sized bottle) because bodycare without crap in it SHOULD be affordable (Right on brother, now you're speaking my language!), his company is Griffin Remedy and it is some delightfully good stuff which he gave me a coupon to buy more of & it is made right here in SF (www.GriffinRemedy.com);
A 2 part steel container from "To-Go Ware" (www.to-goware.com) to cart leftovers and my lunch;
A medicinal tincture from Bear Wallow Herbs (www.bearwallowherbs.com);
and some handmade Peruvian incense that is delightfully pungent and fresh smelling which reminds me of the pine tree plantation three fields behind my home growing up after a really great thunderstorm. Get your own at www.espiritusdelande.com!
I would have also bought a patch with the World Flag on it (www.theworldflag.org) but they had only recently sold out so i just made do with a fine conversation and appreciating it from afar.
To say i bought more than all that would make me a clever American with purchasing power, taking the advice of my ultra consumer sister, who says the answer to our financial woes is to shop, SHOP, SHOP! Well... ahem... at least i did my part here this weekend, buying what i felt to be worthy, responsible, good natured & devoid of sacriledge. Who knows? Maybe we do save the world by shopping... i'm only concerned that we save it in the end.
More to come on the vendors and non-profits i spoke to at the Festival in Pt.2 of "The Greeniest".
Peace out.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Golden Gate Garbage as Art Show
The artists in residence at the Golden Gate Waste Transfer Facility were on display with the opening of this year's work, on Friday, Sept. 26th. Their work, which we previewed on our field trip, was highly imaginative and varied. As an artist myself, i marvel at the adept abilities these craftswomen had, finding ways to utilize all media in making art from other's discardables. By using glass shards, playing cards, paint chips, textiles, wooden stakes, paint, pillow fluff, metal, thread, rope, plastics, sound & audio equiptment, mirrors, light and what seemed to be a fair amount of good 'ol blood, sweat & tears (?) in creating their unique visions of beauty. My inspiration levels soared as i left feeling more bolstered in the awareness of those who see oportunity in what some may deem as trash.
As a whole, i thought that, while some of the art may have been rushed and a bit simplicticly novel, largely the work was genuine, admirable, and i thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a large audience too, for i went sometime in the middle of the evening and there were approximately 100 or so people there, some who seemed intent on buying work. There was also a fabulous spread, wine, and an excellent haul of give-away garbage...
I got a metal trunk, which with recovering the outer surface will be a strong find, and two wicker-made fish that i intend to house airplants and suspend from my upper balcony on strings. My friend Gayle, who righteously agreed that a trip to the "dump" would be great fun on a Friday night, came along and found an interesting book, a basket, and two frames of decent purportions.
In all, it was a good night. I will be going to visit the next art show for the artist in residency, and maybe, if fate smiles, to be myself allowed to rummage as an artist there; making greatness from the garbage!
As a whole, i thought that, while some of the art may have been rushed and a bit simplicticly novel, largely the work was genuine, admirable, and i thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a large audience too, for i went sometime in the middle of the evening and there were approximately 100 or so people there, some who seemed intent on buying work. There was also a fabulous spread, wine, and an excellent haul of give-away garbage...
I got a metal trunk, which with recovering the outer surface will be a strong find, and two wicker-made fish that i intend to house airplants and suspend from my upper balcony on strings. My friend Gayle, who righteously agreed that a trip to the "dump" would be great fun on a Friday night, came along and found an interesting book, a basket, and two frames of decent purportions.
In all, it was a good night. I will be going to visit the next art show for the artist in residency, and maybe, if fate smiles, to be myself allowed to rummage as an artist there; making greatness from the garbage!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
David Yarnold says Iceland can teach us alot about renewable energy
Follow this link to read about what Iceland is doing in its commitment to renewable energy sources like geothermal.
http://edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=26780
In general, check out the Environmental Defense Fund for more news in defense of the Earth at http://edf.org
calling our congress(wo)men
Here is the email i received today from Al Gore's website "wecansolveit" about how to contact our congress people about the energy act being discussed, as Peggy mentioned in class today:
Call your members of Congress NOW to demand new, clean energy. Take Action.
Dear lori,
I need your help. Will you make a call?
Congress will consider energy legislation this week. Of course, the oil industry is pushing its "drill, drill" slogan with all its might -- and some are hoping to use this for political advantage.
Meanwhile, tax credits for investments in solar and wind power have not been extended, and the growing renewables business that just made America the largest producer of wind power in the world, is on the verge of shutting down huge planned projects all over the country.
Billions in private investment, thousands of megawatts of new, clean energy, and more than 100,000 new jobs expected for 2009 will be lost.
We face a stark choice: subsidize old, dirty energy or invest in new, clean energy. This should be easy, but the influence of the oil lobby is deep -- they've already spent more than $100 million in lobbying and advertising this year. Please call your members of Congress now and tell them to pass legislation that will Repower America.
Click here to find out how to call:
http://www.wecansolveit.org/page/s/CallTrackRepower
(copy this link)
Washington is being diverted by all the political noise around "drill, drill" away from what really will make a difference -- building a new, clean energy future. Projects in the pipeline that will power millions of homes will be canceled, setting us back for years, if Congress doesn't do the right thing now. Congress needs to hear from all of us.
Thank you so much,
Al Gore
www.wecansolveit.org
Call your members of Congress NOW to demand new, clean energy. Take Action.
Dear lori,
I need your help. Will you make a call?
Congress will consider energy legislation this week. Of course, the oil industry is pushing its "drill, drill" slogan with all its might -- and some are hoping to use this for political advantage.
Meanwhile, tax credits for investments in solar and wind power have not been extended, and the growing renewables business that just made America the largest producer of wind power in the world, is on the verge of shutting down huge planned projects all over the country.
Billions in private investment, thousands of megawatts of new, clean energy, and more than 100,000 new jobs expected for 2009 will be lost.
We face a stark choice: subsidize old, dirty energy or invest in new, clean energy. This should be easy, but the influence of the oil lobby is deep -- they've already spent more than $100 million in lobbying and advertising this year. Please call your members of Congress now and tell them to pass legislation that will Repower America.
Click here to find out how to call:
http://www.wecansolveit.org/page/s/CallTrackRepower
(copy this link)
Washington is being diverted by all the political noise around "drill, drill" away from what really will make a difference -- building a new, clean energy future. Projects in the pipeline that will power millions of homes will be canceled, setting us back for years, if Congress doesn't do the right thing now. Congress needs to hear from all of us.
Thank you so much,
Al Gore
www.wecansolveit.org
Getting the goods on Palin!
Hello everyone,
This is Lori K. from BIO 31 and Peggy has asked me to help moderate the class blogspot this semester. My first duty will be to post what i know so far about Sarah Palin, the Replublican bid for our Vice Presidency, which i do feel is an environmental concern for our country, and if you read further, as well as delving deeper by following some links i am posting here, I am sure you will see why I see her as one of the greatest barriers we could face in making strides to change public opinion toward saving our precious non-renewables, and in the legislated protection of those resources for our future...plus if i don't tell 50 people every day why she is one of the worst possible candidates, my head just might explode, so here goes:
Sarah Palin was elected Alaska 's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience.
Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools, which goes against 99% of the world's scientific community's factual findings on evolutionary theory and the history of mankind.
She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change, again completely opposite of scientific findings to contrary.
She's solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy... good only for hmmmm, who would that be? Oh yea! Big Oil Companies! Not for the environment. Not for American pocketbooks! Not for the wildlife who are destroyed in the process of drilling and certainly not going to solve any problems, ever.
She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won't be ready for years. She has consistently supported drilling in ANWR(the Animal National Wildlife Refuge), use of coal-burning power plants (as I write this, a new coal plant is being built in her home town of Wasilla), strip mining, and almost anything else that will unnecessarily exploit the diminishing resources of Alaska and destroy its environment.
She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska. (Um, Sarah, why don't you like polar bears? Even your little ones could tell you that they are endangered and in need of help. My Ecology teacher and every ecologist on the planet could tell you they are necessary top predators that help to regulate and continue the health of their ecosystem. Get a clue!)
Also, she is a life time member of the NRA and has worked tirelessly to allow indiscriminate hunting of wildlife in Alaska, particularly wolves and bears.
She has spent millions of Alaska state dollars on aerial hunting of these predators from helicopters and airplanes, dollars that should have been spent, for example, on Alaska's failing school system. She herself even likes to go aerial hunting, which involves the use of helicopters to run down endangered wolves and shoot them, mainly for sport... i can't imagine she eats them, but who knows how outlandish this woman really is...
For those of us women out there, we should know that Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest. And although she is so proud of keeping her (alleged) baby with down's syndrome, when she holds the child, she looks as unnatural a mother as any person i have ever seen... by the looks of it, it is really her oldest daughter, now pregnant herself, who is actually raising this child. Sara doesn't look as tho she has either the time nor the inclination to love and care for children. And yet, perhaps a woman touting the wonderful feat of having a child with a disability should actually be spending the child's most tender and formative years with them, not campaigning to be president.
She work on & supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan's bid for the presidency in 2000. Enough said.
And let us not forget the fact that John McCain met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position. This man knows very little about his running mate, other than that she is obviously good at putting on a show for the most fervent right wing voters among our population, and oh yea, she is a woman, and lord knows one woman is the same as all rest!
TO get more facts about Palin, i recommend:
sarahpalinexposed.com
moveon.org
And for a brighter alternative to the ugly options we have with the republicans, please check out Barack Obama's site: http://www.voteforchange.com
I am not suggesting you vote any particular way, i merely want every one of us as informed about our choices as possible. The future of our country, and our very planet may greatly depend on the outcome of this election, and all the ones hereafter.
Good luck.
Peace.
Stay Green.
This is Lori K. from BIO 31 and Peggy has asked me to help moderate the class blogspot this semester. My first duty will be to post what i know so far about Sarah Palin, the Replublican bid for our Vice Presidency, which i do feel is an environmental concern for our country, and if you read further, as well as delving deeper by following some links i am posting here, I am sure you will see why I see her as one of the greatest barriers we could face in making strides to change public opinion toward saving our precious non-renewables, and in the legislated protection of those resources for our future...plus if i don't tell 50 people every day why she is one of the worst possible candidates, my head just might explode, so here goes:
Sarah Palin was elected Alaska 's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience.
Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools, which goes against 99% of the world's scientific community's factual findings on evolutionary theory and the history of mankind.
She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change, again completely opposite of scientific findings to contrary.
She's solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy... good only for hmmmm, who would that be? Oh yea! Big Oil Companies! Not for the environment. Not for American pocketbooks! Not for the wildlife who are destroyed in the process of drilling and certainly not going to solve any problems, ever.
She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won't be ready for years. She has consistently supported drilling in ANWR(the Animal National Wildlife Refuge), use of coal-burning power plants (as I write this, a new coal plant is being built in her home town of Wasilla), strip mining, and almost anything else that will unnecessarily exploit the diminishing resources of Alaska and destroy its environment.
She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska. (Um, Sarah, why don't you like polar bears? Even your little ones could tell you that they are endangered and in need of help. My Ecology teacher and every ecologist on the planet could tell you they are necessary top predators that help to regulate and continue the health of their ecosystem. Get a clue!)
Also, she is a life time member of the NRA and has worked tirelessly to allow indiscriminate hunting of wildlife in Alaska, particularly wolves and bears.
She has spent millions of Alaska state dollars on aerial hunting of these predators from helicopters and airplanes, dollars that should have been spent, for example, on Alaska's failing school system. She herself even likes to go aerial hunting, which involves the use of helicopters to run down endangered wolves and shoot them, mainly for sport... i can't imagine she eats them, but who knows how outlandish this woman really is...
For those of us women out there, we should know that Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest. And although she is so proud of keeping her (alleged) baby with down's syndrome, when she holds the child, she looks as unnatural a mother as any person i have ever seen... by the looks of it, it is really her oldest daughter, now pregnant herself, who is actually raising this child. Sara doesn't look as tho she has either the time nor the inclination to love and care for children. And yet, perhaps a woman touting the wonderful feat of having a child with a disability should actually be spending the child's most tender and formative years with them, not campaigning to be president.
She work on & supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan's bid for the presidency in 2000. Enough said.
And let us not forget the fact that John McCain met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position. This man knows very little about his running mate, other than that she is obviously good at putting on a show for the most fervent right wing voters among our population, and oh yea, she is a woman, and lord knows one woman is the same as all rest!
TO get more facts about Palin, i recommend:
sarahpalinexposed.com
moveon.org
And for a brighter alternative to the ugly options we have with the republicans, please check out Barack Obama's site: http://www.voteforchange.com
I am not suggesting you vote any particular way, i merely want every one of us as informed about our choices as possible. The future of our country, and our very planet may greatly depend on the outcome of this election, and all the ones hereafter.
Good luck.
Peace.
Stay Green.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Reminders for Week 6 and 7 including field trip info
Some important reminders:
The lifestyle projects for week 1 were due today, Thursday the 21st.
The first midterm will be next Thursday. I will be holding a review session 20 minutes before and after class on Tuesday.
Please read the term project before Thursday as I will discuss it just before the exams are handed out.
We have a field trip Friday, 9:45 to about noon at Norcal Waste, 401 Tunnel Avenue
Public transportation: Caltrans to Bayshore stop and walk across the street. Bus # 9 goes to Bayshore and Tunnel and then walk south on Tunnel to 401. There is also the new t-line which stops at Bayshore and Tunnel.
Directions if driving (note we need three car in addition to mine in order to have enough vehicles to get to the recycling center which is at another location).
From downtown SF, drive south on 101. Exit at the Monster Park / Tunnel Ave. (the exit is after the Cow Palace Exit). At the end of the exit, go straight on Beatty Road. At the next stop sign, turn right on Tunnel Ave.
The lifestyle projects for week 1 were due today, Thursday the 21st.
The first midterm will be next Thursday. I will be holding a review session 20 minutes before and after class on Tuesday.
Please read the term project before Thursday as I will discuss it just before the exams are handed out.
We have a field trip Friday, 9:45 to about noon at Norcal Waste, 401 Tunnel Avenue
Public transportation: Caltrans to Bayshore stop and walk across the street. Bus # 9 goes to Bayshore and Tunnel and then walk south on Tunnel to 401. There is also the new t-line which stops at Bayshore and Tunnel.
Directions if driving (note we need three car in addition to mine in order to have enough vehicles to get to the recycling center which is at another location).
From downtown SF, drive south on 101. Exit at the Monster Park / Tunnel Ave. (the exit is after the Cow Palace Exit). At the end of the exit, go straight on Beatty Road. At the next stop sign, turn right on Tunnel Ave.
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