Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Could Seattle be the first carbon neutral city in northern America by 2030?
I saw Alex Steffan from World Changing speak at the Town Hall on November 12th. An inspiring and energising talk arguing the need for a new model of prosperity - Bright Green Economy for our Bright Green cities.
Alex believes that city living is the way forward to reduce human impact on our environment. By promoting urban living and increasing density we increase fairness and social justice by reducing housing cost. It would subordinate the car and consequently help reduce GHG emissions. By focusing on urban ecology innovation we can create cultural spaces that morph to suit the trends and interests of the city, creating a cultural infrastructure with temporary innovation zones to celebrate difference and wierdness. We can use the streets as platforms for people to use creatively, by removing the status of the car in American culture a whole new urban community would blossom. There are many innovative efforts to change our use of energy from lunar resonant streetlights to rainwater harvesting, it is just a matter of residents taking charge and making their urban space their own. It is obvious there is a need for a proactive government not to protect but to promote sustainability. We need to change the way we live, think about the reverse supply chain and vocalize opposition to bad behaviour of products. After all, democracy is boring and it needs to be depoliticized and we need to have fun living in synergy with our environment.
Check out the WorldChanging website www.worldchanging.com and for Alex's comments on his talk at the Town Hall - www.worldchanging.com/archives/010780.html
I certainly think it is possible to become carbon neutral by 2030 but it'll be a challenge to change our reliance on car culture. The city needs to address public transit issues and its choice of building materials - where does all the concrete come from? Seattle has a reputation for leading in sustainability but I am surprised to not see more cutting edge green building and innovations scattered throughout the city. It would be great if we would collaborate and share ideas, influence and instigate the changes we need to happen.
Do you have ideas that could shape the future of the Puget Sound region? Do you want to share your dreams and inspire others to dream? Take part in the Dream a Sound Future Competition and make your dreams come true!!
Alex believes that city living is the way forward to reduce human impact on our environment. By promoting urban living and increasing density we increase fairness and social justice by reducing housing cost. It would subordinate the car and consequently help reduce GHG emissions. By focusing on urban ecology innovation we can create cultural spaces that morph to suit the trends and interests of the city, creating a cultural infrastructure with temporary innovation zones to celebrate difference and wierdness. We can use the streets as platforms for people to use creatively, by removing the status of the car in American culture a whole new urban community would blossom. There are many innovative efforts to change our use of energy from lunar resonant streetlights to rainwater harvesting, it is just a matter of residents taking charge and making their urban space their own. It is obvious there is a need for a proactive government not to protect but to promote sustainability. We need to change the way we live, think about the reverse supply chain and vocalize opposition to bad behaviour of products. After all, democracy is boring and it needs to be depoliticized and we need to have fun living in synergy with our environment.
Check out the WorldChanging website www.worldchanging.com and for Alex's comments on his talk at the Town Hall - www.worldchanging.com/archives/010780.html
I certainly think it is possible to become carbon neutral by 2030 but it'll be a challenge to change our reliance on car culture. The city needs to address public transit issues and its choice of building materials - where does all the concrete come from? Seattle has a reputation for leading in sustainability but I am surprised to not see more cutting edge green building and innovations scattered throughout the city. It would be great if we would collaborate and share ideas, influence and instigate the changes we need to happen.
Do you have ideas that could shape the future of the Puget Sound region? Do you want to share your dreams and inspire others to dream? Take part in the Dream a Sound Future Competition and make your dreams come true!!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Sustainability at Interbay P Patch
The Interbay P-Patch garden is committed to sustainable practices in its ongoing effort to enhance a community space. One definition of sustainability is using resources wisely to meet the needs of current generations, while preserving resources to meet the needs of future generations. While organic gardening has obvious environmental connections, Interbay also meets needs of society and economy through donating food to food banks, putting used materials to new purposes, saving materials from the waste stream, and building community through social activities.
Impact on the Environment: All P-Patches are organic gardens, using no chemical herbicides or pesticides. We use waste plant materials, leaves collected from around the city, and grass clippings from organic landscapers to make compost and mulch to enrich the soil naturally. Used coffee grounds from local coffee shops, decomposed kitchen waste from worm bins, and cover crops also improve soil quality and fertility. Wood chips from fallen trees are used for garden paths. Interbay uses a solar panel/battery system to run lights and the recirculating pump in the gardens fountain kiosk.
Impact on Society: Interbay is dedicated to building community, breaking down urban isolation, and helping those in need. The courtyard serves as a venue for social events that bring our community together. The garden donates more than two tons of fresh produce a year to food banks and feeding programs. The donations include produce grown by volunteers in dedicated sections of the garden and contributions from individual P-Patch gardeners. Using funds obtained from a City of Seattle grant, Interbay P-Patch has also built ergonomic raised beds for disabled gardeners.
Impact on Economy: Interbay P-Patch has a long tradition of giving used materials new life. By this practice, we save money, save the environment by keeping materials out of the waste stream, and contribute to society by making the garden an inviting place to be. All this is accomplished with hundreds of hours of volunteer labor.
Sustainability represents a frame of mind put into action. At every level of society, government or private enterprise, all ages, cultures or conditions have the ability to embrace the frame of mind to become sustainable as a matter of conscience and personal choice.
Impact on the Environment: All P-Patches are organic gardens, using no chemical herbicides or pesticides. We use waste plant materials, leaves collected from around the city, and grass clippings from organic landscapers to make compost and mulch to enrich the soil naturally. Used coffee grounds from local coffee shops, decomposed kitchen waste from worm bins, and cover crops also improve soil quality and fertility. Wood chips from fallen trees are used for garden paths. Interbay uses a solar panel/battery system to run lights and the recirculating pump in the gardens fountain kiosk.
Impact on Society: Interbay is dedicated to building community, breaking down urban isolation, and helping those in need. The courtyard serves as a venue for social events that bring our community together. The garden donates more than two tons of fresh produce a year to food banks and feeding programs. The donations include produce grown by volunteers in dedicated sections of the garden and contributions from individual P-Patch gardeners. Using funds obtained from a City of Seattle grant, Interbay P-Patch has also built ergonomic raised beds for disabled gardeners.
Impact on Economy: Interbay P-Patch has a long tradition of giving used materials new life. By this practice, we save money, save the environment by keeping materials out of the waste stream, and contribute to society by making the garden an inviting place to be. All this is accomplished with hundreds of hours of volunteer labor.
Sustainability represents a frame of mind put into action. At every level of society, government or private enterprise, all ages, cultures or conditions have the ability to embrace the frame of mind to become sustainable as a matter of conscience and personal choice.
Monday, November 9, 2009
“My Story: Green Sprawl” by Kurt Harjo, Volunteer at Sustainable Seattle
I Dream of no Streets. No Streets in the traditional sense. Expanses of land connecting neighborhoods can be restored to natural landscape. The neighbor that was once across the street could instead be the neighbor across the creek, or the neighbor on the other side of forest or walking path. Traditional Transportation needs are facilitated by efficient community and regional public transportation. Delivery of goods and services traditionally using the common streets would use gravel alley ways, while those who are committed to owning a car would leave it in a community parking garage, freeing their own land for more purposeful uses.
From an aerial view, hot, impervious, car lined streets are replaced by verdant spaces home to streams, gardens, and nestled in their midst, with a small footprint is the light rail. It’s carrying community members to work, to their friends, to city centers. It seldom crosses streets, as these are becoming less and less, each one of them at risk of the lively, ever present and consuming Green Sprawl.
From an aerial view, hot, impervious, car lined streets are replaced by verdant spaces home to streams, gardens, and nestled in their midst, with a small footprint is the light rail. It’s carrying community members to work, to their friends, to city centers. It seldom crosses streets, as these are becoming less and less, each one of them at risk of the lively, ever present and consuming Green Sprawl.
THE TRUTH ABOUT DIRT: CARING FOR OUR ISLAND'S SOIL
9th Annual Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference
THE TRUTH ABOUT DIRT: CARING FOR OUR ISLAND'S SOIL
Sunday, November 15, 2009, 1:00 - 5:30 p.m. with an optional supper at 6:00 p.m.
IslandWood, 4450 Blakely NE, Bainbridge Island
"As odd as it may sound, civilization's survival depends on treating soil as an investment, as a valuable inheritance rather than a commodity - as something other than dirt." -- David Montgomery, Author of Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations and keynote speaker at the Environmental Conference.
Please see our flyer for all of the information and details about the days events and registration.
THE TRUTH ABOUT DIRT: CARING FOR OUR ISLAND'S SOIL
Sunday, November 15, 2009, 1:00 - 5:30 p.m. with an optional supper at 6:00 p.m.
IslandWood, 4450 Blakely NE, Bainbridge Island
"As odd as it may sound, civilization's survival depends on treating soil as an investment, as a valuable inheritance rather than a commodity - as something other than dirt." -- David Montgomery, Author of Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations and keynote speaker at the Environmental Conference.
Please see our flyer for all of the information and details about the days events and registration.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Event | A One-Time Chance to Hear Alex Live in Seattle, November 11 and 12, 2009 When: November 11 and 12, 7:30 p.m., doors open at 7: 00 p.m.
Where: Great Hall at Town Hall Seattle
What: A two-night talk with Alex Steffen, presented by Town Hall’s Center for Civic Life
A two-night talk presented by Town Hall’s Center for Civic Life, 11/11 and 11/12
The future is unfolding as far more dangerous and chaotic than we hoped... and more full of opportunity and reasons for optimism than we imagined. As we lead up to the Copenhagen Climate Summit, a new global consensus is emerging that problems like population, global health, poverty, urbanization, climate change and environmental decline are not separate issues, but symptoms of one giant planetary challenge. The answer to that challenge must be a new kind of prosperity, one that allows billions of people to achieve a better life without destroying the planet.
At the same time, new tools and innovations are redefining the possible and changing what we thought we knew about sustainability. We're seeing potential revolutions everywhere in how we build, eat, move, work, shop and communicate. In this new world of possibilities, Seattle has a unique opportunity to transform itself into a model of sustainable prosperity and to again become a global leader in the process.
Alex Steffen is Executive Editor of Worldchanging.com. As a world expert on bright green futurism, he spends much of his time traveling to speaking with leading international businesses and governments from Norway to New Zealand; he rarely speaks at home in Seattle. But for two nights this November, he'll take the stage at Town Hall and share the latest thinking about how we here in the Emerald City can confront our planetary boundaries and how Seattle citizens can become leading innovators in a sustainable economy. Want to know what the future holds for your career and your community? Don't miss this one-time opportunity to explore some of the most important trends shaping our lives, with one of the most sought-after green futurists working today.
What: A two-night talk with Alex Steffen, presented by Town Hall’s Center for Civic Life
A two-night talk presented by Town Hall’s Center for Civic Life, 11/11 and 11/12
The future is unfolding as far more dangerous and chaotic than we hoped... and more full of opportunity and reasons for optimism than we imagined. As we lead up to the Copenhagen Climate Summit, a new global consensus is emerging that problems like population, global health, poverty, urbanization, climate change and environmental decline are not separate issues, but symptoms of one giant planetary challenge. The answer to that challenge must be a new kind of prosperity, one that allows billions of people to achieve a better life without destroying the planet.
At the same time, new tools and innovations are redefining the possible and changing what we thought we knew about sustainability. We're seeing potential revolutions everywhere in how we build, eat, move, work, shop and communicate. In this new world of possibilities, Seattle has a unique opportunity to transform itself into a model of sustainable prosperity and to again become a global leader in the process.
Alex Steffen is Executive Editor of Worldchanging.com. As a world expert on bright green futurism, he spends much of his time traveling to speaking with leading international businesses and governments from Norway to New Zealand; he rarely speaks at home in Seattle. But for two nights this November, he'll take the stage at Town Hall and share the latest thinking about how we here in the Emerald City can confront our planetary boundaries and how Seattle citizens can become leading innovators in a sustainable economy. Want to know what the future holds for your career and your community? Don't miss this one-time opportunity to explore some of the most important trends shaping our lives, with one of the most sought-after green futurists working today.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Dream a Sound Future Competition
Dream a Sound Future is a design competition that focuses on a holistic approach to improving sustainability in the Central Puget Sound and Seattle City region. The need to find collaborative, holistic and innovative solutions to protect and restore our natural, built, social and personal environments is ever increasing. This competition is an invitation for you, your organization or community to create and share your vision and the action plan for getting there.
The Dream a Sound Future contestants will choose a goal or goals within the B-Sustainable.org framework for their visions (please log on to http://www.b-sustainable.org and join to get full access to the goals). Contestants will design a sustainable future for the year 2100, as well as the action steps that are necessary by 2020, 2050, and 2070 to reach that vision.
Contestants will display their entry at a place of their choosing during the week of October 2-10th, 2010. We will provide the public with a passport of the time and place for each entry so that Seattle residents and fellow contestants can view and learn from each other’s visions. A final event announcing the winners will occur on October 10th, 2010.
We encourage participants to think “outside the box” in presenting their design. We are reaching for an inclusive array of contestants—Food activists, Renewable Energy experts, Neighborhood groups, Educators, Dancers, Theater troops, Artists, Engineers, Scientists, Students, Lawyers, Policy Makers, Architects, IT professionals, Planners and Parents are just a few of those we encourage to join the competition. There are no limits to who can submit a competition entry although we do ask that all submissions adhere to the competition guidelines.
A panel of experts on the natural, built, social and personal environments will judge all entries, with public voting included in the process. The final prizes are yet to be announced.
This is a collaborative effort by Sustainable Seattle, Sustainable Cascadia, EcoPraxis, SCALLOPS, Seattle Climate Partnership and other organizations working to create a sustainable future.
The Dream a Sound Future contestants will choose a goal or goals within the B-Sustainable.org framework for their visions (please log on to http://www.b-sustainable.org and join to get full access to the goals). Contestants will design a sustainable future for the year 2100, as well as the action steps that are necessary by 2020, 2050, and 2070 to reach that vision.
Contestants will display their entry at a place of their choosing during the week of October 2-10th, 2010. We will provide the public with a passport of the time and place for each entry so that Seattle residents and fellow contestants can view and learn from each other’s visions. A final event announcing the winners will occur on October 10th, 2010.
We encourage participants to think “outside the box” in presenting their design. We are reaching for an inclusive array of contestants—Food activists, Renewable Energy experts, Neighborhood groups, Educators, Dancers, Theater troops, Artists, Engineers, Scientists, Students, Lawyers, Policy Makers, Architects, IT professionals, Planners and Parents are just a few of those we encourage to join the competition. There are no limits to who can submit a competition entry although we do ask that all submissions adhere to the competition guidelines.
A panel of experts on the natural, built, social and personal environments will judge all entries, with public voting included in the process. The final prizes are yet to be announced.
This is a collaborative effort by Sustainable Seattle, Sustainable Cascadia, EcoPraxis, SCALLOPS, Seattle Climate Partnership and other organizations working to create a sustainable future.
Dream a Sound Future Vision
Here are a few ideas of what we would like to see more of to improve our region:
Socio-Economic Systems:
· A restructuring of the economy based on cultural resources and following the precepts of Hazel Henderson’s “Love Economy,” Redefining Progresses’ “Genuine Progress Indicator,” and social justice on issues including water.
· Personal sustainability, where individuals are whole and healthy so that there is no longer mistreatment/abuse of others or the environment.
· Model of a Person as the Neighbor for a behavior change that builds capacity within individuals and groups
· Local self-define groups and organizations that share best practices, innovations, means to increase engagement and active participation, less reliance on technology particularly for interpersonal communications and relationships through (1) working closer to home, (2) purchasing products and produce made locally, (3) community based interactions, (4) shorter range of travel, (5) thinking bio-regionally (creating abundance, health and regional self-sufficiency through cooperation with nature), (6) permaculture (designing human settlements and perennial agricultural systems that mimic the relationships found in nature), (7) reduced or no use of technology such as cell phones for certain purposes, (8) greater innovation and democratic decisions, (9) Collaborative leadership, (10) Cultural and natural resource based economy and (11) behavior change.
· Wealth equity worldwide
Built Environment Systems:
· Transportation systems which encompass the public right of way and green space (ie. more parks from roads rather than roads into parks).
· Infrastructure that support bicyclists, walking and low impact vehicles, such as (1) an ordinance that keeps speed limits to walking speed (5 mph) in residential areas, (2) expanses of the residential areas in the city where cars are not allowed, with established transportation corridors and (3) a city free of cars.
· Green roof and green ways throughout the urban areas
· Algae or other eco-friendly fuel for long distance travel (air, train, etc).
· A city where all buildings are energy independent as well as generators rather than consumers of energy through (1) promulgation of bill, passing of ordinances and incentives to business.
· Building and infrastructure with open space beneath it (e.g. elevated highways) that allows for revitalization of animal, plant, water and other (physical biological, and chemical) aspects of the natural system, with a build environment that is self sufficient for energy, water and refuse and filters sunlight for photosynthesis and other functions to the ground.
Natural Environment System:
· Education in all schools that teaches children where their food comes from and gives them knowledge and access to wilderness
· Joint spaces for sharing throughout the city, such as Pea-patch program Preservation of large blocks of land for species recovery and biodiversity (defined as the richness of species) through (1) bringing together of agencies, NGOs and private entities
· Ending of use of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides.
· Urban and Individual farming such as food bearing gardens within natural and build (hydroponics) environment throughout the city.
Knowledge Systems:
· Access to information about (1) local ecosystems prior to European settlement of North American, such as the Manhattan Project and (2) impact of prior decisions that led to long term damage of the environment (e.g. Brownfield clean-ups, stormwater systems, waste steams) so that wiser decisions can be made in the future.
· Interactive media, including books, that allows for expansion of peoples understanding, knowledge, and understanding of each other so we can all use the past to guide us in our future
· Ecological tickers used with the same frequency and by the same entities as those that use economic (unemployment levels. GDP etc)
Socio-Economic Systems:
· A restructuring of the economy based on cultural resources and following the precepts of Hazel Henderson’s “Love Economy,” Redefining Progresses’ “Genuine Progress Indicator,” and social justice on issues including water.
· Personal sustainability, where individuals are whole and healthy so that there is no longer mistreatment/abuse of others or the environment.
· Model of a Person as the Neighbor for a behavior change that builds capacity within individuals and groups
· Local self-define groups and organizations that share best practices, innovations, means to increase engagement and active participation, less reliance on technology particularly for interpersonal communications and relationships through (1) working closer to home, (2) purchasing products and produce made locally, (3) community based interactions, (4) shorter range of travel, (5) thinking bio-regionally (creating abundance, health and regional self-sufficiency through cooperation with nature), (6) permaculture (designing human settlements and perennial agricultural systems that mimic the relationships found in nature), (7) reduced or no use of technology such as cell phones for certain purposes, (8) greater innovation and democratic decisions, (9) Collaborative leadership, (10) Cultural and natural resource based economy and (11) behavior change.
· Wealth equity worldwide
Built Environment Systems:
· Transportation systems which encompass the public right of way and green space (ie. more parks from roads rather than roads into parks).
· Infrastructure that support bicyclists, walking and low impact vehicles, such as (1) an ordinance that keeps speed limits to walking speed (5 mph) in residential areas, (2) expanses of the residential areas in the city where cars are not allowed, with established transportation corridors and (3) a city free of cars.
· Green roof and green ways throughout the urban areas
· Algae or other eco-friendly fuel for long distance travel (air, train, etc).
· A city where all buildings are energy independent as well as generators rather than consumers of energy through (1) promulgation of bill, passing of ordinances and incentives to business.
· Building and infrastructure with open space beneath it (e.g. elevated highways) that allows for revitalization of animal, plant, water and other (physical biological, and chemical) aspects of the natural system, with a build environment that is self sufficient for energy, water and refuse and filters sunlight for photosynthesis and other functions to the ground.
Natural Environment System:
· Education in all schools that teaches children where their food comes from and gives them knowledge and access to wilderness
· Joint spaces for sharing throughout the city, such as Pea-patch program Preservation of large blocks of land for species recovery and biodiversity (defined as the richness of species) through (1) bringing together of agencies, NGOs and private entities
· Ending of use of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides.
· Urban and Individual farming such as food bearing gardens within natural and build (hydroponics) environment throughout the city.
Knowledge Systems:
· Access to information about (1) local ecosystems prior to European settlement of North American, such as the Manhattan Project and (2) impact of prior decisions that led to long term damage of the environment (e.g. Brownfield clean-ups, stormwater systems, waste steams) so that wiser decisions can be made in the future.
· Interactive media, including books, that allows for expansion of peoples understanding, knowledge, and understanding of each other so we can all use the past to guide us in our future
· Ecological tickers used with the same frequency and by the same entities as those that use economic (unemployment levels. GDP etc)
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