WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS26 October 2010
ECO RADIO KC ¤ WEEKLY ECOLOGICAL ISSUES RADIO SHOWTuesday,
26 October 2010, 12:00noon-1:00pm
¤ on Kansas City Community Radio
Listen at KKFI-FM 90.1, or on web-streaming at
http://www.kkfi.org/ On
Eco-Radio KC this week,
host Richard Mabion will air a call-in talk show about today's Environmental Education trends in the United States. Listeners may
call (816)931-5534 with their comments. How will we raise the next or future generations of environmental minded citizens and/or voters? He will make observations about the North American Association of Environmental Educators conference that was in Buffalo, NY, about the documentary "Waiting on Superman", and finally the Ecology & Education summit he attended in Washington DC a week ago.
On
Friday at
9:30am, listen as the
Bioneers radio series presents
"Thinking Like Cathedral Builders: Green Building for the Long Haul". Few people realize that poor design and inefficient
buildings account for half America's energy consumption and
greenhouse gas emissions. Master builder
John Abrams finds that tapping human ingenuity with a
long view will serve future generations,
the environment and
the human spirit.
The kind of
green building Abrams employs necessarily addresses
the architecture of communities, businesses and
the human heart.
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DOUGLAS COUNTY KS NATURAL & CULTURAL HERITAGE ¤ PUBLIC FORUMWednesdays,
27 October 2010, 5:30pm Watkins Community Museum, 1047 Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044This is an opportunity for the public to share their vision to the county task force for how the $350,000 in the 2011 County Budget should be spent on the “preservation and continued use of land, structures, and landmarks that define the County’s historical, social, economic, political and agricultural heritage…and open space identified as significant to the County’s future needs.” For more info, or to share comments electronically, contact Jason Fizell, Task Force Ex-Officio, at
<jfizell@klt.org> or (785)749-3297.
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TWELFTH STREET HOMESTEAD NATURAL DYING CLASSWednesdays,
27 October 2010, 6:00pm - FREE 1145 Pennsylvania St., Lawrence KS 66044 Join Andy Peekstok, a wilderness survival teacher, to learn techniques for natural dying methods. He will supply Black Walnut ingredients for a permanent natural dye, but bring other natural plant materials as dye sources too. Also being white or light color fabric or clothing, and rubber bands. Please RSVP at <12sthomestead@gmail.com>. ___________________________________________________
FOOD NOT LAWNS ¤ COMMUNIVERSITY CLASS #2305AWednesdays,
27 October, and 3 & 10 November 2010, 7:00pm - $$
UMKC School of Medicine, Theatre C, 2411 Charlotte St., Kansas City MO 64108
Grow food not lawns! Increase local food security, improve your diet, beautify your surroundings, build community, reduce pollution and energy use (It takes 87 calories of fuel to transport one calorie of perishable fresh fruit from west coast to east coast). As supporters of the Food Not Lawns national movement, we will hold five sessions dealing with topics that include whole system design, garden preparation, permaculture, water-wise gardening, seed saving, planting, and free resources. Presenters include master and highly-qualified gardeners. Class fee is $18, plus $5 for materials. Register at
Communiversity online registration. Bring a picture ID. Limit 30. More info at
Food Not Lawns KC, or
<steve@prairietrading.com>.
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CURIOUS ABOUT ENERGY DEPLETION, AND TRANSITION COMMUNITIES?This 2 minute 37 second video from Transition United States gives clear and concise explanations and solutions -
Why Transition? Creating a Brighter Future. To get involved in local Transition Initiatives, contact
Transition Kaw Valley at
<morlinc@sunflower.com>, or
Transition Kansas City at
<bkjelshus@sbcglobal.net>.
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NATIONAL SMALL FARM TRADE SHOW & CONFERENCEThursday-Saturday,
4-6 November 2010, 8:00am-5:00pm - $$
Boone County Fairgrounds, Columbia MO
The USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program will be hosting this the largest annual small farm trade show in the United States.
There will be more than 30 "Farmers Forum" talks, with sessions 25 to 55 minutes long, and covering topics like composting, beneficial bees, agroforestry, heritage turkeys, community gardens, local food systems, freshwater shrimp farming, weed control with goats, elderberries, and much more. To register, call "Small Farm Today" at (800)633-2535, write National Small Farm Show, 3903 W Ridge Trail Rd, Clark MO 65243, or see http://www.smallfarmtoday.com for more information.___________________________________________________
WAKARUSA SIERRA CLUB NIGHT HIKE AT CLINTON LAKEFriday,
5 November 2010, 6:00pmThis get-together hike will follow a pot luck dinner for Sierra Club members and non-members alike. For directions to the pot luck and hike, e-mail
<Lynate@sbcglobal.net> or call 331-0625.
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COLORADO BIONEERS REGIONAL CONFERENCE Friday-Sunday,
5-7 November 2010 - $$Colorado University, Boulder CO
This is the nearest of the few remaining Bioneers Conferences to the Kansas City/Lawrence area. Advance registration is still open until 2 November at
Colorado Bioneers - 2010.
The regional ones have a local focus, but with added electronic presentations from the national conference too. Others on this same weekend are more distant such as Cleveland, Salt Lake City, and Vancouver.
For the full list go to -
Bioneers beaming to regional conferences.
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SEWAGE DERIVED BIOGAS INPUT INTO CITY GAS PIPELINESIn some Asian countries,
biogas (methane or natural gas) has frequently been generated from animal manure in small biogas digesters. But modern cities typically waste the fuel potential of bio-solids through chemical sewage treatment plants that discharge into streams. Now with concerns for climate disruption and fossil energy depletion, simple gas technology is being used to capture the methane and feed it into standard natural gas pipelines. Two examples are San Antonio TX -
First U.S. Sewage-Powered Biogas Plant, and Tokyo Japan -
Biogas Input into Tokyo Gas Pipelines.
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LAWRENCE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARDWednesday,
10 November 2010, 5:30pm
Recycling and Resource Recovery Annex, 320 N.E. Industrial Lane, Lawrence KS
The November agenda is unavailable to date. The S.A.B. meets monthly to discuss any and all aspects of furthering sustainability policies and practices by the City of Lawrence government and private persons. The public is welcome. Minutes are finalized in about a month after each meeting
http://www.lawrenceks.org/wrr/envadvisoryboard___________________________________________________
KANSAS CITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSIONWednesday,
10 November 2010, 4:00-6:00pm
Project Living Proof, 917 Emanuel Cleaver Blvd., KC MOThis month's meeting will be at
Project Living Proof, a demonstration project of how to restore a century-old house to be energy efficient. The Environmental Management Commission promotes environmental awareness and resource efficiency to the City's leader and staff, to assist the progress of Kansas City toward sustainability. Members of the general public are encouraged to attend and observe meetings and to join and participate in its efforts. More information and the EMC April 2009 minutes are available at http://www.kcmo.org/manager.nsf/web/emc___________________________________________________
"THIS OLD ENERGY EFFICIENT HOUSE" ¤ COMMUNITY FORUMThursday,
11 November 2010, 7:00pm - FREE
Union Pacific Depot, 402 North 2nd St., Lawrence KS 66044
This public forum will explore how ecological sustainability and historic preservation can overlap and be mutually beneficial (re:
Project Living Proof in previous item). A panel of experts will give presentations and field questions from the audience about saving resources by preserving our building stock, energy audits and upgrading the energy performance of old structures, reinvestment in central city density, and Federal and State programs that are available. It is sponsored by The City of Lawrence, the
Lawrence Preservation Alliance, and the
Kansas Preservation Alliance.
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SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK - MONTHLY MEETINGSunday,
14 November 2010, 6:00pm
our Coordinator's office, 700 Mississippi St., Lawrence KS 66044
Local Solutions for Transition to a Sustainable Economy S.A.N. organizes societal scale action for ecological sustainability both in our personal lives, and through public policy changes. "Be the change you want to see". The
S.A.N. meeting agenda will include:
- Transition Kaw Valley power point trial run
- Ducks in a row: what it means to focalize our actions
- community workshops - FOCALIZER?: solar food dehydrator, cold frames, rain barrels, etc.
- S.A.N.web content, user name access, site e-mail, hosting contracts, etc.
- develop an annual events schedule - FOCALIZER?
Please join us___________________________________________________
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WORKSHOPS ¤ EPA KANSAS CITY REGIONMonday-Tuesday,
15-16 November 2010 - FREE
Westin Crown Center Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri
The EPA Region Seven will host this series of workshops prior to the formal
National Environmental Justice Advisory Council public meeting on November 16-18, 2010. The workshops target urban and rural communities, grassroots organizations, academic institutions, businesses, youth, elderly citizens, and many other demographic categories, especially low income and ethnic minority populations. Courses during the workshops include two tracks of (1) Collaborative Problem Solving with Success Stories, Tools, and Demonstrations, and (2) Grants and Resources Information. To register for the EJ Workshops and the NEJAC or for more information visit:
http://www.epa.gov/region07/ej/2010_workshop/index.htm___________________________________________________
LAWRENCE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEETuesday,
16 November 2010, 6:00pm
Public Works Conference Rm., City Hall Ground Floor, 6th & Massachusetts St.The
agenda will include: revisions to bicycle parking downtown, and more. The Committee works to improve bicycle safety and awareness through education of motorists and non-motorists, develops bicycle plans and maps, and advises the City and County Commissions on bicycle priorities and needs. The agenda and information can be downloaded at
Bicycle Advisory Comm | agendas & minutes.
The SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK, Inc. is a Kansas not-for-profit organization. DONATIONS ARE APPRECIATED, and checks can be mailed to P.O.Box 1064, Lawrence KS 66044. Our mission is to
advocate and organize societal scale action to address sustainability issues. The triple crises of Energy-Ecology-Economy are building so rapidly that large scale action is needed immediately and methodically to overcome institutional barriers and advance public policy that preserves ecological sustainability. Our focus is to
build a relocalized economy-ecology in concert with the Transition Town movement occurring in many other communities.
To join the Sustainability Action Network please contact us at
<paradigm@ixks.com>Our current projects include:1)
Transition Kaw Valley -
initiating transition to a relocalized post-carbon economy, and municipal level Peak Oil response planning.2)
Kaw Permaculture Collaborative - developing skills and resources for poly-cropping sustainable food production.
3)
Energy Conservation & Renewables - advancing a green economy through decentralized technologies and regulations, for conservation and renewable energy.
4)
Land Consortium - organizing interested stakeholders to acquire prime farmland in the urban fringe for land-based economic development and regional food security.
5)
Water Rights and Watersheds - protecting the water commons, the source of all life, from privatization and contamination, and restoring our watersheds.
6)
Electric & Human Powered Vehicles - promoting neighborhood electric vehicles and utility tricycles, including infrastructure and pro-active regulations.
7)
Weekly Sustainability Announcements - informing and encouraging others to become active in the Sustainability Action Network, or other action driven groups.
8)
Collaboration with sister organizations - such as:
The Light Center eco-village; Kaw Valley Food System farm-based economic development; Citizens for Responsible Planning; Films for Action; Kansas River Valley Growers fighting for local water rights;
national efforts by the Sustainable Energy Network; KC Metro groups like the Kansas City Food Circle and the All Species Project, etc.
We welcome suggestions for items to be included. Please send items to <paradigm@ixks.com>To subscribe to this list, please send an e-mail to
<paradigm@ixks.com> with the subject line reading “subscribe to Sustainability Announcements”.
If you do not care to continue on this announcements list, please respond "unsubscribe to Sustainability Announcements" at
<paradigm@ixks.com> 
