UPDATE:
TRANSITION KC - MEETING RELOCATED
6pm Monday, Apr 28 @ St Marks
22 March 2011
SPOTLIGHT ON VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY ¤ S.A.N. COMMUNITY GARDENIf you want to help make this community garden a reality, call our
Volunteer Coordinator, Maryam Hjersted, at (913)723-3636
DONATIONS TO SUSTAINABILITY ACTION ARE NOW TAX DEDUCTIBLEplease donate to our Annual Giving Campaign - (contact info at bottom of page)
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KKFI COMMUNITY RADIO ¤ ECOLOGICAL SHOWSListen at KKFI-FM 90.1, or web-streaming at
http://www.kkfi.org/Tuesday,
22 March, 9:00am ¤
GRIT RadioFocus on the nuclear crisis in Japan - will it lead to any real shift in policy around nuclear power? We hear from anti nuclear activist Harvey Wasserman, corporate prosecutor Mike Papantonio, and the leader of the US Steelworkers' union, Leo Gerard.Tuesday,
22 March, 12:00pm
¤ locally produced Eco-Radio KCHost, Richard Mabion and co-host, John Burris, will recap the Breaking the Silence Conference, it's highlights and successes. They also will review the current status of the Japanese earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear reactor crisis.
Wednesday, 23 March, 5:00am
¤ Pacifica RadioTwo from long-time nuclear power critic,
Dr. Helen Caldicott - a 15 March 2011 interview on the nuclear reactor crisis in Japan, and a
1993 speech on nuclear power "If You Love This Planet". Friday,
25 March, 9:30am
¤ Bioneers Radio SeriesBioneers presents
"The Wonders of Gaia: Nature is Symbiotic". "Why plant a garden when you can put plants to work for you in your own body?" This is one of the mind bending questions asked by
Lynn Margulis, one of the greatest cross-disciplinary scientific thinkers and educators of our epoch (creator of the Gaia Theory along with James Lovelock). She, ethnobotanist
Wade Davis, and mycologist
Paul Stamets weave tales of amazing plant intelligence like the "Hat Thrower Mushroom" and animals that eat light.
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LAWRENCE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEETuesday,
22 March 2010, 6:00pm
Public Works Conference Rm., City Hall Ground Floor, 6th & Massachusetts St.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.
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PEAK OIL & A CHANGING CLIMATE ¤ YOU-TUBE VIDEO SERIESWednesdays,
up through 6 April 2011, on your computer
We apologize that the interview with
Michael C. Ruppert was canceled by The Nation. Fortunately, On The Earth Productions that is producing the interview series for The Nation uploaded the Ruppert interview to YouTube. You can view it here -
Michael C. Ruppert: A World in Trouble - 16 March 2011. It is the most current assessment of the Peak Oil "cliff" that industrial societies are about to plunge from. And Ruppert discusses
Transition U.S.A., part of the global transition movement to prepare solutions for living in a world of depleted petroleum.
Peak Oil is the point at which petroleum extraction reaches its greatest rate just before going into perpetual decline. This excellent series is now scheduled through 6 April.
On Wednesday,
23 March,
Lester Brown will
appear in interview #11 of the
Peak Oil and a Changing Climate | video series. Brown has been providing in-depth analysis of global trends for decades, initially with the World Watch Institute "State of the World" annual reports, and currently with the
Earth Policy Institute. He states "We now have an economy that is destroying its natural support systems. If we continue with business as usual, civilizational collapse is no longer a matter of whether but when—a time period more likely measured in years than decades." Brown has Recently written the book "World on the Edge", and a telling article
World One Poor Harvest Away From Chaos.
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FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ¤ DAY 11 UPDATEAs the Japanese evacuate and the world watches, a mere fifty TEPCO selfless workers are holding the nuclear beast at bay with the equivalent of "hair pins and chewing gum" - Last Defense at Troubled Reactors: 50 Japanese Workers.
"Five workers have died since the quake and 22 more have been injured for various reasons, while two are missing. One worker was hospitalized after suddenly grasping his chest and finding himself unable to stand, and another needed treatment after receiving a blast of radiation near a damaged reactor. Eleven workers were injured in a hydrogen explosion at reactor #3."
Fuel rods have become exposed without cooling water in at least two of the reactors, and a nuclear chain reaction is feared in the spent-fuel storage pool of reactor #4
. If one of the four damaged reactors should suffer a core melt-down, all the reactors would be drawn into the inferno - Status of Fukushima nuclear power plants - 19 March 2011.
The BBC also has an excellent running report at - Repairs resume at Japan nuclear reactor.
Robert Reich has noted that "The New York Times reports that
G.E. marketed the Mark 1 boiling water reactors, used in TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi plant, as cheaper to build than other reactors because they used a comparatively
smaller and less expensive containment structure. Yet American safety officials have long thought the smaller design more vulnerable to explosion and rupture in emergencies than competing designs." -
Safety on the Cheap (By the way, the same design is used in 23 American nuclear reactors at 16 plants - Wolf Creek has a Westinghouse reactor).
And guess what? According to documents released by WikiLeaks, the Japanese Government was warned three years ago that earthquake preparedness at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant was dangerously insufficient. And for exposing such typical indifference or corruption, world governments are eager to prosecute WikiLeaks -
Wikileaks: Japan Was Warned About Fukushima.
Another perennial "bearer of bad news", Ralph Nader, has been raising such warnings for decades, also going generally unheeded. The be-happy-don't-worry crowd just doesn't want to hear anything that might cut into their profit margin. Ralph's latest rendering of the illogic of nuclear power focuses on how non-cost-effective it is. Wall Street won't finance it, insurance companies won't insure it, spent fuel and plant de-commissioning are paid for by the tax payers. Too cheap to meter they proclaimed. Sure it is, if corporations externalize all their costs! -
Nuclear Nightmare.
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FOOD NOT LAWNS ¤ COMMUNIVERSITY CLASS #2310 AWednesdays,
23 March 2011, 2 remaining sessions, 7:00-9:00pm - $$
UMKC School of Medicine, Theatre C, 24th & Charlotte Streets, Kansas City MOGrow 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 four 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
UMKC Communiversity. More info at
Food Not Lawns KC, or
<steve@prairietrading.com>.
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S.A.N./K.P.C. COMMUNITY GARDEN ORGANIZING MEETINGSaturday,
26 March 2011, 9:00am
Signs of Life Coffee House, 722 Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
Great garden soil adjacent to Lawrence for apartment dwellers or folks with small and shady yards - that's the vision of our Growers' Land Trust Community Garden. As the first step towards a permanent site, we are planning to lease some acreage just north of the Kansas River levee with prime ag soils. Garden plots will be rented to growers on an annual basis with proceeds going towards site preparation, water supply, deer fencing, etc. This will be an informational/organizing meeting of folks interested in helping organize the S.A.N./K.P.C. Community Garden, or in leasing a plot after the site is prepared. For further questions, contact Michael Almon
<paradigm@ixks.com> 785-832-1300, or Steve Moring
<smoring@grasshoppernet.com> 785-691-7305.
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KANSAS CITY "EAT LOCAL & ORGANIC FOOD EXPO", 13th ANNUALVENUE #ONESaturday,
26 March 2011, 9:00am-2:00pm - FREE
Sermon Community Center, 201 N Dodgion St, Independence MO (near Truman & Noland Roads)
VENUE #TWOSaturday,
2 April 2011, 9:30am-2:30pm - FREE
Shawnee Civic Centre, Phlumm & Johnson Dr, Shawnee KS
There will be local growers of organic and free range produce selling their wares, including garden plant starts, as well as free organic gardening information and free
2011 Producers Directory. There will be a
free workshop on CSA's and Organic Farmers Markets, food preservation, and cooking demonstrations.Both Food Expos are free admission with free parking and free music. More information on the KC Food Circle and the two food expositions can be found at
Kansas City Eat Local Food Expo or email Craig Volland at <hartwood2@kc.rr.com>.___________________________________________________
TRANSITION KANSAS CITY ¤ MEETING RELOCATED
Emerald City: GEM in the GIZ, From Blight to Bright Barnraising
| Time | Monday, March 28 · 6:00pm - 9:00pm |
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| Location | St Mark Lutheran Church3800 Troost Kansas City, MO |
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First Informational Event: Barn Raising & Brainstorming:
March 28, 6-9pm @ 3800 Troost at St. Mark Lutheran Church. ~~ Agenda:
- Scheduled Music, Spoken Word Performances throughout evening.
- Overview of Program
- Supporters & Similar Programs
- Break Out: visit table of interest in the project, meet and learn about your tablemates, brainstorming session.
- Sign Up - Get Involved: write your application, pick your house, talk to housing people, sign up for garden work days, canvassing neighborhood, clean up days, house rehabbing and more.
The
Kansas City Transition Initiative is addressing climate disruption and peak oil inflation at the local level, a relocalization effort similar to hundreds of others around the globe.
The
Transition movement was begun by Rob Hopkins in Great Britain
Transition Towns, and in the U.S. is coordinated by
Transition US based in Sebastapol CA. They help local initiatives with resources and publications, and they have
22 trainers traveling to conduct local training sessions. For more info, or to get on the Kansas City e-mail list, call (816)767-8873, or contact them at
<bkjelshus@sbcglobal.net>___________________________________________________
"KING CORN: YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT" FILM SCREENINGMonday,
28 March 2011, 7:00pm - $
Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
Almost everything Americans eat contains corn: high fructose corn syrup, corn-fed meat, corn starch, and corn-based processed foods are the staples of our fast-food nation. In
King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis move to Iowa to learn where their food comes from. With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow one acre of a bumper crop of America’s most-productive, most-subsidized grain. But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat—and how we farm. After the viewing there will be guest speakers,
Simran Sethi and the film's co-director,
Curt Ellis. Preview the trailer here -
King Corn. Sponsored by
Films for Action and
K.U. Environs.
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TAKE CHARGE CHALLENGE ¤ TAKEN IT YET?
Are you "taking charge" of your energy future? Thousands of people in Lawrence have already participated in the Take Charge Challenge this year, but we're not done yet! The Take Charge Challenge is a friendly competition between Lawrence and Manhattan, Kansas. The city that reduces its energy use the most will win an energy efficiency or renewable energy community project worth up to $100,000.
How do you participate in the competition? It's easy! The Take Charge Challenge Lawrence page will provide details on how you can: - Schedule an Efficiency Kansas home energy audit.
- Make the switch to compact fluorescent bulbs (or LEDs, which gain more points).
- Enroll in Westar's energy efficiency programs like WattSaver to get a FREE professionally installed programmable thermostat!
- Attend a Take Charge! Challenge event
Once you've changed out your light bulbs to CFLs or LEDs, go to
TakeChargeKS.org to register your switches and get points for Lawrence.
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CULTIVATING SUSTAINABLE SOILS IN PERMACULTURE ¤ 5TH LECTUREFriday, 1 April 2011, 6:00-9:00pm - $$$Dreher 4-H Building, 2110 Harper St., Lawrence KS 66044
This fifth session will examine basic soil types, their chemistry, nutrient cycling, and the dynamics of soil organism interaction. Also covered will be the basics of building productive soils without petrochemical inputs, and innovative soil amendments including biodynamic techniques. The lecture will be followed by a viewing of part two of the Geoff Lawton film "Introduction to Permaculture Design". Steve Moring of Vajra Farm Permaculture Center is teaching this Design Certification Course with assistance from
Michael Almon and
Michael Morley. Preregistration is required, and a percentage of the fees will support the
Kaw Permaculture Collaborative and it's parent organization, the
Sustainability Action Network. For more info go to
Kaw Permaculture Collaborative, or contact Steve Moring at (785)691-7305 or
<smoring@grasshoppernet.com>.
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FRUIT TREE GRAFTING SEMINARSaturday,
2 April 2011, 10:00am - $
Forest Floor Permaculture, 1311 Prairie Ave., Lawrence KS 66044
This demonstration seminar will be hosted by
Forest Floor Permaculture and taught by members of the
Lawrence Fruit Tree Project. Byron Wiley and Skyler Adamson of the
Lawrence Fruit Tree Project will describe the stages of grafting including: root stock types and characteristics, collecting and storing scion wood, and graft types like bench grafting or live tree grafting or stump grafting. Then they will make several grafts of apple and pear trees, showing the techniques for incision, closure, and sealing the graft. If raining, seminar will be inside. For more info contact Michael Almon at
<paradigm@ixks.com> 785-832-1300, or Byron Wiley at
<bwiley@sbcglobal.net> 785-841-2829.
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HIKE THE WAKARUSA WETLANDS ¤ SIERRA CLUB OUTINGSaturday,
2 April 2011, 10:00am - FREE
31st Street north entrance to boardwalk, Lawrence KS 66046
Come experience the beauty of the Wakarusa Wetlands firsthand as naturalists lead us on guided tours. Open to the public, whether Sierra Club member or not. Contact - Melissa Rogers (785)764-0826, <mmrogers816@gmail.com>___________________________________________________
URBAN FOOD FOREST GARDEN ¤ COMMUNIVERSITY CLASS #2312 AWednesdays,
6 &13 April 2011, 2 lectures, 7:00-9:00pm - $$
UMKC School of Medicine, Theatre C, 24th & Charlotte Streets, Kansas City MO Saturday,
16 April 2011, hands-on planting, 2:00-5:00pm
Food forest site, 43rd & McGee Streets,
Kansas City MO Learn small scale urban forest garden design and hands on planting skills as we help develop a food forest at 43rd & McGee. Learn how to mimic the structure and function of forest ecosystems using sheet mulching, layering, planting patterns, species diversity, guilds and more. We will cover proper planning techniques for tree, shrubs and fruit. Two theory sessions and a hands on planting workshop. Class registration fee of $14, plus bring $10 to class for materials. Register at
UMKC Communiversity. More info at
Food Not Lawns KC, or
<steve@prairietrading.com>.
The SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK, Inc. is a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization. DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Mail checks 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 and Kansas Permaculture Institute - developing skills and resources for polyculture sustainable food production.
3)
Eco Village Land Trust - Designing and focalizing a sustainable intentional community near Lawrence. 4)
Growers' Land Trust - organizing interested stakeholders to acquire prime farmland in the urban fringe for land-based economic development and regional food security.
5)
Weekly Sustainability Announcements - informing and encouraging others to become active in the Sustainability Action Network, or other action driven groups.
6)
Water Rights and Watersheds - protecting the water commons, the source of all life, from privatization and contamination, and restoring our watersheds.
7)
Electric & Human Powered Vehicles - promoting neighborhood electric vehicles and utility tricycles, including infrastructure and pro-active regulations.
8)
Energy Conservation & Renewables - advancing a green economy
through decentralized renewable energy and conservation.9)
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> 
Barack Obama (D), President
