11 January 2011
UPCOMING ANNUAL MEETING ¤ SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK
Friday, 21 January 2011, 7:00pm
All American Room, Eldridge Hotel, 701 Massachusetts St., Lawrence, KS 66044
We are honored at this our third Annual Meeting, to have as our speaker, Dan Nagengast, Director of the Kansas Rural Center. Dan will speak about energy depletion and rising energy costs, reducing fossil energy agriculture inputs, and transitioning to a local food system economy.
Come help us celebrate our 2010 success in gaining tax-exempt status, and our progress in permaculture, bicycle lanes, land consortium, and more. Since forming in late 2007, the Sustainability Action Network has been bringing to our community local solutions for the global crisis caused by climate change, energy vulnerability and economic instability. Inspired by the Transition movement and the Permaculture movement, we are working for a more socially just and ecologically sustainable world. Everyone is welcome, non-members and members alike, so we hope to see you there!
DONATIONS TO SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK ARE NOW TAX DEDUCTIBLE
please donate to the S.A.N. Annual Capital Campaign - (contact info at bottom of page)
___________________________________________________
ECO RADIO KC ¤ WEEKLY ECOLOGICAL ISSUES RADIO SHOW
Tuesday, 11 January 2011, 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 Reenie Carmack will interview Frank Ferrante from the documentary film May I be Frank, along with Natalie George of Cafe Gratitude. Frank was a 54 year old, obese, depressed and drug addicted divorced man who stumbled into Cafe Gratitude, a loca, raw, organic, and vegan restaurant in San Francisco. When a server at Cafe Gratitude asks Frank "What is one thing you want to do before you die?", he replies "I want to fall in love one more time, but no one will love me looking the way I do". A crew at Cafe Gratitude is inspired by the possibility of helping Frank. For the next 42 days, Frank experiences a miraculous transformation with the support of this crew, and gets a new body, a clearer mind, and most importantly, a soaring and healed spirit! Frank will be in KC for another screening of his movie, and Natalie is soon bringing "Cafe Gratitude" to Kansas City!
Also of ecological interest on KKFI this week:
IS ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY OR SUSTAINED GROWTH THE CORPORATE AGENDA?
Paul Cienfuegos was featured last week on KKFI's show, Alternative Radio, but if you missed it, here's your chance again - listen here: Is a Truly Sustainable Society Achievable While Corporate 'Rights' Trump the Rights of People?.
He began by giving the most clear and succinct explanations of energy security, climate disruption, and economic disparities we ever heard. And if that wasn't enough, he further explained the historical step-by-step ascendancy of "corporate personhood", all entirely endowed by decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, culminating last January with Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Cienfuego's conclusion is that we can achieve a sustainable society, but only if we abandon our fragmented single-issue organizing, and challenge corporate constitutional "rights" head on. His data and logic are impeccable, and his organizing principles are compelling. A must-not-miss talk. (more insights by Paul at Paul Cienfuegos)
___________________________________________________
LAWRENCE RECYCLING & SOLID WASTE OPTIONS ¤ CITY COMMISSION STUDY SESSION
Tuesday, 11 January 2011, 4:30pm
Lawrence City Hall, 6th & Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
Universal curbside recycling: most any progressive community has it, right? Landfills are at capacity; recycling awareness has grown for thirty years or more; materials extraction degrades the environment; virgin materials cost more and more each year. So why is Lawrence behind almost every comparable university town, still without City-wide and City-run curbside recycling?
If the recommendations of the City's Sustainability Advisory Board for curbside recycling take on more than just passing interest with the Lawrence City Commission, Lawrence may begin curbside recycling soon. Over the past year, the S.A.B. and City solid waste staff have been researching residential and commercial options for municipal curbside recycling. The list can be found here - Waste & Recycling Options_11Jan11.pdf, and the Commission will hold a public study session to review them for feasibility and cost. Decisions will follow at a later date.
___________________________________________________
LAWRENCE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD
Wednesday, 12 January 2011, 5:30pm
Recycling and Resource Recovery Annex, 320 N.E. Industrial Lane, Lawrence KS
The January 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
___________________________________________________
PEAK OIL & A CHANGING CLIMATE ¤ YOU-TUBE VIDEO SERIES
Wednesdays, 12 January - 16 March 2011, on your computer
the current video at - Peak Oil and a Changing Climate | video series
Peak Oil is the point at which petroleum extraction reaches its greatest rate just before going into perpetual decline. In "Peal Oil and a Changing Climate", a new video series from The Nation and On The Earth Productions, radio host Thom Hartmann explains that the world will reach peak oil within the next year if it hasn’t already. Actually, the 2010 World Energy Outlook (WEO) by the International Energy Agency (IEA) has stated that the oil extraction peak occurred in 2006 - see It's Official: The Economy Is Set To Starve.
Regardless, this video series includes an impressive list of personnel well versed in the climate effects of burning petroleum as well as the economic impact of oil depletion. The intro video last week, Peak Oil and a Changing Climate | #1 of 11, featured Bill McKibben, Noam Chomsky, Nicole Foss, and Richard Heinberg. Some of the early commentary is introductory survey material for the uninitiated, but the later editions go into more depth with individual analysts - Heinberg, McKibben, Greg Palast, Thom Hartmann, and more.
___________________________________________________
KANSAS CITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Wednesday, 12 January 2011, 4:00-6:00pm
Mid America Regional Council, Rivergate Center 2nd floor, 600 Broadway, KC MO
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. The general public is 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
___________________________________________________
VINEYARD PRUNING WORKSHOP
Friday, 14 January 2011, 10:00am-2:00pm - $$
Riverwood Winery, 22200 Hwy 45 North, Rushville MO 64484 (NW of KCI and Weston MO)
The workshop will cover the importance of winter pruning and how it impacts yield, disease incidence, fruit composition and wine quality in Midwest vineyards. In the morning session, Andy Allen will discuss the basic aspects of grapevine pruning, Jackie Harris will discuss pruning safety issues, and Dr. Keith Striegler will discuss assessing grapevine bud mortality (all are Missouri Extension Viticulturists). Lunch will be catered by Charlemagne's Restaurant. The afternoon session will be hands-on pruning practice on the vines at the winery. Registration deadline is 7 January. More info at Vineyard Pruning Workshop_info & registration.pdf, or call (816)270-2141.
___________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION TO PERMACULTURE DESIGN
Saturday, 15 January 2011, 9:00am-4:00pm - $
Flint Hills Technical College, 3301 W. 18th Ave, Emporia, KS 66801
This is a one day intensive on permaculture principles taught by Ben Stallings of the Kaw Permaculture Collaborative, and holder of a Permaculture Design Certificate. Students will be introduced to ecological principles and learn how to apply them to their garden, home or workplace, will create a design of their own, and will receive constructive feedback from the other students and the instructor. Fore more info go to Introduction to Permaculture Design - 15 Jan 2011.
___________________________________________________
DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOD POLICY COUNCIL
Monday, 17 January 2011, 7:00pm
location TBA, Lawrence, KS 66046
The Food Policy Council seeks to identify the benefits, challenges and opportunities for a successful, sustainable local food system. By advising the Douglas County Commission on public policies that will support local producers, preserve local agricultural resources and land, and create more local jobs, the F.P.C. hopes to improve the community’s access to a local food supply and distribution networks. For more info go to Dg County Food Policy Council.
___________________________________________________
WHAT'S WRONG WITH INDUSTRIAL FOOD? ¤ AN 11-YEAR OLD'S CLARITY
Eleven-year old Birke Baehr grew up wanting to be a professional football player. Now, he wants to be an organic farmer. His reason is simple . . . but you’ll have to hear it from him. Five minutes of brilliance - What’s Wrong With Our Food System?
___________________________________________________
KAWR-LP COMMUNITY RADIO ¤ FUND RAISER AND VARIETY SHOW
Saturday, 22 January 2011, 7:00pm - $$
Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
Lawrence is on the way to having it's own community radio station, and one not threatened with seizure and fines by the FCC. This current effort has grown from the humble beginnings about fifteen years ago of a pirate radio station, KAW-FM, which operated for a year and a half before being shut down by the FCC. A number of those pioneers stuck with it through the dim years of Dubya Bush, until changes were made in the makeup of both the FCC and the Congress.
Recently, the FCC made regulatory changes to modify the "cross-frequency" interference guidelines between stations, and the Congress made legislative changes that opened up bandwidth to facilitate community owned low power FM radio. You may not understand these technicalities, but the dedicated local volunteers do, and they are about to make it work here, for you. Come support them, and your own community radio station, by enjoying a fund raiser with bands, DJ, poetry, and more. Info at - KAWR-LP - Lawrence Area Community Radio
___________________________________________________
URBAN FARMERS ANNUAL MEETING ¤ KC CENTER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE
Saturday, 29 January 2011, from 9:00am-12:00pm
Rainbow Mennonite Church, 1444 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City KS 66103
Come meet other growers and supporters and learn about our projects over the past year. We'll have pie, coffee, conversation, and learning together (and, if you'd like to bring a pie or two, it would be much appreciated!). Founded in 2004, the KC Center for Urban Agriculture operates the Kansas City Community Farm, and trains folks as urban growers. Their vision is for urban areas of small community farms, providing a livelihood for growers, and local healthy food for the community.
___________________________________________________
TAKE CHARGE CHALLENGE ¤ IN LAWRENCE & MANHATTAN
Friday, 4 February 2011, 7:00pm
ECM, 1204 Oread Ave., Lawrence KS 66044 (just north of K.U.)
Margaret Tran of the Climate and Energy Project and/or Eileen Horn, Douglas County Sustainability Director, will talk about the Take Charge Challenge, a unique contest that pits Lawrence/KU against Manhattan/K-State to see who can save the most energy during 2011 in their community. Come learn about how you can participate. For more info, contact the Sierra Club Wakarusa Chapter at <mmrogers816@gmail.com>.
___________________________________________________
PERMACULTURE GARDENS AND SMALL FARMS DESIGN COURSE
Saturday-Saturday, 5-12 February 2011 - $$$$
Midwest Permaculture, Stelle IL
This training will cover a full-design course curriculum to provide students with their permaculture design certification (PDC). The emphasis will be on suburban gardens and small farms, and include two pre-course webinars. For more info go to Midwest Permaculture: 5-12 Feb 2011 PDC Course.
___________________________________________________
PERMACULTURE, FOOD SECURITY, AND ENERGY DEPLETION ¤ FIRST LECTURE
Friday, 18 February 2011, 6:00pm-9:00pm - $$$
East Lawrence Community Center, 15th & Brook St., Lawrence KS 66044
Steve Moring of Vajra Farm Permaculture Center will teach this Design Certification Course that includes nine 3-hour class sessions, six field sessions and a student presentation up through June. In the summer, there will be four additional 6-hour practicum sessions, all totaling 72 hours of training, and culminating in certification through the Kansas Permaculture Institute.
The first lecture is "Food Security and Energy Depletion" followed by a video "The Power of Community". The material describes our agricultural dependence on fossil fuels and how we can meet the challenge of energy depletion to make a successful transition to sustainable future. 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>.
___________________________________________________
US RETALIATION AGAINST FRANCE & THE EU OVER GMO CROP BAN
Wiki-Leaks cables reveal the U.S. sought to retaliate against France and even the European Union over their ban of Monsanto genetically modified crops. This Democracy Now interview of Jeffrey Smith describes the U.S.’s strategy to merge U.S. trade policy with Bio-Technology firms machinations to dominate global food supply - GMO Food Warfare – U.S. Threatens EU over Ban.
___________________________________________________
TWO DAY "ESSENTIAL" PERMACULTURE TRAINING
Saturday-Sunday, 19-20 February 2011, 9:00am-5:00pm - $$$
Knowles Spirituality Center, 2304 Campanile Rd, Waterloo, NE (Omaha)
31 December 2010 early registration discount of $50
Taught by Bill and Becky Wilson of Midwest Permaculture, this weekend session will cover permaculture essentials with an emphasis on transition to a low energy future. For more info go to Essential Permaculture Training - 19-20 Feb 2011.
The SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK, Inc. is a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization. DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE, 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, and Kansas Permaculture Institute - 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
UPCOMING ANNUAL MEETING ¤ SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK
Friday, 21 January 2011, 7:00pm
All American Room, Eldridge Hotel, 701 Massachusetts St., Lawrence, KS 66044
We are honored at this our third Annual Meeting, to have as our speaker, Dan Nagengast, Director of the Kansas Rural Center. Dan will speak about energy depletion and rising energy costs, reducing fossil energy agriculture inputs, and transitioning to a local food system economy.
Come help us celebrate our 2010 success in gaining tax-exempt status, and our progress in permaculture, bicycle lanes, land consortium, and more. Since forming in late 2007, the Sustainability Action Network has been bringing to our community local solutions for the global crisis caused by climate change, energy vulnerability and economic instability. Inspired by the Transition movement and the Permaculture movement, we are working for a more socially just and ecologically sustainable world. Everyone is welcome, non-members and members alike, so we hope to see you there!
DONATIONS TO SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK ARE NOW TAX DEDUCTIBLE
please donate to the S.A.N. Annual Capital Campaign - (contact info at bottom of page)
___________________________________________________
ECO RADIO KC ¤ WEEKLY ECOLOGICAL ISSUES RADIO SHOW
Tuesday, 11 January 2011, 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 Reenie Carmack will interview Frank Ferrante from the documentary film May I be Frank, along with Natalie George of Cafe Gratitude. Frank was a 54 year old, obese, depressed and drug addicted divorced man who stumbled into Cafe Gratitude, a loca, raw, organic, and vegan restaurant in San Francisco. When a server at Cafe Gratitude asks Frank "What is one thing you want to do before you die?", he replies "I want to fall in love one more time, but no one will love me looking the way I do". A crew at Cafe Gratitude is inspired by the possibility of helping Frank. For the next 42 days, Frank experiences a miraculous transformation with the support of this crew, and gets a new body, a clearer mind, and most importantly, a soaring and healed spirit! Frank will be in KC for another screening of his movie, and Natalie is soon bringing "Cafe Gratitude" to Kansas City!
Also of ecological interest on KKFI this week:
- On Friday at 9:30am, the Bioneers Radio Series presents "Becoming Fully Human: The Covenant of the Original Instructions". The Original Instructions represent the ancient empirical wisdom of Traditional Ecological Knowledge earned over generations and millennia by people living closely with the land and each other. They also comprise disarmingly simple counsel: be thankful, enjoy life and attend to the inner pollution that results in outer pollution. Indigenous leaders Winona LaDuke, John Trudell and Evon Peter voice these ancient instructions, which hold the keys to our survival as a species in the historic transition to a truly sustainable world.
IS ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY OR SUSTAINED GROWTH THE CORPORATE AGENDA?
Paul Cienfuegos was featured last week on KKFI's show, Alternative Radio, but if you missed it, here's your chance again - listen here: Is a Truly Sustainable Society Achievable While Corporate 'Rights' Trump the Rights of People?.
He began by giving the most clear and succinct explanations of energy security, climate disruption, and economic disparities we ever heard. And if that wasn't enough, he further explained the historical step-by-step ascendancy of "corporate personhood", all entirely endowed by decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, culminating last January with Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Cienfuego's conclusion is that we can achieve a sustainable society, but only if we abandon our fragmented single-issue organizing, and challenge corporate constitutional "rights" head on. His data and logic are impeccable, and his organizing principles are compelling. A must-not-miss talk. (more insights by Paul at Paul Cienfuegos)
___________________________________________________
LAWRENCE RECYCLING & SOLID WASTE OPTIONS ¤ CITY COMMISSION STUDY SESSION
Tuesday, 11 January 2011, 4:30pm
Lawrence City Hall, 6th & Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
Universal curbside recycling: most any progressive community has it, right? Landfills are at capacity; recycling awareness has grown for thirty years or more; materials extraction degrades the environment; virgin materials cost more and more each year. So why is Lawrence behind almost every comparable university town, still without City-wide and City-run curbside recycling?
If the recommendations of the City's Sustainability Advisory Board for curbside recycling take on more than just passing interest with the Lawrence City Commission, Lawrence may begin curbside recycling soon. Over the past year, the S.A.B. and City solid waste staff have been researching residential and commercial options for municipal curbside recycling. The list can be found here - Waste & Recycling Options_11Jan11.pdf, and the Commission will hold a public study session to review them for feasibility and cost. Decisions will follow at a later date.
___________________________________________________
LAWRENCE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD
Wednesday, 12 January 2011, 5:30pm
Recycling and Resource Recovery Annex, 320 N.E. Industrial Lane, Lawrence KS
The January 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
___________________________________________________
PEAK OIL & A CHANGING CLIMATE ¤ YOU-TUBE VIDEO SERIES
Wednesdays, 12 January - 16 March 2011, on your computer
the current video at - Peak Oil and a Changing Climate | video series
Peak Oil is the point at which petroleum extraction reaches its greatest rate just before going into perpetual decline. In "Peal Oil and a Changing Climate", a new video series from The Nation and On The Earth Productions, radio host Thom Hartmann explains that the world will reach peak oil within the next year if it hasn’t already. Actually, the 2010 World Energy Outlook (WEO) by the International Energy Agency (IEA) has stated that the oil extraction peak occurred in 2006 - see It's Official: The Economy Is Set To Starve.
Regardless, this video series includes an impressive list of personnel well versed in the climate effects of burning petroleum as well as the economic impact of oil depletion. The intro video last week, Peak Oil and a Changing Climate | #1 of 11, featured Bill McKibben, Noam Chomsky, Nicole Foss, and Richard Heinberg. Some of the early commentary is introductory survey material for the uninitiated, but the later editions go into more depth with individual analysts - Heinberg, McKibben, Greg Palast, Thom Hartmann, and more.
___________________________________________________
KANSAS CITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Wednesday, 12 January 2011, 4:00-6:00pm
Mid America Regional Council, Rivergate Center 2nd floor, 600 Broadway, KC MO
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. The general public is 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
___________________________________________________
VINEYARD PRUNING WORKSHOP
Friday, 14 January 2011, 10:00am-2:00pm - $$
Riverwood Winery, 22200 Hwy 45 North, Rushville MO 64484 (NW of KCI and Weston MO)
The workshop will cover the importance of winter pruning and how it impacts yield, disease incidence, fruit composition and wine quality in Midwest vineyards. In the morning session, Andy Allen will discuss the basic aspects of grapevine pruning, Jackie Harris will discuss pruning safety issues, and Dr. Keith Striegler will discuss assessing grapevine bud mortality (all are Missouri Extension Viticulturists). Lunch will be catered by Charlemagne's Restaurant. The afternoon session will be hands-on pruning practice on the vines at the winery. Registration deadline is 7 January. More info at Vineyard Pruning Workshop_info & registration.pdf, or call (816)270-2141.
___________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION TO PERMACULTURE DESIGN
Saturday, 15 January 2011, 9:00am-4:00pm - $
Flint Hills Technical College, 3301 W. 18th Ave, Emporia, KS 66801
This is a one day intensive on permaculture principles taught by Ben Stallings of the Kaw Permaculture Collaborative, and holder of a Permaculture Design Certificate. Students will be introduced to ecological principles and learn how to apply them to their garden, home or workplace, will create a design of their own, and will receive constructive feedback from the other students and the instructor. Fore more info go to Introduction to Permaculture Design - 15 Jan 2011.
___________________________________________________
DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOD POLICY COUNCIL
Monday, 17 January 2011, 7:00pm
location TBA, Lawrence, KS 66046
The Food Policy Council seeks to identify the benefits, challenges and opportunities for a successful, sustainable local food system. By advising the Douglas County Commission on public policies that will support local producers, preserve local agricultural resources and land, and create more local jobs, the F.P.C. hopes to improve the community’s access to a local food supply and distribution networks. For more info go to Dg County Food Policy Council.
___________________________________________________
WHAT'S WRONG WITH INDUSTRIAL FOOD? ¤ AN 11-YEAR OLD'S CLARITY
Eleven-year old Birke Baehr grew up wanting to be a professional football player. Now, he wants to be an organic farmer. His reason is simple . . . but you’ll have to hear it from him. Five minutes of brilliance - What’s Wrong With Our Food System?
___________________________________________________
KAWR-LP COMMUNITY RADIO ¤ FUND RAISER AND VARIETY SHOW
Saturday, 22 January 2011, 7:00pm - $$
Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
Lawrence is on the way to having it's own community radio station, and one not threatened with seizure and fines by the FCC. This current effort has grown from the humble beginnings about fifteen years ago of a pirate radio station, KAW-FM, which operated for a year and a half before being shut down by the FCC. A number of those pioneers stuck with it through the dim years of Dubya Bush, until changes were made in the makeup of both the FCC and the Congress.
Recently, the FCC made regulatory changes to modify the "cross-frequency" interference guidelines between stations, and the Congress made legislative changes that opened up bandwidth to facilitate community owned low power FM radio. You may not understand these technicalities, but the dedicated local volunteers do, and they are about to make it work here, for you. Come support them, and your own community radio station, by enjoying a fund raiser with bands, DJ, poetry, and more. Info at - KAWR-LP - Lawrence Area Community Radio
___________________________________________________
URBAN FARMERS ANNUAL MEETING ¤ KC CENTER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE
Saturday, 29 January 2011, from 9:00am-12:00pm
Rainbow Mennonite Church, 1444 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City KS 66103
Come meet other growers and supporters and learn about our projects over the past year. We'll have pie, coffee, conversation, and learning together (and, if you'd like to bring a pie or two, it would be much appreciated!). Founded in 2004, the KC Center for Urban Agriculture operates the Kansas City Community Farm, and trains folks as urban growers. Their vision is for urban areas of small community farms, providing a livelihood for growers, and local healthy food for the community.
___________________________________________________
TAKE CHARGE CHALLENGE ¤ IN LAWRENCE & MANHATTAN
Friday, 4 February 2011, 7:00pm
ECM, 1204 Oread Ave., Lawrence KS 66044 (just north of K.U.)
Margaret Tran of the Climate and Energy Project and/or Eileen Horn, Douglas County Sustainability Director, will talk about the Take Charge Challenge, a unique contest that pits Lawrence/KU against Manhattan/K-State to see who can save the most energy during 2011 in their community. Come learn about how you can participate. For more info, contact the Sierra Club Wakarusa Chapter at <mmrogers816@gmail.com>.
___________________________________________________
PERMACULTURE GARDENS AND SMALL FARMS DESIGN COURSE
Saturday-Saturday, 5-12 February 2011 - $$$$
Midwest Permaculture, Stelle IL
This training will cover a full-design course curriculum to provide students with their permaculture design certification (PDC). The emphasis will be on suburban gardens and small farms, and include two pre-course webinars. For more info go to Midwest Permaculture: 5-12 Feb 2011 PDC Course.
___________________________________________________
PERMACULTURE, FOOD SECURITY, AND ENERGY DEPLETION ¤ FIRST LECTURE
Friday, 18 February 2011, 6:00pm-9:00pm - $$$
East Lawrence Community Center, 15th & Brook St., Lawrence KS 66044
Steve Moring of Vajra Farm Permaculture Center will teach this Design Certification Course that includes nine 3-hour class sessions, six field sessions and a student presentation up through June. In the summer, there will be four additional 6-hour practicum sessions, all totaling 72 hours of training, and culminating in certification through the Kansas Permaculture Institute.
The first lecture is "Food Security and Energy Depletion" followed by a video "The Power of Community". The material describes our agricultural dependence on fossil fuels and how we can meet the challenge of energy depletion to make a successful transition to sustainable future. 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>.
___________________________________________________
US RETALIATION AGAINST FRANCE & THE EU OVER GMO CROP BAN
Wiki-Leaks cables reveal the U.S. sought to retaliate against France and even the European Union over their ban of Monsanto genetically modified crops. This Democracy Now interview of Jeffrey Smith describes the U.S.’s strategy to merge U.S. trade policy with Bio-Technology firms machinations to dominate global food supply - GMO Food Warfare – U.S. Threatens EU over Ban.
___________________________________________________
TWO DAY "ESSENTIAL" PERMACULTURE TRAINING
Saturday-Sunday, 19-20 February 2011, 9:00am-5:00pm - $$$
Knowles Spirituality Center, 2304 Campanile Rd, Waterloo, NE (Omaha)
31 December 2010 early registration discount of $50
Taught by Bill and Becky Wilson of Midwest Permaculture, this weekend session will cover permaculture essentials with an emphasis on transition to a low energy future. For more info go to Essential Permaculture Training - 19-20 Feb 2011.
The SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK, Inc. is a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization. DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE, 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, and Kansas Permaculture Institute - 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
