TODAY is Save The Frogs Day – April 30th, 2010 Frogs are disappearing, the state of our environment affects them. Drying ponds, spoiled rivers, bulldozed wetlands all contribute to their demise. What can you do to help??? Learn more! http://www.savethefrogs.com/day/
and related to that….
BAN Atrazine!! It turns male frogs into females. A noted UC Berkeley Professor spoke on this issue, the research is out there.
A Mission Blue Butterfly was spotted in SF in the Twin Peaks area on April 27. This butterfly was once plentiful, but due to scarcity of the purple lupines, habitat changes, wasp predation, housing development and other factors, they became endangered. They depend on 3 species of purple lupine for food and habitat. The adults only live one week. You can see them NOW… if you are lucky. Several agencies are planting lupines and removing invasive species to increase habitat. Take a walk on beautiful San Bruno mountain, you never know you might sight a Mission Blue.
Wild Equity Institute describes the Mission Blue in detail and also discusses the hunt to see one. Their site is very interesting: http://wildequity.org/species/26 There is a MAY DAY event with experts, join the search: http://wildequity.org/entries/3061
Take a look at this beautiful butterfly: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_blue_butterfly.
Here is another great explanation with photos: http://www.parksconservancy.org/our-work/site-stewardship-program/species/mission-blue-butterfly.html
Join the TOUR du GREEN exploring the majestic Pacific Coast & mountain ecosystems between Malibu & Santa Barbara, with over 5000′ of climbing along carefully crafted Metric & Century routes. This May 15th tour will challenge your cycling skills, expand knowledge of all things GREEN and fund-raise for charity.
Tours of outstanding national sustainability sites feature the latest technologies in solar, water, agricultural & municipal innovations along with local food & drink tastings. Safe Family Coastal Ride (10- 25 mi.) with educational stops like City of Ventura’s LEED certified Working Artists WAV Complex.
Joining the American Society of Civil Engineers, Team Ventura Velo will once again provide outstanding SAG, host abundant fueling stations & tours of multiple “green-stops.”
For more information www.venturavelo.org
Stanford Press has just announced this book focused on sustainable companies.
Companies on a Mission
Entrepreneurial Strategies for Growing Sustainably, Responsibly, and Profitably
Michael V. Russo
Foreword by L. Hunter Lovins
“Let your social and environmental conscience be your guide” can be a successful and durable strategy for a firm. This is the first book to explain how following a vision for the earth and for society can be a powerful route to profits for small and medium sized companies.
It is easy to participate in this offer from Radio Shack:
Bring in your working electronics and you’ll get a gift card.
Don’t Toss your stuff out. They will refurbish what they can so someone will be able to use it and otherwise, they will recycle the donation. They have some cool energy saving / smart devices like solar battery packs and battery rechargers. Take a look.
Many of our local libraries are hosting GREAT gardening classes.
The locations and times vary so please check this SCHEDULE. They have made it easy to add to your calendar and the lectures cover many different aspects of gardening, native plants, irrigation.
This Monday, April 26 looks especially good to me, here are some details to entice you!
Event Type: Workshop|Class
Date:
Monday, 04/26/10 at 10:00 am
Library: Woodside
Ages: Adults
Description:
A 1.5 hour educational workshop led by California Native Plant Society professional Stephanie Morris.
Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. There is alot to celebrate, and there is always room for improvement.
Now you have thousands of great green sites to choose from, and we appreciate your coming to us for all the interesting tidbits, events, hints, and issues that are part of our Northern California experience. We do select a few amazing things to report on from farther away, but this is focused on what we can really experience and enjoy… so we can bring you the Best of the Best! – Thanks for reading! ~ Jackie
Everyone can get involved in Earth Day celebrations. SFGATE does a great job of listing what is available. We have amazing organizations that can keep you busy for days, months and years to come. Here are a few favorite places for events/ classes / hikes etc. Here are my favorites:
Maybe you think that you don’t know enough to get involved, or have no “green training” but what it really takes is HEART and COMMITTMENT.
I’d like to say thanks to Vera who is an amazing Salsa Dance instructor in the Bay Area and at Canada College. Vera has a strong GREEN Commitment. You are amazing Vera, keep up the green encouragement. Here is an excerpt from her Newsletter!
Vera Quijano’s EARTH DAY News –April 20, 2010
Greetings!
JOIN the more than one billion people who are making a commitment to do their part on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day on Thursday, April 22nd, 2010.
Did you know that trees and plants provide you with the oxygen you need to breathe and live? Did you know that most cleaning staff are women and people of color, being exposed to harsh cancer-causing agents on a regular basis? Did you know that you could take part in an Earth Day activity in your neighborhood and start to make a positive environmental impact now?
Don’t just sit there… DO SOMETHING!
1. Plant a tree. (Click to find out how.)
2. Get GREEN house cleaning products. Why? COMMIT to Switch to Get Clean, Go Green Kit!
3. DO YOUR PART. Go to Earth Day Web Site and read articles. Learn more! Join a local Earth Day Activity.
4. Encourage your school or business to become a Get Clean, Go Green School. Read why they should.
5. Invite your friends and family to do the same.
Mother Earth can barely breathe. The condition is rapidly worsening. Become part of the solution.
GO GREEN!
Thank you,
Vera Quijano
Summer is coming, it is time to hit the road…. but you don’t want to use all the gas… Don’t despair! With some planning you can make your car trips greener.
Quick and Easy Tips – Things YOU can do Now!
Bigger IdeasTake the Bus, Train, or even use a bike. If this seems daunting, try combining several mass transit ideas into your car trip. And remember that walking is a great way to learn a place! We have friends that LOVE their yearly train vacation from coast to coast! What a great scenic getaway!
Big Changes
In case you missed it OR it got buried in an avalanche of emails, here it is:
Despite the name, Earth Day is really about humanity.
Our planet has existed for billions of years and will continue to exist, no matter how much oil and coal we burn, no matter how much carbon pollution we dump into our atmosphere.
It’s the survival of human civilization as we know it that’s uncertain. Human consumption of fossil fuels threatens the conditions that we require to live on Earth — conditions that only occur thanks to a carefully balanced set of circumstances so delicate and rare that they are now shockingly vulnerable to the impact of our newly powerful civilization. These conditions can change, and our actions on this planet are changing them every day. That is a scientific fact that no amount of political rhetoric can alter.
Taking on climate change is a huge challenge — for America and the world. But the solutions are within our reach. We have the technology. We know the way forward. Now we have to get started on a scale that will matter.
As with so many global crises, the world is looking to America for leadership. In this case, leadership means action from the United States Congress — and I am pleased to say that we are far closer than we have ever been. Since Earth Day last year, a landmark clean energy and climate bill has passed the House of Representatives, and as I write this, key Senators are reaching across the aisle to finish the job.
If the Senate steps up and passes strong legislation, success will be within reach.
But the forces of opposition are very powerful. And if we did nothing, we would fail – by falling prey to the cynicism of corporate lobbyists and the misinformation of self-serving politicians and pundits whose blatant disregard for scientific fact endangers us all.
So this Earth Day, I ask all of you to join together to take action to address climate change. Call your Senator at the number below and tell him or her to support comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation.
Just call our toll-free Repower America hotline at 1-877-55-REPOWER (1-877-557-3769), and enter your zip code. You’ll be connected to one of your Senators. When you’ve finished your call, click here to report it.
Over the past 40 years, Earth Day has helped strengthen our awareness, sense of urgency and will to preserve the environment we rely on. It has served as a national reminder to reduce pollution, celebrate nature and make our air and water cleaner.
But today our task is even greater. Beyond careful stewardship of our natural resources, we must act to prevent a potential global catastrophe of unprecedented magnitude. We must aggressively respond to the threat of global climate change.
We created this crisis — and we can solve it. That starts with strong action from Congress. This is a fight that we must not lose — for the sake of every human being on the planet and for the generations to come.
Remember, Earth Day is about people — and our future on this planet.
Thank you,
Al Gore
Founder
The Climate Protection Action Fund
Just for Earth Day our friends at Rainforest Action – RANVideo have produced a masterpiece. “Earth Day Sponsorships” Get ready to howl with laughter or grit your teeth in indignation!
Just put your tray tables in the upright position and CLICK. You should probably fasten your seatbelt too. I don’t want anyone to get hurt by laughing too hard then falling out of their chair!
If one video was not enough…. there are MORE….http://www.youtube.com/user/RANVideo RAN works in alliance with environmental and human rights groups around the world, including Indigenous forest communities and non-governmental organizations in rainforest countries. I’m proud to say that their hometown is San Francisco. Keep up the GREAT GREEN work. Send your favorite green wash videos to greenwash@ran.org
signed, the Empress of Environmental Impressionism
p.s. Why isn’t Toyota having a Prius Parade in my community for EARTH DAY? I ask and I wait. Maybe this can be the subject of the next RAN video!
I love your feedback, let me know what you are interested in!
