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HOMBREDELATIERRA
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Re: jumping on the activist bandwagon
I guess what I was searching for was a metaphor. We are living a tipping point similar to the asteroid impact 65 million years ago that brought an end to the Age of Dinosaurs (Cretaceous - Tertiary Transition). The connection is not far fetched: biologists speak of today's mass extinction as the "6th extinction".
The dinos took a dive (not all: one group survived and mutated into birds). The mammals were the big winners. Until the mass extinction, mammals served primarily as snacks for little dinos. With the dinos out of the way, the mammals took over and became the dominant terrestrial vertebrates.
The situation today is similar. The dinos are the neocons, the Free Marketeers, the GW deniers, the Biz-as-Usual School, the One True Faithers.. The little mammals running between the dinos' toes are those attempting to rebuild human community in the wreckage and waste of the Dying World Order..
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12/16/2009, 7:07 pm
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AgnesW
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Re: jumping on the activist bandwagon
The age of Dinosaurs is a good metaphore. The 6th extinction is becomming an attention grabber. Its being written about in newspapers, there have been several tv shows produced about it. One in particular was hosted by a popular tv wildlife expert with a large following, just in the last few weeks. But then again, I suppose those who watched were the fans of wildlife to begin with.
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12/16/2009, 11:28 pm
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AgnesW
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Re: jumping on the activist bandwagon
Heres a good article and some good comments
http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/01/selling-climate-change#comments
I must admit I had to smile when I read that neoconservative Luntz (the king of framing) was offering free advice to democrats on how to change the hearts and minds of people towards climate change, cap and trade etc.....
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1/25/2010, 1:16 pm
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HOMBREDELATIERRA
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Re: jumping on the activist bandwagon
monday, 25 january, 2010
In 2 weeks, the Cycle de Résilience will hold its 5th and final meeting here in Montréal. This group, in conjunction with several other citizen - ecological groups, is serving as midwife in the future birth of a Transition Towns initiative.
The last meeting will deal with the creation of neighborhood projects (neighborhood composting, for example) in which members can implicate themselves and use as vehicles to spread the Transition Towns message:
http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/12Steps
Does anyone out there have any bright ideas that we could bring to the meeting?
We are looking for projects that unite people, build community and community resilience (competence, skills, adaptability), reduce waste, save energy and resources, create green spaces, provide needed services.
Some examples:
- community kitchens which teach healthy economical recipes and eating habits, sharing, and allow members to save $$ by buying in bulk.
- neighborhood composting to produce garden grade compost while reducing landfill waste
- Skill sharing. The Accorderie network in Québec is an example. Members offer blocks of 15 hours of service in a skill or skills they possess. In return they can request 15 hours of service from other members. So you can teach kids French or English and receive help repainting your kitchen or planting your garden in return.
ANYBODY GOT ANY BRIGHT IDEAS I CAN BRING TO THE MEETING 7 FEBRUARY?
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1/26/2010, 3:44 pm
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AgnesW
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Re: jumping on the activist bandwagon
I think Freds suggestion of getting neighbors together with a pot luck dinner or some sort of activity would be a good way to get a neighborhood initiative started. You gotta know the people before you can introduce ideas.
I have questions about composting.
Where would the composting take place in your own neighborhood?
Where would you use the compost?
Do you have space for a local garden?
And take a look at this McKinsey Report I just got. They say we can make a transition to energy efficiency by 2020 with the technology we currently have.
http://www.runboard.com/benvirows.f2.t269
Last edited by AgnesW, 1/26/2010, 11:30 pm
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1/26/2010, 10:08 pm
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HOMBREDELATIERRA
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Re: jumping on the activist bandwagon
quote:
I think Freds suggestion of getting neighbors together with a pot luck dinner or some sort of activity would be a good way to get a neighborhood initiative started. You gotta know the people before you can introduce ideas.
This is a great idea! I made a note to bring it up at the 7 Feb meeting.
quote:
I have questions about composting.
Where would the composting take place in your own neighborhood?
Where would you use the compost?
Do you have space for a local garden?
Montréal began experiments with neighborhood composting some years back with mixed results (as you would expect given the climatic challenges of winter..). Some experiments, the most sucessful, were associated with institutions like high schools, colleges, universities and hospitals..
http://www.concordia.ca/about/whoweare/tellingourstories/community/composting.php
http://www.mcgilldaily.com/articles/18918
In some places a neighborhood composting center open to the residents is run by the borough. The following link has a short video (mostly in French) showing such a center. Due to winter conditions these generally are open from April to October. The idea seems to be gaining traction and more boroughs are getting involved of late..
http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/cea/archives/archives_individual.asp?id=217
The compost can be used on gardens, institutional, public or private. The city uses some on its garden spaces and parks (saving money, energy and pollution), some is given away to the public. The city has public garden spaces people can use to grow veggies (we lost ours when it was found the soil was too contaminated due to the activities of a former tenant, an oil refinery).
Given the availability of resources and its popularity, community composting might be a relatively easy sell..
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1/27/2010, 2:47 pm
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HOMBREDELATIERRA
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Re: jumping on the activist bandwagon
wednesday, 27 January, 2010
Trying to link up Transition Towns initiatives to share info and stories.
Just joined Peterborough, Ontario site and posted a call to members to create writers' circle for the promotion of Green Energy. In networking there is power..
http://transitiontownpeterborough.ning.com/profiles/blogs/write-for-the-earth
http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/north-america/canada/ontario/peterborough/map.htm
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1/27/2010, 7:21 pm
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AgnesW
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Re: jumping on the activist bandwagon
Frank,
has your group done any research yet on the number of local farms in your area? Starting a food co-op might be a good project but it would take someone from the group visiting various farms to learn if they would be interested in participating in such a plan and if so would they be willing to deliver to a drop off location or would members need someone to go and pick up produce.
We have 2 co-ops. One has food delivered to a local church. People place their order with a choice of 4 different size packages and pay for it about 3 weeks in advance. The other actually supports a small farm. People buy shares in the farm on a yearly basis, paying up front. They are entitled to a share of the crops equal to the amount of shares they purchase. A young couple runs the farm, about 25 acres, which they lease from a large landowner. The downside is, if there is a crop failure, the investors loose.
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1/28/2010, 9:14 am
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HOMBREDELATIERRA
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Re: jumping on the activist bandwagon
Hi Agnes,
I am going to add your suggestion to my list - thanks again!
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1/29/2010, 12:07 pm
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AgnesW
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Re: jumping on the activist bandwagon
Your welcome.
One more thing that might be appropriate is car pooling. To school, to work, grocery shopping. IF driving is a part of everyday life in your location.
I listened to Obamas State of the Union address the other night. It was kind of disappointing. He is still promoting clean coal, nuclear, and drilling for offshore oil and gas. I think they will get the largest share of the funds allocated for energy development.
On the brighter side, the government will fund 3 high speed rail projects, one of which is here in Florida but it will only go from Tampa to the Orlando airport. He mentioned a future expansion that would go from the airport to Miami but no time frame was given so it will probably never happen or at least not for many years.
Read about a new DIY size windmill that has come to market. 2 styles. One is a regular windmill, the other is fashioned after an egg beater. Each is about 3 feet high and the purchaser must provide their own mounting pole. They produce 400 watts of electricity and can be mounted on a roof top as well. They are expensive. 2500.00 and 3500.00
I wonder if they would be worth it?
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1/29/2010, 6:50 pm
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