SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK, Lawrence Kansas
20 July 2010
Local Solutions for Transition to a Sustainable Economy
ECO RADIO KC ¤ WEEKLY ECOLOGICAL ISSUES RADIO SHOW
Tuesday, 20 July 2010, 12:00noon ¤ 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 Steve Mann and guest Maureen Veto Slater will explore Conscious Life Style, Gratitude and Blissfulness in an Eco-Consciousness framework, as well as the upcoming "Green Fest" in Parkville.
Stay tuned at 12:30 when the Bioneers radio series presents "Becoming a Habitat: Motherhood, Faith, and the Environmental Human Rights Movement". We live in a society dependent on toxic chemicals. Today about 287 such chemicals trespass inside the blood of newborns – and inside all of us - without our consent. Despite the odds, ecologist, author and mother Sandra Steingraber is an optimist. She’s betting that the burgeoning global environmental human rights movement will free us from our deadly dependency. She believes our grandchildren will look back on us and marvel that our economy was once dependent on toxic chemicals - and they will think of it as unthinkable.
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PERMACULTURE DESIGN & PERMACULTURE CONVERGENCE ¤ 5 DAY EVENT
two weeks away ¤ register by 31 July
Wednesday-Sunday, 4-8 August ¤ SEE DETAILS BELOW
film, speaker, design intensive, permaculture convergence
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BP "MACONDO PROSPECT" NOT YET CONTAINED ¤ ONGOING CONSEQUENCES
The new containment cap on the damaged wellhead is temporarily holding in the petroleum, but the pressure has not reached the minimum of the "ambiguity range" of well integrity - Oil Seep Near BP Well Could Mean Trouble. This means that there are other leak points in the well casing below the seabed that are releasing pressure - and oil. The fat lady may not sing for a long time. The following article is probably the most comprehensive assessment of current conditions and future implications, along with some exceptional photographs and embedded links - The Source of Our Despair in the Gulf.
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LAWRENCE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Tuesday, 20 July 2010, 6:00pm
Public Works Conference Rm., City Hall Ground Floor, 6th & Massachusetts St.
The agenda will include: Rotary Club "Ride Lawrence" bicycle racks, 7th Street bicycle bridge over Iowa St., bicycle routes on the east side of Downtown, annual bicycle ridership count, 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.
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HOT ENOUGH FOR YA? ¤ 1ST HALF OF 2010 IS GLOBALLY THE HOTTEST YET
The first six months of 2010 has been warmer than the first half of 1998, the previous record holder, by 0.03 degree Fahrenheit, said Jay Lawrimore, chief of climate analysis at the federal National Climatic Data Center - World Simmers in Hottest Year So Far. Abnormally warm temperatures have been registered in large parts of Canada, Africa, tropical oceans and parts of the Middle East, as well as the eastern seaboard of the United States.
As the heat index keeps rising and the litany of "hottest year ever" keeps repeating yearly, we at S.A.N. wonder if anyone in power is listening or even cares. We noticed that this report is from the National Climatic Data Center, which is operationally within the science driven NOAA Climate Services. But the NOAA is administratively within, and controlled by, the Department of Commerce, whose purpose is to promote economic growth. Might it just be possible that the decision makers at Commerce consider infinitively expanding growth to trump concerns of climate disruption? After all, they did create the NOAA Climate Services Office for the purpose of "mitigating and adapting to climate change, [and] in the process, discover new technologies, build new businesses and create new jobs - Establishment of NOAA Climate Service. Mitigating and adapting? Mitigating and adapting is not reversing climate disruption.
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OUTERMOST THERMOSPHERE COLLAPSES BY RECORD EXTENT
An upper layer of Earth's atmosphere recently collapsed in an unexpectedly large contraction, the sheer size of which has scientists scratching their heads - Earth's upper atmosphere collapses -nobody knows why. The collapse occurred during a period of relative solar inactivity – called a solar minimum from 2008 to 2009. These minimums are known to cool and contract the thermosphere, however, the recent collapse was two to three times greater than low solar activity could explain. Inexplicable anomalies and volatilities seem to be becoming the "norm".
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10/10/10 ¤ COMMUNITY ACTION CLIMATE SOLUTIONS
350.org, the inspiration of Bill McKibben, has launched 10/10/10, a major campaign of grassroots action on climate disruption. On 10 October 2010, they are asking communities world wide to plan some tangible and real action locally that will contribute to reversing CO2 emissions, global temperature rises, and the 480ppm atmospheric concentration of CO2. These solutions could be planting trees or community gardens, installing solar collectors or wind turbines, holding bicycle workshops, etc. They have some suggested Ideas For Your 10/10 Work Party, and once you have something organized, they are asking you to Register an Event For 10/10/10. Then with a hopefully long list of global civic actions, they plan ask world leaders: “We're getting to work--what about you?” One of their targeted actions is called Put Solar On It, so individuals can directly e-mail world leaders.
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SUNFLOWER ELECTRIC COAL PLANT ¤ BACK IN THE PERMIT PROCESS
Permit public hearings:
Monday, 2 August 2010, 2:00pm & 6:30pm
Blue Valley Northwest Highschool, 135th and Switzer, Overland Park (find a map here)
Wednesday, 4 August 2010, 2:00pm & 6:30pm
Highway Patrol Training Center Auditorium, 2025 East Iron, Salina (find a map here)
Thursday, 5 August 2010, 2:00pm & 6:30pm
801 Campus Drive, Garden City (find a map here)
After wasting two years of Kansas Legislature time spent debating, revising and finally defeating two coal fired power stations, a proposed Sunflower Electric 895mw Holcomb Station coal plant is up for new permit hearings. Governor Sebelius vetoed the initial coal plants, but within a week of assuming the Governorship, Mark Parkinson made a deal to allow Sunflower to file another application. Meanwhile, serious and productive plans are languishing for wind power support, transmission line upgrades, consumer financing for renewableenergy, true net metering, etc.
Kansas has a choice of a dirty energy path (clean coal is an oxymoron), or a clean energy path. The Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy says it best: The dirty path would saddle us with a fifty year commitment to imported, dirty coal with an influx of temporary construction jobs starting in about six years, limited permanent jobs starting in about ten years, and no access to the coming renewable energy economy. The clean path would open up investment in native, cleaner fuels like natural gas and wind that will provide Kansans ongoing job creation, broad revenue opportunities, and the foundation to attract manufacturing and service industries for generations to come…starting in less than two years.
If you choose, the Sierra Club is organizing carpools to the hearings in Overland Park. Go to their Beyond Coal Kansas web site to learn more info about submitting comments or carpooling.
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5TH ANNUAL DIALOG ON SUSTAINABILITY ¤ GREEN JOBS
Thursday, 22 July 2010, 8:00am-5:00pm - FREE
Leadership Studies Bldg., K-State University, Manhattan KS
Participants in this one-day event are the K-State Sustainability Office, the Horticulture & Forestry Dept., Architecture & Landscape Architecture, the School of Engineering, and several outside agencies. Sessions will be held throughout the day on Kansas wind/renewable energy efforts, "greening" our food systems, and developing a vision for sustainable communities and local economies. Activities will include panel discussions, small group dialogs, posters, exhibits and more. Please pre-register by sending your name and contact information (affiliation, phone and e-mail address) to Sheree Walsh, smw@ksu.edu. For more info go to Dialog on Sustainability 2010: K-State U.
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LAWRENCE PEAK OIL TASK FORCE
Thursday, 29 July 2010, 4:00pm
City Manager's Conference Rm., City Hall 4th Floor, 6th & Massachusetts St.
The draft Peak Oil Plan is going through revision and fine tuning. More of that will be addressed at this meeting. The public is welcome at the meetings to provide input. Meetings are open to the public, and the public is encouraged to attend. And the Peak Oil Task Force web page has developed an extensive list of resources (click on "resources") including other cities' action plans such as San Francisco and Portland, videos, advocacy groups like Post Carbon Institute and Transition Boulder County, and key data and reports.
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DESIGN YOUR PERMACULTURE DREAM ¤ PERMACULTURE CONVERGENCE
"The Next Industrial Revolution" screening ¤ guest speaker Warren Brush
Wednesday, 4 August 2010, 7:00pm - $
Liberty Hall, 644 Mass St., Lawrence KS 66044
This is the opening of a five day permaculture series. The Karlin Family Farms and Films For Action will feature a film exploring the ecological design concepts of revolutionary thinker William McDonough, followed by guest speaker Warren Brush who advocates green jobs and community design based on permaculture principles. View the trailer at The Next Industrial Revolution. Warren Brush's presentation is titled "Sustainable Vocations and Emerging Green Economies". Check out his web site at http://www.permaculturedesign.
Advanced Permaculture Design Workshop taught by Warren Brush
Thursday-Friday, 5-6 August 2010, 7:00am-9:00pm - $$$
Karlin Family Farms, 3033 Kasold Drive, Lawrence KS 66047
Entitled "Designing Your Dream", the two day intensive will cover design methods of: patterns and process, energy design flows, site assessment, concept planning, urban strategies, agroforestry, wholistic management, design tools, and permaculture as a business model. Prerequsite is a Permaculture Design Certificate or equivalent experience in permaculture applications. Warren Brush is co-founder of Quail Springs Learning Oasis & Permaculture Farm near Santa Barbara CA, and he does permaculture consulting around the world. A $25 down payment is due by 31 July. For more info and to register, contact
1st Annual Midwest Permaculture Convergence
Saturday-Sunday, 7-8 August 2010, ST 8:30am-11:00pm, SN 7:30am-6:00pm - $$
Karlin Family Farms, 3033 Kasold Drive, Lawrence KS 66047
This is to be a celebratory and creative event with a bioregional council, visual and performance arts, networking and information sharing, and featuring Open Space principlesof self-organizing assembly. Warren Brush will also be there over the weekend. There will be workshops on cob building, organic gardening, compost privies, solar showers, and more, and technology resource sharing of electronic files, DVDs, PPTs, etc. (bring your flash drives). Meals and camping will be provided. For more info and to register, contact
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LAWRENCE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD
Wednesday, 11 August 2010, 5:30pm
Recycling and Resource Recovery Annex, 320 N.E. Industrial Lane, Lawrence KS
The August agenda will be available soon. 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/
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KANSAS CITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Wednesday, 11 August, 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. 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.
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FOOD NOT LAWNS ¤ COMMUNIVERSITY CLASS #2210 A
Wednesdays, 4,11,18,25 August & 1 September 2010, 5 sessions, 7:00-9:00pm
UMKC School of Medicine, Theatre C, 24th & Charlotte Streets, KC MO
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 $16, plus $5 for materials. Register at UMKC Communiversity. Bring a picture ID. Limit 40. More info at Food Not Lawns KC, or
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URBAN FOOD PRODUCTION ¤ COMMUNIVERSITY CLASS #2301 A
Tuesdays, 17 & 24 August 2010, 2 sessions, 7:00-9:00pm
UMKC School of Medicine, Theatre C, 24th & Charlotte Streets, KC MO
Learn about a new model for urban sustainable food production. We’ll explore food production possibilities in the urban forest, abandoned urban lots, yards, commercial lands, roofs and flood plains. We’ll discuss holistic ecology based on managing sustainable urban agriculture systems that protect and restore our place on Earth. Please bring $20 for a reference book (optional). Class fee is $16. Register at UMKC Communiversity. Bring a picture ID. Limit 20. More info at Food Not Lawns KC, or
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"SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS DESIGN" ¤ K.U. ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING 665
Thursday, 19 August 2010, K.U. classes begin
ARCE 665 is one of the only renewable energy classes taught at the University of Kansas. A quantitative and qualitative study of active, passive, wind, and photovoltaic energy conversion systems for buildings. Solar radiation and system performance prediction. Prerequisites: thermodynamics, programming, and math. Taught by Prof. Brian Rock.
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
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
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