Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Sustainability Announcements 15/Feb./ 2011

DONATIONS TO SUSTAINABILITY ACTION ARE NOW TAX DEDUCTIBLE
please donate to our Annual Giving Campaign - (contact info at bottom of page)
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THIS WEEK'S ECOLOGICAL RADIO SHOWS ¤ KKFI COMMUNITY RADIO
Listen at KKFI-FM 90.1, or web-streaming at http://www.kkfi.org/

Tuesday, 15 February, 12:00-1:00pm ¤ locally produced Eco-Radio KC
Host, Reenie Carmack, will interview Dr. Michelle Robin, DC about the 'seven habits' for a healthy life, covered in her book "Wellness On A Shoestring". Whatever your financial resources may be, the POWER to improve your health is within you! It's in every choice you make, in every moment. People from all income levels, using little money, have seen their health dramatically improve by adopting these practices.

Thursday, 17 February, 9:30am ¤ Making Contact
"Purveyors of Propaganda" - the hidden impetus behind our consumer society. Public Relations (PR) was originally called propaganda, but by changing the name they sanitized their own image in a stroke of self-made genius. And image is what it's all about. In this show, Mark Crispin Miller discusses the history of modern propaganda methods from World War I to present, including the defining work of George Creel, Walter Lippmann, and Edward Bernays. These are the people who created the "dissatisfaction" that drives desire for more and better. Along with industrial designers such as Raymond Loewy, they created the yearly auto style change, inefficient appliances, and planned obsolescence. PR primes the pump of consumption, THE essential driver of "perpetual" economic growth which is on a crash course with our finite planet. PR propels industrial "throughput" to convert Mother Earth into trinkets and pollution. As Jackson Browne has sung in Lives In The Balance - "They sell us the President, the same way they sell us our clothes and our cars, they sell us everything from youth to religion, the same time they sell us our wars."

Friday, 18 February, 9:30am ¤ Bioneers Radio Series
"You Are Where You Eat: Trans-farming Urban Food and Growing Community". LaDonna Redmond and Wil Bullock live in communities where 12-year-olds suffer heart attacks, and where it's easier to buy a semi-automatic weapon than an organic tomato. But they are changing that reality, providing access to fresh, healthy foods, and re-establishing the connections between food and community.
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PEAK OIL & A CHANGING CLIMATE ¤ YOU-TUBE VIDEO SERIES
Wednesdays, up through 16 March 2011, on your computer
current video - How Climate Change Became a 'Liberal Hoax' with Noam Chomsky

Peak Oil is the point at which petroleum extraction reaches its greatest rate just before going into perpetual decline.

On Wednesday, 16 February, Bill McKibben will appear in interview #7 of the Peak Oil and a Changing Climate | video series. Ever since writing the first book on climate disruption aimed at the general public, "The End of Nature", Bill McKibben has become a household word in the cause for reducing greenhouse gases. He is indefatigable working with the group he started, 350.org, moving from one project to another, and within multiple contexts. In this video, Bill discusses how global financial collapse is nothing compared with the impending "too big to fail" global climate collapse. And if peak oil prompts the-powers-that-be "to burn more coal, we're doubly screwed".
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503 BILLION BARRELS OF OIL IN MONTANA? ¤ OVER-HYPED BAKKEN FORMATION

The Bakken/Williston Formation was discovered in 1951, and has been untapped because it is oil shale rock. Shale does not contain oil, but kerogen, a waxy oil precursor. Similar to the tar sands in Canada, oil shale is considered an "unconventional" oil deposit, difficult and expensive to extract with complex environmental implications.

Lately, some peak oil deniers have been trumpeting the Bakken Formation as society's ticket to unending "happy motoring", the Earth's creamy nougat of energy. Some press reports are calling it "the highest producing on-shore oil field found in the past fifty-six years", and calling it "light sweet crude costing only $16 per barrel". And something called the Stansberry Report Online - 4/20/2006 has even claimed the Bakken oil reserve contains more than two trillion barrels of oil - well, here's the Snopes debunking of that: Bakken Formation: snopes.com.

First of all, the 2006 USGS update study on the Bakken Formation - Bakken Formation in North Dakota and Montana: USGS - describes it as undiscovered and only estimated, not having been found by actual drilling. Secondly, they qualify it as a "continuous accumulation" instead of "discreet oil fields", which means the oil is dispersed uniformly throughout the rock, and not collected in pools. They further say that, of the 503 billion barrels, only 3.65 billion barrels is "technically recoverable" using today's horizontal drilling combined with hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of the shale. This means it is unconventional oil, expensive oil.

Then consider - the U.S. uses some 20.68 million barrels per day (MMbbl/d), or 7.55 billion barrels per year. 3.65 billion barrels will not go far. Also consider that of that 20.68 MMbbl/d, 12.04 MMbbl/d are imported. Of that quantity, 2.3MMbbl/d is from Canada, and 1.3 MMbl/d has been coming from Mexico. But Mexico's largest field, Cantarell, has plummeted from 2.9 million barrels per day to just 464,000. Bye-bye Mexican oil, and Canadian oil is from the horribly expensive and polluting tar sands. It's no wonder the peak oil deniers repeatedly grasp at such straws as the Bakken Formation or the "huge" BP find three miles under the Gulf of Mexico.
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WES JACKSON LECTURE ¤ INTERNATIONAL LAW, TRADE, AND AGRICULTURE
Tuesday, 15 February 2011, 3:45pm panel discussion with Warren Evans
Tuesday, 15 February 2011, 5:30pm lecture (reception to follow)
Univ. of Kansas, 104 Green Hall, 1535 W. 15th St., Lawrence KS 66045

As part of a special course in International Law, Agricultural Development and Environmental Protection from 8-17 February, the University of Kansas School of Law will host Wes Jackson in a seminar and a lecture. Other participants will be John Head of the Center for International Trade and Agriculture, and Warren Evans of the World Bank’s environment department. For more info go to - Wes Jackson & Warren Evans lectures: Law, Agriculture, Environment.
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LAWRENCE CURBSIDE RECYCLING & SOLID WASTE OPTIONS
Tuesday, 15 February 2011, 6:30pm (RESCHEDULED FROM 8 February)
Lawrence City Commission, City Hall, 6th & Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044

On 17 November, Lawrence City staff provided an memo to the City Commission listing extensive options for handling solid waste. City staff recommended the information be widely distributed "to the Sustainability Advisory Board, neighborhood associations, and other public forums for the solicitation of additional input over the next three months." Although that intention slipped through the cracks, the Commission is now ready to create a task force of the public to study the options and report back by mid-May. The document - Solid Waste Task Force Resolution.pdf - contains the background information and the proposed resolution. Public comment will be received at the 15 February City Commission meeting.
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PERMACULTURE, FOOD SECURITY, AND ENERGY DEPLETION ¤ FIRST LECTURE
Friday, 18 February 2011, 6:00pm-9:00pm - $$$
Dreher 4-H Building, 2110 Harper St., Lawrence KS 66044

Steve Moring of Vajra Farm Permaculture Center will teach this Design Certification Course with assistance from Michael Almon and Michael Morley. It 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 .
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FRUIT TREE PRUNING WORKSHOP ¤ MISSOURI CO-OP EXTENSION
Saturday, 19 February 2011, 110:00am-12:30pm - $$
Alldredge Orchards, 10455 Highway N, Platte City MO 64079

Taught by Marlin Bates, Co-op Extension Horticulture Specialist, this workshop will cover a quick overview of pruning practices for various fruit trees, and then a hands-on pruning session in the orchard. Come prepared dressed for the weather. Register by 16 February, and get more info at or (816)270-2141.
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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.
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SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK - MONTHLY MEETING
Sunday, 20 February 2011, 4:00pm
location TBA, Lawrence KS

Local Solutions for Transition to a Sustainable Economy
Organizing societal scale action in our personal lives, and through public policy changes.
The meeting agenda will include:
  • Annual Giving Campaign
  • Growers' Land Trust
  • Coordinators for: grant research, workshops, volunteers
  • Transition Kaw Valley power point trial run
  • community workshops: super adobe, solar food dehydrator, cold frames, rain barrels, etc.
  • S.A.N.web site: list-serve, auto-subscribe, content, pay pal, etc.
Please join us
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DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOD POLICY COUNCIL
Monday, 21February 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.
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TRANSITION KANSAS CITY ¤ KANSAS CITY GREENS
Monday, 21 February 2011, 7:00pm
Aquarius Bookstore, 3936 Broadway Ave., Kansas City MO

Transition Kansas City is partnering with The Kansas City Greens to show the BBC film "Can We Save Planet Earth" with Sir David Attenborough. This is the second part of a three-part series. Attenborough’s film lays out seven components of a sane response to global warming – strategies and targets from the household to big industries and government. But each one has implications, and many, like a growing reliance on nuclear power, are highly contentious. Afterward, Doug Greer and Mike Hoey will lead a discussion.

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
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TAKE CHARGE CHALLENGE ¤ LAWRENCE VS MANHATTAN

In the first days of the challenge, Lawrence pressed into the lead, but during the last week, Manhattan has taken the lead - http://web.ci.lawrence.ks.us/lists/archive.php?x=2587. While much of the competition has centered on replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, there are many other things you can do to rack up points - schedule a home energy audit, get a free Westar programmable thermostat, give energy presentations at K-12 schools, take a class to become a building efficiency expert, and more. Learn more by contacting Margaret Tran at <takechargelawrence@gmail.com> or go to http://www.lawrenceks.org/take_charge_challenge.
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KAW VALLEY SEEDS PROJECT SECOND ANNUAL FAIR
Saturday, 26 February 2011, 10:00am-3:00pm - FREE
Douglas County Fairgrounds, Building 21, 2110 Harper St., Lawrence KS 66046

The fair will include a seed exchange, exhibits, local producers, speakers throughout the day and a children's activity center. The Kaw Valley Seeds Project is fostering a network of people who will create a Local Living Seed Reserve by growing, sharing and bartering, and buying and selling primary seed varieties of the Kansas River valley. For more information go to Kaw Valley Seeds Project 2nd Annual Fair and click on "see more".
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GROWING SEASON EXTENDING METHODS ¤ COMMUNIVERSITY CLASS #2307 A
Saturday, 26 February 2011, 1:00-5:00pm - $$
Rethink Energy, 2052 North 3rd St., Kansas City KS 66101

Get a head start on the gardening season. Learn how to extend food growing to all four seasons. We will learn to construct cold frames, hot beds, quarter tunnels, low tunnels, and high tunnels using low cost materials and methods. Bring $15 to class for materials. Class fee is $14, plus $15 for materials. Register at UMKC Communiversity. More info from .
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FOOD NOT LAWNS ¤ COMMUNIVERSITY CLASS #2310 A
Wednesdays, 2,9,16,23 March 2011, 4 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 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 .
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DEFENDING THE WAKARUSA WETLANDS ¤ SIERRA CLUB SYMPOSIUM
Friday, 4 March 2011, 7:00pm
Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave., Lawrence KS 66044

The Wakarusa Wetlands have been here for tens of thousands of years. The last remnant S.W. of 31st & Haskell Ave. (mistakenly called the Baker Wetlands) has been under threat of paving over by the South Lawrence Trafficway, and desecration of Native American sacred ground, for 25 years. That's the date when plans were drawn up in secret, by illegal meetings of the Lawrence City Commission and the Chamber of Commerce.

The road has been held at bay for 25 years through advocacy by citizens and Haskell University students, by challenges to the Environmental Impact Statements, and by two lawsuits. The Save The Wetlands attorney, Bob Eye, will present the legal context for their current lawsuit. And other panelists, Dan Wildcat, Patrick Freeland, Joe Collins, and Mike Caron, will speak about the spiritual, historical and environmental significance of these wetlands. For more info, contact Melissa Rogers, (785)764-0826 or
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LAWRENCE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD
Wednesday, 9 March 2011, 5:30pm
location TBA, Lawrence KS

The March 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
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KANSAS CITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Wednesday, 9 March 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
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BREAKING THE SILENCE ECOLOGICAL CONFERENCE
Friday-Saturday, 11-12 March 2011, $1 per day
Reardon Convention Center, 520 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City KS 66101

Sponsored by Building Sustainable Earth Community, the conference will feature keynote speakers, breakout session, youth projects, not-for-profit and vendor booths, and a luncheon of locally supplied food. The theme will be Ecological Literacy, in hopes that individuals will come to understand how major environmental occurrences impact us at the local level and how we can initiate personal and political efforts to correct damaging practices.



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

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) Growers' Land Trust - 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.


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