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KINDER MORGAN "TRANS-MOUNTAIN X" OIL SANDS PIPELINE ¤ ANOTHER CLIMATE DISASTER
You need a scorecard to know the pipelines, they just keep coming. As Naomi Klein has characterized it, "disaster capitalism" will cash in on any crisis just like ambulance-chasing attorneys. If oil-sands extraction will ratchet up the GDP, how cool is that even though the planet may become uninhabitable by humans? So if the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline would pump 525,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), and the TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline would pump 830,000 bpd, then heck, why not add another 750,000 bpd through the Kinder Morgan Trans-Mountain Extra Large Pipeline (TMX)?.
Well, British Columbia already rejected the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline, but only because the spill response plans were inadequate. They also said that their decision "is not a rejection of heavy-oil projects, keeping the door open to Kinder Morgan's proposed expansion" - B.C. officially opposes Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline. So right on queue, Kinder Morgan wants to engorge an enlarged pipeline too. For a critical analysis of the climate implications, the following article puts the scale of climate impact in perspective -Kinder Morgan Tarsands Pipeline Would Have Gigantic Climate Impact. All these pipelines are equally destructive, and all must be stopped. But the Keystone XL Pipeline is the leverage point, the line in the tar-sand, the symbol of the struggle, a decision that President Obama cannot sidestep. Choosing your battle is strategic, and he needs his feet held to the fire on this one.
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NONVIOLENT PROTESTS PLANNED FOR WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA DECIDES ON KEYSTONE XL
Between the release dates of the Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), it became clear that the State Department and their hired contractor had gamed the system with flawed conclusions by the consultant, ERM, Inc. Over 75,000 citizens have signed a "pledge of resistance". Each person committed to risk arrest if necessary to stop Keystone XL, and President Obama has felt pressure in a way he never had before. It is thought his decision may come soon, so protectors of the land and air need to be ready when the time comes.
With over 400 volunteer action leaders trained in 25 cities nationwide, the local sit-in actions will be deployed when and if the Obama Administration recommends approval of Keystone XL. Chances are there's one near you. To stop Keystone XL, you can take the next step and sign up with your local pledge action. You can Find your nearest Pledge of Resistance action and sign up to be part of it. The passive resistance actions will be at places like the State Department, EPA and Federal offices, oil industry contractor ERM offices, and branches of TD Bank. If you click the above link and plug in your zip code, you will learn where the nearest action is to you.
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LAWRENCE COMMUNITY CURRENCY MEETING ¤ SUSTAINABILITY ACTION
Wednesday, 7 May 2014, 6:30pm
Capital City Bank conference room, 740 New Hampshire St., Lawrence KS 66044
The L.C.C.I. Mission is to build
community and increase resilience through the use of a complementary
currency. Our core organizing group meets every other Wednesday to
lay the groundwork for a broad based local currency. To be
successful, it should have broad community "participation of
producers, users, and agencies that will assure reciprocity and a
high level of daily exchanges to avoid stagnation. More info is
available at the facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/
Anyone is welcome to bring their ideas and energy to create the structure, so it will be ready when circumstances require. To get on the e-mail info list, send your contact information to
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COTTIN'S HARDWARE FARMERS' MARKET ¤ EVERY THURSDAY, OUTSIDE
Thursday, 8 May 2014, 4:00-6:30pm
Now in the back parking lot, 1832 Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
Weekly vendors will have a supply of fresh greens, root
vegetables, breads, baked goods, farm fresh eggs, meats, live
music, and much more. Local food is healthier and helps your
local economy. This four season market is Lawrence's
only winter-weather protected farmers' market,
with only three others in the region. For more info contact them
at 843-2981 or <hardware@sunflower.com>.
______________________________KANSAS AND MISSOURI FARMERS' MARKET DIRECTORIES
(courtesy of Cole Cottin & Linda Cottin)
New season, new markets, new hours - find what's new this year. In order to find any of dozens of farmers' markets in Kansas and Missouri, use these searchable data bases for both states. They are - Kansas Farmers' Market Search by Location, Missouri Farmers' Market Search by Location, and Missouri Farmers' Market Search by Map. Wherever you are, there is probably a market nearby!
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SUSTAINABILITY ACTION ¤ MEMBER MEETING
Thursday, 8 May 2014, 6:30pm
1425 Oread West, Lawrence KS 66049 (N.W. corner
of 15th & Wakarusa, building just west of the bank)
Local Solutions for Transition to a Sustainable Economy
Possible discussion topics:
Local Solutions for Transition to a Sustainable Economy
Possible discussion topics:
- Making a Board Capacity-Building Plan
- Grant data base opportunities
- Confirmation of a Sustainability Action 2014budget
- Bicycle funding plan for City of Lawrence 2015 budget
- "Energy Reality": executive summary and community roundtable
- Summer 10-day PDC planning
- "Principals of Permaculture" workshop at thePermaCommons Garden
- Any plans for reskilling workshops
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KKFI COMMUNITY RADIO ¤ ECOLOGICAL SHOWS THIS WEEK
Listen
at KKFI-FM 90.1, or web-streaming at http://www.kkfi.org/
(courtesy Mike Murphy, KKFI Programming Committee)
You can listen to Vandana Shiva's talk that was aired on KKFI
The 18 April talk by Vandana Shiva, "Cultivating Diversity, Freedom and Hope", was to a sold out crowd at Unity Temple. So for those of you who were not able to attend, the audio recording is now available on the KKFI website at - Vandana Shiva: audio of talk at Unity Temple.
Thursday, 8 May 2014, 12:00pm ¤ Sprouts Radio
The show on Sprouts this week will be "Environmental Justice and Climate Change". The term environmental justice emerged as a concept in the United States in the early 1980s. The term has two distinct uses. The first and more common usage describes a social movement in the United States whose focus is on the fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens. Second, it is an interdisciplinary body of social science literature that includes (but is not limited to) theories of the environment, theories of justice, environmental law and governance, environmental policy and planning, development, sustainability, and political ecology.
Thursday, 8 May 2014, 12:30pm ¤ Making Contact
The title of this show is "Reclaiming the Commons". From pedestrian plazas to pop-up-parklets cities are looking to create spaces for people to gather, interact and create. But are some people being left out of this new urban renaissance? This week on Making Contact: from Detroit, to Montreal, to Istanbul, people are reclaiming the commons. How do we create public spaces that are embracing and inclusive?
Friday, 9 May 2014, 9:30am ¤ Bioneers Radio Series
Bioneers presents "Intelligence in Nature: Coming Full Circle". What do octopuses, bees, plants and slime molds have in common with human beings? For one thing, they exhibit the ability to solve problems and make decisions. Author and anthropologist Jeremy Narby reveals his astonishing research on the profound intelligence active throughout nature. After all, how could people be intelligent if the nature that created us were not even more intelligent?
Monday, 12 May 2014, 5:00am ¤ Exploration with Dr. Michio Kaku
This edition is titled "Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization". For the full hour show, Dr. Kaku will interview Lester Brown of the Earth Policy Institute. None of that airy-fairy "save the Earth, save the planet" for Lester Brown. He goes to the heart of the matter about saving civilization from itself; the planet will be fine with or without humans.
Monday, 12 May 2014, 6:00pm ¤ locally produced Eco-Radio KC
This week's EcoRadioKC will feature another in their series of ecologically oriented shows.
______________________________(courtesy Mike Murphy, KKFI Programming Committee)
You can listen to Vandana Shiva's talk that was aired on KKFI
The 18 April talk by Vandana Shiva, "Cultivating Diversity, Freedom and Hope", was to a sold out crowd at Unity Temple. So for those of you who were not able to attend, the audio recording is now available on the KKFI website at - Vandana Shiva: audio of talk at Unity Temple.
Thursday, 8 May 2014, 12:00pm ¤ Sprouts Radio
The show on Sprouts this week will be "Environmental Justice and Climate Change". The term environmental justice emerged as a concept in the United States in the early 1980s. The term has two distinct uses. The first and more common usage describes a social movement in the United States whose focus is on the fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens. Second, it is an interdisciplinary body of social science literature that includes (but is not limited to) theories of the environment, theories of justice, environmental law and governance, environmental policy and planning, development, sustainability, and political ecology.
Thursday, 8 May 2014, 12:30pm ¤ Making Contact
The title of this show is "Reclaiming the Commons". From pedestrian plazas to pop-up-parklets cities are looking to create spaces for people to gather, interact and create. But are some people being left out of this new urban renaissance? This week on Making Contact: from Detroit, to Montreal, to Istanbul, people are reclaiming the commons. How do we create public spaces that are embracing and inclusive?
Friday, 9 May 2014, 9:30am ¤ Bioneers Radio Series
Bioneers presents "Intelligence in Nature: Coming Full Circle". What do octopuses, bees, plants and slime molds have in common with human beings? For one thing, they exhibit the ability to solve problems and make decisions. Author and anthropologist Jeremy Narby reveals his astonishing research on the profound intelligence active throughout nature. After all, how could people be intelligent if the nature that created us were not even more intelligent?
Monday, 12 May 2014, 5:00am ¤ Exploration with Dr. Michio Kaku
This edition is titled "Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization". For the full hour show, Dr. Kaku will interview Lester Brown of the Earth Policy Institute. None of that airy-fairy "save the Earth, save the planet" for Lester Brown. He goes to the heart of the matter about saving civilization from itself; the planet will be fine with or without humans.
Monday, 12 May 2014, 6:00pm ¤ locally produced Eco-Radio KC
This week's EcoRadioKC will feature another in their series of ecologically oriented shows.
RESPONSIBLE ENERGY VS. FUKUSHIMA DAI-ICHI
Clean Energy Victory Bonds - proposed legislation
US Representatives Zoe Lofgren and Doris Matsui, along with 15 original co-sponsors, introduced the Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act of 2014 last week (H.R. 4426). Modeled after the World War II Victory Bonds, citizens could buy the Clean Energy Victory Bonds, the revenues of which would be used to finance programs such as the Production Tax Credit, Residential and Commercial Energy Efficient tax credits, as well as a voucher program for plug-in electric vehicles. If you are with a business or organization interested in endorsing this legislation, go to - Endorse Clean Energy Victory Bonds. Individuals can also support the bill by contacting your House Representative at - Find Your Representative · House.gov. Learn more at - Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act of 2014.
Annual fossil fuel subsidies - $2 Trillion
The Clean Energy Victory Bonds could be a strong counter weight to the obscene subsidies handed out to the fossil fuel and nuclear industries, in spite of Obama's many promises for a green energy economy. The International Monetary Fund just released a report calculating that subsidies to the fossil fuel industry world wide annually cost about $2 Trillion (with a "T"). By comparison, global subsidies to the renewable energy industry were $88 billion in 2011. Thus, according to the IMF, simply removing fossil fuel subsidies could lead to a 13 per cent decline in CO2 emissions. Learn more at - Fossil fuel subsidies costing global economy $2 trillion.
We suggest readers avail themselves of reports from the following sources: Japan for Sustainability - http://www.japanfs.org/; Japan Focus - http://japanfocus.org/; Fukush
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9TH ANNUAL REALLY, REALLY FREE MARKET
Saturday, 10 May 2012, 10:00am to 2:00pm - FREE
Clinton City Park, 5th & Alabama St., Lawrence KS
The gift must always move! This free and open market will be a celebration of cooperation and gift-giving that make life possible beyond the constraints of capitalists markets. Everyone is invited to give and receive clothing, household items, books, plants, seeds, crafts, information, skills, music, services, art, performances, stories, food, etc. There is no buying, selling, bartering, or exchanging involved in this market - everything is strictly FREE! Really, Really Free Markets are a form of alternative economies that are becoming more and more popular in the U.S.
Small items and clothing not taken from the Really, Really Free Market will be donated to the Penn House or Social Service League thrift store. However, large items cannot be transported to the thrift store. People are asked to take responsibility for any large items they bring that are not taken by the end of the event.
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LAWRENCE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Tuesday, 13 May2014, 5:00pm
Lawrence Parks & Rec. Conference Room, 1141 Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
The May agenda is not yet available. The Bicycle Advisory 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.
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KANSAS CITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Wednesday, 14 May 2014, 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
leaders 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 is at KC
Environmental Mgt Commission
______________________________LAWRENCE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD
Wednesday, 14 May 2014,
5:30pm
The May agendais not yet available. 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/
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Public Works Conference Room, lower level, City Hall,
6 East 6th St., Lawrence KS 66044
The May agendais not yet available. 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/
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LAWRENCE PEDESTRIAN COALITION
Wednesday, 14 May 2014, 7:00pm
Carnegie Building Conference Room, 200 West 9th St., Lawrence KS 66044
The May agenda is not yet available. The Lawrence Pedestrian Coalition is a joint effort of the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods and the League of Women Voters. Monthly meetings are open to the public. For more info go to Lawrence Pedestrian Coalition, or contact Laura Routh
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STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION METHODS WORKSHOP
Monday, 19 May 2014, 5:00pm - $$
Wohletz Farm Fresh, 1831 North 1100 Rd., Lawrence KS 66046
(courtesy Marlin Bates, Douglas County Co-op Extension)
K-State researcher Cary Rivard and two local growers will share with
workshop attendees their research on plastic mulch methods. The "plasticulture
system" solves some of the tormenting
issues associated with matted row systems, but isn't
without challenges of its own. To
learn more and to register, go to - http://www.douglas.ksu.edu/
______________________________DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOD POLICY COUNCIL
Monday, 19 May 2014, 7:00pm
location TBA., Lawrence KS 66049
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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"YEARS OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY" FILM SCREENING
Monday, 19 May 2014, 7:00pm - FREE
Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
This groundbreaking documentary event series explores the human impact of climate change, from the damage wrought by Hurricane Sandy to the upheaval caused by drought in the Middle East. It will be a TV series playing on Sunday evenings, but the Climate & Energy Project is hosting a screening of the sixth segment, "Against the Wind", locally at Liberty Hall in Lawrence. This segment features Kansas rancher, Pete Ferrell of Ferrell's Ranch in south-central Kansas, an area that is also home to one of the state's first wind farms, the Elk River Wind Farm. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion of Pete Ferrell, Kimberly Gencur Svaty, the Wind Coalition, and Dr. Johannes Feddema, KU Geography and contributor to International Panel on Climate Change. Cynthia Haines, KCUR Film Critic, will serve as moderator. Learn more at Years Of Living Dangerously.
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LAWRENCE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ¤ PUBLIC INPUT OPEN HOUSES
Thursday, 29 May 2014, 5:00-7:00pm
Lawrence Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Dr., Lawrence KS 66049
Like most communities, Lawrence has a comprehensive land use plan that guides how Lawrence will grow. It includes sections on residential, commercial, and industrial land use, farmland preservation, environmental impacts, transportation, historic resources, and more. The current plan, Horizon 2020, is being updated, and City officials want citizen input. There is a Steering Committee that is holding public open house sessions for citizens to learn about the plan and complete a questionnaire on many aspects of the plan. In addition to the 29 May open house, there will be two more open houses in Lawrence, and others in outlying communities. View the full schedule here - Comprehensive Plan open houses schedule.
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KANSAS PERMACULTURE INSTITUTE ¤ PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATION COURSE
Discount registration early-bird deadline
Sunday, 1 June 2014
This P.D.C. course will take place from Wednesday, 9 July through Friday, 18 July,
2014. The
Kansas
Permaculture Institute
is pleased to have Kaw
Permaculture teach
our ten-day
PDC course at the SubTerra Castle Permaculture
Center, 30 minutes
west of Topeka, KS.
This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from three instructors
well-versed in North American temperate permaculture of the
Great Plains Bioregion
- Steve Moring of Kaw
Permaculture, Michael Almon
of Forest Floor Permaculture, andLaura
Odell of The Light
Center.
Students who complete this
72-hour course will be awarded a Permaculture Design
Certificate from the Kansas
Permaculture Institute,
a program of the not-for-profit Sustainability
Action Network.
This information
packed course promises to be
personally transformative and a
community building experience. Among the topics
central to permaculture design,
participants will learn how to
apply principles of ecological
design to both the urban and
broad-acre settings. The course
will include classroom
instruction, hands-on
exercises, group discussion
and teamwork, and field trips
to six local urban garden and
farm sites. Begin your
journey toward sustainability by registering today,
and save $245.
Ourdiscounted
registration period ends on 1 June 2014.
For detailed information and
registration materials, click on the following
link:10-Day
Permaculture Design Certification Course (PDC)
For more information, contact Steve Moring at 785-691-7305, or
Michael Almon at 785-832-1300.We welcome suggestions for Newsletter items. Please send items to
Join the Sustainability Action Network by clicking this link - Become a Sustainability Action Member - and follow the instructions. The Sustainability Action mission is to bring awareness of the global crisis caused by climate change, energy vulnerability and economic instability to communities in the Kansas River bioregion, and the tools needed to re-skill and re-localize our economy and create a more socially just and ecologically sustainable world.
Sustainability Action Programs include:
1) Kansas Permaculture
Institute- formal
training of permaculture designers, and issuing them
PDC Certificates - Kansas
Permaculture Institute.
5) Sustainability Action Newsletter- informing and encouraging people to be active in the Sustainability Action Network, or other action-driven groups.
2) Kansas
Permaculture Collaborative
- freely
and informally sharing knowledge and resources about
sustainable food production and dwellings -Kansas
Permaculture Collaborative.
3) Bicycles
&
Alternative Transportation
- promoting
bicycles, complete streets, ride sharing, and electric
vehicles, including infrastructure and pro-active
regulations - Lawrence
OnBoard | Community Supported Transportation
4) Local
Community Currency-
fostering money literacy, and implementing a
local currency, either cash or electronic or both,
that will transition to a
sustainable local economy and weather global
economic instability.
5) Sustainability Action Newsletter- informing and encouraging people to be active in the Sustainability Action Network, or other action-driven groups.
6) Energy Conservation & Renewables - reducing our carbon footprint by promoting a carbon diet, an energy diet, conservation, and decentralized renewable energy.
7) Prime Farmland Preservation - protecting Capability I & II farmland from urban development and industrial land uses.
8) Water Rights and Watersheds - protecting the water commons from privatization and contamination, and restoring watersheds.
9) Collaboration with sister organizations
- building synergy with the
combined talents and creativity of like-minded groups
to achieve a transition to sustainable local
economies.
Groups such as: Films
for Action; The
Light Center eco-village; churches and civic groups; Kaw
River Valley Food System farm-based economic
development; Cultivate
Kansas City;Transition
Kansas City; Kansas River Valley Growers
fighting for local water rights; the National Sustainable Energy
Network; the Kansas
City Food Circle, and more.
Sustainability Action sponsored organizations:
1) Lawrence Creates - local tool sharing, recycling, and community shared innovation incubator - Lawrence Creates
2) Lawrence Fruit Tree Project - educating and inspiring the community to grow and steward perennial food plants and increase local food sovereignty - Lawrence Fruit Tree Project
Sustainability Action sponsored organizations:
1) Lawrence Creates - local tool sharing, recycling, and community shared innovation incubator - Lawrence Creates
2) Lawrence Fruit Tree Project - educating and inspiring the community to grow and steward perennial food plants and increase local food sovereignty - Lawrence Fruit Tree Project
"THE TRANSITION COMPANION" ¤ AVAILABLE FOR $27
As a guidebook for local transition communities, Rob Hopkins has published this sequel to the original Transition Handbook. For your copy, e-mail Michael at
To subscribe to this newsletter, please click this link » Subscribe to the Sustainability Action Newsletter. Enter your name and e-mail address, and follow the instructions. The system will send you a confirmation message with a "Confirmation Link" which you MUST click in order to complete your subscription confirmation. If you don't get the confirmation message, check in your junk mail folder for blocked as spam.
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