Suggested Agenda:
7:00 - 7:30: Socialize
7:30 - 8:00: Simple Changes Group
- Discuss any interesting new Simple Change Ideas.
- Discuss any Sustainability Research Issues.
- Discuss March results
- Select May change
8:00 - 9:00: Discuss Political Issues, Outreach, Visioning/New Ideas/Inspirations
Minutes:
Simple Changes Group:
Steve:
March Results:
- Evolve Shower head not compatible with hand-held shower head. Will order Evolve Shower head without head, so can attach hand head.
April Goals:
- Fix water leak in bathtup
Brenden:
April Goals:
- Use an Activity tracker, to encourage less driving, start biking more
Mark and JP
March Results:
- Set up a PV system for our Tool Shed, was done successfully.
- Set up a demo for Solar Hot water, was done successfully.
- Purchased locally produced chicken and beef(grass fed) from near Pittsburgh.
April Goal:
- Continue setting up solar hot water system
- Research ways around complications with putting hot water into tankless systems, they tend to overheat. May need tempering valves, difficulty working through tankless system, use a storage tank, run through tankless.
- Research more on locally produced Chicken/Beef, see about getting a bulk rate.
Lisa insulated walls, got a big rebate.
Karen and Ed:
March Results:
- Continue switch over to organic foods where ever possible.
- Ordered electric kettle.
April Goal:
- Use Kill-A-Watt meter to measure energy consumption between clean and not clean fridge.
Lisa:
April Goal:
- Lisa checked out Kill-A-Watt Meter
New Ideas
REC Solar - Renters PV system
Steve suggested Trader Joes Toilet Paper - 100% Recycled, 80% Post Consumer
Lisa Research Hemp Paper
Home Composting - Worm Composter, Homemade Composter
Start new category - Good Eats
Flea street cafe - Menlo Park all locally grown produce
Political Issues:
Sources of Positive News:
- Yes Magazine
- Christian Science Magazine
- Positive News, A newspaper with positive news from all around the world
Climate Control Bill - Call Senators to encourage, Research more about the Bill
Carbon Tax needed.
General Discussion Notes:
Focus on other topics besides Global Warming, such as deforestation combined with Ocean Acidification.
Why are there are so many extremist groups at present? - Fear of change, People under stress leading to extremist actions such as militia groups
Sunday, February 28, 2010
CEC Library
3 Stainless Steel Dryer Racks (Try-before-buy)
2 Kill-A-Watt Meters (Tool to help build awareness of power usage)
1 Evolve Shower Head to reduce hot water wastage when turning on. (Try-before-buy)
Build Your Own Solar Heating System (Book)
Hydroponics for the Home Gardener (Book)
The Solar House Passive Heating and Cooling (Book)
The Home Water Supply (Book)
The Solar Electric Independent Home (Book)
Microhydro (Book)
Fuel from Water (Book)
How to Build and Use Greenhouses (Book)
Matter Networks (Web Site)
Earth Councils (Web Site)
http://www.care2.com/ (Web Site)
http://cropmob.org/ (Web Site)
2 Kill-A-Watt Meters (Tool to help build awareness of power usage)
1 Evolve Shower Head to reduce hot water wastage when turning on. (Try-before-buy)
Build Your Own Solar Heating System (Book)
Hydroponics for the Home Gardener (Book)
The Solar House Passive Heating and Cooling (Book)
The Home Water Supply (Book)
The Solar Electric Independent Home (Book)
Microhydro (Book)
Fuel from Water (Book)
How to Build and Use Greenhouses (Book)
Matter Networks (Web Site)
Earth Councils (Web Site)
http://www.care2.com/ (Web Site)
http://cropmob.org/ (Web Site)
Political Issue/Position Evaluations
Connect with sources of positive news:
- Yes Magazine
- Christian Science Magazine
- Positive News, A newspaper with positive news from all around the world
Positive News International
Positive News is a no-for-profit newspaper available in print and electronically. They report on successful endeavors from around the world in area of caring for the Earth, caring for each other, youth empowerment, happiness, etc., with a clear message that another world is possible. There are US and California editions, in addition to international ones.
4 issues/yr, $16.30
Purpose in suggesting: Reading about effective action being taken around the country and planet, (which is not normally covered in the standard media), the vision of a better outcome is supported; taking theory, desire & need into recognition & belief. This mindful awareness enables more effective participation at the individual level.
Climate Control Bill, call senators to encourage passage:
- Each member should research more about the bill for April meeting, bill should
include a Carbon Tax.
Political Action Item – relevant until May 2010
Source: KQED City Arts & Lectures
· James Balog
As a photographer, mountaineer, scientist and explorer, James Balog has been traveling the world to photograph the intersection of humans and their environment. His adventurous spirit has led him to stumble across a story of magnificent proportions. The rapid change of our frozen world is the most visually dramatic and immediately compelling evidence of climate change on our planet. The ice of the world, which took centuries to form, is melting so fast that it can be seen on the scale of a few years, sometimes a few weeks. Balog's latest project, "The Extreme Ice Survey" documents our impact on these icy regions of the world. His innovative approach to crafting his vision of the natural world has led to many awards, including the Leica Medal of Excellence. In 2008, he was named the Outstanding Photographer of the Year from the North American Nature Photography Association. Balog is the author of six books, including "Tree: A New Vision of the American Forest" and "Survivors: A New Vision of Endangered Wildlife," which was widely hailed as a major conceptual breakthrough in nature photography. Balog is a contributing editor to National Geographic Adventure and is the subject of the short film "A Redwood Grows in Brooklyn." Balog appeared in conversation with KQED's Rachael Myrow on January 26, 2010.
In Q & A, he said the single most important thing you can do for the environment right now is to call the 3 Senators who have the most power over the success of the bill moving through the Senate, you can call them even if you are not in their district, because as committee members they have a bigger role.
They are:
Senator John Kerry
Office Locations Washington D.C.
218 Russell Bldg.
Second Floor
Washington D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2742 - Phone
(202) 224-8525 – Fax
Senator Joe Lieberman
Washington DC Office
706 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202.224.4041 (Voice)
202.224.9750 (Fax)
Senator Lesley Graham
CEC group: Lisa brought up the question about Cap & Trade being less helpful than a straight Carbon Tax, even potentially harmful. However, it's my guess that no new tax could get through the political process in this anti-tax climate. Also, it's important to look into the bill and see what all is there beside the Cap & trade. It may be that the reason it does have support it that it has a lot of other great stuff. Group decided to all try to look into it rather than one person being assigned a major research project, then see what we've stumbled across and how that influences whether to take supportive action.
- Yes Magazine
- Christian Science Magazine
- Positive News, A newspaper with positive news from all around the world
Positive News International
Positive News is a no-for-profit newspaper available in print and electronically. They report on successful endeavors from around the world in area of caring for the Earth, caring for each other, youth empowerment, happiness, etc., with a clear message that another world is possible. There are US and California editions, in addition to international ones.
4 issues/yr, $16.30
Purpose in suggesting: Reading about effective action being taken around the country and planet, (which is not normally covered in the standard media), the vision of a better outcome is supported; taking theory, desire & need into recognition & belief. This mindful awareness enables more effective participation at the individual level.
Climate Control Bill, call senators to encourage passage:
- Each member should research more about the bill for April meeting, bill should
include a Carbon Tax.
Political Action Item – relevant until May 2010
Source: KQED City Arts & Lectures
· James Balog
As a photographer, mountaineer, scientist and explorer, James Balog has been traveling the world to photograph the intersection of humans and their environment. His adventurous spirit has led him to stumble across a story of magnificent proportions. The rapid change of our frozen world is the most visually dramatic and immediately compelling evidence of climate change on our planet. The ice of the world, which took centuries to form, is melting so fast that it can be seen on the scale of a few years, sometimes a few weeks. Balog's latest project, "The Extreme Ice Survey" documents our impact on these icy regions of the world. His innovative approach to crafting his vision of the natural world has led to many awards, including the Leica Medal of Excellence. In 2008, he was named the Outstanding Photographer of the Year from the North American Nature Photography Association. Balog is the author of six books, including "Tree: A New Vision of the American Forest" and "Survivors: A New Vision of Endangered Wildlife," which was widely hailed as a major conceptual breakthrough in nature photography. Balog is a contributing editor to National Geographic Adventure and is the subject of the short film "A Redwood Grows in Brooklyn." Balog appeared in conversation with KQED's Rachael Myrow on January 26, 2010.
In Q & A, he said the single most important thing you can do for the environment right now is to call the 3 Senators who have the most power over the success of the bill moving through the Senate, you can call them even if you are not in their district, because as committee members they have a bigger role.
They are:
Senator John Kerry
Office Locations Washington D.C.
218 Russell Bldg.
Second Floor
Washington D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2742 - Phone
(202) 224-8525 – Fax
Senator Joe Lieberman
Washington DC Office
706 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202.224.4041 (Voice)
202.224.9750 (Fax)
Senator Lesley Graham
CEC group: Lisa brought up the question about Cap & Trade being less helpful than a straight Carbon Tax, even potentially harmful. However, it's my guess that no new tax could get through the political process in this anti-tax climate. Also, it's important to look into the bill and see what all is there beside the Cap & trade. It may be that the reason it does have support it that it has a lot of other great stuff. Group decided to all try to look into it rather than one person being assigned a major research project, then see what we've stumbled across and how that influences whether to take supportive action.
Recommended Buying List
- Trader Joes Toilet Paper - 100% Recycled, 80% Post Consumer
- REC Solar for PV installations
- REC Solar for PV installations
Sustainability Research Issues
- How to sustainably recycle old Appliances?
- How to sustainably recycle old Electronics?
- How to calculate the net Carbon Footprint/Carbon Impact of replacing an old appliance with a new, more energy efficient appliance?
- Research hemp paper
- How to sustainably recycle old Electronics?
- How to calculate the net Carbon Footprint/Carbon Impact of replacing an old appliance with a new, more energy efficient appliance?
- Research hemp paper
Simple Changes Ideas
- Use Paper Towels made from 100% recycled paper, point was made that this change has a large impact on reducing timber harvesting.
- Buy Organic Food, point was made that the soil used in organic farming has a greater capacity to hold carbon than soil used in non-organic farming, helping reduce humanity's overall carbon footprint.
- Use an electric kettle to heat water for tea/coffee. This saves energy when compared to micro-waving or heating a kettle on the stove.
- Use CFL lights.
- Consider preparing your own coffee rather than buying from Pete's or Starbucks, to save on the disposable coffee containers.
- Consider using an indoor/outdoor drying rack instead of your dryer. See Drying Rack report.
- Use a Kill-A-Watt meter to gain awareness as to how much various appliances cost to operate.
- Use a Hot water shut off shower head to conserve hot water wasted while waiting for hot water when starting our shower.
- Use cloth bags instead of paper/plastic bags.
- Consider installing a PV system, using the new model where installer installs for free, then locks in your rate for a given period of time.
- Hemp Paper
- Home Composting (Worm Composter, Homemade Composter)
- Purchase locally grown vegetables and locally raised meat.
- Buy Organic Food, point was made that the soil used in organic farming has a greater capacity to hold carbon than soil used in non-organic farming, helping reduce humanity's overall carbon footprint.
- Use an electric kettle to heat water for tea/coffee. This saves energy when compared to micro-waving or heating a kettle on the stove.
- Use CFL lights.
- Consider preparing your own coffee rather than buying from Pete's or Starbucks, to save on the disposable coffee containers.
- Consider using an indoor/outdoor drying rack instead of your dryer. See Drying Rack report.
- Use a Kill-A-Watt meter to gain awareness as to how much various appliances cost to operate.
- Use a Hot water shut off shower head to conserve hot water wasted while waiting for hot water when starting our shower.
- Use cloth bags instead of paper/plastic bags.
- Consider installing a PV system, using the new model where installer installs for free, then locks in your rate for a given period of time.
- Hemp Paper
- Home Composting (Worm Composter, Homemade Composter)
- Purchase locally grown vegetables and locally raised meat.
Meeting Minutes - Founding Meeting, February 27th, 2010
Here are the minutes from the founding meeting for the South Bay Community Earth Council.
We started right at 3:00pm, spending about half an hour meeting and getting to know one another.
We then went around the room, and everyone briefly shared why they attended the Council.
We then began to brainstorm and discuss various aspects of the Council and what kinds of things our council should focus on. I'll attempt to list out the various topics/discsussions by category.
General:
- A recommendation was made to read the book "Little Brother"
- At the end of the meeting, we agreed to meet on the last Thursday of the month at 7:00pm at Mark and John-Paul Riley's house. The next meeting will be March 25th.
Political:
- There was a point made that the CEC should provide a respectful forum for members to discuss political issues, even if we do not all have the same political viewpoints, we should all agree to speak of these issues from a position of balanced respect.
- There are many ballot issues and political positions that have environmental impact, and it is not always obvious what all the implications and side effects of these things are. One thing our group should focus on is researching and disseminating informed, respectful, and balanced evaluations of the environmental impact of various political issues as a service to the CEC members.
- There was an interesting discussion on Advertising as a possible reason why younger generations do not give much heed to older generations. The point was raised that Advertising encourages people to identify with the Advertising themes, and to be less open to identifying with points of view outside this spectrum. Another point was raised that Advertising causes us to focus on fulfilling personal wants rather than encouraging altruistic behavior. Another point was raised that perhaps it is the balance between these two messages that needs redressed, and our current society seems to be heavily weighted towards messages focusing on fulfilling personal wants, and not enough messages to encourage positive, altruistic action.
- The rise of the Tea-bagger movement was brought up. A point was made that the positions of the Tea-baggers appeal to people's fear and ignorance. The media lends unfair weight to their position, as evidenced by the fact that the last Tea-bagger convention had 800 participants, and nearly 300 journalists covering it, a ration of nearly 1 journalist for every three Tea-baggers in attendance. Another point was made that a way to discern whether or not to invite a public figure's views into our lives is respect. If a public figure speaks predominantly of that which they disrespect, their statements do not encourage positive action, nor are they accurately reflecting the topic they are addressing, since you cannot expect a fair evaluation of anything from a person who disrespects that of which they speak. The point was made that it appears many public figures who support the Tea-bagger movement speak only of that which they disrespect.
Outreach:
- The topic of outreach was raised, and a point was made that for the first few months, we should focus on recruiting friends that we feel would be a good fit for the type of solid, respectful foundation we are seeking to build. Then, after we have built what we all feel is a solid foundation, we can discuss other ways and means to broaden our outreach and recruitment efforts.
Reducing Personal Impact:
- We discussed the concept of the Simple Changes Support Group.
- We discussed the CEC library that has been started to help support these Simple Changes.
- The point was made that we should keep a Recommended Buying List after the CEC has evaluated a product.
- The point was made that we should keep a list of Simple Changes Ideas that people in the CEC can try out.
- The point was made that the CEC should also Research Issues regarding questions or concerns people have when trying to find the most sustainable solution to a particular sustainability problem.
We started right at 3:00pm, spending about half an hour meeting and getting to know one another.
We then went around the room, and everyone briefly shared why they attended the Council.
We then began to brainstorm and discuss various aspects of the Council and what kinds of things our council should focus on. I'll attempt to list out the various topics/discsussions by category.
General:
- A recommendation was made to read the book "Little Brother"
- At the end of the meeting, we agreed to meet on the last Thursday of the month at 7:00pm at Mark and John-Paul Riley's house. The next meeting will be March 25th.
Political:
- There was a point made that the CEC should provide a respectful forum for members to discuss political issues, even if we do not all have the same political viewpoints, we should all agree to speak of these issues from a position of balanced respect.
- There are many ballot issues and political positions that have environmental impact, and it is not always obvious what all the implications and side effects of these things are. One thing our group should focus on is researching and disseminating informed, respectful, and balanced evaluations of the environmental impact of various political issues as a service to the CEC members.
- There was an interesting discussion on Advertising as a possible reason why younger generations do not give much heed to older generations. The point was raised that Advertising encourages people to identify with the Advertising themes, and to be less open to identifying with points of view outside this spectrum. Another point was raised that Advertising causes us to focus on fulfilling personal wants rather than encouraging altruistic behavior. Another point was raised that perhaps it is the balance between these two messages that needs redressed, and our current society seems to be heavily weighted towards messages focusing on fulfilling personal wants, and not enough messages to encourage positive, altruistic action.
- The rise of the Tea-bagger movement was brought up. A point was made that the positions of the Tea-baggers appeal to people's fear and ignorance. The media lends unfair weight to their position, as evidenced by the fact that the last Tea-bagger convention had 800 participants, and nearly 300 journalists covering it, a ration of nearly 1 journalist for every three Tea-baggers in attendance. Another point was made that a way to discern whether or not to invite a public figure's views into our lives is respect. If a public figure speaks predominantly of that which they disrespect, their statements do not encourage positive action, nor are they accurately reflecting the topic they are addressing, since you cannot expect a fair evaluation of anything from a person who disrespects that of which they speak. The point was made that it appears many public figures who support the Tea-bagger movement speak only of that which they disrespect.
Outreach:
- The topic of outreach was raised, and a point was made that for the first few months, we should focus on recruiting friends that we feel would be a good fit for the type of solid, respectful foundation we are seeking to build. Then, after we have built what we all feel is a solid foundation, we can discuss other ways and means to broaden our outreach and recruitment efforts.
Reducing Personal Impact:
- We discussed the concept of the Simple Changes Support Group.
- We discussed the CEC library that has been started to help support these Simple Changes.
- The point was made that we should keep a Recommended Buying List after the CEC has evaluated a product.
- The point was made that we should keep a list of Simple Changes Ideas that people in the CEC can try out.
- The point was made that the CEC should also Research Issues regarding questions or concerns people have when trying to find the most sustainable solution to a particular sustainability problem.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Drying Rack Report
So far, our first commitment was to not use our Dryer for the month of February. We purchased a simple, 21$ drying rack. It works beautifully. It only takes about 5 minutes to lay the clothes out on the rack, and even indoors in the winter with all the rain, the clothes are nice and dry the next day, although some heavier items jeans, etc, take a another day longer to dry. The clothes feel comfortable and nice on the skin. In all fairness however, we have a HE front-loading washer and we have extremely soft water(which eliminates the minerals that cause clothes to feel stiff) with a very high spin cycle which helps makes this solution very practical for us. Others with a top loader may have a different experience.
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