From vpaulman at hampshire.edu Wed Sep 1 08:39:22 2004 From: vpaulman at hampshire.edu (Vanessa Paulman) Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 08:39:22 -0400 Subject: [ESSP] Fwd: New Course in Seed Saving and Sustainable Ag at Hampshire CollegeThis Fall! Message-ID: >--------------------------------- > >New Course Offered At Hampshire College this Fall!!! > >>From Generation to Generation: Seed Saving in >Sustainable Agriculture >NS 115-1 Monday 2:30-3:50 CSC 333 >Wednesday Lab 1-5 CSC Ecology Lab > >Taught By Rowen White > >Seed saving, once an essential skill passed through >generations of farmers, is nearly a lost art. Thanks >to many generations of farmers, today we find a >diverse rainbow of crops in markets, seed catalogs, >and gardens. Orange peppers, yellow watermelons, >purple tomatoes, and blue corn...Is imagination the >only limit to such flavors and colors of food crop >varieties? The truth is that variation of life adheres >to basic patterns, and is influenced by dynamic >systems, such as plant human relationships, the >environment, and plant to plant interactions. Using >seed saving as the focal point, this course will >provide a practical perspective into the dynamic world >of plant reproduction, genetics, and botany. The aim >of the course is to deepen students understanding of >the importance of genetic diversity, indigenous seeds, >and the need for regional seed sources. Working in >collaboration with the Hampshire College Farm, we will >be doing evaluations and participatory research with >several diverse seed crops. > >For info, contact Rowen White at... >rowenwhite at yahoo.com > > > > -- Vanessa Paulman Center for Science Exploration Hampshire College phone: (413) 559-5792 fax: (413) 559-5438 Adele Simmons Hall #132 http://ScienceExploration.hampshire.edu From vpaulman at hampshire.edu Fri Sep 10 08:43:56 2004 From: vpaulman at hampshire.edu (Vanessa Paulman) Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 08:43:56 -0400 Subject: [ESSP] ELP Fellowship: Deadline October 1st! Message-ID: Interesting opportunity for anyone who's been working in the environmental field and is looking for ways to learn more... >Environmental Leadership Program National Fellowship > >Only 3 weeks left to apply for the ELP Fellowship >Class of 2005-2006! > > More Information > >Fellowship Application Information and Materials >Details about the Fellowship, who should apply, and the application process >Learn >more... > >Application Deadline: OCTOBER 1, 2004 > >Meet other emerging leaders >Information about current ELP Fellows and their work >Learn >more... > >Quick Links > >More >About Us >Meet >ELP Fellows >Regional >Initiatives >Activity >Fund: ELP's Small Grants Program >Support >ELP > > > >The application deadline for the Environmental >Leadership Program (ELP) Fellowship is October >1, 2004. Apply now! > >The ELP Fellowship is an innovative national >program dedicated to training and supporting a >diverse network of action-oriented emerging >environmental leaders from the United States, >U.S. Territories, and Freely Associated States. >The ELP Fellowship provides training, project >funding and a vibrant peer network to 20-25 >individuals each year engaged in environmental >and social change work. ELP fellows come from >nonprofits, community organizations, businesses, >government, tribal government, and higher >education, and include activists, artists, >writers, lawyers, policy makers, entrepreneurs, >and scientists. ELP is committed to fostering a >reflective, diverse environmental movement >capable of responding to our complex social and >environmental challenges. > >About the ELP Fellowship > >The ELP Fellowship provides an opportunity for >talented individuals to have a unique and >substantial impact on environmental and social >change through collaboration with other emerging >leaders. We define emerging professionals as >individuals with approximately three to ten >years of work experience. We define >"environmental" broadly to include public >health, transportation policy and planning, >economic development, and broad-based community >organizing. > >The two-year fellowship offers unique networking >opportunities, intensive leadership and skills >training, access to project seed money, travel >and accomodations for four fellowship retreats, >national recognition, and time for personal and >professional reflection. > >Learn >more about the ELP Fellowship... > > >Please help spread the word about the ELP >Fellowship by forwarding this announcement to >appropriate networks, associations, and >individuals. > >There are only 3 weeks left until the deadline, so apply now! > >For more information, please contact us or visit our website. > > >ELP Fellowship Office >Environmental Leadership Program > >email: info at elpnet.org >phone: 413.268.0035 >web: >http://www.elpnet.org > > > >Forward >this email to a friend > > > >This email was sent to vanessa at paulman.com, by >update at elpnet.org >Update >Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with >SafeUnsubscribe? >| >Privacy >Policy. >Powered by > >Environmental Leadership Program | ELP >Fellowship Office | P.O. Box 446 | Haydenville | >MA | 01039 -- Vanessa Paulman Center for Science Exploration Hampshire College phone: (413) 559-5792 fax: (413) 559-5438 Adele Simmons Hall #132 http://ScienceExploration.hampshire.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From vpaulman at HAMPSHIRE.EDU Tue Sep 14 11:45:23 2004 From: vpaulman at HAMPSHIRE.EDU (Vanessa Paulman) Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2004 11:45:23 -0400 Subject: [ESSP] Lunch Series starts this week Message-ID: This Friday! Yummy New Lunch Series for anyone interested in Sustainability, Farming and the Environment 1st and 3rd Friday's of the month Cole 333 from noon - 1:00 Fresh Food from the Hampshire Farm Center provided This week: Laura Sizer and Mark Feinstein on the Ethical Treatment of Farm Animals Join us! -- Vanessa Paulman Center for Science Exploration Hampshire College phone: (413) 559-5792 fax: (413) 559-5438 Adele Simmons Hall #132 http://ScienceExploration.hampshire.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From vpaulman at hampshire.edu Wed Sep 15 08:47:54 2004 From: vpaulman at hampshire.edu (Vanessa Paulman) Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2004 08:47:54 -0400 Subject: [ESSP] Fwd: SEI Newsletter Issue 21 - September 2004 Message-ID: > > > > > >Renewable Energy Education for a Sustainable Future > > > Home | >Workshops | >Membership | >Contact > >September 14, 2004 > > > SEI Newsletter Issue 21 - September 2004 > > > > Alumni - There are a lot of >job openings in the RE industry right now. Don't forget to check out >SEI's Job Openings >page. > > > > > > > >Photovoltaics: Design & Installation Manual Discount! > > > >Attention all SEI alumni and members: SEI is offering a 10% discount >on our new book, Photovoltaics: Design & Installation Manual to all >SEI alumni. We are offering a 20% discount on the book to all >members. Click >here to become a member of SEI . > >For PV alumni who have our older book, the new manual includes >chapters on utility-interactive PV systems and building integrated >PV, and a detailed glossary and updated resource sections. > >To order the PV manual > click here. > > > > > > > > > >Sustainable Resources 2004 > > > >Sustainable Resources 2004, an international forum connecting people >with hands-on solutions to world poverty, will be held September 30 >- October 2 in Boulder, Colorado. > >From engineering to the arts, from medicine to spirituality, from >academia to grass roots NGO's in developing countries, Sustainable >Resources seeks to bring together the world's foremost experts to >facilitate partnerships and collaborations. There will be more than >40 keynote speakers, over 250 presentations, cultural events and >exhibits. > >In the Practical Energy track of the conference, explore new >renewable energy markets and opportunities, learn about new >techniques and technologies, find out first-hand what's worked and >hasn't, and meet people living and working in almost every country >in the world. Also, SEI will be offering a 3-day >Renewable >Energy for the Developing World preconference workshop with >impressive guest speakers from around the world. > >For more information and to register: email: >info at sustainableresources.org >or check out their website: >www.sustainableresources.org >303-998-1323 > > > > > > > > > >Upcoming Online Workshops > > > >Learn how to design solar homes and photovoltaic systems from the >comfort of your own home! SEI has two online workshops coming up. >Solar Home >Design Online is a 6 week workshop which focuses on how to build >energy efficient, sustainable solar homes. It is offered October 11 >- November 19. > >PV Design >Online teaches the practical design of photovoltaic power systems >which are independent of the utility and those that are utility >interactive. It is offered November 1 - December 10. > >Read Home Power magazine's review of SEI's Online courses on pages >122 - 123 of your current issue or click >here to download the current issue. > > > > > > > > > >More PV in Sacramento's Grid > > > >A new solar PV array was added on to the Rancho Seco property owned >by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) to celebrate the >20 year anniversary of the utility's first major solar installation. >PV1 was installed and hooked into the power grid to provide one >megawatt (MW) of renewable energy to the Sacramento system. PV6, the >anniversary installation, increased the field array capacity to 3.2 >MW, enough to power more than 2,200 single-family homes. The 3,700 >modules were fitted into approximately 412 tracking panels that >follow the sun across the sky to help gather the maximum amount of >solar energy. > >Read the full story on > SolarAccess.com > > > > > > > > > >Upcoming RE events > > > >Besides the Sustainable Resources conference, there are many other >exciting events which SEI is participating in coming up in Colorado. >Check out the following - > >Aspen Green Building Conference 2004 Sustainable Business Solutions >Oct. 6-8 in Snowmass >SEI will be presenting two workshops at this event which provides >access to a growing network of governmental, nonprofit, and >for-profit organizations all working to promote resource efficiency >locally -- from planning through construction, eventual demolition, >and disposal. For more information >click >here >. > >Windstar Foundation's "New Choices for Your Future" Symposium Friday >September 24 in Snowmass or Online! > >SEI will be partnering with Earthseeds, >to present in this exciting on-line / on-site environmental >education symposium for students, teachers and the public. For more >info click here. > > > > > > > > >Your Generosity Ensures our Success! > > >SEI would like to welcome our new members! As a membership-based >non-profit, SEI's members are the heart of our organization and >allow us to continue our educational programs. SEI Staff is >passionate about the work that we do and membership dues help >sustain our renewable energy endeavors. > >Please join us! Become an SEI member and support our important work >(and receive a free one year subscription to either Home Power >magazine or E magazine.) > >Click here for >details on how to become an SEI member. > >To all SEI members . . . SEI sends thanks! > > > > > > > >Help create a sustainable future. Please forward this newsletter to >your friends. > >Home | >Workshops | >Membership | >Contact > > > > > >Help create a sustainable future. Please forward this newsletter to >your friends. > >PO Box 715 * 76 S. 2nd. St. * Carbondale, CO 81623 >970-963-8855 * fax: 970-963-8866 > > > > > > To unsubscribe from this >mailing list >click here. > -- Vanessa Paulman Center for Science Exploration Hampshire College phone: (413) 559-5792 fax: (413) 559-5438 Adele Simmons Hall #132 http://ScienceExploration.hampshire.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From vpaulman at hampshire.edu Thu Sep 16 13:39:51 2004 From: vpaulman at hampshire.edu (Vanessa Paulman) Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2004 13:39:51 -0400 Subject: [ESSP] EF Schumacher Lectures Message-ID: >Dear Dr. D'Avanzo > >It is a pleasure to announce the speakers for the Twenty-Fourth Annual E. F. >Schumacher Lectures to be held October 23rd in Stockbridge, Massachusetts: > >Oren Lyons-revered traditional leader of the Onondaga Nation and tireless >international advocate for indigenous rights and sovereignty issues; > >Judy Wicks-owner of the White Dog Caf?, founder of BALLE, and a passionate >spokesperson for local ownership and local production; and > >Stephanie Mills-an eloquent observer of the natural world, turning her fine >perception to the economic, peace, and social activist world of Bob Swann. > >If you are free to attend, please plan to join us. The Lectures are a >wonderful occasion for Schumacher members to hear visionary voices, engage >with speakers and other participants, and linger for an autumn weekend in >the Berkshire region. Details and registration information follow. > >Warm wishes, >Susan Witt > >Executive Director >E. F. Schumacher Society >140 Jug End Road >Great Barrington, Massachusetts 01230 USA >(413) 528-1737, efssociety at smallisbeautiful.org > www.smallisbeautiful.org > > >* * * * * * * * > >THE TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL >E. F. SCHUMACHER LECTURES > >Saturday, October 23, 2004, 10:00 - 5:00 >First Congregational Church, Main Street, Stockbridge, Massachusetts > >Featured Speakers: >OREN LYONS >JUDY WICKS >STEPHANIE MILLS > >OREN LYONS is Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan, Onondaga Nation, Haudenosaunee >(Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy). Through the United Nations and other >international forums he has been active in international indigenous rights >and sovereignty issues. He is an Associate Professor in the American Studies >Program at the State University of New York at Buffalo. As publisher of >Daybreak, a Native American news magazine, he has given voice to the >traditional practices and concerns of indigenous peoples on this continent. >He edited Exiled in the Land of the Free: Democracy, Indian Nations, and the >U.S. Constitution published in 1992. > >JUDY WICKS is founder of Philadelphia's twenty-one year old White Dog Cafe, >known for its advocacy of local organically raised food and for the farmers >who grow such food. The adjoining Black Cat retail shop specializes in >locally made products and fair trade goods. The White Dog Cafe Foundation >distributes twenty percent of the restaurant's profits to support a range of >Philadelphia non-profits and reflects Judy's passion for environmental, >peace, and social justice issues. A leading national spokesperson for the >importance of creating healthy local economies, Judy's experience with her >own business led her to found the Business Alliance for Local Living >Economies (BALLE), a two-and-a-half year-old national organization with >chapters in over fifteen cities. Her awards include the prestigious Business >Enterprise Trust Award, founded by Norman Lear, for creative leadership in >combining sound business management with social vision, and Business Ethics >magazine's first "Living Economy Award." With Chef Kevin von Klause, she >co-authored White Dog Cafe Cookbook: Multicultural Recipes and Tales of >Adventure from Philadelphia's Revolutionary Restaurant. > >STEPHANIE MILLS has been a writer and editor of matters ecological, >bioregional, social, and political for the past thirty years. Famous for her >commencement address at Mills College in 1969, "The Future is a Cruel Hoax," >she went on to serve as the editor of Co-Evolution Quarterly, Not Man Apart, >California Tomorrow, Earth, and Earth Times. Mills's 1989 Sierra Club book, >Whatever Happened to Ecology?, is widely regarded as a singular voice of >sanity and a moving personal statement of a woman on the ecological >frontiers. Her 2002 book, Epicurean Simplicity, explores the grace and >freedom of the simple life. Mills has been named by Utne Reader as one of >the world's leading visionaries. She is currently writing a biography of >Robert Swann. > >LECTURE SCHEDULE > > 9:30 Registration and coffee >10:00 Welcome >10:15 Talk by Oren Lyons >11:15 Audience response and questions >12:00 Lunch (see details below) > 1:00 Talk by Judy Wicks > 2:00 Audience response and questions > 2:30 Coffee Break > 2:45 Talk by Stephanie Mills > 4:00 Audience response and questions > 4:30 Closing remarks by the speakers > 4:50 Tea and book-signing by the speakers > > >DETAILS > >Time: Saturday, October 23, 2004; 10:00 - 5:00. There will be a lunch break >from 12:00 - 1:00. > >Cost: $20 per person, $15 per member of the E. F. Schumacher Society, and >$15 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at the door and from the >E. F. Schumacher Society, 140 Jug End Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230 (413) >528-1737, efssociety at smallisbeautiful.org. > >Registration: Pre-registration recommended. Checks payable to the E. F. >Schumacher Society, Visa and MasterCard accepted. > >Lunch: A vegetarian brown bag lunch may be ordered in advance for an >additional $12. Call for menu details. Alternatively there are several >nearby restaurants or bring your own bag lunch. > >Directions: The First Congregational Church of Stockbridge is located on >West Main Street (next to Town Hall) in Stockbridge. From Boston, take the >Lee Exit on the Massachusetts Turnpike and follow signs south (Route 102) to >Stockbridge. From New York City take the Taconic Parkway to Route 23 in >Claverack. Follow Route 23 east to Great Barrington, where Route 23 joins >Route 7. Take Route 7 north to Stockbridge, turn left on Main Street at the >Red Lion Inn. The church will be on your left approximate 1/3 mile. The >historic red brick church is easy to identify behind the prominent clock >tower. A map can be viewed and downloaded from the "events" page of our >website at smallisbeautiful.org. > >Accommodations: Call the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce 413-528-1510 >for listings of the many overnight options in the region or visit >www.greatbarrington.org. > >Membership: Contributions to the E. F. Schumacher Society are >tax-deductible. > > >* * * * * * * * >ANNUAL LECTURES REGISTRATION/MEMBERSHIP FORM > >_____Enclosed are registration fees for _______person(s) for the Annual >E. F. Schumacher Lectures ($20 non-member, $15 member/student/senior). > >_____Please reserve _____lunch(es). Enclosed is $12 per lunch. > >_____Included is my/our tax-deductible donation to support the >E. F. Schumacher Society's work for:______$50 ______$100 >_____$250 ______$500 ______$1000 ______Other >Please enter/renew my/our membership. > >Name_________________________________ > >Address_______________________________ > >______________________________________ > >Email_________________________________ > >Return with check or credit card information to: >E. F. Schumacher Society >140 Jug End Road >Great Barrington, MA 01230 >www.smallisbeautiful.org -- Vanessa Paulman Center for Science Exploration Hampshire College phone: (413) 559-5792 fax: (413) 559-5438 Adele Simmons Hall #132 http://ScienceExploration.hampshire.edu From vpaulman at hampshire.edu Thu Sep 16 14:33:24 2004 From: vpaulman at hampshire.edu (Vanessa Paulman) Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2004 14:33:24 -0400 Subject: [ESSP] Farm Center lunch this Friday Message-ID: REMINDER: This Friday! Yummy New Lunch Series for anyone interested in Sustainability, Farming and the Environment 1st and 3rd Friday's of the month Cole 333 from noon - 1:00 Fresh Food from the Hampshire Farm Center provided This week: Laura Sizer and Mark Feinstein on the Ethical Treatment of Farm Animals Join us! -- Vanessa Paulman Center for Science Exploration Hampshire College phone: (413) 559-5792 fax: (413) 559-5438 Adele Simmons Hall #132 http://ScienceExploration.hampshire.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From vpaulman at hampshire.edu Thu Sep 16 16:20:41 2004 From: vpaulman at hampshire.edu (Vanessa Paulman) Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2004 16:20:41 -0400 Subject: [ESSP] Veggie Car is For Sale! Message-ID: >Dear Friends, > >I am on my way to go film Willie Nelson and the Farm Aid Concert >(http://www.farmaid.org) in Seattle Washington for our upcoming >documentary 'Fields of Fuel', but before I head out the door - I >wanted to let you know about an exciting opportunity. The Veggie Car >- the only 1971 240z Biodiesel powered sports car in the world - is >finally For Sale on eBay! > >This car comes with its own domain name http://www.veggiecar.com >which you will own when you purchase the car. The combination of the >domain and the car will drive people to your site. Or, if you >prefer, use the car as your own personal biodiesel-powered sports >car. We've included a lot of information on the eBay site so please >have a close look and forward this exciting news to your friends. > >To view the sale click on the following link or paste it into your browser: >http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2490011598 > >Some important things about this sale > >1) There is no reserve price. Meaning, the winning bidder takes home >the car - no matter how low the price is >2) There is a 'buy it now' price of $20,000 and if somebody clicks >on that, they will automatically buy the car. >3) This is the only Datsun 240z with a turbo diesel engine in the >world. The engine has been completely restored, so has the car. >Parts for the engine (which came from a Nissan Maxima) and for the >car itself are available at Nissan Dealers and auto parts stores >worldwide. >4) The car gets 44mpg and has a top speed of 120mph >5) We are forced to sell the car because of rising costs for our >upcoming documentary film. > >Please read all of the information on the ad carefully. > >Thanks for taking the time to read this email and for being part of >the biodiesel revolution! > >Best, > >Josh > >Josh Tickell >DIRECTOR >Fields of Fuel >"The Film that's Jumpstarting the Biodiesel Revolution" >Tickell at VeggieVan.org >8033 Sunset Blvd. #154 >Hollywood, CA 90046 > >P.S. - I know a number of you are awaiting e-mail responses from me. >Please hang on just a little longer - I am about to release some >very big news, the development of which is taking substantial >amounts of time and energy. I think you will be very, very excited >to see what we are about to unveil. > > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- >To unsubscribe, e-mail: maillist-unsubscribe at veggievan.org >For additional commands, e-mail: maillist-help at veggievan.org -- Vanessa Paulman Center for Science Exploration Hampshire College phone: (413) 559-5792 fax: (413) 559-5438 Adele Simmons Hall #132 http://ScienceExploration.hampshire.edu From vpaulman at hampshire.edu Fri Sep 17 15:43:39 2004 From: vpaulman at hampshire.edu (Vanessa Paulman) Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2004 15:43:39 -0400 Subject: [ESSP] Fwd: CLIMATE CAMPAIGN MASSACUSETTS SUMMIT, OCT 3, TUFTS UNIVERSITY!! Message-ID: > >Hey everyone, > >The Massachusetts Climate Campaign fall summit will be held on Sunday, October >3 at Tufts University in Medford from 10 am to 5 pm! > >This is a great opportunity for us to build a strong state network of commited >student activists who will be advocates for campus clean energy campaigns and >responible state climate policies. The event will feature organizing and >political skills trainings, student panels, briefings on local, state, and >national environmental/political issues, and breakout sessions where we can >come up with ideas on how to take action towards the kind of clean energy >future we want to see. > >Please contact me ASAP if you or your campus group is interested in attending >this event!! I can be reached by e-mail or by cell phone at 617-967-1740. >Feel free to distribute this announcement widely to anyone else you think may >be interested. > >More information, including a complete agenda and directions, forthcoming very >soon! > >--Adi Nochur > >http://www.climatecampaign.org >http://www.envirocitizen.org > >----- End forwarded message ----- -- Vanessa Paulman Center for Science Exploration Hampshire College phone: (413) 559-5792 fax: (413) 559-5438 Adele Simmons Hall #132 http://ScienceExploration.hampshire.edu From vpaulman at hampshire.edu Tue Sep 28 13:15:59 2004 From: vpaulman at hampshire.edu (Vanessa Paulman) Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 13:15:59 -0400 Subject: [ESSP] biodiesel america Message-ID: Dear Friends, Good news. As I?ve indicated over the past couple of months ? our team in Los Angeles has been cookin?. The purpose of this letter is to introduce you to ?Biodiesel America? (http://www.biodieselamerica.org) - our new name, our new mission and our new direction. Also, I want to touch on something we will talk more about as our new organization develops - how you participate in a new vision for biodiesel that will have direct, tangible impact on you and your family. What I Learned on My Retreat ? or ? How I Closed the Chapter on Seven Years of Work with the Veggie Van Friends, recent events such as filming Willie Nelson and Neil Young, writing a new book and seeing a worldwide surge of interest in biodiesel have instilled in me a new passion for the work I have done for the past seven years and the work you, our worldwide community of biodiesel-active people, have done. But these events have also caused me to look back and analyze our successes and our shortcomings. The largest realization I have had is that, like many organizations, our organization has spent the past seven years in reaction. Despite our successes in the media, in writing the first ever book on biodiesel and in making awareness-raising web sites and films, we have been fighting ?against? the status quo rather than fighting ?for? a new vision. This is common with many organizations that you and I respect. Think about a few organizations you may know: 1) Greenpeace ? fights against whaling, logging, bad corporations & the destruction of the environment 2) World Wildlife Federation ? fights against extinction of animals 3) Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) ? attorneys and scientists who ?defend? natural resources by fighting court battles. Whether you like them or not, these organizations and many others like them fight for worthy causes. But, in general, they are in the business of fighting against problems, not the business of fighting for solutions. And that is a critical distinction. Because when you fight against a problem, you are reactionary ? you?re playing defense. Every time the problem morphs or changes direction ? you too, must change. In this scenario, you have lost before the game begins. This may sound a bit esoteric, but think about what I?m saying, and I?ll bet you?ll agree - when you?re fighting for an articulated, defined vision, you not really fighting at all, you?re ?creating? the future you want. Rather than reacting to events, we want to ?create? our future. When I realized that, I made an important decision: I was going to stop fighting. I was going to stop beating against a brick wall. And instead, I decided to reach out to the people who want to build a new vision, a new dream for America and ?build? the blocks to turn that vision into reality. The people who can build those blocks are you ? the people reading this letter. People Are Talking When I travel across our great nation, I stop in small towns and big cities and I listen to local people. I listen to what?s on their minds ? what they?re complaining about and what they love to do. What amazes me about this process of ?listening to America? is how diverse we are as a nation but how similar our stories are. Here are a few of the issues I hear people speak about: 1) The difficulty of getting a good job in today?s job market 2) Lack of availability of good schools 3) The high rate of taxes 4) Pollution in the cities There are many other issues, but these are constants regardless of the city or town. Interestingly enough, they?re interconnected and they just might be connected to a solution. The Big Question What if I told you there was a simple way to reduce your children?s risk of cancer substantially, to decrease the number one cause of absenteeism in the United States, to bring jobs into our communities, to help farmers who have lost 750,000 family farms since 1960 and continue to lose 350 family farms a week, to increase your nation?s independence from mid east oil and to decrease your community?s impact on global warming? What if I told you that you could do all of this and the cost to you as a citizen was the price of a latte per year? For the cost of a cup of fancy coffee each year you could do all of this. Would you do it? Because the citizens of Berkeley did it and so could you. Let me tell you how. First there are a few facts that are critical for you to know. Here they are: FACT #1 ? There are 460,000 school buses in America. 390,000 of them are diesels. FACT #2 ? 24 Million American children ride a school bus every day (9% of our population) FACT #3 ? The average American child spends 1.5 hours a day on the bus FACT #4 ? The number one cause of absenteeism in the United States is asthma FACT #5 ? The air inside a diesel school bus is more carcinogenic (more cancer-causing) than the air your child breathes at any other point in their day. The air inside a diesel school bus also has a higher level of particles that stick in your child?s lungs (a huge contributor to asthma) than any other direct airborne source. FACT #5 ? Biodiesel DECREASES YOUR CHILD?S RISK OF CANCER CAUSED BY SCHOOL BUS EMISSIONS BY 85% AND DECREASES THE PARTICLES THAT ATTACH TO YOUR CHILD?S LUNGS BY 60-80% Berkeley Goes Biodiesel Now a quick story about what happened in Berkeley, California. I know you?re thinking that this if it?s in ?Berkeley? it must be a story of a longhaired hippy type from Berkeley who got his town to use biodiesel. Well, you?re right. Dave Williamson has long hair, and a beard. He?s in charge of Berkeley?s recycling program. This seems typical, but there?s something amazing about Dave. Seeing Dave on the street, you might call him a big hippy, but Dave is no dummy. When Dave arrived at the Berkeley Ecology Center, less than 5% of Berkeley?s municipal waste was being recycled. Dave?s critics told him it would be impossible to ever increase the amount of recycled waste in Berkeley higher than 15%. Thanks to Dave, Berkeley now recycles 50% of its solid municipal waste. Dave took his success with recycling one step further ? he got Berkeley to begin using biodiesel. But instead of just getting a few vehicles to use biodiesel, Dave partnered with scientist and researcher Dr. Randall Von Wedel and together, they put forth a proposal that the city of Berkeley begin using biodiesel in all 197 of Berkeley?s municipal vehicles. And, instead of using a blend of biodiesel with conventional diesel, Dave and Randall convinced the town of Berkeley to use 100% biodiesel ? something that had never been done before in any city in the US. So how did they do it? Well, the short story is that Dave and Randall figured out that the price increase per taxpayer in Berkeley per year for using 100% biodiesel is about $2.50 per year. Dave and Randall built a team of support and brought in everyone from the town fleet managers to the actual truck drivers themselves. They befriended council members. And by the time they went to propose the amendment to the city at the town meeting, by the time Dave Williamson got up in front of the council, who was naturally waffling at the idea, and said in his big, bear-like voice, ?Look, people are dying in wars for oil and we can give you energy independence for the price of a latte per year ? how many of you people buy a latte every day?? The city then passed the amendment. To this day, Berkeley remains the only city in the United States with its entire municipal vehicle fleet ? from garbage trucks to school buses ? running on 100% biodiesel that was made in the USA. Dave Williamson is an ex-Marine. He served in 3 worldwide tours of duty. He comes from a family of roughneck oil workers in a state called Louisiana. Dave Williamson is a leader and a patriot. He is fighting for your families. And he is winning. And he?s not alone. Building a Vision There are a lot of great web sites on the Internet about biodiesel. The National Biodiesel Board has a great site at http://www.biodiesel.org Keith Addison has a great site at Journey to Forever at http://www.jtforever.org and there are now hundreds of sites on biodiesel ? all working to educate people about the benefits of this fuel. When we moved our organization to California and began rebuilding our mission, I realized that the one thing biodiesel lacked was a place for people to discuss the ?vision? driving biodiesel fuel. Another thing lacking was a cohesive national (and perhaps even one day international), vision-driven campaign. The purpose of this letter is to bring you along the path that lead me and my team to change the name of our organization to ?Biodiesel America? and to change our direction to a campaign-oriented structure that emphasizes the need for biodiesel in American school buses. Our goal is to leverage the power of our upcoming book and film to roll out a vision that biodiesel can be used in communities like Berkeley. Communities where kids suffer from asthma, where people need jobs and where the heartbeat of America is still strong. Communities all across America. Communities like yours. So take a moment to log on. Have a look at our new web site at http://www.biodieselamerica.org. If you like our direction and what we are doing, donate to us for a tax-deduction and, please tell your friends and family: The biodiesel revolution has begun and you are part of it. Best regards, Josh Tickell Founder, Biodiesel America Director, ?Fields of Fuel? P.S. ? I will be updating you periodically on all of the new aspects of ?Biodiesel America? and how you can get more involved in our mission. Keep your eyes peeled for my next email announcement. -- Vanessa Paulman Center for Science Exploration Hampshire College phone: (413) 559-5792 fax: (413) 559-5438 Adele Simmons Hall #132 http://ScienceExploration.hampshire.edu From vpaulman at hampshire.edu Wed Sep 29 08:55:01 2004 From: vpaulman at hampshire.edu (Vanessa Paulman) Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 08:55:01 -0400 Subject: [ESSP] Fwd: climate campaign MA summit - FINAL AGENDA AND LOGISTICS Message-ID: >Hi Vanessa, could you send this along to essp? It is the logistical and >scheduling info. > >Thx! > >Dhyana > >Hey all, > >The Massachusetts Climate Campaign summit is being held this Sunday, October 3 >at Tufts University in Medford from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it isn't too late >to register! Just contact me at 617-967-1740 or aditya.nochur at tufts.edu with >your name, school, and contact info by this Thursday if you are interested in >attending, just so we can have an idea of how many people to expect (you are >still most welcome even if you don?t RSVP in advance!). Don?t miss this >exciting opportunity to help build a strong state network of student activists >committed to working around climate and renewable energy issues! > >The agenda and final logistical information about parking and directions are >included in this message. Lunch will be included, and if you want to get in >on Saturday we will be able to accomodate you for the night. Hope to see you >all on Sunday, and don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions! And as >always, please pass on the word. Thanks! > >--Adi Nochur > > >Massachusetts Climate Campaign Summit >October 3, 2004 >Tufts University >Medford, MA > >Brought to you by: The Climate Campaign, EnviroCitizen, >Student Environmental Action Coalition, MassPIRG, >Clean Water Action, Clean Power Now, >Tufts Institute of the Environment > >** all sessions to take place in Cabot 302 unless otherwise noted ** > >AGENDA > >10:00 ? 10:30 Registration > >10:30 ? 11:00 Welcoming remarks and introduction to Climate Campaign >and >Energy Action coalitions > >The Climate Campaign seeks to build a strong network of students active around >climate and renewable energy issues in the Northeast; Energy Action plans to >make a powerful political statement about clean energy around the upcoming >Presidential elections. Learn about the resources these organizations have to >offer, and what you can do to get involved! > >11:00 ? 12:00 Climate issues in the state of Massachusetts > >Governor Romney?s recently released Climate Protection Plan, a pending bill >requiring increased energy efficiency for appliances, and the proposed Cape >Wind project all have profound implications for climate security in >Massachusetts. Learn about these issues and ways we students can take action >around them as we work towards a sustainable energy future. (Jed Thorp, Clean >Water Action; Colin Peppard, MassPIRG; Charley Cummings, Clean Power Now) > >12:00 ? 12:50 Break for lunch > >1:00 ? 1:30 Keynote speech: ?Climate Action on Campuses? (Anja >Kollmuss, >Tufts Climate Initiative) > > >1:30 ? 2:20 Skills trainings, Round 1 > >Campus Organizing: Learn how to run a successful clean energy campaign on your >campus! (Laura Inkeles, EnviroCitizen) Room: Olin 101 > >Lobbying: Learn about the roles of lobbyists and how to talk with your >representatives about the issues that concern you! (Riley Neugebauer, >EnviroCitizen) Room: Olin 102 > >Media and Messaging: Learn how to create an effective message, interact with >reporters, and use the media to raise the profile of your campaign! (Adi >Nochur, EnviroCitizen) Room: Olin 103 > >Running Effective Meetings: Learn how to get more students to your meetings, >keep them there, and empower them to become strong leaders! (Matt Soycher, >Student Environmental Action Coalition) Room: Olin 107 > >2:30 ? 3:20 Skills trainings, Round 2 (same as round 1) > >3:30 ? 4:20 Break-out sessions > >Share resources and brainstorm ways we can take action on both campus and >state policy levels! Schools will split off by region as follows: > >? Boston/urban schools: Olin 101 >? Suburban schools: Olin 102 >? Worcester/central MA schools: Olin 103 >? Western MA schools: Olin 107 > >4:30 Reconvene, debrief and closing statements > > > >All sessions are going to be held in either the Cabot Center, room 302 or the >Olin Center. Both buildings are right next to each other on Packard Avenue. >A campus map that also shows parking locations can be found at >http://publicsafety.tufts.edu/adminsvc/parking/medford- >somerville/map_medford.html. > >DIRECTIONS TO THE TUFTS CAMPUS: visit >http://admissions.tufts.edu/directions.htm. A note for those taking the >subway: if you exit the Davis Square stop on the Holland Avenue side and cross >the street, you can wait there for the Tufts shuttle to take you to campus. >The first shuttle on Sunday morning leaves Davis Square around 10:10 a.m., and >they continue every half hour thereafter. Get off outside the Olin Center. > >PARKING INFORMATION: October 3 falls on our homecoming weekend, and parking >will be tight. You can park on Boston Avenue without a permit if you want to >try your luck there. For those feeling less adventurous, your best bet is to >contact us if you?re driving in and know the license plate number of the >vehicle you will be driving, and we can buy you a day pass in advance. Passes >will also be available on Sunday at the Department of Public Safety at 419 >Boston Avenue. These passes will allow you to park in any lot or area that >would normally require a decal or a pass, as shown in the previously linked >map. Visit http://publicsafety.tufts.edu/adminsvc/parking/medford- >somerville/index.html for more information. -- Vanessa Paulman Center for Science Exploration Hampshire College phone: (413) 559-5792 fax: (413) 559-5438 Adele Simmons Hall #132 http://ScienceExploration.hampshire.edu From vpaulman at hampshire.edu Wed Sep 29 09:07:30 2004 From: vpaulman at hampshire.edu (Vanessa Paulman) Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 09:07:30 -0400 Subject: [ESSP] lunch on Friday Message-ID: The Farm and Sustainability Luncheon Series presents... SHEEP, SATELLITES & SUSTAINABILITY Mark Feinstein - School of Cognitive Science Friday, October 1 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Cole 333 Join us for free organic lunch from the Farm Center and another great lecture sponsored by the Environmental Studies and Sustainability Program. -- Vanessa Paulman Center for Science Exploration Hampshire College phone: (413) 559-5792 fax: (413) 559-5438 Adele Simmons Hall #132 http://ScienceExploration.hampshire.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From vpaulman at hampshire.edu Thu Sep 30 10:42:07 2004 From: vpaulman at hampshire.edu (Vanessa Paulman) Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 10:42:07 -0400 Subject: [ESSP] winter course on sustainability in Mexico Message-ID: This is a great opportunity to participate in sustainability initiatives first hand - winter course in Mexico focusing on Leadership and Social Change. See details below >October 1, 2004 > >TO: Students of Sustainability >FROM: John M. Gerber >SUBJECT: Winter course in Mexico through UMass - COMMCOLL 397 I > >One of the problems I continue to see among good people is our >inability to live according to our ideals, especially while working >in groups. We particularly don't have good models or experience >discussing difficult issues and making decisions together. I see way >too many student groups, non-profit organizations, and especially >large institutions falter in their intended mission simply because >people don't know how to talk with each other. And these are the >"good," well-intentioned people. > >So, next January I intend to do something about it. I'm going to >participate in a new UMass course called "Participatory Leadership: >Consensus, Conflict and Community" or less formally known as >"Leadership for Social Change". It takes place an Ecovillage called >Huehuecoyotl in the Volcano Belt of central Mexico. I'm inviting you >to join me to learn together how to do the important work of healing >ourselves, our institutions and maybe the planet. If you are >interested, please have a look at the web page description at... >http://www.umass.edu/umext/jgerber/Mexico.htm > >If you can't participate yourself, perhaps you can pass this along >to a friend. > >This 4-credit course (offered through UMass Commonwealth College in >partnership with Living Routes Study Abroad for a Sustainable >Future) will take place during the winter break from January 3-23, >2005. It is an International Community Service Learning course that >will include lots of local community engagement. The focus of the >course will be on participatory decision-making, non-violent >communication, conflict resolution, issues of power, understanding >root causes of conflict, building community, and creating positive >change. > >If you would like more information, feel free to contact me or >Living Routes directly at 413-259-0025. There's also more >information and course application materials on the web at >http://www.livingroutes.org/programdetails/mexico/overview.html > >Peace..... John Gerber UMass -- Vanessa Paulman Center for Science Exploration Hampshire College phone: (413) 559-5792 fax: (413) 559-5438 Adele Simmons Hall #132 http://ScienceExploration.hampshire.edu