What Are We Planning For?

A Sustainable Tucson Issues Paper                                                  February 2012
Since the initiating phase began more than three years ago, Sustainable Tucson has been engaged with Imagine Greater Tucson at many levels, participating in the steering, community values, outreach, and technical committees. Imagine Greater Tucson has consistently requested input and Sustainable Tucson has tried to [...]

[ Saturday, January 7, 2012; 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. ] The Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Tucson Chapter is meeting at 11 am on Saturday at 255 W. University Blvd to join the national chapters’ conference call and discuss local climate lobby plans. If you have any comments before the meeting, please forward them to Vince Pawlowski:  pawlowski (at) ultrasw.com
Reminders for our call on Saturday:

Please call  review [...]

The 12 most hopeful trends to build on in 2012
Published by YES! Magazine on Sat, 12/31/2011
Original article: http://www.yesmagazine.org/blogs/sarah-van-gelder/12-most-hopeful-trends-to-build-on-in-2012
by Sarah van Gelder
Who would have thought that some young people camped out in lower Manhattan with cardboard signs, a few sharpies, some donated pizza, and a bunch of smart phones could change so much?
The viral spread of [...]

[ Monday, February 13, 2012; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] at DuVal Auditorium, University Medical Center, 1501 N Campbell Avenue

Sustainable Tucson’s February Meeting will be a special public lecture event in collaboration with the Tucson Audubon Society and the Community Water Coalition.

University of Arizona climate scientist Dr. Jonathan Overpeck will speak on Climate Change: What does it mean for Tucson and the Southwest?

Last year’s increase [...]

[ Monday, January 9, 2012; 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. ] at Joel D. Valdez Main Library
101 N. Stone, Downtown (free lower level parking off Alameda St)

How do we “green” our homes and neighborhoods?
How do we work together and contribute to each other?
How do we prepare for climate change?
Join us on January 9th to learn of some exciting efforts now underway in your home town to [...]

[ Tuesday, December 20, 2011; 5:30 pm; ] at Tucson City Hall, 255 W. Alameda, Tucson, AZ 85701 – downtown, just east of Granada in the Presidio Park Plaza

From: Center for Biological Diversity
Subject: Tucson: Support a City Resolution to Curb Global Warming

Seattle has just become the latest city to join the Center for Biological Diversity’s Clean Air Cities campaign; Tucson could be next.

On [...]

Rapid rise in Arctic methane shocks scientists
By Steve Connor
Wednesday Dec 14, 2011, New Zealand Herald
Dramatic and unprecedented plumes of methane – a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide – have been seen bubbling to the surface of the Arctic Ocean by scientists undertaking an extensive survey of the region.
The scale and volume of [...]

[ Thursday, December 1, 2011; 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Wednesday, December 7, 2011; 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Thursday, December 8, 2011; 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Saturday, December 10, 2011; 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. ] Thursday, Dec. 1, at Corona Foothills Middle School, 16705 S. Houghton Rd., from 5 to 9 PM (and see comments below for further meetings at other locations)

From: Keith Willmarth <canduthis(at)toast.net>
Subject: Oppose the Rosemont Mine

I am sending this message to mobilize informed opposition to the proposed Rosemont Mine. Several organizations, in particular Save the Scenic [...]

[ Monday, December 12, 2011; 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. ] at Joel D. Valdez Main Library
101 N. Stone, Downtown (free lower level parking off Alameda St)

Activism, Advocacy, and Political Action are ramping up all over the world.  Tucson is no exception, and so Sustainable Tucson begins an exploration into the realm of political expression and action, and how we can use it to promote sustainability [...]

6 Burning Questions About the Violent Crackdowns on Occupations Around the Country
By Lynn Parramore, AlterNet Posted on November 15, 2011 http://www.alternet.org/story/153083/6_burning_questions_about_the_violent_crackdowns_on_occupations_around_the_country
Occurring without provocation, the Occupy crackdown gives the appearance of an orchestrated effort to thwart an emerging protest movement. Early morning Tuesday, in New York City, hundreds of police officers, many in riot gear, swept down on [...]

Sustainable Tucson comments on proposed Rosemont Mine
Sustainable Tucson is a non-profit, grass-roots organization that builds regional resilience and sustainability through awareness raising, community engagement and public/private partnerships. We recognize the need to focus on sustainability within the Sonoran bioregion.
The proposal by the Augusta Resources Corporation to develop a copper mine in the Santa Rita mountains [...]

The global output of carbon dioxide jumped by the biggest amount on record, the US Department of Energy has calculated, a sign of how feeble the world’s efforts are at slowing man-made global warming.
The new figures for last year mean that levels of greenhouse gases are higher than the worst-case scenario outlined by climate experts [...]

New recession threatens the globe as debt crisis grows
by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard – Telegraph  (UK)  published 11/10/11
Europe’s escalating debt crisis has cast a black shadow over the world’s fragile recovery, threatening to tip large parts of the global economy into a deep downturn and even outright recession.
The OECD’s index of leading indicators for China, India, Brazil, [...]

UA Natural Resources Professor Emeritus Guy McPherson and Sustainable Tucson founding coalition member addresses the International Conference on Sustainability, Transition and Culture Change: Vision, Action, Leadership recounting his journey to personal accountability in the current crisis of civilization. Taking material from his latest book, “Walking Away From Empire” , Guy demonstrates Gandhi’s  recommendation: “Become the [...]

[ Sunday, November 6, 2011; 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. ] Event: Occupy Tucson: Tar Sands Keystone XL Pipeline: Decision by Obama on behalf of the American People
Sunday, November 6, 11:30–12:30, followed by General Assembly meeting.
Amory Park, 221 S. 6th Ave. ??? moved to Veinte de Agosto Park at Church & Congress ???

This Sunday, exactly one year before the next presidential election, protesters plan to encircle the [...]

[ Monday, November 14, 2011; 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. ] at  Joel D. Valdez Main Library
101 N. Stone, Downtown (free lower level parking off Alameda St)

FOOD SECURITY
What is it? … Do we have it? … What can we do about it?
Please join us for the next Sustainable Tucson General Meeting, where we will begin to tackle the issue of creating a secure food supply for [...]

Subject: #OccupyWallStreet and the #Climate Movement
From: organizers(at)350.org
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2011 19:49:56 +0000
Dear friends,
I’m writing from New York City, where the Occupy Wall Street movement is taking off.
What started as a small group of young people with a vague call to action is evolving into something truly inspiring — and our crew at 350.org is [...]

[ Monday, October 10, 2011; 5:15 pm to 8:45 pm. ] Sustainable Tucson is offering a very special Book Sale fundraising event at our October  General Meeting. We have more than 150 titles, including some hard-to-find classics. The winter reading season is coming, so come and browse this rich collection of sustainability literature. You can shop with gifts in mind for particular friends, relatives, or colleagues [...]

[ Monday, October 10, 2011; 5:45 pm to 8:30 pm. ] Sustainable Tucson General Meeting – at Milagro Cohousing Community
Monday, October 10th, 5:45 – 8:30 pm, and come early at 5:15 pm for a tour

Note: this meeting will be at the Milagro Cohousing Community instead of the library (click here for map). If you can come earlier, there will be a tour of Milagro from 5:15 [...]

[ Monday, September 26, 2011; 5:15 pm to 7:30 pm. ] иконописJoin an interactive community meeting to help shape the greater Tucson region’s efforts to achieve a sustainable water future. This meetings will present the results of the <Regional Water Assessment Task Force ThinkTank Report>. The meeting will be held at the Tucson Association of Realtors building, 2445 N. Tucson Blvd., Tucson.

The report was the result [...]

Massive default is best way to fix the economy
by Brett Arends – MarketWatch
Clearing away the debt is the only way forward
You want to fix this economic crisis? You want to put people back to work? You want to light a fire under the economy?
There’s a way to do it. Fast. And relatively simple. But [...]

The Automatic Earth is a unique, one-stop website which presents the world’s best current writing on the ongoing financial and economic crises. The following Primer lists key articles and analyses written by the Automatic Earth team.
Nicole Foss (aka Stoneleigh) writes:
It is time to undertake the yearly review and update of our primer guide, with a [...]

The peak oil crisis: reality on hold
by Tom Whipple
 
As much of America bakes in some of the highest temperatures ever recorded and while Washington argues interminably over taxes, budget cuts and debt caps, one is struck by the unreality of it all. When the House of Representatives votes to preserve the incandescent light bulb for [...]

Welcome to the Post-Growth Economy
by Richard Heinberg
 
During recent weeks, evidence has piled up that U.S. and European economies, far from recovering, are swirling back into recession. Failure of American politicians to address the federal debt crisis, the U.S. credit rating downgrade, and increasing fragility of European economies have investors running for the hills.
 
Concern is being [...]

[ Saturday, September 24, 2011; 7:00 am to 11:00 am. ] Moving Planet – September 24th, 2011: A Day to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels

JOIN THE RIDE: Connect 2 river paths on 2 wheels!

Celebrate the linkup of the Santa Cruz and Rillito river paths and ride beyond fossil fuels. Meet on the plaza south of Drachman Hall on the UMC Campus (Helen St and Martin Av).

Ride starts [...]

Barbara Warren’s – My Comments – Creating a clean energy future for Arizona
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep3iKOVn0RY
 
 

[ Saturday, September 17, 2011; 5:30 pm; ] Hello,

My name is Kaylee Farnolli, I’m a senior in the School of Art at the University of Arizona. I’ve just returned from 6 months living and studying abroad in Mexico City. The people I met there have inspired me to call a community vegan potluck in an effort to spread the word about Polly Higgen’s [...]

[ Saturday, October 22, 2011; Sunday, October 23, 2011; ] We are doing a festival October 22 and 23 – for more info see http://www.ttev.org/TusconFallFestivalAndFarmersMarket.html

[ Monday, September 12, 2011; 5:45 pm to 8:00 pm. ] Sustainable Tucson General Meeting
Monday, September 12th,  5:45 – 8:00 pm
Joel D. Valdez Main Library 101 N. Stone
(free lower level parking – off Alameda St

September’s General Meeting will include presentations by members of GMO Free Project of Tucson <http://gmofreeprojectoftucson.org/>  and a film, “Deconstructing Supper”, on GMOs and how genetically modified organisms are threatening our food systems [...]

Jonathan Overpeck recently gave testimony before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources about drought conditions in New Mexico and the Southwest. Read his testimony here: http://energy.senate.gov/public/_files/OverpeckTestimony42711.pdf

Timothy Egan, writing in the New York Times, has offered a few words of concern about what seem to be quite serious risks from GMO salmon; his message rings brightly in the wake of recent events in Japan….
Read this well written piece here.

[ Friday, March 11, 2011 12:30 pm to Wednesday, March 16, 2011 11:30 am. ]
March 11-16, 2011, Arizona State University
Welcome to the Conference Website for Resilience 2011;

Resilience 2011 website

A conference that will bring together scientists from a broad spectrum of disciplinary backgrounds who are interested in the major science and policy challenges that face us all as a result of global change. The conference is organized [...]

The New York Times reminds us that getting to the natural gas that many see as an alternative source of “cleaner energy” may have equally serious threats to our water supply.
In the words of one expert:
“We’re burning the furniture to heat the house,” said John H. Quigley, who left last month as secretary of Pennsylvania’s [...]

Mark Bittman, writing in the New York Times explores this issue.
“If you want to avoid sugar, aspartame, trans-fats, MSG, or just about anything else, you read the label. If you want to avoid G.M.O.’s — genetically modified organisms — you’re out of luck. They’re not listed. You could, until now, simply buy [...]

Michael T. Klare offers dire warnings for the year ahead as we see the impact of climate change at a global political level we’ll not soon forget”
“Get ready for a rocky year.  From now on, rising prices, powerful storms, severe droughts and floods, and other unexpected events are likely to play havoc with the fabric [...]

Michael Brownlee from Transition Colorado has written an critical and timely challenge to all who are identified in some way the Transition Movement in the U.S. We owe it to ourselves and our communities to take his challenge to heart. Please download his message here.

The Pittsburgh City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance banning corporations from conducting natural gas drilling in the city. The ordinance was drafted by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) at the invitation of Councilman Bill Peduto, and was introduced by Councilman Doug Shields. Read more here.

[ Saturday, October 30, 2010; 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. ] 2602 E. Grant Road

The Rally will be held locally while Jon Stewart’s Rally to Restore Sanity and
Stephen Colbert’s March to Keep Fear Alive occur in Washington, D.C. Our rally
highlights Tucson organizations that are providing sane solutions to intensifying
global challenges.

A solar-powered sound system will broadcast the tunes of local musicians,
a solar oven demonstration will be cooking [...]

Tomas Friedman’s New York Times column describes the well funded effort to reverse California’s pioneering effort to reduce the impact of green house gas emissions.
“A.B. 32 was designed to put California on a path to reducing greenhouse gases in its air to 1990 levels by 2020. This would make the state a healthier [...]

The New York Times reports on a massive flow of money into California to defeat its recent legislative efforts to control green house emissions in that state. Out of state oil companies are the major sources of millions of dollars supporting an initiative to suspend application of the law until unemployment falls below, and stays [...]

[ Saturday, October 2, 2010; 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. ] A symposium examining recent evidence that climate change may be affecting desert ecology in Saguaro National Park will beheld from 9 am to 4:30 pm, October 2nd at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s Warden Oasis Theater.

Jonathon Overpeck, co-director of the Institute of the Environment and leader on the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and Travis Huxman, [...]

National Geographic has developed a cute (and informative) water use calculator. Even though it leaves out some of the ways in which we use and save water, you might enjoy giving it a try. Of course, you might want to pass the link on to your friends.
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/water-footprint-calculator/

[ Tuesday, October 26, 2010; 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. ]
Tucson Association of REALTORS
2445 N. Tucson Blvd.
Event Phone number: 520-382-8775

The Tucson Association of REALTORS Green Committee presents, this one of a kind event! In this presentation, Jerry Yudelson, author of Dry Run: Preventing the Next Urban Water Crisis (2010), will describe how future water availability will affect the quality of [...]

Fossil Fuel Subsidies Are 12 Times Support for Renewables!
Bloomberg reports that although the US provides greater support for renewal energy than most nations, we still provide substantially more subsidies for non-renewal energy.
See the rest of the article here.

A recent report from climate scientists at Stanford University evaluates the results of multiple model runs that suggest extreme heat waves are likely to become the norm in the Western United Stated, with Arizona being among the states most heavily burdened. Read the brief report here.

All political parties including independents are accountable to the emerging challenges of sustainability. The G.O.P. in Arizona is particularly accountable for the state’s catastrophic condition both now and going forward.
Despite voters’ May approval of Prop 100 to tax ourselves to solve some of the current deficiencies, the G.O.P. and its Tea Party affiliates continue to [...]

The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation has just published a very comprehensive but sober analysis of various strategies for achieving a necessary reduction in carbon emissions by the much-discussed 2050 target deadline. In their view “numerous advocacy groups, scholars, think tanks and others have proposed a variety of steps to take based on a [...]

The Pima Association of Governments just approved the Second Tucson Region Indicators Report. It provides a snapshot of the region with data on key measures that characterize its current health from an environmental and community perspective.
Five theme areas are: Natural Resources, Air Quality, Water, Transportation and Energy, and
Community and Economy, to represent the essence of [...]

Industry leaders seem to be showing more openness to energy descent issues
Published on Energy Bulletin (http://www.energybulletin.net)
Published Tue, 05/04/2010 – 07:00 by The Oil Drum
This is a guest post by George Mobus, who is an Associate Professor of Computing and Software Systems at the University of Washington, Tacoma. His blog is Question Everything.
I’ve spent the [...]

The New York Times reports on a truly scary “we told you so” story about the growth of “Roundup-resistant weeds” that threaten to dramatically raise the cost of food and the widespread use of even more deadly pesticides.
This is how the article begins…
“Just as the heavy use of antibiotics contributed to the rise of drug-resistant [...]