Ten Good Things About a (Not So) Bad Year
Medea Benjamin, CommonDreams
I had the privilege of starting out the year witnessing, firsthand, the unfolding of the Egyptian revolution in Tahrir Square. I saw people who had been muzzled their entire lives, especially women, suddenly discovering their collective voice. Singing, chanting, demanding, creating. And that became the [...]

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 [...]

Dreaming New Mexico has built a map of pragmatic and visionary solutions to create a more localized and green economy with greater local self-reliance and enhanced prosperity.
Peter Warshall is Co-Director of the Bioneers’ Dreaming New Mexico Project, and a world-renowned water steward, biodiversity and wildlife specialist, research scientist, conservationist, and environmental activist.

from 2011 September TEDx [...]

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 [...]

The following national plan for investing in the energy-efficiency of our buildings is a further evolution of  Ed Mazria’s 2009 Plan which Sustainable Tucson is suggesting as a model to develop a local green retrofit  stimulus program. See the Mazria Plan here:
 
$4B public-private program for energy efficiency planned
Jim Kuhnhenn The Associated Press , Arizona Daily [...]

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 [...]

U.S. Delays Decision on Pipeline Until After Election
By JOHN M. BRODER and DAN FROSCH
published in New York Times 11/10/11
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, under sharp pressure from officials in Nebraska and restive environmental activists, announced Thursday that it would review the route of the disputed Keystone XL oil pipeline, effectively delaying any decision about its [...]

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, [...]

Buying Underwear, Along With the Whole Store
By AMY CORTESE
 
SARANAC LAKE, N.Y.
 
THE residents of Saranac Lake, a picturesque town in the Adirondacks, are a hardy lot — they have to be to withstand winter temperatures that can drop to 30 below zero. But since the local Ames department store went out of business in 2002 — [...]

The Dark Side of the ‘Green’ City
By Andrew Ross
PHOENIX
The struggle to slow global warming will be won or lost in cities, which emit 80 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. So “greening” the city is all the rage now. But if policy makers end up focusing only on those who can afford the low-carbon technologies [...]

How Germany became Europe’s green leader: A look at four decades of sustainable policymaking
by Ralph Buehler, Arne Jungjohann, Melissa Keeley, Michael Mehling

In Brief
Over the last 40 years, all levels of government in Germany have retooled policies to promote growth that is more environmentally sustainable. Germany’s experiences can provide useful lessons for the United States (and [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Learn about an important example of sustainable development in Egypt.
SEKEM, founded by Ibrahim Abouleish, winner of the Right Livelihood Award — the “Alternative Nobel”
 
Sekem: Born of the sun  5:17
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-D23-OjmoM&feature=fvsr
 
Ibrahim Abouleish – Founder Sekem Group   9:58
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2tmH1wK2YU
 
SEKEM English Part 1   9:51
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXXpamUjYmg
 
SEKEM English Part 2   2:47
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn7T0bz7sPg
 
Sekem website film
http://www.sekem.com/english/Filmen.aspx
 
Official SEKEM website
http://www.sekem.com

August 4th , 2011 from CNBC.com
 
Dow Sinks 500, Worst Day Since Dec. 2008
 
Stocks plunged sharply Thursday, with the Dow down more than 500 points, in its worst one-day drop since December 2008.
 
All three major averages tumbled into negative territory for the year as investors were rattled over an intensifying global economic slowdown and ahead of [...]

The Academy of Sciences says:
”Climate change is occurring, is very likely caused primarily by the emission of greenhouse gases from human activities, and poses significant risks for a range of human and natural systems. Emissions continue to increase, which will result in further change and greater risks. Responding to these risks is a crucial challenge [...]

Transition US is committed to enabling action-oriented programs at the national level.  The Home and Garden Challenge is just such an opportunity. Inspired by the the amazing work done in Sonoma County, CA last May where over 600 gardens were planted, we have decided to take it (inter)national this May 14th & 15th.
Organizing a Home [...]

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

Native Seeds/SEARCH would like suggestions from local farmers and gardeners who grow for local markets.  We want to know what we can trial or grow for seed at our farm this summer that will help the local food movement.  We want to know what crops and what varieties you need to be successful. Contact Bill [...]

Tucson’s overall “Walkscore” is barely passable grade. You might be interested in how various neighborhoods in our community fare. Visit the site here: http://www.walkscore.com/AZ/Tucson

Russel Lowes recommends the following articles for some much needed good news on the energy front.
1. Global power generation by renewable energy sources outpaced that by nuclear energy for the first time in 2010, a recent report published by a U.S. think tank showed. Read the details here:

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/04/85866.html
 
2. Germany will drop nuclear power as [...]

ADOT (Arizona Department of Transportation) is putting together a 25 year Arizona
transportation plan and has a short 4-question online survey about how to spend its budget
on transportation (more highways/road expansion vs. rail and transit). If you have an opinion
about this please fill out the survey and pass on the invite.
Visit www.whatmovesyouarizona.gov and click on the [...]

Elly Blue has written a series of informative articles challenging mainstream assumptions about the economics of transportation.
“Imagine getting a $3,000 to $12,000 tax rebate this year. Now imagine it coming again and again. Every year it grows by around a thousand dollars. Imagine how this would change your daily life.”
Read the rest of this important [...]

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.

Gas Prices Got You Down?
Bike Fest 2011 Begins Tomorrow!
Tucson, Arizona (March 10, 2011) – Let the fun begin as Bike Fest 2011 kicks off over 20 different events designed to inspire us to park the car and hop on the bike to experience the many benefits bicycling brings to our community. From March 11th through [...]

Naomi Klein, who has written a new book on climate change examined the ideological basis of the rising opposition to the science and the public policies needed to address this global threat in an interview with  Amy Goodman:
“NAOMI KLEIN: Well, some people believe in climate change, but the main thing is they don’t believe that [...]

[ 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 Sierra Club’s new “Go Electric” campaign aims to make a rapid expansion in electric vehicles in the US a reality by advocating for policies that make EVs both affordable and accessible — and by debunking some common misconceptions.
You can read the complete article here.

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 [...]

Dr. Mercola (www.Mercola.com) offers a critical look at the background and orientations of several Monsanto insiders who have been assigned responsibility for protecting the public food supply. You may wish to pursue this story further.

The New York Times reported that “Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Thursday that he would authorize the unrestricted commercial cultivation of genetically modified alfalfa, setting aside a controversial compromise that had generated stiff opposition.” This pending decision has potentially devastating implications for the organic farming effort.
Read the entire article here.

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 [...]

On January 10th, as part of our General Meeting, Sustainable Tucson held its own version of the community conversations being held around the city by Imagine Greater Tucson. After completing a paper survey about what we liked and what we wanted to change about the Tucson region, four groups of people discussed their answers to [...]

Imagine Greater Tucson (IGT) is a grassroots effort to define a publicly supported vision and clear action plan to shape the region’s future. The collaborative effort will engage people from business, government, neighborhoods, nonprofits, education and others interested in joining the effort through additional Community Conversations.
Check the IGT website regularly for Community Conversations that you [...]

OptumHealth announced Sunday that a free help line was established for people in Tucson , Ariz. , faced with the emotional consequences of the recent shooting. Staffed by experienced master’s-level behavioral health specialists, the free help line offers assistance to callers seeking help in dealing with stress, anxiety and the grieving process. Callers [...]

Members of our community are urging Tucson’s Mayor and Council to immediately halt all demolitions of historic properties in Jefferson Park and other Residential-zoned neighborhoods and to strengthen and enforce existing SFR (single family residence) regulation. We are sick and tired of our historic properties being destroyed to put up mini-dorms! [...]

The New York Times ran a heart warming story about the spread of renewable energy technology (primarily) solar, that is transforming the lives of the rural poor in Africa (and around the globe). There may be some lessons for us here. Read (and look at the pictures) here.

In the final sentence, a New York Times article on measuring atmospheric carbon dioxide ends this way “At midnight Mauna Loa time, the carbon dioxide level hit 390 — and rising.” This fascinating article tells the story of our current path to the future. Read it here.

Jim Barry, who served as Chair of the citizen’s Oversight Committee for the City/County Water Study, has prepared a Public Comment Report documenting the major issues and themes that emerged during the public process for the two year study. Mr. Barry invites your feedback on the report by way of the Comment Form on this [...]

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.

The New York Times has special section on energy covering: “New oil and gas sources, investing in coal, uranium prices, a diesel comeback and the risk solar storms pose to the power grid.” You can read these articles here.

The Pima County Hearing Administrator will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, November 10th at 10AM in the Public Works Building, 201 N. Stone Avenue, Basement, Conference Room C.
The hearing concerns a proposal to establish a solar power plant at 9000 N. Sanders Rd, on property owned by the City of Tucson. It is suggested [...]

[ 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 [...]

IMAGINE GREATER TUCSON TO HOST FIRST PUBLIC COMMUNITY CONVERSATION IN TUCSON, OTHERS SCHEDULED IN REGION

TUCSON, Ariz. (Oct. 22, 2010) – Imagine Greater Tucson will host its first public Community Conversation on Wednesday, Oct. 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Resource Room  at the Sentinel Building at 310 N. Commerce Park Loop. Seating [...]

Vicki Robin has shared some of her insights from her month of existing on a “hyperlocavore” diet: food from no further than ten miles away from her home. There are useful insights for all of us as we think about the links between energy, food, and our carbon footprints. Read the article in Yes magazine [...]