Climate Talks Hike Carbon Footprint in Copenhagen

The UK Telegraph provides a seriously amusing redux of the first day of the Climate Talks and is well worth a read. Private jets, private cars, a carbon footprint that displays no serious effort to contain itself – these are the earmarks of a great party. However both critics from the Left and Right wrangle with the Cap n’ Trade of this junket. Will there be serious negotiations?

The Obama Administration declared yesterday that, yes – greenhouse gasses including carbon dioxide emissions “threaten the public health and welfare of the American people,” thus empowering the agency to regulate a wide range of CO2-emitting industries under provisions of the Clean Air Act. President Obama intends to drop-in on the Climate Talks after receiving his Nobel Prize in Norway, a photo op which is likely to draw all sorts of praise and criticism.

From Americans for Prosperity

The provided video from Americans For Prosperity, critical of the Climate Talks and its impact on American capitalism, displays the mega-use of private cars carrying delegates while public transportation stands unused. Of course, there is the excuse that delegates must be concerned with security, but the irony is nonetheless delicious.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

The Story of Cap and Trade

The Story of Stuff meteored to international success and has fueled the next chapter in Annie Leonard’s animated series on the environmental impact of our policies and practices, ” The Story of Cap and Trade.” Ironic and amusing, this animation points a finger at the troubles with using a market-based system to control the amount of carbon emissions we create because, as Leonard says, “there are a lot of devils in the details of the cap n’ trade proposals on the table.”

Future chapters include more animated storytelling on the life cycle of Plastic Bottles and electronics. Check it out on The Story of Stuff website.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Gore Calls for Scientists to Engage in Politics

At the 2009 International Day of Peace held on September 21 in New York City, former Vice President Al Gore addressed a crowd of scientists and urged them to become involved in politics, but added with a smile, “Keep your day job.”

Citing how other scientists have joined the Administration, Gore said, “Scientists can no longer in good conscience accept this division between the work you do and the civilization in which you live…We do have the capacity to make this generation one of those generations that changes the course of humankind. The stakes have never been higher.”

US Secretary of Energy Doctor Steven Chu was amongst the first scientists tapped by President Obama to serve in the administration. However, Chu’s political engagement had begun before the 2008 Presidential Election cycle, when an organization called Science Debate 2008 entreated Democratic and Republican candidates to engage in a national debate on science issues.

As a sign of the times, faith trumped science in the public arena. Science Debate 2008 chased the candidates throughout the campaign season. During the run-up to the Pennsylvania primary, Obama and Clinton put their campaign markers down on a faith-based conversation instead, which McCain (not renowned for his position on faith) declined. In a last ditch effort to establish a conversation, Science Debate 2008 acquiesced to receive written responses from the final candidates, Obama and McCain, to questions that only glazed the topic on which environmentalists and scientists craved to vet candidates. Ironically, the Green Party, largely seen as the environmentalist party, was shut out despite efforts to get one of its Presidential candidates, Kent Mesplay, Ph.D., an environmental scientist in on the debate.

"Awakening the Dreamer" Symposium Stirs Up Faith in Future

Awakening the Dreamer Symposium Trailer from Pachamama Alliance on Vimeo.

The Pachamama Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a spiritual path that embraces environmental sustainability and social justice, continues itsw series of international symposiums introducing a new video in Ocotber. These meetings held all over the world lead people in a conversation about personal choices and its impact on our environment.

From the “Awakening the Dreamer” Website:

In the mid-1990′s, through a mysterious set of circumstances, a group of North Americans visited a remote and intact group of indigenous people – the Achuar – located deep in the Amazonian region of Ecuador.

This relationship that was to become The Pachamama Alliance, was actually initiated by the indigenous elders and shamans themselves who, out of their deep concern for the growing threat to their ancient way of life, and their recognition that the roots of this threat lay far beyond their rainforest home, actively sought the partnership of committed individuals living in the modern world.

From the beginning, our indigenous partners have reminded us that one of the most powerful actions that can be taken in support of the rainforest and its inhabitants is to “change the dream of the North,” since it is our dream—our desires and appetites—that is driving the destruction of the rainforests around the world. Ultimately, to assure the long-term survival of our rainforests, and indeed of the natural world and even ourselves, we need to address the core values and ways of seeing the world that are deeply imbedded in our modern worldview.

For events in your area, go to Awakening the Dreamer.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Diverse Communities Team UP to Clean UP in San Francisco

On a uniquely beautiful August day in San Francisco, a handful of community , government, job training groups and neighborhood volunteers joined to tackle the grit on the urban face of the 5th district.

Festooned with rakes, brooms, shovels and garbage bags, over 300 people fanned across the widely dispersed neighborhoods of the most socially and economically diverse District 5. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi was on hand to celebrate and put some muscle in. A number of interviews help show the varying community threads that make up the fabric of San Francisco.

Diverse Communities Team UP to Clean UP

Diverse Communities Team UP to Clean UP from Polidoc on Vimeo.

On a uniquely beautiful August day in San Francisco, a handful of community , government, job training groups and neighborhood volunteers joined to tackle the grit on the urban facade of the complex Fifth District.

Festooned with rakes, brooms, shovels and garbage bags, over 300 people fanned across the district’s widely dispersed neighborhoods.

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi was on hand to celebrate and put some muscle in. Interviews with organizers and volunteers lend a real taste of the event in this video.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Vancouver’s 6 Acre Living Roof on Vimeo

The roof of the Vancouver BC Convention Centre is covered with over 2.5 hectares (6 acres) of native grassland. Usually closed to the public, we were able to get a tour and interview with the landscape architect of the project, Bruce Hemstock.

This is part 1 of the “Growing Cities” documentary series shot while traveling in the USA and Canada – June 2009. 2 person crew. Canon 5DmkII and Zoom H4n. Music is “Andvari” by Sigur Rós

Download the full 22 minute interview as an mp3 at children-of-dome.com/growing_cities/bruce_hemstock_interview.mp3

more about "Vancouver’s 6 Acre Living Roof on Vimeo", posted with vodpod

"The Cove" Wipes Smile off Flipper’s Face

“The Cove” is a powerful piece of film activism. Done mostly in secrecy, these filmmakers devised multiple camouflaged cameras in order to capture the round-the-clock activities of the town’s fishermen serving the multi-billion dollar industry of dolphin harvesting for export to sea parks (e.g.).

The dolphins that aren’t quite smiley or friendly enough? They are then pushed into another cove for slaughter. Subsequently, the dolphin meat is served to the town’s school children, with unfortunate side effects caused by the high levels of mercury. Look for this film at a theater near you.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

"The Cove" Wipes Smile off Flipper’s Face

“The Cove” is a powerful piece of film activism. Done mostly in secrecy, these filmmakers devised multiple camouflaged cameras in order to capture the activities of the town’s fishermen serving the multi-billion dollar industry of dolphin harvesting for export to sea parks.

The dolphins that aren’t quite smiley or friendly enough? They are then pushed into another cove for slaughter. Subsequently, the dolphin meat is served to the town’s school children, with unfortunate side effects caused by the high levels of mercury. Look for this film at a theater near you.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Vancouver’s 6 Acre Living Roof Grows on City Officials

Vancouver’s 6 Acre Living Roof from Dave Budge on Vimeo.

The roof of the Vancouver BC Convention Centre is covered with over 2.5 hectares (6 acres) of native grassland. Usually closed to the public, we were able to get a tour and interview with the landscape architect of the project, Bruce Hemstock.

This is part 1 of the “Growing Cities” documentary series shot while traveling in the USA and Canada – June 2009. 2 person crew. Canon 5DmkII and Zoom H4n. Music is “Andvari” by Sigur Rós

Download the full 22 minute interview as an mp3 at children-of-dome.com/growing_cities/bruce_hemstock_interview.mp3

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.