GP: In Balance - September

["Tom Gray" <tomgray@igc.org>]

-----Original Message-----
From: In Balance [mailto:inbalance@newdream.org]
Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2002 3:16 PM
Subject: A Monthly News Bulletin from the Center for a New American Dream


In Balance
A monthly news bulletin on environment and consumption
from the Center for a New American Dream
September 2002 - No. 44

News

California Approves Major Increase in Renewable Energy
Old Adversaries Join Forces to Combat Climate Change
Grocery Chain Sees Fruits Of Efficient Resource Use


Feature Articles

Absent Globally, Acting Locally: A Ray Of Hope At Earth Summit's End
Buying Green: Harnessing Institutional Procurement Power
Accounting Scandal at Mother Earth, Inc.
Adjusting Attitudes on Energy to Keep Our Favorite Things

Resources
Calendar
Jobs

CALIFORNIA APPROVES MAJOR INCREASE IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

Last week, California passed legislation designed to boost renewable energy
use in the state to 20 percent of total retail energy sales by 2017.
California's target for wind, solar and other renewables far exceeds targets
under consideration by the federal government. Recently, the state also
mandated reductions in vehicular carbon dioxide emissions - a move likely to
push car makers to improve fuel efficiency. According to Matt Freedman, an
attorney for the Utility Reform Network in San Francisco, these new laws
show that "California is beginning to separate itself from national policy
and push the envelope" on energy conservation.
www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/news/weather/environment/4065318.htm

OLD ADVERSARIES JOIN FORCES TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE

A largely flat Earth Summit produced this interesting and positive result:
Greenpeace and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development
(WBCSD) -- two entities that locked horns ten years ago in Rio -- have
decided to join forces on the issue of climate change. WBCSD member
companies such as Nestle and Monsanto have sometimes come under fire from
Greenpeace in connection with various environmental missteps. In addition,
the WBCSD often advocates for free trade approaches to environmental
problems, including voluntary measures often scorned by Greenpeace. In
Johannesburg, however, Greenpeace and the WBCSD issued a joint call for
action, stating that "the mixed, and often contradictory signals sent by
governments on the environment, especially on greenhouse gas emission
reductions, is creating a political environment which is not good for
business nor, indeed, for the future of humanity." The two organizations
will convene a dialogue to urge governments to act more forcefully in
providing an international political framework to foster emissions
reductions.
www.greenpeace.org/news/details?news_id=24688&campaign_id

GROCERY CHAIN SEES FRUITS OF EFFICIENT RESOURCE USE

Albertson's, Inc., one of the largest retail food and drug chains in the
U.S., is honoring its bottom line by paying closer attention to efficient
resource use. The company has moved from questions such as "What can we
recycle?" into deeper territory, asking itself "Why do we have to generate
this waste in the first place?" Over the past few years, Albertson's has
focused on cost saving strategies that conserve energy, reduce waste and
maximize resources. One result: a "Common Footprint" box for shipping
produce that is 100 percent recyclable (unlike old paraffin coated boxes),
stacks better, and reduces the amount of damaged fruits and vegetables
arriving at stores. The box is beginning to catch on with other major
retailers, as well.
www.greenbiz.com/news/reviews_third.cfm?NewsID=21926

ABSENT GLOBALLY, ACTING LOCALLY: A RAY OF HOPE AT EARTH SUMMIT'S END -
Across the country, motivated citizens and state and local purchasing
officials are driving open markets for sustainable products and services.
www.newdream.org/column

BUYING GREEN - The billion-dollar buying power of governments, hospitals,
schools and corporations is a mighty force for environmental change.
www.emagazine.com/september-october_2002/0902feat1.html

ACCOUNTING SCANDAL AT MOTHER EARTH, INC. - Put that rainforest on your
spreadsheet and suddenly the global economy looks different, by trillions of
dollars, a new study shows.
www.salon.com/tech/feature/2002/08/19/environmental_accounting/index.html

ADJUSTING ATTITUDES ON ENERGY TO KEEP OUR FAVORITE THINGS - A conversation
with leading environmental researcher, Daniel B. Botkin, on matters of
consumption and sustainability.
www.nytimes.com/2002/08/20/science/life/20CONV.html?ex=1031214693&ei=1&en=af
c3ea3fe02682b7


DISPOSABLE PLANET - Six part series by BBC on sustainable development.
Includes personal ecological footprint quiz.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2002/disposable_plane
t/
FARMERS MARKET MAP - From the USDA. Nationwide listing of farmers markets
and links to more info to help consumers "buy local."
www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm
GREENADVISOR.ORG - Tips on recycling, buying, eating and traveling green.
www.greenadviser.org
GREEN HIGHWAY - Website companion to traveling Green Highway Village exhibit
(currently on tour with Bonnie Raitt), promoting alternative energy
solutions.
www.greenhighway.net
IS OUR FOOD SAFE? A CONSUMER'S GUIDE TO PROTECTING YOUR HEALTH AND THE
ENVIRONMENT - by Warren Leon and Carline Smith DeWaal (Three Rivers Press,
2002).
www.threeriverspress.com/catalog/display.pperl?060980782X
JOURNAL OF RESEARCH FOR CONSUMERS - Academic journal on consumption contains
information for socially and ecologically conscious consumers.
www.jrconsumers.com (Click on "Consumer Articles" and "GCI")
PARENTS BILL OF RIGHTS - From Commercial Alert. Activist tool to help
parents combat harmful commercial influences.
www.commercialalert.org/
RAPSHEET ON ANIMAL FACTORIES - From the Sierra Club. Online database
provides info on convictions, fines, pollution violations, and regulatory
records of factory farms nationwide.
www.sierraclub.org/factoryfarms/rapsheets


Calendar

SEPT 28: EARTH CHARTER COMMUNITY SUMMITS (various locations) Join people in
cities across the country in celebrating the Earth Charter and sharing
strategies for implementing the principles of the Charter.
www.earthchartersummits.org

OCT 1: ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATION DEADLINE - For Fall 2003
ELP Fellowship class.
www.elpnet.org/home.html

OCT 3-6: RAIL-VOLUTION CONFERENCE (Washington, DC) Building livable
communities with transit.
www.railvolution.com/

OCT 9-13: SOCIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS ANNUAL CONFERENCE (Baltimore,
MD).
www.sej.org/confer/index1.htm

OCT 18 - 20: ACTION COALITION FOR MEDIA EDUCATION SUMMIT (Albuquerque, NM)
Summit focusing on media literacy to encourage critical thinking and free
expression, examine the corporate media system, and inspire active
participation in society.
www.acmecoalition.org

OCT 19: 2002 SIMPLICITY CIRCLE CELEBRATION (Beverly Hills, CA)
www.seedsofsimplicity.org/events.asp

DEC 11-14 (and additional dates): ZERI CERTIFICATION TRAINING (Santa Fe, NM)
Helping people, companies and communities do more with what nature produces
rather than asking nature to produce more. Email Training Coordinator Harvey
Stone at hastone@aol.com or see
www.zeri.org

Jobs

DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABLE MARKETS DEVELOPMENT - Center for a New American
Dream (Takoma Park, MD)
www.newdream.org/main/jobs.html

WRITER/ORGANIZER - Chesapeake Climate Action Network (Takoma Park, MD)
www.gadgetfarm.com/noa/jobbank/job_detail.cfm?ID=1031
**************************

A few words about the Center for a New American Dream and In Balance:

The Center for a New American Dream helps Americans consume responsibly to
protect the environment, enhance quality of life and promote social justice.
We work with individuals, institutions, communities and businesses to
conserve natural resources, counter the commercialization of our culture and
promote positive changes in the way goods are produced and consumed. For
more information on our mission, staff, and board of directors, please see
www.newdream.org/aboutus/

In Balance, written by Dave Tilford, is distributed monthly to concerned
citizens and organizations interested in environmental, quality of life, and
social justice issues. Previous editions of In Balance can be found at
www.newdream.org/bulletin/inbalance.html.

To subscribe to In Balance, send an email to inbalance@newdream.org with
"subscribe" (no quotation marks) in the subject line. Type "unsubscribe" to
remove yourself from the list. Contact dave@newdream.org to submit material
for possible inclusion in In Balance.
Center for a New American Dream
6930 Carroll Ave., Suite 900
Takoma Park, MD 20912
Tel: 301-891-3683 Fax: 301-891-3684



____________________________________________________________________________
This discussion group is sponsored in part by: 
  * Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology, http://www.crest.org
  * Global Environmental Options, http://www.geonetwork.org
Archives and related documents can be found at at: http://www.green-power.com