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8.16.2011

Future Fighters

 Sustainable Living Education at Unity College


Say the words, "renewable energy" or "sustainable living" to the average person on the street, and you are liable to get a furrowed brow, and a cobbled together response about the environment and solar energy.  Most people have a vague idea of what those terms mean, but very little understanding of how those terms can apply to their daily lives.  A growing number of people, however, are beginning to recognize the importance of actively seeking out forms of renewable energy and ways to lower humanity's impact on the Earth.  A number of these people are young men and women in their late teens and early 20s, who, unlike generations before them, recognize that if they do not care for the planet, it might not be able to sustain the lives of their future grandchildren.  This generation of young environmentalists are actively seeking ways to understand and positively alter the world around them.  Enter Unity College, a small liberal arts college in Unity, Maine that is wholly dedicated to the study and practice of sustainable living.


Unity College was founded in 1965, and is tucked away in a small community surrounded by a lake, lots of trees, and not much else.  The 500 students and 60 staff members of Unity College like this relative isolation, as they are free to experiment, innovate, and create on the 225 acres of farmland that make up the campus.  The school is invested in sustainable living and environmentally sound practices from the ground-up, utilizing low-impact housing, solar energy, growing their own food, and helping all students retrofit their cars to run on grease from the dining hall, among other initiatives.  The college recently opened its first Passive House dorm facility and they are committed to going carbon neutral as well.  Rather than a standard orientation experience, relaxing in catnapper recliner in the lounge and doing the occasional "community building" activity, first year students spend a week in the woods together, hiking, camping, and discussing environmental issues as they apply to the region where they will be spending their next few years.  They perform trail maintenance, do research, and began to formulate a more concrete idea of the direction they hope to take their studies while at the school.


The academic program is wide-ranging, and more majors are being offered each year.  There are currently 22 majors at the school, along with study abroad, Outward Bound, and seasonal law enforcement options for those seeking a career in park ranger service.  The school also offers certifications in a number of wilderness preparedness and survival skills.  Courses of study at Unity include, Wildlife; Wildlife Biology; Wildlife Conversation; Adventure Education Leadership; Adventure Therapy; Parks, Recreation, and Ecotourism; Sustainable Design and Technology; Teaching and Learning; Agriculture, Food, and Sustainability; Aquaculture and Fisheries; Forestry; Landscape Horticulture; Marine Biology; Captive Wildlife Care and Education; Conservative Law Enforcement; Ecology; Environmental Writing; Environmental Science; Environmental Policy and Law; Environmental Education; Environmental Biology; Environmental Analysis; and Ecology.


The need for people versed in environmentally conscious practices is growing, and consequently,Unity College alumni have gone on to quite successful careers in a number of environmentally related fields, including serving as resident biologists, resource analysts, educational and environmental directors, forestry technicians, and a host of other positions as related to sustainable living.  One of the few colleges of this type in the world, Unity College is devoted to creating a generation of men and women who consider the environment as important as turning a profit.

















8.11.2011

Call for Entries Extended! Artwork, Architectural Designs, Community Projects Sought for Sustainability and the Built Environment of the St. Louis Region



On Thu, Aug 11, 2011 at 2:46 PM, USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter <usgbc-stl@mobot.org> wrote:

 

Ten Year Logo

 

Call for Entries Extended to September 16!

MULTIPLE 

APPROACHES ACCEPTED


Visual Art

Architecture & Design

Community Projects

MORE INFORMATION



JOIN USGBC


Join us in our efforts to transform the built environment!



Sustainability and the Built Environment of the St. Louis Region

An art exhibit presented by the St. Louis Artists' Guild & USGBC-Missouri Gateway

Sustainability and the Built Environment of the St. Louis Region is an all-encompassing, all-media exhibition exploring where we stand, as a culture of consumption, and where we may be headed in the future.  Examples of artwork illustrating the biggest consumers and the best conservationists is currently being sought. 

 

Several different approaches to the themes of consumption, conservation, and sustainable living will be included in this exhibition:

  • VISUAL ART: Artwork in all media dealing with themes of sustainability, consumption, environmentalism, and green living. Paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, photographs, video and film, installations...all are accepted. This is an opportunity to explore the concept of sustainability through an artistic lens.    
  • ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN: Architectural and design projects within the St. Louis region that are examples of sustainable design. Both real projects and speculative ones are accepted. Submitted work can be displayed in our galleries as photographs, architectural and conceptual drawings, models and videos.    
  • COMMUNITY PROJECTS: Grassroots and community projects that seek to create more sustainable lifestyles within the St. Louis region. Can be documented with photographs, videos, drawings/sketches, etc. 

This exhibition is juried by Chris Jordan

 

CD SUBMISSIONS DUE: 
September 16, 2011 · 5 pm

 

OPENING RECEPTION: 
Friday, November 11, 2011 · 6-8 pm

 

EXHIBITION ON VIEW: 
November 11- January 6, 2012

 

Click here for more information!

"Sustainability 2011 Award" Will Honor Three Artists

The "Sustainability 2011 Award," conceived by USGBC-Missouri Gateway for this premier exhibition, recognizes architecture as art and artists as champions of sustainability. Three participating artists will be honored with the "Sustainability 2011 Award," based on their expression of sustainability in the following categories:
  • Sustainable Sites
  • Water Efficiency
  • Energy & Atmosphere
  • Materials & Resources
  • Indoor Environmental Quality
  • Innovation & Design
  • Regional Priority
  • Awareness & Education

These award criteria have been adapted from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification system developed in 2000 by the U.S. Green Building Council.

 

The "Sustainability 2011 Award" is not a commentary on the artistic or purely aesthetic value of the artwork. The focus, instead, is on the artwork as an expression of sustainability efforts and opportunities.

US Green Building Council - St. Louis Regional Chapter | 3617 Grandel Square | St. Louis | MO | 63108



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September is full of Surprises - Local Events not to Miss




MCE Letterhead Logo

Donate Now

 

Become A Member

 

Volunteer 

 

 

Follow us on:
 

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Earth Share of Missouri

Better Business Bureau Seal

 

 

Upcoming Events and Call for Volunteers 

 

Do not miss out on some of these first-time ever events. Stay active and involved.

 

*All listed events are in the St. Louis, Missouri area

 

Audubon Center at Riverlands & the Missouri Botanical Garden Premier "Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for our Time"

Friday, August 26 from 6:30pm

Missouri Botanical Garden, Monsanto Hall

4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110

Movie begins at 6:30pm with a cocktail reception following at 8:00pm. Cost: $20 per person.

 

Delmar Loop's First Annual ChalkFest

Saturday, September 3 from 9:00am-5:00pm

Delmar Loop

MCE will be having a Chalk-Off Contest featuring local artists asked to 'chalk-out' an interpretive design of an environmental issue. Enter into the contest or forward flyer. Either way, do not miss this first time event. Children uner the age of 12 can join in on the fun at Chalk Land. To volunteer, email dfarrand@moenviron.org.

 

MCE will do LIVE Debate with Ameren on "Nuclear Risks"

Tuesday, Septmeber 6 from 7:00pm-9:00pm

Ethical Society in Clayton

MCE's very own Ed Smith will debate a representative from Ameren about the risks of nuclear power. The second hour is dedicated to questions from the audience. Learn more about the economics of nuclear power. We need 2-3 volunteers so please email showmenoswip@gmail.com to volunteer.

Follow on Twitter and Facebook 

 

Earthtones Festival

Saturday, September 17 from Noon-10:00pm
Alton, IL Riverfront Amphitheater
Join the celebration of Illinois Watersheds through education, recreation, and conservation. To volunteer, email bawalker@hotmail.com.
 
Saturday, September 24 from 9:00am-5:00pm
Missouri Botanical Gardens
Bring your home improvement ideas and talk with over 100 green product and service exhibitors. Enjoy local foods and live music, yoga, Tai Chi, and solar car races. Take advantage of free health screenings and shop the Green Marketplace. To volunteer, email dfarrand@moenviron.org.

 

 

Save the Date: Poured - A Taste of Space

Friday, September 30 from 5:30pm-8:30pm

Space, LLC Architecture Firm

MCE's 2011 Wine and Cheese Event in St. Louis, Missouri. Join us the Coalition for a night of delicious wine and cheese tasting, wine appreciation sessions, live music, auction and more.  Get your tickets now.

 

 

 

Missouri Coalition for the Environment | 6267 Delmar Blvd., Ste. 2E | St. Louis | MO | 63130



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8.09.2011

EPA News: Grant of $30,000 to Help Chemical Facilities in MO Comply with Regulations



 

901 N. Fifth St., Kansas City, KS 66101

 

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

 

Grant of $30,000 to Help Chemical Facilities in Missouri Comply with Regulations

 

Contact Information: Kris Lancaster, (913) 551-7557, lancaster.kris@epa.gov


Environmental News

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Kansas City, Kan., Aug. 9, 2011) - EPA has awarded the Missouri State Emergency Agency (SEMA) $30,000 to assist with outreach, education and implementation of the Clean Air Act's Risk Management Program. All chemical facilities that handle, process or store a threshold quantity of 500 to 20,000 pounds of regulated chemicals are subject to EPA's chemical accident prevention requirements.

 

"This grant is part of an ongoing effort to protect human health and the environment by preventing chemical accidents," said Karl Brooks, regional administrator. "SEMA is receiving this funding to conduct on-site audits at chemical facilities in Missouri."

 

The grant is designed to identify chemical facilities that have not reported under this regulation and enhance communications with state agencies and regulated facilities. Facilities were first required to be in compliance with the Risk Management Program in 1999. EPA then started facility inspections and enforcement of the program, which includes five components: hazard assessment system, management, accident prevention, emergency response and submittal of a risk management plan.

 

EPA's chemical accident prevention regulations cover approximately 140 hazardous chemicals including anhydrous ammonia, chlorine and highly flammable substances such as propane.

 

# # #

 

Learn more about chemical accident prevention

 

Learn more about the risk management program

 

Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion7

 

Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.

 

 

View all Region 7 News Releases

 

 




This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency


Sent by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW · Washington DC 20460 · 202-564-4355




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A haunting look at the future of radioactive waste




 
Join List

 Join List 


"Into Eternity" - A haunting look at the future of radioactive waste


into eternity

Act/Learn More

Into Eternity, is a mind-bending film that explores the utter impossibility of storing nuclear waste for 100,000  - or even one million - years. It is, on the one hand, a documentary about the Onkalo storage facility presently under construction in Finland, and on the other hand, a startlingly beautiful work of art and an urgent provocation that ponders the question of who – or what – will remain on this earth when that time frame has elapsed.

Beyond Nuclear is proud to announce that we are the non-theatrical NGO distributor of Into Eternity, hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as "a rare hybrid: an information-packed documentary crossed with an existential art film . . .  one of the most provocative movies of the year."

We invite you to collaborate with us – and our partner, Specialty Studios – to screen this important film in your community – whether at a house party or at a larger public venue. Please log on here to learn more about screening the film and the resources available to you. Please also contact us directly at info@beyondnuclear.org, to let us know you will be showing the film, so that we can provide you with our materials, any talking points needed and, if desired and feasible, a speaker.

As The Guardian critic, Peter Bradshaw asks: "Why isn't every government, every philosopher, every theologian, everywhere in the world discussing Onkalo and its implications?"
Thanks for taking action. And please also consider making a donation to Beyond Nuclear today. Your support will help us build a grassroots movement to close dangerous nuclear plants and create a safe energy future for our children.


Thank you for working with us for a nuclear-free world.

sunflower
The Beyond Nuclear Team





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Fwd: Dangerous Secret Money




.
Dear friend of OpenSecrets.org,

Did you happen to see this recent episode of the Colbert Report, in which I warn comedian Stephen Colbert about the dangers of undisclosed money in politics?

Then, as if on cue, last week we learned that a political committee organized to aid Republican Mitt Romney's presidential campaign accepted millions of dollars from companies that appear to exist only on paper.

One of them, NBC News reported, even dissolved weeks after it donated $1 million to this super PAC.

With opaque names like "W Spann LLC" and "F8 LLC," the public is left in the dark about who is really bankrolling these groups -- unless the law changes or individuals voluntarily step forward to claim credit, as former Bain Capital executive Ed Conard did once the media scrutinized the W Spann LLC donation.

In the wake of the Citizens United ruling last year, super PACs now raise unlimited sums from corporations and unions. In total, they raised $85 million last year -- a hefty sum sure to be surpassed this year as control of both Congress and the White House is at stake.

Furthermore, nonprofits and other groups spent more than $137 million last election cycle on political ads without disclosing any information about their donors. That's fully 45 percent of all the spending by these outside groups, and it's a sum -- and proportion -- that is likely to grow in 2012.

The Center for Responsive Politics' research, reporting, analysis and expertise has played a critical role in understanding these troubling trends. Hundreds of media outlets rely on the Center's data and staff to explain this changing campaign finance landscape.

Next up, look for our ongoing analysis of outside spending during the 2012 election cycle. And we will continue to advocate for disclosure of secret donors to political ad campaigns and fight for a more transparent and accountable government.

As we say at CRP: Count cash, and make change.
    
So stay tuned! And thank you for supporting the Center and OpenSecrets.org.

Sincerely,





Sheila Krumholz
Executive Director
Center for Responsive Politics



Copyright © 2011 Center for Responsive Politics, All rights reserved.  You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website, OpenSecrets.org.

Center for Responsive Politics
1101 14th St. NW
Suite 1030
Washington, District of Columbia 20005





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