Green Encounter for a Blue Planet - Leading an Examined Life

It’s been a bustling season - but here’s something to watch! As I continue my own graduate studies related to Technology Facilitated Educator Professional Development, I continue to seek ways in which authentic-experiential and outdoor learning can co-habitate, enrich and be enriched by technology.

Ironwood Tree Experience, Tucson, AZ

I hope they don’t mind me copying right off their website, but this is to whet the appetite of anyone looking for ways to improve the planet, one important step at a time. (all credit to the Dhruv’s and ITE)

And I quote (or copy/paste):

Intention

Ironwood Tree Experience (ITE) empowers young people through active, mindful and educational eco-programs that cultivate a holistic sense of community.

Vision

ITE envisions a future in which active, critically thinking, and compassionate young people view themselves as a vibrant part of their community and are empowered to forge a future that integrates values that are ecologically and socially just.

Audience

Ironwood Tree Experience serves adolescents, ages 12-18. Eco-programs are intended for adolescents of diverse socio-economic levels, cultural backgrounds, and spiritual beliefs.

Action

Towards this mission and vision, ITE provides young people with active, mindful, and educational eco-programs that integrate four learning and living strands: 1) Youth wellness, 2) Community Action, 3) Sustainable Practices, and 4) Youth Character Development.

Youth Wellness emerges from foundational lessons and practices in fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness.

Community Action is experienced through direct activities that encourage adolescents to voice their perspectives and solutions to contemporary environmental and social needs throughout the Tucson Community.

Sustainable Practices are fostered through personal choices that have long-term affect on the health and wellbeing of humanity, wildlife and ecosystems.

Youth Character Development is built up from personal and cooperative challenges and achievements and enhances leadership skills that will sustain through adolescence and continue into adulthood.

Shameless grab for content from someone else, eh?

While reading blogs coming out of Pakistan, following today’s tragic assassination of Benazir Bhutto, I encountered this symbol again and it reminds me of the frail yet resilient (and cyclical) qualities of the planet and the living things upon it - It does not appear that this New Year will bring PEACE but we should nonetheless continue to work toward this noble end.

This is a follow-up to my September 27 entry about Nike shoes for Native America feet. recently the story was on NPR again, I caught the tail end of it, but in a nutshell, someone was complaining that this was a for-profit scheme and a bit non-PC because it targeted Native Americans as different.

I am no geneticist and no anthropologist, but it seems to me that, based upon the original NPR interview with the shoes designer, this was developed with a very altruistic goal in mind - to help provide comfort and protection to the feet of Native Americans (being given out only in Native American Communities) in en effort to help reduce foot pressure leading to sores aggravated by diabetes.

Why is it ok to recognize that some populations of people have a propensity to certain health risks, but not OK to try to help - without it being suggested that it is racist or some other overstatement.

Indeed Nike probably woudl like to turn a profit, but perhaps not. Perhaps the designer actually initiated a sufficiently compelling dialogue that they did the right thing. Ridiculous? Maybe. Impossible? Hardly. Might they get community service brownie points? Sure, but isn’t that ok if in the end a very serious problem is resolved?

Does everything really have to be vanilla?

My September post

On that happy note - Happy Belated Hannukah or Chanukah (8 crazy nights, no matter how you spell it!) Happy Holidays!  Merry Christmas!  Happy New Year! Happy Kwanzaa!  There, was that PC enough?

(1) My father (Winn Chayefsky) has a brother Bill, (2) Bill marries (3) Saranne Cohen of Nashville, Saranne has a sister (4) Estelle (who marries Sidney Silverstone to become Estelle Silverstone), Estelle attends Vanderbilt University (One of the early female lawyers) and is sorority sister and friend of (5) Pauline LaFon, Pauline LaFon marries Al Gore, Sr, they are parents to (6) Al Gore, jr.

Here ’s one more(1) I marry (2) Guy - now the ex, Guy has a sister (3) Nadine, Nadine has a son (4) Chris Cole, Chris has met Al Gore (5) - Hmmm!  That didn’t work

I am adding a wonderful Autism resource (Arizona Autism Support) to the blogroll of important website. There is much discussion about the increase in autism spectrum disorders being linked to shots, environment, better recognition of the problem. While I have no idea and have not studied the matter (or followed the scientific research carefully) I have a vested interest and am throwing it into the mix.

Although i have suspected so since he was about the age of one year old, my 17 year old son was JUST formally diagnosed as autistic. Interesting the delay was not for lack of signs and symptoms and need of specific services to support him, his sibling, his parents (his family), it was rather that his disorder was easily missed due to a literal smorgasbord of other serious and functionally debilitating diagnoses:

• ADD, Tourette’s, Bi-Polar (rapid cycling), Emotional Disability, Learning Disability, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (often presents with Tourette’s).

So, I am loosely making this issue relevant to this blog due to the conversations of environmental impact on the health and welfare of children (beyond lungs), but to their minds, their development. But really, I just want to talk about it and celebrate that fact that afetr 17 years of Head Start and School District services, he may actually get additional services that address his inability to function in a progressively more competitive and fast paced world.

I watched a remarkable piece last night, on the Sundance Channel. By now any ‘AWAKE’ person is aware of indoor pollutants (carpet, pet dander, dust..) and the effects they may have on body adn mind health - but this piece was about clothing. It was very timely for me, lately I have been wondering where one finds the strong fiber of hemp in clothing - without looking like I am returning to 1969 Hippie roots! Would it be acceptable in the school district environment - would drug sniffing dogs sniff ME!

On Sundance last night, there was piece of renewable clothing (green clothes).

Patagonia ises recycled plastic bottles to create the fabric of their jackets. When the item has completed its useful life, the owner can turn it into Patagonia’s recycling bings, it is shipped to Japan (where the technology exists - Hmmm! we need that more local) and it is converted back to its molecular base and rewoven into fabric - AGAIN!

Linda Loudermilk (designer) had an epiphany several years back, following an important and successful Paris runway showing. She felt empty and unfulfilled. She began to design using natural and recycled fabrics.

So if you see me on the streets wearing ‘earthy’ clothes and shoes made form cloth, please do not laugh - I am trying to live a conscious and examined life!

I fell asleep listening to the rantings of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap Box. While he was bit unorthodox (why not?), his factories are conscious not only of their input and output and affect on the environment, they are equally conscious of their employees and respecting them. I was sleepy and missed a lot of it - but the jist was to treat the earth and all its things and creatures (including people) consciously and carefully and considerately.

UhOh! Getting preachy - time to go!

OK I am having an ADD day on this blog. I am bouncing between environmental tidbits and how one person can change it all. For my BD recently my nephew Chris sent me the book ‘Cradle to Cradle’ Remaking the way we make things! First chapter title: This Book Is Not a Tree’. I am still in the midst of FEAR and closing up Tipping Point - but hope this book can be next!

So, on NPR just now, I caught up with this story…

One man, his mother died of diabetes, he was raised by her - a single mom - on a reservation, through data collection discovered that Native America toe box area has a unique shape/depth.. you listen to the story (link at end).

Here’s the magic!

He developed a shoe and an idea and Nike is marketing the shoe at wholesale to Native American Community Health Centers. It is his hope that these communities will give the shoes to their members, and that this may encourage more community members to activity - a direct assault on the high numbers of diabetes in the Native Community.

Here’s the simplicity of inspiration! While he had access to NIKE brand, as an employee, the idea was a direct result of his mothers diabetes experience.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14738144&ft=1&f=1003

Fry’s is selling fabric grocery bags for $1 each!!!

They have both long and short handles and open to a stable rectangle box bottom for fitting maximum groceries (about the dimensions of the classic brown paper bag). I picked up two then realized they open to such a wonderful size and went back for 2 more.

They are going on my Hanukkah and Christmas list for family and friends this year! they are black so you can use them for Halloween bags for the kiddies too!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Bag itself is recyclable and is manufactured by www.earthwisebags.com
Fry’s in Maricopa displays them at the entrance door by the shopping baskets and their lovely greeters!

Several weeks back Gina D’Abella of RAM and to ECO-Recycling, Maricopa gave her permission for me to list some ideas from an article published on line on CopaNews.com. Gina is a community member with her heart and soul focused on the good fight. Below are suggestions, from the article, on how each of us can take her personal challenge to GREEN, GREENER and very GREEN! It’s not so hard and WE CAN make a difference! Gina is one person who can teach us how!

Here’s link to full article link from CopaNews.com http://www.copanews.com/?c=141&a=1318

In the words of Gina D’Abella:

This year, 2007, we are consciously becoming aware of our “carbon footprint.” We are being inundated with the media attempting to educate us about how we can work towards a “carbon neutral” society to offset “global warming.” Are you doing everything you can to help our Maricopa community be “green” and sustainable?

We all can do more to facilitate our community’s “green” objectives, right? But, how do we get started in our own neighborhoods and within our own families? First, we must make an environmentally conscious commitment to change. Then, we have to make a decision on what we are going to change in our lives that will sincerely make a difference. And finally, we have to set up a target date of completion to accomplish those environmentally conscious goals.

So, I challenge you…..every man, woman and student in Maricopa…..to incorporate eight changes in your daily living by August 8, 2008 that will help support the sustainability of our Maricopa community and our Mother Earth.

The following is a guide to help you get started. These “green” suggestions for environmental change offer each of us simple actions we can commit to for the sustainability of our community. Make a commitment to think globally and act locally every day.

Green

1. Plant a native tree.

2. Wash your hands in cold water.

3. Turn up your thermostat a couple of degrees in the summer, down in the winter.

4. Unplug appliances in your home that are not in use.

5. Hang clothes to dry instead of using your electric/gas dryer.

6. Use re-usable cloth totes at grocery and retail stores instead of paper or plastic bags.

7. Familiarize yourself with your local recycling programs and recycle.

8. Buy products made from recycled materials.

Greener

1. Replace all of your light bulbs in your home with fluorescent bulbs.
2. Buy local, organic produce.
3. Support local businesses that have incorporated “green” policies & procedures.
4. Check your car/truck tires every month for proper inflation. Keep up with the routine maintenance on your vehicle.
5. Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees.
6. Educate your children about environmental issues. Take them on tours to local recycling centers, landfills, dairies and farms.
7. Conduct a water audit in your home to determine if you have any leaks. Simply locate your water meter and write down the numbers. Then do not use any water in your home for an hour (make sure to turn off irrigation systems, pool pumps and icemakers). Then check the meter again. If the numbers have increased, you may have a leak.
8. Help your neighbors and community by voting for environmental change.

Very Green

1. Walk or bike to the store and telecommute for work whenever possible.

2. Carpool – to work, for special events, or for daily errands.

3. Next vehicle purchase – buy a hybrid.

4. Select Energy Star appliances.

5. Commit to building “green”. There are more than 150 eco-friendly options builders can incorporate when constructing your new home or commercial building project.

6. Support clean, renewable energy sources. Buy solar for your home.

7. Support local, state and federal policies and programs that improve our gas mileage, utilize clean, renewable energy sources, increase energy efficiency and conservation.

8. Think global and act local – donate and volunteer your time with a local, non-profit environmental organization.

Gina D’Abella has a mission to make Maricopa and the world more self-sustaining through her work with the local non-profit organization, ECO. She can often be found at the Recycling Association of Maricopa (McDavid Road), which she established, on Saturday mornings where she volunteers for recycling efforts of our community. To get involved with recycling or other environmental projects, contact her at 1earth@cox.net.

From the ‘Alliance for Climate Protection‘

Video - Black Balloons  http://www.climateprotect.org/ah12

I haven’t had an entry for a little while, summer vacation, then back to work at the school district and beginning of the year busy-ness! Yesterday I began on a new path, that of earning my Masters Degree. I am attending Prescott College and while my Masters is in the field of Professional Development (education), PC is renowned for its environmental awareness and consciousness. So as I am working through Orientation and Colloquium week, I seek ways to marry my environmental interests with my adult ed interests. They seem rather similar and suited, but I cannot see it with clarity just yet.

Today I sat with amazingly brilliant young people who are very motivated to save this planet for whoever they can save it for. There are amazing ideas and challenges coming from this group. They are thinking in important and critical ways and we must all nurture them, for they can rock this planet!

As I joined a discussion on sustainable communities as a way to eliminate poverty, while I did not get clarity of meaning from the presenter, I began to understand sustainable in ways beyond my solar powered, wind-powered, straw bale personal experience.  Amazing young people are looking at bigger pictures than I thought possible 10 years ago. They will change communities and the culture of thought that informs the development and value choices of those communities.

So my challenge to you is this - Simply observe your choices, tried to be informed in how your small step may have a large impact. There are people working on big solutions - sustainiable cities, solar power on top of building s in NYC. There are people working on value systems and politics and on how we perceive ourselves and how the environment around us causes us to feel one way or another.  There are big answers coming, but not all of us will create them or locate them or prove them or understand them.

Yesterday morning I got a cup of water at PC, today I still have and am using and reusing that cup. It’s in the car right now, but in the morning can go back in my sac. My small choice, an invisible difference, but if you do it and you get someone else to do it….maybe??

Today someone quoted ‘Horton Hears a Who’ and it bears repeating - “a persons a person no matter how small”

Here’s my spin:

Positive change is positive change no matter how small

Today was cleaning day, a bit hot and late in the year to be called Spring cleaning, but when motivation strikes - go with the flow!

As I dug through my closet, I found years of bags that I had collected (freebies from various conferences).  They collect dust or become give aways to anyone who can use them.

But today, I found six hidden in the dark recesses of THE Closet!  They are fabric and  absolutely perfect for reusable grocery bags.  They now grace a hook in my kitchen, that previously only held my lunch box.

They are prominently located that I should remember to bring them with me on my next excursion, yet discreet enough to look just fine hanging on my kitchen wall.

So here are a few more REALLY simple tips:
Cloth grocery bags - washable, reusable over and over again
Plastic bags hanger -  They still make their way into the home.  In response, I have always had a ’sack’ hanging in my kitchen (from a curtain rod) that holds plastic grocery bags.  We reuse these and use them again and again
Fluorescent bulbs - When we were 100% solar powered, we changed everything over to fluorescent (very streamlined and aesthetically pleasing).  We still have a few incandescents around, but they are in less trafficked fixtures and on dimmers.

Challenge question 1:  I installed several dimmers throughout the house, assuming this would draw less power and to ease eye strain when full 40 or 60 watt was not needed.  Does anyone know if dimmed incandescents reduced power usage AND/OR can you run fluorescent on dimmers.  My electrical installer says no, and I do not want to burn the house down around us!  If you have experience with or knowledge on this topic, please comment back!

Challenge question 2:  I have wondered for years, do you use less water and power running a full dishwasher OR filling a sink with sudsy water, rinsing (efficiently - meaning turning water on and off as needed) Of course the dishwasher is set to NOT DRY!