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\"Invitation to Transition\": From oil dependency to local resilience


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BGF presents an Introduction to Transition facilitated by Larry Chang of EcolocityDC that will address the challenges of peak oil, climate change and economic collapse.

Larry Chang will then present an outline of the Transition Movement, discuss how you can replicate the model, and give examples of what is being done locally. Participants will be invited to collaborate in formulating plans to reduce oil dependency and build local resilience.

Residents of Baltimore and surrounding communities are welcome.

Where: MD Presbyterian Church, 1105 Providence Road, Towson, 21286. Directions

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The Dixon Report, Spring Clean-Up


April 9, 2009

 

Dear Citizens:

 

April has sprung forward only to bring with her another opportunity to experience the beauty of Baltimore and her citizens.  Recently, during one of my weekly Friday morning bike rides I was afforded the opportunity to gaze upon the cherry blossoms that thrive alongside Druid Hill Reservoir.  As I returned to City Hall to continue on with the business of the day, I was again moved by the budding flowerbeds of the historic cultural district of Mt. Vernon.  In all, I was reminded that the short days of winter have finally rested over the horizon and now spring has taken nature’s stage. 

 

Spring is a reminder to us that life can spring forward from the cold, icy and often dark days of winter.  Just as in our own lives we all go through our own wintry storms, spring is a reminder that a new season will come.  Situations that once appeared hopeless and dead will again breathe life.  The seeds that were planted in the fall and endured the winter are now beginning to blossom in the rays of a new day.

As many of us prepare for the three-day holiday weekend and we start to see the first blossoms of spring, I encourage you to think about our City’s quest to be a cleaner, greener, healthier, and safer Baltimore.  Spring is a signal of renewal and we can all contribute in small ways to the renewal of our City.

 

On Saturday, April 18, I am hosting my 10th annual Spring Clean Up. This year’s theme, “Clean your Alley & Plant a Tree,” recognizes the simple but sustainable projects communities do to create a cleaner and greener neighborhood. So far more than 117 community groups and over 1900 volunteers have registered to participate in this initiative.  Many more are expected to register.

 

I encourage each of you to join in these efforts. To sign up, communities should call 3-1-1. Click here http://www.baltimorecity.gov/downloads/0409/Spring%20Cleanup%20Flyer%20FINAL2009.pdf  to learn more.  Have a restful and safe holiday weekend!

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Sheila Dixon

Mayor, Baltimore

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New Park Dedicated


Unveiling of the sign for Indian Rock Park.
Unveiling of the sign for Indian Rock Park

On March 23, Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith joined Eighth District Senator Kathy Klausmeier in the dedication of the new Indian Rock Park property in Perry Hall. The park is situated just west of Perry Hall High School. Future plans call for the construction of a walking trail.  The majority of the site, most of which is wooded, will remain preserved as green space for the community.

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Our view: Tough times, but surprising number of environment bills advance


Baltimore Sun:



This wasn\'t supposed to be a big year for the environmentalist movement in Annapolis, and that may yet prove to be the case. Program Open Space funds are under assault from the state Senate, millions of cap-and-trade dollars from power plants are being diverted from alternative energy and efficiency programs, and some important environmental programs have had their budgets cut (as many state government functions have).

But with just a week left in the legislative session, the greenies are in a surprisingly good position to pull off some significant wins.
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Most of Gov. Martin O\'Malley\'s bill to commit Maryland to a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020 has advanced. His proposal to address the Court of Appeals\' Terrapin Run decision and restore legal authority to county comprehensive plans has, too.

On the state\'s Smart Growth policy, however, the Senate\'s failure to put some teeth into the program is particularly disappointing. The House had taken Mr. O\'Malley\'s modest effort at updating Smart Growth and required the counties to show they were making progress toward their stated goals. But that now looks like a lost cause in the Senate - and a big defeat for any hope of controlling sprawl around the Chesapeake Bay.

Still, what happens in the days ahead could make the difference. As one veteran lobbyist noted, a month ago it looked like the environmentalists were going to walk away from the session nearly empty-handed. Perhaps it\'s a case of looking at the Chesapeake Bay as half-clean, but given the circumstances, it\'s a welcome development.

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Upgrade to Robert E. Lee Park


Smith Testified in Favor of State Capital Budget Request

Towson, Md. (March 19, 2009) — Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith testified this week before two legislative committees on behalf of a $3 million state capital budget request for the improvement of Robert E. Lee Park in the Mount Washington area of Baltimore County.

He testified on Monday before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and Tuesday before the House Appropriations Committee in favor of the funding.

County Executive Smith\'s testimony as prepared for his appearance before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee is presented below:

Chairman Currie and members of the Budget and Taxation Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of the $3 million appropriation for the improvement of Robert E. Lee Park.

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Urb Ag Gala Friday, April 17th


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On Friday, April 17th, 2009 the Baltimore Urban Agricultural Task Force will be hosting its first annual Urb Ag Gala at St. John's Church at 2640 St. Paul Street from 7:00 to 10:00pm. The celebration will include delicious local food, artwork and entertainment in the setting of an old church transformed into a wildly lavish green atmosphere. Guests will have the opportunity to mark their gardens on a giant map of Baltimore. They can also sign up to casually speak about their growing project in an open mic style storytelling and song circle that will include local musicians. A $5 donation is being requested. Urb Ag Gala will be a waste-neutral event. Featured musicians include: Atom Fisher, Cityslides, Beans, American Folklore, Mother Nature's Son, MacGregor Burns & the VCR, Lands & Peoples, Pere Yorko, The Owls Go.

The event will enable those intrigued by the "growing" movement to become more involved; connect and offer resources to those already involved; get growers and eaters and those in between fired-up for the 2009 season; and make a statement about the inspiring and practical effects that growing food locally can have on individuals, families, communities, and the state of our planet at large.

Contact: urbaggala@gmail.com, http://baltimoreurbanag.org/content/urb-ag-gala

The Baltimore Urban Agricultural Task Force is a growing coalition of farmers, students, professionals, artists, parents, and concerned citizens. The passion of its members is a common one: locally produced food. The Task Force is finding ways to strengthen communities in Baltimore through agricultural projects and environmental education. The long term goal of the Task Force is to acquire a 6-acre plot that can be farmed in Baltimore City and to create 500 new and sustainable jobs in the process.

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City Hall to go dark for Earth Hour


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The City of Baltimore is pleased to announce that City Hall will be going dark for Earth Hour.

Also participating are the following surrounding buildings:

Charles L. Benton, Jr. Building
Abel Wolman Municipal Building
The War Memorial Building
The MECU Building

Please join the City and turn off your lights for one hour March 28th, starting at 8:30 PM.

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Winds of Change


[This comes from a very interesting blog generally about clean energy, link is at the end of the article.]
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I’ve wanted to make a post about this since it was in the news last Thursday, but it slipped to the back of my mind.  The Washington Post had an article about how in Maryland it’s now cheaper on the electric bill for residents to buy renewable wind energy credits through the Rockville-based Clean Currents than it would be to just buy power through BG&E and Pepco.  This means if you’re in Maryland, you can lower your utility rates and take a significant step to greening your lifestyle at the same time.  Usually, being part of the Clean Currents Program costs ratepayers a little bit more, but the current economic climate has created different conditions.

“The decreased rates are the result of a steady decline in wholesale energy prices. Utility companies set their customers’ rates periodically and have not reduced them to reflect the lower prices they are now paying for energy to produce electricity. But Clean Currents and other companies have taken advantage of the downturn in the price and are offering residents as much as two years of power for 10 to 15 percent less than the utilities’ summer rates. They use some of their revenue to promote wind farms and the use of wind power.”

The article also talked about a family in Maryland who set up their own wind turbine to power their home in Charles County, where the wind is strong.

I’m hopeful this is a trend towards renewables that we’ll be seeing across Maryland and the United States.  One other recent signal that the winds of change are upon us is that there are now more wind jobs than coal.  For now, if you live in Maryland, there’s no excuse to not google Clean Currents right now and consider entering into a 2 year contract with them.  You can save money, and less your impact on the environment at the same time.

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Green Film Fest Events in DC


Environmental Film Festival:- March 11- 22
Film Festival
At this year's Environmental Film Festival in DC, the health and sustainability of earth’s oceans and sea life will be a major theme. Presentations will include:
  • Journalist Hedrick Smith about his film, Poisoned Waters, comparing the health of the Chesapeake Bay and Puget Sound and
  • David Conover on the practical uses of the genome and Craig Venter's ocean discoveries from his film-in-progress, Life v2.0.
Those interested in sustainable food issues and biodiversity won't want to miss Potato Heads and Corn Dogs: Keepers of the Crop.

See the full listings and show times.

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 Special Screening Honoring Environmentalist Rachel Carson: March 18
Rachel Carson

In March 2009, the National Women's History Project is honoring women who have taken the lead in the environmental movement, with a special emphasis on the pioneering work of Rachel Carson.

See the debut of the new Rachel Carson film, A Sense of Wonder, in a free one-night-only special screening with guest appearance by actress Kaiulani Lee.

For more information and reservations click here.

The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery
March 18, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Free!
Donald W. Reynolds Center for America Art and Portraiture, Nan Tucker
McEvoy Auditorium

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 Join Water For People DC and filmmaker Sam Bozzo at Policy bar: March 20
Water for People DC

Meet guest speaker Sam Bozzo, filmmaker of Blue Gold: World Water Wars (screening at the Environmental Film Festival) at a reception with Water for the People DC on Friday March 20.

Policy Bar
1904 14th St NW
6:30 - 9:30
Cover Charge: $15.00
Complimentary hors d'oeuvres

RSVP at waterforpeopledc@gmail.com

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Battle over clean air is bound to get dirty


AFTER EIGHT YEARS, our long-suffering air is already breathing easier. In just the first month of the Obama administration, Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson began revisiting Bush administration policies that some scientists say have set us back more than a decade on global warming. A prime candidate for reversal is the agency's decision to turn down a California request to set tough emissions standards that would effectively create a vehicle fuel efficiency standard of 42 miles per gallon by 2020.
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The fierce resistance is symbolized by William Kovacs, vice president of the US Chamber of Commerce. He told the Wall Street Journal that carbon dioxide regulation through the Clean Air Act "would completely shut the country down."

The resistance also comes in the fine print. In December, General Motors submitted a restructuring report that pledged an average car fleet fuel efficiency of 37.3 miles per gallon by 2012. But in a revision submitted to the Treasury two weeks ago, the company slid backward to 33.7 miles per gallon. It also downgraded its 2012 goal for trucks from 27.5 miles per gallon to 23.8.

If General Motors, on its knees for another $17 billion in bailout funds, remains this sneaky and arrogant, what will other fossil fuel-related companies do to delay regulation and destroy the future? It is another reason GM and Chrysler should not get another dime of taxpayer money until they get real. More broadly, it is a reason for Obama - as much as he is being stretched by the overall economic crisis - to signal he will not tolerate any more corporate shenanigans.
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