Interesting Eco-Discussions

to get further connected with the eco-community of cyberspace check out this link:
http://www.ecospace.cc/

Green Holiday Gift Ideas

For green holiday gift ideas visit Yahoo Green! at green.yahoo.com/holiday2007

Study Circle #3

Great News!!
Study Circle #3 is currently being coordinated. It will be facilitated by David Ellison at the Manitowoc public library. The early afternoon time will allow seniors to participate and be home by dinner as well as high school students enough time to arrive after school.

Study Circle #2 is organized

Justin Nickels will facilitate Study Circle #2 which is filling up fast.
If you'd like to join, let us know!!
tprigge@manitowoc.org

Changing your light bulbs might actually SAVE THE PLANET

Did that get your attention? Every year, 106 billion punds of preventable pollution is generated to power older-generation light bulbs. These incandescent bulbs use 4 times more energy than necessary to produce the light for your homes and businesses. Little changes spread across large numbers can really make an impact. Go ahead, change a light bulb. This one simple action can really make a big difference.
For more tips check out the state of Utah's "Green Choices" page at http://www.greenchoices.utah.gov/

Consumer Consequences

The earth couldn't support its 6.6 billion residents if everyone lived like a
typical American. Consumer Consequences will tell you how many planets it would take to support your lifestyle on a planetary scale, and provide some ideas for making your "footprint" a little smaller.
Check out this interesting tool at http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumerconsequences/

Musings of Einstein

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
-- Albert Einstein

The first study circle (#1) in Manitowoc is organized

STUDY CIRCLE #1
I am pleased to report that Manitowoc's first study circle will get under way starting November 19. The response to the call for circle participants was very impressive. All slots were filled in less than a day. Yeah!! People in our community care about learning more about sustainability.
If you are interested in participating in a study circle, please email tprigge@manitowoc.org.

Involve the Children

With a song like Jack Johnson's version of "3 is the Magic Number: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" even kids will enjoy being aware of sustainability.

Hop on the Bus Gus

Pick up a pass for Maritime Metro Transit and Make a Difference....
Emissions from road vehicles account for over 50% of U.S. air pollution. For every passenger mile traveled, public transportation uses less than one half of the fuel of private automobiles, producing 5% as much carbon monoxide and less than 8% as much as the other pollutants that create smog (such as volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides). Scientists estimate that public transportation already reduces emissions of carbon dioxide, which contributes to global climate change, by over 7.4 million tons annually. If Americans were to use public transportation at equivalent rates as Europeans, scientists estimate that U.S. dependence on imported oil would decrease by more than 40% and that carbon dioxide emissions would be reduced by more than 25%.

Respect for All Living Things

I recently read that the Bhutanese government stated at the 1992 Earth Summit that in Bhutan they do not carelessly chop down trees because forests form the basis of the nation's culture. Miwako Sato then observed, "One can sense in these words more than a simple desire to protect the environment; they express respect for all living things, a respect rooted in the belief that deities dwell in every tree and blade of grass."

Reducing our Ecological Footprint

Americans use 30% of the world's oil supply yet only 2% of that comes from our own soil. By embracing renewable energy, we can significantly reduce our dependency on foreign oil.

Our 'ecological footprint' is the measurement of what we consume and the 'footprint' it leaves on the earth. A person who drives 50 miles to work everyday and eats at fast food restaurants 5 times a week has a larger ecological footprint than a person who takes the bus to work and cooks vegetarian meals at home. If all of us lived like the first person in our example, we would need roughly 7 Earths to support us sustainably, or forever. So, let's take an honest look at our level of consumption: Americans make up only 4% of the World's population yet we consume nearly 26% of its resources. Americans spend more annually on the purchase of garbage bags than the combined GDP of 90 of the World's developing nations.
Begin thinking of ways to reduce what you consume: bring canvas bags to the grocery store, buy yourself a travel mug and bring it with you to the coffee shop. Eat one less meat meal per week and buy local food whenever possible. If just ten percent of us where to take these simple steps we would make a substantial difference.

For more information check out www.campaignearth.org

Two quick tips to contribute towards sustainability: buy locally grown fruits and vegetables whenever possible (Manitowoc has a fantastic Farmers' Market) and doesn't use your clothes dryer on sunny days.

You Can Make a Difference

When was the last time you thought about how you had the power to make a difference? Through your business, you communicate with people every day. Why not start letting them know about your commitment to the environment and how they can help too. Together, we will make a difference.

Manitowoc Public Library Will Have Books

Great news for all in the Manitowoc area who would like to read the book The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices by Sarah James and Torbjorn Lahti.
The Manitowoc Public Library has confirmed that it has ordered several copies of the book that will soon be available for check out. If you have not yet read it, it is certainly a read well worth the time.
Stay tuned for study circle details.

Sustainable Living

A Sustainable Living forum sponsored by City of Manitowoc and the League of Women Voters was hosted May 23, 2007. Greg David, a Jefferson County Supervisor and Organic Farmer, and Paul Moderacki, the Johnson Creek Village Administrator gave an excellent and enlightening presentation on Sustainable Living and Eco-Municipalities. Both have traveled to Sweden to study the Swedish model. They graciously agreed to come to the City of Manitowoc to make their presentation regarding the Natural Step. As of June 18, 2007, 10 municipalities in the state of Wisconsin (Sweden has 76) have passed resolutions confirming their commitment to sustainable living.

Sustainable community: treating all with respect - in a fiscally,

socially and ecologically responsible manner.

Mssrs. David and Moderacki gave an insightful presentation about "The Natural Step" approach to sustainable living and sustainable development, and the fact that it is best for the economy. The misconception is that folks think living green is not economical, when in fact it is just the opposite. The three aspects of sustainability: Ecology, society and economy. The purpose of sustainability is permanence....meeting the needs of the present but continuing to meet the needs into the future and indefinitely. Sweden, a country plagued with air and water pollution in the 50's and 60's, aggressively pursued the Natural Step principles for sustainable living and will be off of fossil fuel by 2020. The City of Falkenberg, Sweden will be off fossil fuel by 2015. That's incredible. It's not some distant, future, sci-fi wish....that's only 8 years from now!

"Problems cannot be solved by the same means of thinking that created them." -Einstein

They presented an example of a green campus that strived to be zero emissions. Located on the campus (in addition to other things) was a McDonald's, a Ford auto facility and an educational building. By using the used oil from the McD's fryers, the Ford auto facility created fuel. The heat from the McD's fryers was used to heat the adjacent educational building. The roofs of the facilities were designed as green roofs. Reduction in external input energy for heating: 60%. Reduction in electricity consumption: 60%. Reduction of external energy for cooling: 100%.

Eco-Municipalities in Wisconsin

Manitowoc became the 10th municipality, among a distinguished group, in the state of Wisconsin to commit to sustainability with unanimous passage of a resolution by the Common Council on June 18, 2007 !!!

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Renewable. Rethink. Respect. Responsibility.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Renewable. Rethink. Respect. Responsibility.

The Natural Step for Communities

Would you like to learn more aboutThe Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices by Sarah James & Torbjorn Lahti (Leader of the Swedish Eco-Municipality Movement) and how Manitowoc can move towards sustainability and becoming an eco-municipality? Study Circles are now being organized. More detail soon.

A Time of Great Challenge is also a Time for Great Opportunity

Due to human activities, our atmosphere contains 32 percent more carbon dioxide;
Mitigation – taking strong action to reduce emissions – must be viewed as an investment;
Local governments have a key role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by increasing energy efficiency and reducing fossil fuel use;
Local government can lead by example by taking specific actions to transform itself into a model of sustainable practices that can result in cost savings and increased employment, and enhance environmental quality and community well-being;
A piecemeal application of the objectives of sustainability will make it much more difficult to attain. Need a whole system approach to sustainability including the three types of community capital: economic, social and natural.

Toward a Sustainable Community

Why this effort is important: This is a crucial time to reinvent our institutions to help our community stay healthy and whole because we have entered an era where human generated pressures on the natural world are unprecedented and threaten our current way of life.