Photo: Workers pass buckets of mud and stones at a gold mine in the Ituri region of northeast DRC (Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images)
I stumbled on this compelling short documentary by Journeyman Pictures, Congo’s Tin Soldiers, and could not tear my eyes away. As this film emphasizes, the underlying causes of years of conflict – which are again escalating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – are inextricably linked with the “systematic looting” of the country’s mi…
If you’re a high school student with an idea to make your community a more sustainable place to live then there’s a new contest that just may be a great way to get the seed money you need to get your project off the ground. Put together by The Weather Channel and the National Environmental Education Foundation as a part of Classroom Earth, they’re looking for smart, innovative, and workable solutions to pressing environmental issues.
And get this; they’ll even pay you a cash stipend for being a local environmental intern to go along with the seed money you’ll receive to help make it happen! …
Imagine a future where government spending went to creating a low-carbon economy, powered by green collar workers and publicly-purposed investments. Instead of government spending that bails out auto industry CEOs and investment bankers on Wall Street, imagine spending that would truly boost the economy while creating real, long-term jobs.
It doesn’t need to be a pipe dream. A new report from the Center for American Progress proposes a way for the U.S. government to do just that.
In partnership with the University of Massachusetts’ Political Economy Research Institute, the Center prepared a $100 billion, two-year recovery plan that could create an independent and low-carbon future for the U.S. economy.
In their report, “Green Recovery: A Program to Create Good Jobs and Start Building a Low-Carbon Economy,” they lay out how this recovery plan would work:
Specifically, we outline in our report a program of investment that would inject $100 billion in federal money into the domestic economy through near-term spending on energy efficiency and renewable energy, while leveraging at least an additional $20 billion in private capital through loan guarantees. The report focuses on strategies that ensure that funds are brought to bear relatively quickly within the timeframe necessary to jumpstart the economy.
This current memo expands on the on the “Green Recovery” report by identifying the specific policies that could be used to drive new investment within a matter of a few months to a year, in some cases offering immediate stimulus, and in others providing meaningful near-term strategies for economic recovery and growth.
They include a list of prioritized policies that they suggest investing in quickly to stimulate all sectors of the economy: transportation, manufacturing, construction, building efficiency, neighborhood revitalization, and workforce development. Below are summaries of the recommended policies:
Stimulus investments:
• Transit agencies and ready-to-go transportation projects: Provide $2 billion in assistance to transit agencies to reduce transit fares and expand services, and begin construction on ready-to-go rail and other projects.
• Refundable residential energy efficiency tax credits: Increase funding for refundable residential energy efficiency tax credits to $5 billion and raise the maximum credit for household efficiency upgrades to $2,000.
• Clean renewable energy bonds: Increase CREB funding for consumer-owned utilities to $5 billion to jump-start renewable energy projects.
• “Cash for Clunkers” rebates for older cars: Initiate a $2.5 billion annual program to purchase and scrap older, more polluting cars, in exchange for an owner agreement to acquire a more efficient vehicle or use alternative transportation.
• The Weatherization Assistance Program: Fully fund the Weatherization Assistance Program at $900 million, the amount Congress is authorized to spend on the program in FY 2009, and build toward a goal of weatherizing 1 million homes.
Recovery investments:
• Energy efficiency and conservation block grants: Increase appropriation to $6 billion to fund states, cities, and counties in pursuing clean energy projects.
• Solar roofs on federal buildings: Authorize $3.5 billion to install 2,000 megawatts of solar power on federal rooftops, and amend federal electricity contracting to allow for 30-year power purchasing agreements.
• New Starts Transit project investments: Fully fund the New Starts Transit budget at the $6.6 billion authorized in Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users.
• Green school construction and renovation: Support state and local school modernization, renovation, and repair at $7.25 billion.
• Green affordable housing HOME block grants: Supplement block grant funding through the HOME program with $1 billion for energy-related projects.
• HOPE VI program for green community revitalization: Appropriate $800 million for greening HOPE VI projects to meet Energy Star and green communities standards.
• Smart grid federal matching funds: Fund the Smart Grid Title of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to support $1.3 billion for infrastructure investment and demonstration projects.
• Workforce investment in the Green Jobs Act: Increase appropriation for the Green Jobs Act, authorized in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act to $250 million to provide job training and workforce investment in energy efficiency and renewable-energy installations.
• Green jobs restoring the land: Expand existing programs by $800 million to restore parkland, forests, wetlands, wildlife refuges, and rural ecosystems.
• Manufacturing Extension Partnership: Expand the capacity of domestic manufacturing modernization efforts by increasing MEP funding to $200 million.
• Advanced coal technology to capture carbon: Invest $1.1 billion to deploy demonstration carbon capture-and-storage technology at a coal-fired power plant.
• Additional green infrastructure for clean water: Invest in broader community benefits and green jobs with $3 billion in green storm water infrastructure.
From their investment ideas, like clean renewable energy bonds that support American independence from foreign oil, to their recovery projects that create construction and manufacturing jobs for the building of green schools and low-income housing, the ideas outlined in this report plan have real potential to boost the economy and support the low-carbon future we desperately need.
Photo credit: Flickr/Canis Major, CC License
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(Posted by Sarah Kuck in Bright Green Economy at 5:12 PM)
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is meeting Tuesday with more than 600 officials and environmental activists from states, provinces, and regional governments from around the world in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The two-day summit in Beverly Hills will build on efforts by consortiums of U.S. states and Canadian provinces to slow rising CO2 emissions on the regional level. Schwarzenegger, at least 12 U.S. governors, and representatives from India, Brazil,
Gov. Schwarzenegger
Canada, Indonesia, and Mexico are expected to sign a declaration on sharing technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The meeting comes as Gov. Schwarzenegger has instructed various state agencies to prepare to relocate and upgrade infrastructure, such as water lines and sewage treatment plants, in anticipation of rising sea levels. That order came on the heels of a report last week by two University of California scientists saying that rising temperatures and sea levels, as well as increased forest fires, could affect $2.5 trillion in real estate and property in California, costing the state between $300 million to $3.9 billion a year.
The Japanese whaling fleet has set sail for its controversial whale hunt in Antarctic waters, while the Australian government has simultaneously begun a scientific study to demonstrate the benefits of non-lethal whale research. The lead Japanese whaling ship, Nisshin Maru, left Japan Monday in hopes of killing 850 minke whales and 50 fin whales in the Southern Ocean – a hunt it claims is carried out for scientific purposes. But the Australian government and conservation groups say the Japanese hunt is primarily a fishing voyage to supply coveted whale meat to the Japanese market. Australia said its study would show that whales are best researched using satellite tags, aerial surveys, and acoustic techniques, rather than being killed with grenade-tipped harpoons fired from canons. Greenpeace, which has documented the activities of the Japanese whaling fleet in recent years, will not shadow the boats this year. Sea Shepherd, which has actively tried to block the Japanese whaling operations using a large ship and rubber Zodiac boats, will once again confront the fleet in Antarctic waters.
A British engineer has reported successfully testing a device that uses wave motion to pump seawater uphill, where it can be stored and released back downhill to power hydroelectric generators. The pump, called “Searaser,” consists of two floats positioned above one another and connected by a piston. The rising and falling of the waves powers a pump that successfully pushed water 160 feet uphill in a recent test. Inventor
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Alvin Smith said that by using larger floats, the Searaser could pump water at least 650 feet uphill. The U.K.’s often-hilly coastline is ideal for the Searaser technology, according to Smith, who said one pair of floats could provide enough hydroelectric power to electrify 470 homes year-round. Installing 43,000 large Searasers would provide enough electricity for 20 million homes, Smith said.
In the last eight years, vast areas of offshore Alaska have been opened to oil drilling. Now, a conservationist argues, the Obama administration must reverse the Bush-era policies if the state is to avoid irreparable harm to Arctic wildlife and to some of the most biologically productive waters on earth.
BY MARGARET WILLIAMS
Walkable communities are the no-brainer, urban design solution of the decade. But couching things in lofty design terms can make a simple idea — like a pleasant stroll past your favorite coffee shop on the way to work — sound like a New Age-y cause of the week. This video from the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) makes a clear, succinct case that’s easy to understand. Planning communities that are dense and walkable, like the one shown in the video, allows residents to live within walking distance of grocery stores, office spaces, libraries and schools, helping them decrease their carbon emissions, build close-knit communities and improve their physical and mental health.
Read more about walkable communities in our archives: My Other Car is a Bright Green City Walkability leads to Walking Green? Dense? Walkable?
Thanks to John Brown at Slow Home, for bringing this great video to our attention.
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(Posted by WorldChanging Team in Cities at 4:41 PM)
According to a Towns for Tomorrow grant application for $375,000, the City of Castlegar is planning on spending funds from various sources of about $1,000,000 to upgrade the airport to permit nighttime flights to take off and land at Castlegar Airport. $100,000 of airport reserves will be used from the City’s coffers, the rest coming from various government and other organizations.
The concept is that six light beacons would be placed on hills in the Castlegar Valley around the airport, allowing pilots to orient themselves visually - when they are within the lights and at a given altitude, they are effectively safe. Simple enough, and it allows for planes with all types of navigation equipment to utilize the system.
The project has been identified as a strategic priority for the City since at least November 2007 (pdf from City Website - original link here) - which incidentally was after the developer connected with the Castlegar Gaming Center proposal was given the go ahead.
The premise of the application is that emergency medical flights will have greater access to Castlegar after hours - assuming that weather conditions are acceptable. According to the grant application, some 18% of departing flights are canceled due to darkness. I find this hard to believe. If there were five flights departing a day, every day, this would mean that one of those flights is canceled every day of the year due to darkness. Perhaps the statistic should read that 18% of flights scheduled to leave after 4pm are canceled, or something to that effect. However, the weather conditions, particularly in winter are a much more significant reason for delays and cancellations to and from this airport. Also of concern is that the figures given in the grant application are different from those quoted by the CAO in a Provincial Finance meeting held in Nelson in September.
One of my particular concerns with this application is the invisible link to the approved Gaming Center which is to be located right next to the airport, (and possibly with a direct connection between the buildings). Now wouldn’t it be convenient for gambling business if there was actually something going on at the airport at night - say people waiting for flights that are now able to land and take off because there was now $1,000,000 worth of lights? It appears that the developer for the Casino Gaming Center has not started work on construction before winter as hoped - perhaps they are waiting for the green light, so to speak?
Some might say that I am arguing against improved medical services and increased tourism and business travel to the City and region. Far from it. I believe that air travel is a short term luxury made possible by cheap, plentiful oil reserves. This situation is not going to remain for ever. In fact, it is likely that the world is reaching its peak production of oil, (measured in millions of barrels per day), but use of oil products is still increasing. At some point soon the demand for oil will outstrip the potential to extract it - and by the way even the oil companies are saying that the remaining reserves are limited.
Considering this information of limited remaining oil reserves and still increasing oil consumption we have to consider alternatives for powering our cars, trains and planes. As I write this, there is no alternative technology or fuel comparable to oil for powering aircraft. The future as shown by the Jetsons cartoon - with flying cars and robots is only possible with cheap, plentiful, portable energy. It is interesting to note that at the same Provincial Finance meeting, Douglas Hurst from Selkirk Power Ltd spoke of Peak Oil, power privatization and the implications on electricity generation and coal extraction. Much talk ensued about the importance of electricity to replace waning oil supplies - unfortunately, as I write this, there are no plans or prototypes for powering passenger planes by electricity. Maybe a plugin hybrid? - It would still need gas, and lots of batteries - if it were at all possible.
The grant application talks of extending the benefits from the beacons to commercial passenger flights after a proving period with the emergency services. Unfortunately, even with the beacons, travel to Castlegar may be limited by outside constraints. Already companies around the world (like Teck, which has operations in Trail, just down the road from Castlegar) are doing more teleconferences, rather than flying for meetings. Worldwide, airlines are seeing a reduction in the passenger volumes, and it is likely in my mind that air travel to Castlegar will be reduced by Air Canada to a couple of flights a day within a few years. Here’s a story about British Airways - with these statistics how much longer would a company extend services to small rural areas.
Gulfnews: British Airways first-half profits dive 92% but shares take off
BA’s chief executive, said the group had achieved a “good performance given the incredibly difficult trading conditions amid the surge in fuel costs and falling traffic volumes”.
“The six-month period will be remembered as one of the bleakest on record,” said Walsh.
Pre-tax profits fell 91.6 per cent in the six months to the end of September from record levels a year ago while premium traffic fell 9.2 per cent year-on-year. However, the results were better than feared by the market…
The airline is planning to reduce capacity in the next summer season from April to October by about 1 per cent following cuts of 3 per cent this winter.
Speak to the Castlegar Council if you are concerned about this proposed use of funds, and see what plans they have to hold Castlegar together through Peak Oil?
If the City is looking for ways to spend a million dollars, why not run a competition? I can think of a number of worthy projects that would contribute to the long-term sustainability of the City, with or without cheap oil.
Click to download pdf of the Airport Beacons Grant Application
I really have no idea whether the beacons and the gaming center are in any way connected - there just seems to be a coincidental synergy between these two projects succeeding - and who knows, it may be just that, a coincidence. If you have any questions about what I’ve written here, leave them as a comment, or use the contact form - I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Technorati Tags: Air Canada, Airline, Aviation, British Airways, Business, Castlegar, Castlegar Airport, Energy, energy descent, Oil reserves, peak oil, Transportation, travel
Frequent passerby in the neighborhood of Santa Margarita, Spain may find themselves a bit lost when they can’t seem to find the white wall they just passed by. Appearing at first as a simple sheet of folded paper, this beautiful white-walled building features a facade of panels that open in brilliant pops of color. Designed by Romera y Ruiz Arquitectos, “Ocho casas inscritas y tres patios” is a sustainably constructed social housing complex with a facade that changes according to the wishes of its inhabitants!
