that GREEN blog

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil, documents Cuba’s emergency transition to local organic agriculture, renewable energy, and large-scale mass transit. The transition occurred following the Soviet collapse in 1990, when their massive subsidies of imported oil and food to Cuba were halted.

In this documentary, ordinary Cubans talk about the immediate hardships they faced. Their GDP dropped by more than one third, transportation nearly stopped and food became scarce – the average Cuban lost 20 pounds during the first years of this economic crisis. But far from focusing on hardships, the film is an inspirational celebration of the power of community.

Cuba’s experience provides a living model for how the rest of the world can respond to the coming world oil production peak and irreversible decline some oil experts say will occur this decade. “Everyone who is concerned about Peak Oil needs to see this film,” said Richard Heinberg, author of “The Party’s Over” and “Powerdown”. “It is a story not just of individual achievement, but of the collective mobilization of an entire society to meet an enormous challenge.” For more information, visit http://www.powerofcommunity.org.

Recycling through a recession will be the focus of this year’s Oklahoma Recycling Seminar, scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 8 in Stillwater. The full day seminar will take place at Oklahoma State University’s ConocoPhillips Alumni Center. “Participants will be getting the latest updates on everything from recycling markets and operations to organics diversion and container deposit bills,” said Ilda Hershey, OSU ooperative Extension assistant state specialist for solid waste management programs.

The seminar is designed for city and county government officials, recycling professionals, community leaders, educators, students and Oklahoma residents interested in the business of recycling or expanding local programs.

“December’s seminar will provide plenty of opportunities for learning, sharing and networking,” Hershey said. Seminar registration includes all sessions, a buffet lunch and breaks. Cost is $25 if registering by November 23 and $35 thereafter. Students can attend for $20. Exhibitor rates are $100 for business or government and $50 for non-profit organizations. Participants can download registration forms or register online at http://recycleok.org/recyclingseminar.php or by contacting OSU Ag Conference Services at 405-744-6489.

Michael Patton of the Metropolitan Environmental Trust will begin the program with an update on current recycling markets and the economic outlook for recycling. Patton will also discuss how to set up a recycling center during a Recycling Operations Panel moderated by Fenton Rood of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. Other panel topics include Measuring Recycling Efforts and Successful Partnerships.
Al Drinkwater of Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. will present information about the organization’s new plastics processing facility in northeastern Oklahoma and several members of the Oklahoma Recycling Association (OKRA) will present new initiatives such as the online Materials Exchange Program for business and industry.

“We also felt it important to feature an Organics Diversion Panel, given that so much of municipal waste is biodegradable,” said Hershey, who is also OKRA’s membership chair. “Representatives from the cities of Edmond, Miami and Norman involved in yard waste collection will present case studies and answer questions about their composting or mulch operations.”

The seminar will conclude with a session on container and bottle bill deposit programs, including a discussion about the current bottle bill being considered by the Oklahoma Legislature. “Jim Bologna, site-energy manager for Saint-Gobain Containers Inc., will be among the experts on hand to present the benefits of a bottle deposit program and its implications for increasing recycling, reducing waste, saving energy and generating revenue,” Hershey said.

After the seminar, there will be an optional site visit of the Stillwater Convenience Collection Center. This tour is included as part of the basic registration fee. “Recycling through a Recession” is hosted by the Oklahoma Recycling Association and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, and is sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, OGE Energy Corp. and Busch Container Systems.
Up to five hours of continuing education credits will be available to members of the Solid Waste
Association of North America who attend the seminar.

Anyone seeking additional information about the Dec. 8 seminar should visit OKRA’s Web site
at http://recycleok.org or contact Hershey at 405-744-9806
###
Media Contact:
Ilda T. Hershey
Assistant State Specialist
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
Solid Waste Management Programs
Oklahoma State University
536 Ag Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-9806
Fax: 405-744-9835
ilda.hershey@okstate.edu

Attention readers and all GREEN thinkers,

Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your skills and gain recognition for your talents! The deadline to submit an entry for the Green Dot Awards is Monday November, 16th 2009!

The Green Dot Awards strive to reward and promote forward-thinking individuals and businesses that create environmentally friendly products or services as well as revolutionary green business plans and proposals. Although the Green Dot Awards are worthy onto themselves, they also serve as a consumer guide to excellence in environmentally sustainable practices. Recognition from the Green Dot Awards allows businesses to promote their products and services as items that are manufactured and delivered in an environmentally friendly manner.

Visit http://www.greendotawards.com for more information and to enter this year’s competition!

Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor and her staff have sent a strong educational message to Oklahoma school administrators, teachers and students. With the alliance of Global NES, Inc. Headquarters, Global NES-Oklahoma and Kaizen Renewable Energy (A Global NES Affiliate), the city of Tulsa recently embarked on a School Wind Program that is 100% funded by outside sources. Kaizen Renewable Energy CEO/owner,
Lisa Randolph, who was raised in Tulsa, introduced the program to the city of Tulsa to raise awareness and educate students on how utilizing renewable energy resources will positively impact their future world.

The School Wind Program is the brainchild of Global NES, Inc., an international renewable energy firm specializing in large scale projects for commercial applications, non-profits and municipalities. They are donating a wind turbine and curriculum to Hamilton Middle School under their local Oklahoma State Affiliate,
Global NES-Oklahoma. The donation is being awarded to Hamilton Middle School because of a winning essay written by student, Adriana Rodriguez. The winning essay, ‘Sustainable Energy: It’s Important to
Our Community’, was submitted for the Sustainable Energy Essay Contest held by Tulsa Public Schools and the City of Tulsa. The essay contest second and third place winners, respectively, are Ryan Bunch and Brienna Milleson from Thoreau Demonstration Academy; their school will receive a science project kit donated by Global NES, Inc.

Following the installation of the wind turbine, Tulsa Public Schools and the City of Tulsa will hold a renewable energy celebration on November 5, 2009 from 1:00PM-2:30PM at The Helmzar Facility located at 1006 N. Quaker, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74106. In attendance will be Beth Chenoweth and Lisa Witzel, owners of Global NES-Oklahoma, Lisa Randolph CEO/owner of Kaizen Renewable Energy (A Global NES Affiliate), and personnel from Global NES, Inc. Headquarters out of Denver.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today encouraged consumers to visit their local farmers markets in honor of
National Farmers Market Week, which will take place from August 2-8.

“One of the Obama Administration’ s top priorities is to make sure that all Americans – especially children – have access to fresh, nutritious food, and USDA’s ongoing support of farmers markets is important to
reaching that goal,” Secretary Vilsack said. “At the same time, farmers markets help support small family farms, help revitalize rural communities, and often promote sustainable agricultural practices.”

Currently, nearly 4,900 farmers markets operate nationwide, up from 4,685 in 2008. To make it easier for consumers to locate farmers markets in their states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’ s Agricultural
Marketing Service posts The National Directory of Farmers Markets online at www.ams.usda. gov/farmersmarkets
<http://www.ams. usda.gov/ farmersmarkets>.

[Note: their information is very outdated; for a better listing, see Local Harvest's listing
at: http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/list.jsp.]

USDA is a leader in government efforts to encourage healthier eating, has operated a farmers market at its Washington, D.C., headquarters since 1996. Open to the general public every Friday, June through  October, as many as 14 farmer-vendors set up stands that feature their locally produced items.

USDA supports farmers markets through several programs in addition to National Farmers Market Week. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) awards grants, provides technical assistance, and helps with marketing and promotion. Meanwhile, the Food and Nutrition Service also supports farmers markets through the Farmers Market Nutrition Program and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program by providing coupons that many low-income Americans can exchange for eligible foods at farmers markets and similar outlets.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call
(800) 795-3272(voice) , or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).