Welcome to Living in Harmony
Our next Living in Harmony meeting will be Tuesday, December 9, 2008 from 7 pm – 9 pm, Henrietta United Church of Christ, 1400 Lehigh Station Road.
We are inviting all who attend to bring their ideas for celebrating a “green” Christmas, as well as sharing new recycling opportunities in the Rochester area – bring “show and tell” items along if you have them.
If you would like lots of ideas for “green gifts” all year long as well as good practical information on just about everything, check out the website of Margie Campaigne, a local environment enthusiast and a Living in Harmony member. Go to www.project-house.us:80.
At the meeting we will also bring updates on a variety of current environmental issues. Many people are involved in lots of great projects around the Rochester area - come to hear about them - and come to tell us about yours as well!
For more information, contact Elizabeth Pixley, convener (334-0977 or epixley@rochester.rr.com).
All are welcome. Bring a friend and join us.
Tuesday, November 11, from 7 pm – 9 pm, Henrietta United Church of Christ, 1400 Lehigh Station Road. We will watch the last three short sections of the documentary “Renewal,” which contains stories about people of different faiths building a sustainable future. The documentary and its website (www.renewalproject.net) are creating many exciting and effective ways to:
* Engage people of faith in organized and individual environmental action
* Foster interfaith dialogue about environmental stewardship
* Break down barriers between secular environmentalists and people of faith
I. You're invited to a Climate Change Central Book Circle, 545 Park Ave, 7 pm on Wednesday, November 5, to talk about a new kind of democracy as laid out in Frances Moore Lappe's Getting a Grip.
Getting a Grip is not an ordinary book: it’s more like a new pair of glasses, allowing you to see everything around you with greater clarity. Suddenly the world is more comprehensible, more manageable, even more beautiful. You won’t want to take them off.” -- Barbara Kingsolver
Addressing climate change will require a new vision. Let's talk! Free and Open to All
Contacts: Holly Rockwell and Mary Walsh, Co-directors, 232-2988
II. Thursday, November 6th, 7PM - Zero Waste (or Pretty Darn Close) - A Sierra Club Program on Recycling At Brighton Town Hall Auditorium, 2300 Elmwood Ave. Free & open to the public.
Topic: Why is it important for all of us to reduce waste? Practical "how-to" suggestions for families, businesses, communities, and beyond, presented by Chris Burger, who helped develop the Zero Waste Committee(s) at both the State and National level for the Sierra Club. He currently serves as Chair for the State Atlantic Chapter Committee and Correspondence Secretary for the National Committee. Chris owns Horizon Enterprises: a resource management company, and is a College Instructor, teaching Science, Technology, and Society. Chris is a member of a family of four, which has produced only 3/4 pounds of waste per person a year for over 15 years! Come, meet a guy who has only 0.0036 lbs of waste per week. Contact: Frank J. Regan FrankRegan@RochesterEnvironment.com
III. Saturday, November 8th 11am-2pm - Sunnking will be hosting a "Zero Waste Family Event" at 199-203 Main Street in Brockport. Info: E-Mail Kimie Romeo kromeo@sunnking.com Web: www.sunnking.com
IV. Saturday, November 22nd, 8:00 pm Movie - FLOW: For Love of Water - Dryden Theater - Called by some "The Inconvenient Truth of Water," FLOW is A beautiful and profound look at how water is used, abused and sometimes restored and protected all over our world. Who has to fight for the right to have clean water to drink? Are we headed for a water crisis? What can we do? http://dryden.eastmanhouse.org/calendar/ http://www.flowthefilm.com/
1. Our Energy Future: We Can't Pump Our Way out of This Crisis (2nd in Energy Forum Series): Americans spend $2 billion per day on foreign oil. Why? Bill LaBine of Renewable Energy Works will discuss how we got here and how we can get out of this mess. (www.renewableenergyworks.com/)
Monday, October 6, 2008, 7pm-9pm (doors open at 6:30 pm), Brighton Town Hall Auditorium, 2300 Elmwood Ave., Brighton, NY (between S. Winton Rd. and S. Clinton Ave.)
Sponsoring the Event: Federation of Monroe County Environmentalists (www.fmce.org).
Cost: Free
Contact: Carol at info@fmce.org or 663-2981
2. The Water Front by Elizabeth Miller, a new documentary on the very important topic of water privatization, Little Theatre (Theatre #3), Wednesday, October 15th from 7:00 PM to 8:45 PM, part of a Great Lakes Tour for the film. This event is co-sponsored by Great Lakes Committee of the Rochester Regional Group, Sierra Club and Food and Water Watch. The film is free, suggested donation of $7.00 per attendee to help cover the cost.
53-minute film followed by a panel discussion: Marian Kramer (Michigan Welfare Rights Organization), Ann Howard (RIT Assoc. Professor, Environment and Public Policy) and Wayne Howard (Chair, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter Great Lakes Committee)
Also on Radio/TV October 15th at 1:00 PM: WXXI’s 1370 Connection with Bob Smith, 1370 AM and City 12 Cable: Our panel will discuss The Water Front and the issue of water privatization.
The film illustrates the effects of water privatization on the poor and marginalized members of society. The Great Lakes contain 1/5 of the world’s freshwater and provide drinking water to over 42 million people. This documentary poignantly tells the true story of 45,000 residents in Detroit who lost access to this water because they could no longer afford to pay when they received bills as high as $2,000 to $10,000. Their homes were foreclosed, their houses were condemned and their children were taken away by social services. If you thought water scarcity was still largely a "natural" problem in the developing world, this film makes it frighteningly clear how opportunistic entrepreneurs, in a time of growing environmental crisis, treat water as a commodity to be traded for their profit.
LOW CARBON DIET - THIS FALL. Go to http://www.rochesterlowcarbondiet.com/ and choose among the programs being held in Brighton, Irondequoit, Scottsville, Greece, Perinton and four different city locations. Americans need to make major changes in behavior and purchasing practices in order to address Climate Change. We cannot wait for legislation or new technology to save the day, and conservation measures are available RIGHT NOW. Using the proven method based on David Gershon's Low Carbon Diet book, many local communities are joining together for the Rochester Low Carbon Diet Challenge. The Challenge promises to be a fun and inspiring way to connect with neighbors, while learning about climate change and encouraging each other to make a difference. At the end of it all, we will tally the Carbon Dioxide reductions achieved by all of our teams and celebrate our success at the Cool Communities Grand Awards Celebration on November 18, 7:00 PM at City Hall. With cosponsors such as the City of Rochester, Monroe County and several towns; local food producers and youth organizations, it is truly a community effort.
Tuesday, September 9 meeting, 7 pm - 9 pm at Henrietta United Church of Christ, 1400 Lehigh Station Road. We will be meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, if you wish to save the dates on your calendar.
We will begin planning our meetings for the year and will also watch two short segments from a new documentary titled "Renewal," which contains stories about people of different faiths working to build a sustainable future. The documentary and its website (www.renewalproject.net) are creating many exciting and effective ways to:
- Engage people of faith in organized and individual environmental action
- Foster interfaith dialogue about environmental stewardship
- Break down barriers between secular environmentalists and people of faith
Our meetings are open to all interested individuals.
Past items of interest
Two upcoming events at Climate Change Central, 545 Park Avenue (corner of Barrington):
Friday, May 23 from 7-9pm, viewing and conversation about Rising Waters. This beautiful film puts a human face on climate change. http://www.itvs.org/risingwaters/
Tuesday, May 27 from 7-9pm, conversation about Lester Brown's Plan b3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization.You can download this book for free at: http://earthpolicy.org/Books/PB3/Contents.htm. You are welcome whether you've read the book, or not.
Both events are free and open to everyone.
May 31 Tour of the Monroe County Recycling Center
Living in Harmony has an opportunity to tour the Monroe County Recycling Center to see what happens to the contents of our blue boxes. The Tour will be Saturday, May 31, at 12 noon - the facility is rarely open for tours on Saturday, so sign up now if you are interested. We will get more details to participants later, but you need to RSVP now if you would like to attend, as attendance is limited. RSVP to Elizabeth Pixley to get your name on the list.
May 28 News Conference on BBBB
News Conference on the importance of the Bigger Better Bottle Bill (BBBB), on May 28th at 11am, Cobbs Hill Park pond (indoors at Skate House if it is raining). Gov Paterson has asked the Sierra Club to organize the news conference to encourage public support for this legislation; several Living in Harmony members plan to attend, along with other local environmental groups. You are all welcome to join us.
Some facts and talking points
- a) The current bottle bill has been highly effective in returning carbonated soda, beer bottles and cans. In fact since the bill was passed in 1982 more than 90 billion bottles and cans have been returned rather than being dumped, BUT juice bottles, sports drinks and water bottles were not covered in the original bill. If we can pass a new recycling law that’s a lot of landfill space saved, to say nothing about the resources we save in manufacturing and savings to towns and cities on trash pick up.
- b) A major feature of the bill requires beverage companies to transfer unclaimed bottle deposits to the state’s Environmental Protection Fund. It is expected this may provide a $100 to $150 million dollars a year to save our environment.
- c) TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION. Urge your Assembly representative and particularly your Senators to vote for the BBBB – Bigger Better Bottle Bill. The Senate bill number is S5850 and Assembly A8044.
June meeting on Tuesday June 17
We will meet in the Fellowship Hall at Henrietta UCC (1400 Lehigh Station Road) at 7 pm to watch a very interesting film called The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope. Come and join us for viewing and discussion.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 from 7 pm – 9 pm, Henrietta United Church of Christ, 1400 Lehigh Station Road.
Our speaker will be Margy Peet, who will speak on the topic “Color Brighton Green – Making Connections.” Margy is a member of the Green Brighton Task Force, a group working to support community-wide energy reductions measures as part of a nationwide climate protection action plan. One of the goals of the group is making connections with faith-based organizations and other groups to improve energy efficiency, environmental sustainability and economic security. To find out more information about the Color Brighton Green initiative, visit www.ColorBrightonGreen.org.
If you have questions, contact Elizabeth Pixley, convener (334-0977 or epixley@rochester.rr.com).
Envirorama - February 2, 12 pm - 3 pm (Doors open at 11:30) Check flyer for details!
Caring for God's Creation - Thurs. January 31, 2008 7:00 pm Church of the Assumption, Fairport, NY - See flyer for all details!
Tues. January 8 2008 from 7 pm - 9 pm. Living in Harmony meeting. Location: Henrietta United Church of Christ, 1400 Lehigh Station Road.
Come and learn about organic farming and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in an illustrated presentation by Elizabeth Henderson, one of the founders of Genesee Valley Organic CSA. She has written several books and manuals on organic farming, including the latest edition of Sharing the Harvest: A Citizen’s Guide to Community Supported Agriculture, published in 2007. Elizabeth is one of the founders of Peacework Organic Farm in Newark, along with two other farmers, where they grow 70 crops (vegetables, herbs, flowers, melons and small fruit) on 15 acres. Currently there are 270 member families involved in this CSA farm. She is also very involved in efforts to keep small farmers a vital part of the agriculture business in this country and can address issues related to the farm bill recently passed in Congress. Elizabeth Henderson is a knowledgeable and interesting speaker who gives lectures around the country, and we are privileged to have her at our meeting. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear more about how our food can be produced locally in a healthful and sustainable way – don’t miss it! All are welcome – come and bring your friends.
For more information, contact Elizabeth Pixley, 334-0977 or (Construct email address using @:) epixley /at sign/ rochester.rr.com.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 from 7 pm - 9 pm Henrietta United Church of Christ, 1400 Lehigh Station Road. The theme for the meeting will be providing information about nontoxic products which are available. The meeting will be informal - no speaker, just an opportunity to share good information. If you have ideas or products you wish to share, this is your chance! Topics can include non-harmful cleaning products, personal care products, products designed to protect our bodies from environmental hazards, or just relevant environmentally-safe ideas. Some items will be available for sale – good gift ideas for the holidays! Those interested in presenting information at the meeting should contact me so we can plan space needed for the meeting. All interested individuals are welcome to attend.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 from 7 pm - 9 pm - The November Living in Harmony meeting will be held at Henrietta United Church of Christ, 1400 Lehigh Station Road. We will be showing a film titled “Public Exposure: DNA, Democracy and the Wireless Revolution, a 58-minute documentary (2001) on the human health dangers of Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR) from cell phones and cell towers... and what we can do to protect ourselves. This film explores the health effects of radio frequency radiation from wireless devices such as cell phones and from the antennas which service them. It features scientists who braved heavy handed telecom industry tactics to show causal evidence of harm to biological life from the use of cell phones.
