Category: Health & Environment

Winner of The Congress for New Urbanism CNU 17 video contest.
This short film explores the connection between New Urbanism and environmental issues.
Created by independent filmmaker John Paget (www.pagetfilms.com) with First+Main Media (Drew Ward, Chris Elisara and John Paget). www.firstandmain.tv
Continue reading “The cul-de-sac – the greatest threat to mankind.”

Light Blossom collects its own energy from the sun and wind by transforming its appearance throughout the day. At night, its efficient LEDs beam light only where needed – and only when needed – through proximity sensing.
Continue reading “Light Blossom”

Hey everyone! Don’t forget that the Steny Hoyer for Clean Energy Town Hall Meeting will be Monday May 11th at 6:30pm in the Baltimore Room of the Stamp Student Union at the University of Maryland. Come early to get a good seat!
P.S. – If you can’t make it, you can still watch the event live online on the CCAN blog! Here’s the link: https://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/blog/?p=1243.

• Attend a 2-hour training session
• Notebook/pen
• Digital camera (useful, but not necessary)
Continue reading “What do I need to be a Get the Dirt Out Chesapeake volunteer?”

More than three decades after the Clean Water Act, two iconic waterways—the great coastal estuaries Puget Sound and the Chesapeake Bay—are in perilous condition. With polluted runoff still flowing in from industry, agriculture, and massive suburban development, scientists fear contamination to the food chain and drinking water for millions of people. A growing list of endangered species is also threatened in both estuaries. As a new president, Congress, and states set new agendas and spending priorities, FRONTLINE correspondent Hedrick Smith examines the rising hazards to human health and the ecosystem, and why it’s so hard to keep our waters clean.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009, from 9 to 11 P.M. ET on PBS
Continue reading “FRONTLINE Presents POISONED WATERS”

By JOHN M. BRODER
Published: April 17, 2009
WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday formally declared carbon dioxide and five other heat-trapping gases to be pollutants that endanger public health and welfare, setting in motion a process that will lead to the regulation of the gases for the first time in the United States.
Continue reading “E.P.A. Clears Way for Greenhouse Gas Rules”

Participate in a community forum to discuss the
future of Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks.  6:30-8:30 pm on the
upcoming following dates.  For
more information please call 410-396-7900 or visit www.baltimorecity.gov/government/recnparks.

 

Monday April 20th Webster Kendrick PAL Center   More Recreation/PAL Center Community Forums

Wednesday, April 22nd Montebello PAL Center

Thursday, April 23rd Towanda PAL Center

You’ve heard a lot from us lately as together we worked to protect funding for land conservation and toughen the state’s smart growth laws. Now that the 2009 legislative session has come to a close, I wanted to update you on how our priorities for growth and the environment fared. Here are the highlights. For a more detailed look visit our website at www.friendsofmd.org, where you’ll find information on a broad range of growth and environmental legislation from the 2009 session. 2009 legislative session in a nutshell Environment and the Budget Smart and Fair Growth Global Warming Greener Growth Transportation Choices Environment and the Budget: Good Outcomes. Governor O’Malley and the legislature recognized that the environment remains a priority for Marylanders as they made tough financial decisions. Funds for Program Open Space were restored after prolonged budget negotiations. Governor O’Malley and state lawmakers showed strong leadership in preserving funds for Maryland’s premiere land conservation program. The Governor’s budget invested in transit at the same level as highways for the first time in the State’s history. The legislature left transit funding intact. Funding was mostly preserved for the Community Legacy Program, Maryland’s highly successful program to support redevelopment in towns and cities. Smart and Fair Growth: Mixed Results. The biggest disappointment this session was the failure to make real progress on growth policies. 1000 Friends brought together a diverse coalition of leaders in smart growth, the environment, hou sing and faith-based communities to fight for standards and accountability in local planning decisions. Although the bill did not pass, we did win some elements of this policy on the House floor and have set the stage for next year’s fight. The Governor and General Assembly also took strong action to correct the court decision about Terrapin Run. Our top priority bill, which would have set performance standards and accountability in local land use plans, did not pass. The Governor’s bill to correct the court decision about Terrapin Run and make zoning decisions consistent with local growth plans passed. The Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program, or Historic Tax Credit, was not reauthorized, a blow to a highly effective tool for redevelopment and smart growth. Global Warming: Big Victory! The General Assembly passed the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act. This strong law will reduce global warming pollution by 25 percent below 2006 levels by the year 2020. Greener Growth: Key Victories. Several bills passed this session that will reduce the impact of development on the environment. The legislature passed the first bill in the nation to require the removal of all nitrogen pollution from septic systems. The scope of the bill was limited through the legislative process to just designated critical areas that have the biggest impacts on the Bay. Private homeowners were prevented from building sprawling, environmentally untenable homes by installing private wastewater treatment plants to allow the growth. The strongest energy efficiency codes in the nation were adopted. Transportation Choices: Small Steps. No significant legislation passed this year to create a more balanced transportation system with more options for walking, bicycling and using transit. Transit-oriented development received a boost with the Governor’s bill to allow the use of local taxes to finance development efforts near transit stations. Efforts to de-fund the Inter-County Connector did not succeed. Legislation to promote bicycling, including a bill to give bicyclists 3′ when passing, failed. Want to dig deeper? Visit our website at www.friendsofmd.org for a full run-down of environmental and growth bills.

[Baltimore Spokes: Also note that Whole Foods sponsors many bike events, we really appreciate their contribution to a more livable, sustainable community.]

Earth Week Events Monday, April 20th – Composting Made Easy and Cheap Class
Monday, April 20th – Genji Earth Day Promotion
Tuesday, April 21st – Green, Local and Sustainable Cooking Class
Wednesday, April 22nd – Ecological House Cleaning Class
Wednesday, April 22nd – Reusable Bag Giveaway
Thursday, April 23rd – Baltimore Green Map
Friday, April 24th – Kids Green Activity
Friday, April 24 – Home Energy Audit Information
Saturday, April 25th – Green Children’s Book Reading, Signing and Activity
Saturday, April 25th – Recycled Art Show & Giving Grill
Continue reading “Earth Week Events at Whole Foods Market Mt Washington”

Local councils can adopt "green wave" systems of sensors, where vehicles at or just below the speed limit trigger a succession of green lights.
Environmental and motoring groups say carbon emissions will be reduced.
Previously the Department for Transport (DfT) had discouraged the systems which reduce fuel use, resulting in less tax being paid to the Treasury.
But now, rather than seeing green wave systems as a "cost" to the public purse, the DfT views them as a "benefit".
‘Easy target’
The RAC’s motoring strategist Adrian Tink said: "Green waves is a common sense win-win initiative that will actually help motorists as they go about their daily lives as well as reduce carbon emissions.
"It’s used very successfully in other countries and it would be great to see motorists up and down the UK benefit from its widespread introduction.
Continue reading “Drivers catch green lights ‘wave’”