Staunton Green 2020

Virginia Natural Resource Leadership Institute (VNRLI) is now accepting applications for Fellows.

Here’s more info on the program:

VNRLI is changing the way people make environmental decisions in the Commonwealth by helping Virginians take on the most challenging, costly and divisive local, regional and state environmental and land use issues through collaborative problem solving – reaching beyond common ground to “higher ground.” Our graduate Fellows – numbering over 250 – are working professionals in industry, small and independent businesses, local, state and federal government, educational institutions, and environmental, civic and non-profit organizations.

We are accepting applications for the 2010-2011 session workshops: six three-day learning experiences that we offer approximately two months apart – starting in September 2010 and ending in June 2011. The sessions usually start at mid-day on a Wednesday and end by mid-day on Friday. We offer each session in a different location in Virginia and focus on a set of natural resource issues of interest to citizens there. However, the underlying Institute theme across all sessions is to develop leaders who can help groups involved in contentious natural resources issues move beyond conflict toward consensus building and collaborative problem solving.

The VNRLI program grew out of a strong partnership between the University of Virginia Institute for Environmental Negotiation, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Department of Forestry and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Our alumni are involved in collaborative efforts in local, state and federal government, business and the nonprofit sector. They tell us that the VNRLI experience has helped them have the confidence and skill to get involved in resolving conflict in their work. They also report that the VNRLI experience has enhanced their careers and fostered new opportunities.

If you are interested in becoming a VNRLI Fellow, please visit our website:

http://www.virginia.edu/ien/vnrli/index.html

via  Gerald P. McCarthy, Executive Director, Virginia Environmental Endowment

EPA MAKES TSCA INVENTORY AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR FREE

EPA celebrated Sunshine Week by putting online for free the large list of chemicals in U.S. commerce. It was a first.

Wait a minute. It was actually two firsts. EPA has never before celebrated Sunshine Week, as far as the WatchDog (who watches these things closely) knows.

The list is known as the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory. Technically, it includes about 84,000 chemicals being used in U.S. commerce. Of these, some 17,000 are kept secret because manufacturers allege that they are trade secrets. The list has been available to the public, but access was difficult, and EPA charged a fee for providing it. EPA announced on March 15, 2010, that it was putting the database (minus secret portions) online for free, so that the entire public could get easy access.

– EPA Release of March 15, 2010 <http://bit.ly/a609Bq>.

– “States Push EPA, Congress to Curb Business Confidentiality Claims for Chemicals,” Greenwire,  March 1, 2010, by Sara Goodman <http://nyti.ms/cQl9rm>.

– “Bit by Bit, EPA Opening Up Toxics Program,” The Fine Print blog, OMB Watch,  March 15, 2010, by Brian Turnbaugh <http://www.ombwatch.org/node/10833>.

Reminder: November 3rd is election day! Make your voice heard in Staunton and in Virginia’s 20th District.

Take some time between now and Tuesday to study the local ballot—and then go use your vote to help decide how you want our community improve our environment! Links to official websites below.

Dickie Bell (R)
Erik Curren (D)

SG2020 remains non-partisan.
(Disclosure: SG2020 was co-founded by Erik Curren as a private citizen.)

A big, hearty thanks to Staunton City Council! Last night they showed leadership and foresight by agreeing to establish a Green Task Force/Green Commission (name TBD).

This means our city will have one point person/group who will work with local grassroots organizations (such as SG2020 volunteers) to measure our carbon output, make recommendations on changes that can save the city and its residents energy and money, and look for green jobs and other opportunities ahead of the curve.

Below is a copy of our short presentation if you’d like to see what we shared.

A big thanks, too, to all the people here in Staunton who signed our online and paper petition. It was tangible proof there are many here who are committed to seeing positive environmental changes happen right here. Your support made the difference.

We have a lot of work ahead of us. Together with the city we need your minds, talents, and volunteering efforts. Now is a great time to get involved; please contact us at stauntongreen AT gmail.com to see what you can do to keep moving in a positive direction.

Thanks again, Staunton City Council!

Act quickly so you can see “HOME”, for FREE!

HOME is a harrowingly beautiful 90 minute documentary, narrated by Glenn Close – see synopsis below.  But hurry, it will only be available on YouTube for three more days! It may change and/or reinforce your outlook of this fragile, incredibly beautiful and interdependent world we call home…and the urgency for all of us to act decisively, collectively and individually, one act at a time.

Synopsis
In 200,000 years on Earth, humanity has upset the balance of the planet, established by nearly four billion years of evolution. The price to pay is high, but it is too late to be a pessimist: humanity has barely ten years to reverse the trend, become aware of the full extent of its spoliation of the Earth’s riches and change its patterns of consumption.
http://www.youtube.com/homeproject