March 2007 - Sustainability - list.sfgreens.org

Re: [Sustain] PG&E/Solar
by Eric Brooks 03 Apr '07

03 Apr '07

It is just a clever deceptive trick. If you read between the lines, you'll notice that PG&E is not talking about -its- solar panels, it is talking about solar panels that individual customers have put on their own homes and businesses. The actual amount of solar energy that PG&E produces and sells to its customers is: zero anngarrison(a)comcast.net wrote: > http://www.letsgreenthiscity.com/node/2347 > > What's this?

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[Sustain] Castro Blasts US Biofuel Plans
by Dennis Brumm 29 Mar '07

29 Mar '07

Castro Blasts President Bush's Bio-Fuel Plans (CBS4) HAVANA Fidel Castro has lashed out against President Bush and his plans for an increased use of U.S. bio-fuels. The article, appearing in the Communist Party daily Granma, claims that President Bush's support for using crops to produce ethanol for cars could deplete food stocks in developing nations. Many see the op- ed piece published Thursday as a sign that the 80-year-old Cuban leader is trying to take a more active role in public affairs after months sidelined by a still undisclosed illness. Castro quotes extensively from a Washington-datelined story by The Associated Press reporting on a meeting Monday between Bush and U.S. automakers and their comments about using corn to create ethanol as an alternative to fossil fuels. "The sinister idea of converting food into combustible was definitively established as the economic line of the foreign policy of the United States," he writes. The Cuban leader also notes that Cuba has also experimented with extracting ethanol from sugarcane. "But if rich nations decide to import huge amounts of traditional food crops such as corn from developing countries to help meet their energy needs, it could have disastrous consequences for the world's poor," Castro writes... <http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_088092230.html>http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_088092230.html

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Re: [Sustain] The Plastics Recycling Myth
by Cal Broomhead 29 Mar '07

29 Mar '07

yes, and I hear the guys at the transfer station and at the dump really hate the plastic bags, they get lose, blow in the wind, get caught up in the equipment. Plastic bags are bad all around. Cal Broomhead and Kathleen Ribeiro broomhead(a)igc.org > [Original Message] > From: Eric Brooks <brookse32(a)aim.com> > To: Green Active list <active(a)sfgreens.org>; <sustainability(a)sfgreens.org> > Cc: Transportation WG <transpo(a)sfgreens.org> > Date: 3/28/2007 11:18:01 AM > Subject: [Sustain] The Plastics Recycling Myth > > Hi all, > > I recently wrote this response to a member on the Our City list, and > thought it would be informational to pass it on to the Greens as well... > > Eric Brooks wrote: > > Well, it's true that 'recyclable' plastic is shipped overseas to poor > countries, however almost none of it is recycled. Most of it is burned > in incinerators creating deadly and planet warming pollution. > > Less than 25% (and probably more like less than 10%) of supposedly > 'recyclable' plastics are actually 'recycled'. > > And I put 'recycle' in quotes for a reason. It is actually a myth that > plastics can be recycled at all. It cannot. So called 'recyclable' > plastics have chemical bonds that are broken down and shortened each > time such plastic is melted down and reformed in to another product. > This means that 'recyclable' plastic can only be reformulated, at the > most, 5 times, each time being used, not to create the same product > 'recycled', but another one that requires weaker plastic bonds. > > So a bottle, becomes a bag, becomes part of a jacket, then becomes > molded into plastic 'lumber', and then it stays in that state, > continuing to decay toxic plastic waste into the environment for > millenia. This process is more properly named 'downcycling' not recycling. > > And because this downcycling has gotten people to believe that plastic > is benign, we now use massively more of it for packaging than before. > > For example, before plastics 'recycling' Coca Cola produced zero plastic > bottles. Now. Coca Cola -alone- produces 5 billion plastic bottles per > year. Even if 25% of that total is downcycled, and even if we pretend > that downcycling is somehow 'good', that means, that because of > Coca-Cola, by itself, there are now tens of billions more plastic > bottles polluting the environment that never would have been produced > had it not been for the recycling myth. > > In fact, the reason that plastics recycling was begun by the plastics > manufacturers in the first place, is that a growing number of > environmentally aware governments in the 70's and 80's, were about to > start banning all plastic packaging and containers. Seeing that this > would put them out of business, the plastics manufacturers created > 'recyclable plastic' and started putting deceptive 'running arrows' > symbols on -all- plastic containers -even- those that cannot be downcycled. > > For more information see: > http://www.earthisland.org/eijournal/new_articles.cfm?articleID=335&journalI D=57 > and > http://www.ecologycenter.org/iptf/recycling/plasticwasteexceedsrecyc.html > > It is also very important with the new Mirkarimi law that we steer > clear of supposedly 'biodegradable' bags containing part plastic and > part corn, because the plastic doesn't actually degrade, it just breaks > down into smaller and smaller very tough toxic pieces. > > Some biodegradable bags, like the ones made of potato starch, contain no > plastic. However, even here, we have a problem, because the planet is > now seeing a decline in arable land for food production, and within a > very short time we will actually be growing less food than the human > population needs. So using any land to produce bio-bags or bio-fuels > will quickly become an exercise in insanity. > > peace, > > Eric > > > Hi Eric, > > > > Thanks for the reply. I noticed today that plastic bags have been > > banned in grocery stores. For me, I have used the plastic bags that I > > don't recycle as garbage bags. > > > > Our family uses very little that goes into the garbage bins. We > > purchase a lot of things with minimum packaging and still our large > > recycling container that we share with our neighbors is always full. > > We also use compostable bags as well as empty milk cartons for our > > compost. > > > > Can you confirm for me something I heard, that our recycling is > > shipped overseas to be sorted and recycled? If this isn't true, the > > city may want to make an effort to let people what is actually > > happening so the rumors of futility aren't so potent. > > _______________________________________________ > Sustainability mailing list > Sustainability(a)sfgreens.org > https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sustainability

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[Sustain] The Plastics Recycling Myth
by Eric Brooks 28 Mar '07

28 Mar '07

Hi all, I recently wrote this response to a member on the Our City list, and thought it would be informational to pass it on to the Greens as well... Eric Brooks wrote: Well, it's true that 'recyclable' plastic is shipped overseas to poor countries, however almost none of it is recycled. Most of it is burned in incinerators creating deadly and planet warming pollution. Less than 25% (and probably more like less than 10%) of supposedly 'recyclable' plastics are actually 'recycled'. And I put 'recycle' in quotes for a reason. It is actually a myth that plastics can be recycled at all. It cannot. So called 'recyclable' plastics have chemical bonds that are broken down and shortened each time such plastic is melted down and reformed in to another product. This means that 'recyclable' plastic can only be reformulated, at the most, 5 times, each time being used, not to create the same product 'recycled', but another one that requires weaker plastic bonds. So a bottle, becomes a bag, becomes part of a jacket, then becomes molded into plastic 'lumber', and then it stays in that state, continuing to decay toxic plastic waste into the environment for millenia. This process is more properly named 'downcycling' not recycling. And because this downcycling has gotten people to believe that plastic is benign, we now use massively more of it for packaging than before. For example, before plastics 'recycling' Coca Cola produced zero plastic bottles. Now. Coca Cola -alone- produces 5 billion plastic bottles per year. Even if 25% of that total is downcycled, and even if we pretend that downcycling is somehow 'good', that means, that because of Coca-Cola, by itself, there are now tens of billions more plastic bottles polluting the environment that never would have been produced had it not been for the recycling myth. In fact, the reason that plastics recycling was begun by the plastics manufacturers in the first place, is that a growing number of environmentally aware governments in the 70's and 80's, were about to start banning all plastic packaging and containers. Seeing that this would put them out of business, the plastics manufacturers created 'recyclable plastic' and started putting deceptive 'running arrows' symbols on -all- plastic containers -even- those that cannot be downcycled. For more information see: http://www.earthisland.org/eijournal/new_articles.cfm?articleID=335&journal… and http://www.ecologycenter.org/iptf/recycling/plasticwasteexceedsrecyc.html It is also very important with the new Mirkarimi law that we steer clear of supposedly 'biodegradable' bags containing part plastic and part corn, because the plastic doesn't actually degrade, it just breaks down into smaller and smaller very tough toxic pieces. Some biodegradable bags, like the ones made of potato starch, contain no plastic. However, even here, we have a problem, because the planet is now seeing a decline in arable land for food production, and within a very short time we will actually be growing less food than the human population needs. So using any land to produce bio-bags or bio-fuels will quickly become an exercise in insanity. peace, Eric > Hi Eric, > > Thanks for the reply. I noticed today that plastic bags have been > banned in grocery stores. For me, I have used the plastic bags that I > don't recycle as garbage bags. > > Our family uses very little that goes into the garbage bins. We > purchase a lot of things with minimum packaging and still our large > recycling container that we share with our neighbors is always full. > We also use compostable bags as well as empty milk cartons for our > compost. > > Can you confirm for me something I heard, that our recycling is > shipped overseas to be sorted and recycled? If this isn't true, the > city may want to make an effort to let people what is actually > happening so the rumors of futility aren't so potent.

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[Sustain] Important: Transpo WG Meeting Tonight?
by Eric Brooks 27 Mar '07

27 Mar '07

Hey all, If any of you want to hold the regular Transportation WG tonight please speak now. If I don't get solid confirmation from at least three other possible attendees besides myself, I am going to cancel so I don't have to come all the way into the office. In the latter event, I propose that we immediately discuss a different regular meeting day and time for the Transpo WG so that we can enable Post Carbon Institute members to attend in the future. cheers Eric B

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[Sustain] From Biofuels, To The Similar Emerging Threat Of Bio-Plastics and 'Eco-Water'
by Eric Brooks 27 Mar '07

27 Mar '07

Hi all, It is finally becoming clear that bio-plastic is is beginning to be leveraged into the same agriculturally disastrous boom that was first triggered by European bio-fuel subsidies. I have just been introduced, on a Link TV 'Earth Focus' report, to disturbing new programs selling bottled spring water, often in new 'bio bottles', and using the proceeds from the water to support water 'aid' projects in economically colonized communities that are water, and/or clean water, poor. In one case, such a water 'aid' product has been bought up by Starbucks corporation, which is now donating a minuscule 5% of proceeds from this water to water 'aid'. The list of disturbing implications of these programs is too long to take time to post, (I'm sure that your imaginations can figure most of them out), but here is the central synopsis. The same big ag, chemical, fossil fuel, food, and water exploitation entities which have become increasingly merged into a handful of monolithic global parent corporations like Vivendi, Suez, Nestle, Monsanto, and Unilever, are now concertedly launching a blitzkrieg campaign of products which capitalize on the general public's desire to help save the planet, and then steer that very public into consuming an entire new spectrum of ecologically disastrous products. Products which those corporations believe they will use to seamlessly transition themselves from centrally petroleum based production, to centrally agriculturally based production, thereby ensuring that they will not have to sell one less plastic bag or bottle, one less overpriced liter of retailized water or corn syrup based soda, one less personal automobile, nor one less liter of internal combustion fuels... (Ross Mirkarimi's compostable bag ordinance, while probably a supportable positive step in microcosm, must be seen in a whole new perspective in the macrocosm, based on the emerging huge shadow of this global corporate roll-out of bio-plastics, biofuels, and cache' water products. Once Ross's ordinance passes, we -must- make certain that it evolves into a reusable canvass bag program for San Francisco.) The phrase 'out of the frying pan and into the fire' does not begin to equate the gravity of this looming situation. Just as with bio-fuels, we of the SF Greens need to immediately place ourselves at the cutting edge of the movement to fight these products, and turn the world to -real- planet saving measures like returnable glass bottles, returnable canvass bags, a massive shift to truly renewable energy sources, a massive shift to renewable powered electric mass transit, and the kicking of corporations like Starbucks, Nestle, Coca Cola, Vivendi, et al, out every watershed and aquifer on the planet - followed by organized community action to restore all of the Earth's water sources to democracy, and purity. To see show times for the program on which I saw the naively positive report about these new water/bottle programs go to: http://www.linktv.org/programming/programDescription.php4?code=earth_studio Link TV can be seen throughout Saturdays and Sundays in San Francisco on cable channel 27. To see the web site of one of the European versions of this bottled water Frankenstein's monster go to: http://www.belu.org/ peace, Eric Brooks jrizzo(a)sprintmail.com wrote: > Eric Brooks said: > > >> My biggest beef with Environment California is that they are supporting >> bio-fuels. >> > > I just sent someone else a message about biofuels. Eric inspired me to > forward an expanded version here. If you don't want to read my rant, > scroll down to the link to the Chicago Sun Times story below. > > It makes my hair stand on end when I heare Biofuels described as "green" > or "renewable." They are neither. > > Let's start with biodiesel. Biodiesel creates greenhouse gases when it > burns, and uses energy to create it. And, there is only enough used > vegetable oil to create 1 percent of the gasoline used. Biodiesel is > being used as a "gateway fuel" to corn-based ethanol, which is pushed by > Big Agriculture and the Bush administration (and now by Pelosi). The > Bushies recently gave City College $200,000 for a biofuels program. > > Corn ethanol burns to create greenhouse gases. At best, the gas/Ethanol > mixes that are used reduces greenhouse gas emissions by zero to 5 > percent. > > It also takes as much energy to produce it as it gives when it burns -- > there is no net gain. Only 5 to 26 percent of the energy content of > ethanol is "renewable." The balance of ethanol's energy comes from > coal, natural gas and nuclear power necessary to produce corn and > process it into ethanol. > > Biofuels are being promoted by big agriculture: ADM, Monsanto, etc. > Monsanto is interested in new markets for its genetically modified corn > seeds. > > Probably the worst aspect is that biofuels will compete for land used > for food. It would drive up food prices, as corn prices have soared in > Mexica. And it will devour open space, remaining rainforests, etc, as > more farm land is need. There's nothing green about biofuels. > > If **ALL** the corn produced in America last year were dedicated to > ethanol production, U.S. gasoline consumption would drop by only 12 > percent. > > The alternative press has been covering this for years. Now, the > mainstream press is now catching on: > > Chicago Sun Times: Expensive, wasteful ethanol can't solve our problems > http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/231613,CST-EDT-REF27B.article > > Washington Post: ETHANOL HYPE, Corn Can't Solve Our Problem > http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/23/ > AR2007032301625.html > > The Independent: The Big Green Fuel Lie > http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/climate_change/article2328821. > ece > > This is why I do not support the biofuel program at City College. > > Best, > John > > _______________________________________________ > San Francisco Green Party Active Members List > To unsubscribe or edit your options, go here: > https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/active >

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[Sustain] Fwd: Join Us for Press Conference & BAG GIVEAWAY Tomorrow
by Eric Brooks 26 Mar '07

26 Mar '07

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi Announces Reusable Canvas Bag Giveaway and Press Conference on Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance: SAN FRANCISCO (March 26, 2007)— Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi and the San Francisco Department of the Environment will give away free reusable canvas shopping bags at a press conference on Tuesday March 27, 2007 at 12 Noon on the front steps of City Hall. Supervisor Mirkarimi has introduced an ordinance to ban non-biodegradable plastic bags in the City’s pharmacies and grocery stores and require them to provide compostable paper or plastic bags. Passage of this legislation will make San Francisco the first City in the United States to prohibit large grocery stores and pharmacies from giving out plastic bags. Around the world, countries and municipalities have identified plastic bag over usage as a menace that is littering the streets, consuming fossil fuels, harming wildlife, and contributing to global warming. Similar bans have been implemented in South Africa, Taiwan, Bangladesh, and Paris. "You're talking about 12 million barrels of oil that are used nationally to produce 30 million plastic bags in the United States," Supervisor Mirkarimi said. "It's up to local governments to not wait for the federal government to get its act together." San Francisco’s plastic bag reduction ordinance will be voted on by the full Board of Supervisors following the press conference in room 250 of City Hall at 2PM. Board President Aaron Peskin, and Supervisor McGoldrick, Daly, Ammiano, Sandoval, Maxwell, and Alioto-Pier have co-sponsored the ordinance. |-----------+------------------------------------------------------------------| | WHAT: Canvas Bag Giveaway & Press Conf. On Plastic Bag Reduction Plan | |-----------+------------------------------------------------------------------| | WHEN: Tuesday March 27, 2007, 12 Noon | |-----------+------------------------------------------------------------------| | WHERE: Polk St. Steps, City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl. SF, CA take Muni to Civic Center Station & cross UN Plaza to City Hall |-----------+------------------------------------------------------------------| Artist Judith Selby Lang will be organizing a plastic bag sewing circle in front of City Hall at noon tomorrow. In conjunction with the 2007 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, April 14-24 Ms Lang will be creating a replica of the Ryoan-ji Garden in Kyoto made entirely out of recycled plastic bags. Visit her blog at: http://blog.greenmuseum.org/recycle-ryoanji/?page_id=2 For more information please call 415-554-7630. -- Office of Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 282 San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 554-7630 (phone) (415) 554-7634 (fax) ross.mirkarimi(a)sfgov.org

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[Sustain] Important Audio Headlines: Brazil Ethanol Boom - Weak UK Moves On Global Climate Crisis
by Eric Brooks 25 Mar '07

25 Mar '07

Hi all, This week's 'Between the Lines' has a couple of key reports in its audio news headlines about the impact of the Brazil ethanol boom on workers and the local economy; and also on inadequate UK and EU plans to counter global climate change. Also, if you listen to the entire first 20 minutes of the program, you'll hear a great report about the anti neo-liberal economics movement in South America overall. To listen (dial-up friendly) go to: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php?op=download&program_id=22329&file_id=386… peace Eric

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[Sustain] Move-On Leaders Shed Sheep's Clothing - Become Strong Arm Of Democratic Party War Funding
by Eric Brooks 25 Mar '07

25 Mar '07

Move-On defies 96% of its rank and file membership and supports Pelosi's war funding. see: http://www.prwatch.org/node/5893

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Re: [Sustain] [SFGP-A] Next Sustainability WG meeting 3/22
by Cal Broomhead 25 Mar '07

25 Mar '07

Thanks for the email. A note: yes, putting all your electric equipment on power strips and turning them off when ever you can is a great idea to save - I've heard estimates of 10-15% depending on how much electronic gear you have. My kids use the power switch as the off button on most of our equipment - microwave, TV, stereo, etc. However, unplugging your refrigerator may not work, or may work very well, if you are vegan and eat almost everything perishable within a a few days. Maybe you have already had a discussion about this idea, then read no further... but for non-vegans especially, I recommend a thermometer that reads as low as 35 degrees F, and check. Food starts to spoil at 42 or so degrees - at least that, I think, is the number I have seen in the literature. If the seal on your refer is leaking, or the door is opened during the night (a roomie on a midnight raid), the temp might climb and your lettuce may start to brown and the beans start to get slimey - maybe just a little that you wouldn't know when you eat it, but a few hours later may reveal evidence that it spoiled just a bit - I have had that experience. Put the thermometer inside, turn it off, and check the temp in the morning. A safer approach might be to ask your landlord for an Energy Star refrigerator. The landlord is allowed to put the amortized cost onto your rent, but the savings will far outstrip the rent increase and you will be way ahead - and you won't have to fear those beans. Cal Broomhead broomhead(a)igc.org > [Original Message] > From: vicki leidner <vleidner(a)rcn.com> > To: Eric Brooks <brookse32(a)aim.com> > Cc: <sustainability(a)sfgreens.org> > Date: 3/24/2007 8:30:12 AM > Subject: Re: [Sustain] [SFGP-A] Next Sustainability WG meeting 3/22 > > thanks for remembering the refrigerators and unplugging or turning off > all silent energy burners at night. > not sure if this is the right group to ask, but david ho, our fellow > green, needs support regarding the transit proposal for chinatown. > right now, it apparently takes over one hour to get downtown from > chinatown on public transport. that sounds like an awful lot of energy > wasted sitting in traffic, as well as discouraging to workers needing to > get to work and still have time with their families. > thanks, > vicki > > Eric Brooks wrote: > > Vicki also wants us to discuss nighttime unplugging of refrigerators > > to save lots of electricity. > > > > Eric > > > > done7777(a)sbcglobal.net wrote: > >> Yes, it's that time again, the forth Thursday, time for a meeting of > >> San Francisco Sustainability Working Group , 7:30 P.M. at the SF > >> Green Party office, 1028-A Howard St. > >> > >> Much to discuss: Peak Oil event, Community Choice, Nuclear > >> resurgence, new nuclear weapons contract at LLL, continued pillage of > >> fragile southwest deserts by energy interest in coal, oil, nuclear > >> mining and "waste disposal", still a war going on.... > >> > >> How can we help build party resources and bring them to these and > >> many other projects-in-waiting looking for coordination and support? > >> > >> Come help it happen, > >> > >> Don > >> > >> ps > >> > >> I am sorry there was confusion at last month's meeting. I had not > >> been informed that there was another meeting scheduled at the same > >> time as ours, and I was also late getting there fro my job, so some > >> who came early apparently thought our meeting was cancelled. > >> > >> I am not scheduled to work, and plan to get there on time, come what > >> may. > >> > >> See you there, > >> > >> de > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> San Francisco Green Party Active Members List > >> To unsubscribe or edit your options, go here: > >> https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/active > >> > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sustainability mailing list > Sustainability(a)sfgreens.org > https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sustainability

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