September 2007 - Transpo - list.sfgreens.org

Transpo Meeting Tomorrow?
by Eric Brooks 27 Sep '07

27 Sep '07

Hey John-Marc and all. Is there a Transpo meeting tomorrow? cheers Eric -- "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." – Che Guevara

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Fw: Re: Trees and carbon offsets
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 25 Sep '07

25 Sep '07

Hello Everyone, Just in case you thought trees would be a significant part of carbon sequestration programs ... The following is a review of an article that is in the current edition of Audubon. Sue A Critique of Tree Planting in Response to Global Warming In "As Ugly As a Tree" in the September/October issue of Audubon, conservationist and author Ted Williams blasts the mass planting of trees as an offset to the production of carbon dioxide.� For starters, most of the tree planting that is taking place as a response to global warming is the planting of monocultures; and monocultures, even of native� species, prevent natural forests from growing on the given sites. Plantations do not harbor the diversity of species found in natural forests, and they are generally not sustainable, as they usually require heavy applications of fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides.� Furthermore, although prevention of logging and restoration of cutover forests, preferably through allowing natural re-growth, can slow global warming, planting trees cannot sequester enough carbon to make a meaningful impact on climate change.� Williams quotes Andy Stahl director of Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE):� there are two kinds of carbon on the planet, above ground carbon and below ground carbon, which is stored in fossil fuels.� Above ground carbon cycles as vegetation grows, taking in carbon; and dies, releasing it.� "Planting trees doesn't affect the amount of carbon above ground in any long-term sense; it just changes its location. We're screwing ourselves if we use tree planting to justify pumping carbon from underground."� In terms of carbon sequestration, restoring prairies appears to be more useful than planting forests, Williams states.� Lawrence Livermore Laboratory has found through modeling that, north of Florida, trees "absorb more heat from the sun than surrounding low vegetation, particularly when it's covered with snow."� Grassland and shrub lands sequester carbon in their extensive underground root systems, and they "reflect solar heat."� Mass tree planting is being promoted by industries heavily invested in fossil fuels as a means of greening their image.� Individuals can usefully plant trees around their houses to provide natural cooling; and some forms of carbon offsetting--supporting energy conservation and renewable energy and assisting in prairie restoration, for example, "make excellent sense."� However, Williams concludes that we should not allow ourselves to be taken in by industry's message that voluntary efforts alone can make a difference to climate change.� Legislation will be necessary, and Williams asks for "mandatory and draconian caps of carbon emissions."� -----Original Message----- >From: "susan_e_vaughan(a)juno.com" <susan_e_vaughan(a)juno.com> >Sent: Sep 24, 2007 11:39 AM >To: gravanis(a)earthlink.net >Subject: Re: Trees and carbon offsets > >Hi Ruth, > >I went on line to look for this in the current edition of Audubon but could not find it. DO you have the link? > >Sue > >-- Ruth Gravanis <gravanis(a)earthlink.net> wrote: >I highly recommend this article in the current issue of Audubon magazine, Sept-Oct, 2007, page 44: > >"As Ugly as a Tree" by Ted Williams > >"Some carbon offsetting - that which supports energy conservation or renewable enery - makes excellent sense. But some doesn't, especially the wrong kind of tree planting - that is, most of it." > > >--Ruth > >

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SF DOE on Peak Moment TV
by Dennis Brumm 20 Sep '07

20 Sep '07

Cal Broomhead, Melissa Capria on Peak Moment (recorded a year ago): http://www.peakmoment.tv/conversations/74.html

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No. Calif. Post Carbon Network Meeting: September 29
by Dennis Brumm 19 Sep '07

19 Sep '07

(Please forward to people who might be interested:) There will be a meeting of the Northern California Post Carbon Network on September 29th at the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 DeHaro Street in San Francisco. The meeting will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on that Saturday. An anonymous donor has covered the cost of the meeting space, so attendance is free. All attendees will receive an oil age poster donated by SF Informatics. (See: http://www.oilposter.org/) The facilitators for the meeting will be Saba Malik of Post Carbon Santa Clara Valley, and Michael Poremba of San Francisco Post Carbon. The schedule of events includes: 10:00-10:15 - Introductions 10:15-11:45 - Presentation: David Fridley, on "The Myths of Biofuels" (presentation with Q&A; A video DVD of an earlier presentation of Mr. Fridley's will be available as well, at cost) 11:45 - 12:45 - Pot Luck Lunch - Bring food to share, and preferably your own cutlery (and plate if possible) to avoid paper and plastic waste 12:45 - 1:45 - Presentation: Michael Poremba "Climate Change and Peak Oil" (how are they related, where is the overlap, etc.) At 1:45 there will be (at least) two breakout sessions, with the following topics: Michael Poremba will continue in a break out with the topics relating to Climate Change and Peak Oil. Linda Perrine will conduct a group on relocalizing food. At 4:00 the groups will come together in the main hall and each will present a 15 minute summary of their groups' progress. There will be 15 minutes at the end of this for general socializing. For any attendees you who can stay beyond 5 PM and who wish to continue the socializing and discussions, there will be a dinner at a local inexpensive restaurant (as of yet undetermined). Please RSVP to this (richard(a)katznip.com) by September 27. Saba Malik, Michael Poremba, Linda Perrine, Jeanne Rosenmeier, Dennis Brumm, and Richard Katz

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McGoldrick Preparing Elected MTA Ballot Measure
by Eric Brooks 12 Sep '07

12 Sep '07

Jake McGoldrick, in Roll Call For Introductions today, announced his intention to draft a ballot amendment to change the MTA to an elected board membership, to go on the June '08 ballot. -- "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." – Che Guevara

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Fwd: “Central Subway” Forum hosted by D3DC
by Eric Brooks 05 Sep '07

05 Sep '07

District 3 Democratic Club invites you to the following forum: *?Central Subway?* TIME: Monday, September 10th, 6pm - 8:15pm LOCATION: Bocce Café in North Beach 478 Green St, SF 94133 (cross street Grant St) in the back outdoor covered area http://boccecafe.com PANELISTS: * John Funghi - Central Subway Project Manager, S.F. Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) * * Steve Taber - Central Subway Project Expert, San Francisco Planning and Urban Research * Association (SPUR) * Cathie Lam - Community Organizer focused on Central Subway, Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC) * AGENDA: 6:00 - 6:30pm Mix & mingle reception (wine & appetizers) 6:30 - 8:15pm Forum discussion followed by Q&A. DESCRIPTION: The Central Subway is an extension of the Muni Metro light rail system in San Francisco, from the Caltrain commuter rail depot at 4th and King streets to Chinatown. The subway is the second phase of the Third Street Light Rail Project. Still in its planning stages, the Central Subway is currently scheduled for completion by 2016. It is anticipated to carry 44,700 riders a day by 2030. Some of the discussion items include: ? Stations: New underground stations will be built at the Moscone Center near Fourth and Folsom streets in SOMA, Stockton and O?Farrell streets near Union Square (connected to the Market Street subway at Powell Street Station by a pedestrian passage), and in Chinatown at Stockton and Clay streets. In the future plans the line could be extended further north to North Beach and Fisherman?s Wharf. ? Station Sizes: Balancing anticipated demand, costs and efficiency. ? Funding: The initial capital cost would be $1.4 billion for the 1.7 mile light rail line. Muni would have to spend an additional $4 million/year in local operating subsidies. ? Planning Tardiness: Federal transit officials warned Muni in February that the agency needs to speed up planning on the Central Subway light rail project or risk losing $762 million in funding. The Central Subway?s current status is obtaining comments on the Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Fourth Street alignment. *** ______________________________ You are on the email list for the District 3 Democratic Club. We send out email notifications on the agenda items for our upcoming meetings. If you would like to be removed from this mailing list please reply to this email with a "REMOVE" in the subject and body. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get a FREE small business Web site and more from Microsoft® Office Live! <http://g.msn.com/8HMBENUS/2755??PS=47575>

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Useful Video
by Dennis Brumm 01 Sep '07

01 Sep '07

Greensumption: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i79a1Sr73uw (peak oil, globalization, climate change, "green" building, Prius, et. al.)

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