Activism

“What’s On Your Plate” Book Signing & DVD Release

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Beth, Sadie & Safiyah

This week I got to meet the makers of one of my favorite movies– “What’s On Your Plate?” — at their book signing and DVD release! This beautiful film was made by Catherine Gund, and featured her daughter Sadie and Sadie’s friend Safiyah. The film follows the two lovely young ladies as they learn about where their food comes from, and as they become active about the need for more fresh food and farmers markets to be available in all neighborhoods of New York City. They were so brave to go out and interview many people for the film, even Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough president, who helped coordinate a book featuring healthy recipes by Harlem chefs. Now Ms. Gund and the girls  have a book out also called What’s On Your Plate, with activities for kids. It was a privilege to meet these inspiring people, especially Sadie and Safiyah who are so mature and accomplished for their age, as well as the Angel family farmers who were also featured in the film. I hope they keep up their great work. See: www.whatsonyourplateproject.org.

The girls and film-maker/author Catherine Gund

Smart Growth Summit Nov. 19, 2010

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Nine hundred people attended Vision Long Island’s annual Smart Growth Summit at the Melville Marriot this year — its largest yet. The conference is an educational one, made up of numerous workshops to discuss the latest in public transportation efforts, the new smart growth policy adopted by NY State, green buildings and neighborhoods, affordable housing for young people, and more. Many elected officials took part in the event. It was encouraging to see how the momentum has grown over the past few years to include more and more people who are  incorporating smart growth concepts into our local planning so LI can stop being an area of endless sprawl.  See www.visionlongisland.org.

Beth Fiteni at 2010 Smart Growth Summit

BCERP – Breast Cancer & The Environment Research Program Nov. 16-18, 2010

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A project of the National Institute of Environment al Health Sciences (NIEHS), BCERP held its annual conference in NYC this year (it rotates around the country). It brought together breast cancer advocates, students, scientists, and Judith Enck of the US EPA to discuss the latest research on such chemicals as PDBEs (Flame retardants), BPA (bisphenol A), and high fat diets in relation to breast cancer. Top scientists from around the country, who are funded by NIEHS, reported their recent findings. Not surprisingly, chemical exposures especially during infancy and puberty, and high fat diets were in most cases indeed found to increase breast cancer risk. They are also increasingly finding breast development in girls earlier than normal. Interestingly, consumption of healthy unprocessed soy foods was found to reduce risk.

To me, the real question now is how to get this information out to the general public so they can make healthier choices — through physicians, school lunchrooms, restaurants, etc. that influence our decision-making. We are starting to do so bit by bit…. See hbcac.org and ribbet.org.

Karen Miller & Samantha Graham of Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition at BCERP meeting

Advanced Energy Research and Technology Conference Nov 8-9, 2010

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The Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center, based in Stony Brook, NY hosted its annual conference this year at the Hilton in NYC. Sessions focused on current and emerging clean energy technologies, the smart grid, and improved battery storage for vehicles. Though inspiring to hear what is possible, it is a bit frustrating to wonder when these advances will actually be put in pace, which requires some good policy. One session featuring Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig of the NASA Goddard Center for Space Studies at Columbia spoke about current science on climate change. That afternoon, Governor Paterson addressed the crowd as keynote speaker with a strong message calling for action, and announced his draft Climate Change Action Plan for NY through 2030. It is a good, comprehensive plan but lacks one important aspect— incremental requirements leading up to 2030. Hopefully this conference will lead to the implementation of the technologies necessary to move our state quickly towards wiser energy production and use.

Gov. Paterson announces NY State Climate Action Plan

Beth Fiteni & Al Harsch, renewables installer, at AERTC conference

AWEA Offshore Wind Conference

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The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) held a successful offshore wind conference Oct. 5-7, 2010 in Atlantic City, at which I got to tour the local wind park and solar carport. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar signed the lease for the Cape Wind project, which was a long time in coming; the project is jockeying with several other projects to be the 1st offshore wind project in the U.S.  Looks like we may finally start catching up to Europe…

Vestas display at Expo

“Sustain” – Bill McKibben in NYC

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New York was blessed with a visit from Bill McKibben last night (9/18/10), climate activist and author of “The End of Nature” and his new “Eaarth.” Faith House and Greenfaith organized the Sustain event, which attracted over 100 people. McKibben offered a sobering overview of climate events just in the last 90 days, including the flood in Pakistan, a large piece of Greenland ice breaking off into the sea, and the Moscow heat wave that affected wheat crops. While discouraging, he relayed what gives him hope–the great response he’s gotten to his 350.org international grassroots campaigns.

The goal of 350.org is to have the public urge their governments to set policy targets to achieve a global carbon dioxide level of 350 ppm (parts per million); the level climate scientists say is needed to stabilize our climate. We are now over 380ppm. Last year’s campaign culminated on October 24th with events held in 181 countries. He shared a great story about receiving a call at his home in Vermont from an activist in Ethiopia profusely apologizing that they had to hold their protest a day early because their government refused to allow it on the 24th— she said “So sorry Mr. Bill, but we do have 15,000 people out in the street right now….”

McKibben’s talk was flanked by interfaith music performances and prayers. It was encouraging to see people of different faiths heeding the call to action and coming out to be inspired and informed on the subject of climate change. The next day of action is 10-10-10 where the 350.org campaign is urging people do an energy saving action, like put up a solar panel, and then to urge their governments to get to work as well…So let’s get to work.

Beth & Bill McKibben