from 350.org
Posted on 13. Apr, 2013 by Howard Salus in Education, featured, Florida News, Green Business, Green Events
From Duncan Meisel – 350.org [organizers@350.org]
10 days. That’s how long we have to flood the State Department with comments opposing Keystone XL.
For the next ten days our friends across the movement are coordinating a ‘Comment Sprint’ to submit hundreds of thousands of comments against the pipeline — hopefully hitting 1 million in total.
If you’ve already submitted a comment, keep reading: you’re able to submit more than one, and in fact, you should. We want to show that people are opposed to the pipeline for many reasons, all of them grounded in hard facts, so every day for ten days, we’ll focus on a new reason to oppose the pipeline and submit new comments.
The State Department’s review has been heavy on politics and light on science, so the more we focus on the facts, the stronger our case to the President and the public will be to stop the pipeline.
The first day of the comment sprint is today. The first issue we’re focusing on is how the pipeline undermines energy security. We need to clear about one thing: TransCanada wants this pipeline so they can get tar sands oil to export.
President Obama’s job is to decide whether the pipeline is in the US national interest. TransCanada has shown that it’s not. In filings to the State Department and contracts with refiners, they’ve spelled out their plans to pad their profits by exporting it to the international market where it will fetch a higher price — putting more money in the pockets of big oil and accelerating tar sands development in Canada.
Can you submit a comment to the President and State Department explaining the energy security case for stopping the pipeline? Click here to submit your comment: act.350.org/letter/kxl-sprint-day-1/
To hit a million comments, it will take a lot of us pitching in in different ways. At 350, we won’t email you every day for 10 days (more likely 4 or 5), but we will use social media and other tools at our disposal to promote the push every day between now and the 22nd. In particular, we will be relying on our Social Media Team to share crucial info about each day’s issue — if you’d like to join the Team and help super-charge key content over the next ten days, click here: act.350.org/signup/social/
Keystone XL is a climate disaster, and an economic loser. If built, it would carry 800,000 barrels a day of tar sands to export for the next 50 years, leaving a toxic legacy for communities along the route, and a massive carbon footprint on the atmosphere. And we’re going to do whatever we can to stop it.
Thanks for all you’ve done, and all you will do to stop the pipeline.
Duncan
P.S. – If you’ve submitted a comment and would prefer to opt-out of emails about the next ten days of comments, that’s fine too! Just click here, and we won’t send you any more Comment Sprint emails: act.350.org/sign/kxl-sprint-opt-out/ You’ll stay subscribed to 350.org, but we’ll leave you out of updates for the Sprint.
Redland Tropical Gardens Champions Homestead Centennial Celebration
Posted on 18. Jan, 2013 by Howard Salus in Education, Environment, featured, Florida News, Green Events
Homestead, FL-On Saturday, February 2, 2013, from 2:00 pm-7:00 pm, at Harris Field, 1034 Ne 8th St, Homestead, FL, Redland Tropical Gardens (RTG), will partner with the State of Florida, Viva Florida 500, Miami-Dade County, Homestead Centennial Committee, The Greater Miami Host Committee, Dade County Farm Bureau, Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, the National Parks Service, the Miami-Dade College, and Homestead Job Corps to participate in the Homestead Centennial Celebration, and present Tropical Cornucopia, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, 100 years of Agriculture & Natural Resource History of Homestead, an integral part of the multi-billion dollar vegetable, fruit and tropical foliage market in Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida, and the only city in the United States with two national parks.
This event celebrates a century milestone of rural Homestead that promotes civic engagement, and brands this area as a sustainable tourism destination dubbed the “Bridge between Man and Nature”, where people “Love the Land”… an American Heritage.
Highlights include: a Historic Farm Family interactive living history presentation from the Historic Homestead Townhall Museum, and an exhibit of local tropical exotic fruits, spices, herbs, and vegetables, natural and organic products, native plants and flowering trees, as well as the National Parks Service, promoting the ancient and archaeological natural heritage of the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks.
The exhibit area is adjacent to the Centennial Kids Zone, which will include the “ Dean of Green” a “Greenwise” 45 minute interactive musical that promotes Homestead’s cultural, agricultural, and natural history, environmental stewardship, and healthy living for children and families with music, dance, and storytelling, a Pirate’s History Treasure Hunt, Environmental Face Painting- flowers, plants, butterflies, animals, bugs, rainbows, and clouds, Multicultural Historic Games, arcade, bounce houses, rock climbing, refreshments, history contests, and more!
Also on February 2nd, 2013, RTG will launch Tropical Cornucopia Pioneer, Agro and Eco-Farm and Garden Tours, as an ancillary component of the celebration, to include a one hour “Homestead Then and Now Bus Tour” with Miami-Dade College and RTG certified cultural and nature-based Tour Guides, beginning at 9:00 am-1:00pm, starting at the Historic Homestead Townhall Museum, 41 North Krome Ave. This tour will promote Homestead’s Historic Downtown District, the home to three nationally designated and four locally designated structures, as well as the Main Street District listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
“Through this event, RTG Board of Directors look forward to building relationships that will serve to provide the network to help us produce, host, and promote RTG’s upcoming smart growth, sustainable world-class, family, signature event “TROPICALCORNUCOPIA™”, INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL FARM, GARDEN AND FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL, to national and international markets, scheduled to take place November 2nd and 3rd, 2013, from 10:00am-6:00pm in Homestead. All our initiatives provide our community the opportunity to Learn, Live, Work, Play and Grow Together, in an agrarian, sustainable farm and garden lifestyle that supports agriculture, the first historic industry of the State of Florida. We also seek to promote, connect, maintain, protect, preserve, and enhance the historic, natural, cultivated, recreational, and diverse cultural resources of this area for sustainable tourism, economic and workforce development, community education, life-long learning, inclusion, social justice, equality, well-being, and a better quality of life for all; planting the seeds to grow a clean, safe, healthy, and green economy, and leaving a green legacy for future generations”- Margie Buster, President RTG.
ABOUT RTG
MISSION
RTG is now celebration its 17th year! Redland Tropical Gardens and Botanical Foundation, Inc., d.b.a. Redland Tropical Gardens is a not for profit foundation dedicated to providing the resources for the development, preservation, education and promotion of sustainable nature-based, historic and cultural heritage products, services and industries of the Redland and South Florida.
RTG is the first nonprofit community-based sustainable and rural tourism destination management nonprofit organization founded by women in South Florida. It established the first co-operative with other organizations furthering the interests of horticulture, conservation, environmental protection and beautification, as well as new economic generators, diversification of the agricultural industry in South Dade, and the connection of Tropical South Florida’s Green and Blue Corridors.
VISION
To encourage the establishment and maintenance of botanical gardens, arboreta and horticultural centers for the advancement of science, enjoyment and education of the public
To advance the study of gardening, landscape design, environmental issues, floral design and horticulture and assist deserving students through college scholarships in these fields of endeavor established the first co-operative with other organizations furthering the interests of horticulture, conservation, environmental protection and beautification.
To aid in the protection and conservation of natural resources, to promote civic beautification and encourage the improvement of roadsides and parks
To empower women in travel/tourism and hospitality as well as allied fields through education, information, promotions and professional development.
Join in Now – Tropical Cornucopia Tours
Posted on 10. Dec, 2012 by Howard Salus in Eco Tourism, Education, Environment, Everglades, featured, Florida News, Green Events
Redland Tropical Gardens “Seeds” Community-Based Tourism in South Dade
Homestead, Fl-On Wednesday, November 15, 2012, at 6:00 PM, the first community-based tourism workforce educational program awarded “Certificates of Completion” signed by both Redland Tropical Gardens and partner Miami-Dade College Homestead’s School of Continuing Education and Professional Development during a reception hosted by Mr. Mark Bell owner of Hotel Redland to seed South Dade, as a natural and cultural heritage tourism destination. These uniquely educated tour guides were trained in nature based tourism covering agriculture in our most diverse Redland ( our cultivated area) as well as both national parks (our wilderness with their unique ecosystems), while being polished to Host International Visitors through cooperation of the Greater Miami Host Committee.
ENTIRE CLASS
This is Phase One of a two year South Dade Smart Growth/Sustainable Communities Project, established by Redland Tropical Gardens (DBA) a State of Florida nonprofit 501(c)(3) listed as Redland Tropical Gardens & Botanical Foundation, Inc. These initiatives will serve as a vision to bridge man and nature by connecting yesterday, today and tomorrow (at the same time embrassing multicultural indigenous individuals seeking harmony, economic and social vitality, with long term sustainability). This project will enhance the quality of life for residents in all CRA areas where poverty rates are a staggering 44% well above the county’s 14% average. While assisting to promote the 2013 City of Homestead Centennial, and 2014 Florida City Centennial while prparing for tourism by green restoration, a plan for a green economic generator.
Please join us by reserving your seats for Redland Tropical Gardens, Tropical Cornucopia Tours, presenting a special “Home for the Holidays Historic Tour” in cooperation with the “Historic Homestead Town Hall Museum” on Saturday, December 15th for $10.00 each. You will meet our charming Certified Tour Guides and spend one hour on a bus tour, where you will receive a booklet celebrating Homesteads Centennial, “Homestead Then and Now”.
On your return to the museum you will be provided with Holiday Refreshments and a walking tour inside the museum guided by Director Ruth Campbell. Tours depart 10:00AM, 11:00AM, 12:00PM, 1:00PM, 2:00PM, 3:00PM, 4:00PM (final tour). Please call Redland Tropical Gardens 305-247-2016 for reservations or pay on line at paypal.com you may view our website, theredland.org
Adopt Your Polar Bear Today!
Posted on 10. Dec, 2012 by Howard Salus in Environment, featured, Florida News, Green Events
Want to cut through the clutter and give a gift that helps Oceana fight for the Arctic this year? |
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Adopt a polar bear now. Free delivery by Christmas ends tomorrow! For 25% off all adoptions, enter the code OCEANS at checkout» |
There is just ONE DAY left to adopt a polar bear before the deadline for free delivery by Christmas.
Polar bears are strong, and they’re iconic Arctic animals. But melting sea ice and warming temperatures are threatening their future, and offshore oil and gas activities pose an enormous risk.
Help give these magnificent creatures a fighting chance by adopting one today.
Oceana is working to protect the ocean from the noise, pollution, and other effects of offshore oil drilling. Adopting a polar bear ensures that we can continue our vital campaign work, all while giving your loved one a fuzzy reminder of how much you care.
Feel like you’re running out of time before the holidays? Gift wrap is available for just $5.
Your adoptions, besides being great presents to open, also help protect our oceans all around the world.
Don’t get caught in the cold this year! Send a cuddly gift that will make a difference for the survival of real ocean animals.
Pick up a polar bear today!
Emily Fisher
Oceana
P.S. Interested in adopting a different ocean animal? Browse our online adoption center to see all of our great selections.
Earthman, Choir and Friends Perform at VP Debate
Posted on 14. Oct, 2012 by Howard Salus in Education, Environment, featured, Florida News, Green Events
Lanny “The Earthman” Smith
Thursday, October 11th, the world came to a beautiful little town about an hour and half from where I live in Kentucky. Danville was the site of the Vice Presidential Debate between “Smiling” Vice President Joe Biden and “ Massive H20 Drinker” Congressman Paul Ryan. Earthman was there too. The VP Debate Committee asked me to perform one of my award-winning “Earthman Please Don’t Litter” Concerts in front of the debate hall.
Earthman, Choir and Friends
Earthman, a children’s choir and friends brought a little “positive trash talk” to the event. I say that because litter has become a serious problem across America. Scientists are finding cigarettes in fish around here. People forget littering is a choice and it has become a habit which affects the health, economy, and spirit of a community.
Both Paul Ryan and Joe Biden were invited to come on stage with us and tell the children across America that although they disagree on most political issues, they stand together when it comes to people not littering. They were no shows. To bad, we all could use a moment of agreement between our leaders.
Flyer promoting event
Around here in Kentucky, as in most places across the USA, if I took the American flag and trashed it in public, someone would beat the crap out of me. Yet people think nothing of throwing bottles, cans, dirty diapers, paper, cigarette butts, tires, and you name it out onto the American land. The flag is a symbol, the land is our nation. Our founding fathers and mothers, and soldiers from every war fought to give us freedom. I can’t believe they gave their all so we would use that freedom to litter. As I share with kids and adults all over, freedom takes responsibility.
So Thursday, we raised our voices to share our powerful message with the world. Earthman had lots of media coverage on radio, TV and newspaper from both local, national and international sources. Was interviewed live during the very conservative Sean Hannity broadcast. I spoke about Republicans, Democrats, Independents and everyone doing the patriotic thing and never littering. I did not hear whether Sean disagreed with that thought. I even talked to Al Jazeera. Just imagine some terrorist group sitting in a cave looking at the news and seeing an American in an Earth costume talking about protecting the environment. Maybe they will think we are to crazy to attack!
The concert was tremendous and so many folks came by to say thanks for the message. We were the only issue oriented musical act on the main stage all day.
The election is in a few weeks. Yet, we vote each day with our actions in creating the community, nation, and world we want. Perhaps one day, Barack and Mitt, Joe and Paul, with all their wives and children, will go to a park and pick up all the litter and show the nation how beautiful things can be when we work together for the common good. What a patriotic day that would be.
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