green education – Page 3 – Creative Greenius

Greenius on Patch.com: Eco-Minded Should Consider RUHS Alternative

August 30, 2010August 31, 2010climate change, environment, green education, recycling, Saving Energy, Sustainability, water conservationLeave a Comment

With school starting up again it’s easy to remember what an exciting and terrifying time this is for high school freshmen making the giant leap from middle school to the intimidating and initially confusing big-time campus.

They don’t get any more big-time than Redondo Union High School‘s 56-acre campus, one of the largest in all of California.

With a history going back 105 years and an outstanding reputation in academics, robotics, journalism, band and so many other areas it is a very cool thing indeed to be a new Sea Hawk joining the other 2,294 RUHS students.

But there’s another high school in the area that Redondo Beach students are also eligible to attend that few even know about, let alone consider applying for. At first glance you might think I’m nuts to even suggest it: I don’t think any Redondo Beach resident has ever opted to attend, although kids from Lennox, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Gardena, Bellflower, Maywood, Carson and Lawndale have.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY ON REDONDO BEACH PATCH

Don’t Think of it as “Global Warming,” Think of it as Destroying our Atmosphere and Altering the Delicate Balance of Nature

August 1, 2010climate change, environment, fossil fuels, green education, SustainabilityLeave a Comment

I first saw this video produced by Dr. James Powell, the Executive Director of the National Physical Science Consortium on Joe Romm’s Climate Progress site last week.

Do yourself a favor and take 10 minutes to watch and grok this simple and easy to understand climate change lesson. Memorize the information as if you were going to be tested in school on it. Then use this knowledge to help explain reality to your friends and associates who have been duped and conned by the dirty energy industry into believing this is some kind of hoax.

It’s no surprise that the coal, oil and gas industries want us to keep using their dirty, unsafe fuels of the past which are running out and which are spewing pollution and deteriorating our atmosphere while they cook us inside the greenhouse.

But what is surprising is how many people we know and interact with argue against their own best interests and argue against a rapid transition to the clean safe fuels of our future which will never run out and which protect our health, our environment and our younger generations best chance for peace and prosperity.

So many lizard brains and scared little sheep among us in addition to the industry mercenaries and the always loudly heard defiantly ignorant. They will surely be our damnation unless we find a way to reach and teach them before it’s too late. The odds are that we’re already too late by a couple of years now at least and each passing day puts us another 24 hours behind.

But I’m still not ready to cash in my chips yet and start partying like it’s 1999. And I’m still up for the greatest fight between good and evil, between ignorance and enlightenment, between liars and truth tellers that ever played out here on good old planet earth.

Because in the Kingdom of the Lizard Brains the Autodidact with the high school diploma is King.

The Big Green Bus is Coming to Manhattan Beach!

July 27, 2010July 27, 2010citizen volunteer, climate change, energy efficiency, environment, green education, recycling, renewable energy, Saving Energy, SustainabilityLeave a Comment

The sensationally sustainable Sona Kalapura is bringing the Big Green Bus to Manhattan Beach on August 2 and August 3.

The Greenius will be there both days to help support Manhattan Beach’s efforts and get to hang with some of the greenest, smartest and most environmentally hip people I know anywhere.

Another Exclusive Greenius Video: 350.org’s Bill McKibben on Biking and the SBBC

April 25, 2010Bicycles, citizen volunteer, climate change, environment, green education, SustainabilityLeave a Comment

P1080508 — Bill McKibben signs his new book "Eaarth" at the L.A. Times Book Festival (photo by Debra Bushweit Galliani)

I really enjoyed getting to table for 350.org at the same table author, Bill McKibben, was signing copies of his new book “Eaarth.” What I dug most was the way Bill personally connected with each person who had a book for him to sign. He took his time and had a brief but unrushed conversation with each person who came by.

Bill was just as unrushed and kind in his time with me in answering some questions for my video interview.

In this second of three video segments, I asked Bill about the work the South Bay Bicycle Coalition is doing in bringing a Master Bike Plan to the area that links the cities of the South Bay:

Greenius on Patch.com – Helping AOL Get HyperLocal

April 24, 2010April 24, 2010citizen volunteer, climate change, environment, green education, News MediaLeave a Comment

It’s been weeks since I’ve opined on this page and one of the reasons why is the time it’s taken launching two new columns for AOL’s Patch.com. I’m writing a weekly column on environmental issues for Hermosa Beach Patch and a weekly column on bicycling and the South Bay Bicycle Coalition news for Redondo Beach Patch.

AOL is backing Patch.com with an initial $50 million and hiring journalists to provide hyperlocal coverage in communities of 15,000-100,000 on both coasts. And I’m helping to provide that coverage in Redondo and Hermosa including shooting photos and video.

I’ve only been doing it for or a month or so, but so far I’m digging the experience and happy to broaden my local readership and Creative Greenius reach.

There was an interesting piece by James Rainey in today’s LAT focusing specifically on Manhattan Beach Patch but I don’t think Rainy has any particular insight or perspective on the issue.

Unlike yours truly who has nothing BUT particular insight and perspective on not only this issue but so many more. And that’s exactly what a brain dead populace is looking for these days and exactly why I’m stretching my already overburdened schedule to bring my fellow South Bay citizens Patch pieces like these I’ve already had published:

Continue reading ➞ Greenius on Patch.com – Helping AOL Get HyperLocal

Great Day to Be Green at Madrona Marsh

March 29, 2010March 31, 2010citizen volunteer, environment, Environmental Politics, green education, renewable energy, solar powerLeave a Comment

P1070679 — Diane Moss, the Environmental Deputy to Congresswoman Harman, Creative Greenius, and Brad Bartz, President of ABC Solar at last Saturday's Torrance Environmental Fair at Madrona Marsh

I spent last Saturday right here in Torrance at my favorite place in town, the Madrona Marsh – even if I did spend it in the parking lot standing behind a table for the South Bay Environmental Services Center. But I got to walk across the Marsh on my way in and I got to see Tracy Drake, the Nature Center Manager and dynamo – and a woman who I adore.

I’ve got more photos (in the Greenius blog’s new slideshow app) and additional coverage for you after the jump….

Continue reading ➞ Great Day to Be Green at Madrona Marsh

Meet the Greenius @ the Torrance Environmental Fair this Saturday

March 25, 2010March 26, 2010campaign, citizen volunteer, climate change, energy efficiency, environment, fossil fuels, green education, recycling, renewable energy, Saving Energy, sea-level rise, solar power, Sustainability, water conservationLeave a Comment

EPN member Joe Galliani volunteering for the SBESC — Joe Galliani, the Creative Greenius at the 2009 Torrance Environmental Fair

That’s your friendly, neighborhood Creative Greenius volunteering his time for the South Bay Environmental Services Center at the 2009 Torrance Environmental Fair. I’ll be back again this year, at Madrona Marsh on Saturday, March 27 from 10am t0 3pm talking about ways to save energy, save water, save money and cut your greenhouse gas emissions.

Check out the roster of speakers and presentations after the jump.

Continue reading ➞ Meet the Greenius @ the Torrance Environmental Fair this Saturday

Mayor DiVirgilio: “Why Hermosa Beach is Going Carbon Neutral”

March 17, 2010March 17, 2010carbon producers, citizen volunteer, climate change, electric cars, energy efficiency, environment, environmental legislation, Environmental Politics, fossil fuels, green building, green education, green jobs, plug-in cars, politics, recycling, renewable energy, Saving Energy, sea-level rise, solar power, SustainabilityLeave a Comment

Hermosa Beach Mayor, Michael DiVirgilio, has on Op Ed piece in today’s Daily Breeze on why he is leading his city to a carbon neutral future.

In an era when most elected officials offer no substance and no positive vision for our future, DiVirgilio is downright JFK-like in his view of what must be done:

“But now is not the time to narrow the vision for our own future, to diminish our expectations for the better days ahead or to downsize the ambitions for our children’s quality of life.

Now is the time to step up and seize the opportunities available to those who act on new realities before they become mainstream trends. Now is the time to use the stimulus, grant and foundation money available to those who lead before the map is even drawn.

Now is also the time to act because we are standing at another threshold, the threshold of climate-change tipping points that may diminish the future prospects and possibilities for young and old alike.”

So we choose to go carbon neutral, not because it is easy, but because it is our best possible future, and the best path to preserving the small-town beach community and culture we all cherish and want to pass on to the generations who follow.

Getting To Work In Hermosa Beach – The Carbon Neutral ClueTrain Leaves the Station

March 12, 2010March 13, 2010campaign, citizen volunteer, climate change, energy efficiency, environment, environmental legislation, Environmental Politics, fossil fuels, green building, green education, green jobs, News Media, plug-in cars, politics, recycling, renewable energy, Saving Energy, sea-level rise, solar power, Sustainability, Yes We Can!1 Comment

Courtesy of YouTube and the Hermosa Beach City website, and converted and enlarged through the magic of Greenius, we bring you this exclusive look at the Carbon Neutral ClueTrain leaving the Hermosa Beach station this week. Local mainstream media missed this story completely but fortunately for them this on-line record will exist for them to use as research. So will the reporting that the new Patch.com news group will be providing.

The story actually began last week during Hermosa Beach Mayor’s State of the City address where Mayor Michael DiVirgilio spoke about the Carbon Neutral City concept:

Mayor DiVirgilio was right back at it Monday night at the Hermosa Beach Green Task Force meeting, speaking enthusiastically on behalf of the idea:

Join us after the jump to see your friendly neighborhood Greenius and my Fratelli Verde, Robert Fortunato, following the Mayor with our own remarks.

Continue reading ➞ Getting To Work In Hermosa Beach – The Carbon Neutral ClueTrain Leaves the Station

BREAKING NEWS: Hermosa Beach To Become Carbon Neutral City! Acting Locally, Thinking Globally

February 10, 2010February 12, 2010carbon producers, citizen volunteer, climate change, electric cars, energy efficiency, environment, environmental legislation, Environmental Politics, fossil fuels, green building, green education, green jobs, plug-in cars3 Comments

Ever since the Copenhagen climate treaty talks ended in impotence two months ago there hasn’t been a single ounce of positive news on the international scene about our chances of cutting the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and getting CO2 levels back down to the safe 350 ppm zone. Here in the United States our President and Congress haven’t shown the leadership or sense of urgency necessary to prevent a climate catastrophe and they’ve given the people no hope for their children’s future at the national level. Many in Congress have acted unethically and immorally with the responsibility they have been trusted with.

As the Creative Greenius and organizer of the South Bay Los Angeles 350 Climate Action Group that’s just unacceptable to me. If they can’t get the job done in Washington, DC or at the UN – and it’s obvious to me that they cannot – then we will take the reins of responsibility from them right now and we will get the job done here locally.

That’s exactly what is happening now.

Last night at the Hermosa Beach, California City Council meeting, Mayor Michael DiVirgilo, confirmed that he and the City Council are committed to making their iconic beach town a Carbon Neutral City at the earliest possible date. Hermosa Beach’s Green Task Force was directed to come up with the plan and a special joint session of the Council and the Task Force was scheduled for March 30 to get the carbon neutral ball rolling. This makes Hermosa Beach the first city in the South Bay of Los Angeles County, and the first city in all of Los Angeles County to declare their intent to become carbon neutral and sustainable. And that makes them the leadership model we will replicate in all of the other 87 cities that make up this County of 10 million people.

None of this is happening by accident.

Your Creative Greenius was there on the scene to witness the historic action and to add my remarks to note the occasion. Check out the video excerpt courtesy of Hermosa Beach’s website after the jump, and discover, in classic Paul Harvey tradition, the rest of the story…

Continue reading ➞ BREAKING NEWS: Hermosa Beach To Become Carbon Neutral City! Acting Locally, Thinking Globally