Welcome to the November 2009 Green InSight eNewsletter!

Jon Dougal Editor, Green InSight

"We humans are powerless against nature's destructive forces, but to appeal to her benevolent side , we replant."
Kathryn Wilkens

"The best friend of earth of man is the tree. When we use the tree respectfully and economically, we have one of the greatest resources on the earth."
Frank Lloyd Wright

This insightful and progressive newsletter is concerned with present energy issues and technologies as well as the future of energy. The information is brought to you in living color, on widescreen digital HD format, and sparing paper use with our long shelf-life, greedy little electrons to deliver the latest from the far corners of the alternative and renewable energy empire to foster sustainable development. We exalt your feedback and contributions of your latest experiences and reactions to our content. Sustainability is not just our mission, it is our passion.

What Do the Services of Bees Cost?

By: Jon Dougal
Date: November 21, 2009

If bees stopped pollinating and man had to replace the service, what would it cost society. $33 billion 0r $33 trillion? Much or our food production is dependent on bees. What about the services that wetlands perform in purifying the water before it goes into the streams, rivers and seas? Or of forests to sequester carbon and produce oxygen?

In ancient times there was the “Commons”. A meadow or valley where everybody grazed their flocks & herds. The “Commons” belonged to everybody and everybody protected and maintained the Commons for the good of all.

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What is Green Economics?

By: Brian Milani
Source: www.green.org

Ednote: The previous article talks about the commons and the costs associated with what has previously been perceived as “free services by nature”. Science and IT gives us more data we can more accurately determine the true cost of things. Hidden costs like asthma in children as a result of traffic and particulate matter from diesel engines become empirical. As society becomes more ecological, political and economic boundaries tend to coincide with ecosystem boundaries. …new economic processes must be designed, and new rules of the game written, so that incentives for ecological conduct are built into everyday economic life. Thus Green Economics.

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Costs for Water Going Up!

By: Jon Dougal
Date: October 29, 2009

Ednote: The cost of water keeps going up, municipalities keep fighting with rate payors about rate hikes, and infrastructure improvements to meet future demands. We also have the specter of municipalities placing ownership on rainwater. The concept being when a ratepayer collects rainwater that would normally be filtered into the ground water and become a part of the commons, he/they should pay for the amount collected.

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Important Water Facts

Ednote: More about the "commons" and the "green economics"

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An American Architectural Epoch Locks Its Doors

By: Nicolai Ouroussoff
Date: October 24, 2009
Source: The New York Times (www.nytimes.com)

Ednote: Architects, feel it, engineers and designers feel it, the entire construction industry feels it - from contractors to material suppliers feel it, but aren’t truly aware of what it is their feeling. It’s just a gut reaction and sense of an overwhelming worry they feel. I sense that what they’re feeling is the dread of large public works stopping. Public works are a “commons” cultural possession.

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Eat Your Dog

By: Tanya Katterns
Date: October 22, 2009
Source: The Dominion Post (www.dompost.co.nz)

Ednote: Pyramid or multilevel marketing programs are a good way to lose friends. Attacking ones pets are truly over the top. Where will the guilt of what we contribute to the degradation of the environment end? It seems all the things we hold near and dear are either bad for us or for our future generations. If you drive a Prius and think you’re environmentally aware, think again.

Here is another way to loose friends – attack the eco-footprint of your friend’s best friend.

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Nonprofit Groups Spin Off Green Ventures

By: Liz Galst
Date: October 28, 2009
Source: The New York Times (www.nytimes.com)

Ednote: Green collar jobs are at the forefront of most discussion on developing the new economy. Most green trainings are a focus of non-profits as they qualify for stimulus funds, more as non-profits than as for-profit organizations. Non-profits seem to have more than just profits at the core of their beliefs and therefore more creditability. Perceived as having some altruistic mission other than getting rich, these non-profits are certainly not ignorant of the potential for maximizing their incomes when charitable donations have slid into the abyss of the economic downturn.

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GreenBuild Expo or West Coast Green

By: Jon Dougal
Date: November 21, 2009

There are basically three conferences, shows, or expos, that are a “must” each year. USGBC’s GreenBuildExpo, West Coast Green (largest US residential conference & show) and Cleantech (green energy technologies) conferences to gain almost all the connections and exposure you could ever want; educate yourself on all the details and nuances of sustainability for planners, architects, educators and engineers; and, introduce your product or service to the Green - cognoscenti.

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Interested in sponsoring our next eNewsletter issue? Contact Jon Dougal at (415) 798-1933 or editor@greenmotion.org.