Welcome to the January 2010 Green InSight eNewsletter!

Jon Dougal Editor, Green InSight

"Nature is no longer a creation to defend, but a divinity to worship."
Vatican Radio, Rev. Frederico Lombardi,
criticizing the movie Avatar

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.

Is Avatar Radical Environmental Propaganda?

Environmentalist and producer Harold Linde weighs in on the Hollywoodizing of the environmental movement.

By: Harold Linde
Date: January 4, 2010
Source: Mother Nature Network (www.mnn.com)

Ednote: You can’t help feeling for the big tree falling in a climactic end to Avatar. Even if you’re not a “tree hugger” the fall is both apocalyptic and symbolic. There is a lot symbolism in the movie about the U.S., nature and politics in real life. Is it entertainment? Does it make us think? Isn’t that what art is intended for (among other virtues). John Wayne and many other actors gave us propaganda based war films in the 40’s, making war glorious so we could recruit more soldiers. Many left-oriented films have been made by Hollywood delivering messages about many things from saving the tuna, whales, and clear-cutting forests to climate change.

Movies have to resonate with the viewers and be entertainment. Will Avatar make more conservatives change their minds about climate change and preserving nature? As stupid as the American people appear to be in many areas, they do seem smart enough to separate fictional morality tales from reality.

Read More ►

Greenbuild 2009, Phoenix AZ

All About Systems – Part I:

By: Sonja Persram, BSc., MBA, LEED® AP
Source: Sustainable Alternatives Consulting Inc.

There was much to interest all sectors at GreenBuild. Major conference takeaways that consolidated into themes for me were systemic approaches to accelerate change, and living systems as a way to better understand places and our roles within the natural world. My GreenBuild write-up continues after the WorldGBC article, with a discussion of processes and policies which accelerate building greening.

Read the full article ►

The Next Decade's Top Sustainability Trends

By: Warren Karlenzig
Date: January 5, 2010
Source: WORLDCHANGING (www.worldchanging.com)

Ednote: Profit and visionary Warren is another early innovator of the green marketplace. An original author of the San Francisco Sustainability plan of the early 90’s. Below is his vision of what to think about next and maybe how to join in and be ready for the coming cultural and systemic changes that are inevitable.

Read the full article ►

4 Green Building Trends to Watch in 2010

By: Justin Moresco
Date: December 23, 2009
Source: earth2tech (www.earth2tech.com)

Ednote: California has long been “admired” as a trend setter in many areas. The environment is one of them. The South Coast Air Quality Management District as one example is used as an air quality standard by most national manufacturers of everything from paint to carpet, as the strictest in the US.

Now the state is poised to become another “trend to watch” as it adapts (set to kick in Jan 1, 2011) a nation’s strictest building codes. The California Building Standards Commission adapted this green building code as a result of AB32 the state’s “anti-global warming “act.

The new standards will call for a 20% improvement in water use efficiency for both residential and commercial plumbing fixtures as well as target a 50% increase in conservation for water used in landscaping.

The new code will also require all new construction to reduce energy consumption by 15%. These new efficiency measures will influence not only builders and remodelers but most all manufacturers of building related materials. 2011 is when we’re all hoping to see the construction market begin to expand exponentially.

Read the full article ►

A Clean Well Lighted Place to Inform Your Career

One of the cush green jobs sought after is that of Environmental Spokesperson or Sustainability Director, and many titles of the same genre. However, the marketing department for these companies and many builders and manufactures of green materials are constantly seeking to make their products POP off the page of advertising they produce

While graphic design is frequently thought of as purely decorative, it is largely responsible for the shock value that leaves a lasting impression that leads to brand recognition.

Read the full article ►

Rethinking – Cheap

By: Jon Dougal
Date: January 21, 2009

Hidden costs or extraneous costs – not true costs: like the tailings or waste from mining operations, that with acid rain pollute the ground water with heavy metals, but the cost of a ton of ore never includes the cost of cleanup. Traffic- idling cars that create smog, particulates, acid rain, and asthma in our children; flushing toilets that cut water from salmon runs effecting our ecosystems and local economies.

Life Cycle Assessment, a recently evolved science, is beginning to bring understanding to the use of building materials, infrastructure, city planning and waste management. The true cost of living in our societies can’t be based on the initial capital cost or 1st costs. The equation requires a 7th Generation view.

Read the full article ►

America's Can't-do List

The list of what works in other countries, but no longer does in the U.S., is growing.

By: Orville Schell
Date: January 7, 2010
Source: Los Angeles Times (www.latimes.com)

Ednote: A recent article in the LA Times brings to mind a frustration that so many of us struggling for change from Business as usual feel. The system seems unable to change lanes, slow down or stop from hitting the overturned Semi lying on the Freeway ahead of us, even though we see it clearly.

The big energy companies still seem hell bent to stop alternative energy growth by smaller independents so they can not only rule the transmission lines and charge huge fees for doing so, but own the utility size alternative power generation as well. Awarding mega-power projects to Chinese solar producers, because of price alone, while not creating jobs in the sector in the US.

Meanwhile what isn’t working here, when the State’s energy regulating agency is populated with ex-utility employees? It is us. We have allowed it; we have sat complacent and let the power (no pun) hungry take charge at our expense and misery. This article makes us think of how in a better world profit is not the only motivator or legacy, but a more win-win for mankind.\

Haiti is a perfect example of the extreme of what this article suggests. The country has been overrun with corruption at the cost to many and when a major EVENT of nature strikes there is no room (read infrastructure) no margin developed because of the greed produced corruption. We offer this article as good brain food with possible anti-oxidant properties.

Read the full article ►

60 Minutes Left This Part Out

By: Nick Hodge
Date: December 30, 2009
Source: Google Groups

Ednote: We have published many articles on the peak oil and the water crisis. We know the all mighty dollar or profit motif is what generates real movement – so why not the water crisis. A commodity we in the U.S. have always assumed was our God-given-right. But now water and the price of free flowing water is going up drastically. Old outmoded water delivery systems, crumbling infrastructure and the cost of energy to move it from where it lays to where it is used are skyrocketing. So let’s make money on the coming water crisis.

Read the full article ►

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