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A
continuation of this popular theme. Nature
pleases, attracts, delights, merely because it is nature. A few minutes ago
every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling,
tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though
to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease.
Every hidden cell is throbbing with music and life, every fiber thrilling
like harp strings, while incense is ever flowing from the balsam bells
and leaves. No wonder the hills and groves were God’s first temples, and
the more they are cut down and hewn into cathedrals and churches, the
farther off and dimmer seems the Lord himself. In the garden the
door is always open into the “holy” — growth, birth, death. Every flower
holds the whole mystery in its short cycle, and in the garden we are never
far away from death, the fertilizing, good creative death. . . . Everything
that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into
the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace. Questions
about articles and artwork?
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EcoNews (return to home page)
Send submissions to Branches, P.O. Box 30920, Indianapolis
IN 46230
EVENTS Bloomington
NEWS
RESOURCES The Indiana Recycling Coalition (IRC) has launched www.DefendRecycling.org to keep the public informed about efforts by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management that might change the definition of recycling to include incineration. The IRC is concerned that such a change would undermine existing community recycling programs and eliminate funding for legitimate recycling industries and businesses. Citizens
from around the state who are opposed to Confined Animal Feeding Operations
have compiled resources to help inform the public about the many problems
associated with such facilities. www.sierraclub.org/factoryfarms/
www.factoryfarm.org/guide/1.html
www.grist.org/news/muck/2005/01/24/factory_farms/ http://www.msu.edu/~howardp/infographics.html www.mythinglinks.org/FactoryFarms.html Bloomington’s
Center for Sustainable Living is a storehouse of information about services,
projects and networking opportunities for people interested in exploring
ecologically sustainable ways of thinking, living and interacting. For
more information, contact CSL President Lucille Bertuccio, lbertucc@indiana.edu,
call 812/332-8796, or visit www.simplycsl.org.
Lake
Michigan Watchdogs let you know who’s polluting Indiana’s waterfront in
northwest Indiana. Get the details at http://www.lakemichiganwatchdogs.com/home.htm
Evansville-based
Valley Watch has created a valuable Web-based resource featuring an impressive
selection of environmental and health links. A special section called
PM Comments Tool Kit (in the “library”) gives readers everything they
need to file formal comments on EPA’s proposed new standards on particulate
matter. The site also tracks ongoing efforts to clear the air in Vanderburgh
and surrounding counties. Visit: www.valleywatch.net A
“Citizens Guide to Protecting Your National Forests” has been posted online
for free download. The document was created by members of Heartwood,
the Bloomington-based grassroots coalition of forest protection advocates.
www.heartwood.org/Guide.pdf
Humanity’s
ecological footprint exceeds the Earth’s biological capacity by nearly
40 percent, according to a new “Footprint of Nations” report by Redefining
Progress, an Oakland, Calif.-based policy institute. The ecological footprint
is a measure of the amount of natural resources it takes to sustain a
given population over the course of a year. By comparing a population’s
footprint with its biological capacity, ecological footprint analysis
suggests whether that population is living within its ecological means.
If a population’s footprint exceeds its biological capacity, that population
is said to be engaging in unsustainable ecological overshoot. According
to the report, humanity’s footprint is 57 acres per person, while the
Earth’s biological capacity is just 41. Read the full report at www.ecologicalfootprint.org.
Environmentalists
are embracing the green cemeteries movement, an alternative to the hidden
toxins and wasted resources of traditional cremations and burials. Long
practiced by non-Christian cultures, natural burial is rapidly becoming
popular among people looking for burial methods that won’t degrade local
resources with formaldehyde, mercury and metals. Natural burial options
can include no embalming; biodegradable boxes without liners or crypts;
shrouds and no markers; caskets made of fiber or paper; or trees planted
as monuments instead of costly headstones. While Britain has more than
200 green cemeteries, the United States has only half a dozen so far.
www.AlternativeFuneralMonitor.com
and www.FuneralResources.net.
The
Campaign for Sustainable Economics is dedicated to promoting ecological
economics in academic thought and as common sense. www.sustainableeconomics.org,
317/917-1638. Earth
Day Network (EDN) has partnered with Google for the launch of the new
Google Maps Summer of Green, an environmentally focused video and map
guide to eco-tourism spots. The resource features guided virtual video
tours of environmentally friendly destinations, including organic spas,
hotels, restaurants, eco car rentals, and green family-friendly activities,
such as nature museums and horseback riding outposts. http://services.google.com/earth/green/
An
online air permits search engine lets citizens look at the status of projects
in their community. The site was created by the Indiana Department
of Environmental Management (IDEM) and Access Indiana. The search engine
sorts air permits by source name, county, permit number, time frame and
other criteria. The status and information in the permit will be automatically
updated when changes occur. Visit www.IN.gov/idem/air/permits/Air-Permits-Online/index.html The
National Campaign Against Dirty Power has created the Clear the Air Web
site, offering facts and figures about the health hazards associated
with pollution from coal-burning power plants. View data by state and
metropolitan area at www.cleartheair.org/dirtypower/. The
Worldwatch Institute offers free downloads of articles on sustainability
and the environment. Visit www.worldwatch.org
. A
recently revised report, originally released in 2003, finds that Indiana
and the entire Great Lakes region may suffer from the effects of a changing
climate more than previously thought. A team of leading scientists
from Midwest universities and solutions experts at the Union of Concerned
Scientists (UCS) recently found that extreme heat events are occurring
more frequently; heavy precipitation events, both rain and snow, are becoming
more common; air quality may deteriorate due to harmful gases released
during more frequent forest fires; and the number of summer pollution
days may be on the rise. These changes will bring challenges to residents
in Great Lakes cities as well as in rural areas, highlighting the need
for action to forestall many of the most severe impacts. The report,
Confronting Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region, can be found
at www.ucsusa.org/greatlakes.
The
Indiana Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program has designated13 Important
Bird Areas in the state with plans to identify an additional 15 early
this year. Part of a nationwide program spearheaded by the National
Audubon Society, the Indiana IBA Program is an all-volunteer effort to
identify habitat important to promote abundance and diversity of bird
species. Details: www.indianaaudubon.org/IBA.htm The
City of Indianapolis has expanded its Knozone program into a year-round
effort to increase public awareness of the effects of poor air quality.
The move was prompted in part by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
declaring Marion and four other counties in central Indiana as being in
non-attainment for the fine particle federal health-based standard. Fine
particles are released as part of the combustion process when burning
fossil fuels such as oil, coal, gasoline and diesel as well as wood. When
air pollution levels are predicted to become unhealthy for sensitive groups
such as senior citizens and children, the City will declare a Knozone
Action Day. On such days, at-risk groups are urged to limit outdoor activities
and monitor their health problems. The City also encourages carpooling,
mass transit and other strategies to help reduce pollution. Details: www.knozone.comor
317/327-4AIR. Has
a new power plant been proposed in your community? Evansville-based
Valley Watch has prepared a document for citizen activists entitled, “So
You Have a New Power Plant Proposed!” It lists a series of questions to
ask to determine what kind of strategy can be used to fight the facility.
(Additional resources include Web sites such as http://Scorecard.org
and www.cleartheair.org/dirtypower/map.html.)
For a free copy, contact John Blair at 812/464-5663 or Ecoserve1@aol.com,
or write: Valley Watch, 800 Adams Ave., Evansville, IN 47713.
To
help encourage the reuse and recycling of electronics, the Indiana Recycling
Coalition has posted its E-Scrap Toolkit online at www.indianarecycling.org/escrapmanagementtoolkit.html.
The toolkit lists current state and federal regulations; makes recommendations
on buying “green” and offers contact information to companies and organizations
reusing and recycling electronics in Indiana. The Plant A Million project has the goal of planting a million or more native trees in central Indiana. Plant A Million is a combined effort of Hoosier Heartland Resource Conservation and Development Council and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Boone, Brown, Hamilton, Hendricks, Hancock, Johnson, Marion, Monroe, Morgan and Shelby counties. You can become involved by planting a tree or trees in your yard, encouraging your neighbors to do the same or donating trees to be planted at schools, parks or other open spaces. Plant a Million Project Coordinator Bob Eddleman can also arrange an informational program for service and civic clubs and church and other community groups. Details: 317/271-4413. Networking
The
Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society (INPAWS) is a membership
based organization that promotes the appreciation, preservation, conservation,
utilization and scientific study of flora native to Indiana. www.inpaws.org The
Indiana Master Naturalist program brings together natural resource
specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s
plants, water, soils, and wildlife and promote volunteer service in local
communities. It is a cooperative project of Resource Conservation &
Development Councils, Indiana Soil & Water Conservation Districts,
Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
www.in.gov/dnr/masternaturalist/index.html Wood-Land-Lakes
Resource Conservation and Development Council is a volunteer organization
working for responsible stewardship of natural resources in northeast
Indiana. The Council recently updated its long-range area plan that
will help guide the Council for the next seven years. The plan shows the
Council’s mission, vision, background and structure as well as an overview
of the region. This overview includes geographic, natural resource, agriculture,
demographic and socioeconomic information and graphs. The Council’s goals,
objectives, and strategies revolve around land conservation, water management,
community development, and land management. Download a copy at http://www.wood-land-lakes.org/adobe/Plans/2008-2014%20Area%20Plan.pdf Green
Sanctuary is a growing movement among faith communities of many denominations
to recognize the importance of environmental stewardship in all aspects
of life — at home, at church and at work. Improving
Kids’ Environment is working with local congregations to help them understand
the importance of this effort and to provide practical tools to help them
on their journey. IKE’s helpful resource list is posted at: www.ikecoalition.org/Green_Sanctuary/Green_Sanctuary.htm The
Indiana Forest Alliance meets at 6 p.m. the first and third and Wednesdays
of each month at 116 1/2 S. College in Bloomington. Details: Joanna Gras
812/332-4878 or Joanna@heartwood.org The
Great Lakes Information Network is a resource created by the Great
Lakes Commission, a bi-national, nonpartisan alliance that takes an ecosystem
approach to protecting and sustaining the health of the Great Lakes basin.
www.great-lakes.net/ Check out the latest ongoing activities of Bloomington’s Center for Sustainable Living,including the Bloomington ECO Center and the Community Bike Project: www.simplycsl.org/cal.html RemindersThe average American
uses 24 acres of land to support his or her current lifestyle.
In comparison, the average Canadian lives on a footprint 30 percent smaller
(17 acres), and the average Italian on a footprint 60 percent smaller
(9 acres). Want to see how you compare? Take the survey at www.redefiningprogress.org.
Then download the new Household Ecological Footprint Spreadsheet, to create
a more detailed look at your household’s consumption of natural resources. Support Your Local Land Trust! Corporate Ownership of Organics Pattern Map for a Conservation Economy
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