Joan Kerr Sustainable Communities

Soothing Green

2009-06-09T11:17:00.000-07:00

Just saw this slideshow, how great it is if we could just know how chic green is!
Enjoy.

Building Sustainable Communities

2009-05-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

Community in 17 sensible steps
How can a sustainable local community (which is to say a sustainable local economy) function? I am going to suggest a set of rules that I think such a community would have to follow. I hasten to say that I do not understand these rules as predictions; I am not interested in foretelling the future. If these rules have any validity, it is because they apply now.

Supposing that the members of a local community wanted their community to cohere, to flourish, and to last, they would:

1. Ask of any proposed change or innovation: What will this do to our community? How will this affect our common wealth?

2. Include local nature -- the land, the water, the air, the native creatures -- within the membership of the community.

3. Ask how local needs might be supplied from local sources, including the mutual help of neighbors.

4. Supply local needs first (and only then think of exporting their products, first to nearby cities, and then to others).

5. Understand the ultimate unsoundness of the industrial doctrine of 'labor saving' if that implies poor work, unemployment, or any kind of pollution or contamination.

6. Develop properly scaled value-adding industries for local products in order not to become merely a colony of the national or the global economy.

7. Develop small-scale industries and businesses to support the local farm or forest economy.

8. Strive to produce as much of their own energy as possible.

9. Strive to increase earnings (in whatever form) within the community, and decrease expenditures outside the community.

10. Circulate money within the local economy for as long as possible before paying it out.

11. Invest in the community to maintain its properties, keep it clean (without dirtying some other place), care for its old people, and teach its children.

12. Arrange for the old and the young to take care of one another, eliminating institutionalized 'child care' and 'homes for the aged.' The young must learn from the old, not necessarily and not always in school; the community knows and remembers itself by the association of old and young.

13. Account for costs that are now conventionally hidden or 'externalized.' Whenever possible they must be debited against monetary income.

14. Look into the possible uses of local currency, community-funded loan programs, systems of barter, and the like.

15. Be aware of the economic value of neighborliness -- as help, insurance, and so on. They must realize that in our time the costs of living are greatly increased by the loss of neighborhood, leaving people to face their calamities alone.

16. Be acquainted with, and complexly connected with, community-minded people in nearby towns and cities.

17. Cultivate urban consumers loyal to local products to build a sustainable rural economy, which will always be more cooperative than competitive.

From a speech delivered November 11, 1994 at the 23rd annual meeting of the Northern Plains Resource Council.

Water Conservation and Gardening

2009-05-26T16:51:00.000-07:00

Gardening is my favourite time for the summer. It can be quite challenging in terms of the weather and of course time. Gardening can also be costly. Buying the plants, the manure, the soil and containers. One of the biggest expenses that is sometimes overlooked is the cost of watering the plants.

Some saving include purchasing a rain barrel to collect the water. I bought mine for $69.99 in Oshawa, Ontario. This really is a cost effective water to preserve water and save money.

Energy Conservation Fair 2009

2009-05-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

The Energy Conservation Fair proves that entrepreneurs are the engine of our society. Residents did not attend in the numbers that they did last year, and that is understandable since last year's fair took place in the month of February. A much more relevant time than the month of May.

FBSC's mission is to cultivate sustainable sensibilities by the giving practical ways of conserving and living an eco-lifestyle. And that means living sustainably.

And that's where entrepreneurs excel. They understand community. They understand business. They understand family. They understand that we must protect and preserve our environment. Entrepreneurs put it on the line everyday.

The participants took the opportunity to network and develop partnerships. It all turned out to be a very fruitful day for them.

Read Oshawa This Week article otw-ecf2305091

See the pictures: Conservtion Fair

Preserve our precious resources

2008-03-04T06:35:00.000-08:00

This slideshow developed by Rotary International shed the light on the worldwide water issues and also that we are a truly global village. Visit the slideshow. Find ways to save, conserve and preserve our resources for today and tomorrow.

Include the 2 P's, as well as the 3R's

2008-02-24T13:48:00.001-08:00

Many of us recycle, which is a good start. Recycling is the third step in the 3 R's, which include reduce, reuse and recycle. Let's get to the next level and include the 2 P'. What are the 2 P's you ask. Simply it's Prevention and Precycle. Take a look at this article, it will really help you save landfills.

The world as a village of hundred people

2008-02-22T06:09:00.000-08:00

A colleague sent this to me a while age and I really thought it the condensed version capture the state of the world. Although I am involved in doing my part and making a difference, I really felt humble and at the same time fortunate. There is so much to be done, please visit. Your feedback would be great.

The world as a village of hundred people

Sustainability and innovations

2008-02-21T14:50:00.000-08:00

This is a wonderful article that effectively verifies that sustainable decisions make good capital return. For such a long time , all we heard was that it wasn't economically viable to include the environment as a part of the decision-making process. No one took the time to investigate the benefits. Now we have no choice. Making sustainable decisions has big returns

Green Economics

2008-02-21T14:34:00.001-08:00

I love reading Worldwatch Reports because they really look at the issues from a global perspective. This is a really good, concise article about the way that being green is perceived. Green Economics is becoming mainstream.

Upcoming Energy Fair

2008-02-21T14:14:00.001-08:00

The Oshawa Community Energy Fair is really gathering momentum. Many of the vendors are donating products for the free draws. To learn more about who is contributing visit Oshawa Energy Conservation Fair Blog

Oshawa Energy Conservation Fair - Oshawa Groups - Kijiji Oshawa

2008-02-17T18:29:00.000-08:00

Please join us at the

Oshawa Energy Conservation Fair - Oshawa Groups - Kijiji Oshawa

Oshawa Energy Conservation Fair

2008-02-17T18:19:00.000-08:00

O.C. sewage will soon be drinking water - Los Angeles Times

2008-02-17T17:10:00.000-08:00

Exploring ways of protecting our precious resources.

O.C. sewage will soon be drinking water - Los Angeles Times

Building Science Corporation

2008-02-17T16:55:00.000-08:00

Building Science Corporation

This is an excellent resource on the built environment.

First North American World Wind Energy Conference and Renewable Energy Job Fair Announce

2008-02-17T16:16:00.001-08:00

Wind Conference

7th WWEC2008 Community Power is comprised of a three-day program of panels and presentations focused on policy, financing, ownership, technology, interconnection, governance and capacity building, a Trade Show Exhibition showcasing new technologies, supplier and manufacturers in the renewable energy sector, and the first North American Renewable Energy Job Fair, linking students and professionals with training, education and employment opportunities and interested renewable power sector companies and organizations.

Ontario, Canada is a fitting location for the 7th World Wind Energy Conference. The province has introduced a feed-in tariff that encourages the development of renewable power projects in the market, and offers a compelling opportunity for wind energy investment. In addition, Canada is one of the fastest growing wind power markets in the world, with 113% installed wind energy capacity growth in 2006.

Corporate Responsibility as Innovation Engine

2008-02-17T14:58:00.001-08:00

Social Conversations: Interview with Hannah Jones: Podcast

When Nike came under scrutiny for the labor practices in its contract factories in the late 1990s, the company was both unprepared and defensive. “We became the poster child for all things having to do with poor working conditions,” said Hannah Jones, Nike’s vice president of corporate responsibility.

Critical media attention spurred the firm’s corporate responsibility efforts––initially from the “risk management” perspective. Today, however, Jones told the Stanford audience at the Socially and Environmentally Responsible Supply Chains conference that Nike is beginning to look at corporate social responsibility as another engine of innovation for the company. “We’re blurring the edges of what corporate social responsibility is, and we’re looking at business models as a force for massive social change.”

From a focus on manufacturing codes of conduct, Nike is now considering how the company can positively influence mega-trends facing society. “We’re having significant conversations around how our business model might intersect with issues such as people’s access to food, water, and energy, as well as questions of climate change and poverty,” Jones said.

Listen as Jones makes the business case for socially responsible and environmentally sustainable business strategies and looks at the future of corporate responsibility.

International Decade For Action Water For Life 2005-2015

2008-02-17T13:45:00.000-08:00

http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/

BACKGROUND
WATER IS ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE. Water is crucial for sustainable development, including the preservation of our natural environment and the alleviation of poverty and hunger. Water is indispensable for human health and well-being.
The United Nations General Assembly, in December 2003, proclaimed the years 2005 to 2015 as the International Decade for Action 'Water for Life'.