May 2010

May 18, 2010

"Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water" - May 26

THINKING LIKE A WATERSHED

Thinking like a watershed is what Brock Dolman of the WATER Institute would like all of us to start doing. On May 26 he’ll be in Ojai to comment on a 20-minute documentary produced by the Surfrider Foundation called Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water and speak on water issues. Dolman, who is cofounder of the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, is a wildlife biologist and a permaculture, erosion control and watershed restoration consultant. He maintains that we’re not in a water crisis; it’s our water-management system that is in crisis. This affects how much water we have in our reservoirs, storage tanks, and groundwater basins. Decision makers have focused on short-term solutions to long-term watershed problems. Members of the audience will receive a free copy of Dolman’s booklet Basins of Relations: A Citizen’s Guide to Protecting and Restoring Our Watersheds.

The May 26 presentation (click to download a pdf flyer) will take place at the Chaparral High School Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Avenue in Ojai, at 7 P.M. A $5 suggested entry donation will include a copy of the Basins of Relations
booklet.

Continue reading ""Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water" - May 26" »

Posted by Chris Anacker on May 18, 2010 11:36 AM | | Comments (0)

May 17, 2010

"GOING TO SEED" Summer Revival Tour with legendary seedsman Bill McDorman - May 28

For Immediate Release
Contact: Belle Starr, belle@seedstrust.com
928.649.3315, 928.300.7989

May 10, 2010

GOING TO SEED Summer Revival Tour
The Ojai Valley Green Coalition Presents Legendary Seedsman
(Click here for the Going to Seed pdf flyer.)

The Ojai Valley Green Coalition presents legendary seedsman Bill McDorman, President of Seeds Trust at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Ojai on Friday, May 28th from 7 – 9 pm. In this unique presentation, Bill will inspire his audience to reconnect with the ancient ritual of seed saving. Being on the cutting edge of sustainability and local food security is moot if a community is not saving seeds adapted to its region.

Continue reading ""GOING TO SEED" Summer Revival Tour with legendary seedsman Bill McDorman - May 28" »

Posted by Chris Anacker on May 17, 2010 1:14 PM | | Comments (0)

May 16, 2010

What Rush Hour Could Look Like: The Glorious Bike Traffic of Utrecht, Holland

Every Day is Bike-to-Work-Day in Europe!

The following video offers a look into the beautiful country of Holland, a place where transit is clean, efficient, and safe.
Translation: Everyone rides bikes and uses public transportation.

http://www.good.is/post/what-rush-hour-could-look-like-the-glorious-bike-traffic-of-utrecht-holland

Thanks to Ojai Trees for sending this video!

Posted by Transportation Committee on May 16, 2010 2:29 PM | | Comments (0)

May 13, 2010

Proposition 23 NOT Supported by Majority of Californians

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) just released the results of its annual statewide survey on environmental issues in California. Despite difficult economic times, climate change is still important to Californians with 54% stating that the effects of global warming are already being felt, and 21% stating that these effects will be felt in the very near future.

The PPIC survey also polled Californians on the state's landmark clean energy and climate legislation AB 32 and the possibility that the law could be suspended via Proposition 23. Over two-thirds of Californians favor AB 32 and about 50% believe that not enough is being done by state and federal governments to combat climate change. Less than one in four Californians are buying the claims of Prop 23 proponents that clean energy and pollution reduction laws hurt jobs. In fact, when asked how the state's climate policy would affect employment, 45% of Californians stated it would create more jobs.

Continue reading "Proposition 23 NOT Supported by Majority of Californians" »

Posted by Chris Anacker on May 13, 2010 11:56 AM | | Comments (0)

A New Look at the Top Ten Reasons for Making Ojai a Bicycle-and-Pedestrian Friendly Community

May is National Bike Month, and the League of American Bicyclists is partnering with hundreds of cities across the country to promote Bike-to-Work Week from May 17-21 and Bike to-Work Day on Friday, May 21.

If you grew up in Ojai fifty years ago, as I did, you’ll remember a time when you could safely walk and bicycle everywhere, even during peak hour traffic times. Ojai was naturally bicycle-and-pedestrian-friendly. Times have changed. According to the most recent (2008) Ojai Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, 6,000 cars a day now travel on Grand Avenue.

Continue reading "A New Look at the Top Ten Reasons for Making Ojai a Bicycle-and-Pedestrian Friendly Community" »

Posted by Transportation Committee on May 13, 2010 6:47 AM | | Comments (0)

May 6, 2010

May 2010 E-News


* Our May Community Presentation: Thinking Like a Watershed

* OVGC Welcomes the New Board Member and Government Liaison Work Group Chair!

* A Call to Action: Support the New Ojai Light Ordinance

* Executive Director Deborah Pendrey on "Thinking In Green"

* Coalition Committee Updates

Read the .pdf version:
http://www.ojaivalleygreencoalition.org/OVGC%20May%202010%20E-News.pdf

Posted by Suzanne Feldman on May 6, 2010 2:39 PM | | Comments (0)

May 5, 2010

Help Support a New Ojai Light Ordinance

In 2009 Ojai Valley Green Coalition representatives attended City Council meetings and proposed a new Ojai light ordinance. It’s been a year now and it’s time, we feel, to get a move on!

“Please add your support by calling or writing to our city representatives with a request for Ojai to be more light responsible . . . for the skies, for the plants and animals, for money and energy savings, and for a smaller carbon footprint.” stated Energy Committee member Gail Topping

Continue reading "Help Support a New Ojai Light Ordinance" »

Posted by Suzanne Feldman on May 5, 2010 10:09 AM | | Comments (0)

Ojai Valley Green Coalition Awarded 2010 Climate Change Award

The Climate Change Action Awards program, sponsored by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, seeks to recognize individuals, businesses, and groups, that are making significant contributions to improve our environment by altering their carbon footprint and combating climate change.

The Ojai Valley Green Coalition was recognized TWICE for projects -- both our on-the-ground and outreach efforts!

Continue reading "Ojai Valley Green Coalition Awarded 2010 Climate Change Award" »

Posted by Suzanne Feldman on May 5, 2010 9:48 AM | | Comments (0)

New County Gray Water Standards Out

Previously, state building authorities required homeowners to get permits to use laundry water as irrigation in their yards, but the Building Standards Commission relaxed the rules in January!

Download the full story

Posted by Suzanne Feldman on May 5, 2010 8:20 AM | | Comments (0)

Transportation Committee Meeting, Wed, May 5, 4:00 pm

VISIT BICYCLE CITY: http://www.bicyclecity.com/

Ojai Valley Green Coalition Transportation Committee Meeting
Wednesday, May 5, 4:00 -5:00 pm,
at Papa Lennon’s Pizzeria, 515 West El Roblar in Meiners Oaks
across the street from the Project Ride community bike shop.

May is National Bike Month! http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/

About the Ojai Valley Green Coalition Transportation Committee

Continue reading "Transportation Committee Meeting, Wed, May 5, 4:00 pm" »

Posted by Transportation Committee on May 5, 2010 6:38 AM | | Comments (1)

Pedaling Toward a Greener Ojai: Moving Forward On Our Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan

Good news for Ojai! The US Department of Transportation has declared that the needs of pedestrians and cyclists must be placed alongside, not behind, those of motorists. In what amounts to a true paradigm shift, the automobile will no longer be the prime consideration in federal transportation planning.

Continue reading "Pedaling Toward a Greener Ojai: Moving Forward On Our Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan" »

Posted by Transportation Committee on May 5, 2010 6:27 AM | | Comments (0)

May 3, 2010

Energy in the Ojai Valley

Just over 40 years since the disastrous local oil spill occurred along our coast, we are now in the midst of what could surmount to be one of the greatest ecological disasters in the history of mankind. My heart goes out to all that remain to be impacted by this great tragedy, and my heart is renewed to work even harder to remove fossil fuels from our energy landscape.

It is in the midst of such disasters that large change agents take place such as the modern environmental movement and renewed political support for clean energy such as Schwarzenegger’s withdrawal of support for offshore drilling here in Santa Barbara. I am thankful that we may not be subject to such risks in the near future, but also have been noticing for the last few weeks that drilling capacity has increased dramatically at the mouth of the Ventura River Watershed. What are the environmental hazards and risks associated with this drilling?

Last month the OVGC Energy Committee was reinvigorated with ideas and support, and I invite everyone that has a stake in the local energy future for the Ojai valley to please attend the upcoming meeting on May 12th to further develop our strategic path toward a fossil free Ojai Valley.

With the support of everyone in the Ojai valley, we can achieve results that will become legendary. Our great-grandchildren will tell stories and read in their history books about the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the incredible task that was at hand, and how so many people across the globe took interest in making a major change toward a sustainable future.

Respectfully,

Shawn Jacobson
Chair, Ojai Valley Green Coalition Energy Committee

Posted by Energy Committee on May 3, 2010 11:05 PM | | Comments (0)