E-NEWS
Deja vu All Over AgainWhite House Still Wants to Delist Gray Wolf
In what many environmentalists hope is its last affront to their sensibilities, the Bush administration is once again trying to remove endangered species protection for the rebounding gray wolf population of the Northern Rockies. Just this past September, environmentalists won a challenge in federal court overturning a previous Bush order to remove federal protection for the wolves, which were reintroduced to the greater Yellowstone area a dozen years ago and, although thriving, are still considered vulnerable by biologists. This time around the White House is whistling a slightly different tune—it will leave gray wolves in the state of Wyoming, where ranchers have been especially eager to kill any wolves straying near cattle and sheep, under federal protection as a threatened species but remove protections for wolves in neighboring Montana and Idaho. “Wolves don’t read maps,” says Dr. Sylvia Fallon, the NRDC staff scientist whose genetic expertise was central in the initial challenge case. “We agree that Wyoming’s plan is inadequate, but you cannot have protections start and stop at state lines. We are close to having truly appropriate conditions in place to remove these animals from the list; but until the population reaches critical size and shows genetic interchange, these policies are completely counter-productive.” According to NRDC, the reintroduction of wolves in the region has been a “major success story [that has] measurably improved the natural balance in the Northern Rockies and benefited bird, antelope and elk populations.” The group also points to studies showing that thousands of visitors every year make the trip to Yellowstone National Park—contributing some $35 million to the local economy—to see and hear wolves in the wild. Source:NRDC |
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Palin Fights Endangered Listing for BelugasJanuary 18, 2009Reporting by Roddy Scheer
The forthcoming lawsuit marks the second time that the Palin administration, which environmentalists accuse of being too cozy with the oil companies that dominate the state’s economy, has fought a federal endangered species listing. In August 2008, Alaska filed suit to overturn federal protection for the polar bear. “Once again Governor Palin has demonstrated either a complete lack of understanding or lack of concern over the plight of endangered species,” says Brendan Cummings of the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the groups which originally proposed federal protection for both the polar bear and the Cook Inlet belugas. “Governor Palin seems more than willing to sacrifice endangered whales on the altar of oil company profits.” Source: Center for Biological Diversity |
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Embarking On a New Kind of Spring BreakBy Brooke Neuman
In March, thousands of college students hit the sun and sand to recuperate from all that studying and partying with a lot more partying. Many will spend their days doing little more than nursing a hangover. An alternative spring break gives college or high school students an opportunity to spend their time off volunteering in a local or global community helping different environmental projects including conservation, trail repairs, research, farming, building, and teaching. Hundreds of colleges and universities are teaming up with organizations throughout the U.S. to give students the opportunity to make their spring break more memorable, and more meaningful. Break Away, the Alternative Break Connection, provides alternative break programs for the fall, winter, spring and summer breaks. The organization connects campuses to local and global communities in need of volunteer help, also providing each campus with training and information. Hundreds of schools including the University of Maine, Colorado State University and Union College are members of the Break Away organization. Other organizations offer volunteer opportunities, too: The organization i-to-i, by LifeChangingTravel gives students an opportunity to get a tan, have fun and meet new people all while helping conserve wildlife and local ecosystems. Students can surf and save turtles in Costa Rica, conserve forests in Honduras and fight to help save biodiversity in Ecuador. Don’t think you can afford an exciting exotic trip? The organization is offering student groups of three or more students a 10% saving per person when traveling to Costa Rica during spring break.
CONTACT: Habitat for Humanity For years, the United Way has given students a chance to participate in an alternative spring break. This year, spring break students will have a chance to repair communities destroyed by flooding in Indiana and help rebuild Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coasts from the destruction caused by hurricanes Katrina and Ike. The program starts February 28th and ends March 21st. It costs $150, but the organization offers fundraising information to help with the costs of transportation and program fees. Ready to get your hands dirty? The World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) organization offers volunteers a unique experience on organic farms around the world. Volunteers can choose a destination and host provided by the organization. Farms partner with WWOOF organizations around the world, from Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Turkey, Australia and Uganda. Volunteers will develop hands-on experience working with organic farmers while helping sustain the agricultural land and local economy. They help their hosts with daily tasks, and are provided with living arrangements in return. WWOOF requires a small fee to uphold networking costs. The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is providing a memorable alternative spring break opportunity for students. The organization offers a week-long environmental excursion to the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Students will set up camp in the park and hike the canyons during the day participating in vegetation projects and removing graffiti along the trails. This trip offers students a unique experience in one of the most beautiful and majestic parks in the U.S. The Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) group welcomes students to join The Mountain Justice Spring Break on March 7th-15th in Tennessee to continue the group’s fight to stop mountaintop removal mining. The group is joining with the United Mountain Defense, the Save our Cumberland Mountains group, Southern Energy Network and the Sierra Student Coalition to help the fight. The group will work with local Tennessee communities to rebuild land destroyed by mining practices. The SEAC is a combination of student and youth environmental groups striving to protect the environment. Amizade Global Service-Learning and Volunteer Program is offering students a chance to earn academic credits during their spring break while exploring Petersfield, Jamaica. Students will have a chance to participate in a week-long (March 7th-14th) community project focusing on the current sugar industry in Jamaica. They will interact with the local community while exploring the beautiful island nation. Program fees include living arrangements, local programming, staffing, university credits, transportation, international health insurance, contribution to the local community, and recreational activities. Fees range from $1,463 to $1,963 depending on application date. BROOKE NEUMAN is an editorial intern at E. |
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Down on the Farm StayRest, Relaxation and Roosters in Pennsylvania Dutch CountryBy Lili DeBarbieri
Olde Fogie Farm Bed & Breakfast Inn, roughly 45 minutes from the tourist hubs of Bird in Hand and Intercourse, is located between sleepy Maytown and Marietta in Central Pennsylvania. After a warm greeting by owners Tom and Biz Fogie and two wildly energetic dogs, I settled into the chicken coop suite. A family operation, Olde Fogie is small enough to feel intimate, yet offers privacy and amenities comparable to any commercial establishment. Antique furnishings, hand-painted artwork and an eclectic assortment of decorations create a distinctive theme in each guest room. The coop’s fully equipped private kitchen adds to an overall effect of relative luxury. Even a masseuse is available upon request. On the night of my arrival, my first order of business was diving into the delicious, stream-fed pool with a cascading waterfall and fish so tame you could pet them. Rejuvenated by the icy water, I retired to the gazebo to take in the sunset, the twinkling fireflies and the goat kids returning from pasture. The next morning began like a typical day on any farm—with a rooster as an alarm clock. The optional farm chores consisted of bottle-feeding calves, milking goats, collecting freshly laid eggs, feeding chickens and turkeys and grooming the Vietnamese pig. As a thank-you, typically hostile llamas were trained to kiss the guests.
Oats, barley, corn, onions, tomatoes and cabbage are just some of the organically grown crops that nourish the animals and guests. Olde Fogie’s ecologically sound practices also extend to composting, energy conservation and the use of natural decoys. “We were farming organically before anyone knew what it was,” Biz said. “Our neighbors thought Tom sprayed the fields at night in secret. If plants and soil are unhealthy, pests move in. But when your land is healthy, this just isn’t a problem.”
Other U.S. Farm Stays Shalom Orchard Organic Farm, Winery and B&B Lapis Lane Guesthouse Burgiss Farm Bed and Breakfast Charan Springs Farm Torrey Schoolhouse Bed and Breakfast LILI DEBARBIERI is a freelance travel and environmental writer.
CONTACTS Olde Fogie Farm Bed & Breakfast Inn |
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Plymouth Rocks the Movie IndustryA Mega Green Movie Studio in Massachusetts Aims to Be “Hollywood East”By John M. Guilfoil
A few weeks before the vote, Plymouth Rock Studios announced it had registered its entire development project with the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and would be pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. This means that Plymouth Rock Studios, slated to open in 2010, will be the world’s first totally green movie studio. “This is Hollywood East,” says Steven Taylor, artist-in-residence at the studio. “We will be the center of innovation in entertainment for the entire East Coast, and a leader in environmentally advanced smart technologies.” One of the studio’s two founders, David Kirkpatrick, says, “Our mission is to promote imagination and possibility, and we’re proud to complement this vision with a progressive, environmentally friendly movie studio. By pursuing LEED certification, we will create a holistic, state-of-the-art facility in Plymouth, and ensure that Massachusetts is a pioneer in sustainable, green practices.” LEED is an independent, third-party certification system and is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of buildings, as set by the USGBC. Architects, realtors, building managers, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, construction managers, lenders and government officials use the program on new and old buildings alike. In the U.S., buildings account for 72% of electrical consumption, 38% of CO2 emissions and 30% (136 million tons annually) of waste output, according to the council. The LEED process seeks to manage those factors.
Gensler’s plan is to include sustainable materials in the construction of buildings on the campus, low-impact design strategies, geothermal energy, daylight capture, organic gardens and water-reuse systems. “In creating a green environment, the Plymouth Rock Studios team has taken great care in their design to minimize site disturbance, use energy-efficient mechanical equipment and plan the site in a way that maximizes the appropriation of natural light,” says the firm’s website. This means using light/shade shelves, composting to minimize waste, collecting and reusing rainwater and centralized collection and management of recyclable waste. Plymouth Rock Studios also hopes to include renewable energy for its electrical systems. It will utilize rooftop photovoltaic arrays and wind-generated energy. “When sustainable design principles are at the center of a development project, that project can become a great learning tool and example for the surrounding community,” says Stephen Newbold, the project manager on Plymouth Rock Studios for Gensler. “The opportunity for us to have that kind of impact with such a highly anticipated development is tremendous.” The new studio complex will be part of the rapidly growing Massachusetts film industry. The state offers lofty tax exemptions to attract business in the same way it did to bring high-technology firms (and the accompanying jobs) to the state in the 1990s. “Massachusetts has been telling the stories of America for hundreds of years. As a home to the arts, it has a rich and vibrant history that has given us some of the greatest original minds in American literature including Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick, Ralph Waldo Emerson, author of the famous essay ‘Nature,’ and Henry David Thoreau, author of Walden and the essay ‘Civil Disobedience,’” says the studio’s website. And the Massachusetts scenery has proven perfect for a wide range of big-screen movies. Stephen Spielberg filmed Jaws on Martha’s Vineyard in 1975; Ben Affleck and Matt Damon shot Good Will Hunting in the greater Boston area, as well as Affleck’s more recent Gone Baby Gone. Since tax incentives went into place, more major productions have popped up, including Martin Scorcese’s Shutter Island, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Ben Kingsley, The Surrogates, directed by Jonathan Mostow and starring Bruce Willis, and Ricky Gervais’s and Matt Robinson’s This Side of the Truth. In addition to its green features, the studio aims to be one of the most technologically advanced ever built, incorporating wireless networking throughout and voice- and fingerprint-activated locks. The former 240-acre golf course will feature 14 sound stages, a multipurpose theater, a hotel and office buildings. Nearly 400 years old, Plymouth is a charming small town in southeastern Massachusetts that has strived to maintain a 17th century feel as the arrival site for the pilgrims on the Mayflower. The town has also signed on to the state’s Community Preservation Act, which allows communities to float bonds and receive matching funds from the state for preservation and conservation activities.
CONTACTS U.S. Green Building Council |
