"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has"


Margaret Mead, Anthropologist
(used with permission)



"If you don't like the news .... go out and make some of your own !!"

Wes "Scoop" Nisker, Newscaster



INTRODUCTION

Government is a slow and tedious process. While it often includes citizen and neighborhood involvement, non-governmental, private organizations have created movements and interesting groups which can create positive change in our cities and towns.

I am fascinated by the way groups are created and how they influence public decision making. This blog merely recognizes them and forwards the description of these groups from their own websites.

Showing posts with label Ecological. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ecological. Show all posts

Friday, December 20, 2013

Mannahhata2409

Location: New York, NY

Website: www.mannahatta2409org

Mannahatta 2409, currently under development, will offer an online forum to enable the public to develop and share climate-resilient designs for Manhattan based on realistic model assessments of carbon, water, biodiversity, and population.

The project is scheduled for launch in late Fall 2013.

Because ecology has largely been ignored by past generations, New York City, like most modern cities, has inherited a series of interconnected problems of ecological performance: stormwater management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, brownfield remediation, and ecological restoration.

The first step in rectifying these problems is to think of the city as a vital ecological place, an ecosystem with attributes like a forest, a wetland, or a stream, but designed for people.

Mannahatta 2409 will be a map-based web application meant to inspire, inform, and generate new ideas about sustainable urban forms from the many diverse people who love New York City, Manhattan in particular.

We want to engage everyone, from city officials to schoolchildren, in the search for ecologically informed sustainability, as measured by ecological performance indicators related to carbon, water, biodiversity, and population.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Over The Rhine Foundation

Location: Cinncinnati, OH

Website: www.otrfoundation.org

The Over-the-Rhine Foundation is a non-profit organization, founded in 1992, to help preserve and revitalize Cincinnati’s most historic, diverse and architecturally rich community.

The Over-the-Rhine Foundation works to preserve, protect and celebrate Over-the-Rhine, the historic heart of Cincinnati, by encouraging community growth, sound planning and responsible, sustainable development.

Over-the-Rhine will become an economic and cultural asset for the city of Cincinnati; a revitalized, safe, diverse, beautiful and vibrant community in which to live, work and play.

The Over-the-Rhine Foundation (OTRF) has been working to improve this historically significant neighborhood since 1992. We believe that Over-the-Rhine is more than simply a community worth preserving. It is the heart of Cincinnati and the key to a better future, not only for OTR - but for the region as well.

The OTRF embraces our mission to preserve, protect and celebrate Over-the-Rhine by creating an ecologically sustainable, urban community. We work in collaboration with like-minded organizations, dedicated to re-inventing Over-the Rhine as an exemplary, diverse neighborhood in which to live, work and play.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

I.C.L.E.I.

Location: International

Website: www.iclei.org

ICLEI is the world's leading association of cities and local governments dedicated to sustainable development. We are a powerful movement of 12 mega-cities, 100 super-cities and urban regions, 450 large cities as well as 450 medium-sized cities and towns in 84 countries.

We promote local action for global sustainability and supports cities to become sustainable, resilient, resource-efficient, biodiverse, low-carbon; to build a smart infrastructure; and to develop an inclusive, green urban economy with the ultimate aim to achieve healthy and happy communities.

ICLEI is a growing association of cities, local and metropolitan governments leading the way in sustainable development with worldwide presence, which connects leaders in strategic alliances, which prepares cities for the future, whose voice is heard, and which is attractive to be a member of, work for and partner with.

ICLEI is a high-energy, flexible movement of local governments working together in national, regional and international networks; engaging in global campaigns for sustainability, participating in performance-based programs, advancing through an international exchange of experiences and solutions – a movement which is supported by commitment processes, performance frameworks, programs, networks, strategic alliances and centers of excellence.

ICLEI is an effective sustainability and environmental strengthening the capacity of local governments and their networks to identify and implement radical solutions and act rapidly; providing advanced knowledge and delivering training to local leaders, planners and decision makers; demonstrating creativity and excellence in developing innovative methods and tools; serving as the cities gateway to solutions for the future.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Future Proofing Cities

Location: International

Website: www.futureproofingcities.com

A major new report ‘Future Proofing Cities’ has been published by Atkins in a unique partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID) and University College London (UCL).

This report assesses the risks to cities from climate hazards, resource scarcities, and damage to ecosystems and how they can act now to future proof themselves. Covering 129 cities totalling 350 million people in 20 countries, this report identifies practical measures that cities can take to now manage these future risks.

Around 75% of the world’s population will live in cities within 40 years. Almost all of this population growth will happen in the developing world, with 4.6 billion people projected to live in already rapidly growing cities.

How will these cities in the developing world cope socially, environmentally and economically with such accelerated urbanization

Future Proofing Cities assesses the risks from mega cities like Bangkok to smaller cities such as Zaria in Africa. It looks at their risk profile from climate hazards, resource scarcities, and damage to ecosystems and urges action now to future proof against these risks.

This report provides a fresh approach to the urgent issues arising from rapid urbanization. It assesses the environmental risks facing cities in an integrated way and identifies more than 100 practical policy options that are most relevant and will be of most benefit to people living in different types of cities.

The report is set against a growing awareness of the need for increased funding for infrastructure development in developing countries at the city level.

Friday, May 3, 2013

For The Bay

Location: S.F. Bay area, CA

Website: www.forthebay.org

The Bay. It's who we are. It's where we live. Where we work. Where we play. It's the very heart of our community — and after a century of decline, the Bay's survival depends on doing something, soon.

We're doing something now. We're launching an initiative to bring back a healthy and vibrant San Francisco Bay for today, tomorrow, and generations to come -- for people and wildlife, for jobs and play, and for our very way of life. We have just one question: Are you with us? If so (and why wouldn't you be?)...

For more than 50 years, Save The Bay has been the Bay’s leading champion. With the help of our supporters, we’ve kept our precious Bay from becoming a narrow, polluted channel, we’ve restored hundreds of acres of wetlands for people and wildlife, and we’ve worked with cities to curtail the flow of plastic bags and other trash into the Bay.

As a region, the Bay Area faces many challenges— from sea level rise to exploding population growth. But if we work together we have a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on the health of the Bay and the health of our community. That’s why Save The Bay is launching a new initiative – For The Bay.

The Bay is the heart of our region’s vibrant economy and quality of life. It’s the reason some 8 million people have chosen to build their lives here. While we know Bay Area residents have a broad and deep appreciation for the Bay and an understanding of the need to protect and restore it for future generations, it’s easy to take this majestic body of water for granted as we go about our daily lives.

That’s why we’re launching For The Bay: to serve as a place where Bay Area residents from all walks of life and all backgrounds can come together to celebrate the Bay and advocate for its protection.

Being for the Bay isn’t just about protecting fish and wildlife. It’s about embracing the different ways in which we all interact with the Bay – whether that’s on a sailboat or a fishing trawler, taking BART under the tube, walking or biking along the hundreds of miles of shoreline trail, or even just marveling at the spectacular views the Bay provides us every day.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Save The Bay

Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA

Websitewww.saveSFbay.org

Save The Bay is the largest regional organization working to protect, restore and celebrate San Francisco Bay. As its leading champion since 1961, Save The Bay protects the Bay from pollution and inappropriate shoreline development, making it cleaner and healthier for people and wildlife.

We restore habitat and secure strong policies to re-establish 100,000 acres of wetlands that are essential for a healthy Bay. We engage more than 40,000 supporters, advocates and volunteers to protect the Bay, and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders by educating thousands of students annually.