Great American River Clean-Up
Do your part to make this Sacramento treasure a little brighter
Get a group together and join us on:
Saturday
September 15, 2007
9am - 12pm
Register Today

17 sites available

Check-in at the "River Cleanup" stations.

Under age 18 bring parental/guardian consent form.

Wear long pants/shirts, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, hat.

Review safety guidelines prior to volunteering.
http://www.arpf.org/garcu.htm
Time: Saturday, September 15, 2007 - 9:00am PST

Sierra Pacific Industries has clearcut hundreds of thousands of acres of Sierra forests- and has
plans to destroy a million more. Help us stop them!

Come to our kick-off meeting and learn more about how you can save the Sierra Nevada!

When: Wednesday, September 12th
Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm
Where: Sierra 2 Center (Room 12)
2791 24th Street, Sacramento
Who’s invited: Everyone who wants to learn more or help out

Brought to you by ForestEthics, your local environmental group that protects endangered forests.
Time: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 6:30pm PST

ECOS Board Meeting Agenda
MONDAY, August 20, 2007 - 7-9pm - Breathe California - 909 12th Street

Please NOTE LOCATION: Breathe California, 909 12th Street

ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL OF SACRAMENTO - A coalition of environmental and civic organizations with a combined membership of more than 12,000 citizens of the Sacramento Region.
Time: Monday, August 20, 2007 - 7:00pm PST

Friday, August 24 - 7pm - Free showing of "Radiant City" hosted by local architecture/design firm LJ Urban. "Radiant City" is a new film from Canada about sprawl. See more at www.radiantcitymovie.com. The film will be followed by a panel discussion including ECOS Executive Director Graham Brownstein. Film and discussion at offices of LJ Urban: 1941 H Street (corner of 20th and H, side entrance). Please walk or ride if you can!
Time: Friday, August 24, 2007 - 7:00pm PST

Climate Change, Despair, and Empowerment Roadshow
with Kelly Tudhope, coming to the west coast from New Zealand.

Multimedia presentations to help understand our role in a climate changed world and empower us with a renewed sense of commitment to the actions required to address global warming.

Sept. 6th, 7 pm
Trinity Cathedral, Great Hall, 2620 Capitol Ave. Sac.
$5 donation. Drinks/snacks.
Information: www.climate.net.au or Therapists for Social Responsibility 916/447-5706.

Climate change is the most serious issue facing humankind. The scientific community has released alarming evidence over the past 12 months with predicted increases in temperatures, sea level rises and the increase in frequency and intensity of storms.

These multi-media presentations will help communities to understand our role in a “climate changed” world and empower us with a renewed sense of commitment to the actions required to address global warming.

Climate Change, Despair & Empowerment Roadshow to make 18 presentations from Vancouver to San Francisco & Hawaii

Worldwide concern on climate change has lead the Rainforest Information Centre from Australia to take to the road to address the psychological impacts of global warming as well as the importance of grass roots response.

The ‘Climate Change Despair and Empowerment’ roadshow seeks to catalyse, invigorate and support grassroots study and action on climate change and encourages people to engage in social and political change.
Time: Thursday, September 6, 2007 - 7:00pm PST

Guest Commentary: Placer officials let developers run roughshod
By Larry DuBois -
http://www.sacbee.com/roseville/story/313753.html

It should come as no surprise to anyone who follows Placer County politics that the Board of Supervisors would side with big-city developers and approve the huge, sprawling Placer Vineyards project, which will bring more than 14,000 new homes and 30,000 residents to west Placer.

Under the always watchful eye of Rep. John Doolittle, R-Roseville, local elected officials have rubber-stamped virtually ever major development that has come down the pike in Placer County and the municipalities within it since he was first elected in 1990.

So when the Board of Supervisors, led by newly elected District 1 Supervisor and Doolittle crony Rocky Rockholm, recently sided with the developers and rejected a "smart-growth," high-density proposal for the Vineyards project that would have concentrated more of the county's growth near the region's business center and would have facilitated sensible public transit solutions, most of us shrugged and said, "Business as usual."

We need to push the Sacramento City Council to pass a resolution to opt-out of future aerial pesticide spraying until it can be proven BOTH safe and effective. This will send the message to the Mosquito District, our state officials and other local governments that we need to better examine the dangers of aerial pesticide spraying and make better public health policy. We are giving a presentation to the Council next Thursday night, and we need your presence. The more people in the room, the better the message to our City Council members. Even if you are from areas outside Sacramento, there's value in you being in the room. We will rally on Thursday, Aug. 9th outside City Hall @ 5:30pm and then head into the meeting. City Hall is located at 915 "I" Street, near the corner of "I" and 9th in downtown Sacramento.

If you live in the city, please send a note to your council member in advance in support of the opt-out resolution. You can find contact info for your councilmember at http://www.cityofsacramento.org/council/. If you are able to meet with council members in-person in the next week, please contact Eve Bowers: bowerseve@yahoo.com or me: paul@pesticidewatch.org. We are scheduling lobby visits to convince them to vote the right way.
Time: Thursday, August 9, 2007 - 5:30pm PST

Tonight at 5:30 pm residents will stage a rally in front of City Hall and then march inside to ask the council to pass resolution to opt out of future aerial spraying of dangerous pesticides.

Coalition for Safe West Nile Virus Control
Pesticide Watch Education Fund ∙ Marin Beyond Pesticides ∙ No Spray Sacramento
Stop West Nile Spraying Now ∙ Organic Sacramento ∙ Parents for a Safer Environment

NEWS ADVISORY Contact:
Monday, July 31, 2007 Paul Schramski, 916.216.1082
Pesticide Watch Education Fund

Residents To Call On City to Opt-Out of Aerial Pesticide Spraying
Sacramento Residents Cite Lack of Notification and Unsafe Pesticides

Coalition for Safe West Nile Virus Control
Pesticide Watch Education Fund ∙ Marin Beyond Pesticides ∙ No Spray Sacramento
Stop West Nile Spraying Now ∙ Organic Sacramento ∙ Parents for a Safer Environment

WHAT: Rally to opt-out of aerial pesticide spraying and presentation to City Council

WHO: Eve Bowers, No Spray Sacramento
Kim Glazzard, Organic Sacramento
Paul Schramski, Pesticide Watch Education Fund
Dozens of other concerned Sacramento residents

WHERE: Sacramento City Hall, 915 I Street (rally in front)

WHEN: Tuesday, July 31, 2007
5:30-6:00pm: Rally
6:00pm – On: Procession and Presentation at City Council Meeting

VISUALS: people wearing “no spray” t-shirts and holding placards

Residents To Call On City to Opt-Out of Aerial Pesticide Spraying
Sacramento Residents Cite Lack of Notification and Unsafe Pesticides

Sacramento – After aerial pesticide spraying within Sacramento City limits last night, Sacramento residents are taking their concerns to the City Council. Tonight, residents will stage a rally in front of City Hall and then march inside to ask the council to pass resolution to opt out of future aerial spraying. Public health code limits the ability of local governments to protect citizens from aerial spraying, so residents are asking Council members to pass the resolution and call for change of course in policies at the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito Vector Control District. “We deserve better local control,” said Eve Bowers of No Spray Sacramento. “The Sacramento City Council should have the ability to opt out of unsafe and unproven aerial pesticide spraying.”
Time: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 5:30pm PST

From Kim Glazzard, Organic Sacramento

Heads Up Action Alert - West Nile Spraying Today - News Conference and Action Plans

Hi Everyone,

Today is the day the mosquito control district is set to begin spraying
pesticides over parts of Sacramento County (Citrus Heights, Orangevale,
North Sacramento, Antelope, and parts of Carmichael at least). We are
planning a press conference to occur at 4:00 p.m. at Costco off of Hwy 160,
near Royal Oaks Drive. We will go from there to distribute information to
Citrus Heights residents to let them know how to protect themselves from
the spraying of pesticides.

Also, on Tuesday, we will go to the City Council meeting (meet before at 5:30 p.m.)
and ask them to request a city-wide opt out of spraying from the Sacramento City Council.
I will be sending out more details later today. Please plan to attend.
Time: Monday, July 30, 2007 - 4:00pm PST

Bush vs. the whales

One of the reasons to pay attention to the Bush administration's towering mendacity in its ongoing attempts to reconfigure the American political system -- particularly in its attempts to claim nearly illimitable executive-branch powers -- is that it doesn't just manifest itself in the prominent, well-noted ways. These include the ongoing claims of executive privilege in shielding itself from congressional investigations, or the White House's assertion of immunity from judicial review in such matters as military tribunals.

No, this madness infects everything this administration does, including its environmental policy. Witness, for example, what is going on this very moment in the administration's intent to deploy new high-tech sonar devices along the Pacific Coast as part of the ongoing "war on terror".

Calif. air board leader quits in dispute
By LAURA KURTZMAN - Associated Press Writer
Published 7:39 pm PDT Monday, July 2, 2007

The executive director of a state agency charged with implementing a landmark global warming law resigned Monday, saying the governor's office made it impossible for her to do her job.

Catherine Witherspoon's resignation comes days after the California Air Resources Board's chairman, Robert Sawyer, was ousted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"I think they're trying to control it, and they don't have a very cogent vision for what's needed," said Witherspoon, who has managed the agency since 2003.

Witherspoon said she felt some of the governor's top aides were trying to keep information from him so he would not endorse more far-reaching action to put the global warming law into effect.

ECOS Board Meeting Agenda
MONDAY, June 18, 2007 - 7pm - REGIONAL TRANSIT - 29th and N Streets

Please NOTE LOCATION: Regional Transit, 29th and N Streets.

ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL OF SACRAMENTO - A coalition of environmental and civic organizations with a combined membership of more than 12,000 citizens of the Sacramento Region.

-------------------

7:00pm - BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Introductions
Time: Monday, June 18, 2007 - 7:00pm PST

Ecuador Seeks Aid Not to Exploit Amazon Oil

By Haider Rizvi
Inter Press Service

Friday 18 May 2007

United Nations - A novel proposal by Ecuador is testing world leaders' commitment to fight global warming and preserve the biodiversity of the Earth.

Ecuadorian officials told an international meeting this week that their government would ban exploitation of huge oil reserves if it was compensated for its effort to save the natural habitat of the Amazon region.

The untapped oil reserves are located in the heart of the Amazon, considered by scientists to be one of the most bio-diverse rainforests in the world. If explored and developed, the fields are expected to deliver more than 900 million barrels of oil.

"If the world truly is interested in saving the planet," said Ecuador's representative Lourdes Tiban, "the government has decided to sell the oil, but keep it in the ground."

Tiban added in her statement that Ecuador would need financial assistance from the international community in exchange for the decision not to exploit the oil. The country will wait up to a year to determine if there has been an adequate response.

Global Warming: Changing CO2urse
International House, Davis will offer a four-session discussion class, Global Warming: Changing CO2urse, on the complexities of global warming and its challenges. Participants will have the opportunity to explore personal responses to climate change and why society has been slow to respond, learn about the history and science of global climate change and new strategies for addressing climate change. Class members will discuss our individual and collective power to shape an effective response to climate change, enabling future generations to meet their needs. The class is scheduled from 7:00-8:30 PM, Mondays, July 2 and 9, Wednesday, July 11, and Monday, July 16. The class is free, although there is a charge of $16 for the required class textbook. The books are available for purchase at I-House for those enrolled in the class. To enroll, call 753-5007, or email: ihouse@ucdavis.edu, or drop by International House, 10 College Park, Davis, during regular business hours.
Time: Monday, July 2, 2007 - 7:00pm PST

Help us stop the auto companies from blocking groundbreaking legislation that would reduce global warming emissions from vehicles in the state of California. We have a right to cost-effective technologies that reduce global warming-causing pollution and create a healthier environment.

Join Rainforest Action Network, Global Exchange and Ruckus Society in Sacramento tomorrow, May 31 for a creative and fun rally as we challenge the automakers to put their money where their mouth is and drop the lawsuit against the state of California.

Join us in front of the Alliance of Auto Manufactures (AAM)
Tomorrow, May 31st at 11:00am
925 L Street, Suite 825
Sacramento, CA 95814

For more information, contact Nile Malloy, nile@ran.org or 415-659-0315.
Time: Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 11:00am PST

ECOS Board Meeting Agenda
MONDAY, May 21, 2007 - 7pm - BREATHE CALIFORNIA - 909 12th Street

ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL OF SACRAMENTO - A coalition of environmental and civic organizations with a combined membership of more than 12,000 citizens of the Sacramento Region.

7:00pm - BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Introductions
Time: Monday, May 21, 2007 - 7:00pm PST

Tahoe water clarity stabilizing

By Mike Taugher
MediaNews
Article Launched: 04/20/2007 01:44:15 AM PDT

People have gazed into the mesmerizing blue waters of Lake Tahoe for decades and lamented its steady loss of clarity.

But now lake clarity, a key indicator of the region's overall health, appears to be stabilizing and perhaps getting better.

The lake still suffers from murky runoff from roads, building and other development around its shores, but the Lake Tahoe region's environmental health has improved markedly in the past 20 years, according to a new report.

Half of the goals used to measure the quality of Tahoe's air and water, its forests, wildlife, fisheries, recreation and scenery, among other assets, have been met or nearly met.

But some of the other goals could take decades to achieve, including the most anxiously watched indicator of the lake's health: its clarity.

Hello all,

We will show a screening of "Kilowatt Ours" (http://www.kilowattours.org/) on Saturday, April 21st and then have a discussion on how to reduce our carbon footprint. With Al Gore turning up the heat (pun intended) on the global warming issue, there is no better time to find out what we can do to help.

Michael from the Coffee Garden has been nice enough to get a projector so we can watch it at his cafe (2904 Franklin Blvd. in Curtis Park). We'll meet at 7:30 and show the film at 8 PM. It is a 60 minute film. Map and directions are here:
http://midtowngrid.com/CoffeeGarden/coffeeGarden.shtml

You can RSVP here: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=19277

Kilowatt Ours is an advocacy documentary film produced by Jeff Barrie and the Southern Energy Conservation Initiative. The film demonstrates the connections between a homeowner's energy use and mountain top removal, coal mining, global warming, and nuclear power. A key aspect of the film is that it demonstrates actions that apartment renters, homeowners, schools, and governments can do to save energy and reduce demand for unsustainable energy.
Time: Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 8:30pm PST

Even though he's being propagandized as green ... uh, not so much

Schwarzenegger's 'green' credentials questioned

SACRAMENTO — He is gaining a reputation as the green governor who is marshaling California in the fight against global warming. But Arnold Schwarzenegger was one of the last people in the Capitol to join the battle, and has earned so-so grades from environmental activists.

Schwarzenegger seems to be everywhere as the crowd-friendly face of environmental activism. Catch him on the cover of Newsweek, balancing a fragile globe on the tip of a finger, or giving a big environmental speech in Washington.

On Thursday he addressed the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations in New York. Diane Sawyer interviewed him about the environment for ABC, Charlie Rose did so for PBS, Hannity & Colmes for Fox. And Britain's Conservative Party has booked him for a fall trip to spread the message abroad.