Renée van Staveren's Blog Archive 2009

October 24, 2009 Los Angeles Community Garden Council - Gathering of Community Gardens at FarmLab, Los Angeles
Today there were several workshops/panel discussions held at the FarmLab to inform and promote topics of urban beekeeping, permaculture, working with youth, soil nutrition, urban chicken homesteading, community transformation, community gardens in Los Angeles and low-water consuming plants.  There was an incredible lunch provided by the Larchmont Grill, Mirabelle Restaurant and Square One Restaurant.  To create a community garden in your neighborhood contact the Los Angeles Community Garden Council. FarmLab offers a weekly program of lectures, workshops, film screenings, readings, performance and more, which connect artists, environmentalists, writers, filmmakers, politicians, planners, activists, and others. Always free-of-charge. Visit their site for information on weekly programming.
 
  
 Gathering of Community Gardens                          Another city is Possible art installation

 
Gathering of Community Gardens @ Lunch              Adaptive Reuse - Gardening under overpass!

October 23, 2009 Crisis Summit to Save L.A. Parks
The Crisis Summit to Save L.A. Parks led leading stakeholders from community and government, amateur and professional athletics, nonprofits and businesses to assess the potential damage to local recreation programs and rethink the how services will continue.  The Crisis Summit to Save L.A. Parks was sponsored by The Trust for Public Land, City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, County of Los Angeles, LA Conservation Corps and People for Parks.  Panelists included Gloria Molina, Tom LaBonge, Wendy Greuel, Norma Garcia, Norm Emerson, Ana Lasso, Gregory Thomas, Jenny Scanlin, Barry Sanders, Jason Elias, Rick Davis, Steve Soboroff, Dr. LaVonna Lewis, Tim Gallagher, Luke Gebhard, Joe Edminston, Jon Kirk Mukri, Carlyle Hall, Jack Foley and Tony Massengale.  To become involved in L.A. Park advocacy please contact People for Parks.

        
          Participating in "Dot Democracy"                   Jack Foley, President, People for Parks

September 28, 2009 Five Weeks in China - Summer 2009
Five weeks in China studying Urban Planning and Architecture at the North China University of Technology - Beijing. Included one week in Shanghai and trips to surrounding provinces. Here are a mere four photos of the thousands taken.

 
Hanging Temple                                                       Beijing Urban Planning Museum

 
Hutong Recycling Center in Beijing                         Huang Shan Mountain

May 20, 2009 Inland Empire Section - American Planning Association
Today I attended the Inland Empire Section - American Planning Association Awards Luncheon at Seville Restaurant in Riverside. There, I was awarded the Student Scholarship award. I feel very honored to have been selected amongst all the candidates.  Additional awardees included fellow students at Cal Poly Pomona for the Academic Award presented for work on the Cal Poly Pomona - Murrieta Town Center Plan. Below, are photos from the event. A slideshow can be viewed here.

  
Accepting the Student Scholarship Award from Awards Program - Vice Director, John Hildebrand III Accepting the Student Scholarship Award from Inland Empire Section President, Charles Rangel

April 19, 2009 10th Annual Topanga Earth Day 2009
I attended the 10th Annual Topanga Earth Day today. It was a beautiful event set at the community house amongst the oak covered canyon. A shuttle bus (colorful school bus below) allowed for parking in the downtown and all the vendors utilized compostable cups. In fact, the event was 90 percent waste-free! Please bookmark the link above and attend next year. A couple photos from the event are below.

  
                                  
January 14, 2009 Plastic Recycling Road Blocks
I was approached by a specific question today and was hoping that you could help ...

Gary said: "I'm an asst. principal of a middle school; 600 students and 50 staff dispose of thousands of plastic bottles each month - NOT RECYCLED. I've Googled plastic recycling companies and contacted a few; it's not economically viable for them to recycle at our school. Our waste management company charges us too much to recycle. Essentially, I keep hitting road blocks. Do you have any ideas?"

School District: Avondale School District, Auburn Hills, MI
School: Avondale Middle School, Rochester Hills, MI, www.avondale.k12.mi.us

If you have an idea or connection,  please email me at mail@reneevanstaveren.com with the subject PLASTIC RECYCLING. Thanks for helping!

4/20/2009 Update: Gary now has recycling at the school. Congrats!

January 6, 2009 What is Your Consumption Factor?
The New York Times Op-Ed contributor, Jared Diamond, explores the average rate people consume resources like oil and metals, and produce wastes like plastics and greenhouse gases, are about 32 times higher in North America, Western Europe, Japan and Australia than they are in the developing world. That factor of 32 has big consequences. Learn more >>

January 3, 2009 Stop Using Plastic Bags ...
I am a huge fan of canvas bags. I am acquiring a collection and I always have one on my arm.  They are a great alternative to scummy plastic bags that remain in our landfills decade after decade. The company Bring Your Own Bag is doing a great deed by offering 100% Organic Cotton bags in addition to donating a $1.00 of every purchase to feed and shelter the homeless and runaway youths. Please click the photo below to purchase your Bring Your Own Bag >>



January 2, 2009 Ecopolis: City of the Future
The Six-part series, Ecopolis: City of the Future, has been airing on Science Channel since December 6, 2008 covering the following episodes: Hungry City, Road to the Future, A World of Trash, and Building the Future. Two more episodes will air on January 5 & 12, 2009.

Powering the Future | Mon, Jan. 5, 2009 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
In 2050, experts estimate, the world's urban areas will use nearly three times more energy than today's cities. Burning fossil fuels is the most likely source for that power, and that means producing five times more carbon dioxide emissions per person. Cutting those CO2 emissions could mean turning to nuclear fusion power, wind turbines, solar power, and/or carbon recapture and storage.

Ultimate Ecopolis | Mon, Jan. 12, 2009 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
In this episode, Dr. Kammen reviews 20 bold solutions to five challenging environmental issues facing future cities. Based on the feasibility of implementing the technologies involved and on the solutions' ability to reduce carbon production, Kammen has narrowed the list to five of the best. Now, he will decide which single innovation should take priority in the fight to save our future cities.

Great Links for Planning Sustainable Cities:
Local Governments for Sustainability >>
Future Cities >>
World Changing - Urban Sustainability >>
Urban Social and Technical Issues - Sustainability >>
Center for Science & Environment (New Delhi) >>
International Urban Training Center >>