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Things are looking up in Monterey County

Decal — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 18:46:12 -0800

Well, what is going on in Monterey County?
Whatever it is, it’s BIG.
It’s Bigger than BIG, it’s the paradigm shift we’ve been waiting for….
It’s the move to a more sustainable (viable into the future) mind-set and it has infiltrated this entire Monterey Bay region.

Let’s go down the list of leaders, shall we?
We’ve got Sustainable Monterey County, promoting energy-independent communities.
We’ve got Sustainable Pacific Grove, and newly elected Mayor Dan Cort, who recently signed the Urban Environmental Accords and the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, leading the way as a demonstration city for sustainability.
We’ve got Big Sur Power Down, with a Biodiesel co-op, and regular workshops on re-ruralization.
We’ve got sustainability meetings in Carmel Valley, discussing issues such as Power of Community.
There’s KRXA 540 AM’s weekly show, “Tomorrow Matters”, addressing global climate disruptions and Peak Oil, and there’s Access TV’s “Inklings” program airing local environmental lectures and demonstrations.
We’ve got MIIS, and CSUMB environmental committees, with many teachers and students embracing new green building and sustainable living programs.
MIIS hosts Earth day in April and CSUMB has an alternative building project in Salinas, next to Dorothy’s kitchen with organic gardening and straw bale structures, and they have an amazing Farm to School Program through the Watershed Institute.
We’ve got Laura Strohm and the Sustainability Academy bringing green consciousness to businesses and teaching about the “triple” bottom line: Profit, People and Planet.
We’ve got LandWatch, League of Women Voters: Natural Resources Committee, AMBAG, U.S. Green Builders, Fort Ord Environmental Justice Network, Sustainable Base Reuse Institute, The Monterey Bay Aquarium, Sea Studios, The Sierra Club, Save Our Waterfront, HOPE, ALBA, Liquid Books, The Last Chance Mercantile, Jane Parker, Leon Panetta, John Laird, and Sam Farr, all working to make this region more livable tomorrow than it is today. We’ve got teachers like Connie St. Amour at Santa Catalina teaching middle school kids how to be Global Warriors, and Roland Saher at Anzar High School in San Juan Bautista teaching climate change policy.
And we’ve got students like Arwyn Sherman, head of the Environmental Committee at York, creating on-campus workshops on Environmental and Corporate Accountability.
We’ve got Laughing Onion and other Community Supported Agriculture farms, we’ve got Farmers Markets, we’ve got wind credits at Whole Foods, we’ve got restaurants like Passion Fish and Montrio supporting sustainable fishing practices and fast food chains like Chipotle in Del Monte Shopping Center which do not use Styrofoam containers and reject factory farming.
We’ve got authors such as Pierre Chomat, “Oil Addiction and the World in Peril,” speaking locally on the global energy crisis,… and if we include every single person who has changed a light bulb to compact fluorescent, ridden a bike to work, or has reduced their consumptive ways by 3% each year to match the global predicted oil decline rate … then we can add tens of thousands of efforts and actions to the list of what’s going on in the Monterey County.
This is the true look of the new millennium. This is us doing what needs to be done to leave a rich legacy for future generations; this is us becoming stewards of the Earth. This is what’s really going on in Monterey County! There’s no gap to be filled, only wagons to jump on. So jump, my friends, ‘cause this is where it’s at!

Sincerely,

Deborah Lindsay

Big Sur Powerdown

Basin Fire

Linda Parker — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:15:24 -0700

Just an up-date on the Basin Fire:
7:00AM June 28 Update: Fire Actively Burning in Little Sur Watershed

Overnight thermal imaging shows vigorous fire activity along broad fronts in both the north and south. In the north, the fire appears to have spilled over the ridge into the Little Sur Watershed in a line stretching from the Window all the way to the headwaters of the South Fork Little Sur. The active burning continues from this area, back through Ventana Creek and across the main stem of the Big Sur River just above Ventana Camp. In the south, an active fire front appears to extend from low in Anderson Canyon, past Burns and Buck creeks and through the upper headwaters of Hot Springs Canyon - while on the other side of the Coast Ridge the fire appears to be descending rapidly toward Lost Valley. The satellite also found continued heat in the upper Tassajara Creek watershed and in McWay Canyon.

Willits Economic Localization (CA)

Tonight's meeting

Linda Parker — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:27:22 -0700

Tonight's community meeting revealed more firefighting progress. On the north end, the fireline on the east side of the mid valley will be completed tomorrow. It's on the old Tosch road about a mile from the road.
On the South end, the fire is being let to burn slowly burning down canyons - except where structures would be threatened. In the latter case, the crews will defend. The fire is in Higgins Creek now. Winds have been favorable. Still, today was "not so good. But we've had only one injury so far. That's good." Crews will be fighting throughout the night.

Sam Farr was there. He praised the extraordinary spirit of Big Sur's community, and pledged help with all he could. He said for everyone to speak up with their needs and requests. His office will co-ordinate with Dave Potter's and the County Office of Emergency Services. He said he will be home here in Big Sur all next week, so let him know how you would like him to help. He said his first priority "is to get the road back open."

Frank inspected Partington Ridge, and around the Stone House today. And the old Wangoe home - which "is clean. 98% is untouched. Grape vines are growing on the roof."

Tomorrow you can see a jell demonstration - call 667 2317.
Also, Leona said she will conduct camp tours tomorrow for all who are interested. The first will be at 12:30 pm. The tour will take about 45 minutes. Call her at 667 231i7 to be scheduled.

Sustainable Monterey County (CA)