Green Ump

ENVIRONMENTAL FREE TRADE DEALS IN THE MAKING

Negotiations at the World Trade Organization on a free-trade agreement that would free “environmental goods” from the shackles of tariffs and other protectionist measures.  The WTO talks involve the United States, China, the European Union, and 11 other countries and affect $1 trillion worth of trade every year.

Examples from the list include waste incinerators, which burn trash to produce electricity — and, in doing so, can pollute air and water with poisonous byproducts. The list also includes steam generators, which are used by coal and nuclear power plants. And it includes centrifuges, which are not only used for water purification but also by tar-sands oil producers.

GRIST

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INSPIRING TINY NEST TRANSFORMS ITSELF MANY TIMES A DAY

Christian Schallert lives in a 258 square foot space and maximizes the hell out it by hiding everything behind walls, cabinets and clever design making it comfortable for 1-40! 

Watch the transformation of this incredible space.

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Kiribati Pacific Oceanscape Takes Action To Preserve Tuna Stocks

On June 16, President Anote Tong of the Republic of Kiribati, an island nation in the Pacific Oceanscape, announced that his nation’s Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) will close to ALL commercial fishing on December 31, 2014!

Covering an area roughly the size of California, PIPA hosts some of the world’s most economically important waters. In fact, if you order a spicy tuna roll in the United States, chances are good that it was made with fish caught in the waters of the Pacific Oceanscape — which supports 60% of the world’s tuna catch.

Tuna numbers are dwindling, though, and the off-limits PIPA will be a globally important test case for large-scale conservation of the popular fish as well as other ocean resources.

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HOT SPRINGS REJUVENATING & REJUVENATED

The National Park Service has done an enormous service to us all by rejuvenating and preserving the historic hot springs bath houses and downtown of Hot Springs, Arkansas.  Upgrading these health spa's has strengthened the local economy and preserved the health benefits and historical fabric for future generations. 

Particularly charming are the beautiful bath houses, tree-lined grand promenades, small local businesses and pedestrian pocket parks that invite you sit and stay.

Of course, historic preservation and reuse of existing buildings is one of the first and foremost ways to be sustainable primarily because it eliminates the need to produce all those new building materials, each of which comes with an environmental price tag.  But this is probably just the tip of the sustainability iceberg as the Hot Springs Bath House District has demonstrated.  Bath houses continue to attract many visitors providing local economic sustainability while preserving the local history, scale and community fabric.  Both are enormous and continuous benefits to the local community as well as all of us seeking to soak and rejuvenate in the special hot waters that people have come from far and near to experience for more than a hundred years.

As more studies are done by NASA and others, these hot spring waters continue to provide new information on what makes them so special.

Visit the National Park Service Hot Springs, Arkansas website.

 

 

LOCAL FOOD IN ALBUQUERQUE - VERY SUSTAINABLE!

FARM AND TABLE serves up great locally grown and produced foods (some grown right behind the restaurant) in a beautiful indoor/outdoor restaurant hand crafted from local adobe, natural clay paints, and recycled materials.  Located in Albuquerque's North Valley, with over 300 days of sunshine, irrigation from the Rio Grande, and rich soil, farmers and artisans are turning more and more to growing fresh produce, raising happy animals, making delectable cheeses, cultivating pure honey, creating acclaimed wines, brewing great beer, and serving it up in great style. 

I had the pleasure of tasting some of the food harvested that day, cooked to perfection and served in the most beautiful of restaurants.  By chance the owner, Cherie Austin, and her husband Joseph and daughter were there that evening welcoming and chatting with guests so I got the history and grand tour of the restaurant, farm and community.  You could immediately see the importance of community, among the guests, the farm, restaurant staff and especially the owners.  Here is a sampling of the community offerings at the farm celebrating the recent solstice:

7am-8am: Yoga in the Field
Grab your mat and start your day with yoga led by Marisol Brito.

8am -9am: Field Blessing & Community Harvest Aimee of Sol Harvest will lead a field blessing after our yoga class. Then stay to join Farmer Ric for a community vegetable harvest. Take home some of the fruits (or veggies) of your labor.

6/7/8 pm: Field Walks w/ Farmer Ric
Walk the rows with Farmer Ric. Learn more about his passion for growing local and ask questions about growing your own. Expect a lovely sunset to close out the night.

I imagine there are lovely sunsets most evenings here.  This is sustainable and local at its yummy, nourishing and inspirational best - what a treat!

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