The Stratford, CT Garbage Museum is closed on a positive note

Every Time I look in my Recycling Bin or Trashcan, I see everyday products that need to be reinvented! Join Milford ECC's, Sustainable Inventors Club, With A Biomimicry Twist on November 17, Free Super STEM Educational Free Model Airplane Show at 6:30 pm

2011-11-15T18:14:00.000-08:00

Milford ECC's, Sustainable Inventors Club, With A Biomimicry Twist
17 November
Thursday, November 17,
6:30 pm to 9pm
The Smart Living Center, 297 Boston Post Rd, Orange, CT,
This event is Free and open to the public.
Please pass this along to friends, Thank You! Home School Participation is encouraged! I's also like to see more young women interested in Science. So far none have responded, I'd like to change that! Call DD Vasseur and let's talk 203-283-1441!
This Event Is Open To The Public, Designed for adults and kids ages 10 with adult.
Times & Agenda:
6:30pm: The Milford Modeler’s Aeromodeling, Show & Tell! It’s a fun, inexpensive, international favorite, STEM Learning Activity.
Start promptly at 6:30 - Ends 7pm, Meet the Milford Modelers, local Veterans who have been teaching one of the hottest (STEM-Science,Technology, Math and Engineering Sports programs in CT through Milford's Rec. Dept. This technology is hot today and will be hotter tomorrow! China, Korea, India & Europe know. They have clubs with thousands of members. Learn how your schools, churches, organization can partner with seniors and set up aeromodeling clubs.

(The Milford Modelers / Senior Captain America’s) As long as I can remember these heroes have been faithfully nurturing a new generation of flying aces at the Milford, Margaret Eagan Center. They represent what makes America Great! They are mostly Veteran’s who continue to serve their country with honor! My friend Robert A. Rahn passed away on July 25, 2010 at age 86. He was a talented model airplanes builder. He shared his enthusiasm teaching model airplane building to children through the Milford Recreation Department. He was one of my heroes! Bring your kids at 6:30 pm and get inspired by these fine Aeromodeling Gurus, I hear some of them are really into RC Helicopters. Green Career Forecast will be given!
7:00pm: Inventor Max Gregorich, is a very motivational speaker! He has a passion for Innovation and Invention.
Inventor Max Gregorich, will share his passion for Invention and Innovation with you! Max is not only an Inventor, he's a Veteran, Lean Consultant, Manufacturer, Tool & Die Maker, Financial Software Developer, Marketing Consultant, Martial Artist, Race Driver, Musician, Playwright, Sailing Enthusiast, Author, Proud Grandparent, and more!
7:40pm Enjoy Light Refreshments and an Open Inventors forum until 9pm.
Why Open forums,
Forums extend an opportunity for you to have a voice. Forums increase personal learning and help participants come away with new ideas and insights. At the same time it inspires out of the box thinking and puts more points of view into discussion, which is always good. Forums help build solidarity. By attending these events young people become more connected and outspoken in their communities.
Some fun biomimicry Links:
http://www.core77.com/blog/sustainability_in_seven/sustainability_in_7_janine_benyus_on_biomimicry_18942.asp
http://boingboing.net/2011/02/18/robotic-hummingbird.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/janine_benyus_biomimicry_in_action.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/janine_benyus_shares_nature_s_designs.html
http://www.whalepower.com/drupal/
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/tidal-turbine-mimics-whale-power/3974
http://www.creatingourparadise.org/environment/environmental-technologies/biomimicry-turning-nature-answers Nissan & the bumble bee
Why does our Sustainable Inventors Club” have an emphasis on Biomimicry?
“Biomimicry is innovation inspired by nature. It’s the process of looking at a leaf and trying to figure out how to make a better solar cell.
Biomimicry has been going on for a long time. Think about the Wright brothers looking at turkey vultures to learn about drag and lift in flight.
Now biomimicry is becoming one of the ways that engineers, product designers, and architects do their work. It’s mainly because people are looking for more sustainable ways to do things--to sip energy instead of guzzle it, to save materials, to do things in less toxic ways.
Organisms know how to do these things. After 3.8 billion years, life has learned what works and what’s appropriate on the planet. And that’s what the people trying to redesign our world are looking for--so we can live here in a way that enhances this place.” Source: http://www.fastcompany.com/biomimicry/janine-benyus-biomimicry-is-innovation-inspired-by-nature
Creative Resources:
Want to be more creative: Tools to enhance your Creative Thinking and Decision Making and more! http://www.virtualsalt.com/crebook1.htm & http://virtualsalt.com/crebook2.htm
Viewing List!
Design e2 http://instantwatcher.com/hulu/shows/273 watch Season 1
Join Net Netflix and watch
Objectified Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9E2D2PaIcI
Future By Design Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc7x79kJ1S0

December’s Guest A Biomimicy Speaker and Architect: Randy Anway, Get creative on paper and bring your nature inspired invention/ideas and drawings to (Design along with Andy!)
Randy will help us learn to use AskNature it’s a valuable resource and it’s the world's first digital library of Nature's solutions, organized by function, that can serve as an educational and cross-pollinating tool as well as a collaboration forum among biologists, engineers, designers and other innovators. http://www.asknature.org/media/image/192

Call DD Vasseur to Sign up for our February (2011 Biomimicry Team Design Challenge. 203-283-1441
"The challenge is to use biomimicry to design a solution that results in more efficient energy utilization and ultimately reduces greenhouse gas emissions, ideally in your local environment. http://biomimicrydesignchallenge.com/ This Years Sustainable Inventors Club Design Competition is unofficial. We will hold an Awards Ceremony and invite local officials, citizens and businesses."
As of February 1st 2011, you have 8 weeks, to complete your projects!

Why not use biomimicry to create Eco-Friendly-Fashion with a new twist!
I have been reading an article in Ecotextile (2011, issue 44) evaluating CO2 emissions within the clothing sector. Here are some interesting quotes regarding the use phase:
Trivia: Sustainable Fashion Challenge: Can biomimicry reduce the carbon footprint of modern clothing? The report, International Carbon Flows - Clothing, says that the global consumption of clothing results is around 330Mt(million)CO2 of emissions, with emissions from the use phase resulting in an additional 550MtCO2 per year, primarily from washing and drying but including ironing and dry cleaning, - equivalent to around 2% of total global CO2 emissions. (p 66)
A typical t-shirt sold today is expected to be responsible for around 15KgCO2 over its lifetime the report says, with around half or more of these emissions arising during the use phase. Food for thought. http://www.shedmeclothes.com/blog.php

--
Warmest Regards,
Dianalynn Vasseur or DD
Chair of (ECC) Environmental Concerns Coalition

Announcing 2012 The Year Of The Sustainable Student Advisers To The Mayor's Office – Standout Program!
Learn about the ECC's Environmental Concerns Coalition's STANDOUT Program. It gives mature middle school, high school, college and home school students an opportunity to become ECC Student Sustainability Advisers to the Milford Mayor's Office. Our program uses project based learning see link http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/04/20/high-tech-high-san-diego-california.

Committee Topics:
1. Sustainable Transportation
2. Smart Growth
2. Energy
The kids are tasked with setting up independent study groups, arranging guest presenters, conducting interviews, preparing power point presentations and ending the program by writing a persuasive argument to support their Sustainable suggestions!
Call DD Vasseur at 203-283-1441, or join us on Nov 17 and sign up for a committee and ask any questions!

Oct 27th, Milford CT Green Drinks at Scribner's Restaurant, 6:30 - 8:00pm presentation on Sustaining Sustainability, Smart Marketing That Increases Response Rates By 72%, Max Gregorich is an outstanding!

2010-10-06T13:15:00.000-07:00

The Next “Milford Green Drinks” will be held at Scribbner’s Restaurant, Oct 27th, 6:30 - 8:00pm

Presentation: Sustaining Sustainability and Smart Marketing Increases Response Rates By 72%

Dear Green Drinks Colleagues,

This presentation will benefit business owners, nonprofits, etc...

A. How to create a message that will speak to heads and hearts to gain loyalty.

B. Three ingredients in a message that increases response rates by 72%.

C. Group exercise: all participants will create a 1st draft message for their business.

Presented by Max Gregorich, CEO of CEO One Stop, LLC. 203-283-9149 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 203-283-9149 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

This monthly meet-up, is free and open to the public. It's an opportunity to mix it up with people, businesses and elected officials interested in sustainable issues.
We invite informative guest, who provide short relevant presentations. The rest of the evening have fun meeting new people.

For a monthly invite email DD at ddmiddens@gmail.com or call 203-506-8360

Daniel German
Milford, Connecticut
'Improving lives one at a time'
www.GoGreenMilford.com

Seeking your support for the 119th District State Representative

Remember the 4 R’s…

Reduce,

Reuse,

Recycle,

Rethink!

P.S. Later on that same night at 8:30, A Woodmont Halloween Event will call attention to CT’s Homeless epidemic, a scary story facing many CT residents.

Event: Woodmont's 1st Annual Headless Gnome Halloween Story Telling Bash

Location: Beach House Restaurant, 141 Merwin Ave. Milford CT.

Starts 8:30pm Dress Warm!

Story Teller 1: Homeless Milford Author, Josepha Sherman

Josepha is the author of 60 books, Professional Folklorist and ECC member will be entertaining us with some spooky tales.

Story Teller 2: Ken Blumberg will give us Goosebumps with his reading of Poe’s The Raven. Ken is a gifted Limerist, photo journalist and is also a member of Milford's (ECC) Environmental Concerns Coalition

Dianalynn Vasseur,
ECC Chairwoman
www.milfordecc.com

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

Announcing Milford's ECC Clean Energy Challenge!

Starts Oct. 27th 2010 - Ends Jan. 26th 2011

In a bid to foster some friendly competition, Milford's ECC has issued a clean energy sign-up challenge to all of Milford: clubs, non-profits, organizations, businesses, city boards, committees, commissions, citizens, etc... Pledge to sign up a minimum of 3 or more. Our goal is to make buying clean energy the norm in Milford not the exception. Sign up for clean energy online or at our celebration. Support Clean Energy when you purchase Sterling Planet or Community Energy, Etc... Then sign up for free with a with a company like Viridian that can save you up to 20%.

Unshackle Our Economy! Come Sign Our Declaration and CLEAN ENERGY DEPENDENCE! Come pledge to sign up 3 or more people or businesses.

We are waiting until after Election Day For A Big Celebration With Our Newly Elected and Reelected Officials. Oct 27th is the first official day that we start accepting pledges and invite people to sign our Giant Declaration Of Clean Energy Dependence! HOORAH!

Warmest Regards,
Dianalynn Vasseur or DD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josepha_Sherman

For a monthly Green Drinks invite please email DD Vasseur at ddmiddens@gmail.com
Please put Milford Green Drinks on the subject line or call 203-283-1441

For information about Milford's ECC Environmental Concerns Coalition Call DD Vasseur at 203-283-1441 The ECC is not apart of Green Drinks!

Dan German organizes Milford's Green Drinks.
Call Dan at 203-494-8132

FCR Supports the Garbage Museum with a $10,000 Gift STRATFORD, Conn. – FCR Inc., a subsidiary of Casella Waste Systems, Inc., has donated $10,000 to the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority Garbage Museum to support its recycling and environmental education programs.

2009-10-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 26, 2009

Media inquiries: Paul Nonnenmacher -- (860) 757-7771

pnonnenmacher@crra.org

FCR Supports the Garbage Museum with a $10,000 Gift

STRATFORD, Conn. – FCR Inc., a subsidiary of Casella Waste Systems, Inc., has donated $10,000 to the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority Garbage Museum to support its recycling and environmental education programs.

“FCR has had a long and positive partnership with CRRA, and I’ve seen the Garbage Museum’s terrific education programs,” said Sean Duffy, vice president of FCR. “Recycling is our business, but it’s also essential to protecting our environment, and no one promotes recycling more effectively than the Garbage Museum. To us, helping these programs continue and grow makes sense for a host of reasons.”

Earlier this year, the Garbage Museum began an intensive fund-raising drive. The Garbage Museum had been funded by the sale of recyclables delivered to the recycling center. Unfortunately, the collapse of the commodity pricing due to the global economic downturn severely reduced the commodity revenues available to fund operations of the education facility.

Since opening in 1993, more than 300,000 people have participated in the Garbage Museum’s educational programs. In 2002, the Garbage Museum and its sister facility, the Trash Museum in Hartford, earned the National Recycling Coalition’s Beth Brown Boettner Award for Outstanding Public Education. Their programs teach people to protect their environment by recycling and thinking before throwing something in the trash.

FCR’s commitment to recycling education isn’t limited to Connecticut. Of the 23 recycling facilities it operates throughout the United States, many are outfitted with education centers. While safely processing more than 1 million tons per year is the company’s top priority, more than 800,000 students, civic groups and interested citizens participated in the company’s education programs and facility tours. FCR operates CRRA’s regional recycling facilities in Hartford and Stratford. The Stratford facility is adjacent to the Garbage Museum, which includes a skybox overlooking the recycling processing areas.

“FCR is devoted to furthering environmental and recycling education because we know that each day there are hundreds of thousands of people that need to make the decision to recycle instead of dispose of waste in order for us to play our part in supporting a more sustainable world,” Duffy said. “Over the years, we have found that there is nothing more powerful in getting people to make the right decisions each day than seeing the recycling process in action. We look forward to finding even more ways to leverage the great facility at Stratford over the years to get even more people involved in environmental education.”

The Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority is a quasi-public agency whose mission is to work for – and in – the best interests of the municipalities of the state of Connecticut. CRRA develops and implements environmentally sound solutions and best practices for solid waste disposal and recycling management on behalf of municipalities. CRRA serves 110 Connecticut cities and towns. CRRA also runs environmental and recycling educational programs through the Trash Museum in Hartford and Garbage Museum in Stratford. For more information about CRRA and its activities, visit http://www.crra.org. Computer users can also discuss CRRA at its blog, http://crra-blog.blogspot.com.

—30—

Paul Nonnenmacher

Director of Public Affairs

Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority

Phone: (860) 757-7771

Cell/text: (860) 214-9772

Fax: (860) 727-4141

E-mail: pnonnenmacher@crra.org

Web: http://www.crra.org

Blog: http://crra-blog.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CRRA

CRRA Awarded $86K Grant for Targeted Recycling Education in Bridgeport, East Hartford, Easton, Waterbury, Westport Trash Museum, Garbage Museum Educators to Develop Classroom Resources, Teacher Workshops, Educational Software with Institute of Museum & Library Science Grant HARTFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority, long recognized as a leader in recycling education, has received an $86,940 Museums for America grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS).

2009-10-25T21:01:00.000-07:00

http://www.crra.org/documents/press/2009/CRRA_receives_education_grant_10-8-2009.pdf

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2009
Media inquiries: Paul Nonnenmacher -- (860) 757-7771
pnonnenmacher@crra.org
CRRA Awarded $86K Grant for Targeted Recycling Education
in Bridgeport, East Hartford, Easton, Waterbury, Westport
Trash Museum, Garbage Museum Educators to Develop Classroom Resources, Teacher
Workshops, Educational Software with Institute of Museum & Library Science Grant
HARTFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority, long recognized as a leader in
recycling education, has received an $86,940 Museums for America grant from the federal Institute of
Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS). The money will fund targeted recycling education programs in
five selected communities and the development of educational resources such as software, instructional
kits and teacher workshops.
The grant-funded program, targeting Grade 3 students in Bridgeport, East Hartford, Easton, Waterbury
and Westport over two years, is designed to increase recycling rates in those communities. The students
will get information and incentives to recycle from the Trash Museum in Hartford or the Garbage
Museum in Stratford. Families and teachers in participating schools will be surveyed immediately after
the educational programs, and again several months later, to gauge behavioral changes.
“We’ve always known from experience that once
we get children excited about recycling, they go
home and get their families to recycle,” said
CRRA Education Supervisor Sotoria Montanari,
who will direct the program. “Thanks to the IMLS
grant, we’ll be able to measure that impact in a
diverse variety of communities.”
In year one of the program, Grade 3 classes from
schools in the targeted communities will learn
about curbside recycling either by visiting the
Trash Museum or the Garbage Museum, or from
Museum educators who visit the schools to conduct educational programs, all at no charge.
In year two, Museum educators will introduce recycling education software and classroom education
kits and host continuing education workshops for teachers.
—more—
Town
MSW
(tons)
Recycled
(tons)
Recycling
rate
Bridgeport 63,402 3,058 4.60%
East Hartford 31,394 2,098 6.26%
Easton 3,000 868 22.44%
Waterbury 78,597 3,213 3.93%
Westport 19,114 1,459 7.09%
FY 2007-2009 Averages
Based only on material delivered to CRRA. Does not include
other recyclables.
CRRA education grant
October 8, 2009
Page 2
Grade 3 was selected because recycling and resource conservation are included in the state science
education curriculum standards for that grade level. CRRA’s educational programs are aligned with state
and federal science education standards.
“Through the programs and materials funded by the IMLS grant, students will learn how their everyday
choices can have positive impacts on our environment,” Montanari said.
The communities selected comprise a broad demographic cross-section of Connecticut. Their current
recycling rates, as measured by comparing tons of recyclables with tons of trash delivered to CRRA
facilities, ranges widely as well, from Waterbury’s 3.9 percent to Easton’s 22.4 percent.
Since 1992, the Garbage Museum and the Trash Museum have provided environmental education
programs to more than 310,000 people. In 2008, participation in those programs topped 57,000, an alltime
high. In 2002 the Museums earned the prestigious Beth Brown Boettner Award for Outstanding
Public Education by the National Recycling Coalition.
Recycling figures do not include electronics (recycled through CRRA, manufacturers or retailers) and do
not include other forms of recycling, such as deposit container redemption; composting of grass
clippings, yard and food waste; and recycling of other commodities including scrap metal, waste oil and
lead-acid batteries. After taking all these other materials into consideration, the Connecticut Department
of Environmental Protection estimates that Connecticut recycles about 30 percent of its solid waste.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's
123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums
that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in
coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance
learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please
visit www.imls.gov.
The Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority is a quasi-public agency whose mission is to work for –
and in – the best interests of the municipalities of the state of Connecticut. CRRA’s new board of
directors and new management team develop and implement environmentally sound solutions and best
practices for solid waste disposal and recycling management on behalf of municipalities. CRRA serves
110 Connecticut cities and towns. CRRA also runs environmental and recycling educational programs
through the Trash Museum in Hartford and Garbage Museum in Stratford. For more information about
CRRA and its activities, visit http://www.crra.org. Computer users can also discuss CRRA at its blog,
http://crra-blog.blogspot.com.
—30—

From Bill McKibbens 350.org on October 24th

2009-10-24T07:22:00.000-07:00

From Bill McKibbens

Friends,

I can hardly believe my eyes.

16 hours ago, citizens in New Zealand gathered before dawn next to a wind turbine on a mountaintop. As local elders said prayers to bless the global event, banners and signs were held high to to greet the planet's first rays of sunlight on this most incredible of days.

As the sun continues across the planet we've been receiving photos and video of rallies in Ethiopia, bike rides in Wellington, SCUBA divers in Australia, organizers planting 350 trees in Thailand, hundreds of students marching in India and Nepal and Mongolia. And we're getting reports from 350.org offices around the world that the phones are ringing off the hook with calls from the media who want to cover the story.

The day is just beginning and already it's larger, more powerful, and so much more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. I've been a writer my entire life and yet words truly cannot describe what you have accomplished already. To truly grasp today, please stay tuned to our website as more and more photos come in from across the planet, and especially our evolving photo slideshow.

And the best news of all? The day has just begun!

Bill

P.S. Have a photo to contribute? Just send a decent-quality picture to photos@350.org and make the subject "City, Country" and make sure that the body of the e-mail contains a description of the photo, any necessary photographer credits, and any other information you think we'll need. So many thanks.

You should join us on Facebook by becoming a fan of our page at facebook.com/350org and follow us on twitter by visiting twitter.com/350

To join our list (maybe a friend forwarded you this e-mail) visit www.350.org/signup

350.org needs your help! To support our work, donate securely online at 350.org/donate

You are subscribed to this list as ddmiddens@gmail.com. Click here to unsubscribe

350.org is an international grassroots campaign that aims to mobilize a global climate movement united by a common call to action. By spreading an understanding of the science and a shared vision for a fair policy, we will ensure that the world creates bold and equitable solutions to the climate crisis. 350.org is an independent and not-for-profit project.

What is 350? 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Scientists measure carbon dioxide in "parts per million" (ppm), so 350ppm is the number humanity needs to get below as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. To get there, we need a different kind of PPM-a "people powered movement" that is made of people like you in every corner of the planet.

East Coast Greendrinks - EVENT CHANGE NOTIFICATION!,

2009-10-22T12:51:00.000-07:00

East Coast Greendrinks - EVENT CHANGE NOTIFICATION!

Dear East Coast GreenDrinks Friends,

By Popular Demand, East Coast GreenDrinks has been changed to a daytime, coffee shop, climate change event!

Pick a CT East Coast coffee shop location and invite friends for coffee and discuss climate action. From Stonington to Greenwich CT, let’s celebrate climate change action.

As for Greendrinks, Stamford, CT Greendrinks and New Haven’s Greendrinks will go on as scheduled on Nov, 19th . All others East Coast Greendrinks have been canceled and replaced with Sunday, 1pm, coffee meetups. Sorry for any confusion.
It is, as always a pleasure to accommodate the public’s wishes.

Title: East Coast Greendrinks, Climate Change Action
Topic: Come share your meaningful climate change solutions
Milford CT’s Location will be at Café Atlantique.
NEW DATE: Dec 6th, 1:00pm, 2009
Where from Stonington to Greenwich.

-------------------------------------------------
National Recycling Day is Nov 15th. Waste & Trash contribute mightily to Climate Change! The solution use less, share more, and reuse, rethink, repair, after market products, and recycling are all Climate Change Solutions.

October is full of interesting climate and energy related events coming up here in Connecticut.

2009-10-02T17:58:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon,
October is full of interesting climate and energy related events coming up here in Connecticut.

In particular I want to encourage you to attend the performance "Hurricane Season" next Wednesday in New Britain. I was able to attend a preview of this show, an innovative spoken word and dance performance which weaves together themes related to climate change, "unnatural disasters," and in the broadest sense, environmental justice. Please spread the word about the event to others interested in art and the environment (especially youth!) and come stop by our table.

In national climate news, the US Senate just unveiled a new climate bill. In a few ways it appears to improve upon the House climate bill (which narrowly passed in August), including continuing to allow the US EPA to regulate global warming pollution from sources like coal plants directly. This is only the beginning of the senate climate debate, including a debate about this EPA provision, whether states like Connecticut can move ahead with stronger programs than the federal government, handouts to industry versus protections for consumers and how much we will invest in a clean energy future.

Take action- email Senators Dodd and Lieberman about supporting a strong climate bill here:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2155/t/9888/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1307

Thanks for all that you do,
Roger

HURRICANE SEASON CONNECTICUT

Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Opening reception 6:00 pm; Showtime 7:00 pm

Trinity on Main
69 Main St., New Britain, CT 06051

Tickets: $15-25 sliding scale
Reserve your ticket! CLICK HERE

Opening Reception: featuring music, art and photography by local artists, local organizations about environmental solutions, and refreshments. Maurice Robertson and Zoraida Lopez will be exhibiting photography. Margaux Hayes will be performing and Dana Rondel will be reading.

Alixa and Naima, the Brooklyn-based, internationally- acclaimed performance duo Climbing PoeTree, are on tour with a transformative two-woman show that seeks not to captivate audiences, but to liberate them. Through a tapestry of spoken-word poetry, film, dance, shadow art, and a sound collage of personal testimonies, Hurricane Season connects the issues that surfaced in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to the "unnatural disasters" unfolding nationwide and worldwide on a daily basis. Unflinching and uplifting, raw and deeply moving Hurricane Season takes audiences on voyages of unthinkable tragedy and undeniable promise from the eye of a systemic storm.

[]

Saturday, October 3, 2009
Solar Open House Tour (Free)
Find a site near you here:
http://www.solarconnecticut.org/solar-tour.php?PHPSESSID=15a0cbd7a138bb90e453f1cdeffdefcb

Thursday, October 15, 2009

A SACRED TRUST: A Fall Forum on Religion and the Environment
Presented by Hartford Seminary and The Interreligious Eco-Justice Network
Download the brochure here (PDF) http://irejn.org/documents/brochure.pdf

4 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Unitarian Society of Hartford, 50 Bloomfield Avenue Hartford, CT

COST: $30, INCLUDES DINNER; $20, STUDENTS

Panels include:

Toward Copenhagen: Communicating Climate Change
Dr Anthony Leiserowitz, Director, Office of Strategic Initiatives and Project on Climate
Change, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies

Energy Efficiency Options for Homes and Business
Doug Cahill, co-owner of Competitive Resources Inc., an energy services company in Wallingford,
CT, and Craig Clark, Program Administrator, CT Energy Efficiency Fund (Northeast Utilities)

Is It in Us? The Pressing Need for Toxic Substance Control
Sarah Uhl, Clean Water Action’s Connecticut coordinator for environmental health and chemical policy work

Saturday, October 17, 2009
Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice- 5th Annual Environmental Justice Conference

8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
University of Connecticut School of Business, 100 Constitution Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103 (Corner of Market St. and Kinsley)

Featuring: Elizabeth C. Yeampierre, co-chair of the U.S. EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council. And Dr. Tyrone Hayes, a prominent researcher on the role of steroid hormones in amphibian development.

Attend Workshops and Panels on:

Clean Energy and Low Income Communities
Gasification and incineration
Hormonal Effects of Cosmetics,
Ethics & the Suppression of Science
Drinking Water Safety
Pesticide Effects on Community Health
2 workshops geared toward youth and one Spanish workshop on Recycling and Zero Waste and more!

Donation: $ 30.00 in advance, lunch included (by October 9, 2009), $ 35.00 at the door. Discounted price for seniors and youth (14-18) are$ 15.00 Limited scholarships are available. This is a fragrance free event.

For more information or if you need transportation from New Haven or Bridgeport email Sheri Neely at sheri.neely@environmental-justice.org or call her at (203) 362-1138. Childcare services, please call Dawn Simonsen at 860-548-1133 or email dawn.simonsen@environmental-justice.org Check out link to our new blog on our website www.environmental-justice.org

24 OCTOBER 2009

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION
Raise awareness and take action to reduce greenhouse gases and prevent global climate change!

New Haven Green event:
3-5 pm: Gather to form a big “350” on the Green.
Find out what you can do to –
· Make your home more energy efficient
· Connect with local organic farmers
· Push the Federal government to reduce greenhouse gases
For more information: www.350.org/newhaven

Why 350? 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Scientists measure carbon dioxide in "parts per million" (ppm), so 350 ppm is the number humanity needs to get below as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change.

[]
Organized by representatives of CT NOFA, New Haven Friends Meeting, Bioregional Group, New Haven/ Leün Sister City Project, Greater New Haven Transition Initiative, Environmental Ministry Team of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ,etc.

Global Warming in the News

Environmentalists Ask ‘Is Biomass Green Enough?’ Nancy Cohen, WNPR: 09/02/2009
http://www.cpbn.org/program/northeast-environmental-hub/episode/environmentalists-ask-%E2%80%98-biomass-green-enough%E2%80%99
The debate ramps up as the number of biomass proposals grows

Provocative New Study Warns of Crossing Planetary Boundaries
http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2192
The Earth has nine biophysical thresholds beyond which it cannot be pushed without disastrous consequences, the authors of a new paper in the journal Nature report. Ominously, these scientists say, we have already moved past three of these tipping points.
Yale Environment 360

The textbook economics of cap-and-trade
Paul Krugman, NY Times
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/the-textbook-economics-of-cap-and-trade/
I realized, after the last post, that it might be useful to write down just what the Econ 101 version of cap and trade looks like; as it happens, this also helps explain the intellectual sins of Glenn Beck and Martin Feldstein.

EPA moves to curtail greenhouse gas emissions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/science/earth/01epa.html
Unwilling to wait for Congress to act, the Obama administration announced on Wednesday that it was moving forward on new rules to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from hundreds of power plants and large industrial facilities.

********************************************************
Roger Smith
Campaign Director, Clean Water Action
Coordinator, Connecticut Climate Coalition
645 Farmington Ave, Hartford CT 06105
(p) 860-232-6232 (f) 860-232-6334
rsmith@cleanwater.org
http://www.cleanwateraction.org/ct/

Woodmont Day Fund Raising For The Garbage Museum

2009-07-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

Volunteers will be collecting donations for the Garbage Museum on Woodmont Day, Sat July 25th from 10am - 2pm, 2009. Please donate and keep this great educational, fun, inspirational museum open. Come here

We will be raising funds for the Museum on Woodmont Day and will have lots of Green Entertainment

2009-06-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

Woodmont Day, Milford CT.....

Save the date: The 48th Annual Woodmont Day will take place this year on Saturday, July 26 at the Trubee Doolittle Park.

Lots of activities for the family, food and entertainment. Many of us love the area and look forward to spending this day with family and friends.

For more information: http://www.woodmontday.org

How Wonderful to have an opportunity to share information with our new friend Mi Shanghai, I hope she can visit us here in America explore recycling

2009-05-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Diane Vasseur,

I am the journalist of Shanghai Morning Post, China, which has a
circulation of 600 thousand and also has a great influence in
Shanghai. My name is Michelle.

We've heard about the Garbage Museum. And we are very interested in
it. We would like to know more about it and share your experience with
Chinese readers.

I wonder whether you are free to take the interview with us through
email. We have several questions here, and we will be very glad if you
answer them, thank you. Our dead line is in these days. I am looking
forward to your reply.

Here are my questions:
Thanks for your time!

Best,
Michelle

Times Are Tough For Everyone, The Garbage Museum Is No Exception, They Only Need A Little Help Today. Please Send A Donation!

2009-03-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

Little good deeds multiplied many times add up to big changes. Please take up a collection at your school, office and church. If every teacher or school would champion the museum and collect a bucket of bucks to save the museum. This museum will be self sufficient in the future, 2009 is a transition period. Your investment in the museum will aid education in CT and the quality of their understanding of how the real world functions. Understanding recycling, waste, and resource management is a skill our youth will need in any future business undertaking. The efficient use of resources saves cities money and reduces climate change. Energy, water and resource management are going to be very important career fields; give your children an educational advantage, support this educational hands on museum.

The Garbage museum is a stepping stone in understanding sustainable development for all of CT's cities and towns please send them a donation.

Churches understand the need to be good stewards of resources please consider what a valuable resource this museum is to all our futures and send a donation

Sincerely,
Diane Vasseur
CT Sustainability Advocate

The Garbage Museum has had visitors from every state in the union and countries around the world. Save the Museum

2009-02-15T20:52:00.000-08:00

Fans wanted!

The Garbage Museum has had visitors from every state in the union and countries around the world. Now everyone can connect to the Garbage Museum through its own Facebook page.

The museum’s Facebook page includes basic information about the museum and photographs of what visitors will find there. In the future, we’ll add pictures from special events and news about the museum.

Save The Garbage Museum, Sponsors and Committee Members List! Join Today: Call Diane Vasseur, 203-283-1441

2009-02-15T20:11:00.000-08:00

Save The Garbage Museum Committee, Will Be Having A Gala Trash Bash Fund Raiser and looking for Museum Sponsors!

Members:

SunLight Solar 4 Oxford Rd # D8 Milford, CT 06460
(203) 878-9123

L J Grillo, GreenCycle Grillo

Milford's Environmental Concerns Coalition

Woodmont's Zero Waste Initiative

CT Home School Advocates

Pending Schedule - Graham Wylie, Milford CT

Janice Ninomiya, Woodbridge, CT.

Mary Heerema, Milford, CT.

State Rep. Dick Roy Environmental Committee Chair

Diane Vasseur, Milford, CT. Milford Environmental Advocate

Emily Vasseur, Milford CT. Gate Way Community College

Bradford K. Vasseur Jr. Milford CT, Southern CT Community University

Pending - Busy schedule - Justin Tartagni, Milford CT. Fairfield University

Barbara Genovese, Milford CT.

State Rep. Barbara Lambert, Milford CT.

Dan German, GoGreenMilford CT

Dear Heineken Please Loan A WOBO To The Stratford Garbage Museum. We would like to put together an amazing exhibit to save our museum.

2009-02-09T09:03:00.000-08:00

Can You Remake WOBO's as museum gifts, and a collector edition to inspire creative waste solutions. We would love to give them out as a recycling award. Your Mini Kegs are a great idea are they reusable? This would be the perfect answer for Green Parties. I love your light beer. Thanks for being such an innovative Green Company.

HEINEKEN WOBO: The brick that holds beer
by Ali Kriscenski

WOBO, world bottle, Heineken, John Habraken, Rinus van den Berg, Alfred Heineken, Netherlands, Amsterdam, upcycling, cradle to cradle, Garbage Building, Martin Pawley, wobo_5.jpg

Upcycling is a 21st century term, coined by Cradle to Cradle authors William McDonough and Michael Braungart, but the idea of turning waste into useful products came to life brilliantly in 1963 with the Heineken WOBO (world bottle). Envisioned by beer brewer Alfred Heineken and designed by Dutch architect John Habraken, the “brick that holds beer” was ahead of its ecodesign time, letting beer lovers and builders alike drink and design all in one sitting.

WOBO, world bottle, Heineken, John Habraken, Rinus van den Berg, Alfred Heineken, Netherlands, Amsterdam, upcycling, cradle to cradle, Garbage Building, Martin Pawley, wobo_1.jpg

Mr. Heineken’s idea came after a visit to the Caribbean where he saw two problems: beaches littered with bottles and a lack of affordable building materials. The WOBO became his vision to solve both the recycling and housing challenges that he had witnessed on the islands.

The final WOBO design came in two sizes - 350 and 500 mm versions that were meant to lay horizontally, interlock and layout in the same manner as ‘brick and mortar’ construction. One production run in 1963 yielded 100,000 bottles some of which were used to build a small shed on Mr. Heineken’s estate in Noordwijk, Netherlands. One of the construction challenges “was to find a way in which corners and openings could be made without cutting bottles,” said Mr. Habraken.

Despite the success of the first “world bottle” project, the Heineken brewery didn’t support the WOBO and the idea stalled. Interest was reignited in 1975 when Martin Pawley published Garbage Housing which included the chapter ‘WOBO: a new kind of message in a bottle.’ Heineken once again approached Habraken who teamed up with designer Rinus van den Berg and designed a building with oil drums for columns, Volkswagen bus tops for roof and the WOBO bottles for walls, but the structure was never built.

Today, the shed at the Heineken estate and a wall made of WOBO at the Heineken Museum in Amsterdam are the only structures where the ‘beer brick’ was used. As to the remaining WOBO’s it’s not clear how many exist, or where, but the idea, even some four decades later, remains a lasting example in end-use innovation.

Heineken International
Heineken Museum
John Habraken