Thursday

California Says, We Are Going To Pump You Up!

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced an award of up to $122 million over five years to the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP), an Energy Innovation Hub with a team of leading researchers tasked with developing revolutionary methods to generate fuels directly from sunlight:

 

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger delivers comments to NARUC July 21st in Sacramento. Photo courtesy Justin Short.

 

The Hub will be funded at up to $22 million this fiscal year and is one of only three that will receive funding this year. For more information visit: http://www.energy.gov/news/9243.htm.

“California has always been the birthplace for the nation and the world’s newest wave of research and innovation, so it couldn’t be more fitting the Department of Energy chose our state for this groundbreaking work. This energy hub will bring together some of the best minds to work on solutions that will reduce our dependence on oil and increase our energy security, all while creating jobs in our state. We have always led the way in California, and this impressive team will help further advance our global leadership in clean energy technologies.”

As a matter of fact, there are 270 companies that want to build now in California for renewable energy,...

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger delivered remarks at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Annual Summer Committee Meetings on July 21, 2010.

Excerpts from the Partial Transcripts follow:

(Sacramento, Calif. July 21, 2010)  …And this is something that we have had in California. We have had consistency.

And this is why we have to go and do everything that we can to continue with that consistency. Why? Because we have to be and all of you have to be an inspiration to the federal government to create that consistency, because the federal government is a disaster when it comes to energy policy. They haven't had an energy policy for decades.

We all remember when Jimmy Carter came in with some brilliant ideas about solar and about doing research and exploration of shale oil and wind and all of those kind of things. The next administration came in and said well, wait a minute. A barrel of oil is down to $10. Why are we futzing around with all this stuff over here when we can just buy the oil? And the policy was out the window. So this is not consistency, so people don't know, should we invest in this or not invest in it? They don't know. They're confused.

And right now, several decades later -- and I've watched all this since I've been in this country, I can tell you -- it is really amazing that today the federal government still doesn't have a policy. They have no idea how much they're going to rely on more nuclear plants, what is their portfolio, their goal when it comes to renewable. No idea. No one can answer that question, how much should we reduce in greenhouse gases, what should our standards be, what kind of cars do we want 10 years, 20 years down the road? None of those things anyone can answer.

And this is a disaster because the rest of the world, European countries, have a goal. Even in 1976 when they started changing, when they saw the oil crisis. The Europeans stayed on course even though the oil price went down. And now, 30 years later, you see the great work that is being done in Germany, in Spain, in Portugal, Denmark and all of those European countries...  Read Entire Transcript at:  http://gov.ca.gov/

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Saturday

The Story of Cosmetics - Sneak Peek!

From: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
July 14, 2010 www.safecosmetics.org


We're almost there! Just one week from today, with your help, "The Story of Cosmetics", a short film about toxic chemicals in cosmetics, will be released around the world. Watch the trailer now:

We've partnered with Annie Leonard and Free Range Studios - the creators of "The Story of Stuff " - to release this 7-minute movie online on July 21, just in time to help build momentum for the introduction of groundbreaking safe cosmetics legislation in Congress.

We have the opportunity to reach millions of people around the world with "The Story of Cosmetics", creating a wave of support for an effective, common-sense law that will ensure all cosmetics and personal care products are safe.

Earlier this month we asked you to help launch this film - and we've been blown away by your response so far.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH STORY OF COSMETICS TRAILER HERE JULY 21st RELEASE DATE


THANK YOU to everyone who has already who's already donated and offered to spread the film far and wide! Because of you, we're almost halfway to our goal of raising the money we need to put the finishing touches on the movie and create opportunities for viewers to turn their learning into action. But we're not there yet!

In the past six years, with your help, we've educated millions of people around the world about the problem of harmful chemicals in products like lipstick, cologne, soaps and even baby shampoos - and together we're shifting the market toward healthier alternatives.

Now, for the first time in 70 years, we have a real chance at national legislation that would eliminate chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects from the products women, men and children put on their bodies every day.

Thank you for everything you're already doing to give the beauty industry a makeover. Stay tuned!

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California Children Win

From California Sen. Pavley's Newsletter

Web site: http://www.senate.ca.gov/pavley

I'm thrilled to report that California's children scored a major victory this month as the State Assembly voted to pass my bill that would ban toxic BPA from items such as baby bottles, sippy cups, and formula cans. The "Toxics-Free Babies and Toddlers Act” (SB 797), which would work in coordination with California's Green Chemistry Initiative to ban the use of BPA in feeding products designed for children three and under, now moves back to the Senate for concurrence before heading to the governor's desk.

This was a real David and Goliath fight. The chemical and pharmaceutical industries waged an expensive and shamefully deceptive war to kill my bill. But in the end, my colleagues in the Assembly sided with children and with science and voted to protect our most vulnerable citizens.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an artificial hormone that is widely used in shatter-proof plastic baby bottles, sippy cups and the lining of formula cans. It leaches out of containers and into food and drink consumed by babies and young children. More than 220 peer-reviewed studies have linked BPA to a host of health problems, including breast and prostrate cancer, infertility, obesity, and neurological and behavioral changes, including autism and hyperactivity.

SB 797 is joint-authored by Senator Carol Liu, D – Pasadena, and is sponsored by Breast Cancer Fund, Environmental Working Group and Physicians for Social Responsibility. The bill has widespread support from health care professionals, business owners and a long and diverse list of businesses and organizations including; Black Women for Wellness, Latinas for Reproductive Justice, The Help Group for Autism Spectrum Disorders, California Teachers Association, California Nurses Association, Asian Health Services, California Women Infants and Children (WIC), SEIU, California Labor Federation, Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, and Green to Grow to name a few. I want to thank all of the sponsors, the supporters, and my colleagues in the Assembly, especially new Speaker John Perez, for helping to move this important piece of legislation forward.

Sen. Pavley's Field Representative Callie Hurd with Socorro Lopez Hanson & Javier Saucedo

Sustainability Award

Each month I [Sen. Pavley's Office] recognize a business, person, or organization in my district that is dedicated to preserving our environment by living and working responsibly. This month I'm proud to announce that I presented an Environmental Sustainability Award to Community Action of Ventura County. The Oxnard-based nonprofit organization was recognized for its efforts in establishing the Green Center that opened to the public on June 2.

The Green Center, located at 3401 W. Fifth Street, Suite 100, in Oxnard, is a new hub for education, training and information relating to "green” technologies in Ventura County. It provides local vendors with space to showcase their green products and services, including solar panels, water-saving plumbing supplies, energy-saving construction materials and soil amendments for the garden made from recycled yard waste. The Green Center also serves as a learning site for local contractors to upgrade their job skills in green technologies, including solar paneling installation and home weatherization. The Green Center is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. For more information, call 805-985-1010 or visit www.ca-vc.org.

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Summer Solstice

by: Sebastian Copeland

June 21, 2010 8:05pm

This is the majestic view I have from my window on this, the longest day of the year

Qaanaaq – Today was the longest day of the year. Up here, since the sun has not set for many weeks, this means that the sun reaches its highest rotational zenith; if there were a night, it would have been the shortest. And given the splendid sunny weather we have had all day, this really did feel like a long day!


Summer solstice coincides, not by accident, with Greenland’s national day. It is a national holiday marked by local community celebrations. In Qaanaaq, the whole village gathers for some recitations, singing and food for everyone.


Qaanaaq is a town of six hundred people (a correction from my earlier description: there are approximately two hundred dwellings here, and not fifty); all of them came out to celebrate. Some wore the traditional seal or bear skin outfits–just the pants or jacket: given the 10C degrees, they might have suffocated had they worn the entire outfit. The food served was raw whale; I took a pass, having tried it before… but they seemed to enjoy it.


I spoke with a few of them and discussed how early thaws and a changing climate is affecting Inuit culture. Life is tough for an Inuit to whom hunting and fishing on the ice is virtually the only means of survival. With an early thaw, their very existence is endangered. It isn’t just the bears…


An ice fog shrouded the sea ice on and off all day, but never went past the beach. Only the peaks of the tallest icebergs were visible above the white sheet, and I sat on a rock for an hour contemplating the extraordinary views. It was silent and peaceful; a welcomed calm to follow the intense focus of the last forty days. And a great way to rest my sore legs! The fog eventually cleared revealing some new large cracks in the bay, and considerably more water by the shore than two days ago. I am relieved to have ventured when I did–our first night here–in spite of the fatigue and hesitation I felt then. The weather has not been like then again since, in the way that I like to shoot ice: overcast. And given the accelerated melt, it is unlikely that I could get out now. I got it by a narrow margin, and the photo result– arresting! As they say: why plan for tomorrow what you can do today… READ MORE on Sebastian's BLOG...

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Tuesday

Greening Beauty: Herbal Remedies For Menopause

So it seems to have gotten popular in Hollywood to start having kids when you're 45!  But for the rest of us, our 40's mean the onset of menopause and the end of possibilities for natural, organic conception and childbearing.

What is wonderful to bear witness to these days, however, is women's beauty manifest at all ages and in so many forms, such diversity.

Menopause need be no different. It's a time of womanhood that ushers in a new era of the feminine. Strong and beautiful and womanly.  Here are some natural herbs that some of have suggested can ease the physical transition.

Herbal Natural Remedies For Menopause

On top of these measures natural remedies for menopause include herbs, homoeopathic remedies and aromatherapy oils.

Herbs often used include: [In addition to Black Cohosh]

  • Agnus Castus - best selling herb for menopause and periods
  • Dong Quai - another best selling herb for menopause and periods - has a centuries old reputation in the Far East
  • Gingko biloba - helps to allay 'brain fog' and counteract cold hands and feet
  • St John's Wort - great in keeping up the spirits, nourishing the nerves, and counteracting depressive tendencies
  • Red sage - recommended by many for 'keeping cool' during menopause
  • Motherwort - a 'forgotten' herb, strongly recommended by old herbalists for women - especially at menopause; for energy; and for the heart.
  • Cayenne pepper - which, surprisingly, can be used to help counteract hot flushes. For this purpose it is usually used in capsule form, so that sufficient can be taken to help.

Let's focus on Dong Quai. This is a popular herbal, natural remedy in China and other parts of the Orient. It is seen there as a sort of wonder remedy for women.

Dong Quai is, foremost, a blood tonic used to nurture the blood and invigorate the blood circulation. The interlinked acupuncture meridians are the Liver, Heart and Spleen. Some of the chemical ingredients of Dong Quai include vitamin B (nictonic acid, folic acid, vitamin B12), and vitamin A. Its ability to regulate and normalise hormonal imbalances means that this herb can be immensely worthwhile in alleviating symptoms asscociated with PMT, infertilty and the menopause.

Healthy Food And Exercise

Other recommended remedies are more of a lifestyle approach and include, healthy diet of fresh fruits and vegetables or the "Mediterranean Diet" of lean meats and fish for proteins. We always need to include fair doses of exercise and it's highly recommended to avoid stress and stressful situations.

SOY

Soy is another key ingredient in alleviating some of the side-effects of menopause. The 'active constituents' in soy that act as a natural remedy for menopause are the soy isoflavones, and it is suggested that you take 50 mg of soy isoflavones per day or get it in your diet by eating tempeh, tofu, soy milk and other soy products.

Another little secret, from WebMD, is natural progesterone cream
A study published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1999 found that natural progesterone cream significantly reduced hot flashes compared to the placebo group. In The Wisdom of Menopause, Northrup says that a 2% progesterone skin cream works in about 85% of perimenopausal women.

A little as 1/4 tsp once per day can ease hot flashes. Make sure that you read the labels of natural progesterone cream products careful as there is great variability of progesterone content.

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Saturday

L.A. Continues Its Bio-Harvest...And More From The Guardian

From the frontlines of the Bio-Wars, "bio" meaning all things natural and organic, we bring you this week's news round ups of jail sentences, smoking guns that weren't and flowers headed for extinction due to over-harvesting and just plain mishandling.

Top Story
Lindsay Lohan was sentenced to 90 days jail time in an L.A. courtroom this week. As this story indicates, her note-taking is clear-headed and threaded with logic, displaying that she is not the air-headed, substance addicted starlet that L.A. law enforcement, the courts, her entertainment handlers and the popular media would have you believe.
She is, in fact, a prime specimen of smarts, talent, beauty and youth. Ripe for harvesting. Harvesting that's easy to achieve in jails and rehab centers.
Lohan might have learned her note-taking skills in high school, where she was a straight-A student who reportedly excelled in science and math.
Her notes about Human Rights Abuses and Cruel and Unusual Punishment are ones that the world must take heed of if we are to maintain a world with some semblance of humanity, organic and natural humanity, still allowed to live and thrive within it.

And just when is the United States going to acknowledge the jurisdiction of and submit to the International Court of Justice?

Related News...From The Guardian:

Over 25% of flowers face extinction – many before they are even discovered

Scientists say human activity could spell end for a quarter of all flowering plants, with huge impact on food chain...

'Climategate' review clears scientists of dishonesty over data

'Rigour and honesty' of scientists not in doubt but Sir Muir Russell says UEA's Climatic Research Unit was not sufficiently open...
The climate scientists at the centre of a media storm were today cleared of accusations that they fudged their results and silenced critics to bolster the case for man-made global warming.
Peter Bethune given suspended jail term for boarding Japanese vessel Shonan Maru...Peter Bethune, who was a member of Sea Shepherd, a marine conservation group, was given two years in prison, suspended for five years, amid tight security at the Tokyo district court.
After the verdict, Bethune said he was relieved and thanked his legal team in Japan.
"I am truly sorry for all the trouble and worry this has caused my family and am desperate to get back home to see them," he said. "I also want to thank all the supporters worldwide who have been sending messages and signing petitions, and the media, who have been keeping this story in the public eye."


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Wednesday

$2.5 Million Grant for Water Efficiency And Green Jobs


The Los Angeles Water Efficiency Workforce Development Program has won Governor Schwarzenegger’s Green Innovation Challenge and will receive $2.5 million in funding over the next two years.


The Green Innovation Challenge is a highly competitive grant process that drew 34 applications from around the state of California.  Six projects were awarded funding including two in Southern California.  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, "These Challenge grants will encourage innovative green companies to train and hire Californians to further our state’s leadership in the green economy.” 
Victoria Bradshaw, Secretary of the state Labor and Workforce Development Agency, who presented the awards, said "This is an important opportunity to help put people back to work while giving industries in the green economy the ability to develop training programs that will address their specific workforce needs.”
The Los Angeles Water Efficiency Workforce Development program is a broad workforce collaborative led by Generation Power.  Many of these projects will be in the public sector including the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), City of Los Angeles, and other public sector agencies, which have enormous irrigated acreage under management.
  The two-year project will survey hundreds of sites across school campuses,
  city parks facilities, and other public and private facilities to develop a
  rich database of projects suitable for funding with projected returns on
  investment.  Dallana Acosta, a recent Fremont High School graduate, CSUN
  student, and Generation Power team lead, said, “The Green Innovation
  Challenge funding will help Generation Power expand our work in water
  conservation and energy efficiency and allow us to hire more bright young
  students.

Young people, ages 16-24, working for Generation Power found that over 62% of the toilets at LAUSD consume 3.5 gallons (or more) per flush (gpf) compared to LAUSD’s current specification for new toilets of 1.28 gpf.  We estimated that the savings in water bills from toilet and urinal retrofits will re-coup the initial materials and labor investment in only four years.  There is a lot of opportunity for both water conservation and job creation.”
In addition to project surveys and identification of fundable projects, crews from the Los Angeles Conservation Corps and incumbent workers of the City of Los Angeles will replace water-hungry invasive species with drought-tolerant landscaping.  Other technologies and practices including smart irrigation, rainwater harvesting, greywater systems, and stormwater management will also be implemented.  Crews will receive training in low impact development from Los Angeles Valley College, the Worker Education & Resource Center, the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council, the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, and other groups.  Bo Savage of the Conservation Corps said, “Corpsmembers take pride in environmental stewardship.  They are thrilled that they will be able to learn job skills that will make them more marketable for employment in the growing field of water conservation.”

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Thursday

World Whale And Dolphin Day - Celebrating Our Ocean Friends

On June 30th groups and citizens of United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, USA, and Croatia celebrated the World Whale and Dolphin Day in various ways.

Threats to dolphins and whales are huge and varied and have only increased with the recent Gulf Oil Disaster.  Many threats are caused by fishing net entanglement, captivity, whaling, industrial pollution of the oceans and military use of intense sonar waves is known to harm and even kill cetaceans.

Today and every day, let's remember our ocean friends...

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Tuesday

Sweet Pea Organics For Babies, Toddlers and Moms, Too!

 The “Sweet Pea Organics” Launch  this past Friday, June 25th was a huge success! Founded by Personal Chef to the Stars, Grace GlennAnthony, who is
originally from Oregon and trained at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, the organic line of delectables was created specifically with
toddlers and babies healthy nutrition in mind.

Grace incorporates natural-based wisdom into her delicious recipes, "As your child gets older, incorporating ginger (for the stomach), cardamom (heating from
the inside out), and other Asian herbs can benefit their health and digestive system...." Read More On Grace's Sweet Pea Organics Blog.

 

 

Moms and their children from all over the Los Angeles Area came to "The Coop" in Studio City, and they experienced the fabulous environment which was created. Toddlers absolutely loved the wonderfully tasty, all natural, organic, and wheat free “Toddler Protein Bars."


 

The world seems to be going organic.  What is organic?  In the case of baby food, organic baby products are made without pesticides, fertilizers,

antibiotics, growth hormones, genetically modified organisms, additives, irradiation or sewage sludge – that’s all according to wikipedia. 

I personally believe in organic products and food, especially now that I am a mom. I just think of it this way, someone out there is going out

of their way to make stuff we buy healthier, happier and more wholesome.  I innately just feel better knowing I ate some eggs for breakfast that

were organically raised in a cage free environment… Happy food, happy me : )   Read MORE on Louella's Blog  

Sweet Pea Organics is a new Organic Food For Kids company that launched on June 25th, 2010, by the Personal Chef to Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore
and their kids.

 

Sponsors of this event were: Hopscotch KidsNola IceNina GrevilleGreen Beginnings Preschool,and Izze Drink .  The fun Miss Birdie of Birdie’s Playhouse

The popular The Pump Station . Little Twig,    And   Louella Allen Photography

Here is a list of our sponsors/participants;

 


For more information on "Sweet Pea Organics" log onto www.mysweetpeaorganics.com    Green Blog Network



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Sunday

Revenge of The Electric Vehicle

SACRAMENTO - California drivers soon will be able to find charging stations for their electric cars, or fueling stations for their ethanol-powered vehicles. Last week the California Energy Commission approved three awards that leverage $15.4 million in state funding with $49.6 million in federal stimulus money and $49.3 million in private funds.

"California's investment will leverage more than six times as much money for new infrastructure and new jobs, and help to solve one of the biggest problems with alternative-fueled vehicles - making sure motorists have ready access to fuel, including electricity," said Energy Commissioner Anthony Eggert. "By taking this bold step, state and federal government, along with the private sector, are advancing new technology and collecting important information that will help America replace petroleum and reduce pollution."

The new E-85 dispensers should reduce petroleum use by over 24 million gallons annually and reduce emissions by an estimated 170,000 tons per year. This project will create or retain over 450 jobs while creating opportunities in at least 18 of California's Enterprise Zones.

Assembly Bill 118 (Núñez, Chapter 750, Statutes of 2007) created the California Energy Commission's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program. The statute, subsequently amended by Assembly Bill 109 (Núñez, Chapter 313, Statutes of 2008), authorizes the Energy Commission to develop and deploy alternative and renewable fuels and advanced transportation technologies to help attain the state's climate change policies.

In Related News  SB 722

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger  issued the following statement after the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee passed SB 722 by Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto):

“I applaud the legislature for moving forward on codifying a change in our Renewable Portfolio Standard to 33 percent. I vetoed SB 14 last year because of the negative impact it would have had on California’s energy markets and ratepayers. However, while SB 722 makes progress in addressing those concerns, there are still a number of critical issues that must be addressed before I can sign this bill. 

 

“We must ensure we have the correct mix of in-state and out-of-state resources for a healthy and competitive regional energy market. To meet the 33 percent standard, the legislation must include streamlining our siting and permitting processes for both California renewable generation projects and the transmission lines needed to deliver that energy throughout the state. I cannot sign legislation mandating a higher requirement without ensuring that the necessary projects can be built.

 

“SB 722 currently does not address this issue and I look forward to working with the author and the legislature as the bill moves forward.”

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