I can't figure out if this is for real or a joke. I sure hope this guy is joking!

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http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61758

Burlington, MA (OPENPRESS) January 4, 2008 -- Celebrated chefs Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier bring their signature, sophisticated cuisine and sustainable sensibilities to the Boston area with the opening of Summer Winter. The restaurant offers a seasonal, modern American,,themed menu featuring ingredients grown at the on-premise, four-season greenhouse. At Summer Winter, chefs Gaier and Frasier demonstrate the surprising accessibility of eating sustainably with “greenhouse dining,” an approach they helped pioneer since they opened their renowned Arrows and MC Perkins Cove restaurants in Ogunquit, Maine.

Sustainable Living: Try to find your inner SpartacusDecember 23, 2007

I want to talk about "the most crucial challenge facing humanity today," in the words of U.N. Prime Minister Ban Ki-moon. Twenty years from now, when we look back on today, we won't remember the gifts or the family squabbles, but we might wonder just what was so important that we didn't seem to notice that our planet is going to hell in a hand basket.

December Roundtable
Friday, December 07, 2007 at 7:00 AM
All Saints Episcopal Church - Ellis Hall
634 West Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30308

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this is from ran prieur's forum and it's really interesting... cuba went through it's peak oil period already inthe 90's and "bounced back" nicely. the link below will take you to the discussion which includes a couple of resources and video of this transition.

http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/

brad lancaster stood in the middle of the desert and told his story to about 70 or 80 of us. he had a projector and a terrific sense of humor. he talked about the ecological history of Arizona and how cities in general are designed to get rid of water. he showed pictures of a river in arizona from early 1900's that once was always full, yet shallow, slow moving, and very very curvy and surrounded by a forest as far as the eye could see! amazing to think that such lush diverse eco-systems were part of that land not so long ago. now, that same river is as straight as a ruler and almost never running, but when it is the water rushes through and the forest, is no longer there.

Pre-registration is now closed. We will be taking onsite registration at the conference.

Here's the link to the website: SEED 

There are many excellent groups that deal with a focus issue such as Wellness/Healthy Local Food such as CSA's.. Trees Forever and The Sierra Club are exemplary conservation groups. I-Renew has led the way in Iowa for many years to educate the public and implement renewable energy alternatives. We thus have great "songs" . We actually need an fully functional "Choir" to bring these diverse efforts into a more holistic and integrated "whole systems" approach. We need this whole systems paradigm to make a substantive transformation to Sustainable Living in Iowa. That is the purpose of this history making Conference. At the very least we will build bonds, be the catalyst for a cross-germination of the efforts of these great organizations that are already at work. If our "Choir" really does this work well, the Audience will come to seek out what we offer.

An indigenous group in Guyana has established one of the world's largest sustainable forest reserves, reports Conservation International.

The Wai Wai, a forest-dwelling people who received title to 625,000 hectares (1.54 million acres) of land in 2004, will build a "conservation economy" based on principals of sustainable use. With assistance from conservation scientists, the Wai Wai will seek to develop ecotourism and expand their traditional craft business.

"We have always been keepers of the forests that support us, and now it is official, recognized by the government and the world," said Cemci Sose, chief of the Wai Wai. "The immediate challenge we face is creating economic opportunity through the Community Owned Conservation Area to prevent our young people from leaving, which could destroy our community."

Conservation International, an environmental group that is working with the Wai Wai, hopes that the reserve will generate additional income from payments for ecosystem services, like carbon sequestration and watershed protection. Carbon credits for forest conservation could be worth tens of millions annually to Guyana.

"This shows the power of giving land rights to indigenous populations, because they know what's best for their communities," CI President Russell A. Mittermeier said. "The Wai Wai could have sold off the timber and other natural assets for a one-time payoff, but instead they chose to protect the rainforest and allow future generations to continue to benefit from it."