North Carolina can employ an economy that provides quality local jobs and improves our communities, all while protecting our health and our environment. You're invited to attend this "Growing A Just, Green Economy" conference to learn how NC can do just this.

Featured speakers include Majora Carter, founder and former Executive Director of Sustainable South Bronx, and Rev. Dr. William J Barber II, President of North Carolina's NAACP branch.

Come use your voice! Help shape how North Carolina will take steps toward a just and green economy. Attendees will participate in discussions focusing on policy, business development, job assessment, education and training, and resource security.

Who should attend? YOU, your friends, anyone who wants better quality jobs, and people interested in businesses that protect the environment.

Conference Sponsors: North Carolina Central University, Elizabeth City State University, NC NAACP, HKonJ Coalition, The Conservation Fund, NC Conservation Network/1Sky NC, Good Work, SURGE, NC Fair Share, NC WARN, Eartheal, NC Environmental Defense Fund, Green Bridge Development, The NC Institute of Minority Economic Development, NC Council of Churches, NC Interfaith Power & Light, Green Durham, ReCyclery, NC Sustainable Energy Association, Clean Energy Durham, Grassroots Energy Alliance, Synergy Development & The Fenwick Foundation.

YOU MUST REGISTER ONLINE BY SEPTEMBER 12th AT:

www.bbgalliance.org

Student Cost (with ID): $10

Early Bird Cost: $20 (before September 5th)

Regular Cost: $30

I spent this past weekend in Charlotte, visiting family. While I was there, I couldn't help but notice the parched grass, thirsty plants, and dry soil in my parent's neighborhood. My mother mentioned the bad drought—and I thought, "but it's been raining some in Raleigh...I thought things were better..."

While things in the Triangle have been a bit more wet recently, the western part of the state (including the Charlotte region) has still been really struggling with lack of rainfall. From the News & Observer, regarding water levels near Asheville:

"Stream flows in the French Broad River have reached their lowest levels since record-keeping began in 1895 and likely will continue to drop as the region's drought drags on."

and...

"The state lists nearly the whole region as in an exceptional drought, the most severe classification. Asheville's rainfall this year is 10 inches below normal.

At this rate, it would take about one and a half times normal rainfall from now to January to end the drought, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration."

Sounds like what we need is some sort of comprehensive water plan...hopefully the water management bill passed this last legislative session will jump-start a new way of thinking about water use in North Carolina.

Pesticides are harmful to everyone, not just the bugs they’re designed to kill.   So, when pesticides are sprayed in school buildings, we should know what is being sprayed and when they’re being sprayed in order to protect the health of kids and teachers. 

Did you know that there’s a law out there that requires schools provide this information? Or perhaps this is the better question: is your school providing this information?

The NC Schoolchildren's Health Act requires public schools in NC to notify parents and staff before pesticides are used at their school, and to switch to least-toxic pest control programs by 2011. But, a recent survey shows that many school districts still haven't made either of these important changes.

Toxic Free NC is trying to get the word out to parents, families, teachers and the general public that your school is require to tell you what they are spraying and when they’re spraying pesticides.  So if you are concerned about the health of our kids or our teachers, then check out Toxic Free NC’s page so you can find out if your school is making the grade or not, and what you can do to make sure that we can keep harmful substances from impairing our lives!

I've been keeping track of the Olympics a bit over the past few days, as much as my attention span will allow. I heard that China had worked to make this what they are calling a "Green Olympics" by making a concerted effort to be environmentally-friendly in the construction of the Olympic Village and surrounding buildings. Here are some of the highlights:

• the residential high rises for the Olympic athletes uses solar panels and recycles wastewater for heating and cooling

• the Water Cube features natural lighting and a rainwater capture system

• the Bird's Nest has massive solar panels which power the parking lot underneath; it also is designed to provide natural ventilation

• the Olympic Village uses solar cells and geothermal heat pumps and was deemed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified.

I was happy to see sustainable, eco-friendly design made a high priority in this year's games but, of course, there are still things to be improved upon. I found a rather thought-provoking blog post regarding the fact that the NBC set at the Olympic games is outdoors...and air conditioned. I mean, I'm sure the smog and the heat make newscasting [is that a word?] outside uncomfortable, but isn't that why we have indoor news sets?

Anyway, hooray for all that has been done...and maybe in 2012, NBC can find a cozy place inside for their set!

According to a recent article form the Wilmington Star, the town of Wrightsville is working on a ban to keep boats from discharging human waste into the ocean. When I read the article, I felt gross all over, and a little sick from all the times I've jumped into the ocean. I know the water is massively diluted, but still—EWWWWWW.

Here's my favorite part of the article:

"Town officials want to prohibit boaters from dumping waste from their onboard toilets into public waters around the town.  They suspect it's one of the reasons for deteriorating water quality in Banks Channel."

Uh, ya think? I'd venture to guess that dumping human waste (treated or untreated) into a waterway is going to cause deteriorating water quality. And if you're headed out that way for a Labor Day vacation, be cautious:

"Water quality problems in Banks Channel are nothing new. Swimming advisories are a regular occurrence there. Banks Channel has had six swimming advisories posted in the past year because of high bacteria levels, according to the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program.

That high bacteria count is an indicator for organisms that can cause gastrointestinal and skin problems."

I think I'll stick to the shore for now.

I'm a sucker for contests, so I felt compelled to blog about the JELD-WEN® Reliable Lighthouse Restoration Initiative. Apparently, JELD-WEN® makes doors and windows for very intense climates. Every year for the past 4 years, they have supported a community initiative to replace the doors and windows at old lighthouses (hooray for historic preservation!)

This year, Bodie Island Lighthouse in North Carolina has made it to the final round! Make sure to vote (prior to September 7) to help restore the only North Carolina lighthouse on the finalist list.

Vote for Bodie!

What's 8 x 18 feet, is powered by solar panels, has a composting toilet, windows, a kitchen, a sleeping loft, a study nook, and recycled sailboats for ceilings?

The Tiny House! A Yale student has made her own environmentally-friendly house to bring to New Haven for the fall semester. Constructed by Elizabeth Turnbull with the help of friends, family, and other members of the community, this small home epitomizes eco-friendly living. Plus, estimated total costs are only about $11,000!

Check out the video to take a virtual tour of the house.

Granted, it's not for everyone. But it models a great way of thinking: down-sizing, as well as doing more with less, and doing more with reused or recycled products. Plus, she painted the house green...my favorite color. :)

I recently read an article on PhysOrg.com that made me very excited for how we may be able to use the sun for all our power needs.  (This is going to be a little more technical blog post summary, but check out the article for a complete explanation on how this “breakthrough” technology will work.)

Now, I’ve heard new breakthroughs in energy technology be described as “revolutionary,” but most of the time it seems the new breakthrough is more “evolutionary” - it’s a leap in the right direction…but not our panacea.  However, this is one of the most promising breakthrough technologies I’ve seen. (Warning: I am by no means an energy expert, but I am a bit knowledgeable on the subject.)  Basically, the storage process mimics the water splitting process found in photosynthesis, using the simple, non-toxic, ingredients of water and metal.   During the day, energy needs are met directly from the sun.  The unused daylight energy is then stored by splitting water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen that are held in a tank, and then recombined to emit electricity when energy is needed – like a hydrogen fuel cell.

Basically it’s a simple, easily constructed system, and could really be the breakthrough we need to utilize the sun’s energy.  After all it is said in the article that “in one hour, enough sunlight strikes the Earth to provide the entire planet's energy needs for one year.”  It’s time to soak it up.

In a time to seriously reconsider our energy sources and the condition of our environment, I encourage folks to check out an upcoming expo for learning about the latest opportunities for creating a more sustainable culture: The Southern Energy and Environment Expo. 

This exciting 3-day expo will be held August 22-24th at The Western NC Agricultural Center right outside of Asheville, NC in the small town of Fletcher.  It will be a guaranteed good time with people from all across the southeast convening to discuss issues surrounding energy and the environment.  It’s the largest event of its kind in the southeast!  There will be booths to visit, seminars to attend, sustainable businesses to check out, and like-minded people to meet and discuss world, regional, and local matters of sustainability. 

So pack your bag, bring a tent (or a credit card if you’re going the hotel route), and a mind ready to soak up all there is to offer at this wonderful expo!

No, seriously.

Some of you may remember this - as Jack Nicholson was a big time promoter.

On a CBC Marketplace airing in 1978, Jack Nicholson made news by advertising a potentially pollution-free fuel for cars. The fuel: hydrogen produced by solar power. The automobile: a standard Chevy with a standard engine. The emissions: steam (Jack suggests using the emissions for a steam bath). Pollutants are negligible and there's no risk of explosion. And, check it out - Jack made the car go in drive and reverse.

There are definitely other stories of oil-free cars out there. Anyone see the documentary, Who Killed the Electric Car?

Help us educate ourselves and share your fun and truth-telling links, by commenting to this blog.

This week the US House and Senate passed a bill that bans lead in children's toys. The bill also bans other harmful toxins that are responsible for making plastic products softer and more flexible (think of a rubber duck). The toxins banned, six types of phthalates, are now thought to act as hormones and cause reproductive problems, especially in boys.

With the overwhelming majority supporting the bill in both houses (4 representatives total voted against it), this vote should send a clear message to the chemical industry that enough is enough. It's time to stop forcing the public to prove that a chemical is unsafe and time for industry to prove to the public that it is safe, before it is put on the market and into our products (children's toys or otherwise).

In similar toxic-related news, Rep. Pricey Harrison was successful in getting a study bill passed in the short session of the NC Legislature this year. This study is with the Child Fatality Task Force (sounds like a worthy cause) and would look at a ban on toxic brominated fire retardants. These chemicals, also known as PBDEs, went into wide-spread use in the 1970's and are now found throughout the home; including in your tvs, computer monitors, foam furniture, baby cribs, etc. Once PBDEs get into your body they stay there and accumulate, and are passed from mothers to their children. Studies show that PBDEs disrupt brain development and hormone systems.

Now, isn't it counter-intuitive that individuals and organizations concerned with public health have to fight to ban harmful chemical after harmful chemical? Shouldn't it be the responsibility of corporations and our government to prove that a chemical is safe before it ever reaches consumers?