Whereas: Mayor Hutton signs U.S. Mayors climate protection agreement

August 29, 2007 at 7:19 pm · Filed under Energy, Home

At 5P.M. yesterday Mayor Hutton became the 10th mayor in Indiana to sign the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.
I attended and was heartened by the Mayor’s comments that the city will look closely at its energy profile, commit to buying only Energy Star products, reduce environmental footprint of city buildings, support smart development initiatives, and improve the efficiency of the city vehicle fleet.

This is in addition to the stated goal to “Urge their state governments, and the federal government, to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target suggested for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol — 7% reduction from 1990 levels by 2012″.

I don’t recall her exact words but Mayor Hutton stated that this is an area where it makes sense for us to invest money because it will pay dividends in the future.

From the press announcement:

The City is already implementing or has plans for implementing most of the 12 items listed in the Climate Protection Agreement through the Indiana CLEAN Community Challenge administered by IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management), the Richmond Comprehensive Plan 2006, and the Richmond/Wayne County Environmental Awareness Council.

This is excellent news because it takes the issue local. In order for this to gain traction it will need to show results.

The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement A. We urge the federal government and state governments to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the target of reducing global warming pollution levels to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, including efforts to: reduce the United States’ dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate the development of clean, economical energy resources and fuel-efficient technologies such as conservation, methane recovery for energy generation, waste to energy, wind and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor vehicles, and biofuels; B. We urge the U.S. Congress to pass bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation that includes 1) clear timetables and emissions limits and 2) a flexible, market-based system of tradable allowances among emitting industries

Stay tuned…

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It’s so deep, It’s so wide. You’re inside.

August 8, 2007 at 9:29 am · Filed under Art, Energy

I saw THE POLICE with David a couple weeks ago. It was great. As Bode says, “REALLY [H]UGE Daddy!” In some ways it was like having my head spun round in a complete circle. Twice.

Don’t get me wrong, this reunion tour thing is monumental. Many many resources going in to organizing, marketing, and ultimately selling it to 30 and 40 somethings like me (and to the corporate sponsors). Not to mention the monumental energy expended with 15-20,000 people traveling to and from the concert, burning $3/gal gas.

It’s not quite the same as piling 6 teens in a 77 Corrolla and driving 3hrs. to watch a show with 150 people. Ahh, nastalgia you say? No, not really. The point is I think it changes you. In the same way it did 25 years ago when you first listened to So Lonely or Bring On The Night. You think a little bit differently today than you did yesterday. And then you do some things differently - like belt out De Do Do Do Do De Da Da Da with your son at the top of your lungs. No harm in passing on perfect pop syncopated rhythms to the next generation…

We clasp the hands of those that go before us,
And the hands of those who come after us.
We enter the little circle of each other’s arms
And the larger circle of lovers,
Whose hands are joined in a dance,
And the larger circle of all creatures,
Passing in and out of life,
Who move also in a dance,
To a music so subtle and vast that no ear hears it
Except in fragments
— Wendell Berry

*Title from Synchronicity

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