Friday, June 19, 2009

Radio Ojai Interview with Watershed Activist Paul Jenkin










Radio Ojai Interview:
with watershed activist Paul Jenkin, who discusses the documentary "Watershed Revolution:" http://tinyurl.com/lfbbgw

Lisa interviews Paul Jenkin, Environmental Director of the Ventura County Surfrider Foundation and watershed activist, about the documentary, Watershed Revolution. The 30-minute film will be shown at Chaparral High School Auditorium on June 24th at 7:00 p.m. and will follow with a panel discussion with Paul, the filmmaker and other experts. The event is hosted by the Ojai Valley Green Coalition, and a $2.00 donation is being requested at the door. Also, June 18th is International Surfing Day; click here for more information about the day's events.

FILM PREMIERE OF THE "WATERSHED REVOLUTION" IN OJAI


WATERSHED REVOLUTION DOCUMENTARY New Film Answers the Question “What Is a Watershed?”


Stunning high–definition cinematography will be featured in the film premiere of Watershed Revolution on June 24 at Ojai’s Chaparral High School Auditorium.

The 30-minute documentary film, which is being shown by the Ojai Valley Green Coalition, profiles our Ventura River watershed and the community members and organizations working to protect and restore it. It highlights the unique challenges faced by a river that is this community’s main source of water. The film emphasizes the need for floodplain protection, sustainable agriculture, and community awareness of local water resources.

After the film there will be a discussion along with a question and answer period, featuring local watershed activists such as Paul Jenkin of the Surfrider Foundation; Steve Svete of the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy; Rick Bisaccia, Preserve Manager for the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy; Steve Sprinkel, organic farmer; Sara Benjamin, “Once Upon a Wetland” educator; Shawn Kelly of the State Coastal Conservancy Wetlands Recovery Project; and Ben Pitterle, with the Ventura Stream Team of Santa Barbara Channelkeeper.

For a preview, log on to http://watershedrevolution.com/trailer.html. World-class outdoor photographer Rich Reid is the documentary filmmaker. Reid is a resident of the Ojai
Valley and a photography instructor at the Brooks Institute. His photographs have been featured by National Geographic Books, Backroads, the New York Times, The Territory Ahead, and the Trust for Public Land. Reid also conducts photo tours and workshops in Alaska.

Watershed Revolution promises to change forever your definition of a watershed. It will be shown at 7:00 p.m. on June 24 at the Chaparral High School Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Avenue.

For further information on the event or the Ojai Valley Green Coalition, visit www.ojaivalleygreencoalition.org or call (805) 653-8445.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

The Passive Design Revolution



For the May event in its “Ecology and Community” series, the Ojai Valley Green Coalition will share smart, time-tested heating and cooling strategies of architectural design as the new way to control indoor temperatures.

A presentation entitled “The Passive Design Revolution” will be given on May 27 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Chaparral High School Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Avenue. Wintertime solar gain, summertime solar shading, efficient insulation, and natural ventilation are all elements of the passive- design methodology now being used internationally.

German-speaking countries and Scandinavia have been leading the movement, and so far more than 15,000 “passive houses”have been built. As more and more homeowners are asking for passive design, more and more architects and contractors are learning how to offer it. With passive design, even the need for solar panels and wind turbines is virtually eliminated, because in passive-design houses indoor climate control can be as much as 90 percent self-sustaining.

The presentation will show that passive design is today’s single most significant way to reduce energy waste in the Ojai Valley and around the world. The evening will feature a PowerPoint photo slideshow, period will follow. The presenter, Wayne Pendrey, is a member of the Green
Coalition’s Building and Construction Committee, serves on the Board of Directors of the Ventura County Contractors Association, and is the chair of that association’s Green Building Committee. Pendrey is also chairman of the Strategic Partner Committee for the California Central Coast Chapter of the United States Green Building Council.

For more information contact: www.ojaivalleygreencoalition.org

Thursday, April 2, 2009

OJAI VALLEY GREEN COALITION: Making a difference


http://www.ojaivalleygreencoalition.org/

The mission of the Ojai Valley Green Coalition is to bring together community organizations, government, schools, businesses, and people of all ages to make the Ojai Valley a model green and sustainable community.

The Ojai Valley Green Coalition is a gathering of residents and friends of the Ojai Valley actively working together to create an environmentally sustainable community in Ojai.

In the spirit of "think globally, act locally," they exist to educate themselves and others about ecological issues; to promote sustainable practices to their local businesses and organizations; to advocate environmental responsibility as a priority to their elected officials; and to bring green consciousness into the lives and homes of the Ojai Valley.

With over 400 members (and counting), they welcome your comments, suggestions, involvement in any of their special committees, or attendance at one of their scheduled events. With a greener Ojai they contribute to a greener, healthier and more equitable world!


NEXT EVENT:

“Advocacy 101,” as the presentation is called, will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on April 22 at the Chaparral High School Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Avenue.

Mohandas Gandhi once said, “We must become the change we want to see in the world.” But how can one person influence change here in the Ojai Valley?

Improving the quality of life here is often a matter of advocacy: active support of an idea or cause, or promotion of a change in governmental policy. It’s often easy to see what needs to be changed, but difficult to actually make that change happen.

In years past, citizens of the Ojai Valley have come together to stop Caltrans from building a freeway right through the middle of our valley. They’ve also worked together to convince the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to locate a landfill elsewhere than in Weldon Canyon at the mouth of the Ojai Valley. Other efforts have influenced zoning codes, noise ordinances, and the introduction of chain stores. How were these feats accomplished? The answer is citizen advocacy: working within the established system to create change.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Michael Brune to Speak About Strategic Solutions to America’s Energy Crisis


Author of “Coming Clean: Breaking America’s Addiction to Oil and Coal”

(Ojai, Calif. – February 23, 2009) “Strung out by high gas prices? Melting ice caps give you the sweats? Coming Clean is a roadmap to recovery, a smart, heartfelt guide to building a better world.” That’s from Rolling Stone writer Jeff Goodell, praising Rainforest Action Network executive director Michael Brune’s new book called Coming Clean: Breaking America’s Addiction to Oil and Coal. On March 25, 2009, at 7:00 p.m., the Ojai Valley Green Coalition’s “Ecology and Community Series” will feature Michael Brune, who will read from his book and start a conversation about the tangible and innovative actions we can take for a clean energy future. The event will be held at Chaparral Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Avenue, with a $5.00 suggested donation. This gathering is part of Brune’s nationwide organizing tour to bring together diverse people and organizations to promote solutions to the energy crisis.

Michael’s book, Coming Clean: Breaking America’s Addiction to Oil and Coal, doesn’t just talk about climate change and our addiction to fossil fuels, and certainly doesn’t just say we need only to change light bulbs and vote every now and then to solve these problems. This is a book about systemic solutions, and more importantly, exactly how we can get those solutions implemented. Pulitzer Prize winner Ross Gelbspan calls it “a thoroughly engaging, reader-friendly analysis of our energy dilemma,” adding, “Brune’s empowering book tells us how to take back our future from the energy bullies leading us down a path to climate chaos.”

Michael Brune is the executive director of Rainforest Action Network (RAN) and a founding board member of Oil Change International, an organization dedicated to dissolving the political barriers to a clean energy transition. At age 26, Brune joined RAN to direct its campaign to convince Home Depot to stop selling wood from endangered forests. After a year of creative protests, celebrity activism, and shareholder advocacy, Home Depot agreed. Time magazine called it the top environmental story of 1999, and the announcement led to the protection of 5 million acres in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. Under Brune’s leadership, RAN has successfully campaigned to change the environmental policies and practices of some of America’s largest corporations, including Citi, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Kinko’s, Boise, and Lowe’s. RAN has been referred to as “some of the savviest environmental agitators in the business” by the Wall St. Journal. For further information on the Ojai Valley Green Coalition, visit www.ojaivalleygreencoalition.org.

Friday, January 23, 2009

RADIOOJAI.NET INTERVIEWS "CLIMATE JEDI" GRETCHEN LEWOTSKY



IS IT TOO LATE TO STOP THE CLIMATE CRISIS?





LISTEN TO “CLIMATE JEDI”, GRETCHEN LEWOTSKY ON RADIOOJAI.NET

http://radioojai.com/2009/01/23/lisa-interviews-gretchen-lewotsky.aspx

TRAINED BY AL GORE TO PRESENT THE UPDATED SLIDE SHOW VERSION OF
“AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH”

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28TH AT 7 PM
IN OJAI, CA

AT THE MATILIJA JUNIOR HIGH AUDITORIUM
CONTACT: Ojaivalleygreencoalition.org
(805) 653-8445

SPONSORED BY THE OJAI VALLEY GREEN COALITION.

Friday, January 2, 2009

The Green Business Bible


Renowned Environmental Expert, Gareth Kane, releases “The Green Business Bible” eBook: Secrets On Making Your Business Green While Increasing Profits

(Ojai, CA USA – January 2, 2009) Renowned environmental and green business expert Gareth Kane has released “The Green Business Bible” eBook. Gareth, managing director of environmental consultancy Terra Infirma Ltd in the United Kingdom, has distilled over 10 years experience working with the public and private sectors into the eBook. The result is a strategic framework that any business can follow to produce environmental and economic benefits along with over 200 hints and tips of how to make that change.

Today, business is coming under increasing pressure from Government, customers and campaigning groups to improve its environmental performance. Soaring oil, utility and compliance costs are hitting companies where it hurts - on their bottom line. "Many businesses may see 'the environment' as a low priority in the current economic climate", said author Gareth Kane, "but there's two proven ways a company can survive a recession - cut costs and develop innovative new products and services. The green agenda is an opportunity to do both, and “The Green Business Bible” will show you how."

By producing “The Green Business Bible” in the form of an eBook, Gareth is practicing what he preaches - eliminating the physical resources required by a traditional book (paper, glue, fuel for distribution, energy for retail stores) and providing only the purpose of the book - the information it contains. According to Professor Graham Street, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Technology, "The Green Business Bible provides business, whether large or small, with all the information necessary to be at the forefront of sustainability. This publication is more than a handbook, it will lead to a change in philosophy for any company that takes the time to read it and implement its ideas."

“The Green Business Bible” is suitable for company directors, managers, consultants and students who want a comprehensive but practical guide to greening business. The eBook is available online for £17.99+VAT (approximately $27.00 US dollar) from: http://www.greenbusinessbible.co.uk. You can contact Gareth Kane or read more about his services and views at: http://www.terrainfirma.co.uk.

About Gareth Kane: Gareth Kane has worked with a vast range of clients from micro companies through to trans-national corporations, across many sectors. He is an engaging public speaker, an experienced facilitator of events, and writes regularly on sustainability issues. Gareth is an approved Envirowise adviser, a reviewer of EU Interreg Projects, a co-coordinating reviewer of consultancy outputs for the UK Government and has been appointed to the pool of experts for the URBACT EU urban development program. He has appeared as a media pundit on energy and climate change issues on the BBC Six O’Clock News, Countryfile and The Politics Show. In 2008, The Journal newspaper named Gareth as a ‘Rising Star, Future Leader’ for his work on tackling climate change.

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