Stirred Not Shaken

I continue to be stirred no shaken.

In the years since the event of the 9-11 tragedy, we have spent billions to stop the "war on terror" to stop the next terrorist attack and spent little of our resources on the true threat, that of Natures ability to respond to climate change and her own set of rules.  Now then I ask, when are we going to collectively wise up?

Impossible to war with Nature and expect to win. There can only be humble respect, submission and understanding that maybe we've been too complacent about Natures ability to destroy and disrupt in favor of being afraid of the unknown terrorist.

Food for thought.

For me this storm devastation in NYC is compared to the blackout of 1965, 1981 subway and garbage strikes, September 11, 2001, all in one……

Remain calm folks and when we are done cleaning up the mess from Natures wrath, let's get together and plan our future cities and towns with the Environment in mind.

Al Gore "Dirty Energy makes Dirty Weather"

From Al Gores' Blog

Statement on Hurricane Sandy This week, our nation has anxiously watched as Hurricane Sandy lashed the East Coast and caused widespread damage--affecting millions. Now more than ever, our neighbors need our help. Please consider donating or volunteering for your local aid organizations.

The images of Sandy’s flooding brought back memories of a similar--albeit smaller scale-- event in Nashville just two years ago. There, unprecedented rainfall caused widespread flooding, wreaking havoc and submerging sections of my hometown. For me, the Nashville flood was a milestone. For many, Hurricane Sandy may prove to be a similar event: a time when the climate crisis—which is often sequestered to the far reaches of our everyday awareness became a reality.

While the storm that drenched Nashville was not a tropical cyclone like Hurricane Sandy, both storms were strengthened by the climate crisis. Scientists tell us that by continually dumping 90 million tons of global warming pollution into the atmosphere every single day, we are altering the environment in which all storms develop. As the oceans and atmosphere continue to warm, storms are becoming more energetic and powerful. Hurricane Sandy, and the Nashville flood, were reminders of just that. Other climate-related catastrophes around the world have carried the same message to hundreds of millions.

Sandy was also affected by other symptoms of the climate crisis. As the hurricane approached the East Coast, it gathered strength from abnormally warm coastal waters. At the same time, Sandy's storm surge was worsened by a century of sea level rise. Scientists tell us that if we do not reduce our emissions, these problems will only grow worse.

Hurricane Sandy is a disturbing sign of things to come. We must heed this warning and act quickly to solve the climate crisis. Dirty energy makes dirty weather.

Nature-Culture Divide

Bridging The Nature-Cultural Divide

It might appear illogical that NYC SubwayGirl a subway performer was at the Central Park Woodlands Stewardship conference on October 5th amidst architect students, landscape architects and firms representing top minds in the field for a conversation about stewardship.  It actually was as logical as a woodlands thriving deep in the center of an urban environment.

I love NY and I love the Park so I was excited to participate. One of the presenters of the event (Cultural Landscape Foundation) found my sustainability blog (I love search engines), I blogged about the conference. They invited me to come along and see for myself.  It was held at the fantastic Museum of The City of New York.

During breaks and a beautiful walk through the Park, I asked my favorite question to a few participants, What's Your Inspiration? 

As I explained why I was there, I found my description of myself in the context of the conversation about urban parks, not only interesting, but it actually helped me to define myself a bit more completely than just "I sing in the subway."

I love analogies, so I was trying out the thought of the subway musician as an ecotone (definition: the defining geographic transitional line where valley meets mountain, prairie meets forest,  where land meets water), where a stationary musician meets commuters rush, where music meets subway sounds, where my asking "What's your inspiration?" to a stranger meets community.

I learned landscape architecture and stewardship of a public park has to include emotional feeling and experience, something not necessarily associated with riding or commuting in a subway system.  NYC Subway Girl attempts to bring these into the conversation.  Meeting a commuter who pauses to chat and then asking the question about inspiration, brings out an emotional feeling that is deeply poignant and inspirational itself.

Here I thought I was going to the conference to learn about Central Park (and I did), but I left learning more about myself.

I heard that "if green space are the lungs of the city, then parks are the soul of the city, a lens and window into nature."  Christian Zimmerman Prospect Park Alliance 

In stewardship of an urban park, we can no longer use the old adage "leave it alone" succumbing to fears about not thinning or felling trees that would positively help restore the landscape designed by man in the first place. "We need to love nature with more intelligence." Charles Birnbaum. That's why the conference entitled Bridging The Nature/Cultural Divide, is so compelling.

One question raised "What do we preserve today?"

Eric Sanderman:  "Nature doesn't think of states, but regions."  He spoke of Mannahatta (Manhattan of 400 years ago) saying if you dropped an indigenous person into a section of the island, they would know just by looking at the trees, the undergrowth, what kind of habitat it was and the animals that lived there. Same in our 21st century urban environment, "if you were blindfolded and dropped into Times Square, you'd be able to say a lot about the environment."  We all have the ability to fit and understand our environment. The point being, that there is a large network that we are all a part of.  

Another point raised,  if you removed man from the planet, nature would restore, if you removed insects, the environment would collapse. It says a lot doesn't it?

Todd Forrest from the Bronx Botanical Garden: "we've learned we can no longer say Mother knows best in an urban park design," in truth, "the genie was out of the land."

Michael Boland Wildlife Conservation Society: "wildlife doesn't understand the difference between a national park or a city park… we need to connect parks with corridors to allow migration and movement of wildlife (for example: migratory birds  "fly corridor").  A wildlands network.

Did you know that the Quail is the state bird of California? Problem is they are all but non existent due to climate change. And the state tree in Illinois is the White Oak, which they no longer plant because they are already in decline. Bright minds throughout the world are learning to adapt to nature's constantly evolving or declining species.

Elizabeth Meyer professor Landscape Architecture University of Virginia started up the second session. "Woodlands are affected by use and abuse. To manage woodlands and wildlife in an urban habitat there needs to be a management philosophy." She further added, "Woodland from a cultural aspect, is a result of designed judgement."

Designer of the evocative and reimagined Queens Plaza, Landscape Architect Margie Ruddick added that "Art helps people connect with a place and helps proprietary commitment."  As a subway musician performing in public spaces I see that first hand every time I perform.

It was an truly informative and wonderful day spent with thinkers in the world of landscape architecture. I left feeling empowered and optimistic about the people out in the field working passionately every day to find solutions to better serve communities and humankind while not forgetting nature's involvement.

The clip features inspirations from Charles Birnbaum, founder president Cultural Landscape Foundation and Eric Sanderson, Wildlife Conservation Society, Michael Boland, The Presidio Trust, Alanna Rios, student City College of New York, Christopher Valencia, student City College of New York, Mauro Crestani, EXP US Servces Inc., Joanna Pertz, Landscape Architect, Eddie Krakhmalnikov, University of Minnesota, Margie Ruddick, Landscape Architect, Elizabeth Meyer, Professor Landscape Architecture, University of Virginia 

Update on 2012-10-24 17:25 by NYC Subway Girl

Amazing Gift revealed today:  The Central Park Conservancy has received the largest donation ever made to a public park to help us sustain the Park's health for generations. John A. Paulson and the Paulson Family Foundation have given $100 million to help maintain and restore every one of the Park's 843 acres.

Everyone at the Conservancy and for current and future New Yorkers, thank Mr. Paulson for his enormous generosity.

Read more about Mr. Paulson's gift http://ow.ly/eI54S

Central Park Sustainability conference

Making Central Park more sustainable through management of the Central Park woodlands is the subject of a Huffington Post article  and the subject of an October 5, 2012, day long (8am-5pm) conference organized by the Central Park Conservancy and The Cultural Landscape Foundation. Event location Museum Of The City Of New York 1220 Fifth Ave @ 103rd ST

Maintaining Central Park is not easy – and the woodlands, which seem so natural, requires a great deal of attention and balancing the interests of nature and culture (bird watchers, nature lovers, etc).  This is an opportunity to hear from national experts about stewardship of urban woodlands.  As one Central Park Conservancy said of the park, letting nature run its course is not sustainable. 

Nature-Culture II Conference:

The  843-­‐acre  Central  Park,  originally  designed  by  Frederick  Law Olmsted,  Sr.,  and   Calvert Vaux,  with a  succession  of  additions and  refinements  by  Samuel  Parsons,   Jr.,Michael  Rapuano, Gilmore Clarke  and others,  is  also  host  to  230  bird  species,  along   with turtles,  fish,  and countless  species  of  butterflies, dragonflies, and  other  insects.   The  Central  Park  woodlands  are among  the  most historically  significant designed   landscapes  in  the  country, providing  valuable refuge  for  wildlife  and  New   Yorkers alike.  In the  1960s  and  1970s,  Central  Park  experienced an  unprecedented   decline,  suffering  from  neglect  and a  lack  of  management.  Litter filled  its   waterbodies;  its  Great  Lawn  was  a  great  dust  bowl; its woodlands  were  avoided,  not   celebrated.  The  Central  Park Conservancy,  a  private,  not-­‐for-­‐profit organization   created  in 1980,  has  skillfully  and  successfully  reawakened,  restored  and maintained  a world-­‐class  icon.      

Nevertheless,  managing  a  park  that  is  both  a  culturally significant landscape  and   natural  habitat is delicate;  this  conference specifically  examines  sustainability,  the   agendas  of  different constituencies, diversity,  the  role  of  people,  and  public   education.  

Creating  a  progression  of  varied  landscape  experiences  was  a  primary  goal  of  Central   Park's designers. Within  the  landscapes  themselves,  horticultural  diversity  was  also  a   goal.  In the Ramble,  both  exotic  and  native  plants  were  to  provide  a  sense  of lushness  and  intricacy, realizing Olmsted’s  intended  "wild  garden"effect.  Neglect  of   the  Park’s  woodlands  over  a prolonged  period resulted  in  a  lack  of  horticultural  and   social  (as  well  as  scenic)  diversity. What  park  stewards  know is  “letting  nature  take   its  course”  is  not  sustainable.  While  the woodlands  serve  to  provide  the experience   of  escape  from  urban  life,  they  are  in  fact designed  urban  landscapes  that require   consistent  management.  

The  conference  features  two  panels  addressing  this  stewardship  dilemma;  the  irst   (the morning session)  focuses  on  “lessons  learned”  by  public  sector  stewards  at   Prospect  Park  (Brooklyn), New  York Botanical  Garden,  and  The  Presidio  (San   Francisco);  the second  (afternoon  session) will  be comprised of  landscape  architects   in  private  practice  with  experience  in  urban  parks  

complete  list:  

Speakers  and  Moderators:   ␣ Eric  W.  Sanderson,  Senior  Conservation Ecologist,  Wildlife Conservation  Society  (moderator)   ␣ Christian  Zimmerman, Vice  President  for  Design  & Construction,  The  Prospect  Park  Alliance, Brooklyn,  NY   ␣ Michael  Boland,  Chief  Planning, Projects  &  Programs  Officer, The  Presidio  Trust,  San  Francisco,  CA   ␣ Todd  Forrest,  Arthur Ross Vice President  for  Horticulture  and  Living  Collections,  The  New  York  Botanical Garden   ␣ Elizabeth  K. Meyer, Associate  Professor,  University  of  Virginia, School  of  Architecture,  Landscape Architecture  (moderator)   Dennis  McGlade, President/Partner,  OLIN,  Philadelphia,  PA  and  Los Angeles,  CA   ␣ Margie Ruddick,  Margie  Ruddick  Landscape,  Philadelphia,  PA   ␣ Keith  Bowers, Biohabitats, Baltimore,  MD  

Registration  is  $150  and  is  available  at  the  conference  Web  site. The  Central Park  Conservancis  the presenting  sponsor,  with additional  support   provided by Landscape Forms  and  the  Museum  of the  City of New  York.  

About  the  Central  Park  Conservancy :  The  mission  of  the  Central Park Conservancy  is  to restore, manage  and  enhance Central  Park  in partnership  with  the  public,  for  the  enjoyment of present  and future generations. A  private,  not-­‐for-­‐profit  organization  founded  in 1980,  the Conservancy   provides 85 percent of Central  Park's  $46 million  park-­‐wide  expense  budget and  is responsible  for  all  basic care of the Park.  Since  1980,  the  Conservancy has  overseen   the investment  of  more  than  $650  million into Central  Park.  For more information  on   the Conservancy,  please  visit  centralparknyc.org 

About  The  Cultural  Landscape  Foundation: The  Cultural  Landscape Foundation provides  people with the ability to  see, understand and  value landscape architecture  and  its  practitioners, in  the  way many   people have learned  to  do with  buildings  and their  designers. Through  its  Web  site,   lectures,  outreach and publishing,  TCLF broadens  the  support  and  understanding for   cultural landscapes nationwide  to  help safeguard  our priceless heritage  for  future   generations. 

The  Central  Park  Conservancy  is  the  presenting  sponsor,  with additional  support   provided  by Landscape  Forms  and  the  Museum  of the  City  of  New  York.  About  the  Central  Park Conservancy :  The  mission  of  the  Central Park  Conservancy  is  to  restore,  manage  and enhance Central  Park  in partnership  with  the  public,  for  the  enjoyment of present  and future generations. A  private,  not-­‐for-­‐profit  organization  founded  in 1980,  the  Conservancy   provides  85  percent of Central  Park's  $46 million  park-­‐wide  expense  budget  and  is responsible  for  all  basic care  of the Park.  Since  1980,  the  Conservancy  has  overseen   the investment  of  more  than  $650  million into  Central  Park.  For  more information  on   the  Conservancy,  please  visit  centralparknyc.org 

Broadway Green Alliance collection bins for recycling ease

I love the Broadway Green Alliance and what they are doing little by little to make a huge effort in not only how theatrical sets are recycled, but how to change day to day habits, helping to reduce the enormous amount of waste we produce in NYC and beyond. Read more below and consider joining (it's free).  also connect with Rebekah Sale, rsale@broadwaygreen.com who can fill you in on all you need to know and how to become an active recycler. It will change your life. I've been saving chip bags wondering where I can recycle them, read on.  Corks? you bet. Batteries?  No one should consider throwing into waste bin.  EVER! So here's the deal, yes it takes a little effort and maybe a visit to one of the drop off locations, but BGA is working hard to make it easy for us all. Boradway Green Alliance office is located at W. 46 St., #1312, 13th Fl.. I love their newsletter so much I want to share it, so read on..... Broadway Green Alliance August 2012 Dear friends of the Broadway Green Alliance, Trying to find a better way to dispose of batteries, corks, toner cartridges, or old makeup containers? The BGA operates more than a dozen collection bins for items like these to make sure they get properly recycled or even up-cycled. We also operate a binder exchange and twice yearly electronic waste and textile collections in Times Square.  See below for a complete list of our collections. Broadway Green Alliance Collections Batteries  Rechargeable: Recycled through the 4th Bin (4thbin.org).  Collected at the Gershwin (242 W. 51 St.) and Minskoff (200 W. 45 St.) Theatre Stage Doors. Regular: Recycled through WeRecycle! (werecycle.com)  Collected at our twice yearly E-waste events in Times Square (January and July) or at the BGA office (165 W. 46 St., #1312, 13th Fl.) year-round. Binders  All kinds and sizes are accepted at this exchange; great for readings and workshops! You can drop off or pick up as many as you need.  Collected at the BGA Office and soon at Actors' Equity too (165 W. 46 St. -- 15th Fl.). Bottle caps, plastic Recycled through Aveda (aveda.com).  Accepted at the BGA office or at any Aveda store. (Please note: metal bottle caps are recyclable through NYC Residential recycling or by all theater waste haulers) Candy wrappers  Upcycled through Terracycle (terracycle.net). Collected at the Majestic Theatre (247 W. 44 St.). Individual candy wrappers, large candy bags and multi-pack candy bags. Chip bags  Upcycled through Terracycle. Collected at the Majestic Theatre. Any size, brand, style of chip bag. Cleaner Packaging Upcycled through TerraCycle (see terracycle.net for complete list of accepted items). Collected at BC/EFA (165 W. 46, Suite #1300, 13 Fl.).  Pumps, triggers, pouches, and flexible cleaner product packaging. Corks Upcycled through Terracycle. Collected at the Gershwin, Majestic, and Minskoff Theatres All natural or synthetic corks as well as cork stops. Electronic waste (e-waste)  Recycled through WeRecycle! Smaller items collected at the BGA office year-round or wait for our twice yearly drives. Inkjets Upcycled through TerraCycle. All Inkjets accepted. Collected at BC/EFA. Makeup containers   Upcycled through Terracycle. Collected at the Imperial (249 W. 45 St.) Theatre. See terracycle.net for a complete list. Includes most tubes, bottles, jars, cases and old makeup. Stuffers --cast change notices for Playbill insertion. Upcycled into scrap pads through Genie Printing by the BGA. Contact the BGA to drop off boxes of stuffers.   Textiles  Recycled by Wearable Collections (wearablecollections.com).  Collected at the BGA office, at Actors' Equity--14th Floor Credit Union, and Local 764 Wardrobe Union year-round. Or bring to our twice yearly Textile Drives in Duffy Square (March and September). Toner Cartridges  Upcycled through TerraCycle.  See terracycle.net for a full list. Collected at BC/EFA.  Some Brother, Canon, Dell, Panasonic, Xerox, Apple and all HP types of toner cartridges accepted.   Writing Instruments  Upcycled through TerraCycle. Collected at the BGA office. Pens, mechanical pencils, markers, highlighters, permanent markers, and all related caps. Thank you for being a member of the Broadway Green Alliance! Please contact us with any issues, questions, or green ideas. Rebekah Sale, rsale@broadwaygreen.com Next collection drive: Textiles Coming up in Times Square in September Next collection drive: Textiles Coming up in Times Square in September Our textile recycling partner, Wearable Collections, accepts all clean clothing, paired shoes, hats, belts, bags, sheets, towels, curtains, etc. Including stained, torn, or broken items.  watch our website BROADWAYGREEN.COM for a confirmed date We have a couple of special offers that we would like to tell you about:  Did you know our members can sign up to save money on janitorial and office supplies at Staples through the strategic sourcing company, ServCo?  Some of our members have switched to greener supplies andsaved 10-30% in the process, by signing up for this program.   All members get a program customized to the specific needs of their theater or organization Office products Janitorial products Technology Furniture All members receive the same price - smaller companies buy at the discounts available to the larger organizations Savings are ranging from 15% - 30% for current participants On-line ordering, free next day delivery (anywhere in the US) Over 50,000 products to pick from including approximately 3,000 green products Local Staples service team Cost to participate: BGA membership (free, but you must sign up) 30% of first year's savings (as the fee to ServCo) To find out what your specific savings could be -- on the products you currently order or on even greener ones -- please send an email to us at green@broadway.org and we will send you more information about the BGA green products program. Do you love biking? For the first time the BGA is applying to be a charity partner for Bike New York's 2013 Five Boro Bike Tour.  This amazing, 40-mile ride takes place on Sunday, May 5th, 2013. BGA riders can be part of a team raising money for the BGA and receive a guaranteed entry in the ride. If you are interested in riding, just send an email to green@broadway.org and we will be in touch with the fundraising information and riding details.Take a look athttp://www.bikenewyork.org/ride/five-boro-bike-tour/ to find out more about this fun ride.

Food Revolution Mealku + Jamie Oliver

All around the world a Food Revolution is emerging. As a singer songwriter the power of song and inspiration figure prominently in my life so does food. I awakened to the need to know my food source and stay clear of Agribiz in my early 20's when first I discovered that I had Hepatitis C.  I have found my choices of eating healthily have made me stronger, clearer, more focused and certainly healthier.  I want to give a shout out to 2 amazing individuals who are bringing the food revolution into the lexicon of our lives : Ted D'Cruz-Young of the newly developed Homecooked Food Cooperative MealKu, and Jamie Oliver of Jamie's Food Foundation.

Mealku is THE Homemade Meal Cooperative where the best homecooks in the land share carefully prepared meals. They handle delivery. I met Ted D'Cruz-Young developer and founder of Melku, one afternoon at a LIRR Music Under NY gig where I was performing, Ted stopped for a moment and then invited me to sing at his launch party. I have enjoyed performing at many of his inspirational events to help get his food revolution growing in NYC.

MealKu Mission

Our mission is to provide a place for everyone to find delicious, healthy meal options with easy access to locally-prepared food from trusted neighborhood home cooks.

Mealku is a homemade meal cooperative that supports good food practices, community outreach, and local businesses. Simply and fundamentally, we whole-heartedly believe that good food should be universal and affordable. We are creating a platform where home cooks can connect with one another, collaborate their efforts, and share valuable skills and wisdom. Join the Good Food Revolution now!

And it's thanks to Ted that I learned of Jamie Oliver. Mealku has partnered in an event with Jamie's Foundation where I will be performing.  Nothing I like better than helping to change the world through song and food!

JamiesFoodRevolution

Jamie's Food Revolution aims to change the way people eat by educating every child about food, empowering families by arming them with the skills and knowledge to cook again, and inspiring everyone to stand up for their rights to better food; which in turn will fight the epidemic of diet-related diseases.

We're losing the war against obesity in the US. It's sad, but true. Our kids are growing up overweight and malnourished from a diet of processed foods, and today's children will be the first generation ever to live shorter lives than their parents. It's time for change. It's time for a Food Revolution.

"Since I've been working in America, I've been overwhelmed by the number of people who have come out to support the Food Revolution. More than 630,000 people have signed the petition, over 300,000 of you subscribe to our newsletter and thousands of you have written to me. The only message I keep hearing is that you believe your kids need better food, and that you want help to keep cooking skills alive. That's why this Food Revolution matters."

The problem stems from the loss of cooking skills at home and the availability of processed foods at every turn, from the school cafeteria to church function halls, factories and offices. This Food Revolution is about saving lives by inspiring everyone: moms, dads, kids, teens and cafeteria workers to get back to basics and start cooking good food from scratch.

Jamie's ambition: A national movement to change the way America eats

Jamie wants to mobilize the huge response to the Food Revolution so far and turn it into a movement for change in which America leads the world. It will bring together millions of people and inspire the nation to fight obesity with better food. At its heart is a powerful strategy to get people cooking again. Here are some of the ways we'll be doing that:

• More cooking at home

◦ A nationwide network of community kitchens where anyone can go to learn basic home cooking

◦ Jamie's home cooking course

• Freshly cooked meals at school

◦ An activist program to support parents who want better food in their child's school

◦ A community website to encourage grass-roots activities for change all over the US

• Cooking in the community

◦ The Food Revolution truck, a mobile food classroom and flagship center for the Food Revolution

◦ A cooking course available in church halls, community and healthcare centers and the workplace

• Schools and Communities - to inspire and educate parents, carers, young adults and children through:

◦ Freshly cooked meals in schools and colleges

◦ Cooking lessons for kids at school

◦ Lessons teaching basic food skills to healthcare and social care professionals

◦ Cooking classes for the public in the community

• Corporations - to promote culture change and encourage community investment on several levels:

◦ Food industry - help to tackle obesity by producing better food products and labeling products in a more honest way

◦ Healthcare sector - investing in future health means cost savings down the line

◦ Employee health - provide better food for employees in company canteens and provide cooking classes for employees to give them the skills they need to be healthy

jamie oliver's food foundation

Earth Day 2012

Earth Day is Every Day. I have a wonderful image of billions of people around the planet consciously thinking, acting and learning about our Earth in the most healing and positive of ways. She has given us so much, and now more than ever we need new tools to listen and ultimately change the way we have been treating our home.

We have to take responsibility for our consumption and our waste.  We can't just throw it all away, it's got to go somewhere. What goes up must come down, what goes in must come out, so just because we can't see it (unless you live near a landfill, or happen to watch a garbage barge float by) doesn't mean it's not there.  What is mine becomes yours, for better or for worse, so let's try and do better.  

Observe the wonderment of Nature, and give thanks.

walking through the woods, found this acorn nestled perfectly. Nice catch.

Earth Day 2012 10 Actions

Earth Day is every day in my world, but this week and especially Sunday April 22nd is the 'official' Earth Day, now 42 years in existence.  I remember the first one back in the 1970's and thank my Mom for opening my eyes to being more mindful and earth friendly. 

Why bother with Earth Day? Living a life with consideration for our planet's sustainability takes time, takes conscious effort and intent.  My take is the effort is well worth the time well spent, it’s good to feel good about caring about our world!!

In time, even one thing done to help make a difference, does make a difference.

Below are 10 actions for My Earth Day is Every Day: Call it sacrifice, learn to embrace it, or better yet, find a solution. But….Doing nothing is the wrong option.

!0 Actions to consider: it's not if but when you...

1) ...will decide it's too expensive to drive alone for one trip you could easily consolidate with other trips.  Rethink your relationship with your car and consider some kind of commuter transportation.

2) ...unplug all the electronics in your home when not in use, and do anything you can to truly understand your energy consumption.  Then make adjustments.

3) ...reduce, reuse and recycle.  How many bags do you throw away,  how many items could you reuse but find too time consuming to do anything about.  What do you do with all your now obsolete gadgets?  Find an e-waste depot near you. http://www.lesecologycenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=4&Itemid=7  and http://ecycler.com/

4) ...ask local and national government to consider next generations, not next election cycles. If you find resistance, vote for change.

5) ...switch to homemade or non-petroleum based cleaning products (yes most household products from dish detergent to shampoo use petroleum).  And no fooling, switching is much healthier for your home environment.

6) ...support your local economy.  There is a reason you can get cheap goods at big box stores-off shore corporations pay labor cents per hour and get huge tax breaks to do so.  

7) ...eat out less and use what you have in your cupboard more.

8) ...update appliances and recycle the old (do not reuse those energy guzzlers). 

9) ...take advantage of state and national tax credits for updating your energy systems and home weatherizing.

10) ...teach a child to care about the environment and they will carry it with them throughout their lives.  It's their future.

One thing is certain: the world of today will be different tomorrow - and the day after that, and on and on ad infinitum. The question is not whether we must learn to live sustainably, but how fast we can do so. from University of North Dakota 

2010 thoughts for Earth Day

2011 thoughts for Earth Day

Generation Waking Up: The Story Of Our Generation

In the last 100 years we have consumed more natural resources than in Human History combined

Generation Waking Up is a global campaign to ignite a generation of young people to bring forth a thriving, just, sustainable world. This video is part of the Generation Waking Up Experience - called a 'WakeUp' for short - a multimedia educational workshop that inspires young people to transform their lives and communities. Learn more 

Help build the movement by donating at Generation Waking Up   Stay connected on facebook

Video Credits
(The WakeUp is an adaptation of the Awakening The Dreamer, Changing The Dream Symposium created by The Pachamama Alliance.)

Producer: Valerie Love
Cinematographer & Editor: Esteban Duarte 
Associate Producer: Joshua Gorman
Original Score: Luis Maurette, 
Motion Graphics: Rich Johnson & Joshua Adams
Sound Mix: Alvaro Lopez, 
Project Fellows: Clayton Yan & Xander Weaver-Scull

Project Advisors:
Michelle Grenier, Rivkah Medow, Nwamaka Agbo, Tracy Apple, Ben Cole

Interviewees:
Iamani Sims, Joshua Kahn Russell, Nikki Henderson, Hai Vo, Mallika Nair, Colin MIller, Irene Bonilla, David Hopkins, Darcie Jordan, Seema Rupani, Junior Walk, Daniela Plattner, Marya Folinsbee, DeAnthony Jones, Barbara Jefferson, Tania Pulido, Jessie Alberto, Matt Robertson, Zakiya Harris, Kiritapu Allan, Gerardo Marin, Gerald Reyes, Cherine Badawi, Kyle Thiermann, Lili Molina, Lisa Abregu, Corin Blanchard, Summer Rayne Oakes, Taysa Mohler, Julia Hassal-Polito

Media Partners
Pachamama Alliance,  Ella Baker Center, Brower Youth Awards, Ian Mackenzie, 
Velcrow Ripper, Tar Sands Action, Michael Zelligs, Ayla Nereo, Ivan Arturo, 

NYC E-Waste events

UPDATE Lower East Side Ecology Center now accepting drop off e-waste Tues-Sat in one location

In many of my previous blogs I write about the Lower East Side Ecology Center and their amazing E-waste events in NYC. This January celebrates their 9th year of "After The Holidays" E-waste events. My favorite is being held Saturday January 21st in front of Tekserve, the 1st Apple store-support center in NYC (before there even was such a thing as an Apple store,) @ 24th st bet 6th and 7th avenues. Follow links for other events near you.  

Check out the list of what you can bring, I went to one with a full box and even brought my pups along for the trip (why not, it was a teachable moment). If you're in a car, it's simple, because they block a section of the street for cars to pull up-you don't even have to get out of your car or taxi. Some even come on a bike.

It would be great to get your neighbors and your Apartment Building or Small Business involved.

All collected electronics will be recycled by WeRecycle!, an environmentally and socially responsible local recycler. The Electronic Waste Recycling Program is made possible by Tekserve, Con Edison and The New York Community Trust.  

here's a clip I made of from my September recycling e-waste trip:

On September I7, 2011 I walked to an LES Ecology Center e-waste event in front of Tekserve. With my pups in tow, we brought a box of old cell phones, cameras, a fax machine, transformers and cables to be properly disposed of. It was a true NY moment. When we arrived I met Development Director, Caroline Kruse who shared with me just how easy it is to recycle electronic waste.
It might take a little of your time, but recycling e-waste is so important. It feels good to know there's something you can do to reduce the massive amount of toxic waste we produce and discard without much thought. The Lower East Side Ecology Center leads the way. 

Holiday waste? reduce, reuse, recycle

Here's some ideas on how to be more environmentally thoughtful for the Holiday shopping, gift giving season.

Shopping has an environmental cost, especially online shopping with extra packing and shipping cost of transporting those gifts door to door.  Did you know that 25% more waste is produced between Thanksgiving and New Year's? Be mindful of how to reuse packing boxes and materials.  When shopping, bring bags with you so you don't arrive home with so much unnecessary waste.

Recycle old wrapping paper, cards, boxes and packing materials.  I collect throughout the year and reuse.  What to do with the plastic bubble wrap shipping envelopes?  I reuse those too, either covering over the address to add the new one, or filling a box with them as packing materials.

Most wrapping paper and cards use toxic paint and dye.  I try and reuse those as much as possible. I also take last years Holiday cards and cut off the covers and find a creative way to send a "new" card to family and friends. Or make Christmas tree ornaments by cutting out shapes and holiday images. 

For wrapping paper, I save and trim off any old tape or ripped sections.  This year I used all old paper to wrap gifts.  In our family with people as far away as Oregon, North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan and Florida, we were happy to pack our Christmas packages with boxes and packing that we reused from previous packages.  In our apartment with little space, I do break down the box and store flat in the back of the closet.  Sure I need to use extra packing tape that way, but it's better than throwing the entire box out.  so much better to use an already existing box. Imagine the energy used to take a cardboard box and turn it into a new one.  I'd rather just use the old one.

When I get those pesky Styrofoam packing peanuts I fill up a small plastic bag like one you can get at the veggies aisle at the grocery store. With an old twist tie from a bag of bread, I tie off the bag.  These small packs of packing I reuse to fill my boxes and more importantly the recipient doesn't get to open a box with Styrofoam peanuts flying all over the place. If I can't use them, then I donate to a local shipping store. 

My thoughts:

1-Reuse wrapping paper. Think twice before crunching up wrapping paper, take a moment and fold and save for next year.

2-Reuse boxes and packing materials.  If you can't reuse, find a local shipping store and donate your boxes and packing materials.  They are happy to have them.

3-create new creative cards and ornaments form old Holiday cards.

4-Bring your own shopping bags with you to the store to reuse multiple times instead of gathering more waste.

Not bad, all these gifts were wrapped with reused paper!

Sheryl Eisenberg of NRDC has a useful December 2011 Holiday guide to Reuse and Recycling

Happy Solstice,

Cathy NYCSubwayGirl 

e-waste event September 17th

I am a huge fan of The Lower East Side Ecology Center, they not only champion a sustainable NYC (since 1987) but they are a go-to for education and my favorite e-waste recycling day. This will be their only summer event but will have events in all five boroughs in the fall. There's still time to do something that not only helps the environment, but helps you to feel good about getting rid of all that stuff you're collecting that you no longer have room or use for:

September 17, 2011 | 10:00am - 4:00pm Tekserve, 119 West 23rd Street (between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue), New York, NY 10011    Map It  Tell A Friend info@lesecologycenter.org The Ecology Center is holding an electronic waste ("e-waste") recycling event at Tekserve in Chelsea to responsibly recycle unwanted or broken electronics from New York City residents. This is one of 17 e-waste recycling events that the Ecology Center will be holding in all five boroughs in September and October. A list of acceptable materials can be found here and we accept electronics from households and small businesses (less than 50 employees, please call ahead) as well as not-for-profits. We do not accept home appliances such as microwaves, refrigerators, or air conditioners. The electronic waste recycling program is made possible by Tekserve. Directions Transit: Take the F or M train to 23rd Street, walk 1 block west or take the M23 bus. Driving: The event will be on the north side of West 23rd Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.

Batteries and Metro Cards

Here's the 2nd installment of my Green Apple blog for Busker site The Noise Beneath The Apple. Today, I thought I'd share some tips on 2 things most NYC buskers use every day on the job, Batteries and Metro cards.

Batteries:  Street/subway musicians for the most part use battery powered amplifiers and playback units.  It's a must to use rechargeable batteries.   Of course the initial expense is higher than using alkaline batteries, but the result does mean financial savings, more hours on one battery and less waste.

There's no easy solution where and how to get rid of used/dead batteries. Do not to throw batteries in the trash. If the law is an incentive, as of 2006 it's illegal in NYC to discard rechargeable batteries. Batteries are toxic that leach serious metals/chemicals into landfill if not properly discarded. It's amazing that we still don't have a great way to return/recycle batteries, follow the links to sites in your area that do.  The good news is that most companies will take your rechargeable batteries for recycling. Just ask.  If they don't, your asking might finally prompt them to do something and make a new policy.  That's how it's done folks, old-fashioned care and demand for change.

These sites can help: The Lower East Side Ecology Center and Call 2 Recycle both have local e-waste information(collection of batteries, small personal devices and larger items like computers and printers).

I save my used batteries in a take away container and return when I have enough to make the trip worthwhile.

The BGA, Broadway Green Alliance, made a fantastic campaign and got Broadway houses to switch their Marquee's to LED lights and rechargeable batteries for all their body mics.  Imagine the amount of eco-energy savings. And there's still juice left over, enough to use in ushers flashlights.  Cool.

Metro cards:  Unless you like to use them to clip on you bike spokes, learn to reuse your metro card.  Cards are good for 1 year so that's one years worth on 1 card.  Think of the eco-savings. Then you can use on your bike. Make sure to check the expiration date on the back because unfortunately you have to send the card in for a refund after expiration date. 

That's all for now folks and always remember to be mindful of the 3 R's. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Earth Day 2011

Earth Day is every day in my world, but this week and especially tomorrow April 22nd is the 'official' Earth Day, now 41 years in existence.  I remember the first one back in the 1970's and thank my Mom for opening my eyes to being more mindful and earth friendly. 

Japan's tragic earthquake and tsunami have had horrific and catastrophic repercussions on shortsighted human made environments i.e building nuclear power plants on earthquake fault lines, and ignoring tsunami calculations.  It's one year since the BP's Deep Water Horizons off-shore drilling disaster. Drilling is not the answer.  Finding new technologies away from our deep addiction to oil, is.  Hey we moved on from the horse when there was great resistance to automobiles.  I've just returned from a trip to France, gas there is  $8+ per gallon.  I took a high speed train from the south of the country to Paris, it was efficient, comfortable and cheap.

Along the way I passed a field of wind turbines.  They might not be pretty to some people, and there is that whole NIMBY (not in my back yard) rage, but we have to do something to counterattack oil consumption.  And let me add this thought, if a wind farm was hit by an earthquake and tsunami, no one would be evacuating for miles or stopping to eat livestock or agricultural harvests for seasons/generations to come.  

Why bother with Earth Day? Living a life with consideration for our planet's sustainability takes time, takes conscious effort and intent.  My take is the effort is well worth the time well spent, it’s good to feel good about caring about our world!!

In time, even one thing done to help make a difference, does make a difference.

One thing is certain: the world of today will be different tomorrow - and the day after that, and on and on ad infinitum. The question is not whether we must learn to live sustainably, but how fast we can do so. from University of North Dakota website

My Earth Day 2011 thoughts to consider, it's not if but when you...

1) ...will decide it's too expensive to drive alone for one trip you could easily consolidate with other trips.  Rethink your relationship with your car and consider some kind of commuter transportation.

2) ...unplug all the electronics in your home when not in use, and do anything you can to truly understand your energy consumption.  Then make adjustments.

3) ...reduce, reuse and recycle.  How many bags do you throw away,  how many items could you reuse but find too time consuming to do anything about.  What do you do with all your now obsolete gadgets?  Find an e-waste depot near you.  

4) ...ask local and national government to consider next generations, not next election cycles. If you find resistance, vote for change.

5) ...switch to homemade or non-petroleum based cleaning products (yes most household products from dish detergent to shampoo use petroleum).  And no fooling, switching is much healthier for your home environment.

6) ...support your local economy.  There is a reason you can get cheap goods at big box stores-off shore corporations pay labor cents per hour and get huge tax breaks to do so.  

7) ...eat out less and use what you have in your cupboard more.

8) ...update appliances and recycle the old (do not reuse those energy guzzlers). 

9) ...take advantage of state and national tax credits for updating your energy systems and home weatherizing.

10) ...teach a child to care about the environment and they will carry it with them throughout their lives.  It's their future.

Regarding my 10 actions to consider: Call it sacrifice, learn to embrace it, or better yet, find a solution. But,

Doing nothing is the wrong option.

2010 thoughts for Earth Day

Thoughts For Earth Day

read my Earth Day 2011 blog

Catalogs:  don’t just throw them away, certainly recycle, use as wrapping paper, better yet call the number on catalog and get your name removed from the list.  Most company’s products are available to view online and are the most update anyway.

Household cleaning products: step away from your kitchen and bathroom sink cabinets and smell the toxins!  Most household products you’ve been using since well, who can remember when? Most are really toxic and there are great alternatives, and much cheaper too.  For example, save an old window cleaner spray bottle, buy a gallon jug of white vinegar and experiment mixing with water, I use about one cup vinegar for one spray bottle, and voila a great window cleaner.  Same for cleaning floors, vinegar in a hot bucket of water does the trick.

A clothes dryer is energy wasteful and actually destroys the fabric, Where else does all that lint come from. Little by little the dryer is eating away at your clothes.  Okay, I too use a dryer, but not for too much time.  Actually we over-dry our clothes, or over pack the dryer so it has to work that much harder.  Try hanging clothes over the shower bar and you’d be surprised how quickly things dry on their own.  A folding wooden clothes hanger was best investment I’ve made.  Where possible, hanging laundry on a line makes clothes smell fresh and saves energy.

Reuse as much as possible, I know it can be yucky, but come on what’s wrong with reusing a plastic veggie bag from the store?  I rinse and hang on a door cabinet pull (hide away when neighbors drop by, so the kitchen doesn’t look like a plastic factory), plastic is the most intensely disgusting wasteful product we seem to not be able to live without.  Plastic bottles, try switching to a glass one, or refill.  Of course do not leave a plastic bottle to heat up in a car-harmful toxins seep into the drink.  Same with plastic containers, for a long life, hand wash, as the dishwasher heats up enough to release toxins.  Scratching plastic with coarse sponge can also release toxins, so be gentle with them.  When done recycle.

To-Go containers are horrible and here in NY we can’t even recycle most of them.  Look for the lower numbers on the bottom.  Actually, aluminum to-go containers are the best bet as they can be recycled.  Luckily products are coming more and more available that are biodegradable. So try and either support those businesses who use them, or make sure to ask them to make a switch.

So my thought for Earth Day, we have to take responsibility for our consumption and our waste.  We can't just throw it all away, it's got to go somewhere.  What goes up must come down, what goes in must come out, so just because we can't see it (unless you live near a landfill, or happen to watch a garbage barge float by) doesn't mean it's not there.  What is mine becomes yours, for better or for worse, so let's try and do better. 

The Noise Beneath The Apple

The Noise Beneath the Apple™ TNBTA is a global e-zine that focuses on the people, players and politics of busking and street performers. Believing that busking is a collective adventure, social commentary and political statement. Street performing promotes culture, preserves community and creates an environment for our ever changing times and human evolution. Their subject matter is produced by a team of passionate bloggers, music professionals, policy makers and enthusiasts from around the world.

Heather Jacks and photographer Bryan Close came by Staten Island Ferry terminal last week to meet and film me for this amazing project.

The Green Apple 

I am excited to be asked to write a blog on TNBTA.  I'm particularly interested in sustainability and how we can make our world more environmentally protected.  You might have seen my Sustainability section on my site where I share stories, information and links on how to learn to make a difference.  On The Noise Beneath The Apple, I call it "The Green Apple."

Here's my first blog and there's even a free download MP3 of my song 'Comin' Back To Me.'

check back for more blogs and great exposes on some pretty great subway performers.

thanks Heather 

how about liking The Noise Beneath The Apple facebook page too.

Plasticless NYC? Join Juli's quest

Sustainabilty kudos this week go to blogger Juli @ Plasticless NYC

Juli's got things into perspective and is doing something to help reduce and stop our addiction to plastic.  She writes a great blog called Plasticless NYC.  Haven't you ever thought about where all those bottles go? Even if we do recycle them, there is so much energy and waste and pollution that goes into making/re-making them. Here in NYC, in my humble opinion we have the best tasting water. What happened to enjoying our own tap water in a glass?

Check it out

Here's one post about why Kool-Aid is cooler than any bottled flavored mineral water.  Not that I ever drink flavored drinks, but her 10 reasons to rethink kool-aid are great:

10. You can say "Yeah, I'm drinking the Kool-Aid" without a hint of irony.

9. Less packaging = Less plastic pollution

8. Kool-Aid is a lot less expensive than Vitaminwater products.

7. Unlike Vitaminwater, Kool-Aid doesn't brag about how nutritious it is, then have its lawyers say 'no consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking our product was a healthy beverage'. And Kool-Aid even has 10% daily value of Vitamin C.

6. With Kool-Aid, you can know exactly where the water is coming from, and what is in it. Not true with Vitaminwater.*

5. The money you spend for Kool-Aid isn't going to multimillion dollar celebrity ad campaigns (yuck).

4. You generally don't see Kool-Aid packets littering city streets. Vitaminwater bottles? They're all over the place.

3. Instead of drinking stuff that looks like Kool-Aid, you could just drink Kool-Aid.

2. Vitaminwater is over-hyped and over-exposed. Kool-Aid is retro.

1. "Hey, Ellen DeGeneres!" just doesn't have the same ring as "Hey, Kool-Aid!"

Here are some other cool blogs Juli's plasticless NYC follows and you should too:

• Leave Only Footprints: giving up plastic one month at a time.

• Elizabeth Royte's blog Notes On Waste, Water, Whatever (author of Bottlemania: How Water Went On Sale and Why We Bought It).   

• Take The 5 Plastics Pledge

5 actions you can do your part in reducing our addiction to plastics=petroleum based products.

nerve ending of nuclear reality

As the nuclear catastrophe continues in Japan, my heart goes out to the Japanese people, not to mention all of those who will be affected by the disaster.  Radiation, knows no borders. 

thinking of climate change??

How about our Energy policy?

Just in case you're not, FYI there's now a no-fly zone over Fukushima power plant.

Nuclear power means increased risk of disaster.

nuclear power peacefully?  Is that possible?

don't think so

terrorism?

mother nature??

Tsunami?

Earthquake?

Rising radiation levels.

did I just hear someone say we're at more risk of dying while texting and driving?

Come On, we aren't addressing the facts in proper perspective

Deja Vu?

Interesting how Japan the recipient of this civilizations lowest moment in it's history has full circle returned to the source of it's pain.

the power of nuclear explosions.

time for a change

Japan is on the nerve ending.  My heart aches, my within me vibration is on alert.

the only way to make it right is to fight to find a way.

It's time.

Bryant Park during anti-nuclear march at UN