Green Books Club! - January 14

We are starting a green book club!

Our first book is Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman. The first meeting will take place on January 14th at 6 pm at Kavarna. We will meet the second Wednesday of every month.

Also, because most everyone is pretty busy these days, we are taking two months to finish a book. So, January 14th if you are close to the half-way point (even if you are nowhere near there) you are good to go!

Hope to see you at Kavarna! In the meantime, happy holidays!

Crystal

Green Drinks! Thursday, December 18th

Happy Holidays!

During this wonderful season of giving, we would like to give any new guest at Green Drinks this Thursday, December 18th, a cookie (Alex and Linda make the best chocolate chip cookies ever!) and a free book! We would love for some new faces with fresh perspectives. Please join us as we celebrate the winter solstice (a few days early, but that's ok!) at Kavarna.

On another note, the UWGB Green Drinks has changed meetings from the first Friday of the month to the first Monday of the month.

And finally, we are starting a green books club! The first book is Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman. We will meet the second Wednesday of every month at Kavarna, with our first meeting January 14th at 6 pm. Please feel free to join us if you can and don't feel pressured to read the entire thing at once - we will be reading one book over two months time.

Hope to see you Thursday!

Crystal

Green Bay, WI Green Drinks

Don't Forget - TWO GREEN DRINKS LOCATIONS IN GREEN BAY!
Green Bay Green Drinks Downtown is a monthly 'social gathering' of environmentalists. We meet every third Thursday of the month at Kavarna Coffeehouse, on Broadway.

We start to gather shortly after 6pm, but don't worry if you can't show up until much later. Peak attendance has been 7:30-8:30pm so far. The hours you attend will influence who you may meet, however. People come and go all evening until Kavarna closes at 10pm. Kavarna is a smokefree vegetarian coffeehouse/restaurant that sells bottled beers and wine. Soups, salads, chai and juices are among the many other offerings. All ages welcome. Feel free to bring your kids.

UW-Green Bay Green Drinks is the same, only it's held out at UW-Green Bay the first Monday of every month at the Common Grounds Coffee House. We begin around 6 pm and end around 9 pm.

If some people suggest that "green" is your middle name, you'll probably find value in Green Drinks Green Bay. At this monthly event, people who have a passion for anything "environmental" meet for friendly conversation. Since we started in April 2005, we've been visited by folks with a wide variety of interests: science, art, politics, music, film, health, psychology, nutrition to name a few. Many work in an environmental field as professionals, educators, entrepreneurs or neighborhood activists. You never know who will be there! If you look elsewhere on the website http://www.greendrinks.org/ , you'll see that "Green Drinks" is an international movement.

See http://www.kavarna.com/ for directions to Kavarna at 112 S. Broadway, located on downtown Green Bay's near west side. See http://www.uwgb.com/ for directions to Common Grounds on the UW-Green Bay campus.

Look for the group with a pile of books on the table. First-timers get a free book! Also, please let Crystal (email below) know that you would like to be added to the email reiminder list.

Hosting committee includes Rich Krieg; Crystal Osman, 920-562-2550, crystalosman20[at]gmail[dot]com; Kim Biederman 920.429.9008, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters Institute

KEEP IT MADE IN AMERICA

Tuesday, October 28

6:30 pm
Lambeau Field Atrium

A National Town Hall Meeting

Speakers and panelists include: Margrete Rangnes (Sierra Club); Jon Geenen (USW); Michael Bolton (USW); Sachin Chheda (WI Fair Trade Coalition); Mayor Jim Schmitt; Assemblyman Tom Nelson

Air Alert

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is issuing an Air Quality Watch for Particle Pollution for Brown, Calumet, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Door, Fond du Lac, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago counties effective 12:01 am on Monday, October 13, 2008 through 11:59 pm on Monday, October 13, 2008 .

The watch is being issued because of the forecast for elevated levels of fine particles in the air. Fine particle pollution is composed of microscopic dust, soot, liquid droplets and smoke particles that are 2.5 microns or smaller. These fine particles come primarily from combustion sources, such as power plants, factories and other industrial sources, vehicle exhaust, and outdoor fires.

The Air Quality Index is forecast to reach the orange level, which is considered unhealthy for peop le in sensitive groups. People in those sensitive groups include those with heart or lung disease, asthma, older adults and children. When an air quality watch is issued, people in those groups are advised to reschedule or cut back on strenuous activities during the watch period.People with lung diseases such as asthma and bronchitis and heart disease should pay attention to cardiac symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath or respiratory symptoms like coughing, wheezing and discomfort when taking a breath, and consult with their physician if they have concerns or are experiencing symptoms. Fine particle pollution deposits itself deep into the lungs and cannot easily be exhaled. People who are at risk are particularly vulnerable after several days of high particle pollution exposure.

To receive air quality advisories by e-mail, visit http://dnr.wi.gov/air/newsletters/.

There are several actions the public can take to reduce their contributions to this regional air quality problem.

• Reduce driving when possible and don't leave vehicle engines idling.


• Postpone activities that use small gasoline and diesel engines.


• Minimize outdoor wood fires.


• Conserve electricity.


• For more ideas on how you can reduce your emissions today and every day visit: Do a little, save a lot!

For more information:

• Air Quality Watches and Advisories Status Web Site


• Daily Air Quality Hotline - 1-866-324-5924 (1-866-DAILY AIR)


• Federal interagency air quality web site, for information on the Air Quality Index and nationwide air quality forecasts and air quality conditions, http://airnow.gov/


• DNR's statewide air quality monitoring web page, http://dnrmaps.wisconsin.gov/wisards


• For local DNR air management program contacts, http://dnr.wi.gov/air/about/regions.htm

September 26: critical mass bike ride!!

There is a critical mass bike ride scheduled for Green Bay on Friday, September 26. Meet at 5:30 at the Courthouse lawn. -From there, who knows where!

For more information about critical mass bike rides, go to :

http://critical-mass.info/

I am not riding unless there are at least 20 people.

Aug. 20 - Conservation Listening Session

Two years ago, after a series of Conservation Listening Sessions around the state, local groups and citizens like you helped pick 4 Conservation Priorities, including Reauthorizing the Stewardship Fund--a key land preservation program--and Protecting the Great Lakes from Water Diversions with a Strong Great Lakes Compact. Because these issues were top concerns of citizens, they became priorities for legislators as well.

Now that the 2007-2008 legislative session has ended, it's time to pick the Conservation Priorities for 2009-2010. In order to get YOUR FEEDBACK, we will be holding 11 Conservation Listening Sessions around the state in August and September. If you are a member of a conservation organization, involved in a local group, or simply concerned about conservation, we encourage you to attend and share YOUR OPINION!

The Listening Sessions are meant for anyone who is concerned about conservation issues--you don't need to be an expert or prepare anything to attend. Here's how they work:

• Welcome and Introductions
• Background & History on WHY the Conservation Community decided to set a Priority Agenda
• Brief Overview of the Criteria Used to Select Issues
• Brief Overview of the 8 Issue Proposals
• Brainstorm on other Potential Conservation Priorities
• Vote for YOUR Top Issues

Please RSVP today!

Green Bay
Wednesday, August 20
6:30-8:00 pm
Downtown Library, 515 Pine Street
Downstairs

RSVP to kim@conservationvoters.org or at (920) 429-9008

You can help make sure the conservation legislative agenda reflects Wisconsin's strong natural resource values. Come and share your ideas at the Conservation Priority Listening Sessions!

PS--if you have friends, family, or colleagues that might be interested in attending, please share this with them.

Kim Biedermann, Northeast Organizer
Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters Institute
1642 Western Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54303
(920) 429-9008

Downtown Green Bay Values Your Feedback!

The Downtown Green Bay Business Development Committee invites you to share your feedback on multiple issues surrounding downtown development and culture through a brief online survey. The survey is open to area residents, employees or visitors who would like to share their views about the present and future of downtown Green Bay.

The survey is open from July 29th through August 18th with results shared in early September. The committee believes the survey will help downtown planners and developers make sound decisions about the Green Bay market. It will also help cultural leaders strategize areas of opportunities with events and family activities. Please note your individual responses will be kept confidential but the overall results will be publicized.

To take the survey, please link to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=a7Y5WTyITDR5a1Jkvy2d9Q_3d_3d

Thank you for your participation!

July 23 - WLCV Celebration in Green Bay!

YOU ARE INVITED to join fellow conservationists in Green Bay to celebrate the conservation successes of the 2007-08 legislative session, AND to personally thank area legislators that made the Conservation Honor Roll.

The Conservation Scorecard 2007-2008 will be released Wednesday, July 16th in Madison. The Conservation Scorecard is the guide to how Wisconsin state legislators voted on key conservation issues during the 2007-2008 legislative session.

The goal of the Scorecard is to provide objective, factual information about the voting records of Wisconsin's state Senators and Representatives. The Scorecard is designed to provide voters with the information necessary to distinguish true stewards of Wisconsin's environment from those who just talk about it (read more here). We don't want to give anything away before the 16th, but we can say this: There is much to celebrate this year!

Mark your calendars NOW for Wednesday, July 23, 2008, and join us at Titletown Brewing Company, 200 Dousman St, Green Bay.

The short program begins at 6:30 pm and includes recognizing key area legislators for their work. Be there to receive your copy of the Scorecard and to personally thank:

• Conservation Champions--Conservation Champions are those legislators that scored a perfect 100% on the Scorecard.
  
  
• Conservation Honor Roll--The Conservation Honor Roll recognizes those legislators that went the extra mile to conserve Wisconsin's natural resources.

Join us for appetizers upstairs at Titletown--on the corner of Dousman and Broadway--on Wednesday, July 23, from 6-8 pm.

To make planning easier, please RSVP to Kim Biedermann at kim@conservationvoters.org or at (920) 429-9008.

See you on the 23rd!

Help our friends at WLCV by volunteering!

With the roaring boom of fireworks, we’re reminded that July is here and summer is underway. Even though June has passed, there are still plenty of ways that you can still get involved and help WLCV!

Below is a preview of events where I am looking for people like YOU to get involved:

Gather Public Support & Help Protect Public Health

· Oshkosh Farmers’ Market, July 12th, between 8am and noon
· Appleton Farmers’ Market, July 26th, between 8am and noon
· Rhinelander Farmers’ Market, August 2nd, between 8am and 4pm
· WLCV Booth at Krazy Days in downtown Minocqua, August 12th, between 8am and 4pm

Help Call other Conservationists to Get Feedback about which Conservation Issues Matter Most.

Come to the WLCV office in Green Bay for a 2-3 hour shift between 4pm and 8pm on any of the dates below:

· Wednesday, July 9th
· Monday, July 14th
· Wednesday, July 16th
· Monday, July 21st
· Monday, July 28st

Not a day goes by when we couldn't use YOUR HELP! The more people who actively work on conservation issues, the more successful conservation efforts will be in Wisconsin. If you are interested in any of the above opportunities, please let Kim know at kim@conservationvoters.org or at (920) 429.9008.

To sign-up for other upcoming volunteer activities, simply click here. To read more about our work, visit the WLCV website.

THANK YOU for all your conservation efforts!

PS--check us out on Facebook by becoming a member of the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters group & be-friending the WLCV Organizer!

scoop!

I just want to be known that the "White Pelican" scooped all other Green Bay news sources in terms of how fast we had our story about the green bikes press conference out there. It looks like if you really want to stay on top of what goes on around here you have to read the "White Pelican." By the way, fortunately, the seagulls were napping during the press conference.

Green Bikes!

Today 20 green bikes were released to the streets of Green Bay with hopes to encourage environmentally friendly travel for quick meetings in and around downtown Green Bay, as well as recreation and health. Mayor Schmitt held a press conference in front of the historic Bellin Building just outside of the Daily Buzz to kick the program off right. Jeff Mirkes, Executive Director for Downtown Green Bay, Inc. & Olde Main Street, Inc. spoke on the benefits to the downtown business community and downtown residents. Kevin King, from the Neighborhood Division at City Hall highlighted the partnerships that were created with various bike shops in the community who donated time to get the bikes ready for the streets. All in all, this is a great step for Green Bay and it goes to show just how progressive and cool this community really is.

So, as of today, you can pick up a bike at any of the six locations (Daily Buzz, City Hall, Brown Co. Library, Neville Public Museum, Green Bay Metro and the Admiral Flatley Park - see map) for a spin around the city.

So drop your keys and take a ride - a bike ride!!

For more info about Mayor Schmitt's Sustainable Greater Green Bay Task Force check out the website.

bus ridership and Green Bay green burials

There are two interesting articles in today's Press-Gazette. (Sometimes, I will read this rag, so that you don't have to.)

Skyrocketing gas prices fuel bus ridership
-Kudos to Holly for giving up her car and for trying not to be in such a hurry!!

Green caskets, burials a growing business
Local Green Bay funeral homes are offering green burials! Even though anything that involves embalming, cremation, or concrete grave liners is not truly green, these burials are greenER and are a step in the right direction. There is a group out of Madison that is organizing an effort to offer green burials that really are environmentally correct. Basically, they want to purchase land, conservancy style, and just plop your body into a hole in the ground. THAT is the way it should be. Check out Trust for Natural Legacies and give them your support!

Foth Sustainability Conference

Check out the Foth website for information on all of the presentations that were given. Very intersting stuff.

http://www.foth.com/fothweb/infrastructure++environment/sustainability+conference/default.asp

June 19 - Green Drinks Report

Green Drinks this month was great, yet again! Excellent conversation, we discussed the Foth Sustainability Conference that was held earlier in the day in Appleton, as well as what the Mayor's Sustainable Greater Green Bay Task Force has been working on. We were visited by 88th Assembly Representative Jim Soletski too. It is always a treat to be able to sit down and talk with our representatives about the environment, sustainability and anything else that may come up. Shameless plug - Rep. Soletski is running for reelection this year, and just want to say he has been a great advocate of the environment.

One of our frequent Green Drinkers, Frank Ingram, has begun a Yahoo group for Green Bay Green Drinks online. If anyone is interested simply check out yahoo.com and search under "greenbaygreendrinks" and it will take you right there. There are a few steps to sign up, but it's quick and easy.

On a similar note, if anyone is interested in contributing environmental news to this blog we would love to have additional posters, simply email Rich and he will send you an invite. You can respond to this post too, and we will check back and get you signed up.

We see this blog as a great way to get additional information out there about what is going on in Green Bay because even though the perception out there is not much, there is a TON!

This has molded into more than just a Green Drinks update, but that's ok. Hope to see some new faces at Green Drinks next month! It will be held July 17th, always at Kavarna, always from 6-10 pm.

Green Bay Green Drinks! Thursday, June 19th

Green Bay Green Drinks is a monthly 'social gathering' of environmentalists. We meet every third Thursday of the month at Kavarna Coffeehouse, on Broadway.

If some people suggest that "green" is your middle name, you'll probably find value in Green Drinks Green Bay. At this monthly event, people who have a passion for anything "environmental" meet for friendly conversation. Since we started in April 2005, we've been visited by folks with a wide variety of interests: science, art, politics, music, film, health, psychology, nutrition to name a few. Many work in an environmental field as professionals, educators, entrepreneurs or neighborhood activists. You never know who will be there! If you look elsewhere on the website http://www.greendrinks.org/ , you'll see that "Green Drinks" is an international movement.

We start to gather shortly after 6pm, but don't worry if you can't show up until much later. Peak attendance has been 7:30-8:30pm so far. The hours you attend will influence who you may meet, however. People come and go all evening until Kavarna closes at 10pm. Kavarna is a smokefree vegetarian coffeehouse/restaurant that sells bottled beers and wine. Soups, salads, chai and juices are among the many other offerings. All ages welcome. Feel free to bring your kids.

See http://www.kavarna.com/ for directions to Kavarna at 112 S. Broadway, located on downtown Green Bay's near west side.Look for the group with a pile of books on the table. First-timers get a free book! Also, please let Crystal (email below) know that you would like to be added to the email reiminder list.

Hosting committee includes Rich Krieg; Crystal Osman, 920-562-2550, crystalosman20[at]gmail[dot]com; Kim Biederman 920.429.9008, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters Institute

UPass for UW-Green Bay!

This post is a little late, but UW-Green Bay has partnered with the Green Bay Metro to give students, faculty and staff access to any bus, on any route, for free - by simply showing their University ID card.

This is a huge step in the right direction for the University and they should be proud that they are taking the responsibility and the initiative to deal with their carbon footprint. By offering this for students, faculty and staff, so many opportunities are now available that might not have been before. It is incredibly exciting!

http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/archive/2008/08-138.htm

Green Bay's bikeshare program

from today's Press-Gazette:

Green Bay gets greener with bike program

Mayor Schmitt really supports this and wants it to be successful. Anything that gets more bikes out there is worth a chance. I think the six stations were well selected. What really makes for some "interesting" reading is the comments people are posting about the article!

local food summer

The Urban Frog is organizing a "Local Food Summer." They are encouraging everyone to eat locally this summer and pledge to eat one meal per week made from ingredients grown or produced (excluding spices) not farther than 100 miles from home.

By signing the pledge you are making a commitment to eat one local meal a week until August 31, 2008. They hope that this challenge will spark some lively conversations about food and equally important, act as a means of promoting conscious consuming. Now more than ever we need to recognize local agriculture and the food dollars it brings into our local economy. With both farmers markets up and running there's no better time than now to make this commitment. Take the pledge at The Urban Frog and get a free sample of homemade dishwasher detergent along with the recipe so you can make your own. They hope to do a big celebration event come this September (think block party with Howard Lyman a.k.a. Mad Cowboy).

Thanks Urban Frog!!!!!

Join Us For "Green Drinks" - May 15

Green Bay, WI Green Drinks

Green Bay Green Drinks is a monthly 'social gathering' of environmentalists. We meet every third Thursday of the month at Kavarna Coffeehouse, on Broadway.

If some people suggest that "green" is your middle name, you'll probably find value in Green Drinks Green Bay. At this monthly event, people who have a passion for anything "environmental" meet for friendly conversation. Since we started in April 2005, we've been visited by folks with a wide variety of interests: science, art, politics, music, film, health, psychology, nutrition to name a few. Many work in an environmental field as professionals, educators, entrepreneurs or neighborhood activists. You never know who will be there! If you look elsewhere on the website http://www.greendrinks.org/ , you'll see that "Green Drinks" is an international movement.

We start to gather shortly after 6pm, but don't worry if you can't show up until much later. Peak attendance has been 7:30-8:30pm so far. The hours you attend will influence who you may meet, however. People come and go all evening until Kavarna closes at 10pm. Kavarna is a smokefree vegetarian coffeehouse/restaurant that sells bottled beers and wine. Soups, salads, chai and juices are among the many other offerings. All ages welcome. Feel free to bring your kids.

See http://www.kavarna.com/ for directions to Kavarna at 112 S. Broadway, located on downtown Green Bay's near west side.

Look for the group with a pile of books on the table. First-timers get a free book! Also, please let Crystal know that you would like to be added to the email reiminder list.

Hosting committee includes Crystal Osman, Rich Krieg, and Kim Biederman.

Happy Earth Day Green Bay!

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is issuing an Air Quality Advisory for Particle Pollution (Orange) for Brown, Calumet, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond Du Lac, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Kenosha, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marquette, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago counties effective 9:00 am on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 through 10:00 am on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 .

The advisory is being issued because of persistent elevated levels of fine particles in the air. These fine particles come primarily from combustion sources, such as power plants, factories and other industrial sources, vehicle exhaust, and wood fires.

The Air Quality Index is currently in the orange level, which is considered unhealthy for people in sensitive groups. People in those sensitive groups include those with heart or lung disease, asthma, older adults and children. When an orange advisory for particle pollution is issued, people in those groups are advised to reschedule or cut back on strenuous activities.

People with lung diseases such as asthma and bronchitis, and heart disease should pay attention to cardiac symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath or respiratory symptoms like coughing, wheezing and discomfort when taking a breath, and consult with their physician if they have co ncerns or are experiencing symptoms. Fine particle pollution deposits itself deep into the lungs and cannot easily be exhaled. People who are at risk are particularly vulnerable after several days of high particle pollution exposure.

To receive air quality advisories by e-mail, visit http://dnr.wi.gov/air/newsletters/.

There are several actions the public can take to reduce their contributions to this regional air quality problem.

• Reduce driving when possible and don't leave vehicle engines idling.


• Postpone activities that use small gasoline and diesel engines.


• Minimize outdoor wood fires.


• Conserve electricity.


• For more ideas on how you can reduce your emissions today and every day visit: Do a little, save a lot!

For more information:

• Air Quality Watches and Advisories Status Web Site


• Daily Air Quality Hotline - 1-866-324-5924 (1-866-DAILY AIR)


• Federal interagency air quality web site, for information on the Air Quality Index and nationwide air quality forecasts and air quality conditions, http://airnow.gov/


• DNR's statewide air quality monitoring web page, http://dnrmaps.wisconsin.gov/wisards


• For local DNR air management program contacts, http://dnr.wi.gov/air/about/regions.htm

Celebrate Earth Day & Participate in Earth Week 2008!

Saturday April 19 - Sunday April 27

Saturday, April 19 -

• Health and Sustainability of the Great Lakes; a forum on the Great Lakes Compact. Keynote speaker Peter Annin, author of the Great Lakes Water Wars, along with other presenters and Q & A panel discussion. (UW-Green Bay, Rose Hall, Room 250, 1-4 p.m.)


• Fox River Clean Up. (St. Francis Park, 9-NOON)


• Joannes Park Clean Up. (Joannes Park, 9-NOON)

Sunday, April 20 -

• Take Back the Pavement! Watch as Green Bay’s streets are reinvented with artistic greenery displays! (Broadway Avenue, downtown Green Bay, 9-11 a.m.)

Monday, April 21 -

• What's all the Woof about Wolves? Bring your children and join naturalist Cindy Mueller to learn about wolves. (Brown County Library, 515 Pine Street, Green Bay, 6-8 p.m.)

Tuesday, April 22 -

• Earth Day Story Time. (Brown County Library, 515 Pine Street, Green Bay, 10:30-11 a.m.)


• Earth Day Recycled Craft Projects. (Brown County Library, 515 Pine Street, Green Bay, 5:30-7:30 p.m.)

Thursday, April 24 -

• Leave Your Car At Home Day Challenge! Join the City-wide challenge to bike, walk, run, take the bus, etc. to work, school, or anywhere else you have to go today!


• Story Time at Barnes & Noble. (2498 S. Oneida Street, Ashwaubenon, 7-8 p.m.)

Friday, April 25 -

• FREE showing of the film, "The 11th Hour" starring Leonardo DiCaprio. A portrayal of humanity's impact on our planet. Discussion lead by Dr. Mike Draney and others immediately following film. (Brown County Library, 515 Pine Street, Green Bay, 6-9 p.m.)

Saturday, April 26 -

• Baird Creek Clean Up. (Triangle Hill Pavilion, Beverly Rd., Green Bay, 9-NOON)


• Willow Creek Clean Up. (NEW Lutheran Cul de sac, 1311 S. Robinson Ave, Green Bay, 9-NOON)


• Hikes, Rain Barrel and Composting Demonstrations. Learn all about composting and rain barrels, while your children go on nature hikes and fish and macro invertebrate counts! (Triangle Hill Pavilion, Beverly Road, Green Bay, 1-3 p.m.)


• Rain Garden Demonstration. (Christa Mc Auliffe Park, Green Bay, time TBA)


• Ecojam! Featuring Burnt Toast & Jam and Kojo. $5 per person, otherwise $4 with a used cell phone donation. (Holiday Inn City Center, 200 Main Street, Green Bay, 5:30-MIDNIGHT)

Sunday, April 27 -

• Izaak Walton League's Teddy Bear Hunt in Bellevue! Food, Fishing and more! A family 'hunting license' will cost $10 (Osprey Point Hwy GV ~1 mile south of 172, NOON-4 p.m.)

Questions? Ask Kim at 920.429.9008 or kim@conservationvoters.org

April 5: Spring Thaw Symposium

GREEN BAY BOTANICAL GARDEN
Spring Symposium
Going Green: Living and Gardening Sustainably
Saturday, April 5, 2008
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn City Centre

almost "Spring" thoughts

The white pelicans, those beautiful birds this blog is named after, are back! I saw my first ones of the season on Friday, March 14.

There have been several "air alerts" during the past month. I try to post all of them here but I know I missed a few. It is a little troubling to me that more people seem to be up in arms about second hand smoke in public places than are concerned about air pollution caused by cars and factories. I am pretty sure that cars and factories cause more health problems than second hand smoke.

Today's Press-Gazette chastised area Republican lawmakers for holding up a vote on the Great Lakes Compact!!!

Astonishingly, Republican lawmakers who represent the Great Lakes Basin voted with their misguided leaders to prevent the vote. Shame on our local GOP representatives, Garey Bies, Frank Lasee, Al Ott, Phil Montgomery, Gary Tauchen,
John Nygren and Karl Van Roy.

My sentiments exactly! (The grandchildren of these so-called "representatives" will also be ashamed of them.) The paper's editors need to remember these things come endorsement time. Read the full editorial HERE.


Quote of the season from an article in yesterday's Press-Gazette:

"Ethanol plants are buying all the corn and the government is paying farmers to grow corn (instead of other crops). It's causing shortages of everything. We are the only country in the world that sticks our food in the gas tank. Instead of paying high gas prices, we'll be paying high gas prices and high food prices."

-John Hubbard, owner of Gallagher's Pizza in Green Bay
(This guy really gets it.)

Air Alert for Feb. 23

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is issuing an Air Quality Advisory for Particle Pollution (Orange) effective Saturday, February 23, 2008 1:01:51 PM through Sunday, February 24, 2008 11:59:59 AM for all Wisconsin Counties.

The advisory is being issued because of persistent elevated levels of fine particles in the air. These fine particles come primarily from combustion sources, such as power plants, factories and other industrial sources, vehicle exhaust, and wood fires.

The Air Quality Index is currently in the orange level, which is considered unhealthy for people in sensitive groups. People in those sensitive groups include those with heart or lung disease, asthma, older adults and children. When an orange advisory for particle pollution is issued, people in those groups are advised to reschedule or cut back on strenuous activities.

People with lung diseases such as asthma and bronchitis, and heart disease should pay attention to cardiac symptoms like chest pain and shor tness of breath or respiratory symptoms like coughing, wheezing and discomfort when taking a breath, and consult with their physician if they have concerns or are experiencing symptoms. Fine particle pollution deposits itself deep into the lungs and cannot easily be exhaled. People who are at risk are particularly vulnerable after several days of high particle pollution exposure.

To receive air quality advisories by e-mail, visit http://dnr.wi.gov/air/newsletters/.

There are several actions the public can take to reduce their contributions to this regional air quality problem.

• Reduce driving when possible and don't leave vehicle engines idling.


• Postpone activities that use small gasoline and diesel engines.


• Minimize outdoor wood fires.


• Conserve electricity.


• For more ideas on how you can reduce your emissions today and every day visit: Do a little, save a lot!

For more information:

Federal interagency air quality web site, for information on the Air Quality Index and nationwide air quality forecasts and air quality conditions, http://airnow.gov/

DNR's statewide air quality monitoring web page, http://dnrmaps.wisconsin.gov/wisards

For local DNR air management program contacts, http://dnr.wi.gov/air/about/regions.htm