Today's Topics:
"Sustainable Consumption - A Global Perspective"
Fwd: URGENT spread the word - EPA Region 4 Job Opening -
GreenYes Digest V97 #123 (2 msgs)
GreenYes Digest V97 #125
June SD Earth Times online
True Believers and Recycling Realists
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Date: Thu, 5 Jun 1997 12:48:50 +0900
From: oldxeye@crisscross.com (Hop)
Subject: "Sustainable Consumption - A Global Perspective"
Both Frank Ackerman and Carolyn Chase have discussed population growth and
consumption ...
Frank said:
>On the side issue about demographics,
>the slowdown in world population growth makes it
>encouragingly POSSIBLE to provide environmental protection and economic
>security for all -- but by no means guarantees that this will happen.
>>4. Surprisingly enough, the worldwide population crisis seems to be
>>lessening. (At least I was surprised, when I read some recent demographic
>>research.) Due to marked slowdowns of population growth rates in China,
>>India and other crowded countries, current best guesses are that the
>>world's population will peak at around 10 billion, a little under twice
>>the current level, around 2050, then perhaps decline a bit.
>
>>families) all seem to play parts in this very encouraging new development.
>>The significance for waste and recycling is that you can't really base
>>arguments on ever-expanding population any more.
and Carolyn said:
>My point is how
>can somebody rationally make this statement and pretend that everything
>will be just fine........and _doubling_ our consumption of land and water
>and production of
>trash and waste is just okey-dokey. I mean perhaps compared to triple the
>population,
>double looks good, but double is still a real problem.....but the blank
>acceptance of this
>population growth drives the creation and funding of major water projects,
>dams,
>reserviors, landfills, roads etc. etc. etc. and yet there is darn little to
>support resource
>recovery, and protect parts of what is left... and yet there are lots of
>apparent efforts to diminish conservation industrie's validity and
>viability.
>
>I mean in California doubling mean going from 80 million to 160 million....and
>yet you are not alarmed at the evident, impacts of this on our resources base?
I recommend that Frank and Carolyn and others reading GreenYes obtain a
copy of "Sustainable Consumption - A Global Perspective" by Friends of the
Earth Netherlands (US$10 - FoE Netherlands, PO Box 19199, 1000 GD
Amsterdam, The Netherlands). It deals with all of the problems identified
by Carolyn (and more) in a very solutions-oriented manner, advocating new
global policies to bring about the dramatic reduction in environmental
impact (including waste generation) needed for both developed and
developing nations to sustainably co-exist into the next century. It
introduces the concept of 'fare shares in "Environmental Space"' and points
to the need for an 'end-use approach', saying:
"The end-use approach differs to a considerable extent from increased
efficiency. The efficiency approach chiefly involves making existing, as
well as growth in, production and consumption patterns more efficient,
while the end-use approach entails changing production and consumption
structures in such a way so that people's needs can be met using a minimum
of resources. Furthermore, unlike efficiency, the end-use approach
specifically involves demand-side management. The issue is then no longer
how to make a product as efficiently as possible, but also, and more
specifically, which product or service would best serve a certain need.
This last issue comes much closer to achieving the objective of meeting
people's needs as best as possible using a limited quantity of natural
resources."
The report demonstrates (quantitatively as well as qualitatively) that the
US, Japan, European, and other major industrialised countries will need to
reduce their call on 'environmental space' (particularly fossil fuels,
mineral resources, and land use) by 80 percent. Allowing, at the same time,
an increase in consumption in developing nations to a point where both
equity and sustainability on a global scale are achieved.
Amazingly the report lays down the foundations for how this can be achieved.
I highly recommend it.
Regards,
Hop.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 1997 20:34:15 -0400 (EDT)
From: DavidOrr@aol.com
Subject: Fwd: URGENT spread the word - EPA Region 4 Job Opening -
>---------------------
>Forwarded message:
>From: meuser@mapcruzin.com
>Reply-to: ecojustice@igc.apc.org (Conference env.justice)
>To: ecojustice@igc.apc.org (Recipients of conference)
>Date: 97-06-03 22:31:24 EDT
>
>From: "Michael R. Meuser" <meuser@mapcruzin.com>
>Subject: URGENT spread the word - EPA Region 4 Job Opening - deadline Jun
>
>Hello - I received the following message and thought I should send it
>on to you all. Please distribute this Job Posting as widely as
>possible noting that the deadline is June 6th!
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>EPA Region 4 (Atlanta) is seeking a new Director of Waste Management.
>JOB ANNOUNCEMENT IS ATTACHED - POSTMARK DEADLINE IS JUNE 6TH!!
>
>According to activists:
>
>* The current acting director is in a division that has allowed a
>contractor who was a Grand Dragon of the KKK in Texas to be in
>charge of a superfund cleanup in a predominantly African-American
>community. No wonder too much has not been accomplished. Please,
>send this communication to as many people as possible (even churches).
>
>* EPA Region 4 has a very dismal environmental justice record in the
>Southeast. It needs management with high ethical values and a
>dedication to truly protecting disadvantaged communities from
>pollution. Meaningful community involvement/participation is at a low
>point in that office.
>
>Mike Meuser
>
>* EPA Region 4 has a current Superfund management reputation as being
>one of the worst in the country; it needs fresh new management over
>the 300 employees there.
>
>The new director should:
>
>1. BE ABLE TO THINK INDEPENDENTLY: Needs to be able to seek
>alternative methods of developing working relationships with
>community groups. Current manager has not even sought the advice of
>other federal agencies who have to communicate with the general
>public and congress. Requires "Vision and Forward Thinking
>abilities" which the current administration lacks.
>
>2. HAVE INTEGRITY: You have to wonder about the integrity of a
>manager who disciplined employees for attending meetings with
>community groups and then denies that anyone told the
>employees not to attend. You can't have much integrity if you don't
>want your employees to be able to assist citizens groups with their
>efforts to clean up their communities.
>
>3. HAVE A COMMUNITY FOCUS: A local activists says, " Oh, how sad can
>you get when you have an EPA Regional headquarters office located
>literally next door to a community (predominantly African-American
>again) for years and the community is not aware of the dangers of
>such things as lead poisoning, proper recycling of tires, etc.
>EPA was located at Courtland Street and did not even have employees
>that regularly communicated with the Old Fourth Ward Community
>nearby. Instead EPA had contracts with certain predominantly Black
>Universities that required no community input whatsoever.
>Communication is sadly lacking, to the extent that it is a national
>disgrace. How can you have a city with a water problem of the
>magnitude of Atlanta's with an EPA Regional Office for eight states
>located here?"
>
>
>* JOB ANNOUNCEMENT *
>
>U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
>Senior Executive Service Vacancy Announcement
>
>Senior Executive Service (SES)
>Announcement No.: EPA-7-R-6060
>
>CLOSING DATE: Friday, June 6, 1997
>
>OPENING DATE: April 28, 1997
>
>POSITION: Director, Waste Management Division, ES-340
>
>SALARY: The salary range for this position is ES-1 through ES-3
>($102,481-$112,200)
>
>LOCATION: EPA, Region 4, Atlanta, GA
>
>AREA OF CONSIDERATION: NATION-WIDE, ALL SOURCES
>
>SPECIAL NOTE: Position subject to provisions of the Ethics in
>Government Act of 1978. Position is designated critical sensitive and
>will require a favorable background investigation.
>
>DUTIES:
>Serves as the Director, Waste Management Division and is responsible
>for directing, developing, coordinating, implementing and evaluating
>Region 4's Waste Management program. Incumbent is also responsible
>for assisting the states in achieving delegation
>
>QUALIFICATIONS:
>Qualifications include both general management skills and
>characteristics that are applicable to all SES positions AND technical
>or program responsibilities specific to this position. Applicants
>must have substantive general experience which provides a g
>
>Page 2:
>
>MANDATORY EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQ's):
>1) Strategic Vision. This includes seeing that key national and
>organizational goals, priorities, values, and other issues are
>considered in making program decisions.
>
>2) Human Resources Management. This includes assuring that people
>are appropriately employed, effectively used, and dealt with in a fair
>and equitable manner.
>
>3) Program Development and Evaluation. This includes establishing
>program/policy goals and the structure and processes necessary to
>carry them out. It also includes seeing that programs and policies
>are being implemented and adjusted, as necessary, and
>
>4) Resources Planning and Management. This includes acquiring and
>administering financial, material, and information resources necessary
>to support program or policy implementation.
>
>5) Organizational Representation and Liaison. This includes
>communicating (explaining/advocating/negotiating) with internal and
>external individuals and groups and developing professional networks.
>
>MANDATORY TECHNICAL FACTORS:
>
>6) Experience in managing and directing an interdisciplinary and
>diverse organization involving complex regulatory and technical work.
>
>7) Experience which demonstrates the ability to communicate and
>negotiate complex and politically sensitive environmental policy
>issues both orally and in writing.
>
>8) Experience in dealing with high-level officials in Federal, state
>or local governments and/or in private industry.
>
>DESIRABLE FACTORS:
>
>9) Experience in more than one administrative/environmental program
>and/or more than one organization entity (e.g. headquarters and field
>experience).
>
>10) Knowledge of regulations and issues affecting the Waste
>Management program.
>
>11) Knowledge of Federal, State or local government decision making,
>management processes and policies, and/or program planning.
>
>
>Page 3:
>
>EPA "MODEL MANAGER" FACTORS (ATTRIBUTES):
>
>[NOTE: These factors (attributes) may be addressed separately or
>covered in the narrative statement addressing the mandatory executive
>core qualifications (ECQ's) in the previous section]
>
>* Vision and Forward Thinking - Encourages innovation, creativity,
>risk-taking, experimentation and new technology application.
>Encourages staff to learn how other organizations deal with issues
>similar to ones' own Sees "big picture." [Aligns with ECQ
>
>* Integrity - Demonstrates a high level of personal and professional
>integrity. [Aligns with EQC (5) "Organizational Representation and
>Liaison"]
>
>* Communication - Is able to communicate effectively, orally and in
>writing, in all directions, inside and outside the organization.
>[Aligns with ECQ (5) "Organizational Representation and Liaison"]
>
>* Action/Results Orientation - Is able to make things happen, make
>decisions and achieve positive, demonstrable results within the scope
>or responsibilities. Actively builds consensus in solving problems
>while promoting innovation. [Aligns with EQC (3)
>
>* Resources Management - Assures organizational planning, budgeting,
>contracts management and financial accountability reflect the basic
>principles of doing the "Right Things Right" and conform to Agency and
>Federal regulations. Leads reforms in work pr
>
>* Leadership - Develops, stimulates, coaches, empowers and
>facilitates employees to reach their full potential and be
>individually accountable for positive change. Champions work
>environments in which all members of the team look to be actively
>involved
>
>* Diversity - Creates an environment where diverse individuals play
>responsible and active roles by integrating people, ideas, and
>organizations. Fosters teamwork and builds collegiality by getting
>ideas and involvement from all employees in the organiz
>
>* Customer Focus - Is responsive to and achieves alignment and
>satisfaction with key customers, inside and outside the Agency.
>Understands that quality is customer driven. [Aligns with ECQ (3)
>"Program Development and Evaluation"]
>
>Page 4:
>
>EVALUATION METHODS:
>Candidates will be rated on the basis of meeting the qualifications
>criteria stated above. Only candidates meeting ALL of the mandatory
>qualifications will be deemed eligible for further consideration. In
>determining the degree to which candidates posse
>
>PROBATIONARY PERIOD:
>An individual chosen for career appointment will be required to serve
>a one-year probationary period unless he/she has completed or was not
>required to complete the probationary period.
>
>HOW TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION:
>
>Applicants must submit FOUR (4) COPIES of the following documents:
>
>1) EITHER and SF-171, "Application for Federal Employment", and
>OF-612, "Optional Application for Federal Employment", OR a resume
>which includes all work experience (grade level/salary and number of
>people supervised), education, training, special skill
>
>2) a narrative statement specifically addressing the five executive
>core qualifications (ECQ's), mandatory technical factors and the model
>manager attributes.
>
>Documents 1 and 2 must be submitted to receive consideration for this
>position. Please DO NOT send copies of previous job descriptions,
>manuscripts, personal endorsements, or other unsolicited materials.
>Application materials MAY NOT be FAXED or submitt
>
>NOTE: APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED IF ALL SPECIFIED APPLICATION
>MATERIALS ARE NOT SUBMITTED. PLEASE SUBMIT FOUR (4) COPIES OF ALL
>APPLICATION MATERIALS.
>
>NOTE: Refer to the "Executive Qualifications Guide and the Vacancy
>Announcement since credit may be given only if there is enough
>information to indicate the job-relatedness and value of experience
>relevant to the announced vacancy.
>
>Applications MUST BE POSTMARKED by the CLOSING DATE and should be sent
>to:
>
>U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
>OARM/OHROS/Executive Resources & Special Programs Division
>ATTN: Mrs. Chaunta G. Gray, 3641
>401 M Street, S.W.
>Washington, DC 20460
>Contact Number: (202) 260-3336
>
>ALL APPLICATION FORMS ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVACY
>ACT AND BECOME THE PROPERTY OF EPA.
>
>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an equal opportunity
>employer.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 97 21:08:18 -0700
From: westin@inreach.com
Subject: GreenYes Digest V97 #123
I would be very interested in seeing such data. If anyone has it, could
you post it to the list? Or, if you have it, Dave, could you send it to
me? Thanks...
Greg Westin
westin@inreach.com
>Dear Friends of Recycling,
>
> I'm hoping for some help in collecting some statistical information for
>the pro-recycling argument. I think that we who support recycling accept as
>fact that it takes less energy to make a new aluminum can by recycling one
>rather than to make a new can by mining raw bauxite, processing it, refining
>it etc and finally making aluminum and then a can.
>
> Thus I think we agree that on a per can basis by recycling we use less
>energy and thus release less potentially dangerous emissions into the
>atmosphere.
>
> What I'm looking for is an actual statistical comparison of recycling a
>can vs. making one from raw material. Does anyone know of a documented study
>that actually gives facts and figures to exactly how much energy we save
>step-by-step by recycling the can and thus which specific emissions are
>lessened and by how much ? (And what the dangerous effects of these emissions
>might be ?)
>
> Any help finding a sientifically accepted documented source with
>statistics would be greatly appreciated. You can E-Mail them to me at
>EcoDave908. (Dave Street)
>Thank you.
>
>Yours Truly,
>
>Dave Street
>(EcoDave908)
>The Habits That Save Habitats
>http:/www.townline.com/schools/habitat
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 97 21:11:31 -0700
From: westin@inreach.com
Subject: GreenYes Digest V97 #123
Excuse that last message... I see in later communications that people
responded to the request. Mr. Ackerman (or anyone else), can you tell me
where I can GET those studies you talked about? Can I request them
directly from EPA online? I'll try that first... Thanks again, and
sorry for the multiple messages.
Greg Westin
westin@inreach.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 97 22:14:19 -0700
From: westin@inreach.com
Subject: GreenYes Digest V97 #125
How much insulation was this guy burning? If he had enough to fertilize
plants with, this sounds like he's burning pounds and pounds of wire.
Why would anyone need to strip that much wire?
Greg Westin
westin@inreach.com
>This is somewhat a personal issue. My neighbor has been burning the
>insulation off copper wire in his fireplace and then putting the ash on
>the the soil in the back of his property. Unfortunately, everything
>(his lilac bushes, my grass) has died downhill from where he put the
>ash.
>
>When I talked to my state environmental agency about this, they went
>nuts, saying that I needed to give them my neighbor's name and address,
>that they had to take enforcement action against him, that burning the
>insulation releases very toxic fumes (including PCBs), and that the ash
>was extremely toxic and that the soil would have to be removed and
>taken to a toxic waste site, etc, etc.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 1997 11:59:27 -0700
From: Carolyn Chase <cdchase@qualcomm.com>
Subject: June SD Earth Times online
San Diego Earth Times June 1997 edition is now online at www.sdearthtimes.com
Feel free to send in comments. . .
Table of Contents
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 1997 12:33:06 -0400 (EDT)
From: Frank Ackerman <fackerma@emerald.tufts.edu>
Subject: True Believers and Recycling Realists
The fact that the world's population is expected to peak at less than
twice the current level, around 2050, does NOT imply to me that everything
will be fine, resource and environmental problems will automatically be
solved, etc. Obviously we've got lots of problems that aren't solving
themselves, even with our current population; if we had zero population
growth starting tomorrow, there still would be all kinds of environmental
issues requiring political intervention and change to solve them.
To me, the significance of the more optimistic demographic forecasts is
that better solutions are possible -- not that they are inevitable or
effortlessly available. The bleak picture that has often been accepted,
of endless population growth eventually overwhelming all our efforts at
conservation, can lead to a kind of cynicism or unrealism; my initial
remark was in reaction to a whiff of that attitude in a previous posting.
A population peak of 10 billion worldwide implies a resource burden that
is technically manageable, creating the basis for optimism about what
could be achieved through sufficiently forceful and imaginative change.
For example, I've seen one suggestion that the world is already producing
enough food to feed 10 billion people, if they were all vegetarians.
Does this mean that everybody will get an equitable share of that food,
and no one will starve? Or that there will be any widespread move toward
eating less meat so that we can feed everyone without a destructive
expansion of farming into marginal lands? Not necessarily; it just means
that it is possible.
Regarding California's population, isn't it closer to 30 million than 80
million? Doubling would then be 60 million, but I don't think anyone
expects the U.S. to double -- selected areas might, but I'd be surprised
if California as a whole did.
Regarding California's waste heading for the desert, I'm sure that great
reductions in current waste levels are possible through source reduction,
recycling, and composting. I don't know, and am interested to hear what
others think, about whether zero waste is feasible in the foreseeable
future, and about what should be done with the remaining waste if zero
waste has not (yet) been achieved.
Frank Ackerman
------------------------------
Date: (null)
From: (null)
Ecology and the Economy
-The economic value of wetlands and open spaces by Bill Daugherty
Read this article, and then try and figure out why
our City Fathers (or is it, Mothers) aren't protecting our valuable
resources.
- The value of the world's ecosystem services, provided by NATURE
If you had to pay for the services you get "for
free" from the environment, what would it cost? How about $30 trillion or
so?
Solar Energy
-Local solar: today's sustainable energy by Skip Fralick
Playing with solar energy can get you in hot
water... with luck.
- Creating a solar home or apartment by David Bainbridge
The author's apartment doesn't require any fossil
fuel-based heating or cooling. Maybe he knows something...
Ecopreneurs
A gentle place
Visit Environgentle in Encinitas, one of the first Green stores.
Eco-tourism
The Ten Commandments of Eco-Tourism
How to treat your destination so it stays a great
place to vacation.
Vacations with connections
Two exotic destinations with a special significance.
Health and Diet
-Naturopathy: healing with nature's medicine by Bettina Yelman, N.D.
Treat the cause and not the symptom. What a
radical idea.
-Beautiful food
Review of Kemo Sabe in Hillcrest by Michael
Oshman, Green Restaurant Assoc.
In Your Garden!
The good, the bad and the bugly by Laurie Cohen
If you are going to have an organic garden, you're
going to have to deal with bugs. Just don't mash the good ones.
Book Review
-Lessons on life - Book Review - "Instructions to the Cook: A zen
master's lessons on living a life that matters" by Bernard Glassmand & Rick
Fields
Observations from the Edge
-The Green Cross of Eco-morality by Minister Masada
-He's BAA-ACK, with Goddess save the queen , by Robert Nanninga
Departments
New Think: the cartoon by Bob Ocegeuda "Out of the Pickle"
June calendar of Earth-Friendly Events
------------------------------
End of GreenYes Digest V97 #130
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