What Grows On in Rhode Island News

National Food Day & RI Food Assessment Report Release ~ October 24, 2011

RI DEM Press Release:

“OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION” SUMMARY OF THE RHODE ISLAND FOOD ASSESSMENT TO BE RELEASED AT STATE HOUSE EVENT CELEBRATING NATIONAL FOOD DAY NEXT MONDAY
 
            PROVIDENCE – Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit will join First Lady Stephanie Chafee; Department of Health Director Michael Fine, MD; Senator Susan Sosnowski; Henry Herrera, MD, general manager for Dig Deep Farms & Produce, a project of the Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs Activities League; and others to launch the RI Food Policy Council and release a summary of the RI Food Assessment on Food Day – Monday, October 24.
 
            The 10 a.m. State House event is planned to focus attention on the importance of ensuring a healthy, affordable, sustainable, and locally-grown food supply.  Promoting healthy diets and increasing access to fresh, safe, and affordable food is critical to improving residents’ overall health, and benefits low-income populations in particular.

A Better World By Design Conference ~ October 1-3, 2010

Brown U and RI School of Design students have organized the 10th "A Better World By Design" conference to be held October 1-3, 2010, in Providence, RI.

A Better World by Design is a three-day internationally acclaimed conference in Providence, RI that connects students, professionals, and individuals from a variety of disciplines in order to build a global community of socially conscious and passionate innovators. Presenters share engaging stories, workshops teach creative skills, and discussions reframe perspectives. A Better World by Design is an immersive experience, one that deepens our understanding of the power of design, technology, and enterprise to reshape our communities and sustain our environment. See the website for details, and register today!

Urban Pond Procession and Restoring Urban Ponds ~ June 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CONTACT:

 

Holly Ewald, (401) 862-4229, [email protected]

 

Amelia Rose, (401) 383-7441, [email protected]

 

Artists, Educators and environmentalists activate

COMMUNITY to restore our urban ponds

 

The third annual Urban Pond Procession (UPP) brought out over 130 Providence-area residents this past Saturday to celebrate the protection of the Pawtuxet watershed and raise awareness about the impact of toxins and storm drain runoff on the health of our urban ponds.  Starting at the Mashapaug Pond Boat House behind Ocean State Job Lot on Reservoir Avenue in Providence, participants wearing fish costumes and waving flags weaved through the Reservoir Triangle neighborhood, attracting the attention of children and adults on their porches who were surprised and delighted by the colorful and jubilant crowd parading down their street. 

 

"The procession is all about using the arts to celebrate the beauty and history of Providence's ponds", says Holly Ewald, the procession's creator and main organizer.  "Most people in Providence have lost their connection to beautiful, natural spaces in the city, and doubt that it's possible to clean up our ponds so we can enjoy them without toxins or bacteria threatening their health.  That's why we're bringing our message—that we can restore our ponds—right to the people, where they live, to get them excited about the possibilities of creating safe places to play and enjoy for all our city's residents."  

 

The Rhode Island Department of Health warns fishermen not to eat the fish from these waters yet some Rhode Island families rely on fishing to feed their families.  This was why, three years ago, Ms. Ewald, an artist, was hired on behalf of the Department of Health to work with the community surrounding Mashapaug Pond to create new warning signs for the pond that were in languages other than just English and clearly communicated the dangers of the pond to residents through compelling images.  Ms. Ewald started the Mashapaug Pond Procession as a culminating public event in June 2008 after working with other artists at Alvarez High School and Charles Fortes Elementary School helping young people design the new signs.  Eight signs with stunning visuals are now prominently posted around the pond with warnings in English, Spanish, and Cambodian.  

 

Environmental Justice League of RI ~ October 4, 2008

The next full group meeting of the Environmental Justice League of RI.  The meeting will take place on Saturday, Oct. 4th between 10AM and Noon at Algonquin House, 807 Broad Street in Providence.

Bioneers by the Bay Conference ~ Connecting for Change ~ October 23-26, 2008

Fourth Annual Bioneers by the Bay Conference Tackles Environmental Sustainability Crisis with Global and Local Solutions

• Northeast's Premier Environmental Conference Grows into New Location, Larger Venue
• "Green Collar" Job Advocate Van Jones and Other Leading Eco-Experts Connect for Change

New Bedford, Mass. – In a season where politicians, leading scientists and average citizens are discussing the impending urgency of our climate crisis, an important conference is bringing together speakers from multiple disciplines to showcase and discuss global and local solutions to inspire change.

The Fourth Annual Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change, hosted and produced by the Marion Institute, will be held in historic Downtown New Bedford, MA from October 23-26. The conference uses the ideas of international and national environment and social justice experts to inspire individuals and groups in local communities into action. Featured speakers include Van Jones and Majora Carter of Green For All and many others listed below.

Explains Marion Institute Executive Director Desa Van Laarhoven, "A lot of the rhetoric this election season about a planet in peril, not to mention a bleeding economy, can leave people feeling overwhelmed or helpless. Bioneers by the Bay seeks to inspire and remind folks that innovators – or the environmental and social justice super stars, as we like to call them – are developing and implementing real solutions to address climate change." She continues, "The conference also emphasizes the importance of our actions which matter not only individually in practical ways but, collectively, in shaping a powerful and earth saving social movement."

Due to the growing demand from an audience attracted to its rich and cutting edge programming, the event has moved from Dartmouth, MA to the Zeiterion Theatre, a larger 1,200 seat venue in New Bedford, MA with various events happening city-wide. Over the course of the three day conference, Bioneers by the Bay expects to have 2,500 people converse and cross pollinate ideas from a broad range of topics to build a healthier world.

In addition to keynote speakers, the event will also include workshops, a youth initiative, films, music, exhibits by sustainable businesses and organizations and a farmer's market with local and organic food. The event's appeal and success hinges upon its diversity. Speakers include a cross section of innovators such as environmentalists, scientists, grassroots activists, physicians, scholars, farmers and entrepreneurs tackling eco-topics ranging from green business to food to farming to diversity.

Van Jones, Majora Carter and Simran Sethi will present at the FREE open to the public Bioneers by the Bay kick-off event at 7:30pm on Thursday, October 23rd, at New Bedford's Zeiterion Theatre at 684 Purchase Street. They will present their pioneering ideas for green collar job training and our collective imperative for environmental justice, made all the more critical in today's economic climate.

Attendees, from individuals to youth groups and other organizations, leave the event empowered to fight for local, city and state commitments to climate change, build carbon-neutral homes, institutionalize composting and food purchasing programs, develop projects to support indigenous populations, secure funding for school gardens or donate time to progressive nonprofits.

Featured presenters at the 2008 Bioneers by the Bay conference include: 

Environmental Legislation Survey ~ Due March 5, 2008

From Environment Rhode Island:

Although it's cold outside this time of year, the hallways of the General Assembly are just starting to heat up. As you know, we here at Environment Rhode Island are committed to getting results that protect Rhode Island's air, water and open space.

As this year's legislative session gets under way, I'm hoping you'll let us know what you think are the most important environmental issues on which we should focus our efforts.

Please take a moment to fill out our short online survey:

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Sincerely,

Matt Auten
Environment Rhode Island Advocate

Getting the Bugs Out: Pest Control Strategies for Affordable Housing ~ April 16 & 17, 2008

From Environmental Justice League of RI:

Getting the Bugs Out: Pest Control Strategies for Affordable Housing

A two-day  conference to discuss safer pest control strategies in multi-family affordable housing.

ON-LINE REGISTRATION LINK: 

Conference Cost: No Charge

Dates:  Wednesday April 16th and Thursday April 17th, 2008

Time:   10am-3pm. 

Location: University of Massachusetts, Boston. Student Center. (Parking lot adjacent to the building.  Cost-$6)

Sponsors: Boston Public Health Commission, Asthma Regional Council of New England, and Boston Housing Authority

Day 1 (April 16) -  Pest Control Strategies in Affordable Housing- Learn about practical, safer and effective methods of pest control
Audience Day 1:

*Public Housing Authorities Directors and Facilities Managers*
*Landlords and Tenants of Multi-Family Affordable Housing*
*Housing Finance and Construction Managers*
*Pest Control Companies*
*Public Health, Environment and Housing Organizations*

Day 2 (April 17) - Integrated Pest Management Policy Summit- Explore public health and policy approaches to fostering and sustaining IPM

Audience Day 2:

Policymakers, Government Officials and Advocates in:

*Public Health, Environment, and Housing
*Those working in the fields of Integrated Pest Management, Pesticides, Asthma, and Healthy Homes 

Register for one or both days of the conference, depending on your interests and your availability.  A light breakfast and lunch will be served.  We encourage your organization to come in teams, so that you can learn and strategize together.

FOR UPDATED INFORMATION, INCLUDING PROGRAM DETAILS AND AGENDA
http://www.asthmaregionalcouncil.org/ipmconference.html

SENT TO YOU BY:

Laurie Stillman
Director of Health Policy and Advocacy   
Executive Director of the Asthma Regional Council (ARC)

The Medical Foundation
622 Washington Street, 2nd fl.
Dorchester, MA  02124
(617) 451-0049 x504
(617) 282-3950 (fax)

--
Steven Fischbach
Community Lawyer
Rhode Island Legal Services
56 Pine Street--Suite 400
Providence, RI  02903

401-274-2652 X-182
401-453-0310 (fax)
[email protected]

Report Release: Toxics in Rhode Island ~ February 19, 2008

From ECRI and Toxics Action Center:

Toxics in Rhode Island: A Town-by-Town Profile Reveals Threats to Public Health

Release of Report

For more information: Amelia Rose, Toxics Action Center, (401) 421-0007 or (202) 321-2118 (cell) (Se habla espanol)

What:                      
Toxics Action Center will release Toxics in Rhode Island: A Town-by-Town Profile outlining all toxic sources and sites in Rhode Island.  This report provides residents with the first-ever one-stop source of information about toxic hazards in their communities.  It also tells government and citizens how they can take action to protect public health.  Speakers will be the report author, a public health expert knowledgeable about the impacts these sites have on public health and the environment, a Rhode Island resident directly impacted by the potential siting of a polluting facility near her home in Cranston, and a representative of a statewide advocacy organization.

Who:
Amelia Rose, Community Organizer, Toxics Action Center, Author of Toxics in Rhode Island:  A Town-by-Town Profile

Bob Sumner-Mack, MD, MPH. Delegate At-Large, Environment Council of Rhode Island Retired pediatrician and public health physician with special focus on environmental issues as they affect public health

Suzanne Arena Vice-President of Cranston Citizens for Responsible Zoning and Development. Resident impacted by potential development of polluting facility in her neighborhood

Laura Brion Program Associate, Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (RIPIRG). Advocate for statewide legislation to hold polluters accountable for toxic site clean-up

When:               
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 10 AM Report will also be posted on www.toxicsaction.org <http://www.toxicsaction.org/>

Where:               
Providence, Bell Area of State House (82 Smith Street)

Visuals:               
A large map of all toxic sites in Rhode Island.

Amelia Rose Community Organizer Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts Toxics Action Center (617) 747-4374 (MA) (401) 421-0007 (RI) [email protected]

"Celebrating 20 years of cleaning up and preventing pollution."