Green Boroughs

Now that Senator John McCain has tapped Conservative Republican Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska to be his running mate, should we be worried that people will choose the Republican ticket over Obama-Biden?  I hope not!  If anyone is thinking of voting for McCain-Palin over Obama-Biden because they felt insulted by the way Senator Hillary Clinton was treated in the primaries, they should have their head examined.  For God's sake, grow up!  This is politics.  If Senator Clinton can support Obama for President, why can't you?  Don't be so shallow! 

Would you really rather have a Conservative Republican one heartbeat away from the Presidency than Mr. Biden?  Yes, it was a very bold move on Senator McCain's part to choose a woman to be his running mate.  However, Governor Palin does not represent a majority of women in this country.  She opposes a woman's right to have an abortion, even in the case of rape or incest.  She favors drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge.  She favors opening vast tracts of unspoiled land in Alaska to drilling for oil and gas.  She opposes listing Polar Bears on the Endangered Species List.  When she was Mayor of Wasilla, she wanted to ban an extensive list of American Classics from the local library.    

I could go on and on with the reasons Sarah Palin is not the answer to our legitimate yearning for a woman in the White House.  Wake up America!  We need a President and Vice President who will stand up to Big Oil, the car companies, and other special interests that continue to deny the global climate crisis and other environmental problems.  The Republicans will not take bold steps to promote renewable energy and create green collar jobs.  This election may be the most important in our lifetime.  If we elect Obama and Biden, we have a chance to set a course for a prosperous and green future.  Let's not blow this chance! 

The New York City Department of Sanitation is offering Electronics Recycling and Clothing Donation events during the month of September in all five boroughs.  New York City residents can donate unwanted electronics including computers, laptops, monitors, printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, TVs, VCRs, DVRs, DVD players, portable digital music players, and cell phones.  Other kinds of electronics will not be accepted.  All events are from 8 am to 2 pm (rain or shine).

Brooklyn - Sunday, September 7 - Keyspan Park, Coney Island

Manhattan - Saturday, September 13 - Columbia University, 116th St. between Amsterdam Ave. and Morningside Drive

Staten Island - Sunday, September 14 - Staten Island Mall

Queens - Saturday, September 20 - Forest Park Bandshell Parking Lot

Bronx - Sunday, September 28 - Lehman College North Lot

On July 17 Former Vice President Al Gore issued a challenge to the next President to make the United States of America  energy independent in ten years by relying on 100% renewable and carbon neutral fuels for its electrical needs.  The estimated cost for this endeavor is between 1 and 3 trillion dollars.  Already, the naysayers are having a field day.    "It will cost too much!" or  "It's unrealistic" is the mantra.  But, keep in mind that the cost of not doing this could be far greater.  Remember that the polar ice-caps are melting more rapidly than scientists predicted even a year ago and the economy is suffering terribly from our addiction to imported oil and dependence on finite supplies of natural resources.

Mr. Gore's plan is far from perfect.  He wants to include nuclear energy and coal sequestration in the mix of new sources of fuel.  However, he has set the bar at a very high level which the Presidential contenders and Congressional leaders can either endorse or come up with their own alternatives.  This is the 21st century version of President Kennedy's vision for a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s.  Landing a man on the moon in 1969 was a tremendous challenge but we did it.  Making 100% of our electricity from renewable and carbon neutral sources in ten years is a daunting challenge but we must rise to the challenge or face awful consequences.  

The next meeting of the Green Business Marketing Group will be on Wednesday, September 24 at 12 Noon.  The meeting will be at My Planet International, 353 West 48th Street, 4th Floor.  The Green Business Marketing Group is open to anyone who owns a small business in New York City or wants to start a business and make it sustainable.  During the meeting we will share successes, challenges, and advice with each other.  The admission fee is $25 per person.  Alternatively, prospective members have the option of paying annual dues of $200.  Annual dues will enable us to invite guest speakers, pay for room rentals when needed, and minimize out of pocket food expenses.  A vegan lunch will be served.  For more information and to make a reservation for the meeting, please call 718.530.5074 or send an e-mail to Les@greenboroughs.com by September 22 to reserve your seat.

Green Boroughs is organizing a joint event with Green Edge NYC on Sunday, September 21.  We will offer the Green Boroughs Walking Tour of the East Village and Lower East Side to an audience that is not familiar with the Green Boroughs tours.  On this tour, you will visit some of the newest, coolest, greenest retail stores, community gardens, green buildings, and other green places in New York City.  This is your opportunity to meet other people like yourself who are concerned about sustainability in New York City.  If you want to join this tour, please meet in front of Birdbath Bakery, 223 First Avenue (near 13th Street) at 12:45 PM.  The tour will last approximately 2 hours.

The Green Edge Collaborative is a social network of New York City residents that was created to meet and discuss how our consumption choices affect our social, environmental and economic worlds, both locally and globally.  To make a reservation, please visit www.greenedgnyc.org.