Everyone, or nearly everyone, will spend a few moments reflecting on the close of the first decade of the 21st Century before beginning the next decade with a an awe inspiring hangover. We, here in the land of green opportunity, are no different. Let us review the events of the past decade in all their… [Read more…]
Here’s an opportunity (or three) for Silicon Valley – small, self contained solar generation. As the rain fell in San José on Christmas Eve I learned about Sara Ruto, an entrepreneurial woman living in a remote Kenyan village. Ms. Ruto would walk two miles on dirt paths and take a 3 hour motorcycle taxi ride… [Read more…]
It’s barely 36 hours after the polls closed in California’s November election, and less than 72 hours after the San Francisco Giants put the finishing touches on the World Series. What do these two disparate events have in common? Texas and California’s right to self determination. The Texas Rangers, whose previous owner, former President Bush, made… [Read more…]
October 19, 2010 by shilohballard
A few months ago, I blogged about electric vehicles. I wrote that they promise to help move us in a more sustainable direction but that ultimately, biking is where it’s at. Little did I know that just a few months later I would be riding an electric bike around Rotterdam as a part of a… [Read more…]
Who knew that taking over parking spaces with trees, grass, plants and people could be so much fun!? Last Friday was PARK(ing) Day, an international, grassroots event for artists, advocates and citizens to temporarily transform on-street parking spaces into urban parks. This annual event got its start in 2005 by Rebar, a San Francisco art… [Read more…]
August 23, 2010 by shilohballard
by Shiloh Ballard Tuesday night I pulled into my garage, got out of “my” car and plugged it in to the wall. This sounds like a seemingly mundane action but I found it to be more special than I had anticipated. I felt a new kind of freedom, and had I exclaimed anything, it would… [Read more…]
by Michele Beasley The metallic scraping sound beneath my car was the signal to finally get my brakes fixed. My mechanic asked if I needed a ride home and if I wanted my car back that day. I said No to both- a forced ‘carlessness’ was welcome. I took Caltrain up to San Francisco for… [Read more…]
If you’re planning to hit the roadways, airports or trains to celebrate the end of a gloomy 2009 and usher a hopeful 2010 – how about a few tips on travelling green. Keeping your green-tude safe while sleeping doesn’t have to be a chore. Resources for finding eco-friendly trips and pillow pads are available online… [Read more…]
A large solar project, 1.2 million panels on roughly 3,200 acres, is being proposed for the Panoche Valley, South of Hollister. The project poses an interesting question, which environmentalist gets the nod? According to the Audobon Society the issues center around wildlife habitat and corridors for travel. With several endangered species living in the valley… [Read more…]
If you don’t believe in global climate change, don’t bother reading on… Change happens and the affects of global climate change can be seen with the odd weather patterns, polar bears drowning and increased ocean temperatures. Entering into 2010 you might want to cut back on your carbon footprint. Right, you say, but…. First, you’ll… [Read more…]
December 31, 2010 by thenewipo
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