Community Advocates for a Sustainable Environment

Composter and Rain Barrel Sale

Published on March 28, 2021March 28, 2021 by Becky MeierLeave a comment

Compost and Rainwater barrel sale.

https://bethlehemcompostersale.ecwid.com/

The Town of Bethlehem is pleased to offer our 4th Annual Backyard Composter and Rain Barrel Sale, open to anyone in the Capital District. The online order deadline is May 1, 2021, with the pickup date scheduled for Sat., May 8, 2021.

Pick-Up Location & Details

We have the pickup date scheduled for Saturday, May 8, 2021* from 10:00 AM -1 PM at the Elm Avenue Park administration building lot, 261 Elm Avenue, Delmar NY 12054 (NOTE: All participants will be required to follow strict Covid-19 safety procedures during pickup). The Town of Bethlehem does not make any warranty or representation, expressed or implied, regarding the compost bins or other equipment offered for sale by BrandBuilders, LLC. Purchasers must direct any questions, claims or disputes regarding their purchase to BrandBuilders, LLC.

261 Elm Avenue, Delmar NY 12054

Get Directions

Contact us

1-800-842-0527

bethlehem@compostersale.com

Why Compost?

The Town of Bethlehem is excited to be offering this bulk composter sale, with educational support from Albany County Cooperative Extension. The goal of the program is to divert food scraps from the waste stream (up to 30% or more by weight is comprised of food scraps and compostable soiled paper and cardboard), and raise the awareness regarding the benefits of compost, which include improving or maintaining high quality soil, growing healthy plants, reducing the use of fertilizer and pesticides, improving water quality and protecting the environment. By adding compost you can conserve water and help improve soil to help hold water in the root zone. Want to learn more? Check out this great video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqDQD8cvO5Y

The Sustainable Futures Conference, April 27-30

Published on March 28, 2021March 28, 2021 by Becky MeierLeave a comment

The conference will illuminate how sustainability and resilience are multi-sector issues woven into all aspects of civic life, including economic development, housing, health, recreation, design, community engagement, justice, urban ecology, and education. The conference will place particular emphasis on equity and climate justice, highlighting the implementation of New York State’s landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) in the Capital Region.

There’s an amazing sustainability-focused conference coming up in late April – please check it out. Many local leaders are keynote speakers and facilitating breakout sessions. Many are people you know! Cost for an individual is just $20 for all 4 days.

https://www.futureofsmallcities.org/events/sustainable-futures-conference

There are different themes each day demonstrating how sustainability intersects with all aspects of life.

Day 1: The Sustainable City: A Green Urban Economy
Day 2: The Sustainable Community: Housing and Wellness
Day 3: The Sustainable Network: Transportation and Energy
Day 4: Sustainability = Equity: Justice and Resilience in Cities

There is a virtual Innovation Salon with exhibits on future sustainable technology, design and infrastructure projects that will help us meet the aggressive 40% by 2030 GhG reduction requirement in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Plus the first annual Youth Congress on Climate and Justice will also be featured..

Here’s a Facebook Conference event page to share: https://fb.me/e/eYBgLgbGR

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Electrify with Heat Pumps

Published on March 28, 2021 by Becky MeierLeave a comment

This year, the annual NY-GEO conference will be held virtually as a webinar series!
Tune into the kick off to hear from Doreen Harris, NYSERDA’s Acting President
and geothermal industry experts.

Climate Crisis: The Military and the Green New Deal

Published on March 28, 2021 by Becky MeierLeave a comment

How can we redirect funds from war to a Green New Deal? Learn about the interconnected crises of endless wars, climate emergency and inequality and how to take action!

Legislation to Electrify NY’s Transportion,Thursday, April 8

Published on March 28, 2021 by Becky MeierLeave a comment

REGISTER today for our next online teach-in on Thursday, April 8 at 12pM

Learn about current legislation in New York that supports electric vehicle sales, charging infrastructure and greening public transportation. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and take action!

Featuring:

– Mo-Yain Tham, Policy and Research Associate at Jobs to Move America
– Rachel Patterson, Legislative & Climate Associate at Environmental Advocates NY
– Carine Dumit, Director of Market Development & Public Policy at EVgo
– Albert Gore, Director of Public Policy & Business Development at Tesla.

POPE Calls for Climate Action

Published on September 23, 2020 by Becky MeierLeave a comment

On Tuesday, September 15, Pope Francis urged nations to fight global warming according to the 2015 Paris climate accord, weighing in on issue that figures in the U.S. presidential race

“Our constant demand for growth and an endless cycle of production and consumption are exhausting the natural world,” Francis said. “Forests are leached, topsoil erodes, fields fail, deserts advance, seas acidify and storms intensify. Creation is groaning!”

He made his call in a message on the day Christian Churches mark the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. “We need to do everything in our capacity to limit global average temperature rise under the threshold of 1.5°C enshrined in the Paris Climate Agreement, for going beyond that, will prove catastrophic, especially for poor communities around the world,” he said.

Pope Francis said biodiversity loss, climate disasters, and the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the poor and vulnerable were all a, “wakeup call in the face of our rampant greed and consumption.”

Why Teachers Should Care About Divestment

Published on September 23, 2020September 23, 2020 by Becky MeierLeave a comment

A future for our students

The climate crisis is upon us. In just the past month we’ve seen unprecedented wildfires, windstorms, record high temperatures, and record numbers of hurricanes. Similar devastation is playing out across the globe and this is only the beginning. Our youth are facing an uncertain future and they are demanding climate action.

The job of teachers is to prepare students for the future. This is a particularly hard year for teachers due to the pandemic and we are grateful for all that they do for our students. But while teachers are doing their job… their retirement system is funding the climate crisis. The NY State Teachers Retirement System (NYSTRS) that provides pensions for all New York teachers and support staff (except NYC), has billions invested in fossil fuels. Before the pandemic it was estimated that they had $4.5 billion invested in coal, oil and gas companies.

The future of the pension
In the past 6 months NYSTRS has likely lost $2 billion due to its investments in fossil fuels. I spoke with one financial expert and asked why we couldn’t get the current value of the stocks. He said, “The value of fossil fuel stocks is falling so rapidly, any attempt to get a number would be outdated within a few days.” NYSTRS investments in fossil fuels stocks is hurting the financial stability of the fund that teachers depend on for their retirement future.

Teachers must demand that NYSTRS Divest NOW
Teachers must demand that NYSTRS divest from all fossil fuels to save the planet and to save their pension.

According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we have ten years to dramatically change the way we live to avoid catastrophic harm. The pandemic has shown us that we can act quickly and decisively in the face of an emergency. The climate crisis has reached emergency proportions and we must act in every way possible to speed up the transition to a renewable energy future.

Please Help
Divest NY Teachers (divestnyteachers.org) is a grassroots group of climate activists, students and teachers.

SIGN the PETITION HERE to demand that NYSTRS divest. Ask your friends to sign.
Forward the petition to any and all teachers that you know. NYSTRS is in business to provide pensions to teachers. Teachers have the power to demand that their funds not be used for climate destruction.
Donate to Divest NY Teachers: CLICK HERE

If you would like to become active in Divest NY Teachers – contact Ruth Foster at rmfosterny@gmail.com or 518-588-0187.

National Grid puts Albany Loop E37 Pipeline on Hold

Published on September 21, 2020September 23, 2020 by Becky MeierLeave a comment

Great News! The Albany Loop pipeline is stopped –for now!

In its current rate increase proposal before the Public Service Commission, National Grid quietly announced that, “the Company has determined that there are adequate gas supplies …, such that we are able to temporarily defer the Albany Loop project from a supply perspective.” This, “provides a window of opportunity to … offer new solutions (e.g., renewable natural gas, geothermal) … and potentially delay or avoid the need for this and other projects.” The company, however, also stressed that plans for the line are still being explored for future years.

We at Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline (SNYFGP) fought the Northeast Energy Direct (NED) pipeline, we helped fight the Sheridan Hollow Power Plant, and now the Albany Loop pipeline, and they have all been stopped. Is this because we are great organizers? Yes, in part… But… it’s also because the fossil fuel industry is on the skids due to the worldwide climate movement. The Paris Climate Agreement signed by 189 countries which have agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions and the New York Climate Law requiring a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in just 10 years, makes it virtually impossible to justify any new fossil fuel infrastructure.

SNYFGP and Community Advocates for a Sustainable Environment (CASE) will file comments in the National Grid Rate Case to demand that plans for the pipeline be stopped and instead National Grid bring wind, solar, geothermal and conservation to upstate customers. You too can speak at the public statement hearings beginning on Wednesday, September 23rd – see the action section below!