CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Rethinking Plastics
Habitat Restoration

  • RETHINKING PLASTICS

      • TALKS UPCOMING

      • Thursday, January 10, 10:30-11:45 am. The Tamalpais, 501 Via Casitas, Greenbrae. As this is a retirement community, residents and guests only are invited. If you would like to come, simply let us know and we will put you on the guest list. It’s a beautiful place to visit.
      • Saturday, January 12, 7:00-9:00 pm. Novato Unified School District, Board Room, 1015 Seventh Street, at Grant. Sponsored by the Novato Live Well Network.
      • Sunday, January 13, 2:00-3:30 pm. Land of Medicine Buddha, 5800 Prescott Road, Aptos.
      • Tuesday, January 29, 7:00-9:00 pm. 85 Bolinas Road #17 (above Yoga Loka), Fairfax. Sponsored by Sustainable Fairfax.

      TOPICS

      Through our advocacy and work with other environmental organizations, we have developed three presentations relating to plastic pollution:

      1. Rethinking Plastics, Rethinking Our Lives. This is our original talk. With a showing of Synthetic Sea and 100 slides, we explore the history of plastics, the impact of an industry that produces 56 million tons of non-biodegradable synthetics in the US every year, and the kinds of solutions that we can apply individually and institutionally.
      2. Advertising & the Environment. A close look at how the sophisticated use of basic principles of advertising (saturation, need, association, and humor) has led us to buy things we don’t need, and destroy earth’s life systems in the bargain. Using bottled water as a case study, participants take apart the logic of sample advertisements and learn about “principles of freedom” that can protect us from this devastating influence.
      3. Litter Hurts. This is an interactive lesson developed through San Rafael Clean for schools and community groups. Most marine debris (80%) comes from land-based sources. Learning to deal with waste – that is, anything that we don’t want any more – is the first step in developing an environmental ethic. Litter prevention touches the whole spectrum of environmental issues.

      HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

      Would you like to share this information with your friends, co-workers, or neighbors? Do you know a social club looking for speakers or a church seeking to improve its environmental footprint? Is there a school in your neighborhood? Tell them about our presentation. We’ll be glad to work out the arrangements for a presentation that suits their needs and interests.

      RETHINKING PLASTICS: TRAINING FOR SPIRITUAL ACTIVISTS

      Winter Schedule

      1. Three Thursday evenings in Sonoma County, 7:00-9:15 pm, tbd.
      2. One day-long training: Saturday tbd, 10 am-5 pm, at the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership in Terra Linda.
      3. One or more rehearsals (7-9 pm).
      4. Additional, optional sessions for further practice, PowerPoint tutorials, and other support as needed.

      Cost
      For all sessions: $150.
      Includes course materials: Synthetic Sea on DVD; State of the Evidence (summary of research on chemicals and breast cancer); Peace Is Every Step, by Thich Nhat Hanh; several articles on plastic bags, bottles, and styrofoam; PowerPoint slide presentation and script.

      When is the next training?
      If you have been waiting for a training in your county, now is the time to write our Program Coordinator, Elizabeth Little (sacredgrdn@aol.com) or call (510) 532-6574. She will discuss your schedule requirements and organize the next group in your area.

  • HABITAT RESTORATION

    • Each season we go to Green Gulch Farm near Muir Beach for a morning of Inner & Outer Restoration. Our next date is Sunday, February 3, 2008. We start with deep silence, meditating with the larger community in the Zendo. After meditation, we gather for tea and muffins, a pep talk, and our morning’s work: removal of exotics, trail building, planting of natives, and other essential tasks. Wear comfortable layers, sturdy shoes, and the half-smile of the Buddha.

    09:00 amArrive.
    09:20 amZendo door closes.
    09:55 amMeditation ends.
    10:00 amMeet for tea and muffins.
    10:10 amHabitat work.
    12:45 pmOrganic, vegetarian, delicious lunch.
    01:30 pmAdjourn to home or trails.

    Reservations are required by Thursday, January 31, to arrange for lunch. Carpools are strongly encouraged: more fun, fewer greenhouse gases, and better parking! RSVP to Stuart Moody: (415) 459-0176.