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Patricia Dines Freelance
Writer, Editor, Public Speaker & Graphic
Artist Specializing in Environmental & Community Topics |
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Do you want to hear about Patricia's articles when they're released? Just email that request to (pd [at] patriciadines.info). Please put "Patricia/Email list request" in the subject line. |
RECENT NEWS: QUICK SUMMARY
*
I
invite you to read my (cover!) article in NorthBay biz
magazine's August issue, "True
Green: Moving beyond greenwashing to create authentic
eco-success."
* I
invite you to read my August "Ask EcoGirl" column,
"Reaping the Rewards of the
Bulk Bin", which
makes it fun and easy to forage the bulk bins and thus save
money, increase variety in your diet, and notably reduce
your trash impacts.
* I invite you to read my July "Ask EcoGirl" column, "Preventing Future Oil Disasters", which continues describing vital and tangible ways that we can help avoid future Gulf oil spills.
* The July/August Next STEP newsletter has been released and is ready for your viewing.
* I invite you to read my June "Ask EcoGirl" column, "Reducing Your Transportation Footprint", which offers tangible ways that we can help avoid future Gulf oil spills by cutting back our demand for increasingly-scarce oil.
* I invite you to read my May "Ask EcoGirl" column, which helps you overcome your green inaction by "Organizing for Eco-Success."
* The May/June Next STEP newsletter has been released and is ready for your viewing.
* I invite you to read my April "Ask EcoGirl" column, "Greening Medicine," offering specific tips for greening and improving our country's health care system.
* I invite you to read my Green Scene column in the March NorthBay biz magazine, "A Deeper Shade of Green."
* I invite you to read my March "Ask EcoGirl" column, which highlights "Eco-Remedies for Our Health Care Crisis."
* The March/April Next STEP newsletter has been released and is ready for your viewing.
* I invite you to read my article in the February Sonoma-Marin Farm News, "Sonoma Compost: Celebrating 25 Years."
* I invite you to read my article in NorthBay biz magazine's February issue, "Green Pinstripes: Bringing sustainability to the executive suite."
* I invite you to read my February "Ask EcoGirl" column, which offers ideas for "Sharing Your Eco-Love."
* The Jan/Feb Next STEP newsletter has been released and is ready for your viewing.
* I invite you to read my January "Ask EcoGirl" column, "Greening Your New Year's Resolutions."
* Announcing my new "insanely useful" Ask EcoGirl booklets. The first two selections are - Detoxing Your Life and Healthier Houscleaning!
* I invite you to read my December "Ask EcoGirl", full of useful information about "Trimming Your Holiday Waste"
* I invite you to read my article in NorthBay biz magazine's Oct. Special Wine Issue. Called "Seeking Fulfillment," it describes how New Vine's collapse last May revealed the booming new market for third-party wine shippers, which are creatively helping wineries make money even in these hard times.
* August 19, 2009 - Patricia was a guest on "The View from the Bay", the ABC TV talk show, offering eco-tips and talking about her work. For more information, click here.
* August 2009 - Patricia was interviewed for planetshifter.com. For more information, click here.
* You can read my new article in NorthBay biz magazine "Financing a Greener World."
* You can read my new article in the Sonoma County Peace Press "Uprooting the Environmental Causes of Poverty & War."
.... or just scroll down to read the details of these and more! ....
RECENT NEWS: DETAILS
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True
Green EcoGirl Patricia Dines helps NorthBay biz readers see beyond enticing green façades to uncover the products and approaches that support true environmental change. You can read this article in NorthBay biz's Aug. issue, on various local newstands now. Or click here to go straight to my article online (including my version of the text and a PDF of the magazine version with graphics). Enjoy! I had so much fun creating this story and am so proud of how it came out! I hope that it's fun and useful for you too. Please let me know what you think! And thanks to everyone who contributed to this piece. |
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The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing.
You can read this column in the August issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at <www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl4a.html>. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome! Reader feedback "Anyone who is interested in preserving our earth, its creatures, their habitats, and well-being for all should be an EcoGirl fan!" |
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STEP UPDATE: Good news! At the 7/20 Sebastopol City Council meeting, the Council decided unanimously to restore The Next STEP newsletter to the original 2-page format that it's been most of it's 10-year lifetime. I felt that this format was needed to produce the project's stated goal of reducing our shared use and exposure to toxics, and I'm delighted that the Council is still inspired by and supportive of that objective. I'm feeling re-invigorated and excited about continuing to produce this newsletter! - Signed, Patricia Dines, Editor The Next STEP |
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Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing.
You can read this column in the July issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at <www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl3k.html>. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome! Reader feedback "Anyone who is interested in preserving our earth, its creatures, their habitats, and well-being for all should be an EcoGirl fan!" |
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The
newest Next STEP newsletter is
released! Current issue: July/August 2010 (Click link to download) Contents: * Choosing Healthy Sunscreens. EWG gives low marks to 92% of brand name products, for including toxics, making overblown claims, or insufficiently protecting the skin from sun damage. Note: This issue is one page instead of the usual two, because of space constraints in the mailing. You can find answers to your specific questions about toxics and alternatives online! Just check out our online index by topic by clicking here.That page also offers you a chance to browse the descriptions of recent issues, to see what might catch your eye. For more information about the STEP program, click here. Thank you to Jim Gleaves for his assistance with this project; to the City Council for creating it; and for City staff for helping to make it possible. Recent reader feedback "Thank you heartily [for] your excellent two-page newsletter! I've learned so much from it that I would not have thought to research by myself. It's also a striking example of good citizenship at work!" |
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Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing.
You can read this column in the June issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at <www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl3j.html>. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome! |
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Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing.
You can read this column in the May issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at <www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl3i.html>. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome! |
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The
newest Next STEP newsletter is
released! Current issue: May/June 2010 (Click link to download) Contents: * Report on our latest reader survey. Results include: 88% say that they find the newsletter helpful and interesting and 72% say that the newsletter has tangibly helped them reduce their use of toxic. Additionally, those using pesticides has dropped from 53% last year to 35% this year -- and half of those folks are using natural non-toxic options only. Read the newsletter for more reader feedback. Note: This issue is one page instead of the usual two, because of space constraints in the mailing. You can find answers to your specific questions about toxics and alternatives online! Just check out our online index by topic by clicking here.That page also offers you a chance to browse the descriptions of recent issues, to see what might catch your eye. For more information about the STEP program, click here. Thank you to Jim Gleaves for his assistance with this project; to the City Council for creating it; and for City staff for helping to make it possible. |
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Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing.
You can read this column in the April issue of the wonderful Sonoma County Gazette, or at <www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl3h.html>. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the informative and empowering EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome! |
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My new Green Scene column in NorthBay biz I invite you to read my Green Scene column in the March NorthBay biz magazine, on newstands now or at this link, "A Deeper Shade of Green." This piece gives you a look into Petaluma's Sonoma Compost Company (SCC) and it's organic community composting operation. For 25 years, SCC has been diverting yard and ag waste from the landfill and turning it into useful organic composts and mulches. Yes, this is where your green can waste goes! |
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Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing.
You can read Ask EcoGirl at <www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl3g.html>. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the wonderful EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome! Reader feedback "Anyone who is interested in preserving our earth, its creatures, their habitats, and well-being for all should be an EcoGirl fan!" |
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The
newest Next STEP newsletter is
released! Current issue: March/April 2010 (Click link to download) Contents: * Health Effects: Are Toxics Helping Making Us Fat? - While certainly diet, exercise, and genetics are key factors in our weight levels, chemicals (nicknamed "obesogens") are now being found to play a role in how much weight we gain and how difficult it is to maintain a healthy weight. The risk is especially high for children in utero and during their developing years. Find out more about what's being learned. Note: This issue is one page instead of the usual two, because of space constraints in the mailing. You can find answers to your specific questions about toxics and alternatives online! Just check out our online index by topic by clicking here.That page also offers you a chance to browse the descriptions of recent issues, to see what might catch your eye. For more information about the STEP program, click here. Thank you to Jim Gleaves for his assistance with this project; to the City Council for creating it; and for City staff for helping to make it possible. |
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My new article in Sonoma-Marin Farm News I invite you to read my article in the Feb. Sonoma-Marin Farm News, "Sonoma Compost: Celebrating 25 Years." This piece gives you a peek behind the scenes at the wonderful Sonoma Compost Company, which for 25 years has been diverting yard and ag waste from the landfill and turning it into useful organic composts and mulches that nurture local farms and gardens. Editor feedback "Dear Patricia - Thanks for the story on Sonoma Compost. It's a great read that our readers will find both interesting and educational. We are happy to have the work of a pro and welcome further stories by you on topics related to the agricultural industry in Sonoma and Marin Counties." |
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Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing.
You can read Ask EcoGirl at <www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl3f.html>. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the wonderful EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome! |
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Read my new article in the NorthBay biz magazine: Green Pinstripes Bringing sustainability to the executive suite... NorthBay biz talks with three "sustainability officers" to find out what such a job entails and how, little by little, they're helping North Bay companies reduce costs and save the environment. ... To learn more, we talked with three local
pioneers: Lynelle Cameron, director of
sustainability for San Rafael's Autodesk; Geof
Syphers, CSO for Rohnert Park's Codding
Enterprises; and Colby Eierman, director of
sustainability for Glen Ellen's Benziger Family
Winery. You can read this article in NorthBay biz's Feb. issue, on various local newstands now. Or click here to go straight to my article. For the main Green Issue link, click here. Enjoy! I had so much fun creating this story and learning more about what these folks are doing, and I hope you have fun reading it too. Please let me know what you think! (And thanks to everyone who contributed to this piece, including Ryn Longmaid for the original title and idea spark!) |
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The
newest Next STEP newsletter is
released! Current issue: January/February 2010 (Click link to download) Contents: * It's our anniversary - We're celebrating nine years of publishing The Next STEP newsletter. We want your input for what we'll do this coming year! Sebastopol residents, please return the yellow survey card with your water bill to give us your feedback. Other folks can email us at (STEP [at] healthyworld.org) to let us know (1) what you like about the newsletter; and (2) and what you'd like to see in future issues. Our past issues are all online, ready to answer your specific questions about toxics and alternatives! For more about ways you can access this information, including our online index by topic, click here. On that page you'll see that I've created a new way for you to access past STEP issues. In addition to looking up information by topic, you can also now browse the descriptions of the past year's issues, to see what might catch your eye. For more information about the STEP program, click here. Thank you to Jim Gleaves for his assistance with this project; to the City Council for creating it; and for City staff for helping to make it possible. Recent reader feedback "Just wanted to say thank you for all your positive information. My husband and I are trying for our second child and I really appreciated the article regarding autism cases being higher when exposed to flea shampoos for animals. This was a great eye opener for me and I plan on using only non-toxic cleaners pre-pregnancy and forever afterwards. This type of information really does help all of us -- so again, thank you....I am so happy to be a part of such a caring community." |
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Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing.
Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome! |
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Announcing my new "insanely useful" Ask EcoGirl booklets Eco-information is everywhere, but there's way too much to digest. We're all drowning in eco-information -- and our overwhelm can keep us from acting. Where do we start? What are the most useful actions to take? How do we integrate this into our everyday lives? Never fear -- Ask EcoGirl is here! EcoGirl understands -- and comes to the rescue! She does the research for you, pulling together the key information that you need to move into action and get the results you need. This is the fast lane to a healthier life for you and the planet. Booklet titles available * Detoxing Your Life: Assessing & Reducing Your Exposure to Everyday Toxics * Healthier Housecleaning: Easy, Less-toxic, & Cheaper Ways to Create a Sparkling Home To find out how to order your very own copies of these "insanely useful" booklets, and be informed when new ones are released, click here. EcoGirl: Making it easy to be green! Reader feedback "What impresses me is that it is SO comprehensive for such a small booklet. Often I see a flyer on one or two topics, but you have packed so much in this, plus given larger principles about how to think of these things. You give simple suggestions that anyone can follow and move themselves forward in the ecological movement -- and feel good about it. You make it appealing to do, not a burden." |
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Ask EcoGirl's newest column is available The newest Ask EcoGirl has been released and is ready for your viewing.
You can read Ask EcoGirl at <www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl3d.html>. Plus that webpage has more details about this topic as well as information about sending questions to EcoGirl, receiving email alerts for future columns, and including the wonderful EcoGirl column in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see previous columns. Your input and feedback are warmly invited! |
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I have lots of great tips for greening your holidays! First, you can peruse my current and past Ask EcoGirl columns, at www.AskEcoGirl.info/AEcolumns.html. I also have lots of great ideas at www.healthyworld.org/ecoholidays.html. I hope that you have fun exploring and find useful ideas. And please share your own tips with me as well. I love hearing other people's success stories. May we all help create happy holidays for all! |
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Read my new article in the NorthBay biz magazine: Seeking Fulfillment Hi all - My second article for NorthBay biz magazine is out! In this piece, I delved into a completely new topic for me: the story behind last May's stunning crash of market pioneer New Vine - and what it revealed about the quietly booming market for third-party wine shippers. With wine store shelf space very limited, wineries would like to reach customers directly, However, they're often stopped by complex and restrictive state shipping laws. Coming to the rescue are third-party wine shippers who navigate the shipping lanes behind the scenes, often in creative ways, thus giving wineries access to more sales. This story was a fun chance for me (and I hope my readers) to learn more about the local wine industry, including this successful segment, as well as explore different models for reaching customers. I hope you find it of interest too! You can read this article in NorthBay biz's new special Wine Issue, on various local newstands. Look for the wine glass on front. Or click here to go straight to my article on my website, which includes a scan of the article as published with graphics. Enjoy! - Patricia |
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On Aug. 19, I was a guest on "The View From The Bay," a daily TV talk show on San Francisco's ABC station KGO. It's hosted by Spencer Christian and Janelle Wang and produced live in San Francisco. Being on the show was lots of fun! I was delighted to share both my approach to eco-action (by inspiring and empowering folks to make a difference) and to offer their viewers some easy eco-tips. Plus folks heard about my Ask EcoGirl column and were invited to my presentations at the Napa Fresh Aire Festival, August 28-30. For more about my appearance, including screen shots and a link to the video, see www.patriciadines.info/m_ViewBay081909.html |
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I had fun at the Napa Fresh Aire Festival Aug. 28-30! I was glad to have a chance to talk with others about issues of health, the environment and more! For more info, see www.patriciadines.info/m_NFA0809.html |
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Read my new article in the NorthBay biz magazine: Financing a Greener World Learn more about Sonoma County's innovative SCEIP program, which offers government financing for increasing the energy or water efficiency of a home or business. It'll also finance solar and other alternative energy projects! These projects can save us money, improve our property's value - and are vital to reducing our impact on the planet. You can either see this in the August issue of this monthly magazine, or click here. (And thanks Cassandra for your help scanning the article!) |
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Read my new Peace Press article: Uprooting the Environmental Causes of Poverty & War I was delighted to be invited to write about the environment for the Sonoma County Peace Press, published by the Sonoma County Peace & Justice Center. One of my passionate topics is the connection between environmental and social justice issues -- another chance for us to see that saving the earth is saving us humans too! This piece uses as an example the story of the Nigerian people and their journey with the oil industry. To read the article, see the August Peace Press (page 5) or click here. (My web version also has bonus links for more information on the topics discussed!) I hope that you enjoy this article and find it of interest. And thank you so much to the people who encourage and support me and my work, my ongoing development of my writing and my service. I am very moved and grateful. Please know that you are all woven into what I do. Thank you!! |
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Read the new interview with Patricia Dines on planetshifter.com Patricia Dines was recently interviewed by Willi Paul of planetshifter.com. Read more at www.planetshifter.com/node/1244 EXCERPTS "My vision is that EcoGirl will fly across the country, spreading her eco-empowerment to all!" "(With my eco-writing and public speaking), I've been innovating different ways of relating to people - by being inspiring, empowering, and useful - and getting people excited about being part of the solution!" |
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** Become an
Official Facebook EcoGirl Fan ** p.s. Note the new easier direct address - who hoo! Note: It isn't case sensitive. |
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My
new lead article "Greening Your Home - With No
Money
Down" Yet, hiding beneath this mild-mannered exterior, lies a powerful tool to help us solve some of our most urgent shared problems. I've been watching this program emerge for a while, so I'm delighted to finally be able to tell you about its special features. To read this article and find out more, see the April issue of the wonderful West County Gazette, which features this article on its cover. Or click here to see both text and PDF versions of the article. |
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I'm
speaking at the March 28 Sustainability
Conference My talk is titled "Detoxing Your Life." My goal is to support folks in nurturing the health of themselves, their families, and our shared ecosystem by reducing exposure to everyday toxics. I'll be offering a systematic approach I've developed for identifying the everyday toxics in all areas of your life, prioritizing the ones you want to reduce, and making a plan for doing so. We don't have to be powerless to the hidden toxics in consumer products! In addition to personal actions, I'll also take a look at community-level actions. Bring your specific questions! I've been researching and writing about this topic for many years, including writing The Next STEP newsletter which gently educates people about everyday toxics and effective alternatives. I'll also be very interested to hear people's feedback on the model! For a full conference schedule, see http://sustainableconference.sc5.info/CONFERENCESHEDpublic2web.htm I look forward to seeing you there! |
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My
article alerts email
list I hope that you find my writing of interest, and that it serves our greater connection with nature's wise ways. Thank you to everyone who supports my work in the world; you truly do help make it possible. |
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I'm
now on
Facebook Oh, and for those folks interested in such things - I'm also on LinkedIn, atwww.LinkedIn.com/in/PatriciaDines |
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Ask
EcoGirl Flies
Again
- In HopeDance! View this column in the January/February issue of HopeDance and at <www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl2e.html>. Plus that webpage has information about sending questions to EcoGirl, being informed about future columns, and including the wonderful EcoGirl in your periodical. Click on Published Columns to see all previous columns - and future possible ones. Your input and requests are most welcome! |
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Patricia's
Poem Published in the Wonderful We'Moon |
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Lead Article:
"Delighting
in Our Delicious Local
Farms" You can view this article in the May issue of the West County Gazette. To download the PDF, click here. Reader feedback "Excellent articles Patricia - and fun to read! Congratulations on the colorful front page placement and thanks for continuing to make a difference for the masses by educating via your passion and talent for writing. EcoGirl will soon be flying into other communities and publications, I can feel it.Good luck with her." |
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Patricia's EcoNews Blog (Reborn, In a New Updated Format!) Here's a totally personal selection of news stories that I think are especially relevant for those of us who want a better world for all. Topics include the environment, energy, health, toxics, organics, the economy, true democracy, and community. Plus I include a little personal commentary along the way! |
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Your ideas and information invited for an article I'm working on: Green consultants - I'm looking for those in Sonoma County who offer to help a homeowner or small business be more green. I'm also interested in the experiences of those who've used such services, and the questions of those who would like to. Just email me at pd [at] patriciadines.info with your thoughts. Thanks! |
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What
the Latest News About Organics Really
Means |
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Patricia Dines was part of the Global Cooling Panel at the (wonderful!) Harmony Festival, Sunday June 10, at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. It was fun to connect with folks and spread the word about the joy we can feel when we make a positive difference in the world. The Festival is presented annually and has lots of fun people, information, products, music, and more. They call it "Northern California's Premier Music, Camping & Sustainable Lifestyle Festival." It's offerings include "World Class Music & Speakers on multiple stages for 3 Days and 3 Nights of Entertainment, Arts, Ecology& Healthful Living." This year's theme is "Promoting Global Cooling." For more information, see www.harmonyfestival.com. |
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Sebastopol
Peak Oil Report Released This report was produced for the Sebastopol City Council by the Sebastopol Citizens Advisory Group on Energy Vulnerability (CAGE). The purpose was to help the City explore how to maintain public services in the face of anticipated significant energy supply shortfalls (aka peak oil). Sebastopol was one of the world's first cities to take formal public action to explore this issue (just as it was one of the first U.S. cities to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions). CAGE spent over a year in focused research and analysis, understanding the facts and possible scenarios, exploring innovative and realistic ways to approach these issues, and understanding the workings of Sebastopol's operations. The resulting report was presented to the City Council by Ms. Dines on April 3, 2007. All Councilmembers was warmly appreciative of the quality of the information and usefulness of the report. Click here for the resume page summarizing the report and the responses.This page includes a link to an article about this report and a link to the final report. Thank you to everyone in CAGE and beyond who
contributed to this report's successful completion,
and to the Sebastopol City Council for seeking to
look forward and act proactively in the best
interests of the community. |