Hiking with Kids

Josh Thomas, our one and own Central Piedmont Group Chair, has a new post over at Ecochildsplay.com. So go over there and check out his seven tips; for now, here's a small preview:

1. Give kids real responsibility

Captain (hiking leader), Cook (snacks holder), Chief Navigator (map
holder/user), Lead Photographer, etc. These all work. Just be sure you have a
role for each child.

2. Switch roles frequently

If you have 4 kids or fewer on the trip, switch often enough (roughly every 7-8
minutes for four kids) so that all can be Captain at least once per half
hour.

3. Think Journey, Journey, Journey

Every time you announce a role change, remind yourself that this is
about the journey, not the destination, and that the kids are
dictating the pace (30 photos of tree sap? Of course that’s a good idea!)

Sierra Club Volunteer on Raleigh's Comprehensive Plan

Responding to Raleigh's Comprehensive Plan
by Marvin Woll, Capital Group

The City of Raleigh recently introduced the Raleigh Comprehensive Plan for 2030. A large number of Raleigh citizens and city employees did an excellent job in developing this plan. It is a good plan; however, there are some sections that need to be revised.

In the section entitled Element C: Environmental Protection there is Policy EP 7 that calls on the city to "Increase the use of renewable energy to meet 10 percent of Raleigh's peak electric load". This is a section we need to respond to and change. We should be able to meet 30 percent of Raleigh's peak electric load with renewable energy by the year 2030.

In the section entitled Element B: Transportation there is B.2.4 which concerns Public Transportation. Action T25 mentions providing fixed guideway transit services within "10 to 15 years". Raleigh has been waiting a long time to develop a light rail system and we should change the timeline on this action section to "within the next 3 to 6 years".

You can respond to the Comprehensive Plan by going to http://www.raleighplanning2030.com/. You can also provide your comments to the plan by attending one of three workshops to be held on January 13,14 and 15. Information about these workshops can also be found at the previously mentioned website.

We only have December and January to respond to this plan and make changes. Your response is vital to the process of improving the environmental and transportation sections of this plan. The future of Raleigh and our environment will depend on your actions.

Cool Cities keep up the good fight

Join me on the road this week to celebrate two new Cool Cities. I will bein Cary, NC this Thursday evening at 7:00 to thank Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and the Cary Town Council for signing the Mayors Agreement and for changing ALL THEIR STREETLIGHTS to LEDs! On Friday I will be on Bald Head Island (it may be cold, but it’s still a beach!) this Friday afternoon at 3:00 to thank Mayor Larry Lammert and the Bald Head Island Village Council for signing the Agreement and for purchasing hybrids and electric powered vehicles.

Show your support by joining us or writing them a quick thank you for their efforts to fight global warming!

In this video, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (spelling?) defends the California Emissions Standards, which the Bush Administration has challenged. Hmm, emissions standards...what does California have to do with me?

Well, in the past session, state legislators passed the Clean Cars Study Bill, which examines the California emissions as they would be applied in NC. So, what the Governator is saying holds true to our Carolina Blue Skies, and the country at large, for that matter.

Wind Turbines

What's Greener - A Laptop or Desktop?

Short-answer: laptop, by far.

The long answer is over at Slate in another entry by the Green Lantern. It's a good review of why you might want to recycle your desktop (via NC's electronics recycling program) and get that new MacBook for Christmas.