How Speedy Buses Totally Changed China's Third Largest City - News. This is a guest post from Dani Simons, Director of Communications for the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy.
Before joining ITDP, Simons worked for the New York City Department of Transportation and Transportation Alternatives, NYC's best advocate for bicycling, walking, and public transit. Seventeen American transit executives get on a bus... Sounds like the start of a joke, right? But that’s what happened recently in Guangzhou, the third largest city in China. Like all Chinese cities, Guangzhou has seen an explosion in automobile ownership over the past decade. The transit execs were there as part of an International Transit Studies Program, sponsored by the Transportation Research Board, to see how Guangzhou managed to turn things around so dramatically, quickly, and inexpensively by using buses instead of metro or light rail.
GM microbe breakthrough paves way for large-scale seaweed farming for biofuels. The ancient art of seaweed farming could provide a solution to a 21st-century energy dilemma, with the creation of a genetically engineered microbe that turns the algae into low-carbon biofuel, scientists said on Thursday.
Biofuels have been touted as low-carbon replacements for petrol and diesel, but those made from crops like corn and sugar have been blamed for increasing global food prices and delivering only modest benefits. Earlier studies have indicated that large-scale use of seaweed as an energy source could in theory supply the world's needs several times over and the UK government envisages between 560 and 4700 km sq of seaweed farms in its long-term energy planning. From Environmental Activism to Social Change - Health Supreme. Environmental Activism Guide. John R Childress . . . rethinking leadership. ‘Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.’ - Shakespeare’s Henry V, Act III, 1598.
The years between 1946 and 1964 produced a remarkable generation, the post-war Baby Boomers, who have made substantial positive contributions to the world economy, science, society, music, the arts, technology and in many cases, leadership. While those born in the earlier years tended to focus on business, technology and economic progress, the later years (the hippie generation) focused more on civil rights, social equality, openness in government, anti-war (especially the senseless war in Vietnam) and ecological sustainability. Some how these two groups, very different on the outside, share a common belief in the values of accountability and a long-term view of making things better. Fast forward to 2011. I believe it is time for the Baby Boomers to become activists again. America and our globally connected world needs mature, level-headed, cause motivated citizens to speak out again. Like this: Youth and Positive Social Change. “That which touches me most is that I had a chance to work with peoplePassing on to others that which was passed on to meTo me young people come first, they have the courage where we failAnd if I can but shed some light as they carry us through the galeThe older I get the better I know that the secret of my going onIs when the reins are in the hands of the young who dare to run against the stormNot needing to clutch for power, not needing the light just to shine on meI need to be one in the number as we stand against tyrannyStruggling myself don’t mean a whole lot, I’ve come to realizeThat teaching others to stand up and fight is the only way my struggle survives.”
From “Ella’s Song,” by Bernice Reagan Johnson (a tribute to Ella Baker) Everyday activism - Activism. Everyday activism is the habit of working socially conscious choices into our everyday lives.
It could be described as "changing the world one habit at a time. " One advantage to this approach to activism is that it does not require large lifestyle changes of people. As such it is often contrasted with the activist lifestyle. Everyday activism has become much more common among post-modern social movements like the Environmental Movement and the Corporate Social Responsibility Movement. Modern movements, such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Anti-Vietnam War Movement, relied on a higher level of organization among movement members. The philosophy behind everyday activism is that small changes made by large numbers of people can have very large effects. ‘Social media as positive activism’ « world news for life.
Today (18th November), an item was posted on the web-site of One Green Planet titled ‘Social media as positive activism’. ‘… Looking beyond ridiculous trending topics on Twitter and viral internet memes, social media can be a powerful tool for an activist if used appropriately.
Modern social networks have incomparable potential to make or break the success of a project, quickly spread messages, and connect people who share a common goal. With a single comment or retweet from the right person, a message can be shared with a huge audience in a short period of time. PROJECT 215: POSITIVE ACTIVISM FROM LOCAL YOUTH « Brand Newz. Positive Force DC. The Young Activist's Guide to Building a Green Movement + Changing the World. The Body Burden Jessica Assaf was thirteen years old when she read in her local newspaper that the breast cancer rates in her community had risen 60 percent in eight years.
She was compelled to find the cause of the high cancer rates, so she got involved with the Marin Cancer Project. She was shocked to learn that unlike the food and drug industry, the cosmetic industry is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. In fact, the products individuals use on a daily basis contain toxic chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, and infertility. In response to this problem, Jessica was one of the five founding members of Teens for Safe Cosmetics, a teen-led coalition striving to ban toxic chemicals from cosmetics and personal care products Over the course of four years, Teens for Safe Cosmetics hosted annual teen summits and monthly advocacy events and helped pass a proposed bill into law.
Youth-Led Social Activism. The following are websites, organizations and publications that share the power and purpose of youth-led social activism.
There are several types of resources listed, including organizations, databases, publications, and other resources. These are all progressive youth-led or youth-focused activism organizations, websites, and resources that conduct or promote youth activism for broad social justice. Youth-led Social Activism Organizations Youth Empowerment Center (Oakland, CA) - This is the youth empowerment center website with information about several Bay Area youth organizing groups. Homies Unidos (Los Angeles, CA) - A non-profit dedicated to positive organizing among Latino youth gangs. Positive Change Around the World. Idea Factory. The collective movement Carrotmob takes advantages of the collective consumers power as a positive driver towards social and environmental businesses.
Instead of the traditional boycotts and negative pressure it promotes a positive activism. Description of the situation Businessmen and corporation are mainly driven by profits. Cutting carbon emissions or lowering the production of pollutants do not let them make profits, therefore they are not interested in it. Severn Suzuki: From Scathing U.N. Speaker to Hopeful Grassroots Activist. Severn Suzuki thought she could change the world with strong words.
In 1992 the 12-year-old daughter of Canadian environmental activist, David Suzuki , spoke at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. Trees and Us. Energy Recovery Blog: Water, Global Events, Desalination, Energy Efficent Solutions, Green Technology. Social Media as Positive Activism. Looking beyond ridiculous trending topics on Twitter and viral internet memes, social media can be a powerful tool for an activist if used appropriately. Modern social networks have incomparable potential to make or break the success of a project, quickly spread messages, and connect people who share a common goal. Positively activist. Protesting at the WTO How do we remain positive and remain effective activists? The world has far more things that need fixing that we could ever address, and news sources revel in the awful. Good news is hard to find and is rarely covered in loving detail.
Many minimalists recommend a media diet - I don't watch TV news but this is because I can absorb so many more provoking stories per minute from the Internet than from TV. When I am feeling less than cheerful, it is too easy to slam the rapid-fire outrage from the automated bad news server out to all available targets.