BURBANK, Calif. -Burbank Water and Power (BWP) and AHBE Landscape Architects (AHBE) hosted a dedication ceremony to celebrate the completion of the first phase of their collaborative efforts to transform Burbank Water and Power's main campus from an industrial relic into a sustainable model for the rest of the nation. Dignitaries included SenatorCarol Liu of the 21st District, Mayor of Burbank Jess Talamantes, and Future360 Founder and Host Sarah Backhouse. "BWP has served this community for almost 100 years," explained Ron Davis, BWP General Manager. "We owe it to our customers to ensure that we continue to do so, which means we should seek long-term solutions to the problems that our industry faces. Most notably, how do we generate the water and power that our customers need with the least impact on our environment?" BWP commissioned Los Angeles-based landscape architecture firm AHBE Landscape Architects to create an ambitious master plan that would transform the grounds from an aging industrial site into a regenerative green space. With the first phase completed, BWP and AHBE have successfully demonstrated that industry and environment co-exist, even thrive, together. THE BUILDINGS Three of California's 50 LEED Platinum Buildings are located on the BWP campus, including the first LEED Platinum designed warehouse. THE GROUNDS BWP's EcoCampus is the only industrial project out of 150 national and international projects to be included in the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) pilot program. Sustainable features include: Rooftop Gardens – The Administration Building boasts three rooftop gardens that reduce the heat island effect, help channel and filter storm water, and reduce the building's air conditioning requirements. Water Reclamation + Filtration – The campus features five different types of water filtration technologies. The project also features one of the longest Green Streets in Southern California. Solar Power – An architectural solar array powers the LEED Platinum service center and warehouse building, as it channels rainwater to a filtration system. Reclaimed Substation – The structure of an old electric substation was purposely left intact, repurposed as a super trellis. The skeletal remains of the substation will soon be covered in living vines, creating a poignant juxtaposition of industry and environment. Green Space - All the landscape serves a dual purpose. Aesthetically; providing green space for employees and the public. Functionally; housing water filtration systems. "Landscape has a key role to play in the regeneration of our cities," said Calvin Abe, FASLA, President, of AHBE. "Beyond the aesthetics, it can proactively counteract many of the problems that we face in urban environments. BWP's EcoCampus stands as a restorative example of what can be accomplished when there is a long-term vision."

Melvin Wylie

Bird Protection in China Soars to New Heights as Rescue Center Marks Ten Year Anniversary

BEIJING - Government officials, conservationists, animal rescuers and celebrities joined in a celebration today to mark the ten-year anniversary of the  (BRRC; www.brrc.org.cn)—China's only specialized raptor rescue and rehabilitation facility. Established a decade ago by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW; www.ifaw.org) and located at Beijing Normal University (BNU), BRRC not only saves individual raptors, but educates people about threats to wildlife and promotes policies and actions that advance the conservation and welfare of animals. Participants recounted the development of BRRC filled with heart-wrenching stories about the plight of animals, especially those that fall victim to human activities, and the heroic efforts by people to rescue and rehabilitate the animals. "Birds of prey are top predators in the sky. Their protection is very important to biodiversity conservation," said China Academy of Science academician and ornithologist, BNU Professor Zheng Guangmei. Noting that of the over 3,300 birds rehabilitated at BRRC, 54 percent were able to regain health and return to the sky, Professor Zheng added, "BRRC applies advanced animal welfare standards to rescue and rehabilitation of birds of prey, making a significant contribution to wildlife conservation in China." "Knowing that the raptors will have the best care and individualized treatment at BRRC gives peace of mind to wildlife law enforcement officers who are fighting illegal wildlife trade," said Wang Minzhong, Director of Beijing Wildlife Protection Station and a staunch supporter of BRRC since its inception. "The live animals we confiscate from illegal trade and captivity have suffered enough sickness and illness caused by people." "BRRC is the true embodiment of IFAW's belief that the welfare of individual animals, their populations and their habitat are inherently linked," said Fred O'Regan, President and CEO of IFAW, who joined in the celebration in China. "BRRC is much more than just a raptor hospital. It has become a symbol of the growing awareness about wildlife protection in China," said Yuan Xikun, a well-known artist, sculptor, and a member of China's political consultative committee. Named by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a patron of the arts and environment, Mr. Xikun is also a wildlife champion and an IFAW supporter. At the ceremony he unveiled his latest work -- a sculpture of a golden eagle in honour of BRRC, which will be permanently installed at BNU. Accepting the statue on behalf of BRRC, Professor Zheng expressed his hope that the golden eagle currently recuperating at BRRC will be healthy and strong enough to fly in the sky. He exclaimed, "Wildlife belongs in the wild." The sentiment was shared unanimously.

Melvin Wylie

Fort Worth Rewards Residents for Recycling More

FORT WORTH, Texas - Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, joined by representatives from Waste Management, Inc. and Recyclebank®, today announced a new recycling rewards program for the residents of Fort Worth. Recyclebank rewards people for recycling and taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from local and national businesses. Residents can now register to earn Recyclebank points and spend those points on rewards from local and national businesses. "The City of Fort Worth is committed to being greener and by launching Recyclebank's rewards-for-recycling program, we're taking our environmental efforts to a whole new level," said Mayor Price. "By rewarding residents who recycle, we'll be helping the environment and provide families with valuable savings. We look forward to working together as a community to live more eco-consciously and take another step to reaching our goal of being a greener city." The program is akin to a frequent flyer program except that residents earn points for being green instead. They can then use those points to shop with Recyclebank's hundreds of reward partners, such as Macy's, Pantene and Ziploc®, in more than 10 categories, including food and beverage, health, beauty, home, clothing, accessories and gifts. Nothing changes for collections with the current recycling program – what can be recycled, the cart that's used or when it's picked-up. Currently, Fort Worth residents are diverting approximately 23 percent of materials from the landfill by using the blue recycling carts and weekly yard waste collections. The goal is 40 percent. Recently the Solid Waste Services Division completed an audit of a single load of garbage that was headed to the landfill to collect data on what could have been recycled. The largest amount of material by weight in the garbage truck load was recycling program materials (i.e. paper, glass, mixed plastic containers and aluminum/steel containers). These materials comprised 29 percent of the total load. "Our audit indicated that nearly 30 percent of the debris taken to the landfill is material that is currently accepted in our blue cart recycling program," said Brandon Scott Bennett, Code Compliance Director for the City of Fort Worth. "Simply stated, we're tossing far too much recyclable materials into the brown garbage carts that end up being buried in the landfill forever. We're asking all residents to recycle more and with the Recyclebank program, increased efforts by residents will be rewarded." All residents who participate in the curbside recycling program recently received a letter from Mayor Price encouraging them to join the free program. Sign-up is easy; visit www.Recyclebank.com/fortworth to sign up for a free account or call 888-727-2978.

Melvin Wylie

Controversial "Pro-Fracking" Documentary Raises More Than $185,000 on Crowdfunding Website

"FrackNation" investigates the health scares surrounding the process, and reveals the startling lack of scientific evidence to substantiate them. LOS ANGELES - A controversial documentary is finishing one of the most successful Kickstarter fundraising campaigns, having raised almost $190,000 from 2,700 backers in just 60 days. The Kickstarter.com campaign for FrackNation was launched on February 6, and smashed through the fundraising goal of $150,000 early in the campaign. The campaign will come to a close on Friday, and the filmmakers will continue production until the film premieres this summer. The film is being co-directed and produced by Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney, a husband and wife film making couple, and Magda Segieda who worked with them on their previous documentary Not Evil Just Wrong. The team has announced that in a unique move all 2,700 backers, even those who have donated one dollar, will become executive producers on the film and have their names in the credits. "This will be a documentary funded by the people for the people," said McAleer. The fundraising success has been all the more remarkable given that Kickstarter normally facilitates crowdfunding for "pro-environmental," anti-fossil fuel documentaries. Noting that FrackNation was an unusual fit as a Kickstarter project the Los Angeles Times said the documentary "received an eye-popping $22,000 in donations during its first two days." POLITICO called the filmmaker's Kickstarter campaign "most interesting," and The San Francisco Examiner noted "the financial and emotional support for the film has earned it a top spot on Kickstarter's 'most popular' list," a position the film maintained for almost the duration of the campaign. Recently, a billboard supporting the documentary went up in natural-gas rich New York, near the Pennsylvania border. The billboard made news asserting "The Water Was On Fire In 1669." The filmmakers "felt it was important to bring to light the truth and counter the common, inaccurate scare stories about 'exploding tap water.'" "People seem to have decided that they want the truth to be told and they want to be involved in the telling," McAleer said referencing the broad-based support for the film. "The majority of backers have been from the U.S. and pledged between $20 and $35. Instead of going to the movies, they're paying for one. We are so grateful for their contributions, especially when budgets are tight for everyone." The feature-length film looks at the process of fracking for natural gas, and examines much of the scaremongering surrounding the process and speaks to people who say they are the ignored majority in their communities that overwhelmingly support fracking and the natural gas industry. The first clip from FrackNation, released this month, highlights the misinformation and biased opinions about fracking that are being represented in the media. FrackNation comes on the heels of a new anti-fracking film due to be released by activist filmmaker Josh Fox. Fox made Gasland, an Oscar-nominated film, which propelled fears about fracking into the public arena. Fox is now planning a HBO-funded Gasland sequel. Fox has received $750,000 to make the new documentary. "Unlike Josh Fox we can't and won't rely on money from corporations like HBO to make our documentary. This is a film funded by the 99 percent to combat the misrepresentations by the 1 percent of urban elites who want to tell rural Americans how to work and live. We are amazed and thankful for the support we have received from people all over the world who are ready for the truth about fracking to be told," said McElhinney. The team said the funds will allow them to continue work on the production of FrackNation, with a goal of releasing the film later in 2012.

Melvin Wylie

Top 10 Endangered Places in the Southeast Identified by the Southern Environmental Law Center

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), the largest environmental advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the Southeast, today announced its fourth annual list of the top 10 places in the South that face immediate, potentially irreparable threats in 2012. For more detailed descriptions of each endangered area, SELC's protection efforts, photographs and video, visit www.southernenvironment.org/topten. Interviews available upon request. Many of the areas on SELC's Top 10 list are endangered by pressure to undercut environmental protections and to lower the hurdles for potentially destructive projects, whether it's fracking in the North Carolina Piedmont, uranium mining in Virginia, or deepwater drilling in the Gulf. "The South's special places and natural riches are threatened by a wave of calculated attacks on the bedrock laws that protect our environment and health," said Marie Hawthorne, SELC's Director of Development. "Under the guise of promoting economic growth, anti-environmental forces are working in Congress, in state legislatures, and in government agencies to gut our most essential safeguards. "The truth is, environmental protection had nothing to do with the financial crisis or today's weak economy," Hawthorne added. "Doing away with effective laws and enforcement will accomplish nothing except sacrifice the natural treasures like those on our Top 10 list and other resources that make the South such a great place live, work, and raise our families. We owe it to ourselves -- and to future generations -- to make sure this doesn't happen." Top 10 Endangered Places in the Southeast for 2012 The following endangered areas were chosen from among hundreds of special places that the SELC is defending through its law and policy work in the six states ofVirginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.   Alabama's coast: Following the tragic BP spill, the government has returned to business as usual and is authorizing risky deepwater drilling projects under the same assumptions that failed in the Deepwater Horizon disaster. This approach is irresponsible, illegal, and poses an ongoing threat to Alabama's beaches, marshes, wildlife, and coastal communities. Dawson Forest, Georgia: A costly, unnecessary proposed reservoir would siphon 100 million gallons per day from the Etowah River to fuel metro Atlanta's unchecked sprawl, threatening prime habitat for endangered aquatic life, water supplies of downstream communities, and a popular recreation area. Catawba-Wateree Basin, North Carolina & South Carolina: The health of the Catawba-Wateree River, which provides drinking water for hundreds of thousands of residents of central North Carolina and South Carolina, faces an array of threats, including pollution from toxin-laden coal ash ponds, hydroelectric dams that will continue to disrupt stream flows and fish migration, water withdrawals that rob water from downstream farms and communities, and unnecessary reservoir projects that promote inefficient development and water use. North Carolina Piedmont: The gas drilling industry and its allies in the North Carolina General Assembly are pushing hard to pass legislation that would expedite hydraulic fracturing (a.k.a. 'fracking') to extract natural gas, despite mounting evidence that the drilling technique, in the absence of appropriate regulatory controls, can lead to the contamination of groundwater and surface water. Potential fracking sites in North Carolina's Piedmont are underneath or upstream from water supplies for 2.4 million people. Savannah River, South Carolina & Georgia: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' plan to deepen 38 miles of the Savannah River shipping channel would increase saltwater intrusion in the river and jeopardize freshwater marshlands in the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, drinking water supplies for Savannah and other communities, and habitat for endangered aquatic species. Chilhowee Mountain, Tennessee: The outdated plan for completing Corridor K between Chattanooga and Asheville includes a proposal to cut a new four-lane highway through the Cherokee National Forest near the Ocoee Gorge, even though improvements to the existing two-lane highway on its current footprint would be less damaging, less costly, and no less effective. Chesapeake Bay, Virginia: For decades the Bay has suffered from pollution from all sides -- air, land, and water. Unfortunately, industry interests and their political allies are doing all they can to impede a comprehensive rescue plan.   Mountains of Tennessee & Virginia: Mountaintop removal and other destructive coal mining practices have already destroyed at least 500 mountains and damaged 1,700 miles of streams in Virginia, Tennessee and other central Southern Appalachian states, and pressure continues to mount. Charlottesville, Virginia & Surrounding Countryside: Local and state decision-makers are attempting to revive a wasteful, destructive, and ineffective proposed bypass that would leave a permanent scar on one of the South's most special communities. Southside Virginia: An intense push to mine uranium in southern Virginia risks polluting drinking water supplies with radioactive and toxin-laden wastewater. Lifting the state's ban on uranium mining could open up Virginia's Piedmont countryside to more large-scale mining projects. About the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) SELC is the largest environmental organization focused exclusively on the South. For 25 years, the Southern Environmental Law Center has worked successfully in all three branches of government to create, implement, and enforce environmental law and policy. Their major programs cover clean energy, transportation and land use, southern forests, the coast and wetlands, and preservation of rural countryside and community character. SELC has 46 attorneys (out of a total staff of 90) and offices inCharlottesville (SELC's headquarters) and Richmond, Virginia; Chapel Hill and Asheville, North Carolina; Charleston, South Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; and Washington, D.C. www.SouthernEnvironment.org.

Melvin Wylie

31st Episode of GreenNews4U

Turning Algae into A Viable Fuel Source Our society is very dependent on oil and currently our military is the number one consumer. As the debate rages on about oil dependency, drilling in ANWR, the Keystone Pipeline and many other debates, there are those that are looking to alternative fuels. But which alternative fuel will move to the forefront? Electric? Hybrid? Solar? Hydrogen? Corn? Algae? Yes I said Algae. There is a company that is turning algae into renewable crude oil. How do they do this, how does it work and can we see this technology begin to take the burden off of our foreign oil dependency? With me today I have Riggs Eckelberry who is the President and CEO of Origin Oil.  

Melvin Wylie

Shell Oil is Suing the Sierra Club

Shell Oil is suing the Sierra Club and other environmental organizations over its plans to drill in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas -- the Polar Bear Seas -- of America's Arctic this summer. The Polar Bear Seas are home to 20 percent of the earth's polar bears. Even worse, an oil spill there would be a disaster: it's dark two months out of the year, and the closest Coast Guard station is a thousand miles away, making cleanup a nightmare. Stand up to Shell and sign the petition today.

Melvin Wylie