A convergence of circumstances, including energy security, climate change and air quality concerns, have led to a rapid push toward sustainable transportation. Experts from across North America will present solutions and ideas related to sustainable transportation at the first-ever Forward Motion: Advancing Mobility in California & Quebecsymposium organized by Art Center College of Design, the Quebec Delegation in Los Angeles and the Universite de Montreal.
Earlier this year, the Quebec government unveiled its 2011-2020 Action Plan for Electric Vehicles, intended to transform Quebec into a North American leader in the field of sustainable mobility. Similarly, in 2009 California became the first state in America to mandate carbon-based reductions in transportation fuels in an attempt to cut the state’s overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
In support of these larger sustainable mobility goals, Forward Motion will feature experts in the fields of electric vehicles and public transit as selected by the three partnering organizations. The experts will discuss the experimental programs, groundbreaking initiatives, new technologies and advanced materials developed in California and Quebec that are rapidly driving North America forward.
THRIVE is an unconventional documentary that lifts the veil on what’s REALLY going
on in our world by following the money upstream — uncovering the global
consolidation of power in nearly every aspect of our lives. Weaving together
breakthroughs in science, consciousness and activism, THRIVE offers real solutions,
empowering us with unprecedented and bold strategies for reclaiming our lives and
our future.
This is an amazing idea that takes a liability (the cost of asphalt roads) and turns it into an asset (electricity generating solar panels). Can it be made to work? Probably… if only the oil industry didn’t stand to lose billions.
Years ago, when the phrase “Global Warming” began gaining popularity, we started batting around the idea of replacing asphalt and concrete surfaces with solar panels that could be driven upon. We thought of the “black box” on airplanes: We didn’t know what material that black box was made of, but it seemed to be able to protect sensitive electronics from the worst of airline crashes.
Suppose we made a section of road out of this material and housed solar cells to collect energy, which could pay for the cost of the panel, thereby creating a road that would pay for itself over time. What if we added LEDs to “paint” the road lines from beneath, lighting up the road for safer night time driving?
What if we added a heating element in the surface (like the defrosting wire in the rear window of our cars) to prevent snow/ice accumulation in northern climates? The ideas and possibilities just continued to roll in and the Solar Roadway project was born.
Many obstacles are slowing the development of urban agriculture in Montreal, including:
Pressure on land occupancy and use due to real estate development projects;
The presence of contaminants in certain soils;
The sub-optimal financing of initiatives and the absence of strategies in favor of urban agriculture;
The lack of availability of plots in community gardens in central neighborhoods.
In order to contribute to creating a green city, the Work Group on Urban Agriculture proposes a collective mobilization to demand a public consultation on the state of urban agriculture in Montreal.
The Work Group on Urban Agriculture invites all citizens to sign a petition which will support a public consultation on Urban Agriculture in Montreal. The petition must be signed by November 8, 2011. There are many locations around the island of Montreal to sign the petition. Find the location nearest you (n.b. The petition may be signed in NDG at Coop la Maison Verte – 5785, Sherbrooke street West).
If 15,000 Montrealers support this action within less than three months, the City of Montreal will be required to hold such a consultation.
Come celebrate the environment during the 4th annual Éco-fête NDG
Saturday September 10th, come join us for the 4th annual Éco-fête, a great annual event in the neighbourhood. In addition to Éco-quartier, there will be plenty of other environmental organizations presenting kiosks and conducting workshops aimed for children as well as adults.
The eco-fete will include…
Practical workshops:
Composting / vermicomposting workshop
Green cleaning solutions workshop
Children’s activities:
Recycled toy exhibit
Eco story reading
Corn husk dolls
Join us between 1pm and 4pm at Paul-Doyon Park (Monkland and Girouard). Pass by and share your love of the environment with us!
This event will be held in Southern California.
Come celebrate the environment during the 4th annual Éco-fête NDG