The Blog

Do you have plans for Earth Day yet?  Come visit the Western New York Environmental Alliance and GrowWNY at UB's Solar Strand for "Strand in the Place Where You Live." Come and listen to "Sustainability Igniters," enjoy local food, explore the Solar Strand, and test out the Grow 716 texting project for a chance to win prizes. Make sure to send in your nominations for the Western New York Earth Day Awards, which will be presented at the event.

Learn more and register at http://www.buffalo.edu/sustainability/engagement/earth-week.html.

In recognition of Earth Day 2013, Ecology and Environment, Inc. is pleased to announce the 2013 WNY Earth Day Awards. Awards will be given in the following categories:

Collaboration Award

Given to two or more organizations that collaborated on an environmental or sustainability-oriented project or program. The award will be given to the organizations (non-profit, for-profit, government agencies, K-12 schools, universities, etc.) that achieved the most noteworthy impact as a result of their collaboration.

Next Generation Award

Given in recognition of the program or event that most creatively and successfully educated and trained the next generation (children ages 4-18) in sustainability, ecology, biology, or other related areas. Did you do something impactful with kids or students in the last year? What was the goal, how did you creatively approach the challenge, and what was achieved?

Sustainable Business Award

Given to the for-profit enterprise that demonstrated the most significant impact (relative to its size) on behalf of its clients or by changing its internal operations or business model to advance the goals of triple bottom line thinking. Large and small businesses are welcome to apply. What have you achieved or undertaken over the last 12 months in terms of the impact of the products, processes of manufacturing those products,services you provided or the cumulative effects of improvements to your operations?

Earth Day Program Award

Given to the organization that most creatively and successfully leveraged Earth Day in a positive way,
either through a community event or program or through an internal event or program. What are you
doing for Earth Day this year, and why is it award-worthy?

Impact Award

Given to an individual whose significant and longstanding service to the people and the environment of Western New York should be recognized and celebrated. Frequent or prominent leadership is commendable but not a requirement for this award—behind-the-scenes leaders will also be considered.

Eligibility

Any organization, team or individual within the 8-county Western New York region may apply. Projects must be currently underway or have been completed within the last 12 months.

Submission Requirements

To be considered for an award, please send your submission to Bob Gibson (rgibson@ene.com) by Wednesday, April 10th. Please indicate the award or awards for which you would like to be considered, and attach your entry as a Microsoft Word document. Entries must be limited to two pages, but additional supporting information may also be attached, such as PowerPoint presentations, spreadsheets, photos, or videos.

If you would like to nominate someone for the Impact Award, please let us know why you feel the individual
should be considered, limiting your response to a one to two page Microsoft Word document.

Selection and Announcement

E & E will convene a panel of 5 judges representing a cross-section of experts frombusiness, academia, NGOs, etc. to review the submissions and determine this year’s winners. The winners will be notified the week of April 15-19, and the awards will be presented during an Earth Day event at the UB Solar Strand on the North Campus from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm on Earth Day, Monday, April 22.

Contact

If you have any questions, or require additional information, please contact Bob Gibson (rgibson@ene.com).

OPINION / COMMENTARY

The following excerpt is from an article published in The Buffalo News, written by Walter Simpson.  A retired University Energy Officer for 26 years and former director of the UB Green Office at the SUNY University at Buffalo, Simpson organized and leads a 20 group coalition, the Clean Energy for Jamestown Campaign, which is opposed to the construction of a new coal-burning power plant in Jamestown, NY, and in favor of an efficiency-based energy plan.  The article was published as a "Viewpoints" essay on Earth Day, April 22, 2012, and can be read in its entirety on Simpson's website Energy Really Matters.

---

Environmental Stakes Are High In the Upcoming Presidential Election

Obama’s record is mixed bag but Republican victory would reverse environmental progress

 

Earth Day is more than celebrating the little things we do to protect the environment.  It’s time to look more broadly at environmental policy and take our planet’s pulse.

 

Are we doing enough to protect nature and endangered species and reduce air and water pollution?  Are we maximizing the green jobs and public health benefits of environmental protection?  Are we rapidly developing new green technologies to compete with global green export leaders like China and Germany?

Daring to answer these questions honestly is difficult.  We all have our own priorities and problems.  We are endlessly distracted by cell phones, computers, video games, hundreds of TV channels, advertising and shopping. We lead busy lives, detached from nature.

Thanks to connections made through the 2012 Green Drinks Earth Week Happy Hour, 25 families from throughout Buffalo will benefit from fresh, local produce this spring.  Prior to the Happy Hour event, Modern Recycling announced that for each pound of perishable food items donated at the event, Modern would match that donation by donating an equal amount of tomatoes from their greenhouse to Massachusetts Avenue Project’s Mobile Market. Read on to learn more...

---

Imagine going into your local grocery store only to find out there were no tomatoes for your BLT tonight. Now imagine not having any vegetables in your grocery store. This is the reality for some Western New York neighborhoods that have more fast food restaurants and liquor stores than outlets for fresh fruit and vegetables.

This spring the Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) and Modern Recycling are teaming up to tackle this problem locally. Modern Recycling announced recently it will donate 50 pounds of H2Gro vine tomatoes to MAP’s Mobile Market in June.