ECOLOGICAL REVOLVING LOAN FUND (ELF)

*CRSP Institute for Urban Ecovillages* at
    the Los Angeles Eco-Village
               hosts Workshops & Special Events               home    (updated 1/5/09)


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Thursday, January 15, 2009 from 3:00 to 5 pm at Los Angeles City Hall , 200 No. Spring St (enter on Main) Get transit directions at http://www.metro.net/
Peter Newman and Timothy Beatley give a talk on
Setting the New Planning Agenda based on their new books:

No Charge for this event but space is limited.
Reservations recommended: crsp@igc.org or 213/738-1254

These books are, in essence, a detailed practical depiction of how cities can change their land-use and transport functionality to compensate for the needs of people and the needs of the environment. Along with the combined wealth of global experience of their authors, these books provide a model of how to enhance sustainability practices into land-use and transport planning.

About Peter Newman
Peter Newman is Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University in Western Australia and Director of the CUSP Institute. He is the author of Sustainability and Cities: Overcoming Automobile Dependence (Island Press, 1999), Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems and the new book Resilient Cities: Responding to Peak Oil and Climate Change (Island Press 2008). Internationally recognized as one of the world's leaders in sustainability, he has written eight books on the subject and over 200 refereed journal articles. He is a member of the Board of Infrastructure Australia which is delivering $20 billion of infrastructure to Australian cities and regions using a new sustainability-based approach.

About the new book Resilient Cities: Responding to Peak Oil and Climate Change
The authors of this spirited book don't believe that oblivion is necessarily the destiny of urban areas. Instead, they believe that intelligent planning and visionary leadership can help cities meet the impending crises, and look to existing initiatives in cities around the world. Rather than responding with fear (as a legion of doomsaying prognosticators have done), they choose hope. First, they confront the problems, describing where we stand today in our use of oil and our contribution to climate change. They then present four possible outcomes for cities: "collapse," "ruralized," "divided," and "resilient." In response to their scenarios, they articulate how a new "sustainable urbanism" could replace today's "carbon-consuming urbanism." They address in detail how new transportation systems and buildings can be feasibly developed to replace our present low efficiency systems. In conclusion, they offer ten "strategic steps" that any city can take toward greater sustainability and resilience.

This is not a book filled with "blue sky" theory (although blue skies will be a welcome result of its recommendations). Rather, it is packed with practical ideas, some of which are already working in cities today. It frankly admits that our cities have problems that will worsen if they are not addressed, but it suggests that these problems are solvable. And the time to begin solving them is now.

About Timothy Beatley
Timothy Beatley is Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities at the University of Virginia. His books include Green Urbanism (Island Press, 2000) and Ecology of Place (Island Press, 1997). Professor Beatley has written 13 books on the subjects of cities, planning and policy and is considered one of America's finest thinkers within the arena of sustainability. His new book Green Urbanism Down Under was written after an extensive tour of Australian cities and provides perspectives on how Australian innovations in sustainability at a local and regional level can be applied to American cities and regions.

Green Urbanism Down Under: Learning from Sustainable Communities in Australia
In this immensely useful book, Timothy Beatley sets out to answer a simple question: what can Americans learn from Australians about "greening" city life? Green Urbanism in Australia reports on the current stat of "sustainability practice" in Australia and the many lessons that U.S. residents can learn from the best Australian programs and iniatives.

Australia is similar to the U.S. in many ways, especially in its "energy footprint." For example, Australia's per capita greenhouse gas emissions are second only to those of the U.S. A similar percentage of its residents live in cities (85% in Australia vs 80% in the U.S.). And it suffers from parallel problems of air and water pollution, a national dependence on automobiles, and high fossil fuel consumption. Still, after traveling throughout Australia, Beatley finds that there are myriad creative responses to these problems--and that they offer instructive examples for the U.S.

Green Urbanism Down Under is a very readable collection of innovative solutions. Although many of these solutions are little-known outside Australia, they all present practical possibilities for U.S. cities. Beatley describes green transport"projects, city farms, renewable energy plans, green living programs, and much more. He considers a host of public policy initiatives and scrutinizes regional and state planning efforts for answers. In closing, he shares his impressions about how Australian results might be applied to U.S. problems.

More info on the books and Peter and Timothy at:

This event is sponsored by CRSP in association with:
L.A. City Councilpersons Ed Reyes and Bill Rosendahl, Beverly-Vermont Community Land Trust, BikeSage, Earth Day LA, Eco-Home Network, Global Green, Latino Urban Forum, Los Angeles Eco-Village, Urban Center for People and the Environment of the UCLA Institute of the Environment, USC Center for Sustainable Cities

Others Invited to Co-Sponsor Include (we will add their names to the above list as confirmations are received)
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Councilpersons Eric Garcetti, Wendy Greuel, Tom LaBonge, Herb Wesson,
CRA-LA
Cultivating Sustainable Communities
DONE (Department of Neighborhood Empowerment)
EAD (Environmental Affairs Department)
Green LA
Green Team
LACCD (Los Angeles Community College District Board Members Mona Field and Nancy Pearlman)
L.A. City Planning
L.A. County Bicycle Coalition
LA- DOT (Department of Transportation)
LA-DPW (Department of Water and Power)
LA-DWP (Department of Public Works)
LAUSD
Metro (Metropolitan Transportation Authority)
SAJE (Strategic Actions for a Just Economy)
TreePeople
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Friday, February 6, 2009 at 7:30 pm at L.A. Eco-Village directions

Chris Carlsson gives a talk and slideshow on
Nowtopia: How Pirate Programmers, Outlaw Bicyclists, and Vacant-Lot Gardeners are Inventing the Future Today

In Nowtopia, Carlsson investigates how everyday people are working really hard... when they're NOT at work! In a bifurcated existence, we all find ourselves splitting our time between work-for-pay (often really dumb and oppressive) and the work-that-matters, that we choose freely, that addresses real needs and problems. In the taking of time and technological know-how OUT of the market people are improving life right now, but crucially, setting the foundation for a post-capitalist, post-petroleum life... Carlsson's talk ranges across deep philosophical ideas and practical behaviors and uncovers new ways of talking and thinking about class in America.

Fee: $5 (no one turned away for lack of funds)
Reservations: Recommended. crsp@igc.org or 213/738-1254

How to disengage from the water grid: Greywater, Rainwater, and Composting Toilets

How to Disengage from the Water Grid- with Rainwater, Greywater, and Composting Toilets. We will connect the water in our lives to local and global water struggles, look at rainwater as a resource, explore options of reusing greywater, and contemplate waterless (composting) toilets. From the apartment, to the house, to the city, ecological sanitation offers a path to a sustainable and just water future.

Reservations Required: 213/738-1254 or crsp@igc.org
Fee: $10 per person (sliding scale available)

Environmental Artist Freya Bardell - Watch for Details

Freya is an artist who does garden/environmental work who is interested in "vertical farming" - doing a living machine type installation growing up an urban south-facing wall. Eco-Villagers may be exploring this concept with her for an LAEV location. She'll introduce us to her environmental art at this presentation.

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Watch for these upcoming events:

- Vegan cooking

- Practice in Non-Violent Communications

- Introduction to Non-Violent Communications

- Creating a Local Exchange Trading System in Your Neighborhood

- Ten easy steps for starting ecovillage processes in your neighborhood

- How to Form an Organic Food Buying Co-op in Your Neighborhood

- Sacred Passage: The Practice of Creating a Personal and Deeply Meaningful
    Funeral for your loved one at home with Olivia Barham

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