Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com is the web version.
If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe to Energy (and Other) Events email gmoke@world.std.com
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Can We Build a People's Internet? (Part Two) http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/07/14/993888/-Can-We-Build-a-Peoples-InternetPart-Two?
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A Conversation with Rob Hopkins (and hosted by Richard Heinberg)
Date: Monday, July 18, 2011 - 8:00am - 9:15am
Note: All Transition US virtual events are Pacific Time (PT) [11:00 - 12:15 pm Eastern Time]
Join us for a conversation with Rob Hopkins. Rob needs no introduction really but if you are new to the concept of "Transition" then this is a great opportunity to learn from the source.
Rob Hopkins is the originator of the Transition concept and co-founder of the Transition Network. He spent many years teaching permaculture and cob building, mostly when living in Ireland. Now based in Totnes, he is a member of Transition Town Totnes, works part time for Transition Network, publishes www.transitionculture.org, is author of the ‘Transition Handbook’ and generally spends far too much time thinking about Transition stuff. He is also a Trustee of the Soil Association.
Rob is a family man with 4 sons, Rowan, Finn, Cian and Arlo, and is deeply in love with the raised beds he just finished building.
We are excited to announce that Richard Heinberg will be hosting this call.
Phone: (707) 763-1100
email: carl@transitionus.org
register: http://myaccount.maestroconference.com/conference/register/KECC4Y6CWC0T2KF
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Monday, July 18, 2011
300 of the world's best design theses on view at SA+P: Archiprix
Time: 9:00a–8:00p
Location: MIT 7-431, On the 4th floor above Lobby 7, at 77 Massachussets Avenue
A major exhibit on view throughout the summer at the School of Architecture + Planning is presenting 300 of the world's best thesis projects in architecture, urban design and landscape architecture.
Sponsored by Archiprix International, the biennial exhibit is the largest such presentation in the world -- more than 1,400 universities were invited to nominate their best graduating students -- and offers a rare opportunity for assessing current trends in design education around the world and architecture in general.
Hosted by SA+P's Platform for Permanent Modernity, a research program in the Department of Architecture, the exhibit opened May 30 as part of a two-week international event that also features intensive six-day workshops for about 100 of the students represented in the show, conducted at MIT by prominent designers from leading architecture schools in the United States.
Web site: http://www.archiprix.org/2011/
Open to: the general public
This event occurs daily through August 31, 2011, except May 30, 2011 and June 6, 2011.
Sponsor(s): School of Architecture and Planning, Arts at MIT
For more information, contact:
Alexander D'Hooghe
617 308 7386
adhooghe@mit.edu
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Monday, July 18, 2011
Talk: LinkedIn's Reid Hoffman "How to Benefit 100 Million People"
Speaker: Reid Hoffman
Time: 11:00a–12:30p
Location: MIT E14-674, On Twitter: #MediaLabTalk
Reid Hoffman is a partner at Greylock, and co-founder and exec. chairman at LinkedIn. His areas of focus include consumer Internet, enterprise 2.0, mobile, social gaming, online marketplaces, payments, and social networks. An accomplished entrepreneur, executive, and angel investor, he has played an integral part in building many leading consumer technology businesses. Hoffman co-founded LinkedIn, the world's largest professional networking service, in 2003; it now has more than 100 million members in 200 countries around the world, and a diversified revenue model that includes subscriptions, advertising, and software licensing. Hoffman led LinkedIn through its first four years and to profitability as CEO. Prior to LinkedIn, Hoffman served as executive VP at PayPal, where he was a founding board member. He is a board observer at Airbnb, Gowalla, and Swipely, an advisor to Groupon, and a director at Zynga, Mozilla, Six Apart, Shopkick, and Kiva.org. He is an angel investor in many influential Internet companies, including Digg, Facebook, Flickr, Last.fm, Ning, Six Apart, and Zynga. Hoffman earned a master's degree in philosophy from Oxford as a Marshall Scholar, and a bachelor's degree with distinction in symbolic systems from Stanford.
Web site: http://www.media.mit.edu/events/2011/07/18/talk-linkedins-reid-hoffman-how-benefit-100-million-people
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Media Lab
For more information, contact:
Nicole Freedman
nicolef@media.mit.edu
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The Hacker's Aegis - Protecting Hackers From Lawyers
Derek Bambauer of Brooklyn Law School & Oliver Day
Tuesday, July 19, 12:30 pm
Berkman Center, 23 Everett Street, second floor
RSVP required for those attending in person to Amar Ashar (ashar@cyber.law.harvard.edu)
This event will be webcast live (http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/interactive/webcast) at 12:30 pm ET and archived on our site shortly after.
Research on software security vulnerabilities is a valuable example of peer production. However, hackers are often threatened with intellectual property lawsuits by companies who want to keep flaws secret. Oliver Day and Derek Bambauer propose a liability shield for security research to improve cybersecurity in a world dependent on cloud computing and mobile platforms. Come debate whether hackers are whistleblowers, and how legal immunity affects security when cyberweapons like Stuxnet are increasingly available.
About Derek
Derek Bambauer teaches Internet law and intellectual property and publishes articles on intellectual property, information control, and health law. He has also written technical articles on data recovery and fault tolerance, and on deployment of software upgrades. He has presented on issues including spam and Internet filtering in both technical and policy settings, model laws for spam regulation, and China’s online controls. He is also one of the authors of Info/Law, a popular blog that addresses Internet law, intellectual property, and information law.
A former principal systems engineer at Lotus Development Corp. (part of IBM), Professor Bambauer spent two years as a Research Fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School. At Berkman, he was a member of the OpenNet Initiative, an academic consortium that tests and studies Internet censorship in countries such as China, Iran and Vietnam.
About Oliver
Oliver Day is a senior security researcher for Internet titan Akamai where he is focused on web based malware such as Drive By Downloads. He is intent on integrating biostatistical and epidemiological models into modern network security practice and policy making. He was formerly a security researcher at Stopbadware.org where he helped build the infrastructure to monitor reports of infections across the Internet and distill them into actionable reports. Previous to Stopbadware Oliver was a principal security consultant with @stake (then acquired by Symantec) and an engineer with eEye Digital Security. Oliver graudated from the Harvard School of Extension with concentrations in legal studies and Chinese studies. His thesis and subsequent academic work have been focused on finding suitable mathematical models to predict the spread of web based malware. He also likes to interact with the cyberlaw community and is a strong advocate for the disclosure process and shielding for security researchers.
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Beekeeping in Cambridgeport
Tuesday, July 19, 6:30 pm
115 Pearl Street
and 7:00 pm, 9 Perry Street
A tour and talk with two bee keepers on location. Learn about the bees and how beekepers funciton in a very tight urban location. Sponsored by Greenport.
For more information, contact Steve Wineman atswineman@gis.net.
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Bottle Bill Update (H890/S1650 ) Hearing
Wed. July 20, 2011, 10am,
State House, Gardiner Auditorium, Boston
Sierra Club writes "The Bottle Bill is the State's most successful recycling and litter prevention program. Since the Bottle Bill's inception in 1983, over 35 billion containers have been redeemed, contributing to a healthier environment, cleaner and safer communities, and a stronger economy. But to keep up with the times and consumer tastes, the bottle bill must be updated. An Updated Bottle Bill would expand our container deposit system to include "new age" drinks such as non-carbonated beverages, water, iced tea, juice, and sports drinks. It would decrease litter and increase recycling. It would nearly double the number of containers that would be recycled. Nearly 200 cities and towns - in every corner of the state - have passed resolutions in support of the Bottle Bill update."
To Show Your Support: Gather at the Beacon Street side Wed. July 20, 2011, 9am.
Contact phil@sierraclubmass.org for more information.
Find your Senator or Representative at http://www.malegislature.gov/People/Search
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Eurie Stamps and DJ Henry were killed: NOT GUILTY!
Cambridge Community Center
5 Callender Street, Cambridge
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
5:30 to 9pm
Panel discussion:
Moderated by Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree
David Milton- Civil rights attorney
Hector E. Pineiro- National Police Accountability Project
Jessica Hedges-Civil Rights Attorney
Lawyer Johnson-African American convicted of murder, found not guilty
Marlon Stamps- Son of Eurie Stamps
Natashia Tidwell- Assistant Professor of Law-New EnglandSchoolof Law
Food Served by Coast Cafe
PLEASE RSVP: John Clifford 617-349-4264 or Richard Harding 617-354-0404
jclifford@cambridgema.gov Schools02139@yahoo.com
This event is sponsored by Men of Color Task Force, City Councillor Ken Reeves, Cambridge NAACP, Cambridge Elks Massasoit Lodge #129
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Arduino Hacking 101: Importing the Universe
Wednesday, July 20, 2011 from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Location MIT Building E-51, Room 335
Presenter Federico Lucifredi
So, you have learned the essentials of the Arduino platform, its software package, and completed a few tutorials - learned some basic electronics in the process, including blinking the inevitable LED. Now what?This session aims to give you the tools to import the real world into the programming scope of your trusty $30 microcontroller, by covering the technology fundamentals and Arduino integration essentials of a wide variety of sensors and actuators.
Federico Lucifredi is the maintainer of the man suite, the primary documentation-delivery tool under Linux, a graduate of Boston College and Harvard University, and a software engineer-turned-manager at the Novell corporation. Previously, Federico has been a CTO and a network software architect at '.com' and embedded Linux startups, and he has spent two years teaching in Boston University's graduate and undergraduate programs, while simultaneously consulting for MIT. He is a frequent speaker at user group and conference events, notably the OSCON, LinuxWorld and IMPlanet conferences, where he was a panelist representing the Jabber community. Federico is a recognized expert in computing performance issues, and consults pro-bono with Standard and Poor's clients interested in Free/Open Source Software technical and strategic issues. He participated in the GPL v3 drafting process in the large-corporation panel.
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The Arab Spring and its Energy Implications
WHEN Thu., July 21, 2011, 12 – 1 p.m.
WHERE Faculty Dining Room, Littauer Building, First Floor, Harvard Kennedy School
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION Lecture, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR Middle East Initiative, the Center for Middle Eastern Studies Outreach Center, and the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program
SPEAKER(S) Meghan O'Sullivan, Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
COST Free
LINK http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/events/5540/arab_spring_and_its_energy_implications.html
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National Good Food Network Webinar
Clearing the Roadblocks: Market Based Strategies for Getting Good Food to All Communities
Thursday, July 21
3:30 - 4:45pm ET
Free! Register now at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/474433131
It's an age-old conundrum:
How do you supply all communities with Good Food - healthy, fair, affordable and green - while simultaneously ensuring that your food business will itself be sustainable?
The Wallace Center, as administrator of the Healthy Urban Food Enterprise Development (HUFED) Center, has a broad, national perspective on the most innovative market based food access work in the country.
In this webinar, we will explore three of the most promising strategies and their business models for clearing away common barriers to increasing access to fresh, healthy, regionally sourced food. Learn howmobile markets, food hubs and processing / cold chain facilities each have a crucial role in easing bottlenecks to widespread Good Food.
Taking each model in turn, we will describe the model from a national perspective, including the essential features, and some of the variety in implementation we have seen. Then a HUFED grantee will dive deep into the details of their project to illustrate one way that theory translates into practice.
Reserve your spot at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/474433131
Editorial Comment: Good article on future of sustainable food and farming systems. Links to articles on regional as well as local food systems as well
http://world.edu/content/future-sustainable-food-farming/
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Showing Thursday, July 21, in Cambridge: [please download & distribute flyer
Burzynski, the Movie
Cancer Is Serious Business
*Burzynski, the Movie* is the remarkable story of Stanislaw Burzynski, MD, PhD who won the largest, and possibly the most convoluted and intriguing legal battle against the Food & Drug Administration in American history.
This documentary takes the audience through the treacherous, yet victorious, 14-year journey both Dr. Burzynski and his patients have had to endure in order to obtain FDA-approved clinical trials of Antineoplastons, which Burzynski developed to treat a wide range of cancers - with remarkable and continuing success.
"/topically fertile ... tickles the mind ... a stoic victim of patent fraud, government harassment and scientific sabotage/" ~NYT
"/a dramatic expose of the FDA and its incestuous relationship with Big Pharma as it seeks to first discredit, and then to co-opt Burzynski's discovery/" ~Variety
"/It constitutes nothing less than the one of the worst abuses of the criminal justice system I have ever witnessed./" ~Richard Burr, congressman [R-NC], on the government's pursuit of Burzynski
"/People think the FDA is protecting them. It isn't. The FDA protects the big drug companies and are subsequently rewarded; using the government's police powers they attack those who threaten the big drug companies./" Dr Herbert Ley, former FDA Commissioner
*NOTE: early bird short film at 6:40pm*
*When/where*
6:30 pm, doors open for refreshments, extra
*7pm, film starts promptly*
243 Broadway, Cambridge - corner of Broadway and Windsor,
entrance on Windsor
*rule19.org/videos
Please join us for a stimulating night out; bring your friends!
free film, free refreshments, & free door prizes.
[donations are accepted]
"/You can't legislate good will - that comes through education./" ~ Malcolm X
*UPandOUT film series - see rule19.org/videos
Why should YOU care? It's YOUR money that pays for US/Israeli wars - on Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Palestine, So America, etc etc - for billionaire bailouts, for ever more ubiquitous US prisons, for the loss of liberty and civil rights...
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We're Having a "Potty!"
Raise a plunger to the potties that don’t need one -- composting latrines!
On July 22nd EcoLogic is throwing a Potty Party on Facebook
to celebrate the ultra-effective and environmentally friendly composting latrines that we are currently building in Panama.
In the Gulf of San Miguel, Panama, EcoLogic is working with communities and our regional partner organization to construct composting latrines for families in rural areas without access to plumbing. The latrines help reduce illness, protect water sources, and conserve fishing grounds that are vital to the communities' livelihood.
Save the Date!
On Friday, July 22nd, learn more about the latrine project, take online quizzes, get live updates from field staff about our work and be prepared to "potty" like there's no tomorrow.
Contact http://www.ecologic.org/en/ctdpanama
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Clean Economy Network - Breakfast of Champions with Nolan Browne
Friday, July 22, 2011 from 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM (ET)
Boston, MA
Please join Clean Economy Network of Boston
at our
BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS
July 22, 2011
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
At the offices of Cooley LLP
Boston, MA 02116-3736
500 Boylston Street
Our speaker will be
Nolan Browne
Managing Director - Fraunhofer CSE
Tickets are limited, so register today at http://cenbreakfast2.eventbrite.com/
Event Summary:
CEN is pleased to invite you to our Breakfast of Champions. At these meetings, we will provide a forum for a limited number of attendees to have some breakfast, do some networking, and hear from a star in the local cleantech community who has an established career in the field. We will hear about successes and failures along their way, and have an opportunity for some Q&A as well.
Agenda:
8: 00 -8:30 - Breakfast and Networking
8:30 - 9:30 - Featured Speaker Nolan Browne and Q&A
9:30 - 10:00 - Wrap-up and Networking
Speaker Bio:
Browne co-founded the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems in February 2008 with the vision of creating a world-leading R&D lab in PV modules, building energy efficiency and certain smart grid applications. Previously, he worked for Massachusetts-based Evergreen Solar, where he was responsible for developing research relationships to facilitate Evergreen's advanced PV module efforts and support their capacity expansion. Prior to this, Nol served as a senior associate at Cambridge Energy Research Associates, where he started-up CERA's Clean Energy Study.
While at MIT, Browne co-founded the MIT Energy Conference and was involved with a number of energy startups, including GreenFuel Technologies. Nolan, a Kauffman Fellow Finalist, is active in the entrepreneurial and venture capital communities, where he has founded two successful for-profit companies to date. He holds an MA and BA in International Economics from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
About Clean Economy Network: The Clean Economy Network is the national non-partisan advocacy organization for individuals who support the development of a clean economy. It develops public positions on, and actively engages with policymakers and elected officials to lobby for, specific legislative proposals critical to the development and growth of a new clean economy. CEN is the largest national networking, educational, and advocacy organization shaping a new economy based on clean technology and innovation. Our members are professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, and researchers who connect to each other, learn information relevant to business and professional growth, and influence public policies that impact the clean economy. To learn more, please visit http://cleaneconomynetwork.org.
About Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSE): Based in Cambridge, MA, the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSE) is a non-profit applied research and development laboratory dedicated to the commercialization of clean energy technologies. CSE engages in collaborative research and development with private companies, government entities, and academic institutions, performing research that broadly benefits firms, industries, and society. These partnerships take a wide variety of forms, including confidential co-development programs, third-party technology validation, and joint applications for grant programs.
Founded in 2008 and supported by the Massachusetts state government, the CSE is part of an international research network spearheaded by Germany's Fraunhofer Society, Europe's largest contract R&D organization. In Germany, the Fraunhofer CSE is closely partnered with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP) in Stuttgart. http://cse.fraunhofer.org
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FARM + CAMP JOURNEY
Barre MA - July 22-24th
After the first one was a huge sucesss, theMOVE (http://getoutma.org/) is proudly putting on our second farm-volunteer camping weekend, at Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre MA!
This weekend is designed for folks to get a rich experience taking part in the life of a working farm -- to get to to roots of how our food gets to us. It's an amazing invitation into the home and onto the farm of NOFA/Mass Executive Director, Julie Rawson! We'll enjoy delicious farm-fresh meals, some of which will be hand-picked by our group, and also we'll have time to hang out and soak in the beautiful surroundings.
The trip will run from Friday evening (7/22) to Sunday afternoon (7/24). The trip fee is $80 ($70 for theMOVE members), which includes near-everything for the weekend (transportation, food, and accommodations). We also have half-scholarships available if needed. 18-person limit, so please sign up soon!
Get more information @ http://getoutma.org/volunteer!
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Making a Green Solidarity Economy
A Community Conference to Build a More Just and Sustainable Future in Worcester and Beyond
Worcester Youth Center, 326 Chandler St.
Saturday, July 23, 10am-6pm
The Worcester Green Jobs Coalition and the Making a Green Solidarity Economy Planning Committee invites Organizers, Activists, Academics, Media, and Community Members to participate in workshops, discussions, music and fun.
The conference will bring together individuals and organizations in Central Massachusetts who are working towards progressive social, environmental, and economic goals. The day's events are structured to help share resources and skills, discuss best practices, strengthen inter-organizational relationships, and identify actions we can take together to make a green solidarity economy for the betterment of our communities. Morning workshops and discussions will build towards an afternoon dedicated to more participatory envisioning and planning that will identify specific actions groups can take to support each other and generate new initiatives that can transform our economy. The evening session will feature local musicians and food in a casual atmosphere to encourage further discussion and relationship-building.
The ecological and economic crises present both challenges and opportunities. Increasing social dislocation, insecurity, entrenched unemployment, and growing inequalities demand that we rethink the foundations of our economy and recreate our communities. In Worcester, we have the opportunity to build a new economy based on ethical choices rather than market logics, an economy organized through a caring community rather than by predatory profit-seeking, and an economy that marshals our political and social resources instead of handing them over through corporate welfare and broken political systems. Now is the time to Make a Green Solidarity Economy that privileges people over profits and sustainability over environmental destruction.
Contact: Lazri DiSalvo
Phone: (860) 309-5690; Email: Lazri.disalvo@gmail.com
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July 10th marked the beginning of this season's Sunday Parkland Games, and a good time was had by all! If you joined us in past summers you'll no doubt recall a multitude of activities and enough games to keep kids of all ages entertained throughout the afternoon. If you haven't attended yet, we invite you to bring your friends and family members for bocce, badminton, horse shoes, hula hoops, and much, much more! And following the Games, don't forget to stay for a free outdoor yoga class, taught by certified instructors.
Sundays, July 10th-September 25th
Allston's Herter Park
Games & Activities: 2-5pm
Yoga: 5-6pm
All active parkland activities are FREE and open to the public!
For additional information, please contact Charles River Conservancy's Director of Outdoor Wellness, Dr. Alexios Monopolis, at anm@thecharles.org. For more information, visit www.thecharles.org. Weekly updates and weather cancellations will be posted on our Facebook page.
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Upcoming
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The Open Technology Initiative: How Geeks, Wonks, & Field Operatives are Fighting to Transform Inside-the-Beltway Policy-Making
Tuesday, July 26, 12:30pm ET,
Berkman Center for Internet & Society, 23 Everett St., Cambridge, MA.
RSVP ashar@cyber.law.harvard.edu
This event will be webcast live at http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/interactive/webcast
Since its founding in 2009, the New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative (OTI) has been a catalyst for innovative technology and telecom interventions. OTI's formulates policy and regulatory reforms to support open architectures and open source innovations and facilitates the development and implementation of open technologies and communications networks. OTI is committed to maximizing the potentials of open technologies, particularly for poor, rural, and other underserved constituencies. Through its work, OTI promotes affordable, universal, and ubiquitous communications networks. This talk will focus on three projects that have captured substantial attention over the past year: 1. OTI is working in Philadelphia and Detroit to build community wireless networks in areas underserved by broadband providers. 2. OTI coordinates MeasurementLab.net (M-Lab), an open, distributed, global platform for Internet measurement tools. 3. Commotion Mesh Wireless Project (a.k.a., "Internet-in-a-Suitcase") -- as recent events in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya have illustrated (and Myanmar demonstrated several years prior), democratic activists around the globe need a secure and reliable platform to ensure their communications cannot be controlled or cut off by authoritarian regimes. Sascha Meinrath is the Director of the New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative and Research Director of the Foundation's Wireless Future Program. Sascha has been described as a "community Internet pioneer" and an "entrepreneurial visionary" and is a well-known expert on community wireless networks (CWNs), municipal broadband, and telecommunications policy. In 2009 he was named one of Ars Technica's Tech Policy "People to Watch". RSVP Required (ashar@cyber.law.harvard.edu). More information at http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/events/luncheon/2011/07/meinrath >
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Nerdnite
Monday June 27, 2011 — 8pm at Middlesex Lounge
315 Mass Ave, Cambridge
In Central Square
$5
Featuring Nerd-appropriate tunes by Claude Money
Talk 1. “Wake, REM, Light, Deep, and WTF: A Savage Journey to the Heart of Sleep & Dreams”
by Steve Fabregas
Talk 2. “The Neurobiology of Zombies”
by Jeremy Kay
For more information about the speakers and the talks: http://boston.nerdnite.com/2011/06/23/nerdnite-june-27-sleepin-with-the-zombies/
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The Ethical Society of Boston will be presenting a program, Sunday, July 31 from 10AM to 12PM.
THE CAMPAIGN TO REVERSE "CITIZENS UNITED DECISION"
The discussion will take place at the Spiegel Auditorium, 56 Brattle St., Harvard Sq. Cambridge.
The discussion will be led by the Ethical Society Program Director Andrea Perrault
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The Ethical Society of Boston will have a discussion on Sunday, August 7 from 10AM to 12PM.
THE TEA PARTY: IS IT AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT? WHY? WHAT ARE ITS MESSAGES?
The discussion will take place at Spiegel Auditorium, 56 Brattle St., Harvard Sq., Cambridge.
The discussion will be led an Ethical Society member - Gaston de los Reyes.
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Opportunity
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AC Swap – The Cambridge Energy Alliance’s window air conditioner swap program is in progress. Residents can obtain a voucher for $125 if they swap an inefficient window AC unit for an Energy Star rated model This is a limited time offer. Go to the CEA website for participation details: http://cambridgeenergyalliance.org/resources/a-c-swap
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Free Solar Panels for Houses of Worship
From a recent Mass Interfaith Power & Light (http://mipandl.org/) email
"We've recently been talking with DCS Energy (http://www.dcsenergy.com/) who has an unbeatable offer: if your site qualifies, they design and install the panels at no cost, don't charge you for any electricity, and donate the system to your house of worship after five years. Your only costs will be for a building permit, possibly a structural engineer to verify that your roof can support their weight, and any preparatory work such as roof work or tree removal. If solar panels are so expensive how can anyone give them away for free? First, there is a federal grant program that is only available until November that pays for 30% of the cost of the system. Then there is an accelerated depreciation option that gives certain kinds of investors another tax advantage. Finally, the state awards a special allowance called a "Solar Renewal Energy Credit" (SRECs) to owners of solar electricity systems which are sold at auctions to utilities who buy them to meet their requirements under the Massachusetts' renewable portfolio standard. DCS is betting that the price of these SRECs will remain high. Jim Nail, president of MA IP&L, has talked to DCS Energy and is currently having them prepare a proposal for his church, St. Dunstan's Episcopal in Dover. Jim says, "The references I've talked to have been quite positive about the program and the company has been very responsive. "If you think your site might qualify, contact Peter Carli, pete@dcsenergy.com, with the address of your house of worship and your contact information. He'll take a preliminary look at your site and advise you if it meets their criteria."
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Young World Inventors (http://yinventors.wordpress.com/) has started a Kickstarter campaign (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1036325713/youngworldinventorscom) to fund insider web stories of African and American innovators in collaboration, whom Diane Hendrix will be following with her camera from June 23 to August 2 in Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. They are building a community and raising funds for production and editing.
One of the people she will be following is Bernard Kiwia, a Tanzanian inventor who teamed up with MIT grad Jodie Wu to start Global Cycle Solutions in Arusha, near the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. They are starting with ten insider stories of innovators (high and low tech) in East Africa on a new interactive site, with collaborators who'll help distribute stories, such as AITI, who who led us to some fascinating projects (see our intro to AITI on YouTube).
Editorial Comment: I too have met Bernard Kiwia and am deeply impressed by the variety of projects and collaborations happening between Africa and the USA. Bernard's bicycle cell phone charger is only one of the many innovative ideas coming out of young African and American imaginations and expertise these days.
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What you need to know: The Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur (YSE) Competition is a global competition created by Staples Foundation and Ashoka to recognize exceptional young people using innovation and technology to advance social change and improve their community and the world.
Who’s eligible?: Young people (age 12-24), living anywhere in the world, are eligible to apply.
Dates and details: Apply online between June 22 and September 19, 2011.
For more information: http://ashokayouthcompetition.org/
--
Laura Sampath
MIT International Development Initiative
77 Mass Ave, 10-110
Cambridge MA 02139
617.253.7052
Sign up for the 2011 Yunus Challenge Facebook page: yunus2011@groups.facebook.com
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The Medford Farmers Market is looking for organizations, individuals, chefs, nutritionists, educators, musicians, physical activity specialists, gardeners, and other fun people who would like to do educational activities on market days.
We are looking for activities that are interactive and enjoyed by all ages. Demos, how-tos and games are encouraged. Should be somehow related to sustainable living, health, nutrition, farming, gardening, physical activity, sustainability, learning and development, music, art, creativity. Most importantly it should be entertaining for people at the market.
We are looking to fill 1, 2, 3 or 4 hour time slots. The Medford Farmers Market is a great place for you to gain experience and exposure - there are over 20 vendors signed up for the season including local wine, meat, vegetables, honey, bread, art.....Your activity/demo/gig will be well publicized via social media, as well as local newspapers and newsletters sent to hundreds of people.
The market goes from June 16- Oct 13 at the Whole Foods Market Parking Lot, 2151 Mystic Valley Parkway (Rt 16), Medford, MA 02155. Plenty of parking and restrooms are available.
Please contact me if you are interested. Please feel free to forward this e-mail to people who you think may be interested. Thanks so much, have a great weekend!
For more info, please see the following:
website: www.medfordfarmersmarket.org
e-mail: medfordfarmersmarket@gmail.com
twitter: MedfordFarmMkt
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Medford-Farmers-Market/135452753138491
Address: Whole Foods Market Parking Lot, 2151 Mystic Valley Parkway (Rt 16)
Editorial Comment: I have taken some of my solar displays to farmers' markets from time to time and have advocated doing so as a way to change US energy attitudes, policies, and realities as the people who go to farmers' markets are a core constituency for renewable energy. More at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/5/27/870257/-How-to-Change-US-Energy-in-One-Growing-Season
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Resource
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Cambridge Residents!
Trade in your old inefficient air conditioners:
Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA), in partnership with the City of Cambridge and local retailers, is offering residents through July, the chance to swap old air conditioning units for new energy Star-rated window models. Participants will receive $125 voucher for purchasing Energy Star -rated air conditioners which use about 10% less energy. For more information call: (617) 491-0488.
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Massachusetts Attitudes About Climate Change – An opinion survey of Massachusetts residents conducted by MassINC and sponsored by the Barr Foundation found that 77% of respondents believe that global warming has “probably been happening” and 59% of all respondents see see it as being at least partially caused by human pollution. Only 42% of the state’s residents say global warming will have very serious consequences for Massachusetts if left unaddressed. The 18 to 29 age group is more likely to believe global warming is appearing and caused by humans compared to the 60+ age group. African-American (56%) and Latino residents (69%) are more likely than white residents (40%) to believe global warming will be a very serious problem if left unaddressed. The MassINC report, titled The 80 Percent Challenge: What Massachusetts must do to meet targets and make headway on climate change (http://www.massinc.org/Research/The-80-percent-challenge.aspx), contains many other findings.
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The presentations from the recent Affordable Comfort National Home Performance Conference are available online at
http://2011.acinational.org/downloadable_resources
Lots of good information from what some call the best energy conference in the USA on Deep Energy Retrofits to Community Energy Challenges with details on insulation, heat flow, energy metering, ducting, hot water, and many, many other topics. If you are a practical energy wonk, this should make your eyes light up.
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Free Monthly Energy Analysis
CarbonSalon is a free service that every month can automatically track your energy use and compare it to your past energy use (while controlling for how cold the weather is). You get a short friendly email that lets you know how you’re doing in your work to save energy.
https://www.carbonsalon.com/
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Boston Food System
"The Boston Food System [listserv] provides a forum to post announcements of events, employment opportunities, internships, programs, lectures, and other activities as well as related articles or other publications of a non-commercial nature covering the area's food system - food, nutrition, farming, education, etc. - that take place or focus on or around Greater Boston (broadly delineated)."
The Boston area is one of the most active nationwide in terms of food system activities - projects, services, and events connected to food, farming, nutrition - and often connected to education, public health, environment, arts, social services and other arenas. Hundreds of organizations and enterprises cover our area, but what is going on week-to-week is not always well publicized.
Hence, the new Boston Food System listserv, as the place to let everyone know about these activities. Specifically:
Use of the BFS list will begin soon, once we get a decent base of subscribers. Clarification of what is appropriate to announce and other posting guidelines will be provided as well.
It's easy to subscribe right now at https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/bfs
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Artisan Asylum http://artisansasylum.com/
Sprout & Co: Community Driven Investigations http://thesprouts.org/studios
Greater Boston Solidarity Economy Mapping Project http://www.transformationcentral.org/solidarity/mapping/mapping.html
a project by Wellesley College students that invites participation, contact jmatthaei@wellesley.edu
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Bostonsmart.com's Guide to Boston http://www.bostonsmarts.com/BostonGuide/
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Links to events at 60 colleges and universities at Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com
Thanks to
Fred Hapgood's Selected Lectures on Science and Engineering in the
Boston Area http://fhapgood.fastmail.fm/site02.html
Boston Area Computer User Groups http://www.bugc.org/
http://www.mitenergyclub.org/calendar/mit_events_template
http://sustainability.mit.edu/
http://www.environment.harvard.edu/events/calendar/
http://green.harvard.edu/events
http://microsoftcambridge.com/Events/tabid/57/Default.aspx
http://pechakuchaboston.org/blog/
http://boston.nerdnite.com/
http://www.meetup.com/
http://www.eventbrite.com/
