Yesterday I had a very upsetting conversation with someone about why the schools around mine don't recycle (not that mine is perfect either).  According to her it was because, "nobody cares!"  She went on to say that the fact that I do would ultimately lead to me, "killing myself!"  I'm not sure if she meant literally or metaphorically.  I do feel like I'm killing myself sometimes.  Why do I do this?  Why do I care, especially if it's true that nobody else does?  Is it really true that nobody cares?  I feel like through my organizing efforts I'm trying to seek out the people who like me are "killing" ourselves caring too much or maybe you have found a balance so you aren't killing yourself and are positively affecting change around you.  My belief is it is not that people don't care it's that they are ignorant.  This is the same reason people are racist or sexist, right?  It's all due to ignorance.  It's the job of educators to educate people and then they will care.  So this is an email to request some support.  Why should I continue to care?  Why shouldn't I give up?  Why should I spend my time on issues that supposedly "nobody cares" about?  Why do you care? 

I care because I think of the children who will grow up in a world uninhabitable, depicted in movies like Wall-E and Idiocracy because they are so trashed.  I think of kids eating off of Styrofoam trays who figure, well the adults who designed things like this must have a plan, they must have it all figured out, right?  They are doing the best to take care of the world so I can grow up and enjoy it and continue to live a healthy lifestyle.  But I feel stuck.  I have lists of movies and resources, but I don't know how to use them to teach people to care.  My emails feel like they fall on deaf ears or even aren't read.  Can you reach out and tell me why you care?  I want to live in a world where people care because together I do believe we can make a difference... not me alone, but in cooperation with others who care.  To me it sends a message when people take disposable cups for their coffee that they just don't care about anything but their instant gratification or they are just ignorant.  How can we inform them in a way that they will listen, learn, and care?

Meet the DOE’s Director of Sustainability Ozgem Ornektekin!

   Join us on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 for the

UFT Green Schools Committee Monthly Meeting

   Co-chairs: Coquille Houshour & Micki Josi

Agenda:

4:30 – 4:55    School Recycling Setup

by Mary Most, NYC Department of Sanitation

5:00 – 6:00  

1.     Brief Introductions

2.     DOE Sustainability Committee Presentation by

-John Shea, Chief Executive Officer, DOE Division of School Facilities

-Ozgem Ornektekin, Director of Sustainability, DOE Division of School Facilities

3.   Green Schools Alliance’s Green Cup Challenge Presentation      

6:00 – 6:30    Earth Day Event Subcommittee Planning

Join a subcommittee:

                Recycling and Waste Chairs:  Shannon Buckley-Shaklee and Juliana Germak

             Compost and Gardening Chair: Alison Croney

                School Food Chair: TBD

            SOS (Styrofoam Out of Schools) Chair: Debby Lee Cohen

                Environmental Education Chair:  TBD

                Sustainable Energy Chair:  TBD

Where:            UFT – 52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004   -  212.598.7772

Please RSVP: uftgreenschools@uft.org

Mark your calendar and join us for all our monthly meetings:

1/19/10, 2/23/10, 3/16/10, 4/22/10, 5/18/10, 6/15/10

The UFT Green Schools Committee was established to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. Join our Leadership Team to envision school sustainability.   Find out more about our committee and other professional committees at http://www.uft.org/member/committees/                   Join us on facebook!

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TO STOP DRILLING IN NEW YORK CITY’S WATERSHED
Let the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC-State)
know that they must ban natural gas drilling!
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is concerned!

Natural gas drilling of any sort is an industrial activity that can pollute the ground and surface waters that form an integral part of New York City’s drinking water system. "We will do whatever we have to do to protect the watershed," he said. "And that includes whatever legal options are available to us.” Testimony of Steven W. Lawitts Acting Commissioner NYC DEP at NYC Council 10/23/09

RALLY TO "KILL THE DRILL" NEXT TUESDAY AT STUYVESANT H.S.
Sponsored by the Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer MBPO.org/KillTheDrill

Rally to Kill the Drill! Testify! Nov. 10 NYC

Meet Tues. Nov. 10, ‘09 at 5pm outside Stuyvesant H.S. (345 Chambers St.) prior to the DEC Hearing at Stuyvesant H.S. Nov. 10, ‘09 at 6:30 pm. Sign-up to testify at 5:30

Hydraulic Fracturing has been linked to dozens of leaks, spills, and contaminations.
GAS DRILLING ISN'T SAFE - - and it's Time to Act Hear scientific information, written comments and testimony from national and grassroots environmental groups. THE NY CITY WATERSHED IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY Protecting the City's watershed is an important goal - but it is far from the only critical outcome we demand. The Delaware River Watershed which delivers water to Philadelphia, Trenton, Camden and much of   the Catskills is equally important.The water from the Catskill's aquifers which support agriculture and food production for New York City and our area are equally important. The Catskill Park, one of the Northeast's only true wilderness areas within a hundred miles of a major city is equally important. This isn't just about the Catskills - it is also about the whole Southern Tier of New York
 0.
 0. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer  212.669.4462 RSVP@manhattanbp.org,
 0. Joe Levine from www.DamascusCitizens.org and www.NYH2O.org
and Wes Gillingham from www.CatskillMountainkeeper.org will testify.
Other officials & concerned citizens will speak. The DEC must get the message! Numbers will count!  The “Kill the Drill” coalition includes Congressmembers Carolyn B. Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, Public Adv. Betsy Gotbaum, Public Advocate-elect Bill de Blasio, Queens Borough President Helen M. Marshall, State Sen. Tom K. Duane, Liz Krueger and Daniel L. Squadron, Assm. Members Jonathan L. Bing, James F. Brennan (BILL NUMBER:A8748), Jeffrey Dinowitz, Deborah J. Glick, Richard N. Gottfried, Brian Kavanagh, Micah Z. Kellner, Rory I. Lancman  and Linda B. Rosenthal, Councilmembers Gale A. Brewer, Leroy Comrie, DanielR. Garodnick, James F. Gennaro, Jessica S. Lappin, Melissa Mark-Viverito and Rosie Mendez, City CM-elect Margaret Chin, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), NYH2O, & many NYC Comm. Boards
KILL THE DRILL Public Service Announcement. Blast it EVERYWHERE. Josh FOX
Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/7480128YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au4p7clRk-Y

Join us on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 for the
UFT Green Schools Committee monthly General Meeting
Co-chairs: Coquille Houshour & Micki Josi

Agenda:
4:30-5:00    School Recycling Presentation
by Mary Most of the New York City Department of Sanitation
                    
5:00-6:00    General Meeting
PRESENTATION: Styrofoam Out of Schools Committee (SOS)      
by Debby Lee Cohen        

6:00-7:00    Subcommittee Breakout Sessions
Subcommittees plan and execute themed events. If you’re interested in joining one of the subcommittees, please attend the breakout session (we’re also looking chairs).
    Recycling and Waste
    Compost and Gardening
    School Food
    SOS (Styrofoam Out of Schools)
    Environmental Education
    Sustainable Energy

Where:    UFT – 52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004   -  212.598.7772
Please RSVP: uftgreenschools@uft.org

Upcoming events:
Worm Compost November 12 at 5pm http://www.eventbrite.com/event/471247514
School Recycling Training  November 23 at 5pm http://schoolrecyclingworkshop.eventbrite.com/
Mark your calendar and join us for all our monthly meetings:
12/15/09, 1/19/10, 2/23/10, 3/16/10, 4/22/10, 5/18/10, 6/15/10

The UFT Green Schools Committee was established to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. Join our Leadership Team to envision school sustainability.  
Find out more about our Committee and other professional committees at http://www.uft.org/member/committees/
Join us on facebook!

Officers:  Michael Mulgrew President, Michael Mendel Secretary, Mel Aaronson Treasurer, Robert Astrowsky Assistant Secretary, Mona Romain Assistant Treasurer, Vice Presidents:  Karen Alford, Carmen Alvarez, Leo Casey, Richard Farkas, Aminda Gentile, Sterling Roberson

OPEIU:  153

Are New Yorkers right to think recycling is a waste of time?

http://econaturecare.com/blog/?p=748

Read this interesting article and let us know what you think!

Join us on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 for the
UFT Green Schools Committee monthly General Meeting

Co-chairs: Coquille Houshour & Micki Josi

Agenda:
4:30-5:00    School Recycling Presentation
by Mary Most of the New York City Department of Sanitation
                     
5:00-6:00    General Meeting
Guest Speaker from NYRP’s (New York Restoration Project) New Outdoor Learning Center & Environmental Education Programs
Announcements, Q + A & Networking

6:00-7:00    Subcommittee Breakout Sessions
Subcommittees plan and execute themed events. If you’re interested in joining one of the subcommittees, please attend the breakout session (we’re also looking chairs).
 
Recycling and Waste Chairs:  Shannon Buckley-Shaklee and Juliana Germak
Compost and Gardening Chair: Alison Croney
School Food Chair: TBD
SOS (Styrofoam Out of Schools) Chair: Debby Lee Cohen
Environmental Education Chair:  TBD
Sustainable Energy Chair:  TBD

Where:    UFT
52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004
212.598.7772

Please RSVP: uftgreenschools@uft.org

Mark your calendar and join us for all our monthly meetings: 10/20/09, 11/17/09, 12/15/09, 1/19/10, 2/23/10, 3/16/10, 4/22/10, 5/18/10, 6/15/10

The UFT Green Schools Committee was established to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. Join our Leadership Team to envision school sustainability.   

Find out more about our Committee and other professional committees at http://www.uft.org/member/committees/

Officers:  Michael Mulgrew President, Michael Mendel Secretary, Mel Aaronson Treasurer, Robert Astrowsky Assistant Secretary, Mona Romain Assistant Treasurer, Vice Presidents:  Karen Alford, Carmen Alvarez, Leo Casey, Richard Farkas, Aminda Gentile, Sterling Roberson

OPEIU:  153

Greetings!

New York City Outdoors!
An Environmental Education Expo
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
4:00—6:30 pm
Hudson River Park Pier 66a (the Barge at the Frying Pan), Hudson River
Park at 26th Street
For more information, call 212.431.9676 x334 or email
Rebe...@nycswcd.net
Learn about field trips and in-class programs!
* Composting
* Observing live marine life or forest animals
* Overnight camping in a city park
* Hiking in forests
* Fishing and seining
* Growing oysters or trout
* Gardening with hydroponics
* Harvesting solar energy
* Using our parks as outdoor classrooms
Cool demonstrations!
* Gardening oysters
* Fishing off the pier
* Observing reptiles, fish
* Testing the Hudson River water
FREE refreshments!
Savor the fantastic view of the Hudson River, too.
Networking and socializing!
Find like-minded peers and share stories and ideas.
This program is a joint venture of The River Project, New York City
Soil & Water Conservation District, and The NYU Wallerstein
Collaborative for Urban Environmental Education.