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.

Check out this article on our activities... GO TEAM!

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/work-connect/teachers-nyc-students-recycle.html

Here are several exciting events and exhibits to get you geared up about NYC water (details further below):

1. TONIGHT 7pm: Discovery Channel’s “Under New York” focuses on the New York City water supply system

Two engineers explore subterranean New York, from the upstate New York watershed to the infrastructure beneath Manhattan Island.

2. 9/23: special event for the exhibit “The Future Beneath Us: 8 Great Projects Under New York”

The exhibit plunges into depth to explore the construction of City Water Tunnel #3 and the Croton Filtration Plant, along with other city projects.  

3. 9/24: 5^th Annual Green Brooklyn…Green City Fair and Symposium

An interactive event where attendees can learn first-hand from local experts about the many ways New York City is creating a more sustainable future. 

4. 9/29 Environmental Education Expo

Come network and learn about all of the various environmental education programs and organizations in New York City.

5. 10/8 A Day in the Life of the Hudson River

Get your students with their water testing equipment to join other students along the Hudson River and New York Harbor as they take a snapshot of our local waterways.

6. Until 10/12: Exhibit Mannahatta / Manhattan : A Natural History of New York City

Unique exhibit showcasing how Manhattan looked when Henry Hudson first sailed into the harbor.

7. 10/13 Trout in the Classroom Teacher Conference

Learn about Trout in the Classroom, network with fellow teachers, exchange lessons, and get your trout eggs for the year.

8. 10/28 and 10/29: City that Drinks the Mountain Sky

Bring your students to see this amazing puppet show that illustrates how the New York City water supply system was created.

9. Also this fall: OPENING of the Visitor Center at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant

See where your sink and shower water go as well as how your tap water flows to your faucet.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. TONIGHT 7pm: Discovery Channel’s “Under New York” focuses on the NYC water supply system

Two engineers explore subterranean New York, from the upstate New York watershed to the infrastructure beneath Manhattan Island.

"Under New York," a one-hour special featuring the Catskill Watershed airs on the Discovery Channel this Friday, September 4, at 7 pm.  

The program is a journey through the New York water system, from high above the upstate New York watershed through the underground infrastructure to its final destination at an apartment tap in New York City. 

Along the way, intrepid hosts John Rosiello and Christine McKinley bike down the steep slopes of the Catskill Mountains, kayak down the raging creeks that feed into the reservoir system, go deep underground to unearth the hidden workings of the intricate dam systems, explore abandoned aqueducts and scramble dozens of stories above the city streets atop one of New York's iconic wooden water towers.  

Given unprecedented access by the New York City  Department of Environmental Protection, "Under New York" goes underground with a crew digging an immense filtration plant deep in the earth and rappels down the face of a 240-foot dam with members of the specially trained DEP police team.

 "Under New York" explores one of the greatest water systems of the world and takes viewers to places few have ever seen - or can hope to see.  Produced by Optomen Productions for Discovery, "Under New York" is an adventurous exploration of an engineering marvel. 

This film was produced by Optomen Productions, a Soho, New York-based television production company known for science, reality and factual programming.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. 9/23: Special Event for the exhibit “The Future Beneath Us: 8 Great Projects Under New York”

The exhibit plunges into depth to explore the construction of City Water Tunnel #3 and the Croton Filtration Plant, along with other city projects.  

More details for the event will come soon.  

The New York Public Library
Science, Industry and Business Library
188 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
(212) 592-7000

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/news/the_future_beneath_us.shtml

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. 9/24: 5^th Annual Green Brooklyn…Green City Fair and Symposium

An interactive event where attendees can learn first-hand from local experts about the many ways New York City is creating a more sustainable future. 

Thursday, September 24, 2009 from 11:30am to 6pm

Brooklyn Borough Hall and Columbus Park

209 Joralemon Street

http://www.cenyc.org/GreenBrooklynGreenCity

Green Brooklyn...Green City is an interactive event where attendees can learn first-hand from local experts about the many ways New York City is creating a more sustainable future.  Alongside our Greenmarket farmers' market, attendees can visit exhibitors, make art from recycled products, and more.  The event is the largest of its kind in Brooklyn and we invite you to come learn the simple, small steps you can take to help keep New York City a healthy place to live.  This event is free and open to the public.  

Activities for youth: OROEgami with CENYC’s Office of Recycling Outreach and Education; Greenmarket Tours – youth have a chance to meet farmers and learn about agriculture and the relationship between food and the environment; Solar Oven and Green House display – youth can learn from high school students participating in CENYC’s environmental education programming about the power of the sun and how green design minimizing our environmental impact;  the following groups will also provide activities for youth: Urban Park Rangers, Prospect Park Alliance, New York City Department of Sanitation, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and more.

Workshops

The State of the Climate     12:00pm-1:00pm

Green Your Business          1:30pm-2:30pm

Local Vs. Organic               3:00pm-4:00pm

All workshops take place in the Court Room inside Brooklyn Borough Hall.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. 9/29 Environmental Education Expo

Come network and learn about all of the various environmental education programs and organizations in New York City.

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 from 4:00 to 6:30

Pier 66 in Manhattan (Hudson River at West 26th Street)

http://www.nycswcd.net/environmental_ed.cfm

The Expo showcases the environmental education resources for New York City teachers and educators, in hopes that more children will have the opportunity to experience and learn about the natural features of our city.  There will be over thirty organizations to showcase their school-based programs and the event will feature demonstrations, such as water quality testing, observing live fish and reptiles, and fishing. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. 10/8 A Day in the Life of the Hudson River

Get your students with their water testing equipment to join other students along the Hudson River and New York Harbor as they take a snapshot of our local waterways.

This event is designed to celebrate the Hudson River Estuary and educate participants on the uniqueness of our estuary as part of the annual recognition of "National Estuaries Week". The event is coordinated by The Hudson River Estuary Program of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Hudson Basin River Watch.

http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/edu/k12/snapshotday/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. Until 10/12: Exhibit Mannahatta / Manhattan : A Natural History of New York City

Unique exhibit showcasing how Manhattan looked when Henry Hudson first sailed into the harbor.

Musuem of the City of New York

1220 Fifth Avenue

NY, NY 10029

212.534.1672

http://www.mcny.org/exhibitions/current/mannahatta-manhattan-a-natural-history-of-new-york-city.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. 10/13 Trout in the Classroom Teacher Conference

Learn about Trout in the Classroom, network with fellow teachers, exchange lessons, and get your trout eggs for the year.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home in Hyde Park, NY. 

This day long conference is a wonderful opportunity to meet TIC teachers and contacts, attend TIC workshops and pick up trout eggs.  The event is free of charge  and only requires registration, lunch will be provided.   Please register for the conference on our website home page: www.troutintheclassroom.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. 10/28 and 10/29: City that Drinks the Mountain Sky

Bring your students to see this amazing puppet show that illustrates how the New York City water supply system was created.

See attached flyer

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. Also this fall: OPENING of the Visitor Center at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant

See where your sink and shower water go as well as how your tap water flows to your faucet.

Educator workshops will follow the opening.  Stay tuned.  Also close by is the Newtown Creek Nature Walk – the first public waterfront access to Newtown Creek and features rare views of the neighboring Newtown Creek wastewater treatment plant.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/environmental_education/newtown.shtml

Min Kan

Director of Education

NYC Department of Environmental Protection
59-17 Junction Boulevard 19th, Flr.
Flushing, NY 11373
Phone:  (718) 595-3503

Alternative Phone: (718) 595-3506
Fax:  (718) 595-3477
E-Mail:  mkan@dep.nyc.gov

www.nyc.gov/dep

This message was sent to me recently and I found it fascinating!!       Subject NWF Report:  How an "indoor childhood" affects classroom performance         (1)                                                                           

Dear Colleagues,

As American childhood has steadily moved indoors in the past 12 to 15
years, outdoor play is increasingly rare.   The weekly indoor-outdoor
time ratio is now about 10 to one on the indoor side.   We wondered what
effect this modern "indoor childhood" is having on the quality of K-12
education and the average student's readiness to learn in the classroom.

In this back-to-schools time period -- Research shows children are less
fit, have shorter attention spans and are less ready to be
high-performance learners without a greater emphasis on regular outdoor
time such as a daily Green Hour.

Our new NWF report: Time Out: Using The Outdoors to Enhance Classroom
Performance is available at:
http://www.nwf.org/nwfwebadmin/binaryVault/Time%20Out%20with%20BOT%20Activities1.pdf

Best,

Kevin C.
 (See attached file: Time Out Press Release 9-2-09.doc)

Great news!!  Educating Tomorrow has made arrangement with the director of Garbage Dreams to make available FREE tickets for students to see the film on Friday, July 31st at 1:55PM.  Please send the information to any students you think might be interested.  They need to register at the link: GARBAGE DREAMS Screening at the IFC Center Logo

We hope that the director will be able to join us at this screening for a Q & A.  Also, we are working with them develop curriculum for teachers, so we'd be very interested to hear your feedback and ideas for classroom use of the film, so if you are able to attend any of the screening, please email your thoughts to info@garbagedreams.com.

"GARBAGE DREAMS" TO BE FEATURED  IN THE 2009 DOCUWEEKS SHOWCASE.  DOCUWEEKS provides the theatrical runs that qualify documentaries for Oscar consideration. (Click here for more info about 2009 Docuweeks) GARBAGE DREAMS will play at  the IFC Center in New York City from July 31st - August 6th  and at the Arclight in Los Angeles from August 14th - 20th. "GARBAGE DREAMS is a moving story of young men searching for ways to eke out a living for their families and facing tough choices as they try to do the right thing for the planet. Mai Iskander guides us into a 'garbage village,' a place so different from our own, and yet the choices they face there are so hauntingly familiar. Ultimately, GARBAGE DREAMS makes a compelling case that modernization does not always equal progress."  -- AL GORE         ____________________________________________________________________________________ "GARBAGE DREAMS" DOCUWEEKS SCREENINGS AND LOCATIONS NY: IFC CENTER                                                         LA: ARCLIGHT HOLLYWOOD Fri, July 31th - 1:55 PM & 7:35 PM*                    Fri, Aug 14th - 2:05 PM & 7:45 PM* Sat, Aug 1st -  3:30 PM & 9:40 PM *                  Sat, Aug 15th - 3:50 PM & 9:45 PM* Sun, Aug 2nd - 12:00 PM & 5:10 PM*               Sun, Aug 16th - 12:00 PM & 5:40 PM* Mon, Aug 3rd - 1:55 PM & 7:35 PM*                    Mon, Aug 17th - 2:05 PM & 7:45 PM Tue, Aug 4th - 3:30 PM & 9:40 PM                        Tue, Aug 18th - 3:50 PM & 9:45 PM Wed, Aug 5th - 12:00 PM & 5:10 PM                  Wed, Aug 19th - 12:00 PM & 5:40 PM Thu, Aug 6th - 12:00 PM & 5:10 PM*                  Thu, Aug 20th - 12:00 PM & 5:40 PM *Filmmaker will be attending Q & A session after the screening Click Here To Buy Tickets Online To inquire about group rate (10 people and more) available at IFC in New York, please contact 212 924 6789 or email Chris Wells. ______________________________________________________________ GARBAGE DREAMS follows three teenage boys born into the trash trade and growing up in the world's largest garbage village, on the outskirts of Cairo.  It is the home to 60,000 Zaballeen, Arabic for "garbage people." Far ahead of any modern "Green" initiatives, the Zaballeen survive by recycling 80 percent of the garbage they collect. When their community is suddenly faced with the globalization of its trade, each of the teenage boys is forced to make choices that will impact his future and the survival of his community.  ______________________________________________________________ To view press or download press kit  go to www.garbagedreams.com

"GARBAGE DREAMS" TO BE FEATURED IN THE 2009 DOCUWEEKS SHOWCASE.

DOCUWEEKS provides the theatrical runs that qualify documentaries for Oscar consideration.

GARBAGE DREAMS will play at the IFC Center in New York City from July 31st - August 6th

"GARBAGE DREAMS is a moving story of young men searching for ways to eke out a living for their families and facing tough choices as they try to do the right thing for the planet. Mai Iskander guides us into a 'garbage village,' a place so different from our own, and yet the choices they face there are so hauntingly familiar.
Ultimately, GARBAGE DREAMS makes a compelling case that modernization does not always equal progress."  -- AL GORE
      
__________________________________________________________________

"GARBAGE DREAMS" DOCUWEEKS SCREENINGS AND LOCATIONS

NY: IFC CENTER                                           
Fri, July 31th - 1:55 PM & 7:35 PM            
Sat, Aug 1st -  3:30 PM & 9:40 PM                  
Sun, Aug 2nd - 12:00 PM & 5:10 PM             
Mon, Aug 3rd - 1:55 PM & 7:35 PM                 
Tue, Aug 4th - 3:30 PM & 9:40 PM                 
Wed, Aug 5th - 12:00 PM & 5:10 PM             
Thu, Aug 6th - 12:00 PM & 5:10 PM           
______________________________________________________________

GARBAGE DREAMS follows three teenage boys born into the trash trade and growing up in the world's largest garbage village, on the outskirts of Cairo.  It is the home to 60,000 Zaballeen, Arabic for "garbage people." Far ahead of any modern "Green" initiatives, the Zaballeen survive by recycling 80 percent of the garbage they collect. When their community is suddenly faced with the globalization of its trade, each of the teenage boys is forced to make choices that will impact his future and the survival of his community.
______________________________________________________________

To view press or download press kit go to www.garbagedreams.com

Please check out the video Mitchel Porcelen, a Special Education Teacher from MS 51 
in Brooklyn made with his students at the end of the school year. 
The focus is on climate change, air quality, and pollution reduction. 
The more hits they get, the more funding they get for the next project. 
Please also pass along the link to interested people. 
 
http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/less-cars-better-air-nyc/

“Sustainability Starts At School”

Join us for the
UFT Green Schools Committee monthly meeting.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009
   
Who:        Anyone interested in “greening” NYC schools

What:    Agenda:   
- Reflections on this year’s work
- Planning for next year
- Join the leadership team

When:      Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Snacks & Networking 4:00-4:30pm
Meeting 4:30–6:30pm

Where:    UFT Headquarters 
50 Broadway, New York, NY 10004

Please RSVP: uftgreenschools@uft.org

The UFT Green Schools Committee was established to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. Come and join our Leadership Team: Micki Josi, Coquille Houshour, Patrick Hess, Jacqulyn Bodenmiller, Shannon Buckley-Shaklee, Juliana Germak, Hope Kitts, Mitchell Porcelyn, Jonathan Pereira and Justlin LeWinter to envision the sustainability in our schools. 

Find out more at http://www.uft.org/member/committees/.

Check out our article in the New York Teacher:

http://www.uft.org/news/teacher/around/how_green_is_your_school/

Plus John Shea of the DOE's School Facilities is coming to our next meeting:  Tuesday, May 19th (see attached)

“Sustainability Starts At School”

Join us for the
UFT Green Schools Committee monthly meeting.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009
   
Who:        Anyone interested in “greening” NYC schools

What:    Agenda:   
- Partnering with the DOE Sustainability Committee
- Recycling Coordinator Position
- Training for Custodians & Recycling Coordinators
- Storage & Collection Issues
- Recycling Supplies
- Environmental Education
- Green Schools Alliance Pledge
- Community Service

When:      Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Snacks & Networking 4:00-4:30pm
Meeting 4:30–6:30pm

Where:    UFT Headquarters 
50 Broadway, New York, NY 10004

Please RSVP: uftgreenschools@uft.org

The UFT Green Schools Committee was established to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. Come and join our Leadership Team: Micki Josi, Coquille Houshour, Patrick Hess, Jacqulyn Bodenmiller, Shannon Buckley-Shaklee, Juliana Germak, Hope Kitts, Mitchell Porcelyn, Jonathan Pereira and Justlin LeWinter to envision the sustainability in our schools. 

Find out more at http://www.uft.org/member/committees/.

3^rd Thursday Forum:

Greening Your School: From Green Roofs to Recycling

Date:

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Time:

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Pricing:

$10 suggested donation

Reservations: send to bcueinfo@bcue.org or call 718-788-8500 x263. Reservations encouraged online (eventbrite link to be posted on site)

Partners:

Alive Structures

Arturo Garcia-Costas/ NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

CUE

Cloud Institute

Blurb:

Join this crash course on greening your school from the issues you’ll encounter installing a green roof, to creative ways of incorporating sustainability themes into the classroom.  Join local experts to discuss easy to implement projects, ways of getting environmental projects funded, opportunities for nonprofit partnerships, and what has (and hasn’t) worked in local schools.

Location:

Center for the Urban Environment, 168 7 Street, Brooklyn, NY (Garden Room)

Aisha Glover

Director, Public Affairs

Center for the Urban Environment

168 7 Street

Brooklyn, NY 11215

718-788-8500 x260

718-499-3750- fax

www.bcue.org

What’s New:

Click here to support our programs and make a tax-deductible donation to CUE.

Click here to view all our newest educational programs in the CUE Catalog.

    
    WORM COMPOST WORKSHOP

You can recycle food waste in your classroom or at home with WORMS…
Fun, Educational & Environmentally Friendly….
Did you know that all food waste and biodegradable items that end up in a landfill do not become compost to benefit the earth’s soil since they are not exposed to the right conditions to break down?  Plus, they produce methane gas, a leading cause of global warming.  We can fix all of that by composting!

Who:    Brooklyn Botanic Garden Master Composter Ms. Josi will present this workshop for all interested teachers, parents & kids.

What:     Join us at MS 447 – The Math and Science Exploratory School to learn about setting up a worm bin to compost in your classroom or at home and get your hands dirty harvesting a worm bin.  It’s a fun way to teach kids about compost, worms, waste management, science and gardening.

When:         Thursday, April 2, 4-6pm 

Where:         MS 447 – Math & Science Exploratory School
        345 Dean Street (Room 437A) Brooklyn, NY 11217

Why:     To learn about Vermicomposting (Worm Composting), socialize & eat yummy snacks

Cost:     The Workshop is FREE.
At the workshop you can obtain a coupon to buy your own worm bin and one-pound of red worms to start your own worm compost.

PLANNING TO ATTEND?
For questions or to sign up, contact Micki Josi at mjosi@ms447.org
PLEASE RSVP if you plan to attend since space is limited. 

Feel free to bring food scraps (raw fruits & veggies) to feed the worm and/or a Tupperware container to bring home compost.

To Learn More about Composting Visit: http://www.nyccompost.org/ or www.bbg.org/compost

This event is cosponsored by MS 447 and Educating Tomorrow.

We believe our schools must take the lead in moving toward a greener future by providing our children and future leaders with an environmental education and exemplary environmental programs, such as school recycling. Find out more at www.educatingtomorrow.org.

We hope to see you at our next monthly meeting, "Together We Make Schools Green".
   
Who: Anyone interested in "greening" NYC schools (You will come away with something you can do to help!)

What:
-    Finalize plans for our April 22, 2009 Earth Day event
-    Network with other people interested in school recycling, compost, gardening, & waste reduction
-    Discuss Strategies for accomplishing short-term goals
-    Sub-Committee Updates

When: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 4:30–6:00pm

Where:
UFT Headquarters 
50 Broadway, New York, NY 10004
Room G

RSVP: uftgreenschools@uft.org

*Join us for a workshop for teachers on how to compost with worms in schools on May 5, 4:30-6:30 PM. The workshop will be led by Brooklyn Botanic Garden Master Composters using Brooklyn Botanic Garden workshop curriculum and materials. All participating teachers will receive a coupon to purchase one pound of red wiggler worms and a worm condo at a discounted price of $40. The workshop is part of the New York Compost Project, which aims to divert compostable materials from our waste stream., shoot us an email at uftgreenschools@uft.org.

**Also, PLEASE POST the attached meeting flyer and and our Committee flyer at your school. Thanks for your help!

The UFT Green Schools Committee was established to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. We have a great Leadership Team: Micki Josi, Coquille Houshour, Patrick Hess, Matt Sheenan, Eileen Foster, Jacqulyn Bodenmiller, Shannon Buckley-Shaklee, Juliana Germak, Hope Kitts, Mitchell Porcelyn, Jonathan Pereira and Justlin LeWinter.

Find out more at http://www.uft.org/member/committees/.

I might be speaking at this.... (short speech)

You can contact Judy O’Brien, the Social Action Chair at Judy O'Brien judyobrien@yahoo.com with further questions.

Sincerely,
Micki Josi
Co-found UFT Green Schools Committee
www.educatingtomorrow.org

Quote me: "The difference between disposable and reusable equals zero waste.  It all counts: add it up and think twice." - Micki Josi

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

If you are interesting in coming to my place for a workshop on worm composting and to enjoy a potluck... email me directly for the info at micki@educatingtomorrow.org

Philanthropy News Digest at the Foundation Center's Web site.

Students Invited to Submit Their Creative Energy Project Entries

http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=239800031

Parents for Climate Protection * is excited to present our 3rd Annual House Party for parents and children with panel discussion followed by an "arts and crafts" letter writing activity. (People unaccompanied by children are welcome, too!)
As in previous years, several amazing experts will share their knowledge on climate change with our attendees. *
*
*Professor Allen Frei, Ph.D., climatologist at Hunter College and CUNY, and Deputy Director of the Sustainable Cities Institute
*Jackson Morris,* Air and Energy Associate, Environmental Advocates of New York
*Amy Larkin** *Solutions Director, National Greenpeace
*
For the crafts activity, we provide all the materials necessary for the attendees to write letters to their elected officials on the urgent need for federal legislation limiting greenhouse gas emissions.  We encourage families to work together with children creating beautiful nature collages and parents adding a message on their behalf.  If you just want to come to hear the presentations and ask questions, that's perfectly fine as well.
Date: Sunday, January 25th, 3:00 p.m.
General location:  South Slope

Please e-mail to rsvp and obtain the address: nyclaudia@earthlink.net <mailto:nyclaudia@earthlink.net>

Happy Holidays!
Claudia
Parents for Climate Protection
www.climateactivism.org <http://www.climateactivism.org>

The woman who made Blue Vinyl is hosting a screening of three in-the-works documentaries.  Coquille and I were invited to attend to give our feedback about a film called Garbage Dreams about kids who recycle up to 85% of their waste in Cairo.  Please come to the screening if you want to give your input on how to promote the film in the US:

http://www.92y.org/shop/event_detail.asp?productid=T%2DMM5FD19

“Collaborating On-line:
Together We Make Schools Green”

Join us for Educating Tomorrow and
the UFT Green Schools Committee monthly meeting.
   
Who:        People interested in “greening” NYC schools
What:       Network; take part in a discussion on collaborating on-line with a “green” community, plus we  will hear from CENYC's Teen Speakers Bureau, a group of high schools students will present on what they do to get the message out about school recycling.
When:      Tuesday, December 16, 4–6:00pm
(networking from 4-4:30)
Where:    UFT Headquarters 
50 Broadway, New York, NY 10004

Please RSVP: info@educatingtomorrow.org

Coquille Houshour & Micki Josi founded Educating Tomorrow to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. They are working with other teachers to form a UFT Green Schools Committee. Find out more at www.educatingtomorrow.org.

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead

“Collaborating On-line:
Together We Make Schools Green”

Join us for Educating Tomorrow and
the UFT Green Schools Committee monthly meeting.
   
Who:        People interested in “greening” NYC schools
What:    Network; take part in a discussion on collaborating on-line with a “green” community, plus we will hear from the Teen Speakers on Recycling
When:      Tuesday, December 16, 4–6:00pm
(networking from 4-4:30)
Where:    UFT Headquarters 
50 Broadway, New York, NY 10004

Please RSVP: info@educatingtomorrow.org

Coquille Houshour & Micki Josi founded Educating Tomorrow to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. They are working with other teachers to form a UFT Green Schools Committee. Find out more at www.educatingtomorrow.org.

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead

At the start of school year at my new school, I got onto the Department of Sanitation web site to find out what my new school's recycling collection schedule is. I'd been told this is where school recycling coordinators should go to find out when their school's recycling is collected. It's supposed to be as easy as typing in your address.

In the past, I never had an easy time finding out what my school recycling collection schedule was, but I kept trying because DOS and DOE people assured me it's simple, with a tone suggesting I must be doing something wrong.

Last year I ended up calling 311 to file a complaint that I couldn't verify my recycling collection schedule and that it was actually being collected when it was supposed to be. 311 said I couldn't get the number for my garage and I couldn't file a complaint unless I had put recycling on the curb on the proper collection day (that I wasn't sure of) and it hadn't been picked up. (But what if it had been picked up by a garbage truck because they put it out on the wrong day?) I explained that I'd made special arrangements with my garage for mechanized (dumpster) paper recycling and that's not reflected in the online schedule at all, but it didn't make a difference--they wouldn't help me.

So, here I was again. I was at another school and I had to set about trying to tackle an issue I felt I never really solved during the past four years as my previous school. 

This time around it went a little more smoothly. I'm hoping this is a result of the hearing. This is what happened:

I went to the DOS site and typed my school's address and this is what I got:

The collection schedule for 
300 ADELPHI STREET (Brooklyn) is: 

311: We don't have information for school recycling.
Me: Well, you are supposed to.
311: Your recycling collection is only one day a week, Fridays.
Me: Is that for all recycling?
311: Yes.
Me: That doesn't sound right.
311: Hold on one second. (I wait much longer.) We just don't know. They may go by the schedule I just gave you or they may be a different one. My supervisor suggests you call the Department of Sanitation Headquarters at 646-885-3769. 
Me: What are their hours?
311: It doesn't give me that information, but I'm guessing 9-5.

So I called the Department of Sanitation Headquarters (I think their hours are 6-2 PM) and they told me the name of my school garage and gave me contact information for the Supervisor: District 2 in Brooklyn: District Super of the Garage: Thomas Walsh, 718-768-4105 or 4128.

When I spoke with him (you have to catch them early in the day), I requested a paper recycling dumpster, which he said he would look into and get back to me the following week (I still haven't heard from him and now he won't return my phone calls). But the good thing was that he increased our paper collection to four times per week and glass, metal and plastics to two times per week. I immediately made a poster for the custodians.

I have since been able to get the Supervisor's Mr. Walsh's email, so I'm cc'ing the DOE on emails (and others) so I have an electronic trail.

I'm still frustrated that we can't get a paper dumpster. We have twice the student population of my previous school and they have six dumpsters.

I would like to hear everyone else's experience: coquille@educatingtomorrow.org.

“Collaborating with Custodians:
Together We Make Schools Green”

Join us for Educating Tomorrow and
the UFT Green Schools Committee monthly meeting.
   
Who:        People interested in “greening” NYC schools
What:       Network; take part in a discussion on collaborating with custodians
When:      Thursday, November 20, 4–5:30pm (networking from 4-4:30)
Where:     UFT Headquarters 
                52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004

Please RSVP: info@educatingtomorrow.org

Coquille Houshour & Micki Josi founded Educating Tomorrow to help realize successful school recycling programs in all NYC schools. They are working with other teachers to form a UFT Green Schools Committee. Find out more at www.educatingtomorrow.org.

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead

Anyone interested in carpooling??

You are invited to the first statewide

Zeroing Out Waste Conference

Saturday, November 15, 2008, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 262 State St , Albany , NY

(Rear Entrance Parking, Entrance is on 85 Chestnut St , www.wpcalbany.org)

Speakers Include:

Neil Seldman, Institute of Local Self Reliance

Professor Paul Connett, International Waste Management Researcher

Barbara Warren, Citizens' Environmental Coalition 

Why do we have so much garbage? What can we do to prevent it?  Looking at the trash question as a resource issue and a problem of industrial design is ushering in bold alternatives to leaking landfills and polluting incinerators in forward-thinking cities and countries around the world.  What can New Yorkers do to bring these solutions to our state and communities?

New Yorkers have a great opportunity to transform our solid waste practices as the state is finally revising its Solid Waste Policy.  National expert speakers will discuss how NY communities can start zeroing out waste with reuse, recycling, composting and remanufacturing.  The conference features speaker presentations followed by strategy sessions on key zero waste issues, including fighting incinerators & landfills, composting all organics (food & yard waste, etc),  economic development and green jobs,  pitfalls of privatization and waste prevention.  

Sponsored by Citizens' Environmental Coalition (CEC)
$15.00 Conference Fee includes lunch and refreshments

Scholarships are available.

More Information on the Zero Waste Conference Speakers

Paul Connett, International researcher and campaigner on waste management and recently retired Chemistry Professor.  Paul is known for his decades of work effectively fighting incinerators around the world making over 2,000 presentations in the U.S. and 50 other countries. He is the only one we know that can make waste funny!

Neil Seldman, President of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Neil is known for his work effectively fighting incinerators, and for his economic perspective and promotion of alternatives like waste reduction. He is an economic development & jobs expert utilizing resources in our waste stream.

Barbara Warren, Executive Director of Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, Formerly with Consumers Union and the NYC Zero Waste Campaign. Barbara helped to prevent the building of incinerators in NYC, led the effort to close Fresh Kills landfill and has addressed environmental justice burdens of waste.  

Zeroing Out Waste Conference

Albany , NY

November 15^th, 2008

9:30-4:30

Send to CEC at cectoxic@igc.org or CEC, 33 Central Ave. , Albany , NY 12210

Phone: 518-462-5527, Fax: 518-465-8349.

1) __  Yes, I will attend the Zeroing Out Waste Conference.

2) __   I will pay the $15 Registration Fee.

__ Sending check to CEC.

__ Will Call with Credit Card Info

3) Lunch:  ___Meat   ___Vegetarian ___Vegan.   Help us make it a zero waste event. Bring your CUP for coffee/tea!

4) Contact Information. Please fill out.  Thanks.

Name:    _________________________      

Group (if any): _______________________

Address:  ________________________      

City: ____________     State: _____   Zip: _______

Phone: _____________________________

Email:  _____________________________

Havana Outpost's corn is great, but their compostable plates and utensils are even greater. They send everything out for commercial composting (otherwise it'd sit in a landfill with the carrot that'll stay in tact for thirty years or more). Makes me wonder why so many places are putting on a "green face" by offering their drinks and food in and on "compostable" ware when it's just going to sit in a landfill with its non-break-downable friends. How much better is it than plastic? When and if it eventually breaks down--and it will before plastic--it won't leach toxics like a good venti Starbucks mocha frappuccino (a moment on the lips and a hundreds of lifetimes in New Jersey's hills). Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which evangelizes composting, only has trash bins for your BBG cafe eats--they don't even compost it.

Back to Havana Outpost. They have a lot of green events happening. Check out the article in the Indypendent that highlights one such event and Micki Josi's work to get all public schools recycling. The plight of NYC composters onward!

I found out what to do with that pesky plastic #6 that is not recyclable.... it's the stuff raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, and to-go foods sometimes comes in. Just check for the number inside the very misleading chasing arrows (the recycling symbol which means absolutely squat when it comes to plastic... oh those sneaking plastic makers... they've all fooled us so well) 

You can make SHRINKY DINKS!

Instructions:

1.  Wash and dry the plastic meticulously

2.  Cut the flat part out with no stickers

3.  Draw or trace a picture onto it with perminant marker

4.  Cut it out so that there are not sharp edges

5.  Punch a hole in it with a hole punch if you want to make a charm

6.  Place on parchment paper in a 250 degree toaster oven for about 30 seconds give or take... it works best in a toaster over.  I tried it in a real oven and it took a lot longer, so maybe the temp has to be adjusted.  You will see it shrivel up and then straighten out most likely... it's not fool proof.  Probably also shouldn't breath it in... I didn't say it wasn't toxic as I imagine most plastic is. 

Let me know how it turns out... or email me and we can schedule a demonstration.  I'll try to take some pictures and post them.

I registered my school with the Go Green Initiative awhile ago after finding out about them while applying for a NYSAR3, the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling, grant. I now receive newsletters about their different initiatives, such as reducing the number of photocopies made in schools.

Go Green's annual conference on greening schools, 2008 Earth Summit, is taking place in Syracuse, NY this year on Oct. 17-18. You can register now. Jet Blue flights out of JFK are affordable. Is anyone interested in attending?

On Tuesday, Jeffrey Shear, Chief of Staff for the Dept. of Education's Office of Finance and Administration, testified the DOE works with 372 recycling coordinators in NYC schools. This, along with much of Mr. Shear's testimony, does not reflect the experience of teachers inside schools.

Have you ever received support from DOE with your recycling? Are you listed as one of the DOE's 372?

Council member Robert Jackson asked Mr. Shear to provide the Committee with a list of the 372 coordinators. I have been a self-appointed Recycling Coordinator at my school for three years and was never contacted by the DOE. In fact, I wasn't aware there was anyone in DOE dedicated to recycling until January 14th of this year. On that afternoon I spent three hours making phone calls (because no one in DOE had any idea about who was in charge of school recycling) until I reached Mr. Shear. I let him know about our Committee and said we wanted to work with them on making recycling in schools more effective. I never heard back from him.

After calling again, I finally spoke with Salvatore Calderone, Field Operations, Custodial Operations. He said Michael Grobshteyn was in charge of school recycling for all FIVE boroughs. He called me and said he'd help with our collection issues. He said he'd set up a meeting with our local Garage and Custodians, but he never did. He actually called me two days before the hearing to ask if I had resolved my collection issues.

Then in Mr. Shear's testimony, he said his office used me as an example of how they help school recycling coordinators when they hadn't helped me at all. Is it because I am the only who was able to find them and called their office?

NYC Council Member Bill de Blasio (D-Park Slope) joined students and parents on Tuesday, March 26 to launch a pilot program at P.S. 154 to replace the Styrofoam lunch trays with trays made from sugar cane fiber. The new environmentally friendly trays are designed to break down within 45 days. In contrast, Styrofoam trays take around 10,000 years to break down. Some believe the trays excrete toxic chemicals into the children's hot food.

The NYC Department of Education uses 850,000 trays a day which adds up to over 4 million trays a week. Brooklyn Properties and The Juice Box are the official sponsors of the pilot program. The Booklyn Paper covered the story, along with a number of blogs.

An alarming majority of schools aren't even recycling. Paper recycling would generate roughly $235,000 a year. Glass, metal and plastic recycling could generate approximately $513,000 per year for a total of $748,000 in lost revenue. Additionally, transporting waste to landfills is getting increasingly expensive, having risen 300% over the past ten years.

Could recycling pay for the cost of converting to earth-friendly trays?

Councilmember de Blasio has also introduced legislation, Intro 609, which would prohibit the use of Styrofoam by City agencies and food establishments. McDonald's stop using Styrofoam packaging in 1990. The cities of Berkeley, California and Portland, Oregon were some of the first to prohibit polystyrene food packaging. Although the trays are commonly known as Styrofoam trays, Styrofoam is a licensed trademark of its manufacturer, the Dow Chemical Company.

I know it's been a really long time since I've blogged, but I've been working hard this Winter and now am ready for Spring!

Coquille and I joined the Brooklyn Botanical Garden's Master Compost Program.   I've scheduled a worm composting workshop put on by BBG at my school.  It's from 4-6pm at my school in downtown Brooklyn at 345 Dean Street on Tuesday, April 29th (it's the Tuesday after Spring Break).

I also received a $1,000 grant from Park Slope Civic Council to help start the recycling program at my school.  I attached the plan that I came up with here too.  It still isn't finalized and there is the overwhelming issues of collection and storage that I still can't quite figure out since my custodian shot down these ideas and other that they suggested where again not quite right.  I might turn out that each time the paper is full in the classrooms the teacher or a student or even parent volunteer will have to take the bag out side to a storage site out of the building.  It's kind of a drag, but I can't think of another way right now and I really hope people will be on board to do that.  We'll begin with paper recycling in the classroom with the first $1,000.  I also wrote a grant to donorschoose.org for the rest of the money to do bottles and cans in the cafeterias and main office:  http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=170652

Anyway, that's the news on compost and recycling at my school.  Let me know what you've been up to this Winter?  Email me at mathjosi@yahoo.com if you want to come to the worm workshop or if you want to talk grants and school recycling ideas.

It's time to have another meeting, so we'll be getting that info out soon. 

Compost:
I finally moved and am getting settled in, so I've been quite busy.  I now have a back yard which means it's time to start a compost bin.  I'm planning to attend the Brooklyn Botanical Garden's workshop on composting:

Thursday, February 28, 6 to 8 pm
make compost with a touch of spanish (bilingual workshop)

This class addresses two audiences—English and Spanish speakers—and is translated in both languages simultaneously throughout the session. We cover the basics of composting in a complete, practical, and interactive way. Participants receive handouts and literature to review at home. Register with Karla Osorio-Pérez at 718-623-7368.

If we want to get wormbins for our classrooms, they will do a workshop for 10 or more teachers and for $10 you get the know-how, a bin, and worms to get all set up.  Let's see if we can set something up at our next meeting.
Learn more about composting in NYC at: http://www.nyccompost.org/

Letters:
The next issue on my mind recently was the fact that I've been thinking about how I need to buy products that are earth friendly and contain recycled content.  I want to only buy paper products that are made out of recycled paper.  When I was in Rite Aid, Duane Reade, and Target recently I had no luck finding these products and it really irritated me.  So I wrote them letters on their website and they have written me back all apoligetic like.  It feels good to be a consumer with a voice.  As promised in my letter I'm encouraging other people to write them these same concerns.  Here is my letter, maybe you want to write them too.  I just went on their websites and found their contact us sections.  Usually they had a form that I filled out and copied my letter into it. 

Please sell Recycled Material and Green Products!

Dear ___________________,

I care about the environment.  I recycle at home.  As a teacher, I educate my students about the importance of recycling.  When I come into your store to buy things I realize the importance of buying products that are made from recycled materials.  I would like for you to sell paper towels and toilet paper made from recycled materials.  I would also like you to carry cleaning products that are biodegradable, like Simple Green.  It’s important that your large company that has locations everywhere acknowledge the threats of Global Warming and GO GREEN by selling products that are good for the environment.  Until you let me know that you will selling these types of products in your store, I will no longer shop at your facility and I will encourage everyone I know to do the same and write you letters requesting the same things I have here.  Please do your part by simply stocking products that are earth-friendly.  I also hope you are doing your part by recycling too.

Thanks for your interest in the environment.  I know you will do the right thing to care for our planet.

Sincerely,
Micki Josi
 

It's time for the next NYC School Recycling Action Committee meeting!

Who: Anyone interested in recycling in NYC K-12 schools.

What: Networking, trouble-shooting recycling programs in our schools, creating curriculum and planning events leading up to and during Earth Week, and discussion on how to impact NYC school recycling systems. (If you're interested in facilitating a discussion on these topics or another topic, please let us know!)

Where: Prospect Park YMCA, 357 Ninth Street Brooklyn, NY (btwn 5th and 6th Ave.)

When: January 11th from 6 to 8 p.m. (We couldn't reserve it earlier. Don't fret, we'll have snacks! There are also lots of yummy restaurants and awesome bars around.)

Why: Most NYC K-12 schools are not recycling and there's A LOT we can do about it.  Plus, you can win cool door prizes!

How: Take the M, R to 9th St.-4th Ave. or the F to 7th.

RSVP to coquille@houshour.com or mathjosi@hotmail.com. We look forward to seeing you!

Check out Chris Jordan on Comedy Central and Pop!Casts! He photographs the scale of consumption patterns by photographing small quantities of things and then making digital composites that add up the smaller photographs into actual quantities of the things we consume. Pop!Casts video on Chris Jordan's Running the Numbers project. 

Hi All,

Here are the minutes as promised. I didn't hear back from anyone about changes, so please let me know if you want me to make any, and I will edit this post. You can also make comments, or begin a discussion in the forums section.

NYC School Recycling Action Committee
December 7, 2007 Meeting Notes

People introduced themselves (these are summaries of people who were present at the start of the meeting):

I'm working on trying to plan a math project related to garbage and recycling. I'd love to do something with plastic bags. Any ideas? Here are two amazing videos I'd like to incorporate into my lessons:

Our Our Synthetic Sea is about 10 minutes.

The Story of Stuff is getting a lot of attention. Here's a teaser, but you can watch the whole thing at The Story of Stuff.

I'd love to hear your ideas for the project and lessons..... in fact, I've written my lesson plans and so if you want to take a look email me at mathjosi@yahoo.com

 Coquille and I are planning to attend....

NYCORE OPEN MEETING DEC. 14TH 5-7

Are you an educator-activist? Interested in plugging into NYCoRE but not
sure how?

Join NYCoRE for our next Open Meeting

Get updates, give feedback, and learn how to get involved with working
groups that are organizing around anti-testing, anti-military recruitment
and LGBTQ issues
Learn about and help out with other upcoming NYCoRE events
Connect with fellow educators and allies interested in the social justice
movement
Speak out and have your voice heard
Friday - December 14th
5:00 - 7:00 pm
NYU 239 Greene St btwn W4th and Washington Pl.
Cochran room. 2nd floor
(Bring photo ID)

*Please RSVP: info@nycore. org*

Anyone want to have a workshop on NYC school recycling or environmental education at the  conference?

Please remind teachers that DSNY-BWPRR is happy to work with their
school's custodian and administration to help set up their school
recycling programs. They can get free decals, signs, and educational
materials including K-5 curriculum kits, coloring & comic books for elementary grades, videos & DVDs; and info to take home, such as bookmarks & recycling checklist refrigerator magnets. Download or order free materials online at www.nyc.gov/ nycwasteless/ goldenapple

Also the NYC Compost Project, funded by BWPRR, operating at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden,
is delighted to visit schools or host field trips to teach students
about decomposition, composting, and vermicomposting (with worms). Get
all the dirt at www.nyccompost. org.  

Schools can win enormous cash prizes (from $1,500 up to $6,000) through
DSNY's Golden Apple Awards for their school recycling, waste
prevention, or beautification initiatives that meet Dept of Education
Standards; and the Golden Shovel Award for Brooklyn Borough Master
School Composter. www.nyc.gov/ nycwasteless/ goldenapple

I am reposting this blog entry, so it's the first one on the list since our meeting is coming up.  If you can, please email me at mathjosi@yahoo.com to let me know if you plan to attend, so we can give the cafe a heads up on the number of people we plan on having at the meeting.  Look forward to meeting you!! 

We will have our next committee meeting on:

Friday, December 7th at 5pm
Red Horse Cafe
12th Street and 6th Avenue in Park Slope

Agenda:

1. Introductions & Interests
2. Recycling in Your School: How to we start and run an awesome recycling program!
3. Educating Tomorrow: The blog/website in order to stay connected and
how we can pool ideas on environmental education in our schools.
4. Pushing for change: Who should we contact politically to move for
real change in the system? Bill DeBasio, Public Advocate, should we
contact a lawyer?
5. Media: Creating a media kit and getting the word out now
6. Planning Ahead: What we're going to work on and setting next meeting date

We decided to use the Red Horse Cafe, they have a really nice square
couch area, but we can't reserve it, so Coquille and I will try to get
there early to HOG the couch area...anyone else who could get there
early to help us with the HOGGING is welcome, but we will try to start
on-time with introductions. Hope to see you there.

Micki Josi
mathjosi@yahoo.com
NYC School Recycling Action Committee
My blog: http://www.educatingtomorrow.org/node/224

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens
can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead

New Perspectives Theatre Company has a new play this year, The Adventures of Rubbish in the Hood, for grades pre-K-6. It transports the legend of Robin Hood to New York
City. Unlike the original Hood, who took from the rich and gave to
the poor, their Robert Hood takes from everyone—he’s a garbage
man! Yet this sanitation engineer gets fed up with trash and discovers the importance of reducing litter and increasing recycling and sets about saving his Brooklyn 'hood. The audience joins the
cast for some fun and games teaching valuable lesson about community service, citizenship and protecting our environment.

For more information, contact New Perspectives at 212-630-9945 or contact@newperspectivestheatre.org.

So this event took place at Solar One on Tuesday
December 4, 2007, 7pm ... but the woman from the New York City Department of Sanitation, Samatha Macbride, sent me the list of resources on the web that she gave out at the meeting, so I will post them below.  Check out Solar One's <http://www.solar1. org>
E. 23rd and the East River, lecture series called The Green Renter for other upcoming events of interest.

WOW... this is so UNBELIEVABLE and synchronistic... this is everything my old school experienced and more... Anyway know how to get ahold of Amy Eddings??

Check out the radio story (it will take only 5 minutes or less of your time and it's so worth it!!)
http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/89638

Micki Josi
NYC School Recycling Action Committee
My blog: http://www.educatingtomorrow.org/node/224

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

We will have our next committee meeting on:

Friday, December 7th at 5pm
Red Horse Cafe
12th Street and 6th Avenue in Park Slope

Agenda:

1. Introductions & Interests
2. Recycling in Your School: How to we start and run an awesome recycling program!
3. Educating Tomorrow: The blog/website in order to stay connected and how we can pool ideas on environmental education in our schools.
4. Pushing for change: Who should we contact politically to move for real change in the system? Bill DeBasio, Public Advocate, should we contact a lawyer?
5. Media: Creating a media kit and getting the word out now
6. Planning Ahead: What we're going to work on and setting next meeting date

We decided to use the Red Horse Cafe, they have a really nice square couch area, but we can't reserve it, so Coquille and I will try to get there early to HOG the couch area...anyone else who could get there early to help us with the HOGGING is welcome, but we will try to start on-time with introductions. Hope to see you there.

Micki Josi
mathjosi@yahoo.com
NYC School Recycling Action Committee
My blog: http://www.educatingtomorrow.org/node/224

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

Currently at my school we are working on a unit to teach students about garbage and recycling. Here are few of my brainstorm ideas on how we might go about it... I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback:
I have a few ideas for math lessons.

1. I'm sure we can do a lot with the Gone Tomorrow video with statistics: (I'll have to watch the video a 3rd time to make sure I got these right)
a. Only 5% of all plastic is recycled
b. Plastic is produced at 7 times the rate that it is recycled
c. Corporation produce 70 times the amount of waste as individuals
We could follow this grim video up with a few light hearted videos: Simpsons: Trash of the Titans and The Lorax. I have the Lorax and would be happy to buy Gone Tomorrow (I sent you the link before for the video on-line) and Simpson Season 9 DVDs.

2. Recyclables Mobile
Students should do a recycles scavenger hunt in order to solve and display visually their answer to:
1. How many cups are in one gallon? or How many ounces are in one gallon? They could collect 1 gallon, connect that to 4 containers that are size one quart, on each quart hang two pint size objects, on each pint two cups size objects. They could collect these items form their recycling at home and start to display them. We could simultaneously be teaching kids about recycling at home and give them decals etc to set up their own home recycling system. This might inspire students to want to create a school recycling program... we can talk more about this.

3. Calculate waste

I sent the following letter to the mayor on the city's website. The response below the letter was from Mary Most from NYC Dept. of Sanitation's Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse & Recycling. You should contact her if you are interested in starting a school recycling program. She can provide you with information and some supplies, including decals, poster, curriculum, videos, and more. She is also the person you will work with on your Golden Apple Awards entry if you start a program. She recommends that instead of writing to the Mayor, since she will in term receive the letter and have to respond to it, that we send all letters to Chancellor Klein, since the problem is within the DOE and he's responsible for enforcing his own regulations with regard to recycling (check out Coquille's blog for a copy on the Chancellor's regulations on recycling in the DOE).

-----------------------------My Letter to the Mayor-----------------------------

As a New York City teacher fellow who started and ran a recycling program in a Bedford-Styvesant middle school for two years. I face the issues discussed by the recent Post article: “IL'LITTER'ATE SCHOOLS FLUNK THEIR RECYCLING” on a daily basis.
I have a few questions for you:
1. Why doesn’t the city promote recycling?
2. Is the city’s garbage situation at a crisis level yet? When will it be?
3. How much garbage does the city generate?
4. Where does all of our the garbage go?
5. How much of this waste is reusable and/or recyclable?
6. What will happen if we keep throwing all of these recyclable items away?
7. Can the city or school generate some kind of income from recycling?
8. Is recycling cost effective?
9. When will we be so overwhelmed with garbage we won’t have anywhere else to put it? What will happen then?
10. Why don’t people realize that this is an inevitable crisis that must and can be averted through a wide-spread reduce, reuse, and recycling effort?

Who and what is the School Recycling Action Committee?

Coquille and I (Micki AKA mathjosi) are both crazy Oregon hippie chicks who came to NYC to find experience in the big city. Coming for a very green town of Eugene, Oregon, we were stunned and amazed by the amount of waste and lack of environmental awareness that we'd become accustomed to. Both NYC Teaching Fellows (me - teaching middle school math, she teaching bilingual elementary), we were horrified by the dismal sight of dirty old blue recycling bins in every classroom being used only for garbage, no thought or mention of recycling, littered cafeterias, hallways, and classrooms.... not to mention neighborhoods and students who found it common place to throw trash on the sidewalks, streets, on the floor, in the desks, and even out the window. We inspired each other to take on the volunteer role of recycling coordinator in addition to our demanding teacher duties in tough Brooklyn schools. I started and ran my program for two years in a shared building with two other schools, while she simultaneously did the same at her elementary school, which occupied her entire building. We shared ideas about how to work with our custodians, acquire the necessary bins, train our students with assemblies, held promotional contests, and contacted Sanitation constantly about the problems we were experiencing with their collection which is infrequent at best or sometimes doesn't happen for weeks on end while bags of recycables become litter all over the side walk and streets.

Finally we documented the whole process to present to New York City's Department of

Last night a few of us braved the cold, rain, noise and crowds to meet up at the Village Pour House for our School Recycling Action Committee Meeting.

We had a huge table in the back, but it was super noisy and almost impossible to hear people. Seven people were in attendance: Coquille, Chong, Dave, Micki, Sarah, John, and Marie. We tried our best to discuss the issues at our schools and the individual interests. Coquille shared NYC RRR curriculum kit from the Department of Sanitation (order one for yourself), her Golden Apple Award binder, and copies of the Post article and the NYC DOE regulations on recycling, which states that all schools are required by law to recycle and must set up a recycling program by assigning recycling coordinators at every level: All DOE offices and schools. We know these regulations are not be followed or enforced! You can see the copies at Educating Tomorrow look under groups and then NYC School Recycling blog. We we will be this Group to post ideas about actions we can all be taking in our schools and on our computers to push our schools and the HUGE DOE to do it's job and start recycling programs.

Chong shared his work with Soul Survivors Inc. on composting programs in the city and the possibility of working with schools to institute compost training and worm bins. He is also working on the creative end on comic strips and educational materials for kids on composting. Micki expressed her interest in working with him specifically on training kids at her school since she is starting a unit of study on waste, garbage and recycling. Compost would be an excellent addition to unit and could be a very cool way to learn math and science!

Here's another great article on NYC Recycling by City Limits.

http://www.citylimits.org/content/articles/viewarticle.cfm?article_id=3294

Do you often find yourself uttering this very question?

Well here's how I did it:

Step 1. Request necessary publications, decals, poster, videos, coloring books, magnets, etc from the NYC Department of Sanitation. http://www.nyc.gov/recycle

Step 2: Replace old dirty blue recycling bins that are coated with trash from their many years serving as garbage bins in teh school with real garbage bins and sparkling new blue recycling bins for paper only in every classroom. This cost $1,500 for a school with 4 floors and approximately 500 students grades 6 - 8. I wrote and we receive a grant from http://www.donorschoose.org. The grant also paid for large CLEAR (not blue) collection bags, a wheeled collection bin for each floor, bottle collection bins for the cafeterias and main office, and sanitary gloves for the kids to collect with.

A wonderful video of only 20 minutes... based on a book. Watch the video on-line.

http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/11/22/gone-tomorrow-the-hidden-life-of-garbage-video/

Does anyone know of any other movies or lessons for kids on the issue of garbage and recycling?

Here's an idea... what if everyone (parents, teacher, students, and the public at large) wrote their own passion letter to Chancellor Klein to persuade him to pay attention to recycling in schools and take action. Why not submit your 350 words or less letter to Klein now?

Here's the letter I wrote:

I am a math teacher in my 6th year working for the DOE in NYC. I became aware of the recycling problem when I saw old dirty recycling bins used as garbage cans throughout the building and every DOE school building I've been in since that first day. So frustrated and bothered by this situation, in 2004, I started a school-wide recycling program at my school, I.S. 33, with a grant for $1,500 from Donors Choose to buy new bins, and garbage bins for each classroom, bottle containers for cafeteria, main office, and teachers lounge, collection bags, gloves, and wheeled containers. I acquired training materials from the Sanitation Department and conducted assemblies to the student body. I recruited student volunteers to collect the recyclables. We experienced many problems including, custodians throwing away recyclables, cafeteria staff not recycling properly, and the Department of Sanitation not coming to pick up the curbside recycling for weeks on end.

Here is the letter I submitted to the NY Post after their article on recycling, or lack thereof, in NYC schools:

Thanks to the Post for your article on the lack of recycling in schools. As a teacher in the NYC DOE, I face this problem everyday. I started and ran a recycling program in Brooklyn for 2 years. It was no easy task.

The first issue is acquiring supplies: real garbage bins (not dirty recycling bins), and new and clean recycling bins, large clear bags, plastic gloves, and wheeled collection bin for each floor. We received a grant for $1,500 from Donors Choose for these. Decals, posters, curriculum, and videos came from the Department of Sanitation, who also awarded our program $1,500 for their Golden Apple Awards.

The next is collection. Students participate eagerly, but without a supportive infrastructure, the collection is either thrown out by custodians or not collected by Sanitation (we experienced both). Realistically, each school building needs a trained professional whose sole responsibility is to see that recycling codes are followed.

We are, after all, in the business of educating the future. We are mis-educating them, if the teaching of recycling isn’t on the bill. I want to rally support for a massive recycling initiative in this city. Please contact me by enlisting with Recycle THIS!.

Our first meeting to discuss School Recycling Action:

Friday, November 9 at 7pm
Village Pour House (East Village)
3rd Ave and 11th Street

We'd like to discuss:
1. Contacting the media. I sent the attached op-ed to the NY Post. I'd like to mass distribute it to the media and start a letter writing campaign about this issue.

2. How to start a school recycling program and the issues surrounding it.

3. Vision of school recycling. How should it ideally run. Maybe a non-profit group will need to be formed in order to educate students and staff and set up a system in each school.

4. Any other ideas? What other actions should we take to raise awareness and solve this tremendous problem.

Hope you can make it... please write to me to let me know if we should expect you at the meeting and any questions or concerns you have and like to talk about at the meeting at mathjosi@yahoo.com. Also please forward this message to anyone you think might be interested.

Thanks,
Micki Josi

PS. Read the NY Post's article on the NYC school recycling problem.

According to the Chancellor's regulations, the Department of Education should not only be recycling a significant amount of their waste, but will be fined if it doesn't. If you're in the DOE or Sanitation, you know that's not happening.