Harpswell Information

Table of Contents
for this Page

• General

• Local

• State

• Towns

• Cities

• National

• International

• Experimental

• Occupations

• Organizations Practicing Sustainability

• Organizations Promoting Sustainability

• Sprawl

• Viewpoints

• Videos

Table of Contents
for Sustainability Section

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Event Calendar-archives
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News
Products
What you can do

General

• Sustainability - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability
  Definition of sustainability from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

• PlayGreen – The green book that anyone can edit
  Playgreen, a wiki written by eco-conscious citizens and a panel of experts.

• Consumed: Is consumerism sustainable? We are what we buy — a glib adage to be sure, but it prompts an interesting question: Is our consumer society sustainable? Marketplace and American Public Media take on that question in this special series. We follow consumerism from its origins to its dominance in the world's economy and, arguably, its culture. And we examine how, and if, it might be adapted to reduce its destructive consequences while keeping store shelves stocked.

   

Local Mid Coast Maine

• Friends of Merrymeeting Bay, Protecting, preserving and improving the unique eco
  http://www.friendsofmerrymeetingbay.org/

• Friends of Casco Bay
  http://www.cascobay.org
  For seventeen years, Friends of Casco Bay has been the leading environmental organization working to improve and protect the environmental health of Casco Bay through advocacy, education, collaborative partnerships, and water quality monitoring. FOCB is the headquarters of the Casco BAYKEEPER®, Joe Payne who uses a “work with” approach to resolve pollution issues that threaten the Bay. His balanced advocacy helps people understand that the region’s economic health is dependent upon the Bay’s environmental health. Friends of Casco Bay addresses threats to the water quality of the Bay from oil spills, sewage discharges, toxic sediments, stormwater pollutants, vessel discharges, dredging spoils, and pesticides and fertilizers.

• BNAS

  • Brunswick Local Redevelopment Authority
    Welcome to the The Brunswick Local Redevelopment Authority (BLRA) web site - your source for the information you need to stay informed about the Brunswick Naval Air Station reuse planning process.

    The BLRA is responsible for developing a reuse plan for the base. Our task is to work with the public, the Navy, government officials and other interested parties to:
    -Develop a new vision for this valuable property
    -Develop a specific plan of action to achieve this vision

State

• 07-4-2: Hydrogen Energy Center Portland
  The Hydrogen Energy Center's role is to facilitate the adoption of hydrogen energy technologies and enhance the relationship between hydrogen and renewable energy sources. We do this by designing and installing hydrogen energy systems; educating others about hydrogen and its energy uses; assisting and encouraging individuals, start-up companies and existing businesses who participate in the renewable hydrogen economy; and connecting businesses and individuals to others who share this vision of hydrogen's role.
  HEC subscribes to the adage "Think Globally, Act Locally" and performs the majority of its activities within Northern New England.

• Green Campus Consortium of Maine
  To develop an effective, Maine-wide network of colleges, universities and partners that will stimulate the continual improvement of environmental sustainability in our campus-based institutions through communication and education.
  To accomplish this mission, the organization maintains a member list serve and conducts workshops, conferences and focused meetings where members can share their knowledge and experience and where they can benefit together from outside experts.

• Maine Development Foundation
  http://www.mdf.org/
  The Maine Development Foundation drives sustainable, long-term economic growth for Maine by stimulating new ideas, developing leaders, and providing a common ground for solving problems and advancing issues. Part of IISD below)

• 07-3-3: MaineEnergyInfo.com
  The Energy Resources Council welcomes you to MaineEnergyInfo.com – a cooperative project of 9 State agencies to provide easy access to Maine energy information.
  This site provides links to Maine energy information located on dozens of State, federal, and industry websites. We hope there is something for everyone – homeowners and businesses looking for energy conservation tips, children and teachers looking for educational materials, and policymakers and stakeholders looking for industry data and trends.
  Frequently requested energy information is featured below for your convenience. You may also browse our energy information index for a wider selection of energy information resources.

Towns

Cities

• Involvement
  http://www.sustainabledallas.org/
  Sustainable Dallas’ mission is to create sustainability through education and collaboration. The organization does so through partnerships with tax-supported entities, businesses, educational institutions, and other non-profits and individuals, interested in creating a sustainable planet for future generations.

• Sustainable Pittsburgh
  http://www.sustainablepittsburgh.org/
  The mission of Sustainable Pittsburgh is to affect decision-making in the Pittsburgh region so that it integrates economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental quality. We do so by building diverse coalitions, developing measurable new indicators as a compass, and undertaking key initiatives. In all of our work we emphasize long term and sustained quality of life for all citizens.

• icsc.ca - Home
  http://www.icsc.ca/
  The International Centre for Sustainable Cities (ICSC) is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Its mission is to catalyze action on urban sustainability in cities around the world through practical demonstration projects, peer learning networks and high profile events.

• Welcome to Sustainable Cities Research Institute
  http://www.sustainable-cities.org.uk/home.html
  The Sustainable Cities Research Institute at Northumbria University aims to develop and promote sustainable approaches to urban living. It is an applied research and consultancy organization.

• Sustainable City
  http://www.sustainable-city.org/
  Sustainable City is dedicated to achieving a sustainable future for San Francisco.

National

• 07-3-27: American RadioWorks - Reports from a Warming Planet
  The early signs of climate change are showing up across vastly differing landscapes: from melting outposts near the Arctic Circle to disappearing glaciers high in the Andes; from the rising water in the deltas of Bangladesh to the "sinking" atolls of the Pacific. Reports from a Warming Planet takes you to parts of the planet where global warming is already making changes to life and landscape, and demonstrates how climate change is no longer restricted to scientific modeling about the future. It's happening now.

• 07-3-27: NOAA Arctic Theme Page: a comprehensive Arctic resource
  The Arctic is a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by tree-less, frozen ground, that teems with life, including organisms living in the ice, fish and marine mammals, birds, land animals and human societies.
  NOAA provides Arctic infomation and a set of reputable indicators that describe the present state of the Arctic ecosystem and climate. Visit the Arctic Change Indicators website.

• 07-3-27: NCAR, UCAR, UOP Home Page
  NCAR, UCAR and UOP are together dedicated to:
  Understanding our changing Earth system
  Educating about the atmosphere & related sciences
  Supporting a global community of researchers
  Benefiting society through science and technology

• 07-3-6: StopGlobalWarming.org
  There is no more important cause than the call to action to save our planet. This is a movement about change, as individuals, as a country, and as a global community. We are all contributors to global warming and we all need to be part of the solution. Join the 652,657 supporters of the Stop Global Warming Virtual March, and become part of the movement to demand solutions to global warming now.

• 07-3-6: New England Climate Coalition
  In 2001 the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) produced an historic Climate Change Action Plan, calling for reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. The Governors of every state in New England agreed to develop a plan with specific policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  In 2005, seven northeast governors agreed to a landmark program capping power plant global warming pollution in the region—the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI.

• New Rules Project - Designing Rules As If Community Matters
  http://www.newrules.org/
  The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) proposes a set of new rules that builds community by supporting humanly scaled politics and economics. The rules call for: * Decisions made by those who will feel the impact of those decisions. * Communities accepting responsibility for the welfare of their members and for the next generation. * Households and communities possessing or owning sufficient productive capacity to generate real wealth.

International

• International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
  IISD champions sustainable development around the world through innovation, partnerships, research and communications.

• Alliance for Global Sustainability
  Created in 1997, the AGS today brings together hundreds of university scientists, engineers, and social scientists to address the complex issues that lie at the intersection of environmental, economic, and social goals.

Experimental

• Arcosanti : Home
  http://www.arcosanti.org/
  Arcosanti is an experimental town in the high desert of Arizona, 70 miles north of metropolitan Phoenix. Arcosanti is designed according to the concept of arcology (architecture + ecology), developed by Italian architect Paolo Soleri.

Occupations and Education for Occupations

• Center for Research on Sustainable Forests - Home Page
  The Center for Research on Sustainable Forests (CRSF) is a new research center located on the University of Maine campus in Orono, Maine. The Center brings together all University of Maine researchers working in the interdisiplinary areas of forest resources. The Center also aims to be a resource for the public regarding Maine forest research and the sustainability of our state’s forests. (Under Construction 1/07)

• Maine Lobster and Sustainability
     Almost from the start, Maine’s lobster harvesters knew that unregulated fishing would destroy their livelihood. So instead of fighting amongst themselves, the harvesters became deeply aware of why self-governance and cooperation were vital components to their longevity. And today, ours is a prime example of self-regulation. Although the overall catch isn’t limited and the season runs year-round, many rules keep the harvest sustainable. Here are a few:

• Plant Ecology, Environmental Horticulture, Landscape Design .. UMaine Landscape Horticulture Program

• Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences
  University of Maine: Integrating science and management to understand and sustain agricultural, horticultural, forest, and wetland ecosystems.
  Welcome! Our department has as its mission the identification and application of ecological principles that contribute to the sustainable use of ecosystems in a rapidly changing global environment. Faculty expertise provides a framework for the study of interactions between biological, chemical and physical components of agricultural, horticultural, wetlands, forest, and watershed ecosystems.

• Sustainable Agriculture Program, University of Maine
  The first Sustainable Agriculture Undergraduate Program in the U.S.

• The University of Maine
  Ecology and Environmental Sciences

Organizations Practicing Sustainability

• Environmental Yellow Pages - Sustainability
  This page include many sustainability related organizations

• Green Campus Consortium of Maine
    To develop an effective, Maine-wide network of colleges, universities and partners that will stimulate the continual improvement of environmental sustainability in our campus-based institutions through communication and education
  To accomplish this mission, the organization maintains a member listserve and conducts workshops, conferences and focused meetings where members can share their knowledge and experience and where they can benefit together from outside experts.

• University of Maine Facilities Management: Sustainability
    Welcome to the University of Maine Sustainability Office.  Part of Facilities Management, the Sustainability Office’s primary function is managing recycling and waste management services for the majority of the campus community.

Organizations Promoting Sustainability

• 07-3-6: Climate Counts--Make Climate Change History
  Climate Counts is a non-profit campaign that engages consumers and the business community in a constructive effort to fight climate change. By scoring companies annually on the basis of their voluntary action to reverse climate change, Climate Counts helps people make critical distinctions between well-known brands that are leading and those not yet keeping pace. Climate Counts also aims to inspire companies to continually improve their performance – and their annual Climate Counts score. Climate Counts believes everyday consumers can be the most important activists in the fight against global warming.

• Center for Research on Sustainable Forests - Home Page
  The Center for Research on Sustainable Forests (CRSF) is a new research center located on the University of Maine campus in Orono, Maine. The Center brings together all University of Maine researchers working in the interdisciplinary areas of forest resources. The Center also aims to be a resource for the public regarding Maine forest research and the sustainability of our state’s forests.

• E2Tech
    The Environmental & Energy Technology Council is a catalyst for action. We believe that environmental and energy technology will drive economic growth and opportunity in Maine over the next 20 years. An association of private companies, government agencies, educational institutions and non-profit organizations, we are committed to advancing sustainable job growth, research and development and new product commercialization. E2Tech provides members with valuable networking and business development opportunities, information exchange through a monthly Forum lecture series on technology and business, and access to industry professionals and governmental and political leadership.

• Environmental Sustainability Project ((UM)
    Education for Sustainable Living, Environmental Respect, and Celebrating the Quality of Life.

• GreenBiz - Daily News and Resources on Green Business, Sustainable Practices, Environmental Innovation
   

• ClimateBiz - The Business Resource for Climate Management
  An easy-to-understand overview of the world of business and climate change, including how to get started -- and what to do after that. Whether you are a beginner or an industry leader, this is a good place to start.

• Healthy Schools Initiative - Our Mission to the Community
  Food for Maine's Future seeks to build a just, secure, and democratic food system which protects
  Maine farmers and the environment from corporate control. We empower farmers and local communities
  to define their local food systems, and promote sustainable local alternatives in schools and in the fields

• Peace Action Maine --
  The state’s largest peace organization has worked for over 20 years to promote peace through grassroots organizing, citizen education, and issue advocacy.

• 07-3-3: Food For Maine's Future
  Food for Maine's Future seeks to build a just, secure, and democratic food system which protects
  Maine farmers and the environment from corporate control. We empower farmers and local communities to define their local food systems, and promote sustainable local alternatives in schools and in the fields

• Maine Association of Conservation Districts
    The Maine Association of Conservation Districts is the statewide voice of Maine’s 16 local conservation districts. By working with landowners, organizations and government, districts have helped to protect our soil, water, forestry, wildlife and other natural resources for over 60 years.

• Maine Green Independent Party Official Website
    The Maine Green Independent Party. Bringing the Ten Key Values of the Maine Greens into Maine's political arena.

• Natural Resources Council of Maine
    Maine's leading environmental advocacy organization.  The Natural Resources Council of Maine is working to protect Moosehead Lake and the North Woods from massive development, to clean up our rivers and lakes, to stop mercury pollution, and to clean up our air and stop global warming.
    The state’s largest peace organization has worked for over 20 years to promote peace through grassroots organizing, citizen education, and issue advocacy.

• SustainUS - The U.S. Youth Network for Sustainable Development
  SustainUS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of young people advancing sustainable development and youth empowerment in the United States. Through proactive education and advocacy at the policy-making and grassroots levels, we are building a future in which all people recognize the inherent equality and interdependence of social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Sprawl

• Sprawl Busters ~ International Clearinghouse for Anti-Sprawl Information
  http://www.sprawl-busters.com/
    An International Clearinghouse on Big Box Anti-Sprawl Information

Viewpoints

• 07-3-27: Global warming controversy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

• 07-3-27: Global warming - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

• 07-3-27: Scientists opposing the mainstream scientific assessment of global warming - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

• Too Much "Sustainability" Can Hurt the Environment | Gongol.com
  The "Sustainable Communities" Movement Wants to Limit the Environmental Impact of Human Activity
  The "Sustainable Communities" movement operates on a wide range of self-definitions, some of which incorporate different degrees of "social justice," "human dignities," and "collective decision-making," but their core unifying philosophy is one of causing a minimal impact on the natural environment.
  It's certainly a well-intentioned goal, hoping to preserve the natural environment both within and outside the community itself. Unfortunately, taken too far, "community sustainability" is bad for the environment.

Videos

• 07-07: Julia Butterfly Hill
  Big Picture TV › Video › A World of Solutions
  Campaigner and environmental activist Julia Butterfly Hill reflects on the concept of sustainability and what it will take to make it mainstream. She talks about the power of individual action and says that sharing solutions is a key driver in furthering the transition to a more sustainable world.

• 07-07: Hazel Henderson
  Big Picture TV › Video › The Age of Truth
  Big Picture TV › Video › A Design Revolution
  Hazel Henderson says that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a crude way of measuring a nation’s progress and believes that new indicators are needed. Equally misguided has been the misinterpretation of Darwin’s “survival of the fittest” as promoting unbridled competition. Darwin gave at least as much importance to co-operation and this, in Henderson’s view, is the way forward in an increasingly globalized world. There is now a new super-power emerging, which she calls global public opinion. A better informed public in pursuit of truth is a force for good – and one our politicians will have to respect.

• 07-07: Gil Friend
  Big Picture TV › Video › Sustainability – A Progress Report
  Gil Friend briefly assesses the environmental performance of government and private sectors around the globe. He sees Europe as a world leader in progressive policy implementation. He cites the example of the REACH initiative, an EU provision seeking to reduce harmful exposure to toxic chemicals. He says that Japan has shown innovative leadership in the corporate social responsibility reporting. Finally he examines the state of play in China, where he believes the game is either “won or lost.”
  Big Picture TV › Video › Sustainability: Key Drivers (Part Two)
  In this second part of this two part series, Friend looks at the market drivers affecting progressive change. He discusses the market implications of legislation such as the electronics take-back initiative in Europe, which requires manufacturers to recycle or safely dispense with used consumer goods. He talks about the rising popularity of America’s LEED rating system for green building. He also highlights the compelling growth in the lifestyles of health and sustainability (LOHAS) sector.

• 07-07: BirdSong
  Birdsong & Coffee: A Wake Up Call
  Coffee drinkers will be astonished to learn that they hold in their hands the fate of farm families, farming communities, and entire ecosystems in coffee-growing regions like Costa Rica. In this film we hear from experts and students, from coffee lovers and bird lovers, and-most importantly-from coffee farmers themselves. We learn how their lives and ours are inextricably linked, economically and environmentally.

• 07-07: The Global Banquet: The Politics of Food
  The Global Banquet exposes globalization’s profoundly damaging effect on our food system in terms that are understandable to the non-specialist. It debunks several underlying myths about global hunger:

  • That hunger results from scarcity;
  • That small countries don’t know how to feed themselves; and

  • That only market-driven, chemically-based, industrial agriculture can feed the world. 

  This film reveals how agribusiness squeezes out small farmers and how trade liberalization undercuts subsistence farming—in the U.S. as well as in the developing world. It demonstrates how food security is linked to social development and how women, in particular, are affected by that. And it links factory farming and the alteration and patenting of life forms to degradation of the natural environment.

• 07-07: Renewable Energy From the Deep Ocean

• 07-07: Troy NY Passive Solar Renewable Energy Home- 2nd Edition

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