US Chamber wants climate bill after all! Who's having the best hoax day ever?

Who doesn't love a good fake press conference?! Apparently the US Chamber of Commerce, especially when the joke is on them... Reading up on Grist this morning I found this hysterical post where a fake Yes Man (a NYC team of professional hoaxers) caused a stir and even managed to get a real PR guy from "The Real" Chamber pretty bent out of shape.



These guys agree with a lot of the folks that are jumping ship from the Chamber that has turned into one huge climate change denier network. It's okay though, it's mostly just small companies like PG&E, Exelon, and a tiny IT biz called Apple. The Chamber seems to think that cap and trade is bad business, but some folks seem to think that extinction and climate calamity is possibly worse for the bottom line.

All that being said - it sure is hysterical to see a group that can get under their corporate skins.

- Charles

Here's the link to the Grist article--->
http://www.grist.org/article/2009-10-19-chamber-plays-the-fool-in-yes-men-hoax/

Green Lightning?

Re-used ice? Not sure. Recycled pucks or FSC certified hockey sticks? Maybe not.

However, this Thursday is Go Green Night at the St. Pete Times Forum for our Tampa Bay Lightning. Here's what I like - ride your bike and get in free... Yep, that's right Alan Snel! Oil the chain and grab a helmet and lock! How's about a few thousand bikes around the old ice palace parking lot? Everybody is still pumped from the Bicycle Bash by the Bay so why not channel that energy? (Shameless plug courtesy of our guilt at not being able to make it to what looked like an awesome event).

This is part of Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful's recycling awareness and they will have volunteers helping people recycle at the game. Don't feel like biking after a long day at the office? Bring that ridiculous yellow book that got dropped off on your doorstep and get in for $5.

P.S. Does anybody even use the yellow pages anymore? C'mon, just google it and get on with it. You don't want to sit home and flip through to the pizza delivery page, dial em up on your rotary phone, and watch Seinfeld re-runs again do you? (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

-Charles

Going Green Expo Follow Up

Well I didn't get a photo with Ed, but I did see him. He's tall! He walked right by me as I was chatting with Jennifer from Why Not Boutique. She had scored an indoor spot which was nice considering how hot it was outside.

TSM was out in the heat, but under a tree which did a nice job of keeping us cool. We handed out lots of cards and got a lot of people to hear of our little shop that had never even heard of us (amazing right?!). We even made some sales and shared some knowledge with anyone who would listen. We like to go on and on about composting, furniture design, and recycled materials. We did meet some great folks like Keep Hillsborough Beautiful and I got an in depth tour of a plug in Mazda Protege. We also got to debut the Tweeprints that our new friend Thuy brought by the week prior. They are really cool and clean designs with the bonus that they are printed on recycled paper with soy inks from a local designer. We even sold a few sets of the limited edition versions that feature local and international artists, yeah! Proceeds from those go to Habitat for Humanity and they are very unique Thank You cards.

Thanks to all the folks that came out! We're looking forward to our next day out which just might be the WMNF Holiday Bazaar. Come on by this weekend to see the new and cool furniture pieces we completed this week and to cash in that discount from the show.
-Charles

Going Green Expo Workshops Fri-Sat Oct.9-10

Should you recycle pizza boxes (cheesy?) or how does micro-irrigation work (extremely tiny tomatoes?) At the USF Going Green Expo Friday and Saturday you can find the answers to these questions and more. Other interesting-sounding talks include a power saving device demo from Virginia Grabowski at Green Earth Group and a presentation from the City of Tampa where we might finally find out what the heck they think a "green" business is in their new designation.

These talks are part of the Expo and are on top of the already exhaustive list of talks and presenters attached to the Sustainability Conference that is running concurrently with the show. If that's not enough to get you to head up and eat lunch at Mel's Hot Dogs (a Tampa institution and absolute must for trips to the USF area) then you can also catch a free shuttle from the Expo to the USF Plant Sale at their Botanical Gardens. Okay!?! Try fitting all this in one day and now you'll see why this baby is a two day affair...

Head out to see these and more.

-Charles

The complete list of presentations is below the fold...

FRIDAY

1:00-2:00 Composting with The Earth Machine!

Learn how to compost using The Earth Machine http://www.earthmachine.com/

Presenter: Adam Schlacter, The Earth Machine

Location: Topiari Bull/Crescent Hill Area (Outdoor)

2:00-2:30 Green Switch Come see a demonstration of the Green Switch, http://Florida.GreenSwitch.tv/,The product is an idle current and power saving device. The presentation will feature a “mini” home to show how all the power draining components and thermostats can be switched to save energy and money.

Presenter: Virginia Grabowski, Green Earth Group

Location: The Plaza Room (#2708)

2:30-3:30 Organic Certification: The Current Regulatory Environment

What businesses need to know if they are considering the organic marketplace!

Presenter: Rick Martinez, Founder and Executive Director, Sweetwater Organic Community Farm

Location: The Hillsborough Room (#2709)

SATURDAY

11:00-11:30 Green with Envy

Learn how to “Green” Your Business

Presenters: Thomas Snelling and Jack Bevilacqua, City of Tampa, Growth Management and Development Services

Location: The Plaza Room (#2708)

11:30-12:00 Residential Recycling in Hillsborough County

This workshop will provide information regarding Hillsborough County’s curbside and drop-off recycling programs including how to get started recycling at home and answers to many frequently asked questions.

Presenter: Katie Brown, Waste Reduction Specialist, Hillsborough County Solid Waste Department

Location: The Hillsborough Room (#2709)

12:00-12:30 Green Switch

Come see a demonstration of the Green Switch, http://Florida.GreenSwitch.tv/,The product is an idle current and power saving device. The presentation will feature a “mini” home to show how all the power draining components and thermostats can be switched to save energy and money.

Presenter: Virginia Grabowski, Green Earth Group

Location: The Plaza Room (#2708)

12:30-1:00 Chipotle Guacamole Cooking Demonstration Location: Chipotle Booth (see Exhibition Map for specific location)

1:00-2:00 Waterwise

Learn Florida-friendly landscaping principles, water conservation tips, and micro/drip-irrigation. Hillsborough County households will receive a coupon for one free micro-irrigation starter kit (limit one per household and only those that have NOT previously attended a Water-Wise workshop). Coupons can be redeemed for the kit at the Extension office in Seffner, FL.

Presenter: Maria Carver, Water-Wise Program Coordinator, Hillsborough County Extension

Location: The Plaza Room (#2708)

2:00-3:00 Rain Barrels

Learn how Rain Barrels can reduce stormwater runoff and decrease the use of potable water for your landscape! Hillsborough County households attending this workshop will receive a coupon for one free rain barrel (limit one per household and only for those households that have NOT previously attended a Rain Barrel workshop.) Coupons can be redeemed for the rain barrel at the Extension office in Seffner, FL. The 55-gallon barrel includes an installed spigot.

Presenter: Lynn Barber, IFAS, Hillsborough County Extension

Location: The Hillsborough Room (#2709)

3:00-3:30 Green with Envy

Learn how to “Green” Your Business

Presenters: Thomas Snelling and Jack Bevilacqua, City of Tampa, Growth Management and Development ServicesLocation: The Plaza Room (#2708)

Ed Begley to visit Tampa (Street Market?) this week

Photo from edbegley.com





If I can get a photo of Ed Begley sitting on the TSM bench we just finished for the shop, I think we might finally crack open that aging bottle of champagne in my fridge door. Here's hoping he gets to see some of what makes Tampa so great while he's spreading the "Green News" at this week's Sustainability Conference at USF.

Also speaking is Bruce Faulmann of Florida Trend and a whole host of professors and experts on eco issues and sustainability. There will be workshops and presentations starting Thursday on Green Building, Legal Issues, Agriculture, and Transportation. Interested in high speed rail? Thinking about water issues in this drought?

Get to http://www.sustainablefloridaconference.org/ and sign up.


Also there will be an Expo where Tampa Street Market will be displaying our recycled designs and sharing the eco-excitement on the grounds of the Marshall Center. (Let's hope for weather like last week!) The Expo runs Friday Oct. 9 from 1-5 pm and Saturday Oct. 10 from 9-4 pm.

The official info lifted From GoingGreenTampaBay.com :

The Going Green Tampa Bay EXPO 2009 is designed to focus on sustainability issues and opportunities that face the Tampa Bay area, showing the nation and the world that our region a viable place to grow a sustainable business or industry. The 2009 EXPO will showcase sustainable products and services as well as information about creating a more sustainable Tampa Bay area. The EXPO will also feature ways we all can do our part to live more sustainably and reduce our impact on our environment.


Formal exhibits and workshops will take place inside the Marshall Student Center (left) while a small business Marketplace along with solar exhibits and eco-vehicles can be found around the beautiful Marshall Student Center grounds. Fun for the young and young-at-heart as well as local restaurants will be part of the Expo.

The EXPO will:
Showcase goods, services, information and ideas about renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable design, resource efficient development and green building
Foster growth of local sustainable product lines and services
Stimulate community-wide interest in sustainability, and jump start actions to avert climate change
Highlight sustainability-related career opportunities
Provide family fun and interactive activities to explore
Provide food from local restaurants

This years EXPO is being held in conjunction with the 4th Annual Campus and Community Sustainability Conference. Working together, we are bringing the best and brightest in sustainability to Tampa for this Earth changing event.
Over 3,000 people visited the 2008 EXPO.
Don’t miss this one!