Carfree Day Recap

Thanks to everyone who left their cars at home and participated in World Car-Free Day this past Wednesday.  Tufts is still in the running in MassRide's World Car Free Day Challenge to see which local company had the most pledges to go car-free; we will find out at the beginning of next week who the local winner is, so keep an eye out for the results in next week's newsletter.  If you participated, but did not log your trip online, it's still not too late!  You can register at http://cfd.commute.com/car_free_trips/new until the end of the week.  Be sure to send an e-mail to Emily.Parker@tufts.edu including your department on campus, so that your trip can be counted in Tufts' interdepartmental competition. 
 
We had a great turnout on Wednesday, with participants ranging from members of the Biology, Psychology, English, Child Development, and Education departments, to undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students.  We also had participants from the Dean's Office, ITS, University Advancement, the Center for Math and Science Teaching, Hillel, Department of Occupational Therapy, University Counsel, Office of Admissions, the Office of the Vice Provost, and the Tisch Library.  Stay tuned for news of the interdepartmental challenge winner, and thanks again to all who made Car-Free Day at Tufts a success!

October 10, 2010
Tufts University

Do you like the environment? Do you hate climate change? Do you want to do something about it?

Here's your chance!

On Sunday, October 10th, 2010, Tufts will celebrate practical actions to cut carbon - in conjunction with thousands of other events around the world - with a Global Work Party. Climate change can seem scary and overwhelming, but there are things we can do to combat it; 10/10/10 is a day to celebrate climate solutions!

For Tufts' Global Work Party we're partnering with HEET to weatherize ATO, the Swimming/Diving and Sailing "Coternity" on the Medford campus (map). Tufts student, staff, and faculty volunteers alongside members of the Medford and Somerville communities will be making ATO more energy efficient, cutting carbon, and reducing water use. The event will take place from 12:30 to 5:30pm on Sunday, October 10th.

There are lots of ways to get involved with Tufts' Global Work Party: we need volunteers, team leaders, and enthusiastic energy efficiency advocates; there are different levels of involvement too - from leading a barnraising team to just showing up and getting trained on the day of the project. If you have experience in construction or weatherization, great (be a team leader)! If not, you'll learn (come on 10/10/10 ready for action)! 

Here's what to expect as a volunteer:

1) You'll learn something! You'll get training and experience in weatherization techniques, many of which you can use in your own home.

2) You might get dirty! Weatherization work includes using things like caulk and spray foam, which stain clothing; it also includes changing light bulbs, which, at worst, might get you a bit dusty.

3) You'll get fed! Dinner will be provided after the weatherization is complete.

4) You'll be entertained! There will be a presentation during dinner on Green Energy sponsored by the Tufts Energy Forum.

5) You'll have a great time! Not only will you get to help make ATO more energy efficient, but you'll be cutting carbon with friends, fellow Jumbos, and Medford and Somerville neighbors.

With your help, 10/10/10 is going to be the biggest day of practical action to cut carbon that the world has ever seen! 

E-mail Get.to.work.Tufts@gmail.com for more information or sign up at http://www.350.org/barnraising-ato-tufts or go to our FB event page.

AND, there's an after-party at Johnny D's!

October 1, 2010
Marlborough, MA

Green Workforce Training and Associates are hosting the second Massachusetts Green Career Conference on Friday, October 1, 2010 in the Marlborough Holiday Inn conference center.  This exciting conference offers green career guidance and resources to ~400 green job seekers, career/workforce professionals, academic, business and government staff.  Everyone wanting to know about the greening economy and careers will find this conference timely, practical and valuable. Register for the event here.

October 2, 2010
Various Locations

The North East Sustainable Energy Association is hosting a series of open houses all across the state at sustainable building locations.  Visit http://www.nesea.org/greenbuildings/ to find out where the nearest even to you is.

October 2, 2010
Wharf on Fort Point Channel in Boston

This is a celebration of local food from the Boston-Massachusetts-New England area.  Festival-goers can engage with farmers, chefs and entrepreneurs, learn from workshops and demonstrations, and enjoy activities and local music. Boston Local Food Festival is an entertaining and fun way to increase the availability of healthy local food, encourage regional agriculture, which builds our local economy, and protect our environment by reducing transportation pollution. More information

October 3, 2010, 12:30pm
Lechmere Canal Park, Cambridge

Cambridge, when looking at it from above, looks sort of like an askew bow tie.  To celebrate this fact, the people of Cambridge have been going out every year and biking around it, traveling around the border of the city and crossing their path where the "knot" of the city is.  The bike ride is an easy-paced scenic 14.5 miles and is fun for all ages and abilities. 
If you don't have a bike, Urban AdvenTours is offering free bike rentals to the first 10 people to call and request, so don't delay!  You must contact Urban AdvenTours directly no later than Wednesday September 29 at
(617) 670-0637

The CambridgeSide Galleria Mall is offering free parking for
people bringing their bikes by car. Vouchers will be issued
at the start of the ride.

Free Organic & Bio-Dynamic Wine Tasting

Friends of Metrofuture: Shared Streets with Ben Hamilton-Baillie

Green Building and Design Courses at UMass Amherst

September 29-Oct 2, 2010
Harvard Square; Cambridge, MA

A 3 ½ -day national training session to increase planner and citizen leadership capacity in communities and their local governments to initiate and lead a change process to become a sustainable community. The objective of the training is to prepare planners and potential local leaders to lead a planning process that involves community sustainability education, bottom-up participatory planning, a comprehensive and systematic approach, and a strategic implementation process to transition to becoming a sustainable community.  [20 AICP CM credits will be available].  More info

Oct 21 and 28, 2010 1:30 pm 
Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA

January 4-13, 2011

The National Wildlife Federation's Campus Ecology program is hosting a ten day expedition to Costa Rica this January.  There on the program, students will learn about global warming, sustainable travel and leadership.  They will search for all kinds of wildlife and learn about the successful sustainable development strategies that have made Costa Rica famous for conservation and ecotourism.  Also, students will interact with rural community members and give back through service projects. Traveling by foot, boat, canopy walkway and zip-line, they truly experience this wonderful country up close and personal. Along the way, students will engage in discussions about carbon footprints, eco-friendly tourism and Costa Rica's Certification for Sustainable Tourism program.

Follow this link to the Campus Ecology website for more information regarding the program, as well as application information.