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A Meal for Many: New Vista High School and The Kitchen Restaurant Host Local Lunch 2011
New Vista High School's Earth Task Force (ETF, based in Boulder, CO USA), held a successful (and delicious!) second annual Local Lunch on May 6th, 2011. This special event, put on for New Vista's 300 students, had been planned for months and turned out to be great! ETF collaborated with the staff at The Kitchen Restaurant to create an all-local meal that raised awareness about the importance of eating local and supporting local farms and restaurants. ETF's intent was to educate their peers on food miles through a fun and approachable event, and nothing grabs people's attention like excellent food!
"This is a great way to create community through the sharing of food, to connect people with the food they eat and all the hands and hearts that helped create it, and a great opportunity for high school students to collaborate with local food producers and local chefs," said Paige Doughty, Earth Task Force Mentor.
In addition to having a locally-grown-and-made meal, students were asked to bring or rent re-usable plates and utensils to further the pro-environmentalism atmosphere of the event. This year's meal featured locally raised pork as a main course, beets and goat cheese, wheat-berry salad, and locally roasted and crafted chocolate... Yum! Everyone went back to class with full bellies and good spirits, wondering what next year's Local Lunch will be like.
A big thanks to all the producers, growers, and chefs who donated to make this event a success: The Kitchen Restaurant (we couldn't have done it without you!!!), Farmer John's Butte Mill Flour Company, Haystack Goat Farm, Cure Organic Farm, Whole Foods, and A Spice of Life.
The Earth Task Force (ETF) is a Cottonwood Institute-sponsored program at New Vista High School in Boulder, CO designed to give students an opportunity to take the lead to implement sustainability initiatives at their school. This article was written by Kelly Muller, edited by Lindsey Quakenbush and submitted by April Pishna.
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Mid-life crisis or life just beginning? The World Heritage Convention approaches 40
Some say life begins at 40. The World Heritage Convention is one year away from its big birthday, but its critics argue the time is ripe for it to retire. Have your say. Read the full article and post you comments >
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Grants & Contests
Save of Species Grants
Save Our Species (SOS) is a global initiative to support threatened species and their habitats and was founded by IUCN, together with The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the World Bank. SOS Strategic Directions for grants are based on the conservation status of species contained in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Save Our Species provides grants for conservation action on the ground, focusing on specific threatened species and their habitats. Learn more >
GYSD Regional Partner Grants
Youth Service America is accepting applications from organizations around the world to serve as Regional Partners for Global Youth Service Day (April 20-22, 2012). YSA will select and support 1-2 Regional Partners in each of the following regions with a $5,000 planning grant: Latin America and the Caribbean, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, North Africa and the Middle East, Asia and Southeast Asia.
Regional Partners can be regional offices of international organizations, regional organizations or networks, or national organizations that have partners in neighboring countries. The GYSD Regional Partner program is only open to organizations outside the United States.
Regional Partners will be responsible for promoting and coordinating GYSD in their region, mobilizing partner organizations and Country Partners in their region, working with media and government officials, tracking projects, and assisting with grant reviews and translations. Access the application here (due by 30 July 2011) >
Foundation for Sustainable Development Photography Contest
Founded in 1995, Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) works to enhance the capacity of small non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world to address local health, social, environmental, and economic issues. Submit a photo along these lines to the FSD photo contest for a chance to win a $500 gift card from B&H online camera store.
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Elephant Research
Jordi van Oort in South Africa
For my Msc. Thesis, I will be going to South-Africa to study the positive effects of elephants on small ungulate browsers. For many years, scientists mostly perceived elephants as being very destructive (therefore having a negative impact on the savanna ecosystem). I think that this statement is rather one-sided as elephant also serve as facilitators for other species. The last few years, more and more articles are being published about the facilitative effects of elephants. However, the effect of elephants on small ungulate browsers (Greater Kudu and smaller) remains largely unknown. I'll do my very best to solve this small part of the puzzle!
The actual study will mostly involve data analyses within the office of the Agricultural Research Council in Nelspruit, but I will obviously also go to the field to observe Africa's wildlife. Those of you that are interested in my whereabouts and my activities can find my blog at jordivanoort.waarbenjij.nu.
It will be both in Dutch and in English so you have to scroll down for the English part. You can also subscribe yourself to the blog when interested or you can send me a mail (jordi.vanoort@wur.nl) and I will subscribe you. Thank you for your interest!
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Resources & Tools
Biodiversity A-Z
Ever feel confused by all of the technical terms for protected areas around the world? I sure have. Biodiversity A-Z is a new initiative to help solve that! The website provides an easy to use, encyclopedia-style catalog of areas of biodiversity importance, including World Heritage Sites, Ramsar sites, hotspots and more. Check it out>
Wild Life: A New Generation of Wild
Award winning photographer and author Ian Shive teams up leading young actors for a new kind of TV show that aims to bring the experience of travel, nature and great outdoors to you! Shive's interview on "The Digital Naturalist" talks about engaging young leaders in conservation and the big picture goals of the Wild Life project. Check out the premier, below...
Going Mobile: Nonprofit How-To Guide
With smart phones and tablet computers becoming the new normal methods of communicating and connecting, it's no surprise that knowing how to use these tools is an important part of any outreach campaign. Going mobile will increase your chances of reaching new supporters and engaging current ones. Are you on the bandwagon? If not, then
check out this great article by Sumac Research to help you get started>
Tweeting for an International Audience
Nonprofit Tech 2:0 just posted a great how-to guide for tweeting for an international audience.
Here are the highlights:
1. Learn your time zones.
2. Download Google Chrome for easy translation.
3. Schedule Tweets using HootSuite.
Read the full article for details >
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Upcoming Events
Webinar on Destination Stewardship
Destination Stewardship is a holistic, multi-stakeholder approach to tourism development that benefits local communities and the natural environment while enhancing economic viability. Sustainable Travel International has been working with destinations worldwide since 2002 to generate tangible results and effect systemic change through innovative sustainable policy and management frameworks. Learn more and register for this upcoming webinar resented by STI's President & CEO Brian T. Mullis >
Bioneers 2011
Registration is now open for Bioneers 2011, October 14-16 2011 in San Rafael, California. Since 1990, the Bioneers conference has acted as a fertile hub of leading social and scientific innovators with practical and visionary solutions for the world's most pressing environmental and social challenges. As a celebration of the genius of nature and human creativity, Bioneers connects people with solutions and each other. It's a dynamic knowledge platform and a uniquely holistic and diverse network of networks. Each month, Bioneers is giving away 2 free passes in the "Share Your Story" contest. Share your story of collaboration, connection and networking as a result of Bioneers to enter >
International Union for the Conservation of Nature, World Conservation Congress
Every four years, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature convenes the World Conservation Congress (WCC). The next WCC will be October 14-18 2012 in Jeju Korea. The theme "Nature +" will be prevalent throughout sessions, workshops and events. The call for contributions to the forum is now open. Read more >
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WILD9 Photo in Youth to Youth Conference Video
Can you spot the
WILD9 photo from Uxmal?
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