Three's a Party:
Synergy ~ Resiliency ~ Inspiration We've been in the midst of a great summer series of films, generously sponsored by Nutiva. The films shown on Saturdays at 4:30 at the Ojai Theatre, 145 E. Ojai Ave. have reflected the support that the Coalition offers on different issues: Dark Skies, Electric Vehicles and Proposition 37.  Saturday, September 15 the final film, Cultural Creatives 1.0: The (R)evolution, promises to give your brain something to wrap itself around and get your creative juices flowing. The filmmakers focus in on what they call an all-encompassing "creative cultural shift of over 200 million people across the globe." The storyline follows the societal changes they see in the making due to the economic ramifications of reaching peak oil production and its eventual depletion. This film is not a "downer" but an "upper," as it spotlights positive changes despite the challenges across the globe.
Plan to stay after for a discussion facilitated by psychotherapist Ruth Cooper. We'll learn more about the people Paul Ray identified as a new and growing social phenomenon in his book, The Cultural Creatives. We'll look at the common experience of aloneness that Cultural Creatives experience, and explore how we can reduce our own isolation and the isolation of others. Discover how you can add to the architecture of ideas, find inspiration, and make our community more resilient. Suggested donation for the film and program is $10 at the door. For more details visit www.ojaivalleygreencoalition.org or call (805) 669-8445. "Synergy is two or more things functioning together to produce a result not independently obtainable. The term synergy comes from the Greek word for 'working together'" - Wikipedia "Resilience is an individual's ability to generate biological, psychological and social factors to resist, adapt and strengthen itself, when faced with an environment of risk, generating individual, social and moral success." - Oscar Chapital C. |
It's Really
"Easy Being Green" The Coalition's annual Green Home and Building Tour happens this year on Saturday, October 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event will feature self-guided tours of four homes and one commercial site with clearly identified eco-friendly features. Tour participants, as well as the general public, can also peruse displays of sustainable-living merchandise and information at a 'green home show' being held at the MOB Shop. We began holding the Green Home Tours in 2008 as a way to inspire the public to embrace new green technology and home building practices. Tour highlights have run the gambit from simple and easy-to-install rain water harvesting designs for the landscape to high tech solar-based energy systems.  This year's tour focuses on the beauty of marrying form and function with clean, green sustainable building design. One home with the Ojai Meadows Preserve as a backyard will show the 'greening' of a home 'in progress.' Another property will spotlight a guest home complete with vineyard and fine wood detailing from its floors to hand-made ceiling beams.
If you are not able to contemplate spending the time or resources for hand craftsmanship then you can check out a new "net zero" modular home. All the latest energy efficiency technology is built right in. Then there's a home with artificial turf, high efficiency pool system and a focus on outdoor living. After doing most of the research and purchasing, this homeowner can't wait to share the many green features of her home. The tour will be rounded out with an Ojai business that is both green by design and green in the products and services it supplies. Tour tickets are $10 with the MOB Shop hosting our brochure and map Will Call location, along with the free and open to the public home show. To help staff the event, get more information, or to purchase tickets in advance go to www.ojaivalleygreentour.com. |
Preliminary heath studies have shown that genetically engineered foods can create new, unintended toxicants and allergens, and further health studies are difficult to conduct because genetically altered seeds are protected by patents. GE foods are also programmed to tolerate high levels of pesticides and herbicides, which adversely affect surrounding ecosystems. The public therefore has justifiable concerns about the safety of GE products and the attending use of chemicals.