The 4th Annual Green Gardens Tour, highlighting home gardens that demonstrate sustainable designs, practices, and technologies, has been set for Saturday, April 26, 2008, from 10am to 4pm.

This year's theme, Gardening With Intent: Water Management, dramatically emphasizes the tour's motto, "Sustainable is Attainable!"

The tour benefits The Virginia Avenue Project, a free after-school program using the arts to help children realize their potential. All attendees at the tour will receive the Green Sourcebook, a free compendium of garden information, ideas and suggestions that will become the interested gardener's "green" companion.

Call 310-264-4224 or visit the website for all ticket prices, discounts and information.

President Bill Clinton Awarded Senator Gaylord Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom on September 29th, 1995. Why did Nelson deserve the highest honor given to civilians in the United States? Because he is the father of Earth Day. As President Clinton said, "he inspired us to remember that the stewardship of our natural resources is the stewardship of the American Dream."

Here is how Sen. Nelson remembers the birth of Earth Day:

". . . The idea that became Earth Day occurred to me while on a conservation speaking tour out west in the summer of 1969. At the time, anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, called "teach-ins," had spread to college campuses all across the nation. Suddenly, the idea occurred to me - why not organize a huge grassroots protest over what was happening to our environment?

I was satisfied that if we could tap into the environmental concerns of the general public and infuse the student anti-war energy into the environmental cause, we could generate a demonstration that would force this issue onto the political agenda. It was a big gamble, but worth a try.

At a conference in Seattle in September 1969 I announced that in the Spring of 1970 there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment and invited everyone to participate. The wire services carried the story from coast to coast. The response was electric. It took off like gangbusters. Telegrams, letters, and telephone inquiries poured in from all across the country. The American people finally had a forum to express its concern about what was happening to the land, rivers, lakes and air - and they did so with spectacular exuberance. . .

Earth Day worked because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. We had neither the time nor resources to organize 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated. That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself."

Come enjoy a weekend of music and environmental awareness culminating on Sunday, April 20th with festivals at 8 landmark parks across the nation. Representing Los Angeles is the Santa Monica Pier. Approximately 500,000 people are expected to attend the all inclusive, interactive and free public events.

2008 Green Apple Festival
April 18-20

Santa Monica Pier,
April 20th, starting at 12 noon

The Green Building Resource Center is all about AltBuild in April. Two days of exhibits, speakers, and more!

The GBRC and the City would like to highlight the 2008 Santa Monica Green Home Tours, Sunday April 27.

The City of Santa Monica is hosting the 2008 Green Building tour in conjunction with the AltBuild Expo. The tours are free and open to the public. The tours will be open from 10:30 AM to 3 PM on Sunday, April 27 and do not operate on a specific schedule -- closer to the date of the tour, a map will be posted showing the tour locations corresponding to the building summaries you see below. At each tour location, docents will be available to guide you through the green aspects of each building. You may visit the tour sites at your own leisure between 10:30 AM and 3 PM on Sunday.

To assist us in planning for the tours, please RSVP to brenden.mceneaney@smgov.net, with the number attending and which tours you would like to attend.


Also at AltBuild, Global Green's "Blueprint for Greening Affordable Housing" book signing with Matt Petersen, President and CEO, and Walker Wells, Director of Green Building Programs.
Friday April 25, 3:30pm.

Books available for purchase through Global Green http://www.globalgreen.org/events/affordable_blueprin t.html

Forget New Years. Earth Day is the perfect occasion for resolutions! Will you use only reusable shopping bags, start buying your produce at the Farmers Markets, switch to eco friendly cleaning supplies...? There are just so many options.

Visit our online community to share your resolution, see others, and receive any advise or support you may need to reach your goals.

Join us today!

Celebrate the Earth with Live Music and educational booths at the 6th Annual "Earth Day on the Promenade" and "Wilshire Center Earth Day/Car Free Day"

Earth Day on the Promenade
Saturday, April 12, 10am-7pm

Wilshire Center Earth Day/Car Free Day
Tuesday, April 22nd, 10am-5pm

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is credited with leading the fight to protect New York City's water supply, but his reputation as a resolute defender of the environment stems from a litany of successful legal actions. The list includes winning numerous settlements for Riverkeeper, prosecuting governments and companies for polluting the Hudson River and Long Island Sound, arguing cases to expand citizen access to the shoreline, and suing treatment plants to force compliance with the Clean Water Act.

Mr. Kennedy has worked on environmental issues across the Americas. He has assisted several indigenous tribes in Latin America and Canada in successfully negotiating treaties protecting traditional homelands. Mr. Kennedy has published several books, including The Riverkeepers (1997) with John Cronin. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, Atlantic Monthly, The Wall Street Journal, Esquire, The Village Voice, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, Pace Environmental Law Review, and other publications.

April 23, 2008
7:00pm
Alfred Newman Recital Hall

Admission:
General Public $30
USC Faculty/Staff $20
USC Student with valid ID $10

Would you like to find out how the Exposition Light Rail project is progressing?

The Exposition Corridor Transit Project Phase 2 proposes to extend transit from the planned terminus of the Exposition Light Rail Transit Project Phase 1 at the Venice/Robertson Station in the City of Culver City to an end-of-the line station near 5th Street/Colorado Boulevard in the City of Santa Monica over a distance of between 6.9-7.8 miles.

There are two primary right-of-way alignments being considered.

The Exposition Construction Authority invites you to attend the upcoming Phase 2 Community Workshops. At these Open House style meetings, we will have various stations that provide information on grade crossings, station and parking locations, bike routes and more:

* Tuesday, April 1, 6:30 pm, Crossroads School, Santa Monica
* Thursday, April 3, 6:30 pm, Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, Los Angeles

Chamber and city representatives, including John Bohn, Tom Larmore, Mayor Herb Katz and Mayor Pro Tem Richard Bloom will travel together to Washington D.C. this April to advocate for additional funding to complete the Expo Light Rail project. For more information on how you can join the delegation, email govaffairs@smchamber.com

Attend the community workshop to learn more and make your voice heard on which alignment should be considered. Email comments to: ggonzalez@exporail.net.

The City of Santa Monica and the largest cities and counties in California, including the cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, Berkeley, Pasadena, Santa Barbara, and the County of Marin, have pledged to purchase only 100% post-consumer recycled copy paper.

The environmental executives of these jurisdictions have joined together to form Green Cities California (GCC) for the purpose of taking action cooperatively and collectively to accelerate local, regional, national and international efforts to achieve sustainability.

Together, GCC members annually purchase half a billion sheets of office paper, at a cost exceeding $5 million dollars. By converting to 100% post-consumer recycled paper, the ten cities and counties will see their governments save 67,000 trees, 8,600,000 pounds of CO2 emissions, 19,600,000 gallons of water, and 11,500,000 kilowatt hours of electricity.

"Although Santa Monica has it easy on this one, due to the fact that we made the switch from 50% to 100% post-consumer copy paper in 2004, we look forward to working with GCC members to push for greater reform in sustainable procurement among other pending initiatives," said Craig Perkins, director of the Environmental & Public Works Management Department.

In addition to converting to 100% recycled paper, the cities and counties are also committed to increasing double-sided copying and using multi-function machines to store documents electronically rather than printing them. Savings from double-sided copying and reduced paper use can more than offset any additional costs for purchasing recycled paper.

Future GCC collaborative campaigns will focus on the elimination of bottled water, purchase of local foods and carbon offsets; and promoting manufacturer responsibility for solid and toxic waste. Initial GCC meetings were funded in part by the Blackstone Ranch Institute of California.

CONTACT:
Andrew Basmajian, Environmental Outreach Coordinator, Environmental Programs Divisions, andrew.basmajian@smgov.net

Wednesday, April 2, the final workshop prior to release of the draft LUCE will be held at the Lincoln Middle School Cafeteria on the subject of "Integrating the Plan."

This event will take a critical look at the economics of the emerging Land Use and Circulation proposals, examine workforce and affordable housing opportunities and explain how the LUCE integrates land use and transportation planning with other important City policies and programs. Your continued participation will help to make the LUCE a useful document that provides a blueprint for tackling the City's toughest problems, ensuring that future development in the City is guided by the community's principles and brings community benefits.

What: LUCE Workshop - Integrating the Plan
Where: Lincoln Middle School Cafeteria, 1501 California Avenue
When: Wednesday, April 2, 2008; 6:30PM-9:00PM

Please RSVP to shapethefuture2025@smgov.net to help us with a count for refreshments, but feel free to come even if you have not RSVP'd. You can also call us at (310) 458-8341 to RSVP or receive more information.

We look forward to seeing you on April 2

The Shape the Future 2025/Motion by the Ocean Team

The focus of the Green Development Education Workshop will be on what "Green Development" means and what impact it will have on the future of Commercial Real Estate. This workshop will give an overview of green development, presented by Jim Kumon, Designer and LEED Accredited Professional at Miralles Associates. Mr. Kumon will address how to become a LEED Accredited Professional, green rating systems, carbon neutrality, building commissioning, how a building becomes LEED certified.

This workshop will benefit individuals in all fields of commercial real estate. Immediately following the presentation, a diverse panel of green building and real estate professionals will discuss their experience in Green Development and how they see changes in the real estate industry.

The Forum of Green Development is produced with support from the Emerging Green Builders of Los Angeles Chapter of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

Panelists:
Renee Worme, The South Group
Omar Brownson, Vice President, CityView
Annie Argento, Sustainability Advisor, Brightworks
Brenden McEneaney, Green Building Program Advisor, City of Santa Monica

April 10, 6 - 9 pm
Studio Pali Fekete architects (SPF:a), 8609 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA

- Open for Registration! Visit the ULI LA website to register.

Green Business Networking brings people working in or interested in socially and environmentally conscious business together for networking, deal-making, and socializing.

When:
Tuesday, April 8, 6pm
Where:
The Ambrose Hotel, 1255 20th Street, Santa Monica, CA

A $10 cover charge includes organic snacks and drinks.

Green Business Networking is held monthly at 6pm on the second Tuesday.

Learn how to live more eco-friendly and lower your environmental impact and why it's important.

Speakers include:
Fran Pavley- Former California State Assemblymember

Jason Pelletier, co-founder of lowimpactliving.com. Green tips and local resources for greening your home room by room

Representatives from LA Dept of Sanitation and LADWP will discuss recycling, composting, energy and water conservation.

Informational booths from these and other organizations will open at 6:30 pm. One reusable bag per attendee courtesy of Gelson's.

For information contact info@palisadescares.org or 310-459-1614

Green Living 101: A Primer on Green Living
When: Wed Apr 2, 7pm - 9pm
Where: Palisades Presbyterian Church 15821 Sunset Blvd, Pacific Palisades

Join the Santa Monica Market Basket Program and enjoy local, seasonal, and sustainably grown fruits and vegetables direct from the farmers of the Santa Monica Wednesday Farmers' Market and delivered right to your office. Contact Katie at Katie@sfma.net or 310.740.7544 for information.

Big Blue Bus officials held a special dedication ceremony at Blue: The Transit Store on Wednesday, March 19 at 11 a.m. for the installation of several environmental exhibits created by students from The Art Institute of California-Los Angeles. The campus is located in the Ocean Park district of Santa Monica.

Participating in the project were interior design students Laura Moyer and Sara Parras, and graphic design students Daniela Gill and Amanda Rios. Graphic design instructor Marwin Schiltz served as lead on the project.

One of the exhibits consists of a periodic table-style display showing a "How to Go Green Guide" by showcasing a wide variety of everyday objects that can easily be recycled. The display involves actual objects reclaimed from a landfill painted in bright and engaging colors.

The second and third installations are graphic representations of how taking transit translates into less pollution. One display uses toy cars to make its point, while the other uses a variety of colorful materials spread across a map to show the impact driving has on the environment.

This is the first of several exhibits by The Art Institute of California-Los Angeles students to be showcased at the transit store during 2008. This first exhibit is being dedicated to celebrate Earth Day, and will remain up throughout the months of March and April.

The transit store is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday.