Come Celebrate Our Past and Sustain Our Future at the BRSI Annual Celebration

 

Sustainability is not a solitary pursuit. The major concerns of our day, whether they are environmental or economic, are systemic issues that require a collaborative approach to holistic problem solving. This is the true work of building resiliency and sustainability into our communities. Luckily, here in Asheville we have a diverse array of organizations and individuals committed to advancing the cause of sustainability. Odds are if you are reading these words then you are one of those dedicated individuals.

 

Given these facts, the hard work remaining to be done now in our community is building out the collaborative partnerships that can solve for whole systems by taking a networked approach to these problems. That is where the Blue Sustainability Institute plays an important role. The Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute (BRSI) leverages its partnerships with organizations and experts to execute projects that produce measurable results and lead to a more sustainable economy and environment in Western North Carolina. BRSI and its partners share both the vision and project-focused strategies to make this region one of the most sustainable in the nation.    

But these strategies need your assistance and input. On the evening of Friday, November 16th from five in the afternoon until eight in the evening, the Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute will host its annual celebration at the Lenoir Rhyne Asheville Center located in the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. The annual celebration will celebrate the successes of the past year, like our extremely successful Green Restaurants initiative, while looking ahead to the important work that remains to be done. This event is the launch of our fundraising campaign for 2013 and will be a chance for you to pledge your support and offer your input. 

 

Come join us for great farm-to-table hors d'oeuvres, specialty local beverages, entertainment, and a chance to join your voice in this important collaborative conversation. It will truly be a chance to help the Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute celebrate our past, while sustaining our future.  

 

Thanks to our sponsor: 

 

 

More to come!

Electricity from the Oceans - Has the Time Come?

Climate Change Column by Lenny Bernstein

 

The video and presentations will be posted on our website soon!

 

Asheville is charting a course to be a clean, green city. Presently, Asheville gets its power from the Asheville Coal plant, now owned by Duke Energy.  It is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Western North Carolina.  From mountaintop removal to the health impacts related to burning coal, from global warming pollution to the disposal of toxic coal ash, coal is dirty from the cradle to the grave. 

 

The community is at risk from the two coal ash lagoons that pollute the groundwater and loom above I-26 and the French Broad River.  Coal ash contains toxic chemicals such as selenium, arsenic, and mercury.  The Environmental Protection Agency has rated these coal ash ponds as high hazard because if they were to break, they would likely result in the loss of life.Nationally, coal pollution triggers approximately 13,000 asthma attacks and costs more than $100 billion in healthcare expenses every year. 

  

In 2002, the Sierra Club and its allies launched the Beyond Coal Campaign (www.beyondcoal.org), a nationwide effort to protect human health and the environment. The campaign has stopped the construction of 168 new coal plants in the past decade. Communities in Chicago, Alexandria, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Boulder, and the states of Washington and Oregon have successfully advocated for the retirement of coal-fired power plants.  Across the country, 124 coal plants are making plans to power down, and the Asheville plant could be next.

 

In May 2012, The Sierra Club and its allies launched Asheville Beyond Coal to call for a transition for moving Asheville beyond its reliance on coal.  It won't be an overnight transition, but by investing heavily in energy efficiency, solar power, and wind development in coastal areas, it is possible.  A growing coalition of organizations and individuals are working together to develop clean energy solutions, including calling on Duke Energy to retire the Asheville coal plant. Visit www.ashevillebeyondcoal.org to take action, or send a note to Kelly Martin, North Carolina Beyond Coal Campaign Representative, for more information. 

 

BRSI and Lenoir Rhyne University Center for Graduate Studies share a vision: to create more sustainable communities. BRSI appreciates the support that Lenoir Rhyne University offers to BRSI by sponsoring our Green Mondays program, meetings, and other events in its Board Room. In addition, BRSI and Lenoir Rhyne University are continually working together to educate and promote the sustainability ideals of the Asheville community.

 

What makes a community sustainable? How do you encourage participation from all members of society? What are the economic benefits of implementing sustainable practices in business, government, and private homes? These are just a few of the questions Lenoir-Rhyne University graduate students will ponder in the Sustainability Studies Program. Headed up by Dr. Keith McDade, assistant professor of Sustainability Studies, the program officially kicked off on August 20, and the inaugural class includes representatives from business, government, education, and civil society.

 

"I am really impressed with our first group of students," said Dr. McDade. The classroom conversations are informed by students' diverse experiences in fields such as agriculture, software marketing, elementary education, farmland preservation, energy, and biofuels."

 

The Sustainability Studies Program will host a Sustainability Conference at the Center during the first weekend in November. More details will be announced next month.

 

Interested in learning more about the program? Lenoir-Rhyne University Open Houses are scheduled throughout the fall. It is an excellent opportunity to take a tour of the new facility, meet the Sustainability Studies faculty, and network with current students. Open House dates are scheduled for October 18, November 17, and December 6. More information is available at asheville.lr.edu.

 

The Lenoir-Rhyne Asheville Center is also pleased to present several community events this fall.

 

Go to asheville.lr.edu/events or call (toll free) 855.232.4723.