Whistlestop JULY 2011
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E PRESS The Leading Information Resource for Marin's Active Aging Movement
Sustainable Marin: Working for a Future We Can Live In by JOHN BOWMAN
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ustainability is a way of life for residents of San Rafael, Fairfax, San Anselmo, Novato, Mill Valley and West Marin. This is embodied in the work of Sustainable Marin, a nonprofit organization working since 1999 to advance environmental and economic sustainability and social well-being through grassroots efforts by residents. Members collectively call themselves the “Sustainables.” Perhaps the most successful and best-known project undertaken by Sustainable Marin was the plastic bag ban in Fairfax. The issue was placed on the ballot in 2008, drew 79% support of the voters and was implemented in 2009. Pam Hartwell-Herrero, Executive Director, recalls that, “Before we even got the ban on the ballot, 90% of businesses in the town complied." The effort to get the measure on the ballot was done in collaboration with the environmental group Green Sangha. What’s coming up for Sustainable Fairfax? “We are
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currently spearheading the effort to launch a Local Currency called the FairBuck in an effort to keep our money local,” says Hartwell-Herrero. The project was launched at the Fairfax Festival on June 11th. “We have discovered that the solution to all of the issues we take action on, like Climate Change, ZeroWaste, Water Conservation, Food Security and Toxins, can all benefit greatly from a more localized community. In deep respect of the Three E’s of Sustainabilty—Environment, Equity and Economy—we try to find solutions in our own backyard that build a strong local economy, a diverse environment, and a connected community. Sustainable San Rafael initiated installation of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations
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throughout Marin. Eight cities in Marin County participating in Marin Clean Energy are to receive free electric charging stations from Coulomb Technologies as a part of Coulomb’s $37 million ChargePoint America program. The announcement was made jointly last October by Sustainable San Rafael, which initiated the request, San Rafael Community Development director Bob Brown, and Coulomb Technologies. The ChargePoint stations have universal hookups that can be used by most plug-in electric vehicles. The first two charging stations were launched with a special ceremony in April at the C Street and Third St. public parking garage. Sustainable Novato: A Zap Alias, Mitsubishi MiEV, converted VW, two Chevy Volts and four Nissan Leafs were among the many electric-powered cars, trucks and two-wheeled vehicles on display at Sustainable Novato’s first 2011 Community Forum, held May 21 at Fireman’s Fund in Novato. For more information, go to www.sustainablemarin.org. ✦
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