Monday Mailing
Year 20 • Issue 15 16 December 2013 1. The Most Walkable Cities and How Some Are Making Strides 2. San Francisco Can Ban All the Plastic Bags it Wants, Appeals Court Decides 3. Some New Web Resources 4. Arizona Agency Is Faulted in Deaths of Firefighters 5. Get Ready For Another Sales Tax Debate In Oregon 6. Portland-to-Salem Commute by Train? Amtrak, Oregon Add Extra Daily Passenger Rail Trips Through Willamette Valley 7. Webinar-Small Changes, Real Impact: Applying Behavioral Economics in Asset-Building Programs, Tuesday, December 17, 2013 | 3 - 4 pm EST 8. How To Conquer Public Speaking Fear: By Morton C. Orman, M.D. 9. In Search of Good Food' Doc Film Now on the Web – Free 10. Hydrogen Squeezed From Stone Could be New Energy Source 11. Funding Opportunities 1. The Most Walkable Cities and How Some Are Making Strides Densely populated neighborhoods, commercial district city squares and multiple public transit lines all span the city of Cambridge, Mass., creating an environment ideal for walking. The most recent Census counts estimate nearly a quarter of the city’s residents walk to work, far more than any other larger U.S. city.
Quote of the Week: “Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there.” ~John Ray Oregon Fast Fact: The hazelnut is Oregon's official state nut. Oregon is the only state that has an official state nut.
Many localities across the country are continuing to push policies and planning initiatives aimed at making communities more walkable. Recent census figures depict a wide variation in commuting habits among the nation’s urban centers, showing some have done much more than others. To access the full story, click here. 2. San Francisco Can Ban All the Plastic Bags it Wants, Appeals Court Decides San Francisco’s plastic bag ban is safe, a California Court of Appeals unanimously decided this week. The lawsuit taken up by the court had been initiated by the Save the Plastic Bag Coalition, which aimed to roll back the expansion of San Francisco’s plastic bag ban in 2012 and 2013. San Francisco banned plastic bags in grocery stores and pharmacies in 2007, extending the ban to retail stores in 2012 and restaurants in October 2013. The court’s decision to uphold the ban could pave the way for other cities to enact similar ordinances — bans that since San Francisco’s in 2007 have been spreading throughout the U.S. In California alone, nearly 90 cities and counties have enacted plastic bag bans. San Diego is considering implementing a ban, and Denver and New York City are both considering plastic bag taxes of 5 or 10 cents, ordinances Page 1 of 7
that would be similar to existing taxes in places like Washington, D.C. In 2012, Hawaii became the first state to adopt a plastic bag ban. As with most other bans, environmental protection was at the forefront of the fight to ban plastic bags in Hawaii. To access the full story, click here. 3. Some New Web Resources PrepareCenter.org When it comes to preparedness know-how, ‘tis better to give and receive. Luckily, there’s PrepareCenter.org, a Web site all about helping preparedness professionals across the globe collaborate, share knowledge, and find solutions to common issues. The site, created by the American Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Crescent’s Global Disaster Preparedness Center, features Wikipedia-style content development, resources in 16 different languages, and a wide variety of tools and research. Global Carbon Atlas It’s 8 p.m. Do you know where your global carbon footprint is? It’s easy to find out with the Global Carbon Atlas, a web resource that allows users to visualize the world’s carbon output in several ways: view emissions over time, by country or type, or by ranking. The up-to-date data can be presented and saved in various formats. Research resources and an educational outreach element make this site the perfect tool for finally getting a clear picture of the world’s emissions. Social Media for Crisis Communications When it comes to communicating during a crisis, emergency agencies can’t afford not to use social media. This collection of information from HowTo.Gov will help crisis communicators better leverage their online communities, recover quickly from social media gaffes, and avoid the pitfalls that might cause them in the first place. Based on a November Webinar, users can choose to learn more through a video presentation, transcript, or slideshow. Post-Disaster Reunification of Children: A Nationwide Approach Parents separated from the children in times of disaster will go to any length to be reunited, including ignoring orders to evacuate or shelter in place. But studies have shown parents familiar with caregiver emergency plans and reunification procedures are more likely to follow safety orders. This report aims to help government and community leaders focus on swift and reliable reunification so everyone stays safe. The document provides operational guidance, defines agency roles at many levels, and offers checklists and emergency planning templates. Abrupt Impacts of Climate Change: Anticipating Surprises As we learn more about the changing climate, we’ve seen that the expected impacts of human-caused warming aren’t as distant as scientists had previously thought. And in some cases the opposite is true, that some things that were considered imminent threats may not occur this century. This brief report by the National Academies of Sciences looks at what we know about abrupt changes in the climate system, identifies needed research, and recommends creating an abrupt-change, early-warning system to make sure we aren’t caught off guard. It’s an interesting read, but if you need a little more drama, you can check out what happened when Mother Jones applied the report findings to Hollywood blockbusters. Updated USDA Energy Map Website Makes Information Easy to Access USDA Energy Web includes interactive map, graphing analysis tools, and the USDA Energy Matrix. These instruments allow you to view past USDA investments, navigate in a friendly environment USDA energy programs and compare and analyze biofuels and bioenergy data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Page 2 of 7
4. Arizona Agency Is Faulted in Deaths of Firefighters A state safety commission recommended fines totaling $559,000 against the Arizona State Forestry Division on Wednesday, saying the agency wrongly put the protection of “structures and pastureland” ahead of the safety of firefighters battling a wildfire in central Arizona last summer, including 19 who died trapped by the flames at the base of a mountain. A commission report said the forestry division had kept the firefighters on the mountains even after commanders realized that they could not control the flames burning through the parched, thick chaparral along the western edge of the old gold-mining village of Yarnell, 80 miles northwest of Phoenix. In the report, inspectors for the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health said the agency’s actions resulted in “multiple instances of firefighters being unnecessarily and unreasonably exposed to the deadly hazards of wildland firefighting.” The inspectors wrote that the agency did not protect the firefighters from “recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm.” To access the full story, click here. 5. Get Ready For Another Sales Tax Debate In Oregon Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber is setting his sights on a major overhaul of the state’s tax system. The Democrat kicked off his campaign for re-election this week. But behind the scenes, he’s gathering business and political leaders for talks that include one of the most politically taboo topics in Oregon: a sales tax. Oregonians proudly point to the fact that their state is one of just five in the country without a sales tax. In reality, residents and visitors pay more than $1 billion a year in sales taxes. They do when they buy gasoline, rent a car, or stay in a hotel room. And don’t forget beer and cigarettes. All told, these so-called “selective sales taxes” cost Oregonians — yes Oregonians — an average of $377 a year, according to the Oregon Legislative Revenue Office. To access the full story, click here. 6. Portland-to-Salem Commute by Train? Amtrak, Oregon Add Extra Daily Passenger Rail Trips Through Willamette Valley In a move expected to pull at least some daily Portland-to-Salem commuters off Interstate 5, Amtrak has announced a new schedule that it says will improve train service through the Willamette Valley on its fast-growing Cascades line in 2014. The passenger rail company and the Oregon Department of Transportation will replace its southbound early morning bus (6 a.m.) from Portland's Union Station to Eugene with a train on week days. Meanwhile, Eugene riders heading north will be able to take a late-afternoon train to Portland for the first time. To access the full story, click here.
Page 3 of 7
7. Webinar-Small Changes, Real Impact: Applying Behavioral Economics in Asset-Building Programs, Tuesday, December 17, 2013 | 3 - 4 pm EST Last year, the BETA Project was launched to improve the effectiveness of products and services designed to help people bolster their financial security. In the 12 months since, we’ve worked closely with three organizations to understand a problem in their program, design solutions and test them. On December 17, join CFED, ideas42 and the Citi Foundation as we discuss findings from this yearlong project. During the webinar, speakers will report on the research conducted at BETA Project partner sites, explore the implications of applying insights from behavioral economics to assetbuilding program design and provide helpful tips on how to incorporate the behavioral perspective into your organization. Speakers: * Daria Sheehan, Citi Foundation * Katy Davis, ideas42 * Matthew Darling, ideas42 * Pamela Chan, CFED More information on the project is available here. Advanced registration is required for the event and space is limited. Registration is free. To register, click here. 8. How To Conquer Public Speaking Fear: By Morton C. Orman, M.D. Public speaking is a common source of stress for everyone. Many of us would like to avoid this problem entirely, but this is hard to do. Whether we work alone or with large numbers of people, eventually we will need to speak in public to get certain tasks accomplished. And if we want to be leaders or achieve anything meaningful in our lives, we will often need to speak to groups, large and small, to be successful. The truth about public speaking, however, is IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE STRESSFUL! If you correctly understand the hidden causes of public speaking stress, and if you keep just a few key principles in mind, speaking in public will soon become an invigorating and satisfying experience for you. To access this report, click here 9. In Search of Good Food' Doc Film Now on the Web - Free We are excited to let you know that after screening the film across the country, the full-length documentary, In Search of Good Food, is now up on the web here -- you can access it by entering the password 'funtimes'. Watching the film is free, but we are still accepting donations to help cover the costs of making the film. We'd love for people to set up public screenings, for free or to benefit a local sustainable/just food-related project. If you do, please let us know so that we can keep track for our records! Please contact goodfoodscreenings@gmail.com or call 847-606-0744 if you would like to make a contribution or have set up a screening! Thanks and enjoy! In Search Of Good Food (56 min) probes the "sustainable" food system in California, attempting to answer the question: does this food system actually exist? And if it doesn't, what is preventing it from becoming reality? The documentary film features interviews with farmers, farmworkers, wildlife advocates, cultural biologists, historians, educators, grassroots groups, organic foods distributors, politicians, and many Page 4 of 7
others who play a role in promoting a more sustainable food system in the state. By using street interviews with food consumers; the perspectives and stories of advocates; animations; and the dichotomy of the bucolic countryside and hectic city, *In Search of Good Food* presents both a compelling argument for the need for a better food system, and incisive criticism of the limited effectiveness of consumer-based solutions. This film will make you think beyond "voting with your fork", to the real challenges and opportunities that we face in creating a safe, just, and sustainable food system that provides for us all. 10. Hydrogen Squeezed From Stone Could be New Energy Source Scientists from the University of Lyon have discovered a new way to split hydrogen gas from water, using rocks. The method promises a new green energy source, providing copious hydrogen from a simple mixture of rock and water. It speeds up a chemical reaction that takes geological timescales in nature. In the reaction, the mineral olivine strips one oxygen and hydrogen atom from an H2O molecule to form a mineral called serpentine, releasing the spare hydrogen atom. The results were discussed at this week's meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco, and have been published in the journal American Mineralogist. The researchers heated olivine minerals in water to a couple of hundred degrees Celsius, and added a little bit of ruby (aluminium oxide) to the mix to provide a source of aluminium atoms. The whole mix was placed into a miniature pressure cooker, formed of two diamonds, that squeezed the mixture to 2,000 atmospheres pressure. To access the full story, click here. 11. Funding Opportunities FISKARS is offering Community Garden Grants to provide funding for tools, materials, and other support to help communities reach their goals for neighborhood beautification, community collaboration, and healthy, sustainable food sources. Deadline: 12/31/2013. Click here <http://rurallisc.createsend4.com/t/r-l-ntjlhkt-jrdkjddruu-e/> to visit the website and to apply. The Administration for Children and Families is offering grants to provide services through transitional living programs or maternity group homes for runaway and homeless youth, including youth from rural areas. Application deadline: 1/15/2014. Click here <http://rurallisc.createsend4.com/t/r-l-ntjlhkt-jrdkjddruu-w/> to visit the website. The Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) is accepting applications to its FY 2014 Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program <http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTMxMj AzLjI1OTY2MTUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDEzMTIwMy4yNTk2NjE1MSZ kYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODk4NTU5JmVtYWlsaWQ9c2xpcGVrY0Bhb2 wuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1zbGlwZWtjQGFvbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkP SYmJg==&&&112&&&http://www.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/about/community/rhnetworkplanning.h tml>. A rural health network is defined as an organizational arrangement among at least three Page 5 of 7
separately owned regional or local health care providers that come together to develop strategies for improving health services delivery systems in a community. Networks can include a wide range of community partners including social service agencies, faith-based organizations, mental health agencies, charitable organizations, educational institutions, employers, local government agencies or other entities with an interest in a communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health care system. Applications due January 16. The Department of Labor is offering grants to nonprofits, LEAs and others to provide high school students with education and training that combines rigorous academic and technical curricula focused on specific in-demand occupations and industries. Deadline: 1/27/2014. Click here <http://rurallisc.createsend1.com/t/r-l-ndthuyd-jrdkjddruu-f/> for guidelines and an application. EDA Launches $1.3B Manufacturing Communities Competition - The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has announced a new competition to reward communities demonstrating best practices in attracting and expanding manufacturing. EDA will offer the competition as part of its Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP), which helps support comprehensive, integrated efforts to boost manufacturing and jobs. EDA has published a Federal Register <https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/12/10/2013-29422/announcement-of-federalinteragency-competition-fiscal-year-2014-investing-in-manufacturing> notice, seeking applications for regions to be designated one of up to 12 manufacturing communities. The communities will be eligible for an array of cross-agency federal assistance totaling $1.3 billion. Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas <http://www.raconline.org/funding/3231/?utm_source=racupdate&utm_medium=email&utm_ca mpaign=update121113> - Application deadline: Feb 3, 2014 (Extended deadline) Awards grants to organizations that assist veterans in rural areas with transportation to VA medical centers and other VA and non-VA facilities for medical care. Sponsor: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) Program â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Interprofessional Collaborative Practice <http://www.raconline.org/funding/2505/?utm_source=racupdate&utm_medium=email&utm_ca mpaign=update121113> - Application deadline: Feb 3, 2014 Grants for projects that create and/or expand Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (IPCP) environments where nurses and other professional disciplines join together to provide comprehensive healthcare services for patients and their families. Sponsor: Bureau of Health Professions Direct Community Investment Program <http://www.raconline.org/funding/3050/?utm_source=racupdate&utm_medium=email&utm_ca mpaign=update121113> - Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis. Provides low-interest loans to organizations or financing intermediaries that give disadvantaged populations access to jobs, housing, education, and health care. Sponsor: Catholic Health Initiatives American Association of University Women Accepting Applications for 2014-15 Community Action Grants <http://e.foundationcenter.org/a/hBSok1HB8ixfdB83AGfAACSSkKQ/rfp27> Deadline: JANUARY 15, 2014 Grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to individuals and organizations conducting programs or non-degree research projects that promote education and equality for women and girls.... Bringing Theory to Practice Accepting Proposals for Campus Engagement, Civic Development Projects <http://e.foundationcenter.org/a/hBSok1HB8ixfdB83AGfAACSSkKQ/rfp28> DEADLINE: MARCH 14, 2014 Grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded for projects designed to strengthen the engaged learning, civic development, and psychosocial well-being of college and university students.... Page 6 of 7
NCTM Invites Proposals for Teacher Action Research Grant <http://e.foundationcenter.org/a/hBSok1HB8ixfdB83AGfAACSSkKQ/rfp29> DEADLINE: MAY 2, 2014 One grant of up $3,000 will be awarded to support collaborative action research projects involving university faculty, pre-service teachers, and classroom teachers seeking to improve their understanding of mathematics in preK-8 classrooms.... eWomenNetwork Foundation Announces Grants for Small Organizations that Support Women and Children <http://e.foundationcenter.org/a/hBSok1HB8ixfdB83AGfAACSSkKQ/rfp22> DEADLINE: MARCH 31, 2014 Grants of $6,000 will be awarded to small entrepreneurial organizations for projects that address the health, wellness, and/or safety of underprivileged women and/or children in North America....
Page 7 of 7