Media to discuss next Wednesday

Next Wednesday we're having May Green Drinks at Bitters.  Recently, I've encountered some compelling media we might want to discuss.  Even if we don't, I highly recommend both.

The radio show/podcast This American Life recently aired an episode devoted to climate change, "Hot In My Backyard."  In general, I'd always recommend This American Life, but this episode is particularly compelling.

Last night MUN's Cineam Politica screened the documentary, "The Pipe," and I'm happy to say I was there.  The film tells the story of an Irish fishing community's resistance to Shell's installation of a gas pipeline through the middle of their community.  Despite the bleak subject matter, I was taken by what a fine film it was, filled with beautiful cinematography and compelling scenes.  And the final outcome isn't a complete downer.  Don't miss an opportunity to see this film.

In Two Weeks at Newfoundland's Greenest Pub

Things are looking good for the May Green Drinks on the 29th (7 pm) at Bitters.  Initially, I thought we'd do that simply because it had worked so well in February.  But then I checked Bitters' site and saw this:

Well done, Bitters!  Now I couldn't think of a better place to have it.

It looks like the turn out is going to be good, too.  I know that looking at the RSVP's on the facebook events might not suggest it.  But there are actually three events that get distributed--two facebook events and a google calendar event.  Our RSVP's are in the double digits with a few maybe's.  Plus, Blue Drinks' (another environmental group) meeting this Tuesday got scrubbed, because Bitters was closed for a private party.  So Blue Drinks is joining Green Drinks to make . . . Teal Drinks.  Sure, that's it.

(I've got logo envy.)

(By the way, should we ever find Green Drinks booted from Bitters for any reason, our back-up location will be Ben's Pub in Churchill Square on Elizabeth Street.)

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day, everyone!  On this day, I feel very fortunate to be part of our community of Green Drinks where I have met so many great people who all value our natural environment.

So we are meeting again on May 29th at 7 pm.  Bitters worked so well last time that we meet there again!

About my project

At the last Green Drinks, I described my effort with a friend to use the White House petition system to petition the administration to create a national feed-in tariff which would prompt nationwide growth in renewable energy.

What attracted me to the White House petition system was that petitioners were guaranteed an official response from the administration if their petition met a certain threshold (now, 100,000) in 30 days (not much time).  In at least one case, President Obama has even responded directly.  Unlike other on-line petitions which seem to go nowhere, the White House petitions offered people a tremendous lever on power, and I thought we should use that lever to effect some environmental policy.  However, given the absolute gridlock in Congress, I thought petitioning for new legislation was an absolutely futile gesture.  I thought it was imperative to petition for a policy that falls solely within control of the executive branch.  In other words, a policy that President Obama could implement without getting passage from Congress.

So I started asking around, and my friend found this article Beyond Carbon Policy.  The article described using the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which allegedly is under the President's control, to create feed-in tariffs.  Worldwide, feed-in tariffs are the single most effective policy for the spread of renewable energy.

With this policy idea, we were off--drafting and revising our petition and strategizing on a campaign to get 100,000 signatures in 30 days.  The White House site really limited text of the petitions, allowing only 920 characters, which was a serious limitation just for introducing the topic of feed-in tariffs, let alone making a case for the policy.  Nevertheless, I was very pleased with the petition we produced.  You can see a later version of it here. 

With our petition complete, we moved on to the vetting stage, first sharing the petition with Christopher Nelder, the author of "Beyond Carbon Policy."  And that's where things went south.  Nelder informed us that since the publication of the article he had heard from two separate FERC-law experts.  Both of them told him that his policy idea was not possible for several reasons.

Naturally, I was disappointed.  I was all geared up for an exciting (though laborious) campaign for this petition.  (To that end, I'm still set to be a guest on the podcast Professor Blastoff to discuss renewable energy.)  My friend wanted to continue.  But if the policy idea wasn't sound, I saw little point in continuing.  Afterall, my motive was to actually effect a change, not just engage in some on-line activity.  (I do enough of that already.)  And more importantly, I did not feel like I could ask others to get involved (as I would have inevitably done) in an activity that I knew was for naught.

So now the petition idea is shelved until we find some un-used executve authority for improving the environment.  I contacted both of the FERC-law experts for a suggestion.  I tweeted Al Gore, too.  But none of them have replied.  (Thanks, y'all.) 

So that's the unfortunate state of my petition idea.  It wasn't successful, though I did learn a lot about FERC and feed-in tariffs.  That's useful information for a renewable energy professional, though probably not for a cocktail party. 

A Month Ago

A month ago we had our first Green Drinks at Bitters.  There were some familiar faces, a lot of new ones, and great conversation all around.  I shared my storied environmental project (more on that soon).  I was also rather pleased with Bitters--a nice beer selection and several vegetarian options.  The next Green Drinks is in May.  Hopefully by then, we'll have winter behind us.

All Systems Go for Wednesday!

We've gotten a lot of positive feedback about tomorrow's Green Drinks--February 27th 7pm at Bitters in Feild Hall on MUN campus.  (There's metered parking in front of Bitters and more behind nearby Coughlan College.)  As promised, I'll share an exciting environmental project that I'm working on and would welcome help from fellow Green Drinkers.  So see you then!

Green Drinks in 2013!

As promised, Green Drinks is back for 2013.  As stated in my last post, we're going to make some format changes that should suit the group better--quarterly meetings, last Wednesday of the month at 7 pm.  Our first meeting is one month from today--February 27th 7pm at Bitters in Feild Hall on MUN campus.  (There's metered parking in front of Bitters and more behind nearby Coughlan College.)  We'll change the venue each quarter, sampling some of St. John's more interesting bars.  Each new location will be posted here (and elsewhere) with ample notice.

Also, I'm working on an environmental project that I'm very excited about.  I'll share that at Green Drinks, and if anyone's interested, they're welcomed to help out.  But I'm not going to post about it just yet.  (Yes, the project is that good.)

In addition to these changes, a number of (new) environmentally-minded MUN faculty will be joining us.  So I'm looking forward to hearing about their interests.

Here's to a great 2013 with Green Drinks!  Hope to see you in February!

A Tale of Two Green Drinks (or "We'll Regroup in the New Year")

I first learned of Green Drinks when I moved to Toronto five years ago.  There I found a thriving happy hour of 50-100 people.  I got involved, pressed the flesh, but the truth is I never got to know anyone as well as I would have liked.

So upon moving to St. John's, I thought I'd give it a try here.  I thought it'd be great to create a community in which the common denominator is sustainability.  We started with a solid turn-out, tapered off, surged again, and tapered off.  From a turn-out perspective, this chapter of Green Drinks was never successful. 

On the other hand, I've gotten to know many of the attendees quite well.  Some of them I consider friends now, and I've been in their homes.  In that regard, Green Drinks has been wildly successful for me (which admittedly is not the most important thing).

Now, I think we should reconsider our format.  It does seem like people do want to be part of environmental community.  But maybe the monthly format is not best suited for St. John's. Perhaps we go quarterly.  Perhaps, instead of meeting at one location, we could mix it up and sample the many interesting bars in St. John's.  Also, it seems like we'd do well to have some project or goal that's more than just hanging out.  (That was always my intention, but I was always waiting for the group to "solidify.")

So there are some things to think about, and we'll revisit them in the next year.  Until then, have a green, safe, happy holiday season!