March 10, 2011 newsletter: white roof campaign launches in western Queens...

Here's the email update of March 10, 2011
White Roof Campaign launched in western Queens



White roof painting may have much broader appeal to New Yorkers than other sustainability initiatives. It's easy to do, it's a short-term outdoor project that photographs well, it lowers air conditioning bills, and it slows climate change. It's even supported with an official NYC program.


Can white roof painting be used to connect climate change activists and conventional neighborhood leaders, and catalyze a surge of interest in NYC sustainability initiatives beyond the City's very small green community?


In last fall's trial run, the roofs of four buildings were coated by volunteers. Beyond Oil NYC has launched a search for more building roofs to be painted white this summer, targeting western Queens elected officials, civic leaders and nonprofits. Find out why we cite both the Naked Cowboy and Transition movement leader Rob Hopkins to describe this process.


What's in it for your nonprofit, or your neighborhood? Find out how you can plug into the program, or take it to your own community. Contact us for sample outreach letters, and a guide to accessing the NYC CoolRoofs program.


Beyond Oil NYC interview in Green Real Estate Daily


The NYC sustainability discussion should be expanded to include building resilience to disruption, as well as slowing climate change. How? Acknowledge that higher and more volatile fuel prices are on the way, and discuss how to prepare for them. Since there is so much resistance to taking action on climate change, due to high powered disinformation campaigns, focusing on energy security and lower energy costs can get results and avoid obstacles. Full interview here.


The Nation Magazine launches online video series on peak oil and climate change


Bill McKibben, Noam Chomsky, Nicole Foss, Richard Heinberg and others describe the diminishing returns our world can expect as it deals with the consequences of peak oil even as it continues to pretend it doesn't exist. Videos here.

Talking about oil - Complacency, panic and ignorance


By Dave Cohen. 34 years ago Energy Secretary James Schlesinger described the American approach to oil supply problems. We have only two modes-complacency and panic. Neither are good responses. Start with a realistic assessment: more domestic drilling won't help us...


Oil Quake in the Middle East


By Michael Klare. Whatever the outcome of the protests and rebellions now sweeping the Middle East, one thing is guaranteed: the world of oil will be permanently transformed...