REMEDIATION + REDEVLOPMENT + RESULTS (RE3 ) CONFERENCE AND EXPO

This is the area's first conference focused on applied technologies and methodologies for the treatment of heavy metals and organics. The event includes short courses and technical presentations on a range of remediation technologies and site redevelopment issues, and offers opportunities for geologists and engineers to gain professional development hours and continuing education credits. Attendees can connect with developers, site owners, investors and remediation professionals to promote the increased development of brownfield properties through real world remediation technology and methods.
DATE: September 15-17, 2015LOCATION: PA Convention Center, 1101 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19107RSVP:  Go to https://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1690820

Stop Oil Trains! A Jazz Funeral at the Schuykill River Park

Join your fellow concerned citizens at Schuylkill River Park at Spruce and 25th Streets to commemorate the 47 lives lost in the Canadian derailment of 2013 and to celebrate the solutions: Clean Energy, Green Jobs, and a Sustainable Future! 

We're meeting  at 2pm at the footbridge entrance to the park that crosses the train tracks at Locust Street. Prep your umbrellas and at 2:30 we will hear from our neighbors who live and breathe closest to this toxic infrastructure on a daily basis. 

Bring Your Own Umbrella to be adorned with fabric pom-poms, glitter, and bling so you'll fit right in to the New Orleans-Style Funeral Procession featuring the West Philadelphia Orchestra! 

WHY?Crude-by-rail shipments have increased more than FIFTY TIMES in the past 5 years. 35 million barrels were shipped here in January 2015, up from 700,000 barrels in January 2010. Over 500,000 Philadelphians reside within the 1/2-mile blast zone. The group is calling for

• A ban on all tank cars in use today to end environmental injustices to the 700,000 Philadelphians within the 1/2 mile blast zone. 

• More community workshops on crude by rail emergency response plans to protect public safety and community health

• Support for the planning of a renewable and sustainable energy future in Philadelphia.

• Commemorating the second anniversary of the oil train disaster at Lac Megantic, Quebec, Canada, where 47 people lost their lives.

 SCHEDULE
2:00 pm -- Assemble at the footbridge area 
2:30 pm – Press Conference
3:00 pm – Remembrance of lives lost in Lac Megnatic
3:15 pm – March for environmental justice and solidarity across our nations – New Orleans style funeral procession with West Philadelphia Orchestra, decorated umbrellas and banners
3:30 pm through 5:00 pm - "Rainbow Bridge to Philly's Future" visual arts workshop and info-graphics gallery for ages 5-adult.- Rainbow balloon hanging- Child-friendly oil train and rainbow of renewables pavement chalking- Summer treats- Photo ops, outreach and creative happenings all afternoon! 

Location:Schuylkill River Park, 25th and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia, just upstream from South Street Bridge; main assembly at the pedestrian footbridge that crosses over the train tracks at Schuylkill River Trail Park. 

MORE INFO: http://heyevent.com/event/l6dsixab2ul3ga/stop-oil-trains-a-jazz-funeral-at-the-schuykill-river-parkor www.stopoiltrains.org

MARK RUFFALO IS REALLY A BIG GREEN GIANT!

While this is a reposted article from Grist.org, we think it's worth reading if only for the

celebrity associated with it.

Mark Ruffalo, best known to audiences as the Hulk from last summer's The Avengers, is also a huge environmental activist:  he helped  ban fracking in New York State and is an advocate of clean, sustainable energy. In this article, Mark shares his passion about climate change, activism  on college  campuses and his involvement with The Solutions Project, aiming for 100% renewable energy for all Americans by 2050.

http://grist.org/climate-energy/mark-ruffalo-talks-climate-change-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/

http://thesolutionsproject.org/

TAPPING OUR WATERSHED: PROTECTING THE DELAWARE ESTUARY ONE BEER AT A TIME!

For our first  green/beer themed event this month, Tom Davidock, coordinator at the 
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, presents, “Protecting The Delaware Estuary One Beer at a Time: How Creative Partnerships with Breweries are Helping Keep Our Water Clean.”

Since beer is over 90% water, clean water is absolutely critical and industry and  environmental organizations are working to protect this resource. Tom will discuss several existing projects with regional breweries and demonstrate how these partnerships are helping to raise both awareness and money for clean water and healthy watersheds. Through creative marketing and messaging they're reaching new audiences that support both great beer and clean water. 

Tom Davidock works with a broad range of stakeholders who  restore and protect the environmental health of the Schuylkill River Watershed of southeastern Pennsylvania. These partners include academics, businesses, conservation organizations, local municipalities, water suppliers, and state and federal government agencies.
The event is free and food and drink will be available for purchase at the bar. It's an all ages event but you must be 21 to drink. Tapping Our Watershed is held on the third Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at National Mechanics in Philadelphia’s Old City.

DATE: Monday, June 15, 2015, 7:00PM
LOCATION: National Mechanics 22 South 3rd St Philadelphia, PA 19106
COST: Free!
MORE INFO: www.meetup.com/TappingOurWatershed/

JOIN THE 2015 SCHUYLKILL SOJOURN!

The Sojourn is a seven day, 115-mile guided canoe and kayak trip on the Schuylkill River. Paddlers will explore Pennsylvania’s first Scenic River as it changes from a narrow waterway gently dropping out of the mountains in Schuylkill County to a wider and slower river as it flows into historic Philadelphia.

Along the way, paddlers will encounter people, groups, and communities that care about the river as one of their most valued resources and recognize its importance and look forward to welcoming the sojourners each year.

Participants paddle 14-18 miles per day and can register for the entire trip or as little as one day.
DATE: Jun 6 – Jun 12, 2015, from 8:00am – 5:00pmLOCATION: Schuylkill HavenREGISTRATION: http://www.schuylkillriver.org/sojourn.aspx 

PHILLY FIXERS FAIR A SUCCESS

The Philly Fixers Guild held its 5th Repair Fair at the Shissler Rec Center in Fishtown last Thursday, June 4th. The event was the group’s first weekday evening event, as they hoped to offer a different schedule from their usual weekend format.

The Guild’s volunteer fixers got the chance to help many guests mend their broken items. The group averages a 50% full repair rate, with the rest either beyond repair or needing a part ordered. The primary thrust for the Philly Fixers, however, is to spread the idea of repair rather than disposal.

The Philly Fixers Guild will hold its 6th Repair Fair on September 19th from 10am to 2pm at the Kensington Community Food Co-op. Details at phillyfixersguild.org

BE LOYAL TO YOUR SOIL: COMPOST!

International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is the largest and most comprehensive education initiative of the compost industry, celebrated yearly the first full week of May. In light of that, here's some links from the EPA that can help you get up and running in no time:
http://www.epa.gov/compost/
http://www.phillycompost.com/DIY.html
http://www.proprecycles.org/index.aspx?nid=130

And if you'd like to meet up with your fellow composers in your area and get to share your experiences and skills, consider these groups as a resource:

composting.meetup.com/cities/us/pa/philadelphia/
urban-composting.meetup.com/cities/us/pa/philadelphia/
www.meetup.com/it/Philadelphia-Green-List/messages/boards/thread/11296981

Finally, if you're in the West Philly  area, check out the Dirt Factory, the community composting facility for University City at http://www.universitycity.org/dirt-factory