GREEN (AND GRID) FOR THE HOLIDAYS!


GRID Magazine held their annual December Issue Release party on December 12th, 2013. Held at the Reading Terminal market in downtown Philly, the event has become a Philly tradition and the perfect way to celebrate the holidays in green style. Co-sponsored by the Sustainable Business Network (SBN), the party served as an opportunity to meet Alex Mulcahy, GRID publisher, and staff of GRID up close and personal, as they showcased the new 2014 issue with a special SBN Business Network Directory inside. The event space was packed to the rafters, as over 300 attendees met, mingled and networked with other members of the for the green community in the Philadelphia area.

In attendance were Jamie Gauthier, SBN Executive Director; Maurice Sampson, President and CEO of Niche Recycling; Julie Hancher of GreenBlogPhilly.com; Judah Press and Lamarr Kendrick of Save Some Green; Logan Welde and Martin Hage of the Clean Air Council; Jack Klett, M.A., Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at Philadelphia University; and a veritable Who's Who of the sustainable community in Philadelphia.

Almost as exciting as the varied attendees was the incredible range of food and drinks available at the event. With goodies ranging from the Art In The Age booth featuring ginger beer and SNAP liquor (pictured) to Green Street Coffee Roasters showcasing their range of organic and fair trade coffees, to the Fair Food Farmstand's offering of artisanal, local cheeses (pictured), the event was practically a sustainable foodie buffet.

With the event a resounding success, we can't wait to see what Alex and crew have planned for 2104's December Issue Release party!

GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES IN PHILLY: JANUARY 13TH SUSTAINABILITY FORUM

On January 13th, the Democratic Gubernatorial candidates are invited to speak about their sustainability platform at the Academy of Natural Sciences. The public forum will focus on important sustainability issues throughout PA, and is your chance to get to hear from the candidates on issues that impact us all.
WHERE: The Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19103
WHEN: Monday, January 13, 2014 from 6:00-8:00PM
COST: FREE

NO GREENDRINKS THIS JANUARY 1st, 2014!

 We've already guessed that as Philadelphians, next Wednesday you'll either be cheering at the Mummer's
Parade, hosting an open house party with your neighbors, or fully regretting the last drink(s) the night before. (It happens.) One thing you won't be doing is attending Green Drinks this coming January 1st. In light of the holiday, we're moving our events one week back to Wednesday, January 8th, 2014. The Center City and Chadds Ford chapters will still meet at the scheduled times and our schedule will go back to normal come February. So go eat baked ziti, watch the game and dance the Golden Slipper; we'll see you on the 8th!

THE NEXT (ONLY) GREEN GOVERNOR IN PA?

If you've moved in any number of green circles in the Philadelphia area, chances are that Paul Glover's name has come up in any number of his incarnations. He's a former Professor of Geography and Urban Studies at Temple University, an author, activist, green jobs supporter, Patch Adams Free Clinic developer and any number of roles that build local community,  invest in local economies and support sustainability in the 215 region. Now he can add another title to his already impressive  resume; potential Green Party Candidate for the role of Governor in Pennsylvania in the coming 2014 election. Read the full, in-depth interview with Paul and his plans for revitalizing Philadelphia's healthcare picture, job market and quality of life at the Philadelphia Weekly Online:
http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/phillynow/2013/12/17/meet-potential-green-party-gov-candidate-paul-glover/

And to learn more about Paul and the amazing work he's spearheaded in the last 40 years, visit paulglover.org

BLOCK THE TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP!

http://campaigns.350.org/petitions/say-no-to-corporate-power-grabs-reject-the-trans-pacific-partnership
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is an expansive free trade agreement between the US and 12 Pacific Rim countries, including Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia. Leaked text reveals that the TPP would empower corporations to directly sue governments in private and non-transparent trade tribunals over laws and policies that corporations allege reduce their profits. Any legislation designed to address climate change, curb fossil fuel expansion and reduce air pollution could all be subject to attack by corporations as a result of TPP. Also, this could then undermine workers’ and human rights, criminalize internet use, restrict government regulation of food labeling and manipulate copyright laws.

Help reject this secret corporate proposal that would undermine your regulatory power to curb environmental abuses by signing here: http://campaigns.350.org/petitions/say-no-to-corporate-power-grabs-reject-the-trans-pacific-partnership

FRACKING TAKES THE STAGE AT GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES FORUM!

On Saturday November 23rd in Philadelphia a coalition of labor groups in partnership with the Working Families Party hosted
‘Philadelphia Speaks! Gubernatorial Candidates Forum’ at Temple University to put questions about education, jobs, health care and the future of Philadelphia to the frontrunner PA Democratic candidates for Governor.

The debate was briefly interrupted when activists from the Moratorium NOW! Campaign took the stage holding a banner that read "Good Governors Don't Frack Their People" and were joined by audience members in chanting, “Ban fracking now!” Candidates Allyson Schwatrz, Rob McCord, Katie McGinty, and John Hamger were all confronted after the debate about their failure to support the PA Democratic party platform that calls for a moratorium on fracking.

During the forum candidates adamantly professed their commitment to fighting the privatization of public education, the expansion of Medicaid with federal dollars that Corbett has refused, and promised to be strong advocates for healthcare and pensions. The candidates were focused on pleasing the audience. They did very little to help voters understand how their positions on each issue may differ.

Remarkably absent from the debate was the issue of fracking. The debate topics were provided by the debate organizers, and thus primarily reflected concerns of working-class Philadelphians. The absence of fracking and the planned future of Philadelphia as an energy hub might indicate that Philadelphians don’t realize how much these issues will affect them. It might also be a sign of the degree to which Democratic candidates are running scared from the fossil fuel industry and its well-funded opposition to those who’d limit its profits. The industry has already attacked several candidates for their support of a meager 5 percent tax on fracking profits, even though all five candidates support expanding fracking and related industries. A 5 percent tax would not be a net financial gain for PA due the costs associated with the irreparable harms and long-term impacts of this dangerous extraction method.

 In private discussion after the debate, a couple candidates indicated that they would consider taking stronger positions on regulation or slowing fracking’s expansion—if they didn’t know that the gas industry would immediately pour money into attacking them. The democratic integrity of PA politics is as hard a hit by gas industry money as are families who can no longer drink their water. Besides money, candidates use public opinion to determine their positions. Without the gas industry’s billions to influence candidates, the anti-fracking and pro-renewables movement needs to educate the public to educate the candidates.

For more information about the Moratorium NOW! action at the Philly Dems forum contact:
Elizabeth Arnold
moratoriumnow@gmail.com
267-270-2211

CHADDS FORD GREEN DRINKS: NOVEMBER LOCATION CHANGE!

Chadds Ford Green Drinks will be holding their chapter meeting at a different location this November 13th. This month's meeting will be held at:

Paradocx Vineyard Tasting Room
@The Market at Liberty Place
148 W. State Street
Kennett Square, PA 19348
5:00-7:00pm

Special Wine Down Wednesday offer of $2 off selected Wine & Cider by the glass! Various food vendors are avaialble throughout the Market.

Join your fellow green, environmentally conscious and eco-friendly peers every second Wednesday of the month for friendly conversation. No commitment needed, no dues, no requirements; just bring along a new idea, a new friend and the willingness to engage in conversation! Questions? Contact Kim Engstrom, Chapter Head at ChaddsFordGreenDrinks@gmail.com
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