November 3, 2011

DC Council Tree Bill Briefing

On November 4th at Noon join the DC Environmental Network, Casey Trees and other interested environmentalists for a special briefing on the "Urban Forestry Administration Act of 2011" featuring Councilmember Phil Mendelson, the bill's author. This Event will take place at the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Room 120.

Sign-Up to Attend this DCEN Briefing!

Councilmember Mendelson, who has championed protection of trees over the years, recently introduced legislation, the "Urban Forestry Administration Act of 2011" to start fixing the District's broken and minimally implemented tree regulations. Mendelson's bill increases necessary protections for smaller trees to help them reach the state of development that gives District residents more of the benefits of tree cover. Mendelson's bill also transfers the Urban Forestry Administration to the District Department of the Environment.

The environmental community has lots of ideas on how we might fix our dated tree bill. Casey Trees has recommended specific modifications and will present them at the DCEN briefing. This discussion will be an important first step to finally having tree protections that make sense.

The DC Environmental Network believes that trees should be a central component of the District's new Sustainable DC plan. Trees have many benefits including combating greenhouse gases, cleaning our air, providing oxygen, cooling our streets, conserving energy, saving water and preventing water pollution. Trees also provide food, protect children from ultra-violet rays that can cause skin cancer and can even bring communities together. We saw this in 2002 when hundreds of District residents and organizations testified in support of trees a the biggest Council hearing on an environmental issue of the last decade.

All are welcome!

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Communications for DC Activists!

On November 16th at 10:00 AM, join the DC Environmental Network for a special opportunity to polish your advocacy skills and learn about a new resource available to help guide your efforts to influence decision members here in the District of Columbia. Susie Cambria, a public policy consultant, will share more than 15 years of experience working on public policy and budget advocacy issues and talk about her new book, "Communications for DC Advocates: How-to's and Lessons Learned Over 15 Years." This event will be held at the offices of Global Green USA, 1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor.

RSVP Here to Learn More About Communications!

"The guide reflects the years of experience I have in advocacy and the many lessons learned doing public policy and budget advocacy work nationally, in Connecticut and most extensively in the District of Columbia. I have more than 15 years of experience in DC children's policy and budget issues. In my work at DC Action for Children (1997-2008), I helped create a robust budget analysis and advocacy operation by establishing and maintaining relationships with elected and appointed officials and engaging the community in the work of protecting and nurturing children and youth across the District. I also created public education materials, trained others on effective budget and policy practices, and was (and remain, I am told) a respected advocate and analyst." - Susie Cambria

All are welcome!

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"Climate Change is a Reality in Africa..."

On November 11th at Noon, join the DC Environmental Network, Green Anglicans, Urban Solar Solutions and Global Green USA for an important opportunity to meet with African faith communities as they work to persuade U.S. constituencies of the reality and urgency of acting on climate change.

"Climate Change is already a reality in Africa, it is a profound existential threat, we are well past the stage of debating whether or not it is happening, and we urgently need developed countries to commit to changing lifestyles, reducing consumption and most particularly, carbon emissions. If you care about African poverty, you have to change your ways, now." - Green Anglicans

RSVP Here!

The world urgently needs to adopt dramatic and sweeping cuts to carbon emissions in the context of a fair, adequate and legally binding deal. One of the greatest current obstacles to progress in the international climate negotiations is the resistance of the United States to adopting any targets for emissions cuts. The resistance reflects the fact that human-driven climate change is for most Americans either a low priority, or a phenomenon whose existence they dispute altogether. Therefore, if there is to be any significant shift in domestic US politics on this issue, it is vital the American's accept the reality of climate change and the urgency of acting to deal with it.

Representatives from African faith communities will discuss the profound connection between high-consumption carbon intensive lifestyles, climate change and poverty in the global south.

Location to Be Determined: As the 11th is Veteran's Day our building is not available and we have not yet locked down a location. If you represent an easily accessible place of worship, office, restaurant or other venue that might work, please let me know. This should be worth the extra effort. Thanks!

All are welcome!

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