WHAT IF CALIFORNIA, OR THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES, could be entirely powered by sustainable energy by 2030? That’s just 16 years from now. Such an achievement would mean there wouldn’t be constantly fluctuating (really, increasing) oil and gas prices, no more destruction of natural habitat and other resources, a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions […]
Crewmember Report: Benicia, California, Spaceship Earth: Farm city
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I FILMED NOVELLA CARPENTER, author of “Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer.” Michael Krasny, the host of KQED’s “Forum” program, led the conversation with Novella. It was a full house in Dominican University of California’s Angelico Hall because Carpenter’s 2009 book was selected as the book for this […]
Crewmember Report: Benicia, California, Spaceship Earth: Dear Bucky
I THOUGHT I’D WRITE AND GIVE YOU a Crewmember update from our part of beautiful Spaceship Earth, Benicia, California: 38°,03’56.56N, 122°09’19.55”W. I remember your talk where you recalled that, “People say to me that I wonder what it’d be like to be on a spaceship and I say you don’t really know what you’re doing. […]
Crewmember Report: Benicia, California, Spaceship Earth: B2 — Bicycle Benicia
I’M CONFIDENT THAT MY GUARDIAN ANGEL HAD HER HELMET ON, as I did, when I was hit by a car on Good Friday as I rode my bicycle. I was extremely lucky. I walked away with no broken bones nor severe injuries and my bicycle, with repairs, will be back to almost new. I am […]
Crewmember Report: Benicia, California, Spaceship Earth: Gray water
WITH OUR CONTINUING DROUGHT CONDITIONS and the city urging us to voluntarily reduce water consumption by 20 percent, some people have asked about gray water systems. I’ve written briefly about gray water before, taking some of my information from a Sunset Design Guide titled “The Green Home.” Sunset describes gray water as “any water that […]
Crewmember Report: Benicia, California, Spaceship Earth: Jane Goodall and ‘The Way Forward’
JANE GOODALL CELEBRATED HER 80TH BIRTHDAY ON APRIL 5, and on April 6 I had the wonderful opportunity to film her at Dominican University of California. With her co-author Gail Hudson and Elaine Petrocelli of Book Passage, Goodall had a conversation about her latest book, “Seeds of Hope.” In his forward to the book, author […]
Crewmember Report: Benicia, California, Spaceship Earth: Hinge of history
WHEN I TAUGHT A GRADUATE-LEVEL SEMINAR titled “Technology and Society,” one of the projects we had in class was to trace our family work histories over time. I myself have gone back three generations in plotting my family’s work history.
Crewmember Report: Benicia, California, Spaceship Earth: Good ideas
AT THE LAST COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING, representatives of WattzOn, Benicia’s partner in energy and water savings, talked about their new book, “The WattzOn Guide to Energy Savings,” that will be available soon both in print and as an e-book. In 2010 or 2011, mine was one of 200 Benicia homes that took part in […]
Crewmember Report: Benicia, California, Spaceship Earth: Big ideas
IN HIS ENLIGHTENING TELEVISION SERIES, “The Power of Myth,” Joseph Campbell once described the reality that so often in our lives we spend time and effort on small things or goals when something powerful and transformative is right in front of us: “Standing on a whale, fishing for minnows.” I love the power and insight […]
Crewmember Report: Benicia, California, Spaceship Earth: How bikeable is Benicia? Early survey results
With the recent warm and sunny weather, a small group of us were able to hit the Benicia streets to collect information about our city’s bicycle infrastructure. This is part of the work being done in conjunction with the Community Sustainability Commission’s 2014 work plan that includes developing a Benicia Bicycle Guide. As this is […]