Air Watch Bay Area includes data from region’s refinery communities After more than a year of work, an air quality reporting website developed in collaboration with community organizations in the Bay Area’s refinery cities— including the Good Neighbor Steering Committee in Benicia— is ready for viewing. AirWatchBayArea.org was developed by the Fair Tech Collective at […]
Crewmember Report: Benicia, California, Spaceship Earth: Home power
I WAS CRUISING AROUND MY PBS APP ON MY IPAD MINI and came across an interesting video series titled, “The Lexicon of Sustainability.” There are currently 21 short videos that run about 2 to 3 minutes each on a range of topics: fair trade versus direct trade, urban farming, drip irrigation, and so on. The […]
Crewmember Report: Benicia, California, Spaceship Earth: Benicia is brimming with bicycles
I DON’T KNOW WHETHER IT’S MY PREDISPOSITION FOR ALL THINGS BICYCLE, or that there are actually more people bicycling around Benicia — but it surely seems like I’m seeing more people on bicycles these days. And why not? The weather is absolutely perfect for it. We have an amazing array of places to bike to, […]
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: 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: 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: Optimism: Planting and planning for the future
I dwell in Possibility — A fairer House than Prose — More numerous of Windows — Superior — for Doors — Of Chambers as the Cedars — Impregnable of Eye — And for an Everlasting Roof The Gambrels of the Sky — Of Visitors — the fairest — For Occupation — This — The spreading […]
Crewmember Report: Benicia, California, Spaceship Earth: The benefits of bicycling
BESIDES THE OBVIOUS BENEFITS OF BICYCLING related to fun, health and inexpensive transportation, there is “gold” in those bicycle wheels for a wide sector of the economy. Who knew? I’ve mentioned in past articles that one of the many goals the Community Sustainability Commission has set to work on for 2013-14 is a Bicycle Guide […]
Crewmember Report: Benicia, California, Spaceship Earth: ‘Packing for Mars’
LAST APRIL, WHILE I WAS IN MINNESOTA WITH MY SISTER, my colleague Roger Smith filmed author Mary Roach in conversation with Michael Krasny at Dominican University of California. I just spent last week reading Mary’s book, “Packing for Mars,” which was the focus of the One Book One Marin program for 2013. I love the […]