3E Links readers are early adopters of sustainable policies, products, and practices, and the people who educate their friends and family about the benefits of sustainable development. Be sure to pass your issue of 3E Links along to friends and colleagues. Subscribe by e-mailing info@sustainablepittsburgh.org

Events

REGISTER NOW!

a network for sustainable business and community solutions

Inaugural event!

"The Practice of Sustainability: Translating Vision into Action"
Thursday, December 6
8:30 am – 2:00 pm
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Conferencing Center
For more information or to register, click here

Because of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s emergence as a world wide hotspot for advancements and innovations in sustainability policy and practice, Sustainable Pittsburgh has launched Champions for Sustainability (C4S). C4S brings together a new network of entrepreneurs, companies large and small from many different industries, community leaders, university researchers, educators, and other social ventures.

The Practice of Sustainability: Translating Vision into Action is an intense, triple bottom line-focused, half-day event to help business and community leaders determine ways to accelerate sustainable solutions. This event is the first in a series of “how to” networking opportunities presented by C4S.

Event Overview
- Featured Keynote by Albin Kälin, Chief Executive Officer for Management, EPEA, Hamburg, Germany: “Cradle to Cradle Design and Business Structures”
- Panelists from Western Pennsylvania’s Business Community will share their experiences of how they are translating ideas about sustainability into action.

Visit the newly launched C4S website, to learn more about the network.

Learn more about C4S on the Allegheny Front: click here.

Resources

Hot Metal Bridge Pedestrian Path Grand Opening

Wednesday, November 28
12:00 pm
Meet at Hot Metal Bridge, 2nd Avenue side

Guests are encouraged to participate in the ceremonial ribbon cutting by walking/biking across the bridge with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. Directly after the walk, guests are invited to join the Mayor and stakeholders in a recognition ceremony, complete with hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies in the lobby of REI.

The completion of the Hot Metal Bridge is a critical connection in the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150 mile biking and hiking trail that will eventually connect Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland and Wasthington D.C. The bridge also provides a key pedestrian and cycling connection between the URA's two brownfield developments, South Side Works and Pittsburgh Technology Center. The pedestrian bridge facilitates safe and sustainable routes to work, along with offering attractive site recreational amenities, critical to SSW tenants such as American Eagle Outfitters and REI.

YWCA Great Pittsburgh 2007 Racial Justice Awards

Friday, November 30
6:00 pm
Omni William Penn Hotel, 530 William Penn Place (Downtown Pittsburgh)
Fee: $75 (Dinner Included)
For more information call 412-255-1257 or email specialevents@ywcapgh.org.

Join the YWCA for the 16th Annual YWCA Greater Pittsburgh Racial Justice Awards, for a night of admiration and recognition. The Racial Justice Awards recognizes individuals and organizations that are making a difference in promoting racial justice and equality throughout the community. Awardees include: Ronell Guy, Community Empowerment; Valerie Dixon, Community Service and Public Safety; Reed Smith, LLP, Legal; Larry E. Davis, Ph.D., Education; Doris Carson Williams, Company and Business; Councilwoman Brenda L.Frazier, Government; and Pennsylvania Commission for Women, Government.

"The Practice of Sustainability: Translating Vision into Action"

Thursday, December 6
8:30 am – 2:00 pm
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Conferencing Center
For more information or to register, click here.

The Practice of Sustainability: Translating Vision into Action is an intense, triple bottom line-focused, half-day event to help business and community leaders determine ways to accelerate sustainable solutions. This event is the first in a series of “how to” networking opportunities presented by Champions for Sustainability, a network for sustainable business and community solutions. Champions for Sustainability is a program of Sustainable Pittsburgh.

Event Overview
- Featured Keynote by Albin Kälin, Chief Executive Officer for Management, EPEA, Hamburg, Germany: “Cradle to Cradle Design and Business Structures”
- Panelists from Western Pennsylvania’s Business Community will share their experiences of how they are translating ideas about sustainability into action.
www.C4Spittsburgh.org

Our Region's Plan Open House

Monday, December 10
12:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Xplorion Lobby, Regional Enterprise Tower (425 Sixth Avenue, Downtown)
Contact: Southwestern PA Commission - 412-391-5590 or www.projectregion.org

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) invites you to celebrate the release of the Region's Plan! Join SPC for an open house to learn more about how they are taking the Region's Plan from Vision to Action. Stop by for coffee and refreshments, and share how everyone can continue working together to make Southwestern Pennsylvania one of the best places to live, work, play, and invest!

SPC is the region's forum for collaboration, planning and public decision-making.

Youth Main Street Advisors Project

Monday, December 10
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Filmmakers' Melwood Screening Room, 477 Melwood Ave, Oakland
Free to attend; refreshments will be provided
RSVP to Dan Holland at 412-363-5964 or email holland6@aol.com
Directions

Please join the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh (YPA) for a special presentation of the Youth Main Street Advisors Project. The evening will include video presentations created by high school students which document their vision for revitalizing older communitieis in southwestern PA. The Youth Main Street Advisors Project is a project of YPA and supported by a grant from The Heinz Endowments. Special guest speakers include filmmaker Tony Buba and Bill Fontana, executive director of the Pennsylvania Downtown Center.

Local Foods Happy Hour

Friday, December 14
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
WYEP Community Broadcast Center
67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh 15203 (South Side)
Space is limited. Email RSVPs to info@alleghenyfront.org or go to www.alleghenyfront.org

The Allegheny Front, environmental radio for Western Pennsylvania, celebrates the holiday season with its 2nd Annual Local Foods Happy Hour. Enjoy live music while sampling local produce, cheeses and meats, vegetarian soups, locally brewed beers, regional wines and non-alcoholic drinks. During the event, the Allegheny Front will be taping elements to air in a special broadcast. Be a part of radio in the making at WYEP's Community Broadcast Center, on Pittsburgh's Southside. A $5 donation will be requested at the door.

The Allegheny Front features environmental news, interviews and stories about Western Pennsylvania. It airs on WYEP 91.3-FM in Pittsburgh on Wednesday at 7:00 pm and Saturday at 6:30 am. To listen online and for a station listing, go to www.alleghenyfront.org

Resources

Peduto wants more green buildings

Pittsburgh Councilman William Peduto is proposing legislation today that would require that all new or newly renovated city facilities, and all development backed by tax-increment financing, to meet environmental friendliness standards. Mr. Peduto's legislation would have the buildings attain Silver certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, program of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Forty Acres and a Gap in Wealth

The historical basis for the gap between the black middle class and underclass shows that ending discrimination, by itself, would not eradicate black poverty and dysfunction. We also need intervention to promulgate a middle-class ethic of success among the poor, while expanding opportunities for economic betterment.

More

Chinese Dam Projects Criticized for Their Human Costs

Last year, Chinese officials celebrated the completion of the Three Gorges Dam by releasing a list of 10 world records. As in: The Three Gorges is the world’s biggest dam, biggest power plant and biggest consumer of dirt, stone, concrete and steel. Ever. Even the project’s official tally of 1.13 million displaced people made the list as record No. 10... Today, the Communist Party is hoping the dam does not become China’s biggest folly. In recent weeks, Chinese officials have admitted that the dam was spawning environmental problems like water pollution and landslides that could become severe. Equally startling, officials want to begin a new relocation program that would be bigger than the first.

A Deeply Green City Confronts Its Energy Needs and Nuclear Worries

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — This city takes pride in being green, from its official motto, “Where renewal is a way of life,” to its Climate Wise energy program, which helps local businesses reduce the carbon emissions that scientists say can contribute to global warming... But now two proposed energy projects are exposing the hard place that communities like this across the country are likely to confront in years to come as the tangled nuances of thinking globally come back to bite.

OPEC to Put $750 Million Toward Climate Research

With crude oil prices at $100 a barrel and much of the world clamoring for relief, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ended a two-day summit Sunday by pledging $750 million for research into climate change technology but without making any commitment to increase oil output at this time.

Ben Franklin called a model for businesses 'sustainability'

To meet the growing demand for business leaders better versed in the concepts of sustainability, Duquesne's business school this fall began offering a master's degree in the topic and has earned high ratings by the Aspen Institute for its program and for being among the few small universities in the United States to have one.

City Council plans to grade development proposals for smart growth

As now proposed, the score card will give a project a score on 32 particular goals in six categories: proximity to infrastructure and city services; protection of the land; housing options; mix of uses; transportation options; and character and design.

County leaders told to cut greenhouse gases

Underscoring the urgent need to combat global warming, Attorney General Jerry Brown warned county leaders from across the state Tuesday that they must reduce greenhouse gases when planning new developments or run the risk of costly lawsuits. For example, he said, counties can cut down on future carbon emissions by placing high-density housing next to offices and public transit centers, thus reducing commuter car trips. "If the ice in Greenland — just part of it — melts at the rate it's going, it won't be too long until Oakland's and San Francisco's airports are under water," Brown told more than 500 leaders gathered in his hometown of Oakland at the annual California State Association of Counties conference.

For information on becoming a Member of Sustainable Pittsburgh, please visit our website.

3E Links is sent as a service to Sustainable Pittsburgh Members and interested parties and is being distributed for informational purposes. The information above was provided by or obtained from the organizing institution or one of its representatives. Our distribution does not imply endorsement. To unsubscribe, reply to this e-mail and type UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

Click here to access the 3E Links Archive. Use "Search" on SP's homepage for a great resource.

Sustainable Pittsburgh affects decision-making in the Pittsburgh Region to integrate economic prosperity, social equity and environmental quality bringing sustainable solutions to communities and businesses.

Sustainable Pittsburgh benefits from support in 2007 from:

Dollar Bank
Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
The Giant Eagle Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
Richard King Mellon Foundation
Roy A. Hunt Foundation
University of Pittsburgh


Special thanks to the SP Members

Sustainable Pittsburgh
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1335
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 258-6642
fax (412) 258-6645
E-mail SP