When I first heard about The Green New Deal, proposed by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, I thought it was an outline of sustainable ideas to move this country in the right direction. I was unaware that it is a comprehensive plan being implemented in the European Union and China. This plan has another name “The Third Industrial Revolution.”
Over the past ten years I have been a student of many components of a sustainable economy and continuously trying to piece it all together. A month ago, I listened to the book “The Green New Deal” by Jeremy Rifkin, it gave me hope. In this book the author mentions the video The Third Industrial Revolution. I watched it once and I will watch it again. I invite all of us to watch this video. There is Hope.
Due to the ongoing health crisis we are experiencing, we have moved our club meetings to an online format. We are extremely happy to be able to continue our mission to educate our members and our community despite the challenges!
Please RSVP for each meeting you would like to attend.
Green Buildings in the San Diego Region
We are very pleased to host Josh Dean, Executive Director of San Diego Green Building, on July 7, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.
Join us to hear Josh discuss the current state of green building in the San Diego Region and highlight their education and program offerings. Plus discover ways to get involved as a volunteer and have an impact on the built environment.
Join us on July 14, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. as we host Tina Angeles, from The Miller Hull Partnership.
When renovating their second studio location in San Diego, architecture firm Miller Hull set an ambitious goal to go beyond the achievements of their Living Building Petal Certified headquarters in Seattle and also achieve net positive energy. The presentation will discuss the project’s Petals as well as the primary drivers of the design which are occupant health and comfort considerations.
We are forced to cancel all community service at San Dieguito County Park, for the time being. Please stay tuned to join us when we resume!
In the mid-time, Park Ranger Alejandro Santos has shared pictures of the park to enjoy the beauty of wildlife. The flowers are blooming and bees are loving it!
Top left: Western White butterfly (Pontia occidentalis)
Top right: Mariposa Lily
Eco-Conscious Lifestyle
Announcement
Rotary 7th Area of Focus
It is with a great pleasure that I share with you the wonderful news! The Rotary Foundation Trustees and Rotary International Board of Directors have both unanimously approved adding a seventh area of focus: Supporting the environment.
The announcement was made on Friday June 26, 2020: "More than $18 million in Foundation global grant funding has been allocated to environment-related projects over the past five years. Creating a distinct area of focus to support the environment will give Rotary members even more ways to bring about positive change in the world and increase our impact.
Supporting the environment becomes Rotary's seventh area of focus, which are categories of service activities supported by global grants. It joins peacebuilding and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and community economic development.
This decision has been made possible thanks to a team effort of eco-minded Rotarians eager to do more projects, grants, scholarships and fellowships that will help preserve our environment."
Additionally, our District 5340 has created an Environmental Sustainability Committee that will help educate Rotarians of the District and support their effort in creating and implementing environmental projects. It is with great pleasure that I will serve as Chair of this new committee starting July 1, 2020.
I look forward to connecting with Rotarians interested in joining this effort.
Yours in Rotary
Amelie Catheline, Ph.D.
Chair of the District Environmental Sustainability Committee
Many groups in the San Diego region are very active in promoting efforts and action taken to address environmental challenges.
Due to the ongoing physical distancing requirements, many organizations have adopted new gathering formats. Check out your favorite organization's website regularly as they may have transitioned to an online platform. Most of them are continuing taking action to protect our environment!
Eco-Rotarians are leaders and key players of other various groups in our community. Because it is critical to collaborate and share events and information as much as possible to support each other, I encourage everyone to follow San Diego Climate Action Network, which provides a great calendar of events happening in the region. If your organization has transitioned to an online format, contact SDCAN to promote your online events!
North County Climate Change Alliance
July 9th, 2020, 4 p.m. PST
Join NCCCA to hear from renowned award-winning scientist and climate activist Dr. Michael E. Mann during a one-hour interview and Q&A session moderated by journalist Steve Horn. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions for Dr. Mann ahead of time and during the interview. The discussion and Q&A session will continue during the second hour with Steve Horn who will discuss his climate related investigations for The Real News Network.
There is no charge for this online event but you must register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Please click here to register.
Sierra Club North County Coastal Group
Quarterly Meeting
Wednesday, July 29th
7:00 - 8:15 p.m.
More information will be available soon on their Facebook page.
Clean Earth 4 Kids
CleanEarth4Kids.orgholds a weekly virtual webinar on Thursdays, at 5:30 p.m.to discuss important updates on environmental policies and regulations. The youth board provides updates on regulation and roll backs related to climate change, wildlife and ecosystem protection, clean air, clean water, toxic free neighborhoods and zero waste.
Visit their website to register and attend their meetings.
What Happened Last Month?
Tree San Diego Awarded Urban & Community Forestry
Cal Fire Grant
As a proud supporter of @nonprofitTreeSanDiego, we celebrate the announcement of a new grant funding received for their Branch Out San Diego project. Funded by the Cal Fire Urban & Community Forestry Grant Program, #BranchOutSD aims to plant more than 1,500 trees on residential property throughout San Diego County in an effort to expand our urban forests and fight climate change. To learn more about Tree San Diego visit them here: TreeSanDiego.org.
Service Activities
We have been able to support Produce Good by picking blueberries in a field in Carlsbad. We had a lot of fun even if we had to wear masks and stay apart to respect physical distancing. Visit our story page for more pictures and details.
Being a Zero-Waste Family
We have had the great opportunity to listen to Fredrika Syren and her family who explained their zero waste journey. Their home gardening is inspiring and their commitment shows what is possible. Since their presentation, some members have started their own garden! Visit their website for more information: zerowastefamily.com
ESRAG's Case to add Environment as Areas of Focus
Karen Kendrick-Hands, Board member of the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) discussed the importance of having a 7th area of focus on environment. Although the environment has always been the focus of the club, it became clear, that with a 7th area of focus, Rotarians would be able to achieve a lot of projects and make a real impact to help solve the climate crisis and protect our environment.
ESRAG is becoming the point of unification for all environmental projects and effort, empowering Rotarians and drawing attention to a much needed area.
North SD County Watershed Monitoring
We ended the Rotary year with a great Citizen Science Program presentation by Karen Wytmans, Paige DeCino, and Mary Anne Winey. The North San Diego County Watershed Monitoring program has started one year ago after taking over part of a decade long effort done by San Diego Coastkeeper. This program monitors the water quality of the Carlsbad watershed including Buena Vista Lagoon, Agua Hedionda Lagoon and Batiquitos Lagoon.
The Rotary year 2019-20 is officially over and we celebrated it three times with
The President Demotion Party,
The Club Changeover Ceremony and
The District Changeover Ceremony!
Our club has been awarded Best Rotary Club of the Year for District 5340 (in the Small Size category) and we received the Gold level of Rotary Citation Presidential Distinction. What a year! We have been able to achieve this amazing result thanks to the engagement and participation of all members. Our environmental program has brought many new members who are extremely committed in helping our environment and climate. Congratulations to all members of the Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club!!
I am very pleased to have served the club this year and grateful for the commitment and involvement of the members. Thank you very much for the thoughtful messages and gifts, and the delicious homemade dinner I received during my Demotion Party. You made this virtual event a real gift that I will remember for years!
The new Rotary year will be led by Carter Stafford and I am confident he will do a terrific job in continuing our effort. Welcome Carter and make the best of Rotary Opens Opportunities!
