Climate Change
Third annual Midnight Garden Ride will raise funds for bicycle advocacy and education
Drew Wade, chairman of the Savannah Bicycle Campaign, has conceived an idea that has grown over the last three years into one of Savannah’s most unique events. It doesn’t really happen at midnight, but the Midnight Garden Ride will get underway at dusk on Saturday, Sept. 3 and allow many participants to do something they … Continue reading
Lawmakers propose disastrous, job-killing, backwards-looking transportation plan
In a July 5 article called “How the Great Reset has Already Changed America,” for the Atlantic, Richard Florida describes how our elected leaders are lagging behind and even moving in directions that suggest a disconnection from our current reality. He writes, “… our political and business leaders continue to look backwards, wasting precious time … Continue reading
Connect Savannah story looks at local geothermal projects
“Energy Underground” in the Dec. 7 issue of Connect Savannah surveys geothermal efforts underway in the area, including one particularly interesting project: The recent, and under-reported, symbolic groundbreaking of what will be the Savannah Gardens neighborhood redevelopment of Strathmore Estates, unearthed the city’s game plan to provide geothermal energy to 150 single family homes. According … Continue reading
When trends converge: Boycotts, bicycles and a car culture in decline?
In recent days, I’ve heard a lot about boycotting BP to punish it for the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Boycotts against companies have in many ways become the default American reaction against behavior we don’t like. Perhaps we have become resigned to idea that our main role in our economy and society is to consume. American … Continue reading
Would oil off our coast cause us to change our ways?
In the early days of the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe, some local media reported the Gulf Coast’s loss could be the Atlantic Coast’s gain, in the form of tourists reconfiguring their summer vacation destinations. These stories usually included mandatory expressions of sympathy for the region dealing with the environmental catastrophe. Still, the disaster was down there. … Continue reading
If you ride your bike to work only one day this year, make it this Friday
Over the last several years, I’ve had the opportunity to talk with elected officials, community groups and individuals aboutthe tremendous benefits the city could accrue from encouraging more citizens and visitors to take to our streets on bicycles. While I think most people can get their heads around the general idea, there’s a disconnect for … Continue reading
Site offers social networking for tree lovers
A Web site called “The Grove” has been launched by the Georgia Urban Forest Council and the Georgia Forestry Commission “to engage and encourage Georgia’s citizens to plant trees and help protect Georgia’s urban tree canopy.” A tip from a Sustainable Savannah reader suggests that one appeal of the site is its social networking function: … Continue reading
Kunstler offers (small) glimmers of hope
James Howard Kunstler’s vision of the future is grim and one that many people would prefer not to consider at all. Former marketing executives working permanently as field hands, dissolution of central government, collapse of social institutions, ongoing civil war, starvation and famine — all happening on America soil — sound like elements from a … Continue reading
Hoping our next president goes by the book
In the Internet circles I frequent there is a great deal of concern about what how President-elect Barack Obama is planning to spend that stimulus money. Will the transportation infrastructure come in the form of projects that will help us lessen our dependence on oil, improve public health, rebuild shattered communities, combat climate change, restore … Continue reading
City debuts hybrid streetcar, reintroduces bicycle fleet with “Climate Action Parade”
Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson and other city officials gathered on River Street today to show off North America’s first hybrid streetcar. The event also included more traditional city vehicles that, like the street car, are running on biodiesel from Refuel Savannah. Also on display were bicycles from the city fleet and an electric scooter used … Continue reading
