great analysis on the current state of the Patriots by Dan Shaughnessy
Patriots reeling as another big one gets away vs. Dolphins - The Boston Globe
“Just doing my part to save the world,” was my response when friends inquired about the work I was doing at a solar consulting company.
I had stumbled into the solar energy sector with no prior experience or knowledge. In a “mouth to fire-hose” method of learning I was working 13 or more hours a day trying to learn about the renewable energy area. Not only was I working in the marketing department looking to target our desired audiences, initiating outbound marketing campaigns and doing media outreach, but I also served as a research assistant for various projects.
When my employment status changed, I found myself searching through my past to find where my future would be. I realized that I could contribute, significantly, as an individual to what has become my generation’s challenge and also fill a void in my life that began in 2005.
I was recruited to play soccer and earned an athletic scholarship to VT but my career was cut short due to injury. I had planned to use my college career to further develop and move on after graduation to play soccer professionally. Once that was taken away, I struggled to find a purpose as I wandered through my undergraduate courses still unsure if the curriculum was really of interested to me.
I have always had a relentless pursuit of excellence and boasted an impeccable drive to try and get there. Although that drive didn’t earn me a grade point average to brag about it did earn me the right to be proud that I graduated a semester early when it is more common for students to take five years to complete their degree.
I have been learning through working: first in the solar energy sector and now as an intern writing and researching green energy initiatives.
Currently, my degree in Mass Communication has afforded me the opportunity to continue my green “self” education by writing for a sustainable project’s website. By writing for this initiative, I have continued in my attempts to inspire a creative and conscious change in my social network and the websites’ audience. Between pulling information off the shelves, the Internet or by visiting with various projects and organizations across the country, my thirst for green knowledge has only grown by the day. I feel that my desire would be enhanced through the MAIEP program.
The PCMI program particularly intrigues me, as I was not even considering graduate school until I came across this unique opportunity. Early on, I discovered my desire to serve and contribute to a greater good and looked into the Peace Corps as a way to fulfill this need. Incorporating the Peace Corps as a part of this Masters Degree program is a real world educational opportunity that cannot be replicated any other way.
As a native of nowhere and everywhere, I have been blessed to have grown up in the home of a career Naval Officer which afforded me the rare opportunity to experience other cultures at an early age. I attended an international elementary school while living in
Time teaches many lessons and I have had my share to learn. I want to show I can succeed in and contribute to furthering my formal education while making a profound global impact as an agent of change. I hope to use this program as an opportunity to continue to empower others with knowledge and inspire social change in order to save our world.
Playing in the ACC championship three out of the four years and winning it twice has set the bar high for the Virginia Tech Football program.
This year, the expectations in
After what was expected to be a rebuilding year in 2008, the Hokies backed their way into another ACC Championship and won their first ever BCS Bowl defeating
Now the team exclusively belongs to Tyrod Taylor.
If he can establish himself as a legit passer then Tech fans could be doing the Hokey Pokey all the way to
This year, a national championship is what it’s all about for the Hokie Nation.
Here are the defining games and the matchup battles within those games that will determine if the fighting Gobblers will be playing for a National Championship.
The Chick-Fil-A College Kickoff showcases two top 10 teams and starts the season off with a bang.
This game features superstars and athletes galore, two big name coaches and defenses both predicted to finish in the Top 10 by the end of the year.
VT’s performance in this game will set the tempo for the remainder of the season...
When most people hear the term “Green Roof” they most likely associate it with solar panels or some sort of new “green” technology to increase energy efficiency.
At the
Well, this kind of green roof has a more literal shade of green. Probably considered to be more of a biological or botanical breakthrough, it still has some profound energy benefits without the high costs of new technologies.
As described in the executive summary of her work, “Green roofs are permanent layers of vegetation on built structures; used to moderate building temperature, decrease storm water runoff, increase available green space in urban areas throughout the world.”
In an attempt to “green” urban areas around the island Cabugos has put together her own green roof experiment that doesn’t require as much attention as some of the others.
I spoke with Ms. Cabugos about her project and even got a chance to visit the site during my time in
She stressed that, two of the most important factors in this experiment were to find and use stress tolerant, local vegetation.
Cabugos has put together this living roof by spotlighting five native Hawaiian plant species in an attempt to offer more efficient rooftop solutions.
Her specific experiment is “meant to use native plants in a simple design that is widely applicable as well as low maintenance.” 
There are many sustainable benefits to these green roofs. In addition to the pure aesthetics of adding more green scenes to the concrete jungles, the living roof will offer sustainable benefits such as reduced head load and cooling needs for the building resulting in energy conservation, as well as reducing water runoff.
Green roofs also offer a unique opportunity for a creative use of the space. Some have been developed for recreational purposes such as a mini golf course. Others have been used for community building and other social benefits.
One of the most prominent and sustainable examples is located on top
We should expect to see some tax incentives emerge from government legislation at the state and municipal level in the near future.
The experiment in
“Despite extensive implementation and research on the positive impact of green roofs throughout the world, the practice has yet to become popular in
Cabugos firmly believes that, “it is a very compelling tool offering a vast array of benefits- particularly here on the islands.”
She hopes that her work and research will push several state and national initiatives to start the widespread adoption of green roof practices in
Leyla Cabugos is a recent UH Gradaute (MS Botany). Leyla currently works for the STEM Workforce Development Program Office at the
She can be contacted by writing to cabugos@gmail.com.
Political, economic or environmental: these three areas are different ways to look at the occurrence of climate change
From a political standpoint we can see it as a sticking point for different parties and concerned organizations. Some will say that socialism and communism harbor themselves in the environmental movement or is a threat to political freedoms and diversity.
Economists claim that the environmental movement will curtail our economic progress and freedoms such as the pursuit of wealth. Are we willing to slow down growth in the physical area as well as business space in order to sustain our land?
The environmentalists may say that it is just another part of the global cycle or that it is a phenomenon that has just started in the past centuries due to the industrial revolution, massive expansion and modern “progress” of the human race.
But what is actually going on with our planet? Have we changed it as much as some scientists and Al Gore profess? Is this just another threat to capitalism, democracy and America in general or is it America’s greatest opportunity to once again lead the world in the direction we need to be going?
Lets take a look at some of the facts from each perspective…
According to the study done by Yale and George Mason, climate change global warming ranks 10th out of 11 national issues in the minds of Americans. Ranking behind the economy as the number one concern followed by (in order) the federal deficit, the war, health care, terrorism, social security, education, tax cuts, illegal immigration. The only issue that trails global warming is abortion.
Even though almost 70 percent of Americans say the US should sign an international treaty requiring the US to cut CO2 emissions by 90 percent by 2050, it seems there will be a delay in getting the proper legislation through in Washington. But that is the cumbersome American political process that all of the issues face.
From an economic standpoint we know that the planet can no longer sustain capitalism as we know it. Resources are becoming scarce – natural as well as those stemming from our economy – and are being depleted at an astonishing rate.
Could this be America’s new avenue of growth and development? With proper legislation for responsible resource management and green initiatives we could once again lead the world in innovation. Almost half of the country said that they’re willing to reward or punish companies for their climate change related activities. So buying green is certainly on the mind of consumers.
As for the environmental perspective, there is some undeniable evidence that our planet is changing. Since the mid 1970s, the average surface temperature has warmed about 1°F.
The Earth’s surface is currently warming at a rate of about 0.32ºF/decade.
Observations compiled by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center show that over the contiguous U.S., total annual precipitation increased at an average rate of 6.1 percent per century since 1900.
Sea level has been rising 0.08-0.12 inches per year (2.0-3.0 mm per year) along most of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
Extremists and extreme data such as this have our attention, but many believe it is made up. Are the numbers enough to scare us into change? Perhaps, but the summary of the study concludes that “the success or failure of climate change action in the US will depend, in no small part, on the ability of leaders, organizers and institutions at all levels of society to educate, organize and mobilize the American people.”
Will economic and political factors impede or advance environmental change? Will these global environmental changes push the economists and governments into action for research and development or can the free market move us to create the necessary actions and products to positively impact the changes that are happening now?
1,2,3,4 Action!
1) Reduce your carbon footprint– Here are a few ideas of how you can do that.
2) Investigate arguments on both sides and decide for yourself if it’s real or not.
3) Reward those companies that are “going green” by buying their products.
4) Engage and contact your local political representative or environmental lobbyists
“Aloha” is not just a greeting in Hawaii, it’s a core value instilled in the Hawaiian people and culture. It speaks to a rich tradition of caring for the people and the land that makes up the islands.
Caring was the broader context of the discussion at University of Hawaii called “Native Hawaiian Perspectives on Renewable Energy Development.”
The event brought together policy makers, leaders in the renewable energy field and scholars of island culture to discuss a sustainable future for Hawaii.
As a part of the “Sustain Your Brain” series by the Outreach College at University of Hawaii at Manoa, Moderator Ramsay Taum helped navigate the panel through the tough issues facing the islands such as policy construction, community outreach and resource management.
The panel was comprised of native Hawaiians: Michael Kaleikini from Puna Geothermal Ventures, D. Noelani Kalipi from First Wind, Davianna McGregor representing the UHM Ethnic Studies and Myron Thompson from 21st Century Technologies.
Discussants included Representative Hermina Morita, Pono Shim from Enterprise Honolulu (O’ahu’s economic development board), and Senator Mike Gabbard - the lone non-native Hawaiian.
Early in the evening Taum grabbed a chair from the audience and brought it on stage. He explained the “Empty Chair” cultural tradition to the audience, “this empty chair represents the ancestors that preceded us and those descendents and generations that follow.” This symbolizes a need to remember our duty to honor both tradition and the future as we look to develop policy and grow business.
The future and past generations were both very well represented that night.
Topics ranged from the obstacles renewable and sustainable projects face on the islands, the future of the Hawaiian identity, and the need for local people to be intricately involved in the planning process.
In Hawaiian folklore, the tribes treated the energy we now hope to harness, as deities. As Senator Gabbard pointed out, “times do change,” and now those deities are offering a service to us – a potentially sustainable future for the people and planet.
When the floor opened for participation from the audience the tough “what’s next” question was posed.
Education was at the forefront of everyone’s answer.
From policy makers to universities all the way down to the elementary schools, people need to be more educated on this topic.
“Renewable energy is a pathway to peace- it is the decentralization of power, energy and politics,” Representative Morita eloquently stated.
Innovating for the right reasons, in the right ways, firm policy changes, lucrative incentives and devastating taxes were also highlighted during the discussion concerning moving these ideas forward.
As the night drew to a close in the open air venue on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus a simple truth held it’s place throughout the dialogue – We are Hawaiian, the culture provides that we will always care for our people yet, we have to be open to change within the scope of our values.
Those values that are summed up in a phrase that means so much more to Hawaii than just hello and goodbye.
The Aloha way can save these islands in the middle of the sea, maybe it can also go a long way toward saving the world too.
We are still in the infancy of this revolution. As I have discussed in previous posts we all need to start making individual changes on a regular basis.
You want to do your part, but how? Are you still struggling with how to initiate this change?
Well, I recently stumbled across an interesting challenge that encourages a way YOU can make your local community more sustainable all the while still staying true to the capitalistic fabric of the red, white and blue.
It’s called the “100-Mile Diet” which means eating and buying foods that are grown and harvested within a 100 mile radius of your home.
Yes, it will be a challenge but it’s one worth investing in. Even if it’s just buying part of your grocery list from the local Farmers Market.
Alisa Smith and J.B. Smith the authors and founders of this process, started the process in 2005 while in their summer cottage in the Canadian wilderness. They took on a rugged way of living and decided to live off the land.
“Every ingredient had a story, a direct line they could trace from the soil to their forks”
As described on the website, “The 100-Mile Diet is about learning by doing... Understanding where our food comes from, and at what risk to our health and to the environment. Sorting out how we all ended up eating apples that taste like cardboard and cakes made with petrochemicals. It was a challenge, but a good one—a genuine adventure.”
The cliché is; that everything is better when you know the hard work that went into making it. That’s one of the reasons so many of us enjoy cooking, being fit, building and creating, etc. We love to see the fruits of our labor, or at least we used to.
“Most of us pay a big premium for out-of-season foods like cherries in winter or prepared foods like spaghetti sauce, usually with a long list of ingredients we might prefer not to have in our bodies. Eating locally, we bought fresh ingredients in season and direct from the farmer.”
How cool is it to shake the hand of the person who grew and harvested the ingredients to your meal? How much cooler is it having a conversation with that same farmer and realizing that he lives just down the road from you?
“A local diet is likely to involve lots of fresh produce and homemade meals, and not a lot of junk food, processed fats, additives and sugar. You’re also far more likely to know where your food came from, and what’s in it.”
This challenge echoes a theme from my previous post that we need to reduce our nation’s dependence—a foreign dependence that is prevalent in all industries. If we can start to live more self sufficiently and include our local communities’ economy instead of buying from the large corporations we are truly living in a more sustainable manner.
This challenge also raises interesting questions about how we’re consuming. Can we apply this thought of buying locally to more avenues of consumption?
Did you know that a regional diet consumes 17 times less oil and gas than a typical diet based on food shipped across the country or worldwide?
If we can contribute to our local economies instead of those of the corporate giants then the movement gains momentum—the exact kind of momentum that can set a more sustainable precedent.
This is exactly how YOU, as an individual, can start to make a difference: Buy local, eat local, shake your farmers hand because he may very well be your neighbor too.
1, 2, 3, 4 Action!
1. Visit your local Farmers’ Market and BUY SOMETHING! Then go tell your friends how good it tastes
2. Ask if your local grocery store can label the locally grown produce
3. Reorganize your meal planning and ingredient shopping process
4. Make the Farmers’ Market a community event and a more available and appealing to working professionals as well as families.
-GB
And I plan on attempting this diet as soon as I stop traveling...
Running out of daylight we decided to grab a bite to eat in the underground mall that was on the way back to the hotel. The Japanese have a lot of their shopping centers and retail space below ground and around the subway stations. They resemble American malls in just about everyway except there isn’t more than one floor and of course, they are underground.
by bus. The agenda today included the Ginkakuji or commonly known as the Silver Pavilion, then the Kinkaku- Ji or the Golden Palace and lastly the Nijo region. In Nijo there is a Shogun castle that was home to many Samurai over the centuries. That was more impressive than many of the other Shrines or Temples that we visited so far.
provided another breathtaking view of the premises and overlooked the neighboring town. I got to peek inside a typical classroom for whatever teachings that went on in the temples. Similar to most of the other places we visited Cherry Blossom trees littered the area but looked more like trees out of a scary movie do to the fact that it was winter. The Silver Pavilion was one of the few places that had bamboo growing in plain sight of each of the temples.
The last spot of the day was the Shogun Castle in the Nijo district. This was particularly interesting to me because for those of you that don’t know Shogun is essentially the king of all
Samurais. At the main gate you walk through my first thought was that the Shogun might be held in higher regard than even the Emperor. The gates were just as imposing as the rest, with big strong solid doors but this time they were accented by beautiful golden works of art including dragons, peacocks, cranes and other symbolic animals. The gates are complimented by massive temples, which are uniquely accentuated by golden pieces of art as well. The main temple was the most spacious of any that I had seen thus far. The huge rooms were decorated with paintings of animals and nature. A thin sliding wooden door separated each of the rooms. Large double-sided wooden carvings that differed from the adjacent room punctuated each one making individually 
different from the next. Unfortunately no pictures were allowed but I managed to sneak a few anyway. The temple’s wooden floors squeaked loudly on every step. A provision taken by the builders in order to allow the warriors inside to hear if someone was sneaking around. The place was thoroughly fortified, including a double moat and extremely high barricaded walls. The Shogun Castle has one of the more extensive gardens that provided the warriors with long peaceful walks with the Shogun.
Following the eventful day we went out to a local restaurant and ate some “new generation Japanese food” as the hotel manager described it to us. As we entered the restaurant we removed our shoes in traditional Japanese fashion and immediately noticed that the floors were actually heated, a nice accommodation for a chilly night in downtown Kyoto. We enjoyed some Curry pizza that was especially delicious, a kind of chicken Kabob, and of course my favorite kind of sushi fried crab and a Yesibu beer to wash it all down. 
After another mini-meal, the Japanese apparently don’t believe in feeling full (nor do my parents at their age), we walked to the hotel through “Fish” street. This is the main fish market of the area. Another day down, we head out to Hiroshima tomorrow, Christmas day oddly enough. Now I will retire to bed dozing off to the appropriately named BS News newscast trying to catch up on what is going on in your end of the world. Hope Santa treats you all well… 
