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Happy Taxpayers Group Focuses on the Good

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May 24, 2006

A new group in Helsinki, Finland encourages taxpayers to focus on the good provided by public services, rather than dwelling on negative thoughts about income tax. The Happy Taxpayers’ Association, with 250 members, should help ease anxiety and frustration in citizens who pay some of the highest taxes in Europe, by pointing out the merit of the system.

I don’t think this should be laughed away as absurd — or included in the “Oddly Enough” section. The revenue generated from taxes makes our every day lives a lot more pleasant, productive, and, especially, safe. (And we’ve seen that most people are hyper-sensitive to safety concerns these days)… If we do as this association models, and add up the good received, we quickly realize that our collective payments make big projects happen and fund worthwhile services. It’s called cooperation. Hurrah for the Happy Taxpayers!

Underwater Windmills Supply Environmentally Friendly Power to NYC

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May 24, 2006

turbine Experimental underwater windmills will be installed in New York City’s East River during the next weeks to begin generating power utilizing the non-stop action of the tides. Enthusiasts of the new environmentally friendly hydropower say the machines generate electricity without the problems associated with wind power. The scenery is not dotted with turbines and engineers say the low-rpm movement from the blades does not harm marine life. Unlike hydro-electric dams, which dramatically alter spawning populations of fish, this instream technology allows fish and mammals to "easily swim around" the turbines. . .

Mr. Rogers on Living With Punks in Your Neighborhood

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May 23, 2006

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I heard an amazing segment with Mr. Rogers on NPR’s This American Life the other week.

Davy Rothbart is a radio documentarian who visited Mr. Rogers in his studio. Davy brought stories from his own neighborhood in West Chicago, stories of un-neighborly conflict and distrust — to see what kind of advice Mr. Rogers could give him. The conversation was a jewel in Davy’s life — just like it is now in my own. Mr. Rogers died in February of 2003 … Can you say, Hero?

Search on their Web site for Mr. Rogers. It originally aired on 5/11/01. I recommend you cue your media player to begin around 10:45 minutes. It’s a 15-minute segment of the show. The conversation with Mr. Rogers and Davy begins with: "When I told my neighbors I was going to see Mr. Rogers …" Enjoy, and let me know if it touches you like it did me …

Sony Anti-Piracy Debacle Ends with Free Downloads for PC Owners

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May 23, 2006

BBC reports on the settlement of lawsuits brought against Sony after their copy protection “root kits” installed on music cd’s turned out to be terribly invasive — as well as sneakily evasive — when played on people’s PC’s. Worst of all, it left listeners’ computers vulnerable to hackers.

“Millions of music fans will be given free music downloads or money to compensate for flawed anti-piracy software on CDs from label Sony BMG. The final approval to the settlement for lawsuits against the music giant was granted by a US judge on Monday.

The EFF Electronic Frontier Foundation is a group of lawyers and technologists defending the public’s digital freedoms in court.

Parking Meters Provide Area for Mini-Parks

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May 22, 2006

Some folks in San Francisco decided there was not enough green space downtown so they “leased” the area provided by a parking meter, usually reserved for cars, to created a mini-park for a day. Pedestrians lounged on the park bench under a temporary tree. The grass invited shoes to come off. No authority interfered at all. Calling themselves the Rebar group, John Bela and Matthew Passmore write on their website that creating the Park(ing) space was just their way of “temporarily improving the quality of urban human habitat — at least until the meter ran out.” By their calculations, they provided an additional 24,000 square-foot-minutes of public open space that Wednesday afternoon. Check out the Park(ing) Space photos showing the project from installation to expiration.

Iowa Company Making Gasoline Obsolete

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May 22, 2006

A former director of engineering at Ford Motor Company says there is no need to wait for clean power. His Hydrogen Engine Center introduced the first hydrogen-fueled combustion engine for industrial uses in 2004. The company’s niche right now includes airport ground vehicles, forklifts and the like. (American Airlines alone has 9,500 vehicles likely to be converted to alternative fuels over the next decade.) His engines can "run on a number of fuels including hydrogen, ethanol, natural gas, propane or digester gas from landfills," the AP reports. We will be breathing cleaner air in the future thanks to the enthusiasm of Ted Hollinger and his team.

Ride Your Bike to Work Week: More People Peddling to Jobs

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May 20, 2006

2005 was one of the top years for bike sales in the U.S. with 20 million bikes sold. 2006 promises to be a record year as people tire of high gas prices.

In Northern California, one machine operator ditched his gas-guzzling truck and now bikes the six miles to work at his packaging plant. AP reports that he "rides rain or shine, feels more relaxed and healthier, and has lost nearly 50 pounds."

"Every time I get on the scale, it’s like I’m getting rewarded for riding to work," said Morrison, 38. "The two biggest complaints people have are not having enough money and obesity. I’m taking care of both."

Top Soccer Stars Score for Kids at World Cup

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May 19, 2006

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The world’s top soccer stars will not only score for their home countries at next month’s World Cup but also play for UNICEF, the world’s largest children’s fund, to show how team sports can create self-esteem, confidence and trust among kids and nationalities.

15 World Cup players — icons from around the world — were filmed by MTV for a series of video spots to promote a new campaign called Unite for Children, Unite for Peace. Launched by the United Nations Children’s Fund and the world’s governing soccer body, FIFA, to spotlight the power of soccer in promoting values of peace and tolerance within communities and at the international level, the campaign will score its goals using more than just music videos. . .

Good News on PBS: US Cities Improving

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May 19, 2006

A new PBS series shows us how to fix our cities… make them greener, cleaner, more livable, less wasteful. It will showcase extraordinary community activists as well as forward-thinking professionals and governmental officials who are transforming their urban environments.

The premiere episode profiles Chicago. Check listings, because it airs on different nights depending on where you live, during May 18-25, Philadelphia follows, with Seattle and Los Angeles featured later this year. . .

What strategies contribute to a sustainable ecosystem? How can we save open space and public parks, even urban forestry? What about public art, waste disposal, recycling, mass transit alternatives and green architecture? — Edens Lost & Found presents the integrated “best practices” that are making a significant difference in these four cities.

Chicago, the Eco-Windy City

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May 19, 2006

In Time magazine this week, Mayor Daley describes his efforts to turn Chicago into America’s Eco-city. Since Dale took office in 1989, a half million trees have been planted, renewable, alternative power is being pushed, 2 million square feet of rooftop gardens have been transforming air pollution while city vehicles are forbidden to idle more than five minutes.

If it works â€” and Daley is betting a hefty sum it will, with promises to buy millions in solar panels, for example â€” the green movement here is expected to yield the city perhaps billions in saved energy costs and new business.Â

Former Rivals Join in Common Cause to Save the Internet

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May 18, 2006

moby_event2 Which issue aligns artists and musicians with Gun Owners of America? MoveOn.org with the Christian Coalition? The AARP with E-bay and Google? All these bipartisan groups along with 600 others have joined together in an effort to keep the internet free and equal for all websites, no matter how large or small.

Grammy-nominated musician Moby joined today with U.S. Representative Edward Markey (D-MA), ranking Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, to demand that Congress reject upcoming legislation that would allow AT&T, Verizon, and other telecommunications giants to give preferential treatment to websites on the Internet, altering the access consumers enjoy.

Save the Internet (savetheinternet.com) is an alliance of organizations from across the political spectrum, consumer groups, educators, small businesses, and bloggers that have joined together to fight the congressional proposal to gut Network Neutralityâ€”the Internet’s First Amendment. . .

UK Paper Donates Revenue from Bono/AIDS Edition to Africa Fight

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May 17, 2006

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Half of all revenues from yesterday’s issue of the UK paper, the Independent, will go towards the fight against AIDS in Africa.

The May 16 paper, guest edited by U2 rocker and activist Bono, sold out within hours. All the articles featured the AIDS issue, which Bono laments is missing in other mainstream media that apparently require rock stars to motivate their coverage of the facts: “6,500 people die in Africa every day from a preventable, treatable disease (AIDS/HIV).”

Splashed with the RED branding (see red AmEx card on the page) that Bono is using to raise awareness of the AIDS issue, copies become instant collectors’ items. One of the RED editions sold on ebay for for £9.90. . .

Bono pal and rocker, Bob Geldof editorialized in the paper that, “Trade, not aid, is the answer.” (And, he knows the issue of hunger in Africa as well as anyone.) Elvis Costello delivered a stinging criticism of American media and political figures, though he didn’t comment on whether the government delivered on its pledge to Africa. (He insinuated they HAVEN’T in New Orleans.)

UK’s director for the charity ActionAid referred to the Live 8 concerts last year, and the corresponding campaign (One.org) that pushed governments to pledge to help Africa, when he said that the decision of the guest editor, Bono, to echo the demands of the Make Poverty History campaign throughout The Independent’s pages “keeps our politicians on notice that they must deliver.“

Israel Opens Crossing to Gaza Eases Crisis

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May 17, 2006

Israel made a decision to open the main cargo crossing to the Gaza strip for the first time in several months out of humanitarian concerns. The Karni crossing has been closed on and off for security reasons but Palestinians normally import much of their food and export goods and produce through the opening. It’s closing has had a significant economic impact on Gaza residents. Israel’s newspaper, Haaretz quoted Israel’s new defense minister as saying during a meeting with his army commanders, “Our war is against terror, not against the residents of the Strip.” It also reported that just three weeks ago the Palestinian Authority thwarted a planned attack at the crossing.

(One small hurrah uttered for Minister Peretz!
Faith that is positive can be powerful.)

Grassroots Internet Campaign Pressures Indonesia to Save Orangutan Rainforest

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May 17, 2006

626px-Female_Orangutan_&_Baby_PerthZoo_SMC_Sept_2005 Under intense international pressure, the Indonesian government has virtually abandoned plans to convert large areas of ancient rainforest in the “Heart of Borneo” that are a prime habitat for the endangered Orangutan. The original plan called for a massive oil palm plantation to be built on 1.8 million hectares (nearly 7,000 square miles or 18,000 sq. km) of mainly native forests along the Indonesia-Malaysia border.

In an abrupt about-face, the Agriculture Minister (formerly an advocate for development) last week announced only 180,000 hectares are deemed suitable for developing, effectively reducing the project’s expanse by 90 percent. International protest via e-mail bombarded the Indonesian government and may have been responsible for the turnaround. . .

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