Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Action item: Monsanto controlling American agriculture: Tell Congress to say NO to Monsanto
Once again, Monsanto and the biotech industry are scheming behind closed doors to force their untested products onto the American public. Earlier this week, Congress was scheduled to vote on a provision in the 2013 House Appropriations Bill that would make it illegal for a federal judge to halt the sale and planting of genetically engineered crops during a legal review of their approval. That vote is now scheduled to take place after the Fourth of July.
It's up to us to stop this bill in its tracks; we can only do this with your help. Can you take one minute today to help stop the Monsanto Protection Act?
If this dangerous rider becomes law, it will take away any legal recourse for courts to halt Monsanto and other biotech companies' untested GMO crops from being planted even while the federal government assesses their potential risks.
It's time that our elected officials in Congress start standing up for our rights and those of family farmers and not the biotech monopolies that seek to undermine our democracy.
Please take a moment to sign and then spread the word! Thanks for participating in food democracy,
Dave, Lisa and the Food Democracy Now! Team
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods supports creation of Town and Gown committee by City Council
May meeting of Council of Neighborhoods
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| June 28, 2012, meeting of Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods about to begin |
Health-care law upheld 5-4 by U.S. Supreme Court
Health care in 2012 should be the same as any public utility. Upholding the current but not yet fully implemented law is a way to get more people insured. However, the problems won't all be solved until everyone is covered by a single-provider plan. The potential for increased profiteering by insurance companies still exists.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Joyce Hale named Dragon Slayer, but you knew that!
National Sierra Club newsletter congratulates Joyce Hale of Fayetteville for earning the Brownie Ledbetter 'Dragon-slayer award.'
ALL HALE
Kudos to Arkansas Chapter volunteer leader Joyce Hale, who on June 23 received the Brownie Ledbetter Dragon Slayer Awardfrom the Arkansas Citizens First Congress and the Arkansas Public Policy Institute. Hale has championed a range of issues including clean water and fair elections with the Sierra Club, the League of Women Voters, and other groups. Says the Arkansas Public Policy Panel: ["Joyce] was one of the first, and most forceful, in the state to raise concerns about the impacts of natural gas fracking on water quality and landowners."
Kudos to Arkansas Chapter volunteer leader Joyce Hale, who on June 23 received the Brownie Ledbetter Dragon Slayer Awardfrom the Arkansas Citizens First Congress and the Arkansas Public Policy Institute. Hale has championed a range of issues including clean water and fair elections with the Sierra Club, the League of Women Voters, and other groups. Says the Arkansas Public Policy Panel: ["Joyce] was one of the first, and most forceful, in the state to raise concerns about the impacts of natural gas fracking on water quality and landowners."
Fireworks terrify pets, start wildflires and irritate almost everyone
Please click on image to ENLARGE
County and city fire marshals, County judges, Quorum Court members, mayors and city council members: Contact them all to prevent the use of fire works in northwest Arkansas during one of the longest-running droughts in NWA history.
County and city fire marshals, County judges, Quorum Court members, mayors and city council members: Contact them all to prevent the use of fire works in northwest Arkansas during one of the longest-running droughts in NWA history.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Ban the pesticide that's killing bees!
Subject: Tell the EPA: Ban the pesticide that's killing bees!
In the next week, the EPA is expected to issue a decision on the pesticide Clothianidin -- which scientists believe is a major factor in the alarming decline in U.S honey bee populations, known as Colony Collapse Disorder. Since 2006, one third of U.S honey bee populations have been dying off. One third. Every year. That's a terrible rate of species destruction on its own, but it's also a serious threat to our food supply. Honey bees play a crucial role by pollinating 71 of the 100 most common crops, which account for 90% of the world's food supply.
The EPA will be issuing a decision soon. If the agency doesn't act, it won't review Clothianidin again until 2018 -- and by then it could be too late for the bees.
I just signed a petition to the EPA, and I thought you would want to add your name, too.
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/bee_decision/?r_by=&rc=paste2
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Ever wonder what I am trying to say when I talk about watershed issues? John Pennington says it all better from a scientist's point of view at links below
John Pennington has numerous watershed-education/information podcasts with video linked to a University of Arkansas site. Please see at this link.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
http://accessfayetteville.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish id=23
http://accessfayetteville.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish id=23
Click the live link above to view city council meeting in progress on June 19, 2012.
Click the live link above to view city council meeting in progress on June 19, 2012.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Louise Mann missed Eco-award ceremony but finally got hers on June 16, 2012, presented by Mikel Lolley in front of his home on S. Hill Avenue
Please click on individual images to ENLARGE.
Fayetteville seeking bids for a round hay baler? Aren't we a National Wildlife Federation-certified wildlife-habitat community? Then any former hayfields and pastures owned by the city should be managed with nothing more than an occasional mid-winter mowing. NO spring, summer or fall mowing if we want to really be wildlife friendly by encouraging native grass and forbs to dominate
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
One man steps up to ask planning commissioners to adhere to riparian-zone ordinance
Many photos of effort to get council to approve and public to understand purposes and value of stream side ordinance: Streamside set on Flickr
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| Sign on Mud Creek trail |
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Bumblebees, carpenter bees and other pollinators active on south Fayetteville prairie flowers
Please click on individual images for closer view of male Carpenter bee on obedient plant.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Planning commission approves building in-ground swimming pool in floodplain of Mud Creek in northwest Fayetteville AR: In case you weren't there to comment, maybe you will want to contact planning-commision members now that the deed is done
Please click on individual images to ENLARGE:
Now that I see the google map identifying the site of the house in question, I wonder why I bothered to speak out in defense of the riparian-zone ordinance. The Mud Creek is channelized through a golf course to the west and has Zero stream-side protection for a great distance. There was no stream-side ordinance when that golf course was authorized by the planning commission, which didn't include any of the current members.
What does it take to educate people about the environment? In my case it was exposure to hunting and fishing and seeing land needlessly cleared along streams for agriculture and streams and lakes polluted by oil and gas production in north Louisiana, southwest Arkansas and northeast Texas. My father led me to appreciate the natural forests and swamps and to honor the rights and feelings of people with fewer resources than I had.
But the schools can teach science and allow children to learn to think past their own selfish needs.
Now that I see the google map identifying the site of the house in question, I wonder why I bothered to speak out in defense of the riparian-zone ordinance. The Mud Creek is channelized through a golf course to the west and has Zero stream-side protection for a great distance. There was no stream-side ordinance when that golf course was authorized by the planning commission, which didn't include any of the current members.
What does it take to educate people about the environment? In my case it was exposure to hunting and fishing and seeing land needlessly cleared along streams for agriculture and streams and lakes polluted by oil and gas production in north Louisiana, southwest Arkansas and northeast Texas. My father led me to appreciate the natural forests and swamps and to honor the rights and feelings of people with fewer resources than I had.
But the schools can teach science and allow children to learn to think past their own selfish needs.
City of Fayetteville Appointees
| Position | Name | Address | Phone | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blake Pennington | 324 N. College Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72701 | (479) 430-1221 | 04/01/2012 thru 03/31/2014 | |
| Craig Honchell | 2430 Sharon St., Fayetteville, AR 72703 | (479) 236-1494 | 04/01/2009 thru 03/31/2012 | |
| Kyle Cook | 1335 N. Vandeventer Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72703 | (479) 521-7632 | 04/01/2011 thru 03/31/2014 | |
| Matthew Cabe | 230 S. Walker Rd., Fayetteville, 72701 | (479) 466-5739 | 04/01/2007 thru 03/31/2013 | |
| Porter Winston | 946 N. Lakeside Dr., Fayetteville, AR 72701 | (479) 442-9106 | 07/01/2007 thru 03/31/2015 | |
| Ryan Noble | 942 West Peachtree Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72703 | (479) 263-4325 | 04/01/2012 thru 03/31/2015 | |
| Sarah Bunch | 1301 N. Viewpoint Dr., Fayetteville, AR 72701 | (479) 442-0718 | 04/01/2010 thru 03/13/2013 | |
| Tracy Hoskins | 3155 N. College Ave., Suite 201, Fayetteville, AR 72703 | (479) 236-6636 | 04/01/2010 thru 03/31/2014 | |
| William Chesser | 1132 N. Oak Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72701 | (479) 521-3639 | 04/01/2010 thru 03/31/2013 |
Friday, June 8, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Outdoor Recreation meeting and Trail extension meetings on the same Thursday afternoon at separate places: How does that make sense? Don't know, but everyone who cares about the city's future should attend and speak up at both meetings.
Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view.
Please attend and talk about all park-related issues of concern to Fayetteville National Heritage Association. Outdoor photography, bird-watching, hiking and all the habitat issues are OUTDOOR RECREATION.
- Compost Site open 8 am to 3 pm
- Planning Agenda Session and Tour 4 p.m. Room 111 city hall
- Frisco Trail Southern Extension Community Input Session Senior Center 4 p.m.
- Outdoor Recreation Grant Program 5:30 p.m. Mount Sequoyah Gardens on Summit Drive
June 7, 2012
Please attend and talk about all park-related issues of concern to Fayetteville National Heritage Association. Outdoor photography, bird-watching, hiking and all the habitat issues are OUTDOOR RECREATION.
This meeting is important to FNHA, Sierra Club, Audubon, Environmental Action Committee, Tree and Landscape Committee, OMNI Center for Peace Justice Ecology, garden clubs and all groups concerned about urban wildlife and natural beauty and clean water and clean air, climate change, etc.
If we don't attend, the soccer moms and amateur jocks will dominate planning and spending for the future.
The giant Cummings property, a spectacular piece of habitat, will all be leveled for playing fields and the wildlife and beauty of the land will be only a memory of the few people who have actually toured in all seasons.
The Frisco Trail Extension meeting at 4 p.m. at the Senior Center
and the Outdoor Recreation Grant program meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Mount Sequoyah Gardens should be in one huge building over a 3-hour period or on separate days.
At least they are not at the SAME time Thursday, just planned to overlap enough to keep some of the 'usual' suspects from attending both.
I hope everyone will try to attend both and speak up!
The trail extension will destroy a significant amount of stream-side habitat, wooded wetland in the floodplain. But the proposed bridge need not be built if the existing bridge a city block upstream on Spout Spring were utilized for crossing into Walker Park. I spoke about that at the previous trail meeting and again Monday night at the mayor's Town Hall meeting.
Thanks for reading,
Sincerely,
Aubrey 444-6072
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| Legume family what species? |
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| Immature short-horn grasshopper on Liatris waiting to bloom |
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| Why is this liatris' foliage purple while waiting for rain to bloom? |