Where’s No Foam?: 12.6.10 GreenDrinks--Mayoral Candidate Forum

GreenDrinks is a monthly event hosted by Foresight Design, “Greens” from around the city gather for networking, discussion, and informal mingling. This month, the event was extra special as it featured five Chicago mayoral candidates: Danny Davis, Miguel del Valle, John Hu, Carol Moseley Braun, and Patricia Van Pelt Watkins.(Please note that although all candidates were invited some were not in attendance).

The proposed City-wide “Styrofoam” ban and other green initiatives gained tremendous visibility tonight through this forum. The second candidate to speak, John Hu, discussed banning “Styrofoam” in the city as part of his green platform and even mentioned NFC’s appearance in Saturday’s Chicago Tribune (see article HERE). Others to follow also mentioned Styrofoam--Carol Moseley Braun mentioned the benefits of the ban in respect to waste reduction.

Follow up questions probed deeper into the candidates’ commitment to green issues. This included proposals for eradicating the dreaded polystyrene!!

No Foam Chicago shared our message with the audience as well as the candidates, and showed that banning polystyrene is not preposterous or unnecessary. On the contrary, NOW is the time to turn the tide! John Hu followed up on our question regarding how to combat CPS's "styrofoam" use. We are especially happy about this exposure after gaining a new partner is ACE (more info HERE) and spending Saturday morning educating student leaders from Chicago Public Schools. All on top of the Trib article!

The candidates presented environmental issues they plan on championing as well as some thoughts on how to implement them. Through the speeches, it is evident that communication from government to citizens and businesses needs to continue to grow. Citizens--in all areas of the city--need more education regarding the problems we face. Incentives for pursuing green initiatives need to be provided for individual citizens. Funding sources should also be explored. Some candidates discussed potentials for privatization and the inherent risks involved (noting the Parking Meter Scandal) and government provided subsidies for recycling, water use, and other measures. Several candidates also discussed expanding measures to harness the creativity of the public to propose new solutions. Issues such as chemicals leaching from “Styrofoam” into children’s food and the presence of food deserts in certain areas showed the combination of the ‘green’ movement with human rights.

Log In on November 6 and Fight Plastic

Got a computer? How about some friends? If both of the above apply, get a group together and check out the Plastic Pollution Coalition’s TedxGreatPacificGarbagePatch event! This event is a video conference streamed live over the Interne. It will bring together leaders of all walks of life. They will teach you how to refuse disposable plastic that ends up in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, so often.

Speakers include: Dr. Sylvia Early, Van Jones, David de Rothschild, and Ed Begley Jr.

Getting involved is easy! Just screen the event starting at 11 AM CST from any laptop or computer with Internet connection and educate yourself about plastic consumption. OR join a pre-formed watch party in your area.

After the conference, tune in here or on other political blogs and discuss how you think the issue should be addressed. Should the focus be on individual responsibility, or should we focus instead on over-arching social reforms?

For more info, click HERE!!

Here's the Agenda, too with speakers and topics listed.

Coffee. Work. Repeat

As the cold weather begins to consume us, lets spend a few minutes thinking about that beverage that warms us up and keeps us moving throughout our day: Coffee.

Unbeknownst to many, there are alternatives to simply sipping out of a disposable cup. Simply ask for a “house ceramic mug” if you plan on staying in the coffeehouse. If the barista gives you a hard time, simply explain politely that you are dining in and would like a reusable cup. This way, you’ll avoid the guilt of using (an oftentimes virgin wood pulp) paper cup that will clog landfills. On top of the aforementioned problems, many cups contain plastic liners (polyethylene) that cannot be recycled.

Many coffee shops have switched from reusable cups to paper ones because they can quickly be handed out, without worrying about needing staff or equipment to wash them. However, many are willing to provide customers with reusable mugs if asked. If they aren’t able to give you a mug, politely inquire why. This way, we will know the cause of eco-unfriendly strategies and what can be done to help businesses change these habits.

Taking it “to-go” before running to class or work? Forgot you cup?…Again? We’ve all been there. Next time, pack your extra mug or cup in your bag. It can also be used as another container for small items such as pens, lipgloss, spare change, etc (but you might want to wrap these in reusable cloth so you don’t have penny-tasting java…yuck).

How to break the system of disposables? One solution is to educate the business owners by showing your commitment to eco-friendliness. Also, support organizations that push for packaging reform and who band together to promote social change. Legislation, organized political actions, consumer choices, and other methods must constantly work together to make our world greener.

The Importance of Ingenuity

Here at No Foam Chicago, we are obsessed with finding new materials to replace the nasty “Styrofoam” clamshells. Perhaps some of our supporters are already familiar with items such as bagasse (sugar cane) or bamboo; alternative materials such as these do not contain petroleum based products like “Styrofoam” does and they break down much faster. They do not leach chemicals and toxins into food, nor are they linked with cancer-causing agents, like “Styrofoam” is.

While there are already many excellent alternative options out there, we must constantly pay homage to the individuals and think tanks across the country (indeed across the world) that continuously develop new strategies.

This video from TED describes how fungus can be turned into packaging materials. There are extreme implications for such a product, especially since it is an actual living material. If living containers, packaging, and home insulation sounds space age to you, check out this video!! It also discusses the horrors of “Styrofoam”.

http://www.ted.com/talks/eben_bayer_are_mushrooms_the_new_plastic.html

Another idea involves mimicking ants. Yes, you heard that correctly. Insects. This "Inhabitat" article describes how the animals’ many virtues, such as a tough exoskeleton, can be harnessed by designers and used as inspiration for packaging!

http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/01/packaging-the-future-inspiration-from-ants/

Oh The Trouble A Bag Can Cause...

A recent proposal to ban single-use plastic bags in California has unfortunately been struck down thanks to a combination of advertising and big-name lobbying groups, particularly the American Chemistry Council. You may be asking why this is relevant to our campaign against "styrofoam". After securing the city-wide ban, we would be interested in taking our case state-wide. When this time comes, we need to show that we are aware of the opposition against such measures and have tactics to face them. Despite the loss of a battle in California, the fight is nowhere close to completion. California would have been the first state to establish a ban against plastic bags.

The American Chemistry Council has used a portion of its $100 million [earlier, spend millions fighting ban] budget to convince the State's Senate to reject the bill. They spend millions fighting bans and regulations such as this one. To get a better picture of their budget E, The Environmental Magazine, quotes the AP:

“[The ACC] spent millions in lobbying fees, radio ads and even a prime-time television ad attacking the measure.”

Several main proponents were Heal the Bay , Clean Water Action Group, and Californians Against Waste. If the plastic bag ban were to pass, upwards of $25 million could be saved. This is the current cost of transporting the $19 billion bags to landfills.

Despite actions designed to educate the public such as this PSA video, ultimately the lobbyists were able to convince the Senate that the costs of the ban would be too great. This is unfortunate because Governor Swartzenager was ready to sign it into law.

Despite this setback however, Palo Alto and Santa Clara Counties have already begun implementing bans of their own and San Jose is poised to follow suit. Proponents of the ban are also regrouping and attempting to educate the public about the harmful effects of plastic bags. These include both environmental and economical consequences. This is especially important in California because of its location on the West Coast and proximity to water.

Links:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/01/1802136/californias-plastic-bag-ban-plan.html

http://www.emagazine.com/view/?5319

http://www.cawrecycles.org/

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129570458

http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_acc/sec_news_article.asp?CID=206&DID=11325

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/blogs/prop-zero/Ban-the-Bag-or-Bag-the-Ban-101825238.html

http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_plastics/doc.asp?CID=1106&DID=6983

http://www.stopthebagpolice.com

NEW CO-SPONSORS!

We have reached a tremendous breakthrough today in our fight against styrofoam...

and are pleased to announce two new Aldermen co-sponsors of our ordinance proposing to ban styrofoam!! They are:

--Alderman Proco "Joe" Moreno (1st Ward)

--Alderman Danny Solis (25th Ward)

In either of their Wards? Why not send a quick thank you email? Their contact information is available here! Unsure who your Alderman is? Check out a map delineating Ward boundaries! See our post entitled "Know Your Alderman?".

These new co-sponsors will be a crucial component of our success. We will continue educating other Aldermen, as well as the public, about our cause.

In other news:

No Foam Chicago participated in the Lake View Music Fest on August 29, Glenwood Ave Arts Fest (as a guest of Alderman Moore), and 'Green Parenting: Growing Healthy Kids' at Uncommon Ground. Want to know where we'll be next?? Keep checking this blog for updates, sign up for our e-blasts (Just leave a comment in this post with your email address), and become our 'fan' on Facebook.

Thanks again to all our co-sponsors!

Where's No Foam?: Farmer Fridays

This Friday, August 6th, No Foam Chicago will be participating again at Uncommon Ground's Farmer Fridays Farmer's Market! The event continues until October, and NFC has already been present on a couple other Fridays.

So come out, sign a petition, grab some produce, sip an organic brew, and learn about some other great causes. Farmer Fridays are not your typical farmer's market. There will also be children's readings and music, as well as a performance by the Taverna Trio and Honky Tonk Happy Hour.

More details found here!