San Luis Obispo is a county of people who truly care about their surroundings.  Blessed with some of the most stunning scenery on the continent, we as residents of the Central Coast take great pride in our land.  Knowing that all beautiful and valuable things are open to exploitation by forces larger than any individual, concerned citizens, like those involved with SLO Transition Towns, gather together to identify and address the threats facing our natural heritage.

With the topics of peak oil, climate change, and economic instability at the forefront of their agenda, SLO Transition Towns  will present an evening of information, discussion, and a call for action this Wednesday, May 16 at the Ludwick Center (864 Santa Rosa St.) beginning at 6:59pm.  The event will address issues of corporate personhood, fracking, water rights, and overall environmental protection.

Keynote speaker Shannon Biggs will discuss her current work which focuses on helping communities confronted by corporate power to assert their rights and enact binding law that places the well-being of people and landscapes above profit.  Her methods of organizing stem from an understanding of the origins of corporate power as developed by the Community Environmental Defense Fund (CELDF).   Biggs is the director of the Community Rights program at Global Exchange and is the copauthor of Building the Green Economy; Success Stories from the Grass Roots and The Rights of Nature: The Case for a Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth.  Joining her will be Kylie Nealis, the Community Rights Program Associate from Global Exchange.

For more information, contact June Cochran at (805) 773-2847.

Calling all amateur scientists and nature buffs!  The United States National Phenology Network (USANPN) needs to you to help record and catalog natural events across the country.  The USANPN hopes to gather as much data on plants and animals as possible in order to study and monitor the effects of climate change on the ecosystem.  By bringing together academic researchers, schools, non-profit organizations, and individual citizens, the Network has created an ever-expanding database of information that can be used to aid in conservation, environmental policy, and land management.  The effort combines modern Internet technology with good, old-fashioned methods of analysis.   As of 2012, participants have contributed over 1 million observations of North American flora and fauna.

There are several ways to get involved in the USANPN.  Through their popular Nature’s Notebook program, would-be naturalists can search their list of species that are under investigation, learn some basic observation skills, register as a participant, and begin to log their recordings online.  After submitting, contributors can explore the site to see where their numbers fit into the whole picture, see who is leading the pack on number of observations entered, and access maps and visual representations of the project.  Bird-lovers can get involved with the Bird Phenology Program which is undertaking the enormous effort of digitizing a collection of over 6 million Migration Observer Cards.  These handwritten notes are valuable pieces of history that shed light on behavior patterns and distribution of a host of avian species across the continent.  Once in the computer, the cards will be cross-referenced with climate data and evaluated.  Collaborating organizations can partner with the USANPN or join already existing efforts and ongoing studies. Long-time backyard biologists can even contribute old statistics to become a part of the data set.

The USANPN is an excellent resource  for professional researchers and inquiring minds who have access to a plethora of information that is available for download.  Their search engine scours a number of record collections from around the globe, literature on climate and biocomplexity, and publications by their staff and affiliated journals.  In an era of shrinking budgets for research and a time where smart energy policy has never been more crucial, the USANPN is utilizing the power of those affected by the problems of climate change to become a part of the solution.  So, grab some binoculars, a pencil, and a piece of paper!  It’s time to get phenomenal!

With the threat of climate change looming like an unseasonable storm cloud overhead, and a Congress that can barely agree on the time of day let alone a meaningful energy policy, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and discouraged.  Yet, instead of letting the frustration of politics get in the way of responsible stewardship, communities across the nation are banding together to take steps towards a greener future.  Installing solar panels can be an excellent way to reduce the costs of household electric bills and shift consumption practices away from dirty, non-renewable sources of power.  Individually, going solar can be expensive and inconvenient.  Banded together, co-ops bring down the cost of setting up an array, share their expertise with the entire neighborhood, and develop a model that can be followed by local and national governments.

Want a little help getting your street off the grid?  Allow Mt. Pleasant Solar Cooperative of Washington, D.C. to guide you towards the light!  An association of over 70 households, the Cooperative was founded in 2006 by neighbors concerned about energy independence and global warming.  Advocating conservation and collective action, they provide their members with sponsored energy audits, compact fluorescent bulbs, aggregate neighborhood data on electricity usage, seminars, and the buying power that comes with greater numbers.

With our sunny Mediterranean climate, San Luis Obispo County is perfect for solar technology. The Central Coast is home to several local solar companies, including REC Solar, Pacific Energy Company, and Phat Energy.  As if making a dent in the climate crisis was not enough of a reason to switch to renewables, online calculators allowing you to determine the money you would save make for a compelling argument.  The state even provides incentives and rebates for homeowners and businesses to take the first steps towards set-up.

Need a little help getting people together?  Browse the Center for a New American Dream’s website for advice on how to start a movement in your neck of the woods!