New report shows Keystone XL will raise gas prices in the midwest

A new Consumer Watchdog report  was released today showing that if the KeystoneXL pipeline is built, the oil diverted from the midwest to Asia will cause pump prices to increase 20 to 40 cents per gallon.

This means that the KXL is NOT a tradeoff between economic benefits and environmental risks. For the U.S., it is ALL risk and NO benefit. There are now exactly zero reasons to support the KXL pipeline.

Please share this news with people you know via Facebook, Twitter and good old fashioned conversation.

Support “Walk for Our Grandchildren” July 23rd

Please come out to Leesburg on Tuesday July 23rd to help the local Loudoun chapter of 350.org support people walking for climate change awareness.

Support “Walk for Our Grandchildren”

http://www.2013walkforourgrandchildren.org/

Volunteers Needed on Tuesday, July 23

On July 22, an intergenerational group of determined climate activists from Asheville, North Carolina, will march from Camp David, MD to Washington, D.C. to remind the President that he can act unilaterally to stop the Keystone Pipeline.  They will hike the Appalachian Trail to Harper’s Ferry, where they will walk along the C & O Canal to reach Washington.

On July 23, they will camp at White’s Ferry, MD.  350 Loudoun, your local, grass roots climate action group, is organizing a 4:30 – 5:30 public rally in Leesburg to welcome the walkers and give them an opportunity to share his/her story.  The walkers will also be the guests of honor at a public, pot luck dinner.

Volunteers are needed to transport walkers from White’s Ferry to the Leesburg rally site, to the Leesburg pot luck site, then back to the Ferry at 7:00 pm. 

Volunteers are needed to bring food to the pot luck dinner, which will begin between 5:30 & 6:00 and end at 7:00 pm.

Plan to attend the rally and the pot luck dinner.  This is a unique opportunity to meet and support such courageous, committed, and passionate environmentalists of all ages. 

Please reply to 350loudoun@gmail.com and let us know what you can bring to the pot luck dinner and if you can help carpool.  Categories of food include meat main dish, vegetarian main dish, salads/vegetables, desserts.  We look forward to seeing you!

Transition Loudoun Launch Event June 8th - Oatlands Plantation 1pm

Announcing Our Launch!

June 8th: 1pm to 4:30pm

No Entrance Charge

Oatlands Plantation 
Leesburg, VA (See map)

Bothered by steadily increasing impacts from global warming? Ever wonder what Bush meant when he said "America is addicted to oil"? Want a local economy that is resilient enough to withstand sequestrations and national/global economic downturns?

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, 
committed citizens can change the world;
indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

--Margaret Mead

The Loudoun Transition Initiative is a community based group of people just like you who want to make a better world - not just for themselves, but for their children (and grandchildren, etc). But how does one go about doing that? And what is a Transition Initiative?

The Transition Movement is comprised of over 600 vibrant, grassroots community initiatives around the world that seek to build community resilience in the face of such challenges as climate change, energy risks, and the economic crisis. Transition Initiatives collaborate (not compete) with other sustainability and environmental groups, seeking to mitigate these converging global crises by engaging their communities in home-grown, citizen-led education, action, and multi-stakeholder planning to increase local self-reliance and resilience.

Come out and join us June 8th as we launch our Transition Initiative and begin forming subgroups to address smart local responses, including agriculture, transportation, energy, building efficiency, jobs/economy, and more…

See our Facebook event listing

2013 Energy and Environmental Sustainability Awards

Last Wednesday, April 24th 2013 Sustainable Loudoun and REHAU sponsored the 2013 Energy and Environmental Sustainability awards to 5 deserving local Loudoun County high school students. The awards were presented by Loudoun County School Superintendent Dr. Edgar Hatrick III.

 2013 Award Winners

Our program included a wonderful presentation by Dr. Michele Thaller, Asst. Director of Science at the NASA Greenbelt Spaceflight Center. She educated all of us using some incredible NASA animations. You can get alot more cool stuff at climate.nasa.gov.

Find us at Earth Day @ Loudoun tomorrow, April 28th.

Sustainability Awards Ceremony for Local LC High School Students - Wed April 24th

Local business REHAU together with Sustainable Loudoun & SandEnergy will award four very deserving Loudoun County Science Fair Participants the ones who have the best projects in energy and environmentalism.

Come join us on Wednesday April 24th.  Doors open at 6pm and program starts at 7pm with our featured speaker, eminent scientist -Michelle Thaller.

At REHAU
1503 Edwards Ferry Rd, NE
Leesburg, VA
First building on the right, fourth floor
See the Full Program

Loudoun Transition Initiative Forum

What is the Loudoun Transition Initiative?

Sustainable Loudoun and George Washington University are hosting a public forum at the Loudoun GWU campus on the evening of Nov 30th to discuss the Loudoun Transition Initiative. What is a transition initiative and why should we attend?

Many citizens are concerned about the growing impact of global warming, the long term viability of the local economy, and/or the over-reliance on oil, wanting to understand the options available to address these issues with like-minded individuals and organizations as a community. 

The Transition Movement is comprised of over 600 vibrant, grassroots community initiatives around the world that seek to build community resilience in the face of such challenges as peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis. Transition Initiatives collaborate (not compete) with other sustainability and environmental groups, seeking to mitigate these converging global crises by engaging their communities in home-grown, citizen-led education, action, and multi-stakeholder planning to increase local self-reliance and resilience.

We are living in an age of unprecedented change, with a number of crises converging. Climate change, global economic instability, erosion of community, declining biodiversity, and resource wars, have all stemmed from the availability of cheap, non-renewable fossil fuels. Global oil production is predicted to irreversibly decline in the next years, and severe climate changes are already taking effect around the world. The coming shocks are likely to impose serious trials on our communities and families, so transition initiatives work to mitigate these risks in a positive manner.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Andrea McGimsey, Climate Reality Project
• "Climate Reality: Why Should We Care?"
• Capt. (Navy, ret.) Leo Goff, CNA Military Advisory Board
• "Energy Resources: A Matter of National Security"
• Stewart Schwartz Executive Director, Coalition for Smarter Growth
• Sustainable Land Use and Transportation Potential in Loudoun
• Will Stewart President, Sustainable Loudoun
• The Transition Initiative: What it is and Where We are Going…

Doors open Friday, Nov 30th at 6pm.

We will have refreshments and some local vendors in attendance.

Presentations begin at 7pm.

George Washington University, Loudoun Campus

20101 Academic Way, Ashburn VA

Sponsors: GW University, REHAU, Harris-Teeter, Corcoran Vineyards

Ashburn Green Expo Oct 14 2012!

GREEN EXPO & CONFERENCE

ASHBURN FARM

October 14, 2012

12:00 – 4:00

21400 Windmill Drive
Ashburn, VA 20147

Come by Ashburn Farm Community Center and participate in the FREE family friendly event featuring topics on conservation, sustainability and the environment. Meet with local companies and organizations offering products and services to help you save money and live healthier while also helping the environment. Presentations will be given on interesting, timely and relevant topics including:

• 10 Myths About Solar Power
• What Really Happens to My Curb Side Recycling?
• Eco friendly Landscaping that Costs Less and is Easy to Maintain
• Easy Conservation Techniques that Save Real Money
• Tap vs. Bottled Water
• This just in…On Climate Change
• Electric Vehicles – Charging into the Future
• Why, How and Where to Buy Local Foods

Sponsored by :

Organized by: Ashburn Farm Open Space Committee

More details on exhibitors and speakers at:

http://www.ashburnfarmassociation.org/