Second Nature » Volunteering

From Hippie to Hip – Earth Day 1970 to 2011

Jayme — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:00:37 +0000

Each year, Earth Day — April 22 — marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

The height of hippie and flower-child culture in the United States, 1970 brought the death of Jimi Hendrix, the last Beatles album, and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Protest was the order of the day, but saving the planet was not the cause. War raged in Vietnam, and students nationwide increasingly opposed it.

“Environment” was a word that appeared more often in spelling bees than on the evening news. Although mainstream America remained oblivious to environmental concerns, the stage had been set for change by the publication of Rachel Carson’s New York Times bestseller Silent Spring in 1962. The book represented a watershed moment for the modern environmental movement, selling more than 500,000 copies in 24 countries and, up until that moment, more than any other person, Ms. Carson raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment and public health.

Earth Day 1970 capitalized on the emerging consciousness, channeling the energy of the anti-war protest movement and putting environmental concerns front and center.

Source: earthday.org

As a result, on the 22nd of April, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.

Skip to 1990…

As 1990 approached, a group of environmental leaders asked Denis Hayes to organize another big campaign, similar to 1970. This time, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. Earth Day 1990 gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

As the millennium approached, Hayes agreed to spearhead another campaign, this time focused on global warming and a push for clean energy. With 5,000 environmental groups in a record 184 countries reaching out to hundreds of millions of people, Earth Day 2000 combined the big-picture feistiness of the first Earth Day with the international grassroots activism of Earth Day 1990. It used the Internet to organize activists, but also featured a talking drum chain that traveled from village to village in Gabon, Africa, and hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Earth Day 2000 sent world leaders the loud and clear message that citizens around the world wanted quick and decisive action on clean energy.

Much like 1970, Earth Day 2010 came at a time of great challenge for the environmental community. Climate change deniers, well-funded oil lobbyists, reticent politicians, a disinterested public, and a divided environmental community all contributed to a strong narrative that overshadowed the cause of progress and change. In spite of the challenge, for its 40th anniversary, Earth Day Network reestablished Earth Day as a powerful focal point around which people could demonstrate their commitment. Earth Day Network brought 225,000 people to the National Mall for a Climate Rally, amassed 40 million environmental service actions toward its 2012 goal of A Billion Acts of Green®, launched an international, 1-million tree planting initiative with Avatar director James Cameron and tripled its online base to over 900,000 community members.

The fight for a clean environment continues in a climate of increasing urgency, as the ravages of climate change become more manifest every day. We invite you to be a part of Earth Day and help write many more victories and successes into our history. Discover energy you didn’t even know you had. Feel it rumble through the grassroots under your feet and the technology at your fingertips. Channel it into building a clean, healthy, diverse world for generations to come.

- Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

http://jaymecarleton.com

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Breaking the Law to Make Streets Greener? 8 Smart Guerrilla Urban Improvements

Jayme — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:00:33 +0000

Before reading this article by Treehugger I was slightly impressed and slightly weary. Anytime an article starts with “breaking the law” you never know what you will find or whether you can approve of the ideas. After reading this article, I have to say that these ideas are really cool, just be sure that in your city you aren’t committing a criminal offense.

My favorite idea is guerrilla gardening. Guerrilla gardeners believe in reclaiming idle spaces and taking action, assigning a new use or purpose for a public area, usually neglected or abandoned. The movement is also about learning how to grow your on food, making your area a nicer place to live and meeting new people.

My second favorite ideas is eco graffiti. Eco graffiti is about spreading a message without the use of sprays or paints, as they contain really toxic and harmful chemicals. Instead, artists use moss (the most popular), grass or other natural elements.

- Jayme Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

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Young Execs Program… What Is It and How Do I Join?

Jayme — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:44:16 +0000

Jayme Mattson - Not Just a Green Advocate

“Our continued progress as a City relates directly to the growth and development of its young leaders and executives. The Young Executives program through the Bellevue Chamber provides much needed education, training and industry contacts, and should be considered by all companies and industries.” – Jayme Mattson

The Young Executives program is an opportunity for young professionals who are in the 3-5 year mark in their careers. The program is designed to give attendees a chance to build long-term business relationships with a core group of peers. Attendees will learn team building skills, leadership skills, civic awareness, and receive valuable tools & resources to help them reach long-term career success. Contact Sara Garner to learn more about this great program!

Now enrolling for 2010 – register now!

To visit the course website click here…. Don’t forget to note the class speakers for 2008, 2009 and 2010!

- Jayme Mattson

jaymemattson.com

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Safety, Dinner and A Mountain Climber…

Jayme — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:05:29 +0000

Making Safety a Priority

As the 2009 and 2010 Chair of the ResCon Safety Group I am always pleased to be able to say – “Yes, We Will Be There!” It takes a lot of time and planning for a small committee to gain the following and resources to be able to support a booth at a large event. We wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the support of the Master Builders Association, Department of Labor & Industries, Super Anchor and many more participants. THEREFORE, I am pleased to announce that the ResCon Safety Group will be at the MBA General Membership Dinner and Tradeshow! Please come by and visit us!

We will be displaying new material from NAHB, fall prevention products from Super Anchor and much more! If you feel lucky, be sure to drop your business card in our prize drawing bowl.

Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 900 Bellevue Way NE. Bellevue
Cost: $50 per person, $10 late fee after Friday, September 4th
Contact: Events department (425) 451-7920 or events@mbaks.com

Join your fellow members at this year’s Fall General Membership Dinner for an evening of networking, education and FUN! We’ll kick it off with a tabletop tradeshow and cocktail reception followed by an inspirational presentation by Ed Viesturs, a highly-acclaimed mountain climber, to offer testimony to the sacrifices (personal and professional) in giving your life over to a dream, as well as the thrill of seeing it through.

Advance registration is strongly suggested.

Click here to find the ResCon Safety Group on Linked!

- Jayme Mattson

jaymemattson.com

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Earth Day – Wake Up America!

Jayme — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:59:58 +0000

Earth Day has arrived – April 22nd – what does this mean to you?

I think that is a question we should all ask ourselves. Earth Day is a reminder for the entire world to wake up and realize how much our every day life affects our planet. Earth Day broadens the base of support for environmental programs, rekindles public commitment and builds community activism around the world through a broad range of events and activities.

There are many events such as festivals and rallies organized for the weekends before and after April 22. Many communities also celebrate Earth Week or Earth Month by organizing a series of environmental activities throughout the month of April.

Earth Day Network is the driving force around Earth Day – steering environmental awareness around the world. Through Earth Day Network, activists connect, interact, and impact their communities, and create positive change in local, national, and global policies.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out this group, you should. Right now they are initating a program called “A Billion Acts of Green” where you can fill out their online form letting Earth Day Network know what personal action you are taking in April.

Here are some examples of personal actions you could take to be part of Earth Day and A Billion Acts of Green:

recycling
planting a tree
changing out your light bulbs
taking the bus to work
consolidating the trips you take in your car
drinking water from a reusable stainless steel container instead of buying bottled water
buying local produce instead of grocery store produce

-JM

www.secondnatureconsulting.com

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Help For The Hard Times

Jayme — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:04:37 +0000

2008 Team Photo

Help For the Hard Times is a team I formed in 2001. I wanted to give back to the community and felt that donating my time as a team captain and in fundraising efforts was a good first step.

Help For the Hard Times is new to Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. It has focused its efforts over the past years with Lifelong Aids Alliance and Diabetes Association – two organizations which are near and dear to my heart. First because I used to work with HIV victims through an advocacy program when I was a teenager. Second, because my father lived life with Diabetes and passed away from complications in 2007.

I am blessed to have friends and family who have participated in fundraising efforts and have attended the walks for these two organizations since the beginning. I look forward to this tradition being carried over to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Thank you for your support. I look forward to seeing you on June 7th.

Best Wishes,

Jayme Mattson

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