GREAT Blog Grand River Environmental Action Team (www.great-mi.org) 2008-05-23T17:11:53-04:00 http://great.myblogsite.com/index.html admin@fortunecity.com tag:blog,2008:greatblog Pivot Copyright (c) 2008, Authors of GREAT Blog Free "Green" Fuel ! 2008-05-23T16:57:00-04:00 2008-05-23T16:57:00-04:00 tag:blog,2008:greatblog.6 Sports Connections (Horton Rd) owner, Roger Stevens, shows a green alternative to the high price of gasoline! What do you recommend to reduce your use of gasoline? Sports Connections (Horton Rd) owner, Roger Stevens, shows a green alternative to the high price of gasoline! What do you recommend to reduce your use of gasoline?

]]> Michgan Water Use Legislation 2008-05-08T17:24:00-04:00 2008-05-08T17:24:00-04:00 tag:blog,2008:greatblog.5 The Michigan Legislature is considering legislation to tighten standards on the amount of water that can be drawn from water sources. The House Great Lakes and Environment Committee has reported to the floor some very tough versions of water use bills compared to the Senate versions. Jackson County House Rep Marty Griffin and GREAT member who is on this committee opposed these in committee because he feels they are unfair to farmers because their fees are excessive and restrictions too great on their permittted water quantities. Unlike the Senate, in the House, these controversial bills have been tied to the legislation for the Compact, which protects the water of the Great Lakes from being used outside of the Great Lakes basin. The Compact is expected to be approved by all Great Lakes states (including Michigan) and Canadian Providences and must be also approved by Congress. Farm and business groups are opposed to these tougher proposals the way they are currently written. To read the bills check http://greatlakesgreatmichigan.org/legislation.htm Please feel free to make any comments on this very important topic. The Michigan Legislature is considering legislation to tighten standards on the amount of water that can be drawn from water sources. The House Great Lakes and Environment Committee has reported to the floor some very tough versions of water use bills compared to the Senate versions. Jackson County House Rep Marty Griffin and GREAT member who is on this committee opposed these in committee because he feels they are unfair to farmers because their fees are excessive and restrictions too great on their permittted water quantities. Unlike the Senate, in the House, these controversial bills have been tied to the legislation for the Compact, which protects the water of the Great Lakes from being used outside of the Great Lakes basin. The Compact is expected to be approved by all Great Lakes states (including Michigan) and Canadian Providences and must be also approved by Congress. Farm and business groups are opposed to these tougher proposals the way they are currently written. To read the bills check http://greatlakesgreatmichigan.org/legislation.htm

Please feel free to make any comments on this very important topic.

]]> Why Are GREAT's Numbers Up? 2007-08-15T19:35:00-04:00 2007-08-15T19:35:00-04:00 tag:blog,2008:greatblog.4 ---Our membership now stands at 107; a 50% increase of where we finished the year in 2006. ---Participation on our monthly canoe/kayak outings has twice set a new record, with July having a whopping 65 paddlers! ---Donations are also up The GREAT Board would like to know why. Is it better publicity through our improved web site, a better circulated brochure of our events, or more media announcements; better weather, or better run events? Is it all of the above or some combination? You can help us. If you have an idea or an opinion, please enter a comment accordingly. Thanks! Jim ---Our membership now stands at 107; a 50% increase of where we finished the year in 2006.

---Participation on our monthly canoe/kayak outings has twice set a new record, with July having a whopping 65 paddlers!

---Donations are also up

The GREAT Board would like to know why. Is it better publicity through our improved web site, a better circulated brochure of our events, or more media announcements; better weather, or better run events? Is it all of the above or some combination?

You can help us. If you have an idea or an opinion, please enter a comment accordingly. Thanks! Jim ]]> Problems Without Borders 2007-06-08T23:17:00-04:00 2007-06-08T23:17:00-04:00 tag:blog,2008:greatblog.3

The May issue of Vanity Fair, which is their 2nd annual "Green Issue" included an unique article with Maps made by a joint project between University of Michigan and Sheffield (U. K.). The maps are drawn in proportion to what countries or regions of the world are responsible for positive or negative environmental actions. Interestingly, the US was very positive on three of the six maps and negative on the other three. The US is the best or one of the best (positive) in the world in the categories of plants at plant at risk, forest lost 1990-2000, and waste recycling. However, the US was the worse or one of the worse when it came to fuel imports, net imports of wood and paper, and the proportion of municipal waste. Jim The May issue of Vanity Fair, which is their 2nd annual "Green Issue" included an unique article with Maps made by a joint project between University of Michigan and Sheffield (U. K.). The maps are drawn in proportion to what countries or regions of the world are responsible for positive or negative environmental actions. Interestingly, the US was very positive on three of the six maps and negative on the other three. The US is the best or one of the best (positive) in the world in the categories of plants at plant at risk, forest lost 1990-2000, and waste recycling. However, the US was the worse or one of the worse when it came to fuel imports, net imports of wood and paper, and the proportion of municipal waste.



Jim

]]> Green Energy Conflicts with Paddlers 2007-06-08T22:51:00-04:00 2007-06-08T22:51:00-04:00 tag:blog,2008:greatblog.2 Did any of you see the May/June 2007 issue of Paddler Magazine? If you have not read it, but have access to the magazine, I strongly recommend you read the article as it documents a major dilemma of worthwhile competing goals. This is a very interesting story about the fight between kayakers and the local power authority who wanted encourage development of non-coal fire power plants and kayakers who fought a proposed project on their favorite Ashlu River in British Columbia. The project would not make the river as attractive and challenging to kayaking. Eventually the proposed non-dam project was approved and is now being constructed, but not without a long fight during which the process rules were changed after the kayakers thought they had won. If you read this, which side do you generally agree with?  Jim  Does green energy pose a threat to paddlers? Did any of you see the May/June 2007 issue of Paddler Magazine? If you have not read it, but have access to the magazine, I strongly recommend you read the article as it documents a major dilemma of worthwhile competing goals. This is a very interesting story about the fight between kayakers and the local power authority who wanted encourage development of non-coal fire power plants and kayakers who fought a proposed project on their favorite Ashlu River in British Columbia. The project would not make the river as attractive and challenging to kayaking. Eventually the proposed non-dam project was approved and is now being constructed, but not without a long fight during which the process rules were changed after the kayakers thought they had won.

If you read this, which side do you generally agree with?



Jim

Does green energy pose a threat to paddlers? ]]> Welcome!! 2007-05-26T20:45:00-04:00 2007-05-26T20:45:00-04:00 tag:blog,2008:greatblog.1 Welcome to the Grand River Environmental Action Team (GREAT) Blog!         Please feel free to post your comments and responses in regard to environmental issues and GREAT activities. Environmental issues are often complex and there are many viewpoints, even among environtalist. GREAT is dedicated to the promotion of the discussion and education of these issues. GREAT's focus is the Grand River of Jackson County, Michigan. However, local environmental issues have world wide implications and world wide environmental issues have local implications. Let the discussion begin! Jim Seitz, GREAT President    Welcome to the Grand River Environmental Action Team (GREAT) Blog!

Please feel free to post your comments and responses in regard to environmental issues and GREAT activities.

Environmental issues are often complex and there are many viewpoints, even among environtalist. GREAT is dedicated to the promotion of the discussion and education of these issues. GREAT's focus is the Grand River of Jackson County, Michigan. However, local environmental issues have world wide implications and world wide environmental issues have local implications.

Let the discussion begin!

Jim Seitz, GREAT President

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