TREES: Transportation, Energy, Environment, Sustainability

TRANSPORTATION for Peak Oil
change regional plans to anticipate Peak Oil
maintain road networks, don't expand them
upgrade Amtrak and inter-city buses
convert RV factories to make buses
local manufacture of electric cars, bicycles
no “mileage tax” to track all motorists 24/7
Hybrids should not subsidize Hummers

ENVIRONMENT Protection and Restoration
ecoforestry: selective logging to restore tree farms to forests, no clearcuts or biocides, value added products
green business, non-toxic industry, myco and bioremediation,
zero discharge, ban toxics to protect public health, shift to carbohydrate economy away from petrochemicals
reduce garbage: waste is a terrible thing to mind
intelligent (urban) design: beauty not ugliness
(prevent more strip mauls, billboards)

ENERGY for the Year 2025, Region 2050
build solar panel and wind turbine factories
convert grass seed farms to grow biofuels
require passive solar design in building codes
relocalize production to reduce consumption (fewer delivery trucks)
retrofit buildings: conservation & renewables
initiatives for sustainable jobs after Peak Oil

SUSTAINABILITY is not efficiency, it is post-petroleum
paradigm shifts: psychological and political
beyond boom and bust: steady state economy
local food security, more community gardens, teach gardening skills at neighborhood levels, protect farm soils from "development" regional inventories of food production and processing
economic stability needs democratic decisions, Campaign Finance Reform
public health: single payer health care
support local economy: strengthen local businesses, build downtown Farmers Market, not Whole Foods predator, ban big box megastores and franchises
WETLANDS main page

 

this page is under construction

 

Ugliness and Beauty

driving on the WEP would be more visually pleasant than driving past the West 11th strip malls ... but would ruin the landscape

"little boxes on the hillside"

 

West 11th strip mauls

Gateway / Beltline

Coburg Road

Springfield Main Street / Springfield lighting

 

Billboard Bans

Former Mayors Jim Torrey and Brian Obie were in the billboard industry, and the landscape of Eugene suffers as a result. Late in Torrey's second term, a large billboard (with Torrey's corporate logo at the bottom) magically appeared facing the Washington-Jefferson bridge off ramp.

Now that Eugene has a mayor not connected to what is euphemistically called the "outdoor advertising" industry, the City has the opportunity to prevent further uglification. Here are several suggestions for coping with this problem.

1. Ban Billboards

The State of Vermont prohibits billboards, since their natural beauty is an important asset. The highway department allows small signs to provide public notices for upcoming shops is sufficient to indicate destinations for motorists.

2. Moratorium on more billboards

A less controversial, but less effective approach would be to ban further construction of more billboards -- we already have more than enough.

3. Ban lighting of billboards

It is absurd that non-renewable coal and natural gas are being burned so that billboards can be lit, forcing everyone to see their messages (whether you want to or not).

4. Dark Sky Association recommendations for lighting

The least intrusive restriction on billboards would be to mandate the guidelines from the International Dark Sky Association (www.darksky.org), a group of astronomers fighting light pollution. These standards require lights to be pointed downward, not upward, so that pointless light pollution of the heavens is prevented.

 

uglification - Wal-Mart / Target / Home Depot