Climate Week 2015 - "Stand Up Now for our Future". Brookline's 5th annual Climate Week offered inspired ideas and energetic thought leaders working toward renewable energy and climate justice, and away from fossil fuel dominance. Events were held February 2 - February 10, 2015; the full list is below.
Putting Money Where Our Future Is: Strategies for Divesting and Investing
Monday, February 2
Find out what you can do to challenge the fossil fuel dominance of our economy and climate future by making both ethically based and smart economic decisions now. Leaders from Divest Harvard, Fossil Free MIT and Ceres, a renowned Boston based sustainable investments pioneer, inspire individuals, institutions, and communities to make strategic investment decisions.
Brookline Town Hall, 333 Washington Street
Sustainable Business Strategies: Lessons from Local Businesses & Non-Profits
Tuesday, February 3
Join Dennis Carlberg, Boston University’s Sustainability Director and Abe Faber, owner of Clear Flour Bakery and member of Local First and other businesses to share strategies about reducing your carbon footprint while increasing your bottom line. Sponsored by Newbury College.
Newbury College, 129 Fisher Avenue, Student Center Auditorium
On the Move: Innovative Ideas for Local Transportation
Tuesday, February 3
Special viewing of Power to the Pedals: Wenzday Jane and the Culture of Change, a compelling documentary by award winning filmmaker Bob Nesson. The film features the story of a human powered, Boston based, freight delivery business and the woman behind it. Then transportation thought leaders open a discussion about oppor¬tunities, issues, infrastructure, and regulations needed to build a better future. Whether you walk, bike, take public transportation, drive a car, or envision ways to grow green jobs, get inspired to make change and take action.
Coolidge Corner Theater, 290 Harvard Street. Admission free. Donations welcomed.
Community Solar! Opportunities to Grow and Share Solar Gardens
Wednesday, February 4
Community Shared Solar is ideal for those who don’t have a sunny roof, renters, houses of worship, non-profits, and businesses. Costs have come down on photovoltaic technology and solar renewable energy and generous incentives and attractive financing are now available. Panelists include: Thomas Vitolo, Synapse Energy; Emma Krause, Mass. Dept. of Energy Resources; Lisa Raffin, Sunbug Solar; James Nail, Pres., Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light.
Main Library, 361 Washington Street, Hunneman Hall
Adapting to Climate Change: Is Brookline Ready?
Thursday, Feb. 5
Many communities are already planning to become more resilient to extreme weather events, sea level rise, and other effects of climate change. The panel will present various aspects of adaption as it relates to Brookline and Greater Boston. Martin Pillsbury, Environmental Planning Director, Metropolitan Area Plan¬ning Council; Alan Balsam, Brookline Public Health Director; Tom Brady, Brookline Conservation Director; Jim Newman, Principal Linnean Solutions LLC.
Main Library, 361 Washington Street, Hunneman Hall
Brookline Commission for Women – Children’s Clothing Drive
Friday, February 6-7
Support the Commission’s 6th Annual Drive. Small children often grow out of their clothes long before the clothes wear out. Join our yearly reuse initiative by donating clean and wearable children’s clothing and shoes appropriate for ages zero to 5 years old. Newborn items especially needed. As always, we also accept nonperishable food, toiletries, and diapers for the Brookline Food Pantry.
Public Safety Building, 350 Washington Street
3R Depot: Pitch In to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Saturday, February 7
Come to Climate Week’s hub for climate education, action, and fun. Visit a tiny Solar House in the parking lot, pick up used sports gear, donate and drop off eyeglasses, cell phones, chargers, Styrofoam, pack¬ing peanuts (collected separately) and bicycles even if they need repair. Bring a copy or camera photo of your electric bill to join the Green Up Your House with the Click of a Mouse local renewable electricity campaign. Bring papers to be shredded and stay for activities for kids, sustainable fare at the Depot Food Court, and information about cutting home energy costs, composting, pay-as-you-throw recycling, gardening in containers and more. Visit 3R Depot Stations inside and outside Town Hall.
Brookline Town Hall, 333 Washington Street
What Does Parking Have to Do With It?
Saturday, February 7
Join Jason Schreiber from Nelson/Nygaard and other experts to learn about the wide-ranging impact of parking policies on our community. Find out how parking reform can achieve diverse community goals such as greater mobility, improved parking availability, more parks, affordable housing , and cleaner air.
Main Library, 361 Washington Street, Hunneman Hall
Sunday, February 8
The Muddy River Project: From Olmsted to the 21st Century
A walk led by Fran Gershwin, chair, Muddy River Restoration Project Maintenance and Management Oversight Committee (MMOC) will articulate project objectives: flood control and climate change mitigation, water quality improvement, enhancement of aquatic/riparian habitat, landscape and historic restoration and best management practices and end with warm beverages and an overview of the project in construction from upstairs at the Landmarks Building.
Meet at the Longwood Green Line T Stop, Chapel St.
Sustainability Day at the Rink
Join Brookline Recreation at the Jack Kirrane Rink to skate and see how the rink goes green! Skate and find out about choices that make a difference and reduce your fossil fuel emissions in your everyday life.
Jack Kirrane Rink, Larz Anderson Park, 15 Newton St.
Global Warming, the Crisis of our Time and the Carbon Tax Solution
Don Hnatowich, Citizens Climate Lobby, 350MA, and Climate Reality Project, presents the unfolding of the climate crisis and what you can do about it. Jessica Langerman, Pres. Climate XChange, explains why climate solution-oriented economists agree that a revenue-neutral carbon tax is the best solution.
Coolidge Corner Library, 31 Pleasant Street, Meeting Room
For Pete’s Sake
Add your voice to new and old songs Pete Seeger would want us to carry on in his name. Learn sim¬ple ways to continue his environmental legacy. Join singer and guitarist Alan Balsam, who also serves as Brookline Department of Public Health Director, for an inspiring sing. Enjoy sustainable refreshments.
Coolidge Corner Library, 31 Pleasant Street, Meeting Room
Green Up Your House with a Click of a Mouse: Mothers Out Front Campaign Kick Off Party
Join the Brookline team of Mothers Out Front, CAB, and community leaders as we launch our new campaign with a mid-winter mingle. Enjoy refreshments and music and learn about Mothers Out Front and the movement to switch 1,000 Brookline residents and businesses to Boston based, renewable green electricity. It’s the easiest and fastest way to significantly reduce your carbon footprint. It takes only 5 minutes and a picture of your electric bill! In the side room we’ll show the movie “Disruption”: inspiration for you to tip the balance toward a clean energy future.
Brookline Teen Center, 41 Aspinwall Avenue
Germinating Social Change: How Ideas Grow and Spread!
Monday, February 9
MIT professor and author, Alex Pentland discusses his book Social Physics and its relevance to the climate movement. His work taps “big data” to decipher patterns that show how ideas spread through social networks and ultimately drive human behavior.
Brookline Town Hall, 333 Washington Street
Broken Cities: A Game to Test Your Climate Adaptation & Mitigation Solutions
Tuesday, February 10
Eureka Puzzles hosts a game night in collaboration with Brookline’s Economic Development Division. Will you be a polluting, profit chasing slumlord, or a green-minded real estate mogul? The choice is yours. Sustainable snacks sourced locally. Limited Seats! RSVP to amartineau@brooklinema.gov by January 30 to secure yours.
Brookline Town Hall, 333 Washington Street