Pollution from coal fired power plants is one of the biggest contributors to climate disruption —period.

That’s why new EPA standards to curb carbon emissions for proposed coal plants are so critical. Big Coal and their friends are working overtime to stop the EPA from regulating these emissions —so we need YOU to have their back!

The EPA is hosting one-of-two critical hearings on these standards in Chicago. Join other Indiana residents on May 24th in Chicago to stand with the EPA against big polluters!
For years we have watched as efforts to address climate disruption have stalled in Washington. Time and time again,we’ve come away frustrated with a political system that is unprepared to address one of the key challenges of our time.

In the coming weeks,we can only expect the voices of corporate polluters and their friends in Washington to grow louder. We need a strong public show of support for the EPA at these hearings in order to effectively counter their falsehoods.

Make your voice heard! Join us on May 24th to stand with the EPA for sensible policies that address climate disruption and protect our future.
Corporate polluters can’t buy the truth. Global warming is a real threat. As the Earth warms,severe weather events are becoming our new normal —from the worst wildfire season in Texas history to a terrible string of deadly tornadoes in the Midwest. We’ve battled hard and won big victories recently —from the EPA’s enactment of our first-ever mercury protections to the historic announcement to retire Chicago’s two remaining dirty coal plants. People like you have fueled these victories and it’s time for us to deliver again.

Sign up now to travel from Indiana to Chicago. Save your spot for OUR chance to tackle climate change!

Thanks for all you do,
Alexis Boxer
Indiana Sierra Student Coalition
Sierra Club
P.S. After you take action,be sure to forward this alert to your friends and colleagues!

Left to Right:Brittany Weaver,Trent Shafer,Whitney Warner

Indiana’s bicentennial year 2016 represents an important milestone in the state’s history and in Sustainable Indiana 2016’s effort to position Indiana as a national leader in green innovation and preservation.  “The mission of Sustainable Indiana 2016 is to showcase Indiana’s green innovations as informational and inspirational examples,” shares John Gibson,State Coordinator.  In 2012,the spotlight is being focused on innovative gardens and gardeners.

Sustainable Indiana 2016 interns Brittany Weaver of Ball State University,Trent Shafer of IUPUI,and Whitney Warner of Purdue University will be working this summer to catalyze garden parties and clinics across Indiana culminating in a grand,one-day,statewide celebration of gardens and gardeners on Saturday,August 18,2012.

Garden celebration parties may include:advice on successful gardening by master gardeners,garden produce potlucks,celebrity appearances,and Bicentennial Green-Legacy Garden/Gardener awards. “There is growing energy in our state for being ‘greener’ and I’m excited to be able to seek out and recognize those efforts,” states Trent Shafer.

About Sustainable Indiana 2016:

Sustainable Indiana 2016 is a collaborative project of Earth Charter Indiana to showcase models of sustainability and connect individuals and organizations working for a more sustainable state.  More information is at www.sustainableindiana2016.org and www.AGreenerIndiana.com.

Media contact:Ruth Clark,Sustainable Indiana 2016,(317) 979-7717,ruth@sustainableindiana2016.org.

Director, Sister Joetta Huelsmann, PHJC, welcomes guests to the center.  Her guided tour is filled with stories of reuse, renew and recycle for sustainable planet living.  During remodeling; old brick, solid wood cabinets and plumbing fixtures have all been reused.  Low flow bathroom fixtures are gradually being installed.  Glass serving ware is used instead of paper or plastic. Energy efficient lighting and a beautiful skylight create warmth and grace to the space as well.

Verdant outdoor landscaping, seen from almost every room, provides serene and warm surroundings.  Just a few steps away there is a vegetable garden sprouting new growth.

Make an appointment to visit the John XXIII Retreat Center where you will enjoy seeing how an older home has been re-purposed with sustainable space planning and replicable planet saving practices.

407 W. McDonald Street, Hartford City, IN 47348, www.john23rdretreatcenter.com.  1-888-882-1391

Keep watch for new additions on this website.  If you are a gardener tell someone else why and how you do it.  If you don’t have a garden you might help-out a local gardener with weeding or watering.  One way or the other you can help promote the expanding garden movement in Indiana.

Satisfaction, accomplishment, self-fulfillment are just a few of the phrases the DeCamps use to describe the benefits of gardening, along with exercise of both body and mind.  The three-acres of gardens truly are their own personal gym membership. After hand weeding the entire garden who has time to work out, especially after spending much of the winter months planning!

Starting all the plants from seed in plugs, not everything goes as planned. Frequently the DeCamps discover what plants got mixed up in the planting process or mismarked. Having hot peppers in the row where the egg plants are supposed to be is surprising. So, DeCamps’ advice to anyone wanting to start a garden?  Don’t be afraid to fail, that is how you learn, learn by doing and most of all, be patient.

Jim and Pam DeCamp garden in Noble County.  They can be reached at p_decamp@hotmail.com or decampgardens@gmail.com

Their story has been submitted by Julia Gorrell, Region 2 Coordinator for Si2016 as an Agricultural green innovation.

Ivy Tech’s Workforce and Economic Development and Indiana Cooperative Development Center are conducting a “Building a Local Co-op” seminar in two parts:

Part One -  9 AM to 1PM Saturday,  May 5th.

Part Two  -  Saturday,  May 12, from 9-1.

The cost is $49.

Co-ops generally save or make more money for its members. In a time of economic stress the Co-op model is an attractive option. Call 921-4835 to register. Need a scholarship—call 295-9630.

Sunday, April 22, 2012 7:30pm Matthews Hall Rm 210

Join us for a special Earth Day Event Sunday April 22nd at Purdue University. The Purdue Sierra Student Coalition will be hosting a panel to discuss the true cost of coal on communities and the environment nationwide. We will have speakers from the coalfields of West Virginia to discuss the impacts of coal mining and mountaintop removal, members of Black Mesa in Arizona who are living on native lands held in lease by coal companies for mining as well as folks from Southern Indiana now contending with the largest strip mine east of the Mississippi and a concentration of dirty coal plants. Our panel will discuss the human aspect of our reliance on this dangerous and destructive fossil fuel and put a face to this issue. Please join us for the panel and reception to follow.

This book is more a full scale how-to manual rather than a bare bones quick start outline. It sets forth a rather detailed explication of the wheelbarrow to hell route we, as a society, are traveling. The solutions thoughtfully offered make sense and lend some hope that if we get our act together, we can embark on a path that may lead to a greater enjoyment of life for a much greater proportion of the populace of this special place in the cosmos. The authors propose a more horizontal or lateral form of living together as opposed to the vertical and hierarchical framework so long in place; a framework that has used domination as its main construction material. In an attempt to more graphically illustrate some of the processes in play, some of the analogies are a trifle forced, but so much is put forth, as to detail and policy, that such minor picking points are not troublesome. And, the authors suggest many other specific readings to provide a deeper understanding of the various issues and perspectives. This book will antagonize those reasonably satisfied with the course we’re on, but for those who feel a real need for a significant re-routing, this work will show the way to a higher goal. This is a good book for an extended review in a discussion group.

Copyright 2011 by Gene W. Marshall, iUniverse Publishers, iUniverse books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting: iUniverse, 1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403, www.iuniverse.com, 1-800-288-4677.