GreenPRO news

As you peruse the GreenPRO database, you’ll quickly discover some recurring topics. As many communities grapple with the same problems and issues, they are bound to arrive at similar solutions or strategies.

I certainly don’t mind the repetitive nature of my work. It actually makes me feel good to know that communities across the US, Canada and beyond are tackling head on some of the most pressing and vexing problems of the day.

That said, what makes my job exciting is when I come across a locale that addresses a problem or issue that not too many other communities have broached. For today’s entry, I will touch on three such examples.

First, the student government at UC Berkeley recently passed a resolution in support of a student organization that seeks to raise awareness about international and domestic sex trafficking.

Second, a resolution was introduced to the City Council of New York City that calls “upon Congress to reintroduce and the President of the United States to enact into law the “Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Act,” to affirm the religious freedom of taxpayers who are conscientiously opposed to participation in war and to provide that the income, estate or gift tax payments of such taxpayers be used for nonmilitary purposes.”

Third, the City of Toronto adopted a policy in 2002 called the Pedestrian Charter. It seeks to “create an urban environment in all parts of the city that encourages and supports walking”.

~Trey, GreenPRO Senior Researcher~

As the senior researcher for GreenPRO, my primary job is to find policies, resolutions and ordinances (plus a variety of other similar documents) that address issues consistent with Green values. At times, it can be a daunting task as many cities, counties, school boards, colleges, etc. provide minimal documentation on their websites.

Often, I’ll find a reference to something that I want to add to the database, but I’m thwarted by the inability to access the specific document we need.

Thus, it was refreshing to come upon St. Olaf College’s Sustainability Task Force. This site provides page upon page of pertinent information — so much so that the entry in the GreenPRO database only scratches the bare surface.

St. Olaf’s — located in Northfield, MN — has developed ten principles to guide their efforts. But this not a case of writing down mere platitudes on a list! Each item is discussed in terms of its foundation, status toward accomplishment and specific goals.

For me, the St. Olaf’s site illustrates the entire tapestry of what sustainability is and can be. If you peruse no other entry in GreenPRO, I strongly recommend you take a look at this one!

~Trey, GreenPRO Senior Researcher~

I’m very happy to see so many colleges and universities tackling the issue of sustainability head-on. As with my previous entry on St. Olaf College, Sterling College of Vermont offers a bevy of information and examples of how their college community is incorporating sustainability in much of what they do.

Welcome to the GreenPRO blog - news and comments about GreenPRO.

GreenPRO is a great resource for activists, officeholders, staff, and researchers. It’s the best resource fo finding out what policies are already out there being used. Staff and officeholders can see if an existing ordinances suits your needs, and can follow up by contacting people where it is in use to ask how it is working.

Activists also can do the same thing if you are trying to get something new passed where you live.

And faculty and students can find examples of policies to study.

So give it a try and let us know what you think