This is a fantastically readable article in the New York Times that compiles many of the green architecture trends and choices emerging across North America into one article, with a focus on water-management. I look forward to many of these projects coming up in an integrated manner.
For those looking to see local (Toronto based) examples, check out the bio-wall and green roof at the Center for Social Innovation on Spadina.
To recap, there has been considerable grassroots resistance to the setting up of an off-shore wind measuring device as the first step to an wind-farm.
I received this through an email yesterday from the Toronto Environmental Alliance, as a call to arms for environmentalists to support the development and push the issue through. The message itself is the perfect example of how not to do it.
Instead of winning affected communities over, the TEA has threatened an even deeper divide by polarizing the issue. The language used, ludicrously terms this highly localized issue as a global one and suggests that failure here would bring everything to a “screeching halt”.
What’s missing here is any meaningful outreach strategy that would be used communicate with disaffected communities. Instead of winding down a conflict and looking for compromises, TEA’s approach could potentially set off a grass-roots level arms race that would see organizers increasingly get in each others faces and network outwards to other disaffected communities. Unless the Ontario government is dedicated to the green revolution (which it is not), this will turn into an ugly political battle with a very messy outcome and no clear winners.
The November 24th meeting will interesting indeed.
The Newsweek article says it all. The one thing every (former and current) political staffer is taught about messaging is that only when you truly become sick of the message, will it begin to stick in the minds of people. The basic message in this article is something I have heard and advocated in various forms, ad nauseum. But it will take a lot more for the idea to truly entrench in the minds of policy makers. Be sure to pass the idea forward…