1. Tree Education Course. Trees For Houston is offering a four-class tree education course that covers how to plant a tree properly in our urban environment, how to better care for Houston’s trees, tree identification, and more. The classes are held every Saturday at the Trees For Houston office (10401 Stella Link Road) from 9-11am starting on September 10th and ending on October 1st. The cost of the class is $20, which includes a t-shirt, 1-3 gallon native tree and manual To register, visit http://www.treesforhouston.org/.
   
2. Science Cafe on Freshwater Mussels. Bob Boensch, Southeast Texas Preserve Manager of The Nature Conservancy, will share a presentation on Freshwater Mussels at the Logon Café, September 1 at 6 pm. This event is free and open to the public. Bob participates as a leader in the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory coordinated through a partnership between the Big Thicket Association and the Big Thicket National Preserve. Freshwater Mussels are good indicators of water quality and are often the first organism to decline during adverse conditions. For more information, visit http://www.nps.gov/bith/.
   
3. Rice University’s School of Architecture Course. Rice University is offering a course on architecture from September 13th to November 1st. The class meets on Tuesdays and covers topics such as ‘designing the future’, ‘architecture and the community’, and ‘the role of sustainable design and urbanism in Houston.’ For more information, and to register, visit http://gscscatalog.rice.edu/.
   
4. CHILDREN AT RISK’s Annual Math and Science Education Policy Luncheon. On September 20th from 11:30-1pm at the United Way Building, CHILDREN AT RISK will be hosting a math and science education policy luncheon, “Inquiring Minds: Attracting Underrepresented Students to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.” To learn more and to register, visit http://childrenatrisk.org/2011.

1. Environmentalist and Activist Movie Screening and Talk-back Session. 14 Pews, a non-profit art house cinema in the Heights, is screening an environmental movie on September 3rd at 7pm called, “If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front.” The movie is about a 2005 nationwide sweep of radical environmentalists. 14 Pews would like to have a panel of environmentalists and activists to speak and address when too much is too much. Also, there will be a screening of “King Corn” on October 14th in which the organization needs speakers to talk about genetically modified seeds and modern day farming. If interested, please send an email to info@14pews.com.
   
2. Climate Reality Project: 24 Events…24 Time Zones…24 Hours of Reality. From September 14th-15th, there will be an international online event, hosted by Al Gore, to address climate change. By focusing the world’s attention on the climate crisis for an entire day, 24 Hours of Reality is intended to create a global movement and inspire international action to solve the climate crisis the other 364 days of the year. To learn more about this event, visit http://www.ustream.tv/climaterealityproject.
   
3. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/monitoring/air/monops/forecast_today.html
• September 1: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone levels to reach “Moderate” or possibly higher levels on the west and northwest side of the Houston area in the afternoon and early evening.
• September 2: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone levels to reach “Moderate” or possibly higher levels on the west and southwest side of the Houston area in the afternoon and early evening.
• September 3: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone to reach “Moderate” or possibly higher levels on the south and southwest side of the Houston area.

Featured

1. Water Conservation is key to accommodating growth (John Jacob – Houston Chronicle, 08/24/2011)
   Houston has been forced to enact mandatory water conservation due to scarce resources, and the city is expected to grow by 4 million people in the next three to four decades. The state-mandated Region H water-planning group believes that there is more than enough water to accommodate the expected growth, although many area scientists do not agree. Water conservation will remain a big topic in the upcoming years.

   http://www.chron.com/

2. State officials still weighing how to deal with climate change in water plan (Texas Climate News, 08/30/2011)
   Five years ago, state officials controversially chose not to factor man-made global warming into the Texas State Water Plan. The Plan is set to be updated in four months and the agency is still deciding how to address human-caused climate change. The current record-setting drought has been attributed by experts to La Niña, but they also say that man-made global warming has made the situation worse.
   http://texasclimatenews.org/
3. Offshore wind Texas-style: fast and big (Melissa Mehony – Smart Planet News, 08/18/2011)
   Coastal Point Energy has a goal to get a single 3-megawatt wind turbine built and running off Galveston by the end of the year. This would be the country’s first offshore wind farm. Baryonyx Corporation also has plans for turbines off the coast of Texas, near Corpus Christi and South Padre Island. These could take huge strides in the energy industry. The Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club has not yet taken a stance on the projects, as the effect the wind farms might have on populations of migratory birds, fish and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles is unknown.
   http://www.smartplanet.com/

EcoNotes

• 31 August
• Program eyes waterway protection (Mark Fleming – The Baytown Sun)
  http://baytownsun.com/
• UT, Texas A&M to study Gulf oil spill (Houston Business Journal)
  http://www.bizjournals.com/
• 30 August
• State officials still weighing how to deal with climate change in water plan (Texas Climate News)
  http://texasclimatenews.org/
• Poll shows Americans concerned about Gulf Coast (Houston Business Journal)
  http://www.bizjournals.com/
• Celebrities, religious and environmental leaders protest tar sands pipeline; 500+ arrested (ABC 13 News)
  http://www.greenrightnow.com/
• Proposed changes to air quality permits announced (TCEQ News)
  http://www.tceq.texas.gov/
• The drought is teaching some valuable lessons (Randy Lemmon – The Baytown Sun)
  http://baytownsun.com/
• Water: A Houston region challenge (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
  http://www.houstontomorrow.org/
• 29 August
• U.S. Edges Closer To Decision On Canada Pipeline (Timothy Gardner and Ayesha Rascoe – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• Harris County Leading Green Affordable Housing Effort (Jack Williams – KUHF News)
  http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/
• Rail Not Moving At Light Speeds For Some (Edel Howlin – KUHF News)
  http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/
• Texas regulator drafts frac fluid disclosure rule (Tom Fowler – Fuel Fix)
  http://fuelfix.com/blog/
• Historic hurricanes, drought, floods and tornadoes: Do we see a pattern here? (Barbara Kessler – ABC 13 News)
  http://www.greenrightnow.com/
• LCRA cancels water vote for coal plant (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
  http://www.houstontomorrow.org/
• Website and citizen outreach for I-69 Texas System begins (The Tribune)
  http://www.ourtribune.com/
• 26 August
• Houston’s thirst takes toll on sinking Lake Conroe (Cindy Horswell – Houston Chronicle)
  http://www.chron.com/
• In pursuit of federal biofuels funds (Melissa McEver – Houston Business Journal)
  http://www.bizjournals.com/
• U.S. Green Groups Write Obama To Oppose Oil Pipeline (Timothy Gardner – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• Texas Grid Narrowly Avoids Power Outages (Eileen O’Grady – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• Grand Parkway Hits Another Segment E Road Block (Edel Howlin – KUHF News)
  http://app1.kuhf.org/
• Cath Conlon: Living and teaching sustainable, peaceful living with nature (Vicki Wolf – CLEAN)
  http://www.cleanhouston.org/
• 25 August
• Power plant troubles go beyond heat and drought (Tom Fowler – Fuel Fix)
  http://fuelfix.com/blog/
• Groundwater monitoring condition for designation (Robin Foster – Houston Chronicle)
  http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/
• High levels of contamination found in bayou (Christopher Smith Gonzalez – The Galveston County Daily News)
  http://galvestondailynews.com/
• Discovery Green increases water conservation (Houston Chronicle)
  http://www.chron.com/
• Texas Drought Takes Its Toll On Wildlife (John Burnett – NPR))
  http://www.npr.org/
• Baylor Releases New Report on Water Reuse in Texas (LGEAN)
  http://lgean.org/news
• $5.6 million in Outdoor Grants to Benefit Texas Communities (Texas Parks & Wildlife)
  http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/
• Analysis: Rails, Not Pipes, May Tame Twisted Oil Market (Joshua Schneyer – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• Texas Grid Cuts Power For Some Industrial Customers (Eileen O’Grady – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• 24 August
• Water Conservation is key to accommodating growth (John Jacob – Houston Chronicle)
  http://www.chron.com/
• Houston Mayor Has Harsh Warning For Water Scofflaws (Carrie Feibel – KUHF News)
  http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/
• Water: could be worse next summer (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
  http://www.houstontomorrow.org/
• Sierra Club sues to block Grand Parkway expansion (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
  http://www.chron.com/
• Facing our water woes (Houston Chronicle)
  http://www.chron.com/
• More power plant woes likely if Texas drought drags into winter (Tom Fowler – Fuel Fix)
  http://fuelfix.com/blog/
• 23 August
• Bolt Your Door: Invasive Species Attacking Texas, Says TAMUG Researcher (Guidry News)
  http://guidrynews.com/story
• 22 August
• This summer’s drought may worsen next year (Eric Berger – Houston Chronicle)
  http://www.chron.com/news/
• Expo shows complexity of energy industry (Melissa McEver – Houston Business Journal)
  http://www.bizjournals.com/
• 19 August
• Container deposit system would help tubing business (David Weinberg – My SA News)
  http://www.mysanantonio.com/
• 18 August
• Offshore wind Texas-style: fast and big (Melissa Mehony – Smart Planet News)
  http://www.smartplanet.com/

Title: Take Me Fishing
Location: Baytown Nature Center
Link out: Click here
Description: Come for the first Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. for a special program celebrating the wonders of nature!
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2011-09-03
End Time: 12:00

Title: My Houston 2040
Location: Rudyard’s Upstairs, 2010 Waugh Drive
Link out: Click here
Description: Houston Tomorrow, Air Alliance Houston, and the Citizens’ Transportation Coalition agree that Houstonians can build a better Houston today by thinking about the Houston we may inherit in 2040 and the Houston we want in 2040. Each happy hour includes time for networking and socializing, a topical speaker who will give an informational presentation on Houston urbanism, transportation planning, culture, environment, and more, and a visionary speaker who will give their “My Houston 2040” talk: what they think Houston will be like in 2040, what they want it to be like in 2040, and / or what they want us to do to make it like they want it to be in 2040.
Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2011-09-08
End Time: 18:45

Title: 5th Annual Farm & Food Leadership Conference
Location: The Pearl Stable, San Antonio, TX
Link out: Click here
Description: An exciting gathering of activists, farmers & ranchers, consumers, and nonprofits who care about where our food comes from. Come learn about the latest developments in agriculture and food, and get the tools you need to help make a difference!

Keynote address by John Ikerd
Start Date: 2011-09-12
End Date: 2011-09-13

Title: Lower Trinity Valley Bird Club Meeting
Location: First Liberty National Bank located at 1900 Sam Houston in Liberty
Link out: Click here
Description: Speakers for September will be Maggie & Bob Honig: the presentation will be over the Asa Wright Nature Centre: Nature Watching at Its Best.

Asa Wright Nature Centre, in the rain forest of Trinidad’s Northern Range, is considered to be a superb introduction to the Neotropics, with a flavor of mainland South America. The display of birds and other wildlife that one can see just from the verandah of the main lodge building is nothing short of spectacular. Maggie and Bob Honig will introduce you to this popular ecotourist destination based on their experiences from leading five tours there.

Maggie & Bob Honig have decades of natural history experience under their belts. They have led numerous field trips/tours throughout the Houston area, elsewhere in Texas, to Glacier National Park in Montana, and five to the Asa Wright Nature Centre in Trinidad; and they have been part of an Earthwatch expedition to study caterpillars and their parasitoids in Costa Rica. Each has given many presentations to nature and conservation organizations in southeast Texas.
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2011-09-10

Title: Trees For Houston Tree Education Course
Location: Trees For Houston office located in the Clark Condon Associates Building, 10401 Stella Link Road, Houston, TX 77025
Link out: Click here
Description: How do you plant a tree properly in our urban environment? How do you become a tree leader in your community? Trees For Houston will provide answers to all of your tree related questions at the Urban ForesTree Keeper classes held during September/October 2011. This 4-class basic tree training course will teach Houstonians to better care for Houston’s trees. After receiving training in tree identification, proper planting, disease, pruning and basic landscape design techniques, class members will be asked to co-lead two of Trees For Houston’s general volunteer planting events or community outreach events throughout our planting season. They will then be certified as Urban ForesTree Keeper graduates at our Annual Meeting in May.

When:
Class I: Saturday, September 10, 9-11am
Class II: Saturday, September 17, 9-11am
Class III: Saturday, September 24, 9-11am
Class IV (Tree ID): Saturday, October 1, 9-11am **At Hermann Park

Cost: $20 includes all classes, t-shirt, 1-3 gallon native tree and manual
Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2011-09-10
End Time: 11:00

Title: 24 Hours of Reality: Climate Reality Project
Location: Online and in villages, towns, cities, and countries across the globe
Link out: Click here
Description: Spanning 24 hours, 24 time zones and multiple languages, 24 Hours of Reality features a new multimedia presentation about climate change created by Vice President Gore and delivered by an army of personally trained slide show Presenters from around the world. Beginning in Mexico City and proceeding westward around the globe, 24 Hours of Reality offers a round-the-clock snapshot of the global climate crisis in real time, sharing unique perspectives on the crisis from Tonga to Cape Verde, Mexico City to Kotzebue, Alaska, Jakarta to London. With one event scheduled in each time zone at 7 p.m. local time, the entire 24 hours will also be streamed live online from start to finish, culminating in a final presentation by Vice President Gore in New York at 7 pm.

By focusing the world’s attention on the climate crisis for an entire day, 24 Hours of Reality is intended to create a global movement and inspire international action to solve the climate crisis the other 364 days of the year. At each event, we will highlight the projects and initiatives of in- country organizations and NGOs and offer information and opportunities for people to learn more and to get involved with ongoing activities in their own communities. This global discussion will lead to action to solve the climate crisis.

Special interest groups are spending huge amounts of money to convince people that climate change isn’t real while people around the world are already experiencing its effects.
Where do you stand?
Start Date: 2011-09-14
End Date: 2011-09-15

Title: 24 Hours of Reality: Climate Reality Project
Location: Online and in villages, towns, cities, and countries across the globe
Link out: Click here
Description: Spanning 24 hours, 24 time zones and multiple languages, 24 Hours of Reality features a new multimedia presentation about climate change created by Vice President Gore and delivered by an army of personally trained slide show Presenters from around the world. Beginning in Mexico City and proceeding westward around the globe, 24 Hours of Reality offers a round-the-clock snapshot of the global climate crisis in real time, sharing unique perspectives on the crisis from Tonga to Cape Verde, Mexico City to Kotzebue, Alaska, Jakarta to London. With one event scheduled in each time zone at 7 p.m. local time, the entire 24 hours will also be streamed live online from start to finish, culminating in a final presentation by Vice President Gore in New York at 7 pm.

By focusing the world’s attention on the climate crisis for an entire day, 24 Hours of Reality is intended to create a global movement and inspire international action to solve the climate crisis the other 364 days of the year. At each event, we will highlight the projects and initiatives of in- country organizations and NGOs and offer information and opportunities for people to learn more and to get involved with ongoing activities in their own communities. This global discussion will lead to action to solve the climate crisis.

Special interest groups are spending huge amounts of money to convince people that climate change isn’t real while people around the world are already experiencing its effects.
Where do you stand?
Start Date: 2011-09-14
End Date: 2011-09-15

Title: Movie Screening: King Corn
Location: 14 Pews, 800 Aurora Street (in the Heights)
Link out: Click here
Description: In King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, best friends from college on the east coast, move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from. With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow a bumper crop of America’s most-productive, most-subsidized grain on one acre of Iowa soil. But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat—and how we farm.
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2011-10-14

Title: Movie Screening: If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Location: 14 Pews, 800 Aurora Street (in the Heights)
Link out: Click here
Description: On December 7th, 2005, federal agents conducted a nationwide sweep of
radical environmentalists involved with the Earth Liberation Front — an
organization the FBI has called America’s “number one domestic terrorism
threat.”
IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT is the remarkable
story of the group’s rise and fall, told through the transformation and
radicalization of one of its members, Daniel McGowan. Part coming-of-age
tale, part cops-and-robbers thriller, the film interweaves a chronicle of
McGowan facing life in prison with a dramatic investigation of the events
that led to his involvement with the ELF. Using never-before-seen
archival footage and intimate interviews — with cell members and with the
prosecutor and detective who were chasing them — IF A TREE FALLS asks hard
questions about environmentalism, activism, and the way we define
terrorism.
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2011-09-03

Title: Vanishing of the Bees at Armand Bayou Nature Center
Location: Armand Bayou Nature Center
Link out: Click here
Description: The Volunteers of Armand Bayou Nature Center Host:

Vanishing of the Bees

The nationally acclaimed documentary shedding light on causes for the
disappearance of many of our priceless pollinators

“An essential documentary….if you like eating, see this film.”
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2011-09-08
End Time: 20:30

Title: Alabama-Coushatta Baskets and Culture
Location: Big Thicket National Preserve
Link out: Click here
Description: Join park ranger Elliott Abbey to learn how native plants can be woven into a variety of baskets and how this art is part of the Alabama-Coushatta history and culture. Meet at the Visitor Center on FM 420, seven miles north of Kountze, TX on US Hwy 69.
Start Time: 13:00
Date: 2011-10-16

Title: Kids’ Library Program – Big Thicket
Location: Elmo Willard Library, 3590 East Lucas Str., Beaumont
Link out: Click here
Description: Kids! Join a ranger at this special library program to learn about the animal tracks found in the Big Thicket. Meet at the Elmo Willard Library, 3590 East Lucas Str., Beaumont.
Start Time: 10:30
Date: 2011-10-12

Title: Migration Watch on the Sundew Trail
Location: Big Thicket National Preserve: Sundew Trail, located 7 miles north of the preserve visitor center on CR 1910, just south of FM 2827
Link out: Click here
Description: Big Thicket lies within a major bird migration route. Come see what’s migrating through with park ranger Paula Rivers. Meet at the Sundew Trail, located 7 miles north of the preserve visitor center on CR 1910, just south of FM 2827. Bring water, a snack, a bird book, and binoculars.
Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2011-10-09

Title: The Big Thicket: A Living Laboratory
Location: Big Thicket National Preserve
Link out: Click here
Description: Researchers from around the world come to the Big Thicket to conduct field research. Join us at an informal Science Café at the Logon Café, 3805 Calder, in Beaumont to learn about past and present research done in this area, discoveries made here, and why this work – and this region – is so important.
Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2011-10-07
End Time: 19:00