Calendar

• 4/7-11: EPA 2008 Wetlands and Watersheds Conference
• 4/10: Kansas City Board of Public Utilities Build Green Conference
• 4/23: Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods to speak about the "Nature Deficit Disorder
• 5/12-14: 2008 Missouri Recycling Association Conference, Branson, Mo.
• 6/22-24: Greening the Heartland 2008, St. Louis, Mo.
• 6/22-25: Missouri Waste Control Coalition Conference, Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.
• 2008 Solid Waste Association of North America trainings
• 2008 American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Phase I & Phase II environmental assessment trainings

E-Resources

• Win a lawn and garden makeover from Keep Kansas City Beautiful
• Johnson County’s new Share The Air Web site
• The Coca Cola Company National Recycling Coalition bin grant program
• NRC's green meeting guide: back on the Web
• The Westchester Green Map highlights green living resources
• New online resource gets the skinny on eco-labels
• Green-e to certify offsets for consumers
• The Green Guide – green living tips, product reviews

World News

• EPA enacts new strict ozone law for first time in decade
• The most destructive project on earth: tarsands oil exploration
• Hot liquid increases toxic leaching from plastic bottles, says study
• New campaign aimed at safe prescription disposal
• Global warming already leads to 150,000 deaths annually
• Nearly all of world's oceans tainted by human activity, says study
• Soot pollution a big contributor to climate change, study finds

April 2008

Earth Day 2008: take action for the earth!

Earth Day, celebrated every year on April 22, is a day to promote environmental citizenship, celebrate environmental progress and promote action to protect the planet. Do you want to recycle, plant trees, clean up a river, or know more about how to prevent climate change? Then look through the list of events during April and find the one that’s right for you. More information is available on RecycleSpot.org.

KC GreenSummit 2008, April 25, Kansas City, Mo.

Join Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II and Majora Carter in a discussion about how the integration of green solutions can assist Kansas City, Mo., in meeting regulatory requirements and reducing sewer overflows that pollute our waterways. Carter, the executive director of Sustainable South Bronx, was recently recognized as one of the 25 most influential African-Americans of 2007. She is a visionary who is inspiring community groups, businesses and governments to create green-collar jobs and sustainable infrastructure. The event is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Bartle Hall Ballroom, 16th and Wyandotte. For more information call Jason Parson (816) 500-7090 or e-mail KCGreenSummit2008@mac.com.

MARC Water Quality Education Grant Program

MARC is requesting grant proposals from individuals, nonprofit and citizen groups who seek funding for events, activities or projects related to regional water quality concerns. The grant will provide funding for individuals and community groups to implement educational activities, events and projects designed to promote the improvement of water quality in the Kansas City metropolitan area.  

Academy for Sustainable Communities upcoming trainings

MARC’s Academy for Sustainable Communities offers seminars, technical workshops, roundtable discussions and other special events featuring nationally known speakers focused on how the Kansas City region can serve as a model of sustainability by emphasizing environmental, economic and social success. Upcoming trainings:

• April 7: Stormwater Standards for Home Builders
• April 16: Retaining Natural Resources
• April 23: Future of Local Governments: Promoting Sustainable Practices
• April 25: Native Landscaping
• April 30: Sustainable Trends Luncheon: Organizational Change, Innovation, and Sustainability
• May 1: Stakeholder Engagement: Designing Processes that Instill Citizen Confidence
• May 14: Reading and Interpreting Site Plans/GIS Resources to Support Planning
• June 19: Building School Curriculum
• Throughout the year: Best Management Practices Training

MARC 12th Annual Regional Assembly, June 13, Kansas City, Mo.

MARC will hold its 12th Annual Regional Assembly on Friday, June 13, 2008, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Westin Crown Center, 1 East Pershing Road, Kansas City, Missouri. John Hickenlooper, mayor of Denver, Colo., will provide the keynote address on regional collaboration, progress in his community in areas of transportation and infrastructure and natural resource protection. MARC will also present its annual Regional Leadership Awards at the event.