Art Exhibit Highlights Basic Water Needs
The Pacific Institute's research has been reimagined by U.S. artist Gregg Schlanger. His piece, B.W.R. (basic water requirements) 50 Liters, will be shown as part of the exhibit Kulturland Brandenburg 2007: Fokus Wasser at the Kunsthaus Potsdam gallery in Potsdam, Germany. Schlanger's work references Peter Gleick's findings on basic water needs. The show runs through July 22.
Testimony on Delta Crisis and California Water Management
On July 2, 2007 Heather Cooley testified before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Water and Power regarding the role that conservation and efficiency can play in restoring the health of California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Download the testimony (PDF)
Talking Environmental Performance
At the Annual Workshop of the Multi-State Working Group on Environmental Performance, Pacific Institute Program Director Jason Morrison facilitated the breakout session Assessing the Public Interest Benefits of Innovation. He also sat on the panel Environmentalists' Case for Performance-Based Policy.
Shaping Environmental Management Standards
Jason Morrison attended the 14th plenary meeting of ISO's environmental management committee (TC207) in Beijing from June 25 to 29. At the closing plenary session, Morrison presented the work of the NGO Task Force, a group he chairs that has been working to improve civil society involvement in the committee's work. In the coming year, the Task Force will work to complete Phase I of its workplan. In particular, it will further its effort to develop operational guidance and procedures for TC 207 on ways of improving its stakeholder involvement. The group will also continue to collaborate with the TC 207 Secretariat in its effort to categorize and monitor stakeholder balance at TC 207 meetings. Learn more.
Port of Oakland Air Quality Task Force Meets
The first meeting of the Task Force responsible for providing input to the Port of Oakland's Marine Air Quality Improvement Plan took place on June 11. In the next year, the Task Force will be completing the Port's air quality improvement plan and identifying measures for significantly reducing air pollution at the Port. Pacific Institute Program Director Swati Prakash serves on the task force along with the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project's Margaret Gordon, who is one of the co-chairs. Interested individuals are encouraged to attend the next task force meeting on August 14, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. For more information, contact us.
West County Indicators Project Steering Committee Meets
Community leaders gathered to identify actions and data needs related to the priority issues of the West County Indicators Project. Over 20 participants discussed six major issue areas facing West Contra Costa County. They identified specific strategies for neighborhood change and brainstormed indicators that could support such actions by measuring equity and progress, directing resources, and informing solutions. For more information, contact the Pacific Institute.
With 15 civil society groups in attendance, the Pacific Institute convened a meeting on June 22 to discuss the future direction of the C-Change. This international initiative was created last year to integrate the world's various corporate accountability initiatives and approaches. The Institute used the meeting to gather input and share ideas on C-Change.
The West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project moved into their first office last month. This move marks a major step for the organization, which the Institute helped found in 2002. WOEIP's new space is equipped for community meetings. It is also located across the street from the West Oakland train station.