Or is it?  Don't we come from a culture who lived together in villages and shared resources?  I mean it only makes sense, especially given the state of our economy and our apparent future when it comes to sustainability and "The Story of Stuff" You know about that, right?  So here's what you need to know about now...

The Sharing Solution

How to Save Money, Simplify Your Life & Build Community

by: Attorney Emily Doskow , Attorney Janelle Orsi

On Saturday, The Ecology Center offered an informative workshop with Janelle and Emily and I attended.  You can buy the book there and support another great community service.  Happy Earth Day and Birthday to the Ecology Center, too!

It was time well spent to experience Emily & Janelle's dedication and deep understanding of what it takes to implement these kinds of living practices.  They provided some excellent handouts, most of which can be found in their book, The Sharing Solution, which I highly recommend.

They also have a blog, The Sharing Solution, so check that out...frequently !  Probably one of the easiest things to do, especially in the Bay Area, is to share automobiles.  In fact, there is a study showing that this concept will grow exponentially over the next 5 years!

We have a Tour coming up with teacher Greg Golsan at El Cerrito High.  Greg sees our value and is dedicated to giving his students an experiential component to compliment their Automotive Technology and Alternative Energy program.  Have you seen the statistics on Zipcar vs. car ownership?

Here's a great photo of Janelle, she likes to create visual aids.  This one shows how many people in one city block all own the same things !  Why not share so many of the household items that we only use when needed.  Can you see the details?

Thanks to Mills College & the Lokey Graduate School of Business' Second Annual Conference, an informative, free one day event on Friday, April 9.

The idea of "Sustainable Business" is that the traditional practices of businesses may negatively impact environments and communities and instead ought to strive to sustain the environments and communities where those businesses operate.

Another very important issue is GREEN WASHING the practice of companies disingenuously spinning their products and policies as environmentally friendly, when they are not.

Don't get me started on "all natural" or even the word organic, because these words are used to give consumers the impression that the product is healthy or safe.  We'll save that for another post.  If you want to know what is really in products (and our bodies), support Ken Cook and the Environmental Working Group, who incidentally has an interview on Sanjay Gupta MD on CNN. (sorry for the adverts)

Support them, they do vital work that can save our lives.  Be sure to catch Dr. Gupta's hour-long special on the subject, Toxic Town USA. It debuts on CNN April 24th (Earth Day) @ 8 PM eastern.

The "Three Ps" theory, PEOPLE, PLANET, PROFIT also known as "Triple Bottom Line" accounting, argues that a corporation's success can and should be measured not just by the traditional financial bottom line, but also by its social/ethical and environmental performance.

Mike Hannigan, President of our local Give Something Back founded this company back in 1991 to provide great and green office products at superstore prices, while raising funds to support our community. So far they've donated more than half their profits, nearly $4 million, to charitable causes.  Mike gave a compelling presentation.

Thanks to Phillip Gordon, Director at the Center for Social Responsibility for providing this forum for local professionals and students.  It was also a great networking opportunity.

Seems like every day we hear another story that is threatening one our most precious resources... w a t  e r  !   This came from KQED's QUEST.

We have a Water Tour here at Bay Area Green Tours, and I am very glad they are leaving, that would NOT be a place we would visit !!

A lot of folks in the Bay Area know the "mothball fleet."  You can spot the aging Navy and merchant vessels as you drive over the Benicia BridgeAt issue was the paint flaking off the hulls of the ships. After so many years, it's weathered and fallen into Suisun Bay.

Most of them are waiting to be recycled - and they've been waiting for quite some time. That's a problem because the paint contains toxic metals like lead, cadmium, and copper. A study in 2007 found that more than 20 tons of these metals had fallen into the bay, which is a critical habitat for some endangered species.  (like humans?)

Since the closest ship recycling facility is in Brownsville, Texas, the ships must be towed there through the Panama Canal. But before they leave the Bay, the marine growth on the hulls has to be removed to prevent the spread of invasive species.

The San Francisco Bay Water Quality Control Board ruled that method would release even more pollution.

Two things have happened in the meantime. First, in January, a judge ruled that the fleet was in violation of the Clean Water Act.  Second, a new administration entered the White House.  (Allocating funds that were badly needed)  As several people I spoke to mentioned, it lead to a noticeable thawing in relations.  As a sign of that, MARAD began moving a few ships out for recycling last fall.

The worst polluting ships will be removed by the fall of 2012, with all 52 ships under the settlement removed by 2017. Where they'll be recycled is another issue. Instead of having the ships go to Texas, many would like to see them recycled here  (would that be a Green Collar job?)  in the Bay Area. One company is currently working to open two dry docks on Mare Island in Vallejo. But since it's a former Naval facility, they're having some trouble getting permitted. In the meantime, the only work going on in the Bay Area will be the hull cleaning.

Check out the slideshow at the bottom of their page.

Amy Standen is a great reporter for Quest !  Here is another alarming Sewage story that needed attention.   Baykeeper is taking the issue to the courts - you can read more about their Sick of Sewage campaign.  

Thanks Amy for all you do !photo courtesy of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Our Green Jobs Tour ended with an amazing presentation from the folks at

   THE GREENLINING ACADEMY

They have a Leadership Academy that promotes leadership in students who want hands-on public policy and advocacy experience and provides opportunities for them to acquire skills and build vital social networks that will enhance their effectiveness as future social justice leaders.

Established in 1996, the Greenlining Academy today is one of the most comprehensive, dynamic, and the largest multi-ethnic leadership training academies in the nation. Many of their students have gone on to be leaders in corporate America, in state and local government, and of grass-roots community organizing efforts.

Here's one of the BHS kid's favorite videos and another example of what you can do when you decide to become an activist within your community.  This is Markese Bryant, a powerful voice in our community.

Thanks to Dahlia Moodie, CEO of Eco Options who spoke at the Oakland Climate Action Coalition Rally at City Hall on Tuesday.  She knows how to make a difference and she is using local **green collar job trained individuals to do the work.  

Then we at Bay Area Green Tours, with our "Seminars on Wheels" educate the next generation as to what eco-options they have....

That's Emily Kirsch right there, she is one powerful organizer.  Click on this and you can voice your opinion, be heard and make a difference. They've created a list of policies that can achieve significant carbon reductions while building a vibrant local economy and improving the quality of life for all Oakland residents -- especially low-income communities and communities of color that are impacted most by global warming.

VIDEO | Growing Oakland Green

Free Speech TV highlights the collaboration between Ella Baker Center and the Oakland Apollo Alliance in our effort to create a new model for revitalizing urban areas