People have been going nuts about Nancy Pelosi’s mouse protection provision in the recently passed stimulus package. At first, I thought this was just another example of government waste and local politicians using the systems to aggrandize themselves within the local political arena. Then I saw a talk by Cheryl Davis of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

The SFPUC administers the water supply that feeds San Francisco and neighboring areas. The task of bringing water from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir to the Bay Area is no small feat. Much of the transit lines are undergoing seismic retrofits to better secure the San Francisco water supply. A water interruption due to an earthquake could cost up to 28.7 Billion dollars, not to mention the panic that would overtake the city. The Hetch Hechy water, which comes mostly from the Sierra snow pack, makes its way via tubes that traverse both private and public lands. After the water arrives to the bay area, it is stored in the reservoirs West of the 280 Freeway until it makes its way to the city. These reservoirs and open spaces contain not only precious watersheds, but also many endangered species including the much-maligned Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse.

I agree that protecting a mouse does not provide “stimulus”, but by recognizing that everything in the environment is connected and by protecting the weak species, we may be protecting ourselves. It is possible that once we go down the road of runaway budgets there is no turning back, but it is certain that once a species is gone, there is no getting it back.

The subject of our last video, Nammy Patel of the Green Dentistry, has started a new website in partnership with HowYouEco.com. HowYouEco is a website that lets green-conscious people and practical ideas connect, and Toothhugger has a focus on oral hygiene and dentistry. Our video with Nammy is featured on the site now so check it out!

Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Field Guide has a nice news piece about an electric drag car that is breaking records and beating gas-powered cars. The more people see this, the more people will realize that electric cars can be rough and rugged too. Check it out:

Here are some of our favorite moments from our interviews this past year:

Dear St. Nick, or as I like to call you “The Claus”,

I know this might be a very late request, but I think you should check out this new alternative to plastic when you go out to deliver your gifts. The german company Tecnaro, has developed a “liquid-wood” that is bio-degradable and recyclable. It can be injection-molded to make toys and addresses concerns that people have about toxins in plastic toys. Arboform is made from the bi-products of paper-making and can be used to make everything from golf-tees to car parts to toys to the nativity scene below. If you can’t get some of these gifts made this holiday season, perhaps next year.

Peace,
The Green Rapper

With a 21 percent jobless rate in Motown, many people have taken advantage of empty lots to build community gardens. This AP article reports that within the city of Detroit, hundreds of urban vegetable gardens have popped up on abandoned properties. This kind of land grab has become common in the city where a house was famously purchased for 1 dollar.

In Los Angeles, a much more contentious story played out in the ashes of the 1992 Riots. The Garden Movie documents the story of an urban farm in South Central and the fight to preserve it from development. Here is a preview:

The turkey sabbatical proved to be very productive. Made a 30 second cartoon for the Environmental Defense Action Fund’s carbon cap video competition. Submitted it just before the deadline. Whew! C-Diddy voices the giant C02 monster.