Whole Foods 'Giving Grill" This Saturday June 27th

Dear BEN Readers:

This Saturday, June 27, 2009 at Whole Foods in Birmingham - 3100 Cahaba Village off Hwy. 280

Please join me for lunch to benefit The Wilderness Society. Here are the details:

The Good Grille

It's Summer Madness and that means it's time to fire up the grille! We'll show you how it's done as we host the Wilderness Society for a fundraiser. $5 per plate gets you a sandwich of your choice (hamburger, hotdog or Portobello), a bag of chips and a drink. 100% of proceeds will benefit The Wilderness Society.

Giving Grille: Good Food for a Good Cause
11 am - 3 pm

$5 per plate benefits the Wilderness Society

I will be there all day, to meet BEN readers and to discuss the latest "environmental news".

I do hope to see you there!

Best Wishes,

Pat Byington

BEN Publisher & Senior Associate at The Wilderness Society

http://www.wilderness.org

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Power of Place

From the San Francisco Chronicle:  Winner of the Outdoor Writers Association of America - Wilderness Writing Category sponsored by The Wilderness Society.

POWER OF PLACE

Wilderness areas offer cleansing treks that are the perfect antidote to the routine of everyday life

Tom Stienstra

Thursday, July 24, 2008

(07-23) 20:30 PDT -- Regardless of why we venture into the wild, we all are in search of the same thing: what I call the power of place.

There are thousands of miles in wilderness, but they all lead to one truth: It makes you feel clean inside. It transcends everything, and stays with you for years.

It starts at dawn, often with the sweet calls of songbirds that sound like a mountain symphony. You emerge halfway from your sleeping bag and see the swirls of rising trout on a pristine lake. The smell of pine duff is in the air. Suddenly, unlike your life at home, you become aware of all your senses, as if every pore has opened to your surroundings.

You are a visitor in a wild land, but while you are out there, you share in the wild places and creatures that surround you.

Some people trick themselves into an ambitious trip with a goal. It can be the chance to cast for trout that have not seen a hook, hike to a view that seems to extend to forever, climb a famous peak, find trophy-class deer and other animals that know nothing of roads, or to challenge your body across many miles of wildlands.

But in the process, time in the wilderness can transform how you feel. Accomplishments become meaningless. Many pledge to stop wasting time on the extraneous, and to keep their bodies in good condition.

California has 137 federally designated wilderness areas. These are places where you share in the power of place, and then leave. The adjacent capsules list four of the best treks for two days to a week, for newcomers or experienced mountaineers, with the chance to expand the trips for weeks.

There's a saying that every step on a wilderness hike seems to call with a thousand voices. But as the days progress, especially on expeditions, the voices eventually become muted to one. The most complex thoughts become clear.

All the outside noise, conflict and stimulus has been quieted.

That single voice you hear - that's the real you.

BEN - June 15, 2009 #322

1) TVA Coal Ash Coming to Perry County Landfill

2) Forever Wild Moving Forward on Locust Fork, Red Hills and Tannehill Projects

3) Chief Ladiga Trail Named to the Rail to Trails Hall of Fame

4) Pew Report:  Green Jobs Gaining in Alabama 

5) BEN Notes: Birmingham Audubon Seeking Education Director, Nature Conservancy Seeking Development Director, Tuesdays on the Trail in Huntsville, Green Building Focus Conference, Coastal Kids Quiz Making a Difference, Legacy Teacher Workshops

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Check out the June edition of National Geographic Magazine which  profiles Tennessee/Alabama/Georgia Caves.  The photography is stunning.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/06/tag-caves/jenkins-text

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Tennessee's Governor Bredesen Banking on Solar Energy

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090614/COLUMNIST0101/906140365/1097/COLUMNIST

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1. TVA Coal Ash Coming to Perry County Landfill - According to the Associated Press, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) plans to dispose of millions of tons of coal ash from a massive spill in Tennessee into a landfill in Perry County.  The waste comes from the December 22nd Kingston, Tennessee Coal Ash spill/disaster where 5.4 million cubic yards of ash and sludge breached an earthen dike surrounding a water-covered mountain of ash at the Kingston plant.  The spill covered 300 acres with cleanup costs estimated at nearly $1 billion.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management said it received notice from TVA last week that 3 million cubic yards of coal ash from Kingston,  will be shipped to the landfill by train 300 miles away into Alabama.  Based on a TVA test of the coal ash waste shipments conducted in Georgia, Jeff Cown, a manager with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division stated to the AP that the overall shipments of the waste would weigh about 3.9 million tons (place it into context - Alabamians dispose approximately 4.6 million ton of solid waste a year) and require 35,000 railroads to transport.  

In the article, the environmental community expressed concerns about the amount of waste being disposed of in Perry County, the levels of hazardous waste embedded in the coal ash waste, and it negative impact on the local community. 

2. Forever Wild Moving Forward on Locust Fork, Red Hills and Tannehill Projects - Last week, according to the Birmingham News, the Forever Wild  Board of Trustees moved one step closer in their pursuit to preserve and protect a number of ecologically and recreationally important areas throughout Alabama, by authorizing several land appraisals.

The largest project the Board authorized was an appraisal on the Birmingham Water Works Board  3200 acre tract along the Locust Fork River.  The Board also directed the Forever Wild staff to seek appraisals in the Red Hills area of Monroe County, lands adjacent to Tannehill State Historical Park and Oak Mountain State Park, and a 712 acre addition to Forever Wild's Walls of Jericho property in Jackson County.  

After the appraisals are made, the board will consider whether to proceed with a second appraisal and negotiate an offer. Forever Wild cannot pay in excess of the appraised value of the property. 

3.  Chief Ladiga Trail Named to the Rail to Trails Hall of Fame - This month, the Rails to Trails Conservancy named Alabama's Chief Ladiga Trail and Georgia's Silver Comet Trail to the Rails-Trail Hall of Fame.  

The two recreational trails, which were joined at the state line last year, create a 95 mile long corridor, making it one of the longest paved rail-trail stretches in the country. The Alabama's 33 mile Chief Ladiga Trail connects several communities including  along its route, including Anniston, Jacksonville, Piedmont and Weaver.  

Check out an in-depth profile of the two trails at: http://railstotrails.org/newsandpubs/trailofthemonth/index.html

4. Pew Report:  Green Jobs Gaining in Alabama  - According to a new report by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the state of Alabama created 7849 clean energy jobs in 2007 and said the sector grew 2.2 % from 1998 to 2007 outpacing overall job growth of 1.6%.

Nationally, Pew found that jobs in the clean energy economy grew at a national rate of 9.1% while traditional job growth grew only at 3.7% between 1998-2007.  To view the Alabama factsheet from this report visit : http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewcenteronthestatesorg/Fact_Sheets/Clean_Economy_Factsheet_Alabama.pdf or   http://www.pewtrusts.org/cleanenergy

5. BEN Notes: Birmingham Audubon Seeking Education Director, Nature Conservancy Seeking Development Director, Tuesdays on the Trail in Huntsville, Green Building Focus Conference, Coastal Kids Quiz Making a Difference, Legacy Teacher Workshops

Birmingham Audubon Seeking Education Director - Check out the Birmingham Audubon Society open position for a part-time program director at: 

http://www.bamanews.com/2009/06/birmingham-audubon-seeking-part-time.html

Nature Conservancy Seeking Development Director - The Nature Conservancy of Alabama will be seeking a Development Director.  Please check the following website in the next few days (the position has not been posted yet) for details or call 205-251-1155.

https://careers.nature.org/psp/P89HTNC_APP/APPLICANT/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL

Tuesdays on the Trail in Huntsville - The Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama will be holding "Tuesdays on the Trail" Summer Series every other Tuesday.  The next event is on Tuesday, June 23rd - titled "Creek Critters."  For details go to - 

http://www.landtrust-hsv.org/events/event/tuesdays-on-the-trail-creek-critters/2009-06-23 .  Check out the entire series of events at : http://www.landtrust-hsv.org

Green Building Focus Conference - Birmingham will be hosting the Southeast Regional - Green Building Focus Conference & Expo on July 28-29 in Birmingham, Alabama.  For details visit: http://greenbuildingfocus.com/default.aspx?id=681

Coastal Kids Quiz Making a Difference - One of the most exciting and successful environmental education programs in Alabama is the Coastal Kids Quiz which takes place in Baldwin and Mobile counties.  Recently, the program was recognized by the Environmental Education Association of Alabama as the "Best Environmental Education Course/Curriculum" for 2009.   

On April 28th, this year's 8th Annual Coastal Kids Quiz presented by the Alabama Coastal Foundation and The Project CATE Foundation was won by the fifth grade team from Bayside Academy, with Bayshore Christian School taking second place, and Christ the King School taking third place.

Free Teacher Workshop at Camp Mcdowell -  Legacy is sponsoring a free Teacher Workshop at Camp McDowell from July 12-17.  For details about this hands-on training visit http://www.legacyenved.org or http://www.campmcdowell.com

Birmingham Audubon Seeking Part-time Education Director

Birmingham Audubon Society is seeking a part-time Education Director.  Check out the position here - http://www.birminghamaudubon.org/BAS11-04/EdPositionPosting.htm

BEN - June 4, 2009 #321

Eastern Coral Snake in Coosa County (Photo -Mark Bailey)

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Check out BEN Publisher Pat Byington's op-ed about Forever Wild.

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2009/04/keep_funding_for_forever_wild.html

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Union of Concerned Scientists - A National Blueprint for Clean Energy Report

http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/solutions/big_picture_solutions/climate-2030-blueprint.html

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Check out Beth Maynor Young's website and the latest Headwater News and booksignings

http://www.cahabariverpublishing.com/news/

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1. Alabama Power to Pump Carbon Dioxide Underground - According to the Mobile Register, Alabama Power's Barry Electric Generating Plant north of Mobile will be home to the nation's first large-scale attempt to capture carbon dioxide emitted from a coal-fired power plant and injected beneath the surface.  Beginning in 2011, tens of thousands of tons of the potent greenhouse gas will be sent 9000 feet underground the Citronelle oil fields.

The carbon capturing technology has received a favorable response from two major environmental groups, Environmental Defense and the Natural Resources Defense Council.  The experimental project, which is one of the first of its kind in the world, will take four years to complete.

A description of this project can be found at: http://www.alabamapower.com/news/iframe_pressroom.asp?WT.svl=body_morenews

2. American Lung Association Releases Annual State of the Air Report - Last month, the American Lung Association released their annual "State of the Air" report, ranking and grading 17 Alabama counties.  The report and rankings were based on the number of days from 2005 to 2007 in which air quality monitors recorded unhealthy air.  Below are some of the results:

* The Birmingham Metro area ranked 5th in the country for pollution from fine particle pollution, or soot in the air.

* Birmingham ranked 20th nationally in ozone pollution.

* Baldwin County received an A for having low particle pollution levels.

* Mobile, Escambia and Dekalb counties all received B's for low particle pollution levels.

* In the state of Alabama, 12 of 16 counties where ozone levels were checked received F's for ozone pollution.

To view the entire report, visit the American Lung Association website at http://www.stateoftheair.org  .  If you want to personally take action and reduce air pollution visit http://www.alabamacleanair.org

3. Report: The South and Renewable Energy - According to a report released by SouthFace, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and World Resources Institute, Alabama can dramatically increase it's renewable energy production from today's regional average of 5% to 25% renewable generation by 2025.

The report, which is titled "Local Clean Power," calls on the eight southern states in the report to require its electric industry to produce a certain percentage of power from renewable energy.  Presently, North Carolina is the only Southern state with such a law.  Nationally, half of all the states now have renewable requirements.  To view the report visit - http://www.wri.org

4. Boy Scouts in Alabama Turning Green - This Spring, the Greater Alabama Council Boy Scouts of America, which serves 22 counties in North and Central Alabama, announced a first of its kind program in the nation aimed at promoting good environmental practices.

The new program, is the creation of the BSA Green Unit Award, which honors scouting chapters and presents badges to Boy Scouts who agree to follow "leave no trace" practices by using biodegradable items and mess kits on camping outings and participate in community service projects that help promote protecting the environment.

The National Council Boy Scouts of America is reviewing the Alabama campaign, to consider whether to implement the initiative nationwide.

5. Eastern Coral Snake Found in Coosa County -  Please check out this blog entry that was posted by biologist Mark Bailey at  http://hogspot.blogspot.com   .  He describes in the entry the rare discovery (with photographic evidence!) of a eastern coral snake in Coosa County.  It was thought that the snake had been extirpated (disappeared) from most of South Alabama, let alone Central Alabama.  The new find, which was on Forever Wild land, was a pleasant discovery!

Check out the entry here - http://hogfoot.blogspot.com/2009/04/coosa-coral.html

6. BEN Notes: Black Warrior Riverkeeper Seeking to Fill Staff Attorney Position, Gulf Guardians Nominations, Manatee Car Tags, Cahaba River Ramble, Alabama Waterways "A Photographic Celebration"

Black Warrior Riverkeeper Seeking to Fill Staff Attorney Position -  The Black Warrior Riverkeeper is seeking a Staff Attorney. For in-depth details about this position visit http://www.blackwarriorriver.org The deadline for applications is June 15th.

Gulf Guardian Nominations - The US EPA's Gulf of Mexico Program is accepting nominations for the 2009 Gulf Guardian awards.  The deadline to submit an application is June 5th.  You can access the application forms at http://epa.gov/gmpo  .  Questions? - Call Diane Altsman at 228-688-7015.

Manatee Car Tags - State revenue officials have approved designs for a manatee license plate.  Proceeds from the sale of the tags will go toward efforts to fund manatee research efforts.  Before the state manufactures any plates, however, 1000 must be preordered between May 1, 2009 to May 1, 2010.  Contact the Mobile Bay Manatee Sighting Network online at http://press.disl.org/4_27_09manatee.htm for additional info.

Cahaba River Ramble - Please join the Cahaba River Society on Saturday, June 6th, 7:30 A.M. at the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge to participate in the Cahaba River Ramble.  Proceeds from the event benefit the Shane Hulsey CLEAN Environmental Education Program of the Cahaba River Society.  For registration information and directions visit http;//www.cahabariversociety.org or call 205-322-5326 x416 .

Alabama Waterways "A Photographic Celebration" - Mark your calendars - The Alabama Rivers Alliance will be holding Alabama Waterways "A Photographic Celebration" on June 11th, 5:30-8:30 at the  Lite Box Gallery in Birmingham.  Work from photographers Beth Young to Charles Seifried will be exhibited, along with works by grassroots river protectors.  Proceeds from the show  go to the Alabama Rivers Alliance.  For more info, visit http://www.alabamarivers.org

BEN Special : Environmental Passages & Quotes April 2009

"Everybody needs beauty ... places to play in and pray in where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike." ~ John Muir

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"Jesus spoke of mustard seeds, fields, vineyards, sheep, birds and trees.  He was not removed or distant from creation.  He was involved in it and saw it as the stage for the world's salvation.  He tells his followers to look to the lilies of the fields - they do not toil or reap but they are more wonderfully clothe than Solomon and all his glory.  He looks to the beauty of creation to teach and show us something about God.

I have walked in some of your yards and gardens,  For the most part we take pride in what we can accomplish in our yards and gardens.  We mix dirt with compost, we wait for the spring to wake our yards up, we talk about tomatoes and we tell close friends that the work in the yard is therapy for us.  The interest we take in our yards provides a sense of pleasure, pride and it ties us to the cycle of creation as we watch plants grow, mature and then die.  Maybe seeing the world as a garden that we are in charge of would be helpful to each of us.

.... God's glory is seen in creation and nothing we do matches the beauty and glory of what God has created.  You know this already.  If you watched a plant grow, water flow down a stream, a flower unfold, a bird feather its nest - you know that God's glory and creation are a wonderful gift.  A gift for us to behold and honor.  What Jesus could be teaching us - that as we see creation - we see God's glory."     ~  Excerpts from a sermon delivered by Rev. Huey Gardner, Rector at St. Mary's on the Highlands, Birmingham, Alabama - April 26, 2009

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The world was in its prime and time rolled on with accustomed regularity.

The tiny streams among the hills and mountains

shouted with joy and the broad rivers wound their wonted course along

the peaceful valleys.  Many a tall oak had grown from the acorn, 

spread its rich foliage to the summer winds, decayed with age,

and mingled with its mother earth. ~ Choctaw tradition, recorded by Charles Lanman, 1856

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"Thousands have lived without love, not one without water." ~ W.H. Auden

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"Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed; if we permit the last virgin forests to be turned into comic books and plastic cigarette cases; if we drive the few remaining members of the wild species into zoos or to extinction; if we pollute the last clear air and dirty the last clean streams and push our paved roads through the last of the silence, so that never again will Americans be free in their own country from the noise, the exhausts, the stinks of human and automotive waste…”  ~ Wallace Stegner from "Wilderness Letter"

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"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in."   ~ George Washington Carver

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"To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug."  ~Helen Keller

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"By reading the scriptures I am so renewed that all nature seems renewed around me and with me. The sky seems to be a pure, a cooler blue, the trees a deeper green. The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music under my feet."  ~ Thomas Merton

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"I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes."  ~ e.e. cummings

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"No poem, no painting, no work of man's hand or brain is as marvelous a things as the least of the species of living beings that inhabit the earth.  Each one... is a miracle as far beyond our comprehension as the stars.  We cannot make them, we cannot understand how they were made.  To destroy one... to wipe out  a whole species... for all eternity, is to do so colossal a thing that the mind falters at the thought.  Yet we have done it again and again and again, thoughtlessly, needlessly, wantonly, and cruelly ... many of the species that we have destroyed - or are now destroying - were among the noblest and most beautiful." ~ Herbert Ravenel Sass, Southern Author and Nature Writer

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Like winds and sunsets, wild things were taken for granted until progress began to do away with them.  Now we face the question whether a still higher "standard of living" is worth its cost in things natural, wild and free.  For us of the minority, the opportunity to see geese is more important than television, and the chance to find a pasque-flower is a right as inalienable as free speech." ~ Aldo Leopold

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Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"  - Robin Williams

Forever Wild Deadline Approaching - Op-ed in the Birmingham News

In the center - (L to R) E.O. Wilson & Bill Ireland 

After this year - we only have 2-3 legislative sessions left to reauthorize Forever Wild's funding.

From the Birmingham News:

A couple years ago, before a meeting of the Downtown Rotary Club in Birmingham, I had the pleasure of meeting  world-renowned biologist and Alabamian E.O. Wilson and the late Bill Ireland, one of Alabama’s greatest conservationists and most generous philanthropists.

Seeing those two incredible people in the same room is something I will always remember.

One of Ireland’s greatest achievements was his tireless effort to pass the Forever Wild Constitutional Amendment  — a law that has saved thousands of acres in Alabama. Throughout the years, every time we would meet, the topic of Forever Wild would come up. Before that Rotary Club meeting, E.O. Wilson mentioned the importance of Forever Wild. Later, when I greeted Bill, he just smiled and shook my hand vigorously in celebration of that great law. It was like he was saying, "We did it!”

As we celebrate Earth Day this Thursday, there is one date in the future that Bill would be focused on:

October 1, 2012.

That is when funding for Forever Wild is scheduled to end. Bill would tell us not to let it lapse.  

Continue Reading at :

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2009/04/keep_funding_for_forever_wild.html

BEN - April 9, 2009 #320

Check out Thicket Magazine's new "Green Issue" on newsstands now. Or visit http://www.thicketmag.com

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Visits to Bama Environmental News website ( http://www.BamaNews.com ) in March 2009 - 5445

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Check out recent photos/story updates posted by the Locust Fork Journal about the Roebuck/Watercress darter pond disaster that occurred in Birmingham last fall.

http://blog.locustfork.net/category/environment-news/

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Headwaters: A Journey on Alabama Rivers

Order online this amazing book of 150 photographs from Alabama's "Ansel Adams" Beth Maynor Young. This visually stunning book is complimented by the narration of master storyteller John C. Hall. Order your book today at http://www.kingfishereditions.com - hit the "news" link. Also, check out Beth's schedule of booksignings in the community near you.

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1. New National Public Lands Law to Benefit Alabama - Last week, President Barack Obama signed into law the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act. The new law establishes 2.1 million acres of wilderness in nine states, gives landmark protection to more than a million acres in the Wyoming Range, designates four national conservation areas and establishes one national monument.

In Alabama, the new law established the following:

* Newly adjusted and expanded boundaries for the Little River Canyon National Preserve;

* Creation of the Shoals National Heritage Area;

* Creation of the Chattahoochee Trace National Heritage Area

Each National Heritage Area carries limited financial and technical assistance from the National Park Service.

For additional information about the new Omnibus Public Lands Law, visit http://www.wilderness.org

2. Several Alabama Caves Closed To Stem Wildlife Crisis - According to the Birmingham News, several Alabama caves known to be home to endangered gray bats have been closed by owners and managers as a part of nationwide measures to stem the spread of white-nose syndrome, a wildlife crisis that has killed hundreds of thousands of bats from Vermont to West Virginia.

Anderson Cave in Shelby County, which is owned by the Birmingham Water Works Board and managed by the Southeastern Cave Conservancy has been closed, along with four North Alabama caves managed by Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Complex - Fern Cave, Sauta Cave, Cave Springs Cave and Key Cave. Sauta Cave in Jackson County is the winter hibernation home to more than 1 million gray bats, the largest population in the world, reported in the News.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has called for a voluntary moratorium on all caving activity in states known to be affected by white-nose syndrome, and is asking cavers in other states to not use gear or clothing that has been used in affected states.

Visit - http://www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html for the latest details on this national wildlife crisis.

3. LuLu's Homeport to Receive Dauphin Island Sea Lab Award - This year, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab has established the "DISL Seventh Generation Award", an award that will be given annually to the person/organization that embodies the tenets of sustainability, stewardship and pro-active practice in considering our natural resources for the seventh generation

This year's first DISL Seventh Generation Award will be given to Lulu's at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores. Lulu's will be recognized for their innovative environmental efforts which include the installation of an environmentally friendly windmill, serving only grass-fed, Alabama raised beef in its award-winning restaurant and the incorporation of the rain garden concept into their parking lots which dramatically improves the quality of stormwater runoff into the Intracoastal Waterway.

The award will be presented to Lulu's owner Lucy Buffet and General Manager Johnny Fisher at the Sea Lab's Discovery Day on April 18th.

4) BEN Notes: Ruffner Mountain Conservation Manager Opening, MyGreenBirmingham.com, Bibb County E-cycling + Additional E-cycling Events, University of Alabama Sustainability Events, Earth Day Across Alabama From Auntie Litter to Shoals Earth Day, Spring Concert at Three Caves

Ruffner Mountain Conservation Manager Opening - Ruffner Mountain Nature Center in Birmingham is seeking a Conservation Manager to manage their 1011 acres preserve. Visit http://www.bamanews.com/2009/04/ruffner-mountain-seeking-conservation.html for complete details.

MyGreenBirmingham.com - A wonderful new environmental website aimed at helping citizens find environmental solutions/activities in their community has been launched in Birmingham. Check it out at http://www.mygreenbirmingham.com

Bibb County E-cycling + Additional E-cycling Events - On April 11th there will be a- Bibb County E-Cycling event by the Bibb County Youth Leadership Program & Technical Knock Out in Woodstock, Green Pond and Centreville - 9am to 3pm - Call 205-926-3117 or 205-585-7835/ http://www.technicalko.net

University of Alabama Sustainability Events - Here are two sustainability events at the University of Alabama next week. April 14 - "Environmental Policy and the Problem of Justice" presented by Breena Holland, Lehigh University - 7:30pm at the Biology Auditorium, University of Alabama and April 17 - "Climate Change: Can Mathematics Help Clear the Air?" presented by Chris Jones, University of North Carolina - 1:00pm at Gordon Palmer Hall, University of Alabama. For details visit http://www.as.ua.edu/public/programs/apsacc/index.html

Earth Day Across Alabama From Auntie Litter to Shoals Earth Day - Check out the Earth Lineup:

April 17-18 - STICKS Country Music Festival, Palmer Hill in Auburn - visit http://www.conservationalabama.org for details.

April 18 - Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Discovery Day - Discovery Day 2009 will celebrated at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab this spring on April 18th, 10am-2pm. For details visit http://www.disl.org and hit the "What's New" banner link.

April 18 - Flint River Conservation Association/ 39th Annual Earth Day Event at the Hays Nature Preserve - visit http://www.huntsvillepreserves.com or http://www.flintriverconservation.org

April 18 - Lowndes Citizens United for Action Earth Day - in the Haynesville Town Square - 10am to 2pm - for details contact barbara@wildlaw.org

April 19 - Earth Fest - Tuscaloosa's Annual Earth Day Event on the University of Alabama campus - http://bama.ua.edu/~UAEC/

April 18 - Grow Alabama's Earth Day on the Farm - Blount County - For details, visit http://www.growalabama.com/events.shtml

April 18 - Whole Foods Electronic Recycling Event in Mountain Brook

April 19 - Party for the Planet Earth Day Celebration at the Birmingham Zoo - visit http://www.birminghamzoo.com

April 20 - Electronic Recycling Event at the Jasper, Alabama Mall

April 21-22 - Earth Day Safari at the Montgomery Zoo -http://www.montgomeryzoo.com

April 19 - Earthbound's Earthfest - to benefit the Black Warrior Riverkeeper - from 1:00pm to Sundown at the Bessie Estelle Park near the UAB campus - call 205-458-0095 for details

April 22 - 18th Annual Auntie Litter Parade and Celebration - Birmingham -http://www.auntielitter.org

April 23 - Earth Day at Samford University - visit http://www.samford.edu/earthday/

April 25 - Earth Day Mobile Bay 2009 - 19th Annual Mobile Bay Earth Day - 10:00am to 7:00pm - Fairhope Pier Park, Fairhope, Alabama - http://www.earthdaymobilebay.org

April 25 - Shoals Earth Day and Earth Month - April 25th, 11:00 to 6:00 at Wilson Park in Florence, Alabama - Visit http://www.shoalsearthday.com or contact NancyMuseSea@aol.com or 256-767-2909.

April 25 - "A view from the Earth" 3rd Annual Earth Day Celebration in Collinsville, Alabama - visit http://www.dreamfieldproduction.net or call 256-844-8235

April 25 - Earth Day at Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile with Mobile Baykeeper - 9:00AM to 3:00PM - for details visit http://www.bellingrath.org/earth-day.html

April 25 - Wildlaw Presents Earth Day in Tuskegee National Forest at the Taska Recreation Center - 11am to 1pm - details, barbara@wildlaw.org or http://www.wildlaw.org

April 25 - Five Mile Creek Greenway Volunteer Event - for details visit http://www.cawaco.org/fivemilecreek/

April 26 - Earth Day at the Gardens - 12th Annual Earth Day at the Gardens - Birmingham Botanical Gardens - http://www.bbgardens.org

Spring Concert at Three Caves - The Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama will be holding the annual Spring Concert at Three Caves "An evening of hit music, stories & laughter under the stars" - on May 15th, 6:30pm Free shuttle leaves from Huntsville hospital - for detail contact the Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama at http://www.landtrust-hsv.org

BEN 2009 Events Calendar - April Update

Below is the latest BEN 2009 Event Calendar.

Schedules - Visit these websites to access up to date calendar of events in your community:

Environmental Education Centers: Museums, Zoos and Gardens

Dauphin Island Sea Lab - http://www.disl.org

Friends of Locust Fork River -http://www.flfr.org

Weeks Bay Foundation - http://www.weeksbay.org/calendar.htm

Anniston Museum of Natural History -http://www.annistonmuseum.org/Programs_Events/index.html

Huntsville Botanical Garden - http://hsvbg.org/events.htm

Landmark Park in Dothan - http://www.landmarkpark.org

Birmingham Botanical Gardens - http://www.bbgardens.org

Auburn Forest Preserve - https://fp.auburn.edu/preserve/UpcomingEvents.htm

Montgomery Zoo - http://www.montgomeryal.gov/index.aspx?page=972

Ruffner Mountain Nature Center - http://www.ruffnermountain.org

Dauphin Island Sea - http://www.disl.org

McWane Center - http://www.mcwane.org

Burrtitt in the Mountain - http://www.burrittonthemountain.com

Birmingham Zoo - http;//www.birminghamzoo.com

Alabama Museum of Natural History - http://amnh.ua.edu/events.html

Environmental Education Hikes, Outings, Tours, Clean-ups, Tree Plantings

Wild South - http://www.wildsouth.org

CAWACO - http://www.cawaco.org

Freshwater Land Trust - http://www.freshwaterlandtrust.org

Fresh Air Family - http://www.freshairfamily.org

Jones Valley Urban Farm - http://www.jvuf.org

Central Alabama Grotto - http://centralalabamagrotto.com/dotnetnuke

Alabama Chapter of the Sierra Club - http://alabama.sierraclub.org

Alabama Hiking Trail Society - http://www.hikealabama.org

Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama - http://www.landtrust-hsv.org

Shoals Earth Month - http://www.shoalsearthday.com

Alabama Power's Renew Our Rivers -http://www.alabamapower.com/lakes/schedule.asp

JSU Field Schools Schedule -http://epic.jsu.edu/lrcfs/fieldschool_event_calendar.pdf

Birmingham Audubon Society - http://www.birminghamaudubon.org/BAS11-04/Calendar.pdf

Alabama Wildlife Federation/Alabama Nature Center -http://www.alabamawildlife.org

Alabama Coastal Foundation - http://www.joinacf.org

Alabama Wildlife Center - http://www.awrc.org

Camps/Environmental Education Centers

Camp McDowell - http://www.campmcdowell.com/cmec/index.htm

Coastal Wonders - Environmental Education Programs at Beckwith -http://www.coastalwonders.org

Camp ASCCA -http://www.theenvironmentalcenter.org/

YMCA Camp Cosby - http://www.campcosby.org/oc_overview.htm

Sumatanga Camp and Conference -http://www.sumatanga.org/env-education.php

The Water Course - http://www.alabamapower.com/watercourse/home.asp

Southern Environmental Center - http://www.myecoscapes.com

Special Fundraisers

Ducks Unlimited - http://www.ducks.org/states/31/events/index.html

Alabama Wildlife Federation (Wild Game Cook-Offs) -http://www.alabamawildlife.org/eventscalendar

State & Federal Events and Tours

Department of Conservation's Special Programs -http://www.outdooralabama.com/Programs/

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge Tours -http://www.fws.gov/bonsecour/wintertours.html

Television Schedule

Discovering Alabama - http://www.aptv.org/Schedule/nolaschedule.asp?NOLA1=DSAL

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February - June - Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama's Spring Burst Hikes - Visit http://www.landtrust-hsv.org/events for the schedule.

WRATT Emission's Testing Schedule - The Waste Reduction the Technology Transfer Foundation has released their 2009 auto emissions testing schedule in jefferson and Shelby counties. Check out the schedule athttp://www.alabamacleanair.com/testing.html

Shoals Environmental Alliance Spring Nature Outings Schedule - The Shoals Environmental Alliance has released their 2009 Spring Nature Outings Schedule. Visit their website at http://shoalsenvironalliance.netfirms.com for details.

Camp Winnastaska Summer Teacher Workshops - http://www.winnteacher.org

Birmingham Canoe Club Workshops - http://www.birminghamcanoeclub.org/index_files/index1.html

April 11 - Bibb County E-Cycling by the Bibb County Youth Leadership Program & Technical Knock Out in Woodstock, Green Pond and Centreville - 9am to 3pm - Call 205-926-3117 or 205-585-7835/ http://www.technicalko.net

.April 14- "Road Kills on Battleship Parkway and the new Alabama Red-bellied Turtle Fence" presented by Dr. David Nelson, University of South Alabama 7:30 at 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center

April 14 - "Environmental Policy and the Problem of Justice" presented by Breena Holland, Lehigh University - 7:30pm at the Biology Auditorium, University of Alabama - http://www.as.ua.edu/public/programs/apsacc/index.html

April 17 - "Climate Change: Can Mathematics Help Clear the Air?" presented by Chris Jones, University of North Carolina - 1:00pm at Gordon Palmer Hall, University of Alabama

April 17-18 - STICKS Country Music Festival, Palmer Hill in Auburn - visithttp://www.conservationalabama.org for details.

April 18 - Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Discovery Day - Discovery Day 2009 will celebrated at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab this spring on April 18th, 10am-2pm . For details visit http://www.disl.org and hit the "What's New" banner link.

April 18 - Flint River Conservation Association/ 39th Annual Earth Day Event at the Hays Nature Preserve - visit http://www.huntsvillepreserves.com or  http://www.flintriverconservation.org

April 18 - Lowndes Citizens United for Action Earth Day - in the Haynesville Town Square - 10am to 2pm - for details contact barbara@wildlaw.org

April 19 - Earth Fest - Tuscaloosa's Annual Earth Day Event on the University of Alabama campus - http://bama.ua.edu/~UAEC/

April 18 - Grow Alabama's Earth Day on the Farm - Blount County - For details, visit http://www.growalabama.com/events.shtml

April 18 - Whole Foods Electronic Recycling Event in Mountain Brook

April 19 - Party for the Planet Earth Day Celebration at the Birmingham Zoo - visithttp://www.birminghamzoo.com

April 20 - Electronic Recycling Event at the Jasper, Alabama Mall

April 21-22 - Earth Day Safari at the Montgomery Zoo -http://www.montgomeryzoo.com

April 19 - Earthbound's Earthfest - to benefit the Black Warrior Riverkeeper - from 1:00pm to Sundown at the Bessie Estelle Park near the UAB campus - call 205-458-0095 for details

April 22 - 18th Annual Auntie Litter Parade and Celebration - Birmingham -http://www.auntielitter.org

April 23 - Earth Day at Samford University - visithttp://www.samford.edu/earthday/

April 25 - Earth Day Mobile Bay 2009 - 19th Annual Mobile Bay Earth Day - 10:00am to 7:00pm - Fairhope Pier Park, Fairhope, Alabama - http://www.earthdaymobilebay.org

April 25 - Shoals Earth Day and Earth Month - April 25th, 11:00 to 6:00 at Wilson Park in Florence, Alabama - Visit http://www.shoalsearthday.com or contact NancyMuseSea@aol.com or 256-767-2909.

April 25 - "A view from the Earth" 3rd Annual Earth Day Celebration in Collinsville, Alabama - visit http://www.dreamfieldproduction.net or call 256-844-8235

April 25 - Earth Day at Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile with Mobile Baykeeper - 9:00AM to 3:00PM - for details visit http://www.bellingrath.org/earth-day.html

April 25 - Wildlaw Presents Earth Day in Tuskegee National Forest at the Taska Recreation Center - 11am to 1pm - details, barbara@wildlaw.org orhttp://www.wildlaw.org

April 26 - Earth Day at the Gardens - 12th Annual Earth Day at the Gardens - Birmingham Botanical Gardens - http://www.bbgardens.org

April 28 - Coastal Kids Quiz in Daphne, Alabama - Contact the Alabama Coastal Foundation for details at 251-990-6002.

May 2- Outdoor Alabama Expo 2009 - The Department of Conservation will be holding the 2009 Outdoor Alabama Expo, 9:00 to 5:00 at Oak Mountain State Park.

May 2 - Learn to be an Oyster Gardener - The Mobile Bay Oyster Gardening Program will be holding Oyster Gardening workshops on April 18th - 10:00am, at the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitor Bureau in Orange Beach and May 2nd - 10:00am at the Auburn Shellfish Laboratory on Dauphin Island. Contact PJ Waters at 251-438-5690 for details and to reserve a seat.

May - June - Cahaba River Society will hold canoe trip each weekend to view the Cahaba lilies - contact them at http://www.cahabariversociety.org for details.

May 7-10 - 32nd Annual Audubon Mountain Workshop - Mentone, Alabama -http://www.birminghamaudubon.org

May 13-14 - 5th Annual State of Our Watershed Conference at the Betty Carol Graham technology Center, Central Alabama Community College, Alexander City, Alabama - for conference info, visit http://www.twp.auburn.edu

May 15 - Spring Concert at Three Caves "An evening of hit music, stories & laughter under the stars" - 6:30pm Free shuttle leaves from Huntsville hospital - for detail contact the Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama at 

http://www.landtrust-hsv.org

May 16 - Friends of the Calera Library -"May Day Market  Rummage and Recycling Day

May 30 - Spring Hill Medical Grandman Triathlon - Event benefiting Mobile Baykeeper - Visit Mobile Baykeeper at http://www.mobilebaykeeper.org for details

May 30 - The Cahaba Lily Festival in West Blocton, Alabama -http://www.cahabalily.com

June 11-13 - Paddle Alabama at Coosa Weiss Lake - for details, visithttp://www.alabamascenicrivertrail.com

June 23-25 and July 13-16 - Alabama Forestry Foundation's Teacher's Conservation Workshops - visit http://www.alaforestry.org

July 28-29 - Take Pride Statewide Conference 2009 -http://www.auntielitter.org/takepridestatewide.html

September 25-26 - Green Coast 2009 - Pensacola, Florida - 251-928-2309 -http://www.smartcoast.org

November 7-8 - Paddle Alabama at Claiborne Dam , Alabama River - for detailshttp://www.alabamascenicrivertrail.com