London, Alice & Tennis

Green Boris- London Mayor Boris Johnson unveiled a plan last week to help deal with the challenge of climate change in his city. It’s estimated that 15% of London is susceptible to flooding due to global warming. At stake is the protection of $293 billion in assets in London proper and all along the Thames. The goal is to cut carbon emissions by 60% by 2025. Included in the plan is urban planning to incorporate more planting of trees and attempts at urban design for a city thats temperatures are increasing. Additionally, improvements on London’s ancient drainage system and compulsory water metering are part of the plan. It’s encouraging that local governments continue to lead the way in preparation and actions in dealing with this crisis.

Alice Rules- The ever great Alice Waters has formed an organization called FoodDeclaration.org. They are calling for a radical approach in food and agriculture. Below find the main principles:

We believe that the following twelve principles should frame food and agriculture policy, to ensure that it will contribute to the health and wealth of the nation and the world. A healthy food and agriculture policy:
1) Forms the foundation of secure and prosperous societies, healthy communities, and healthy people.
2) Provides access to affordable, nutritious food to everyone.
3) Prevents the exploitation of farmers, workers, and natural resources; the domination of genomes and markets; and the cruel treatment of animals, by any nation, corporation or individual.
4) Upholds the dignity, safety, and quality of life for all who work to feed us.
5) Commits resources to teach children the skills and knowledge essential to food production, preparation, nutrition, and enjoyment.
6) Protects the finite resources of productive soils, fresh water, and biological diversity.
7) Strives to remove fossil fuel from every link in the food chain and replace it with renewable resources and energy.
8) Originates from a biological rather than an industrial framework.
9) Fosters diversity in all its relevant forms: diversity of domestic and wild species; diversity of foods, flavors and traditions; diversity of ownership.
10) Requires a national dialog concerning technologies used in production, and allows regions to adopt their own respective guidelines on such matters.
11) Enforces transparency so that citizens know how their food is produced, where it comes from, and what it contains.
12) Promotes economic structures and supports programs to nurture the development of just and sustainable regional farm and food networks.


US Open- I am fortunate enough to be attending some sessions of the US Open Tennis Tournament today in Flushing, Queens. I am looking forward to personally observing the efforts of the USTA and the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in lowering their carbon footprint. Some of these efforts include: increased recycling, environmentally-sustainable product sourcing, green outreach to fans and purchasing carbon offset wind credits. Also, the more tennis-orientated efforts include recycling tennis ball cans and donating used tennis balls to youth tennis programs. I will be considerably disappointed if all I see is plastic water bottles everywhere though. Having player transport provided by Lexus with a fleet only 20% hybrid is a huge disappointment too. I will be taking mass transit of course.