Panel on Urban Sustainability Thursday October 17

Recycled, Reclaimed, Reinvented: Art & Neon

As I was reading my trusty AAA magazine I came across in their "worth a drive" section, which I think we should rename worth a bike ride or a transit ride, an announcement regarding a Neon Art Exhibit entitled: "Recycled, Reclaimed and Reinvented: The Neon Art of Bill Concannon." Not only that I did not realize that LA has a Neon Art museum but I am fascinated by art out of recycled materials. The exhibit is meant as a commentary on consumerism. Here is a quote from the artist, with information about the museum to follow:

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In reference to our consumeristic culture, Concannon says "for a long time, it's tickled me that glass is at once a very precious (pound per pound) fine art medium and also a thoughtless, throw-away material: no deposit - no return." Many of Concannon's sculptures also form a narrative collage where he comments about consumerism, politics, and the erotic psyche. Examples are the swirling neon man stuck in a jar with the phrase "Pickled Punk," the GWH Bush as arcade fortune teller with a button to press that switches neon lights from the words "White In Men Power" to "WIMP", or the subliminal erotic installation called "Gump's Peony," "Sausage," and "Hoop," that has neon tubes covered in plastic shopping bags. Concannon comments, "let's face it, on some level neon is trash, or at least comes from a trash culture. One of the few 'reuses' of plastic shopping bags is to hold your garbage. No one loves plastic bags, but when you look at them in this piece they're strangely beautiful." The Museum is located in DT LA at 136 W 4th street between Spring and Main, with $5 student admission and $7 general. It is closed on Monday and Tuesday, but open all the other days from noon-6pm (5pm on Sunday). I encourage you to go check it out! I know I will!

International Zero Carbon City: Masdar

While in Geneva, some MAUP students had the pleasure to see a presentation about Masdar City. Masdar is envisioned as a Zero Carbon Emission City in Abu Dhabi. It seems very futuristic, but an interesting concept nonetheless. If you are interested in more information please follow the link. There a small summary below. This was also on the first page of the NY Times a few weeks ago. Thoughts? Comments?

http://www.masdar.ae/en/home/index.aspx

Established in April 2006, Masdar (the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) is a multi-faceted company advancing the development, commercialisation and deployment of renewable energy solutions and clean technologies. Masdar integrates the full renewable and clean technology lifecycle - from research to commercial deployment – with the aim of creating scalable clean energy solutions. Masdar works with global partners and institutions to integrate new research with proven technologies to produce efficient systems and processes that can be replicated globally.
Masdar builds on Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading global energy player, with an aim to develop renewable energy and low-carbon technologies at a global level; whilst contributing toward the UAE’s economic diversification through the development of a knowledge-based clean energy sector in the UAE. It seeks to be a leading renewable energy and clean technology player by providing a test bed for the world to develop commercially viable, sustainable energy solutions.

Masdar consists of three business units and one investment arm:

· Masdar Carbon specialises in developing energy efficiency and clean fossil fuel projects that bring significant reduction in carbon emissions

· Masdar City is a clean technology cluster being developed on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi that will be powered entirely by renewable energy

·Masdar Power builds and invests in utility scale renewable energy power projects

·Masdar Venture Capital manages the Masdar Clean Tech Funds, a series of diversified venture capital investment vehicles focused on building portfolios of direct investments in clean technology and renewable energy

In addition, Masdar is associated with the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, the world’s first graduate-only academic institution focused on research into alternative energies and sustainable technologies. It is also a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mubadala Development Company.

Big Blue Bus on Google Transit

As some you have noticed Google has a great feature where you can get transit routes. But... the Big Blue Bus is missing. So, in order to get the BBB on there please sign this petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/smgt/petition.html

Tokyo’s green goal: Be the most environmentally friendly - latimes.com

Solar panels top a corporate headquarters building in Tokyo. this month the mega-city kicked off a mandatory program for 1,400 factories and office buildings to cut their carbon emissions 25% from 2000 levels by the end of 2020. (Kimimasa Mayama / Bloomberg)

Reporting from Tokyo

On a man-made island in Tokyo Bay, garbage is getting a makeover.

Tons of waste are trucked here daily to a large industrial building. What can't be recycled is burned and filtered for toxins. The ash is turned into building material, and the heat is converted into electricity — enough to power 55,000 homes.

The process saves landfill space. Air pollution is minimal. The 4-year-old firm, Tokyo Waterfront Recycle Power Co., will turn its first profit this year, said President Ikuo Onaka. But, he contends, the rewards aren't purely financial...

Read the whole article.

2/25/10
Sustainable Urban Network presents: Professionals in Sustainability
How does sustainability influence the work of professional planners? Are there emerging trends in the field related to sustainability?

Please join us for SUN’s first networking event of 2010 featuring a panel of planning professionals. They will discuss their work experiences and recent projects that relate to sustainability.

Panelists:
Steve Crosley, Senior Transportation Planner, Fehr & Peers, Transportation Consultants, Santa Monica

Juan Matute, Director, Program on Local Government Climate Action Policies, Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies (UCLA School of Public Affairs)

Georgia Sheridan, Urban Designer/Planner, Torti Gallas and Partners, Sheridan/Hawkes Collaborative

When: Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Where: UCLA Public Affairs Bldg. 5th Floor Faculty Lounge
Join in the discussion! You are invited to ask questions and participate to help create an interactive event!

March 3rd Bicycle Planning Event

Hey SUN-

Come check out this great event on March 3rd featuring the work of some of SUN's members:

Hosted by
The Southern California Planning Congress
in partnership with the
UCLA Lewis Center
and the
Los Angeles Sustainability Collaborative

Wednesday, March 3, 2010
6:30 pm—Social
7:00 pm—Dinner & Presentation

Speakers: Alexis Lantz (UCLA)
&
Jordann Turner (City of Los Angeles—City Planning Department)
This event will highlight the research conducted by Miss Lantz on cyclists in Los
Angeles, examining their experience, motivation and preferences, and possible
policy implications. Mr. Turner will then lead a discussion about the City of Los
Angeles' Bike Plan.

Location:
UCLA Faculty Center, 480 Charles Young Dr. East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095.
Driving and parking directions: http://facultycenter.ucla.edu/directions.htm

RSVP to Claudia Rodriguez—(818)374-5060 or by e-mail at scpcrsvp@msn.com