January 12th, 2010
Posted by Mark Clawson
The Move Your Money Movement got started over the dinner table with a few friends. Those present were wondering what they could do personally that would help limit the the power of the big banks while creating a more equitable and stable financial system.
Risk and greed have have always been present in in our society, however, ever since the Glass-Steagall act was repealed in 1999 the impact on our financial markets has been more broadly felt. The repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act allowed banks to get involved in the investment business. If your interested you can click here to find out how this all developed; not surprisingly you will find the money boys at their worst or best depending on your perspective.
Getting back to the Move Your Money Movement. The financier at the table recommended “that everyone could move their money out of the Wall Street banks and into community banks. Community banks are typically more conservative about how they manage their money, they’re more closely connected to the people and businesses who live near them, and they’re more inclined to make loans they know will get paid back. In other words, they have the values that more people would want banks to have.”
The filmmaker at the table reminded the others of the story told in the classic film It’s A Wonderful Life — a tale about a small banker, played by Jimmy Stewart, who almost gets crushed by a big banker. In the end, though, the community rallies around the small bank and helps save it. You can click on the above photo and view the short video; I guess greed will always be with us. The point is whether we can change things.
In America money talks, just ask our politicians.
I think that if we look long and hard at are political system; it would be hard to deny that things need to be changed. The question is always how? When people think about changing the system we think in terms of electing a new President. The problem is that the party that is shut out of office then begins its fight to get re-elected. They surely don’t want to help the new President look good and hurt their chances of taking back the Presidency. We did not elect these politicians to spend their time on getting re-elected; we expected them to do their jobs and to be the voice of their constituents.
This cartoon is symbolic of the situation we face; not a knock on any particular party. They are both at fault!
Sometimes I wonder who our elected officials really listen to. It seems as though they follow the money. They seem to respond more to the lobbyists and political action groups than their real constituents. Party loyalty becomes shameful when actions and policies that are for the good of the country are not truly debated in a manner that you would expect of statesmen.
Thinking term limits?
A Constitutional Amendment would be needed for term limits to be put into law and that would need a two thirds vote to pass; not very likely based on past experience.
The system has handcuffed the public’s ability to seek true change. There is another recourse laid out in Article V of the Constitution. Two thirds of the states could demand a constitutional convention for an amendment to limit terms. Some would say that there is some danger in this since it could lead to other changes in the Constitution.
The Move Your Money movement is a simple idea that doesn’t need a constitutional amendment to make it work.
Keith Olbermann has an overview of the movement in a video you can access by clicking on the photo below.
The Move Your Money Movement is a grassroots effort to shift the power in the financial system away from Wall Street and to Main Street. Wall Street has done nothing to warrant our trust; they need to earn it back. Maybe this movement will stir a new beginning; we need to bring this country back to its roots!
Washington Federal is one of the community banks that is listed on the Move Your Money website. You can go the the website and explore the other community banks or credit unions that are named. They have identified the banks and credit unions that have a sound financial base; those that were not involved in the practices that took down some of the biggest banks.
December 10th, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
I have moved back to the Pacific Northwest to be with family and friends for awhile. This is the small town of Langley which is located on Whidbey Island in the State of Washington. The population of Langley is about 1000; this is small town at it’s best!
Winter is here; today it was 18 degrees. I understand that it is cooling down in Las Vegas and snowing in Arizona and New Mexico.
Here is my new puppy Sam; a boxer, black lab and bulldog mix. I had to put down my last dog, Bailey, about a year ago and Sam is turning into a very good friend. Having a puppy is all about child proofing your home; I guess my memory is short since it’s not a lot of fun.
Here is a photo of the studio where I live.
This is the main building on the 8 acre site that my friend Ron Kasprisin has developed. He also has a small vineyard called Kasprisin Ridge which is very young; only 15 gallons of wine this year.
Ron is building another cottage that he plans on renting as an artist’s studio. I wrote a post on my new blog site that talks about Ron and his watercolor work. Click here for the link to the article and my new blog site. The link to the main blog, Whidbey Island Life, is here.
I have to tell you that I do miss Vegas. My blogs showed a side of the city that many people don’t really appreciate.
I have put together a slide show that gives you a better idea of what Whidbey Island is all about.
If you click here you can view it.
I plan on being back in Vegas in a year or so; wishing you all a Merry Christmas and great Holiday Season!
Mark
October 3rd, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
Green Links Las Vegas starts with an article on wind power. Texas turned on the largest wind farm in the world this week. Zachary Shahan from CleanTechnica shows us some photos of this farm that contains 627 wind turbines on about 100,000 acres of land.
With the Flu season rapidly approaching it is important to improve your immunity system. Tina McCarthy writing for ecosalon has a list with photos of the 15 Best Food to Improve Your Immunity.
Christopher DeMorrow gives us a preview of the Gullwing Subaru Hybrid car. His article in gas2 is about the Tokyo Motor Show; this is all about style.
The National Solar Homes Tour kicks of this weekend and our Southern Nevada Tour is this Sunday. The tour starts at the Springs Preserve and there is a small registration fee. Here is the link to the event.
Stephanie Wear talks about climate change and the worlds coral reefs for Cool Green Science. This is The Nature Conservancy’s blog site. There is a video entitled “The Global Climate Wake-Up Call”; people are involved and getting the word out! Here is the link. Coral reefs just can’t handle the warming of the Oceans very well; believe me we need the coral reefs.
Jeff Kart has an article on the new Tesla Roadster in treehugger. If you have $100,000 you can as Jeff says “Pimp My Green Ride.” You can see more about the Tesla Roadster by clicking here.
September 30th, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
Team Earth is sending out an SOS to the world.
Rainforests are critical to our survival — they regulate rainfall, preserve biodiversity and store vast amounts of carbon.
So we’re working with Sting and our friends at Prince Charles’ Rainforest Project to send a clear message: the horrendous deforestation happening right now in our rainforests needs to stop.
Be a part of the world’s biggest SOS for our rainforests. Watch this great video message from Sting and share it with your friends:
This December, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen for important negotiations on climate change. Team Earth can send a loud message to those in power that the world’s citizens demand its protection.
The future of the rainforests is our future. As Sting shares with us in his video, the destruction of the rainforests isn’t a crime against a few — it’s a disaster for our planet.
Our voices are needed now. Invite your friends to listen to Sting’s message and to join Team Earth:
http://www.teamearth.com/sos
Thanks again for joining Team Earth. Our individual actions are coming together to make a real difference in saving our planet.
September 26th, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
This weeks Green Links Las Vegas starts with a post on wind power. Susan Kraemer writing for CleanTechnica explains how an oil company is putting wind turbines on top of off-shore drilling platforms.
Jake Locker, star quarterback of the University of Washington football team, is a man with a great heart and old soul. This piece from Seattle P.I. writer Greg Jones tells a story that will warm your heart. Only love is real; I think you’ll understand as you read this article.
Ariel Schwartz writing for inhabitat has an article about an electric charging corridor being put in place from San Francisco to Los Angeles. California always seems to be ahead of the game and green innovation is at the top of the list.
Ariel Schwartz has another post for inhabitat about that nasty E-Coli. Seems as though it can be used to clean up nuclear waste; go figure.
Zachary Shahan’s article in CleanTechnica points out that Biotechnology may have a big part in reducing CO2 emissions and building a Green Economy.
Sammy Grover’s article entitled “Big Business Wants 85% CO2 Cuts; Now Who Do We Blame?” is an encouraging sign. You can view this article from treehugger by clicking here.
September 21st, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
Team Earth and Harrison Ford are teaming up and bringing awareness to sustainable living on our planet.
Every living organism on this planet is an energy of light in the universe. With enough energy we can bring a new light of hope to this planet. This is all about getting involved and being aware that the actions of a few can start that process moving forward.
This is not about politics it is about having a common purpose that works for everyone.
About Team Earth:
Ensuring the sustainability of Earth’s essential resources while maintaining economic growth is the defining challenge of the 21st century. How we manage the gifts of nature – a stable climate, fresh water and abundant oceans, fertile soils for food, the right conditions for healthy lives and the ability to sustainably balance human needs – will determine the long-term health and prosperity of all people, everywhere.
Are You In?
Convened by Conservation International, Team Earth will unite businesses, non-profit organizations, scientists, educators, individuals and children in an international collective action campaign to address the most pressing environmental issues facing humanity.
Our first challenge of saving forests is just the beginning for Team Earth. The momentum builds towards November 2009 as we take our efforts to the next level.
Are you in? Here is a link to Team Earth.
Earlier this summer I wrote a post about my daughter and her husband and their experiences in giving back to the world community “Kids Helping Kids in Africa”. Here is a link to a site that can get your kids involved.
September 19th, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
Building Green Homes in Las Vegas
On June 25th of 2007 The Southern Nevada Green Building Partnership announced that Signature Custom Homes of Las Vegas was the first home builder to sign up to participate in their program. The program was established to help builders design and construct more environmentally sensitive, or “green” new homes in metropolitan Las Vegas.
The Green Building Partnership, a program of the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association and the Green Building Initiative of Portland, Ore., will provide Signature Custom Homes, and other home building companies that sign up for the program, the technical expertise to use the program’s 10-page green building guidelines developed specifically for conditions in Southern Nevada; administer an impartial, third-party inspection and verification that the program guidelines have been met in the design and construction of the home; and issue certification that the home has been constructed to the program’s green building requirements.
“Signature Custom Homes is honored to be the first home builder to sign up for this green building program. We want to be part of this locally based effort that’s bringing green building to residential construction in our community,” said Brian Plaster, 29, president of Signature Custom Homes, and son of longtime Las Vegas home builders, Richard and Wendy Plaster, founders of the Signature Homes.
The environment for homebuilding in Las Vegas has been precarious at best and there are few brave souls out there actually building new homes. I have written articles on a couple of the companies that are involved with the Southern Nevada Green Building Partnership; Signature Custom Homes and Pulte Homes are two companies that are actively creating homes that meet the guidelines of the partnership.
Pulte Homes was the first production homebuilder to join the partnership and you can view my post on their Villa Trieste Community in Summerlin by clicking here.
The primary means to achieving a green home profile include radiant heat barriers, low-flow water fixtures, dual-flush toilets, tankless hot water heaters, dual-glazed and tinted windows filled with argon gas, solar systems to produce power, A/C units with SEER rating of 17 and Energy Star appliances.
Photo of the insulation at Hacienda Verde
Much of the work that is put into a green home is not very visible upon the completion of the home. Brian Plaster’s (Signature Custom Homes) Hacienda Verde is nearing completion. I was able to work with Brian on a couple of posts that show you the construction process involved in going green.
Click Here
Click Here
While the costs associated with this type of construction can be higher; the savings in electricity, gas and water will even that out in 5 to 7 years.
Concordia Homes, a green home builder, shut down their operations in October of 2008 due to slack demand in the housing market. I think that it is important to get the word out about our green home builders; Pulte and Signature Custom Homes are planting the seeds of change. Building green in Las Vegas just makes so much sense; the climate and water shortages that we experience in Las Vegas should make this type of homebuilding a priority for our community.
September 14th, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
China is competing big time with the U.S. in the development of renewable energy; let’s hope that we don’t drop the ball. Susan Kreamer at CleanTechnica posts about the recovery in the Chinese economy and their efforts on renewable energy.
Here is another article about how China in moving ahead of the U.S. in the drive to go Solar. Keith Bradsher writes in the New York Times that China wants to be the dominant player in renewable energy, in particlur, solar power.
There was recently a blog site that was suggesting that we have seen enough cute cat stuff and that we should have a day when all such posts should be banned. That being said, take a look at this cute overload post.
Does polution fight global warming? Lea Bogdan writing for inhabitat suggests that plants are benefiting from global warming; click here to find out more.
Susan Kraemer is busy this week writing at for CleanTechnica. This time she explores the mining of hydrothermal vents and what it can mean for us.
September 9th, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
Green Links Las Vegas starts the week with an article by Warren McLaren writing for treehugger. This is a slide show on 20 Wild Places for Getting Back to Nature. Near the end of the post is a link to the slide show.
Here is an article about the Arctic warm up. Brian Merchant’s article in treehugger indicates that the Arctic is experiencing the warmest climate in 2000 years. Click here for the link.
You rarely see much in the way of skyscrapers in London. The character of the city just doesn’t set itself up for that type of structure. However, construction on the Shard in London has just begun. Bridgette Meinhold says that The Shard will be the tallest building in Western Europe. You can click here to see her article in inhabitat.
Zachary Shahan’s article in EcoWorldly talks about the Acacia Tree and how it might save Africa. The link can be reached by clicking here.
September 1st, 2009
Posted by Mark Clawson
So, let’s talk a little about cooking green and where you can find it.
On Lake Jacqueline in the community of Desert Shores you’ll find Garfield’s. I seriously don’t think you will find a better atmosphere for family dining; it’s a special place with special people. Garfield’s is a family restaurant with a French twist.
The restaurant has a nautical feel and the patio dining, on the water, is wonderful. The Las Vegas weather is so conducive to this style of dining, especially as we enter the month of September.
Garfield’s is named in honor of Sir Garfield Sobers, Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on the playing fields of Barbados in 1975. Sir Garfield is considered the greatest all-around Cricket player of all time.
Executive Chef Jean-David Groff-Daudet is on the left.
I was the guest of Executive Chef Jean-David Groff-Daudet, “Chef JD,” for an afternoon lunch. The Chef suggested their Panini Seven Hours Leg of Lamb with roasted peppers, Harissa dressing on Ciabatta Bread. The sandwich was delicious and perfect for an afternoon meal on the lake.
If you want to find out about Slow Food and cooking green click here for the full article.
