Sunny & Share! In This Issue WELCOME BAGT NEWS STAFF AND INTERN UPDATE RECOMMENDATIONS & COMMUNITY NEWS SUSTAINABLE SPOTLIGHT: Shared Soluti

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Sunny & Share!

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Welcome from Guest Writer Janelle Orsi

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About five years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Janelle Orsi, and I have been following her remarkable path as an innovative lawyer and “Sharing” proponent ever since. She has graced our tours with her wonderful cartoon flip charts, and we’ve enjoyed distributing her innovative business cards that offer a wealth of knowledge on how to create community, shop seasonally, and invest with a conscience. Recently we produced a “Sharing Economy” tour based on Janelle's ideas, and this month have invited her to write our newsletter introduction which contains valuable information on shared resources.
- Marissa LaMagna, Executive Director, Bay Area Green Tours

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The sharing economy is changing everything. In just ten years, so much about our daily lives could change: the ways we work, move around, house ourselves, get our food, care for our children and elders, and so much more. When I heard that Bay Area Green Tours organized a sharing economy-themed tour for high school students, it struck me that teaching about the sharing economy may be one of the most important things we can offer youth as they embark on their lives and careers.

If you take three of the world’s greatest crises – economic meltdown, ecological destruction, and human unhappiness – and you audaciously try to solve them at once, the solution you will most likely arrive at is: SHARING. Sharing a car with a neighbor, for example, lowers expenses, increases the utility of the car, reduces our impact on the planet, and connects us more with the people around us. Apply sharing and collaboration to any other area of life and you’ll have the same effects: maximizing economic resources, minimizing ecological impact, and building community.

Sharing isn’t always easy, which makes the sharing economy an emergent field that promises an enormous amount of innovation. There are logistical, technological and legal barriers. Perhaps greatest of all, there are social, emotional, and cultural barriers. Baby boomers, and those who came after in the U.S., grew up with the ideal that every household would be something of an island – it would feed itself, have two or more cars, accumulate a large number of goods, and earn money to pay for services such as elder care, child care, health care, and so on. Since most people have been raised on an ideal that is quite the opposite of sharing, it means that sharing is something of a frontier, even though it calls on society to remember ways that we humans have thrived in times past. Challenging as it may be, the sharing economy promises to improve everyone’s well-being, and it’s time that we all explore it.

Education: Pomona College (B.A. Cum Laude; Phi Beta Kappa, 2002); Boalt Hall School of Law, UC Berkeley (Juris Doctorate, 2007).

BAGT NEWS

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Two May School Tours highlight Shared Solutions, Waste Reduction and Green Careers!

Berkeley High's Sharing Economy Tour

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Berkeley High Students harvesting lemons at Susan Silber's shared garden

 
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At the Berkeley Co-Housing project with Raines Cohen.

On May 22nd, Kate Trimlett’s Berkeley High AP Environmental Science class embarked on a full day tour that showcased various models of the Sharing Economy. This was a perfect opportunity for Bay Area Green Tours to highlight some of the innovative systems being developed in Berkeley around resource sharing, including: community working spaces, co-housing models, community lending, and food collectives. Our first stop was to the incredible six-acre creative hub in West Oakland, American Steel. Upon arriving at the studio, the students were greeted by three huge sculptures, composed entirely of recycled steel. They are the artistic offspring of the mother of the studio, Karen Cusolito, who has converted the space into a shared art studio featuring over 160 artists and organizations. Karen and Ann Olivia escorted our group through a maze of artwork that had the students mesmerized.

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Checking out Burning Man sculptures at American Steel!

 
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Enjoying delicious pizza at the Cheese Board!

Next, we explored alternative housing models at the Berkeley Co-housing project, a little slice of paradise in the middle of Berkeley. Raines Cohen explained how neighbors live side by side, have their own private space but also share community space. As a result, each individual family uses a lot less space and resources. We enjoyed our lunches and made lemonade at the home of Susan Silber, a local sharing advocate. Our tour concluded after visiting the Berkeley Student Food Collective and going behind-the-scenes at the Cheeseboard Collective, a bakery and cheese shop famous for its fresh pizzas. By day’s end, the students learned a great amount from the passionate advocates we met who are creating increased and enlightened sharing in the East Bay.

Rachel Trachten, journalist and editor at The San Francisco Examiner, joined BAGT and interviewed the Berkeley High students during this tour! Her article was published June 11

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Group photo at American Steel

BAGT Interns Angelique Chan and Tenzin Daden took their own classes from Albany High School on an amazing Green Tour in San Francisco which they planned and organized as part of their high school final project!

Water Waste & Green Careers Tour

by Angelique Chan, BAGT Intern & Albany High School Student

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Group photo at the Moscone Center.

 
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Hector Quiles presenting the recycling program at Moscone Center.

On Friday, May 31, we took the junior and senior Albany High School students to San Francisco to visit the Moscone Center, International Art Museum of America, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission headquarters, Yerba Buena Gardens, and SPUR, a nonprofit which promotes good planning and good government in the Bay Area. Highlights included a passionate and in-depth look at Moscone Center’s recycling efforts, gaining an art-lover’s perspective on environmental protection, and a group discussion on the coexistence of wildlife and water diversions on the scenic Tuolumne River.

Throughout this tour, the enthusiasm of the speakers put the sustainability field in a more exciting light. Our experience that day gave us a deeper understanding of the issues, provided information about potential careers, and emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy culture as well as environment.

Please read her full article on our website!

BART Blue Sky Festival - Thank you for your support!

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We would like to thank all of you who voted for BAGT in the BART Blue Sky contest. In the end, we pulled into 6th place out of the eleven non-profits enrolled in the contest - and we actually moved our standing up the most of any other contestant. Congratulations to our friends at Food Shift who finished first!

BAGT STAFF AND INTERN UPDATE

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Longtime BAGT Staffer is a Climate Rider!

by Beth Gelfand

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Fueled by an understanding that it’s more important than ever to work toward a sustainable future, I was thrilled to participate last month in Climate Ride, a 320 mile bike ride (over 4 1/2 days) from Fortuna, CA to the steps of San Francisco City Hall. This unique four-year-old event raises awareness and funds for organizations working on the vital issues of bike advocacy and climate change. Climate Ride is the largest environmental charitable bike ride, the only multi-day bike ride in the country focused on sustainability issues, and the single largest funder of bike advocacy groups in the country. To participate, each rider must raise at least $2400 to ride; I raised about $3400, and in total this year’s California Climate Riders raised more than $350,000.

The ride was truly AMAZING and an adventure of a lifetime!!! Such an incredible combination of the joy of connecting with inspiring and like-minded people, the freedom of the winding road, the awesome vistas of Northern California, and the satisfaction of doing something physical to create real and positive change.

All along the way, as we passed through communities, we spoke with people we met about climate change, energy policies, riding bikes, and using reusable materials as opposed to disposable ones which end up in landfills or in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Every evening a few Climate Riders presented to the group about their organization’s work to address some aspect of the interconnected web of environmental issues related to the climate crisis, fostering many stimulating discussions and debates on the road on topics such as: the green economy, energy issues, the inception of Bay Area bike sharing, the impact of climate change on the oceans, and more. The last night in addition to educational talks, there was a slideshow, band, campfire, and really rockin’ dance – a perfect way to celebrate the catalyzing experiences and exceptionally fun times shared by this community of new friends, drawn together by their shared commitment to promoting bicycling and combating climate change.

I have requested that next year BAGT be added to the list of possible Climate Ride beneficiaries, but in the meanwhile chose two organizations (from a list of more than 50) to benefit from my efforts (one working locally and the other nationally):

* East Bay Bike Coalition which engages in advocacy and education for safe, convenient access to biking, walking and transit for all residents of the East Bay -- especially in those communities and areas which have been historically underserved.

* Natural Resources Defense Council which works on vital campaigns focused on clean energy, oceans and wildlife -- check out the wonderful, less than 2 minute video about NRDC’s impressive and inspiring 2012 victories on their website!

For more info, check out Climate Ride, as well as the recent San Francisco Chronicle article about the event.

Please visit our site for the full story of Beth's ride!

Thank You to Jeni

We would like to send a big shout out to Jeni, our wonderful intern who just left for an amazing adventure in Mongolia. She led a core project while volunteering at BAGT that has helped streamline our tour crafting process. Jeni will be working as a ranger in a National Park, leading sustainability projects and mapping out park trails. We will miss her positive energy and creativity while she is gone, but are thrilled that she is embarking on such an exciting journey!

BAGT Hosts Three International Interns!

BAGT is pleased to host three fabulous international interns this year, from Finland, Sweden and France. This month let's meet Jakob!

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Jakob von Essen, IT Strategist Intern
I found BAGT while researching green internships in the US. We connected right away, and - after making the arrangements - here I was, for my first time ever in the US. Now I’ve volunteered here for two and a half months, with one more to go, and it has been great! I’ve become the de facto IT troubleshooter and upgrade advisor not just at BAGT, but for other people too. I’ve also been able to represent the company at numerous events and conferences, where I’ve learned a lot.

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Jakob pedal-powering a speech by Bill McKibben!

Before I came to the States, I hadn’t ever been to a movie preview. Now I’m a veteran, having attended screenings of Do the Math, The East, Climate Refugees, Gasland II and a bunch of other high quality films - often with the highly-acclaimed director right there. I’ve discovered 350.org and all they are doing, and even had the chance to pedal-power a speech by Bill McKibben!

My first time in the US has been fantastic - I’ve met great people, participated in inspiring events (especially climate-related activism), read quite a lot, and last but not least volunteered with a very green-thinking and innovative non-profit.

RECOMMENDATIONS & COMMUNITY NEWS

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Books

The Sharing Solution: How to Save Money, Simplify Your Life, and Build Community
Authors: Janelle Orsi and Emily Doskow
Price: e-book $14.99, Book $19.99 Published: May 2009
Order: NOLO website

“You may be motivated and committed to creating a more sustainable lifestyle in your community, but where do you start? And how can you do it without the hassle and legal entanglement that so many greener initiatives seem to require? The Sharing Solution guides you, in plain English, through the steps you’ll need to take to create and maintain successful sharing arrangements.

From housing to childcare, cars to lawnmowers, gardens to bike repair, this book gives you the tips and tools to share your resources, while addressing commonly held questions about liability and individual security with compassion... The Sharing Solution is filled with environmentally sound ways to build a more sustainable – and affordable – lifestyle... As noted author Alice Walker says, 'Sharing is the answer'"

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What's Mine Is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption
Authors: Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers
Price: e-book $9.99, Book $17.99/ Published: September 14, 2010
Order: Support your local bookstore by ordering here.

“Amidst a thousand tirades against the excesses and waste of consumer society, What’s Mine Is Yours offers us something genuinely new and invigorating: a way out.” —Steven Johnson, author of The Invention of Air and The Ghost Map

A groundbreaking and original book, What’s Mine is Yours articulates for the first time the roots of "collaborative consumption," Rachel Botsman and Roo Roger's timely new coinage for the technology-based peer communities that are transforming the traditional landscape of business, consumerism, and the way we live. Readers captivated by Chris Anderson’s The Long Tail, Van Jones’ The Green Collar Economy or Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point will be wowed by this landmark contribution to the evolving ecology of commerce and sustainability.

Video

Share Spray: A New Way To Do Everything (2012)

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Click on the image to watch the video!

What happens when your Sharey Godmother pays you a surprise visit and hands you a can of Share Spray?

Share Spray is a short animation from the Center for a New American Dream and Janelle Orsi. With creativity, charm, and a bit of fun, Share Spray explores how our lives and communities could transform if sharing became the new way to do EVERYTHING!

Events

TONIGHT! Journeys: Stories of Aha! Moments Thursday 6:30 pm, $12 @ the door
The David Brower Center, Berkeley (where BAGT is located)

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Click on the image for more information

This special evening of storytelling features some of the Bay Area's leading changemakers, reliving and retelling their moments of transformation. The event will be hosted by Jay Golden, storyteller, story coach and co-founder of Wakingstar.

His vision for the evening: Each of us who works to change the world is on a journey. And each of these journeys begins with a moment of discovery that, with time, becomes a story. “Journeys” is about bringing our stories to life – a special opportunity to hear from the Bay Area’s leading change-makers and social entrepreneurs, reliving and retelling their Aha! moments. We’ll hear how each was shaped by their discoveries and how those discoveries, in turn, are shaping the world. Along the way, we’ll explore how stories work, sip some tea, and hear about your journeys!

Slow Money Farm Fest Sat June 22 3pm-8pm in Sunol, East Bay
Registration: $20, Students: $10

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Click on the image for more information

Slow Money Northern California celebrates another Farm Fest at Sunol Ag Park in Sunol, East Bay. Learn more about how to support sustainable food systems, meet the Slow Money movers and shakers, and have lots of fun networking with entrepreneurs, investors and our local community!

From 3pm-8pm (rain or shine), you’ll:

Tour the farms in the Sunol Ag Park (you’re in for a treat)
Meet local entrepreneurs and learn how they enrich sustainable food systems
Feast at a community potluck
Enjoy live music by Dum Spero Spero
Have some down-on-the-farm fun!

SUSTAINABLE SPOTLIGHT

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Shared Solutions and the Sharing Economy

by Christopher R. Nelson

An exciting economic trend that’s now being called the “Sharing Economy” is all around us in subtle yet powerful everyday communal activities: from the shared office space of BAGT at the David Brower Center in downtown Berkeley where I volunteer (and potluck lunches are a happy common occurrence) to the PG&E employee I had an engaging conversation with about green energy while recently carpooling into San Francisco, and the community garden in back of my apartment building from which my neighbors and I regularly create fresh organic salads.

In a nutshell, this sharing and collaboration is creating greater efficiencies and distribution for unused and underused resources, and is a direct outcome of the ongoing global recession, climate change, and the rise of social networking. It is filling a greater need and demand for social community that ownership-based capitalism has failed to adequately address.

Check out the full article, including a list of activities that fall into the ‘four degrees of sharing, on our website!

Other Resources:
* The Center for a New American Dream has a great Guide to Sharing
* Shareable.net has an incredible list of how-to guides for sharing
* Janelle’s (our guest contributor) blog has a handful of resources and sample agreements
* Sharing meals is an easy way to get started
* All eyes on the sharing economy, recent article in The Economist about shared solutions
Volunteering: Hands on Bay Area; Idealist.org; VolunteerMatch

ECO FUN!

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Test Your Sharing Solutions Smarts

“I get by with a little help from my friends” sang Ringo Star. “Sharing is caring,” said kindergarten teachers across the globe. Though they may have not been talking about a shared economy, who says the same rules can’t apply? 

Take this quiz to find out how much you know about America’s sharing initiatives….

1) Currently, the first free public food forest is in the works. This project aims to create a year-round food resource for which city?
a. San Francisco b. Portland c. Seattle d. San Diego
2) In 2008, ____________ became the first major city to create a bike-sharing program, allowing its residents and visitors temporary use of bikes at stations throughout the city.
a. Washington, D.C. b. Denver, Colorado c. Taos, New Mexico d. Davis, California
3) Which assembly bill, passed in April 2013, removed some of the legal restrictions to forming a housing cooperative?
a. AB 1101 b. AB 1024 c. AB 1034 d. AB 4201
4) Ride sharing helps reduce the amount of gas people use to get around. Currently, Americans spend ____________ on gas every day!
a. $1.5 million b. $2 million c. $1.5 billion d. $2 billion
5) Cooperative associations house more than __________ families in the United States.
a. 150,000 b. 500,000 c. 1,200,000 d. 3,000,000
6) Living in cooperative housing is a great way to save money. Students at UCLA can reduce their cost of attendance by more than ________
just by living in an off-campus co-op.
a. $5,400 b. $6,700 c. $7,300 d. $7,900
7) The U.S. census reported that in 1970, ____% of Americans carpooled to get to work. In 2008, it was ____%.
a. 20.4, 10.7 b. 30.1, 22.3 c. 10.7, 20.4 d. 22.3, 30.1

Answers: 1. c, 2. a, 3. b, 4. c, 5. c, 6. d, 7. a

BAGT GRATITUDE -- THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS!

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Thank you to the following people and organizations who have supported our work in a variety of unique and important ways:

Board Member and Organizational Consultant Beth Waitkus of Beth Waitkus Consulting for facilitating our staff's recent Strategic Thinking Session
Jules Roman and Matt Smyj of Tippett Studios for all their constant care maintaining our computers

Our fabulous BAGT Board Tourism Committee:
* Marty deSouto of Sarbey Associates for conducting an extremely enlightening training session for our team of tour managers and guides
* Malia Everette of Altruvistas for referring clients to us, as well as our newest staff member
* Bonnie Berg MacLaird of MacLaird Travel Marketing for joining our board and bolstering our efforts with her expertise

Bay Area Green Tours Mission

We provide educational tours and events that demonstrate the sustainable economy in action, inspire support of local green businesses, and empower people to incorporate environmental responsibility and social justice into their personal and professional lives.

Tax Deductible Donation Request

In order to be sustainable ourselves we need to rely on grants, sponsorship and donations.
Please consider making a tax deductible donation to our 501(c)3 to help connect more people to solutions for our future. Your donation can help get more students into the field to witness potential jobs for their future!

Here are ways you can help support our mission:
Donate through Paypal on our website here (The Donate button is in orange, on the right.)
Send a check to 2150 Allston Way Suite 280, Berkeley, CA 94704
Become a sponsor: please contact Marissa@bayareagreentours.org

With gratitude for your consideration,

marissasign
 
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