Cool Davis Initiative

Cool California Challenge Kickoff: March 28

Davis is one of ten cities to compete to be the coolest city in California

Join other Community Leaders and Volunteers as we begin our effort to become “California’s Coolest City”

Wednesday, March 28th: 4:30 – 6:00 pm in Davis Community Church, Fireside Room (C & 4th across from Farmer’s Market)

430pm: Gather informally to:

Get the inside scoop about the Cool California Challenge
Meet Cool Davis leaders
Sign up to help with the Cool Challenge
Music & goodies

5:15 p.m. Remarks from Mayor Joe Krovoza

6:00 pm adjourn to Picnic at the Park and City of Davis Birthday Celebration

>Download poster (PDF)

Per Capita Davis: How much energy does your TV use?

John Mott-Smith Credit: Davis Enterprise

This post by John Mott-Smith, a member of the Cool Davis Initiative is cross-posted from the Davis Enterprise where this originally appeared.

A statistic can be revealing — conveying in a number what it may take paragraphs to describe in words. Of course, statistics also can be deceptive. A statement (usually) attributed to Mark Twain sums it up, so to speak: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.”

It used to be that the aphorism “A picture is worth a thousand words” captured the belief that what we could see with our own eyes carried more information and truth than words or numbers, but that was before Photoshop.

At any rate, below are a few statistics, some of which may benefit from augmentation with a dash of salt, but which serve as a doorway to a discussion of televisions and energy use. Read more…

How one Davis school cut its trash by two-thirds

Cesar Chavez Elementary School students Charlotte Mitchell and Aleta Ballinger-Dickerson recycle their lunch trays after eating at school last week. Sue Cockrell/Enterprise photo

Ximena Jackson, Davis RISE Coordinator tells the inspiring story of how Cesar Chavez Elementary School reduced its waste from 320 gallons per week to around 100 gallons a week in the space of a few months.

Communications intern wanted!

Are you a good writer and passionate about taking action to stop climate change? Do you want to gain experience of working with professional communicators based in Davis? Can you spare a few hours every week?

Cool Davis Initiative is looking for an intern who could help us with: writing profiles on inspiring community figures for the local Davis Enterprise, developing our social media strategy, updating our website and supporting a team of volunteer professionals involved in Cool Davis’ Communications Working Group.

>Download advert and apply now!

Mailes’ journey to health and sustainability

Jeff Mailes deadheads some of the marigolds in the Segundo residents garden.

Fifth year UC Davis Senior, Jeff Mailes’ experience with cancer at a young age led him to explore producing organic good food and to promoting sustainability to his fellow students.,

Impolite conversation about climate change

John Mott-Smith Credit: Davis Enterprise

This regular column by John Mott-Smith, a member of the Cool Davis Initiative Core Group, is cross-posted from Davis Enterprise

The conversation over climate change in the public square has always been a bit strange, but it’s getting downright weird. Climate scientists and ordinary persons concerned about climate change are now being labeled by some as “watermelons” to indicate their green (environmental) exterior is concealing a red (communist) interior. Read more…

Climate refugees film: March 14

Poster for award-winning climate refugee film

The UC Davis Blum Center for Developing Economies in collaboration with Cool Davis and other co-sponsors is hosting an evening screening of “Climate Refugees, ” a documentary about the “human face of climate change”. It will take place on March 14, 6:30pm at the UC Davis Plant Sciences Building Room #3001 followed by a discussion with producer Justin Hogan and UC Davis sociologist David Kyle Read more…

YERT: Your Environmental Road Trip film!

50 States. 1 Year. Zero Garbage? The YERT or Your Environmental Road Trip film documents an extraordinary journey. Come share the adventures, the innovations and the laughs! Cool Davis invites the public to a YERT showing at the Veterans Memorial Theater on Tuesday, March 20 at 6:15 pm. Space is limited; RSVP to guarantee your tickets at http://cooldavisYERT.eventbrite.com/ Read more…

March 1: From Durban to Davis public talk

Durban to Davis: Local Action Key to Tackling Climate Crisis

Cool Davis together with International House and Cool California is organising a panel discussion on climate change on Thursday March 1 2012, from 7-9pm
at I-House Davis. The event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is appreciated. Read more…

Feb 28: Amory Lovins to talk on how to eliminate US oil and coal use by 2050

Renowned physicist Amory Lovins will be speaking at UC Davis at 12pm on February 28 on the themes of his new book “Reinventing Fire” which outlines a detailed roadmap for eliminating coal and oil use by 2050. Don’t miss this chance to hear this scientist and advisor to more than 20 heads of state named by Time magazine as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world. Read more…