WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 — Last week’s election whipsawed the Congressional committees that are crucial battlegrounds for environmental and energy legislation. But even many environmentalists believe that an ambitious new agenda is unlikely. The leadership changes are striking. Senator Barbara Boxer, Democrat of California, who favors mandatory cuts in emissions linked to global warming, will become chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, replacing Senator James M. Inhofe, Republican of Oklahoma, who has called the scientific consensus on human-induced global warming “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/14/
us/politics/14enviro.html

Mon., Nov. 20, 2006, 7:00 pm
Oak Bluffs Library
To members of the Island Plan Network of Planning Advisors, You are invited to the first meetings of the Island Plan Work Groups.

Mon., Nov. 20, 2006, 10:00-11:00 am
Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary
For Children Ages 3-5 with a parent/friend 10:00-11:00 a.m. Due to popular demand, we will continue our Nursery School Naturalist programs until Thanksgiving. Join us on 1 more Monday (Nov 20) to explore Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary. Fee: $8M, $10NM for per class. 508 627-4850.

Tues., Nov 21, 2006, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
LUPC Meeting

Wed., Nov.22, 2006, Visit anytime between 9 am and noon
94 North Road in Chilmark
Casual and informal seasonal activities, animal visits and outdoor fun, supported by donation. For details, call 508-645-3304.

Fri., Nov. 24, 2006, 11 am - 3 pm
(Rain Date is Saturday, November 25th)
Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary
After the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving, relax with family and friends at Felix Neck. A donation of $2 per person is suggested to support the programs and maintenance of the Sanctuary. Good food and good friends come out for this annual community celebration. Activities include face painting, nature crafts, games, the Felix Neck Quest, and local music. Guided walks will be provided on the hour starting at 11AM and led by noted island naturalists (Matt Pelikan - Birds, Luanne Johnson-Skunks, Tim Boland – Plants, Suzan Bellincampi – Seashore). Soups, bread, baked goods and other foods will be available for sale.

Sat., Nov. 25, 2006, 1 - 4 pm
Head of Pond Rd., Oak Bluffs.
Meet the animals, spinning and knitting demonstrations and instruction, sign-up for classes, and more. Refreshments.

Tues., Nov. 21, 2006, 3 pm & 10:30 pm
Wed., Nov. 22, 2006, 7:30 pm
'A Piece of The Puzzle.' Clean Solutions’ a denitrifying alternative system, its installation at Bob Woodruffs and important information about island wide problems caused by nitrogen in our water bodies. It is a 15 minute video.

One of the most important tools for open space protection is the Conservation Restrictions (CR). Conservation restrictions allow landowners to retain ownership of property while also ensuring that it will remain undeveloped in perpetuity.

Go to Land Protection section for the rest of the article.

NAIROBI, Kenya: Sweden, Britain and Denmark are doing the most to protect against climate change, but their efforts are not nearly enough, according to a report released Monday by environmental groups.

"We don't have any winners, we only have countries that are better compared to others," said Matthias Duwe of the Climate Action Network-Europe, which released the data during the second week of the U.N. climate conference. "We don't have big shining stars."

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/
2006/11/13/africa/AF_GEN_Climate_Change_Ranking.php

Residential 'micro-combined-heat-and-power' units are efficient furnaces that create electricity.

Down in Bernard Malin's basement is a softly thrumming metal box that turns natural gas into hotwater and generates $600 to $800 worth of electricity a year - a bonus byproduct of heating his home.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1114/p01s02-usec.html

For more information go to:
http://www.microchp.co.uk/