10/14/2021
Welcome to Monitor Notes, a weekly roundup of news items, event announcements, and updates on past Bay Area Monitor articles.
Dungeons & Climate
We’ve all probably turned to escapist fantasy as a break from growing concerns about the climate, but what about fantasy that also helps you prepare for it? The Mycelium Youth Network, a nonprofit that helps prepare frontline youth for climate change, is hosting its second annual Apocalyptic Resilience Conference to do just that. Held on November 6-7th, the gamer-style workshops will help youth and adults ‘level up’ on issues related to climate resilience by drawing heavily from Afro and Indigenous science fiction and fantasy. The second day will feature a virtual Dungeons & Dragons game that relates to climate change issues, centered on the conference’s theme “Parable of the Survivor.” Attendance is free for youth aged 18 and under, and adults pay on a sliding scale based on what they can afford.
Plans for Plastic
In celebration of Compassion Week, GreenTown Los Altos is hosting a zoom session tonight (10/14) to discuss plastic pollution and ways for individuals to be part of the solution to single-use plastics. Speakers will give presentations on understanding the problem, like plastic’s links to the climate crisis and how recycling is not the solution, actionable steps to reduce your plastic use, and legislation under consideration that can help reduce production of single-use plastic at the source.
Adapting to Sea Level Rise
The League of Women Voters of Marin County is continuing its climate change speaker series on Sea Level Rise and Flooding this tuesday, October 19th at 11am. Part one, held in September focused on assessing the threat, and the upcoming part two will be “Adapting to the Threat.” Speakers include Warner Chabot, Executive Director of the San Francisco Estuary Institute, Stuart Siegel, coastal resilience specialist, and Kiki LaPorta, Vice President of Sustainable Marin. Follow this zoom link to register, and learn how you can prepare for the changing coast. In case you missed it, get caught up on part one here.
EV Affordability
Financial barriers often prevent people from making the necessary entry costs associated with a cleaner, healthier lifestyle, but programs like the Air District’s Clean Cars For All Program try to bring equity to environmentally friendly living. To help eligible Bay Area residents find the grants that can help them afford an electric vehicle, Acterra is hosting an informational session on Sunday, October 24th. Following the program, attendees can request a free, individual consultation for more information on the programs they qualify for. To further access and equity to these programs, the presentation will provide Spanish interpretation.
LWVBAE Housing Team
The League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville are looking for people to join their housing team. The team’s goal is to “ leverage member expertise and partnerships to educate our membership about the public policy and urban planning conversations around housing.” The team meets on the first Wednesday of every month (next meeting is 11/3 at 6pm) and is open to people of all expertise backgrounds. To join, contact Greg at [email protected].
Banner Art: Cover art from “Parable of the Sower,” by Octavia E. Butler
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