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| Matthew B.
Ackerman,
LEED AIA |
| Jeffrey L.
Zucker, LEED AIA |
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Citizen
Shopper
This issue
marks the start of our fourth year of producing the SKETCH_PAD, which
we've received some pretty amazing feedback on over the
years. In addition to some graphic updates, we've also added an
exciting new section called Deb's
Green Activist's
Corner, through which
we hope to share with you some really easy things YOU can do to get
involved. Which, by the way, brings me to the topic for this
month's Partner's Message...
By next week,
we're going to have a new
president. I'm feeling cautious, but genuinely hopeful. It's been a long 8
years. There's a world of
hurt going on in our country- and beyond. There are deep issues
affecting
nearly every facet of our lives, that this new administration will have
to contend with.
Whether
you liked the Bush Presidency or not, one thing that most
Americans (and many others outside our nation's borders) seem to agree
on, is that things need to change. In the words of American
author and critic James Howard Kunstler ..."we just can't keep running,
what we've been running, in the way we've been running it."
 After the attacks of
9/11, President Bush urged the American people to
"go out and shop." While I understand his
intention was to make sure our nation's economy remained strong during
a time of crisis, but-- and help me out here, I suspect that there
might
just be some
other ways that we rank
and file Americans could get involved to help.
President Bush's advice stood out for me, in stark contrast from
the
words of President Kennedy during his inaugural
address
a few years back, when he urged the nation's citizens
to "...ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do
for your country".
Now there's a message that seemed to connect with people in a time of
crisis. I do believe most folks genuinely want to help out. Many
people already do volunteer, or are wanting to step up and get
involved- to
become part of the solution. Does anyone remember Rosie the Riveter,
or those food-producing Victory Gardens
that our grandparents (or parents!) so proudly tended
during their times of crisis? Have we all just gotten too lost
behind
our computer screens, iPhones, and Wii games to care anymore?
I know this is unpopular, but I am a believer in government as
a potentially positive force in our
society. Without it, civilization would not exist. But
government
seems to have gotten a pretty bad rap in recent years, with many
(especially
out west here) voicing their desire to reduce, and/or seriously limit
the role of government. But wait a minute, we ARE our
government. We can create our government,
especially on a local level- where our politics really live, and
matter. I choose to believe in citizen participation as a vital
force for shaping
this.
 Shortly
after the election, President-elect Obama said "...I'm asking
you to believe not in my ability to bring about real change in
Washington, I'm asking you to believe in yours".
Activists and activism itself has also gotten somewhat of a bad rap
over the years. But this is
the way we can affect change in our society. It's easy to sit
back and criticize. But it takes some risk, and a little
elbow-grease, to actually get
involved.
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| Green Technology
of the
Month: |
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Clean Algae Technology Provides Renewable,
Sustainable and Economic Bio-Fuel and
Food!  |
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| Green Product
of
the Month: |
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GDS's Straw Wall™ Building System is
Durable, Energy- Efficient, and Toxin-Free |
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| Green Builder's Tip of
the Month: |
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How Green
Is Green? 6 Ways
You Can Go From Green To Greener |
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| Green Project of the
Month: |
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LEED Certified Elementary School Unites a
Community
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Deb's Green Activist's Corner:
EASY Steps YOU
CanTake
To Help...!
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Protect Our Children By Signing The Kid-Safe Chemiclas
Act
Declaration
Click Here To Sign
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Stop Getting Junk Mail, And
Start
Saving Trees and The Environment!
Click Here To Sign
Up
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 Questions?
Email Deb. |
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CATALYST
ARCHITECTURE
is an award winning, full-service sustainable design
firm located in Prescott, Arizona. We specialize in educational,
commercial, master planning and custom residential work, with an
emphasis on high- performance design, and caring client relationships.
At CATALYST, our
mission is to creatively transform the space and budget needs of our
clients, with the opportunities and ecology of the site, into
functional and sustainable solutions that move the spirit.
Comments
or feedback? Email us.
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