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News at Brighter Green

China Dialogue Quotes Brighter Green 6/7/13

A very good analysis in China Dialogue on Shuanghui's purchase of Smithfield, the world's largest pork producer quotes executive director and Brighter Green guest blogger Wanqing Zhou, a Worldwatch Institute researcher and Beijing native.

Brighter Green/GFC Research Shared at Bonn Climate Conference 6/7/13

The briefing paper on industrial livestock production and deforestation, published in English and Spanish by Brighter Green and the Global Forest Coalition (GFC), is being disseminated at the UN climate change conference now underway in Bonn, Germany. Thanks to GFC executive director Simone Lovera, who's participating in the talks and who spoke about this research during a side event (formal panel) at the conference.

Brighter Green May 2013 Newsletter Published 5/30/13

Brighter Green's May 2013 Newsletter is here. See what we have been working on in our three program areas: Food Policy and Equity, Sustainability and Community, and Climate Change, Livelihoods and Rights, and some upcoming projects.

Brighter Green & Global Forest Coalition Briefing Paper for International Day for Biodiversity 5/22/13

On the occasion of the International Day for Biodiversity and the start of UN talks on a possible sustainable development goal (SDG) on agriculture Brighter Green and the Global Forest Coalition have published a briefing paper to raise awareness of the negative impacts of rapidly expanding industrial livestock farming and large-scale cattle ranching on the world's forests and biodiversity. Industrial animal agriculture cuts across multiple sectors, affecting land use, water, food security, public health, and climate change. But too often these intersections are overlooked.
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Brighter Green at The Seed in NYC 5/19/13

Brighter Green's Executive Director Mia MacDonald spoke about climate change and animal agriculture, and the ecological impacts of the global spread of factory farm operations, at the Seed Experience in New York City on May 18, 2013. She also screened Green's short documentary, "What's for Dinner?" Find out more about the film, including how to show it, here.
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Blog Post on the U.S. National Climate Assessment in the Huffington Post and Civil Eats. 5/2/13

Executive Director Mia MacDonald's blog post on the U.S. National Climate Assessment and U.S. and global systems of food production was featured in the Huffington Post and was re-blogged on the American food system news website Civil Eats.

Brighter Green collaborates with Global Forest Coalition at the World Social Forum 3/29/13

Brighter Green collaborated with Global Forest Coalition on an event and paper on the risks of industrial livestock production for the environment, communities (including indigenous communities), and animals at the World Social Forum in Tunisia.

China Dialogue Publishes BG Blogs 2/13/13

Brighter Green guest blogger Wanqing Zhou's exploration of of the growing challenge of food waste in China ("Food Waste and Recycling in China: Too Easy, Too Hard"), including from animal agriculture, has been republished in English and Chinese on China Dialogue, an important, bilingual Web portal for global environmental news with a focus on China.

Katerva Award Winners Announced 2/12/13

The winners of the two Katerva awards for innovation in sustainability have been announced. Mia MacDonald of Brighter Green served on the judging panel for the food security theme, and the project finalist she ranked highest, Backpack Farm, piloted in East Africa, came first in its category.

Brighter Green Hosts a Successful East African Girls' Leadership Initiative Fundraiser 12/7/12

Brighter Green and Tribal Link hosted a successful fundraiser for the East African Girls' Leadership Initiative in December 2012. Over $3,000 were raised to help support two girls' education, living costs, rights training, mentoring, and leadership skill workshops for one year. Singer-songwriter Joy Askew performed at the event and Grace Koutimet, from SIMOO spoke about the role of Maasai women in the community and how educating Maasai women greatly assists the communities' progress.

Mia MacDonald's Blog Post on COP 18 Featured in the Huffington Post 12/6/12

Brighter Green's Mia MacDonald's blog post on COP 18 and the conference's failure to address the negative effects of industrial food systems, particularly industrial agriculture, on climate change appeared in the Huffington Post on December 6, 2012.

Brighter Green Participates in COP 18 Side Event 12/3/12

Brighter Green's Mia MacDonald participated in and moderated a side event to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP18) in Doha, Qatar in December 2012. The side event entitled "Climate Change & Ensuring Sustainable, Humane, Equitable Food Systems: Views from the North and South" focused on climate change and livestock farming. Xie Zheng, featured in Brighter Green's short documentary "What's for Dinner?" also spoke at the event. For more information on Brighter Green's research on climate change and the globalization of farming click here.

Brighter Green attended COP 18 Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar 12/2/12

Executive Director Mia MacDonald attended the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 18) from November 26 to December 2, 2012. Mia shared Brighter Green's research on climate change and the globalization of intensive animal agriculture.

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Large Scale or Small Scale

by Vikas Desai
December 13, 2011 7:05pm

Are wind turbines, like these in Holland, feasible in today's Kenya?

Large-scale projects may sound beneficial and grandiose but whether they actually provide the necessary benefit is questionable. Recently, a large Kenyan power company, Lake Turkana Wind Power, released a plan to construct 350 wind turbines on leased land in a desert area. However, their project has stalled over the past couple years, and has failed to benefit the off-grid Kenyans who need the power the most. The project has yet to create jobs and will eventually displace people and ecologically disturb the land. In projects such as these, financial obligations and political will may also muddle the vision. The Kenyans who most need this benefit—which could increase their well being substantially by being connected to the grid or attaining a form of electrification—are not being addressed. Yes, the wind turbines will increase usage of a renewable source of energy, but will they provide the added benefit that’s necessary?

It may be the smaller projects that reach out to only a few people at a time that will not only spur the growth on a smaller scale, but provide a much larger benefit since they are tailored to communities and needs. For example, Samsung recently created a mobile classroom, a shipping container filled with computers and internet connectivity powered by fold-able solar panels, meant to enhance the educational experience for rural students. To provide students with resources that they’ve never had before is much more of an added benefit to someone’s life. It's little tailored initiatives like this that can be implemented quickly, face less bureaucracy and financial constraints, and benefit the parts of society that need power the most.

Photo by Natasha Cloutier