Jonny Dubowsky talks about the planting of a rain garden in Honoka’a, H.i. as well as the projects being planned for spring in NYC and N.j at the Rock ‘n Renew Ecology Center. For information on how to build a rain garden and to take part in our nation-wide watershed restoration program, email info@rocknrenew.com with the subject “Rain Gardens”.

Jonny Dubowsky, Founder of The Rock ‘n Renew Foundation and lead singer/guitarist for Jonny Lives! had the opportunity to open for The Roots, and shared the stage with some of the greatest leaders in our fight for a just and sustainable future for ALL people.

-
‘The great challenge of the 21st century is to raise people everywhere to a
decent standard of living while preserving as much of the rest of life as
possible.’ E.O Wilson

Thousands of young adults will converge on Washington, D.C. for Power Shift 2009, the second national youth summit to solve the climate crisis. At Power Shift 2009, young people from across the country will take a message of bold, comprehensive and immediate federal climate action to Washington, D.C. We will leverage the momentum we have built through the Campus Climate Challenge, Power Shift 2007 and Power Vote to pressure our politicians to take bold, comprehensive action.

Our window of opportunity is short; the first 100 days of the new administration is critical in achieving real and significant changes immediately. We must use the time we have to redefine what is politically feasible to achieve what is scientifically and economically necessary to safeguard our future. At Power Shift 2009, we will also strengthen the movement for real climate and economic solutions by learning skills and solutions, building bonds, and setting clear plans for action in our communities for 2009 and beyond.

Tribewanted, The Rock ‘n Renew Foundation, and True Offsets announce a strategic partnership to set the standard in the eradication of the carbon footprints of communities. Combining the uniquely integrated online and on-island communities of Tribewanted with the innovative carbon monitoring and accounting methods developed by True Offsets and the interdisciplinary education methods of The Rock ‘n Renew Foundation, the new partnership will provide a simple and detailed framework for carbon reductions that will serve both the skeptical carbon novice as well as forward thinking world leaders. The Island of Vorovoro located off the northwest coast of Vanua Levu, Fiji provides a unique opportunity to explore the possibilities of carbon negative communities. “Living on a small island really gives you a unique perspective on how we use our resources as well as how our actions effect our environment” says Benjamin Katz, Tribewanted’s sustainability manage. “We’ve been here since September 2006, and the knowledge and experience we’ve gained since then is invaluable. This new partnership will help us to make our goals of carbon negative living a reality and to present our experiences so that others can benefit.”

Join the Tribewanted community and take part in this historic opportunity.

February 5
National Global Warming teach-in

Live webcast is online at www.nationalteachin.org
Rock ‘n Renew Lecture, Concert, and Recycled Art Installation at:
Missouri State University

Jonny Dubowsky to present keynote lecture at Missouri State University
Join over 600 colleges, universities, high schools, faith organizations and civic groups and participate in the National Teach-In on Global Warming Solutions, February 5th. It is not too late to sign up!

-Screen the launch web cast, The First 100 Days, featuring David Orr, Hunter Lovins, and youth climate leaders Billy Parish and Wahleah Johns. Watch the webcast in a campus auditorium, or school or church basement, We are partnering with Interfaith Power & Light and The National Wildlife Federation to produce a special version of the webcast tailored for faith audiences. Or hold a D.I.Y. Teach-In in your living room.

-How would you like your classroom or campus audience to have a one-on-one session with your member of congress or US Senator? Just send us an e-mail, and we will work to make it happen. As a critical part of the Teach-In, and with support from the Earth Day Network, we are coordinating with Speaker Pelosi’s office to set up a bank of computers in the capitol to create an historic opportunity for national dialogue.

-Visit www.nationalteachin.org to sign-up, and find logos, posters, and educational materials for the Teach-In.

Please forward this message to interested folks across your state and region. Already, more than 125 schools are inviting their members of congress to beam-in to their campus for dialogue with campus audiences. Help us flood Washington with invites to this vital day of engagement.

We are happy to announce a really awesome contest that we are working on with Safe Auto Insurance.

For each video that you upload, Safe Auto is donating $5 to Rock ‘n Renew’s Rain Garden Program.

Go to www.dothejingle.com

Visit to the site of the Rock ‘n Renew Ecology Center w/ Browning School students and the N.R.D.C’s It’s Your Nature

Strapped for outdoor space around their Upper East Side school, the boys of the Browning School habitually venture out of the classroom to share in the vibrant green spaces New York City has to offer. One sunny Wednesday, I had the opportunity to accompany them on a different kind of outing. Thanks to Jonny Dubowsky of Rock ‘n Renew and two very cool science teachers, the fifth grade class of Browning got to escape the island of Manhattan and venture into the “wilds” of Bayonne, NJ where some exciting new prospects in Urban Ecology are blossoming.

Using an undeveloped lot as an outdoor classroom, Rock ‘n Renew is working to build an Ecology Center to house examples of local and seasonal agriculture, native plant life, and rainwater harvesting. By collaborating with students the center hopes to become a practical guide to sustainable livingletting students plan and implement best practices for the space and using the projectas a mentoring program to teach small business skills. Crops grown within the garden will be sold at markets in an effort to raise funds. Designed to be an example for future use of urban space, the Ecology Center in Bayonne will have one feature that most community gardens lack…a stage where bands like the Kaiser Chiefs, Everclear, Jonny Lives, and the Strokes may be set to perform. It will probably be one of the smallest venues for these bands, but the stage at the Rock n Renew Ecology Center will most likely be one of the “greenest” venues around.

During our day in Bayonne, I had a refreshing chance to watch as the boys of Browning dug in the dirt, played with earthworms, and drew plans for their ideal garden. While I have to admit I envy that these kids will learn from a young age the importance of conservation and sustainable use of the land, but what I envy even more their opportunity to get hands-on experience in implementing these practices. Had I been taught about rain gardens or rain water harvesting in my fifth grade science class, I’m sure I would have been one of the first to bug my parents to help start planting wetland edge vegetation and set up a capture system to catch storm run-off. By allowing kids to experience these practices, especially in the densely populated New York/New Jersey area, Rock N Renew is truly creating a generation of environmental stewards, ones who can hopefully have a say in the future urban spaces of our increasingly interdependent communities.