Urban Environment - Articles - Zimbio

Sao Paulo’s Green Cities Program Launched / Lançamento do Projeto Município Verde de São Paulo

Fri, 21 Jul 2007 11:30:11 GMT

posted by ioman01
TemasEtUnam

Synopsis in English: São Paulo State's governor, José Serra, and Environment Secretary, Xico Graziano, recently announced the formal launch of the "Green City" project promised as part of the Governor's package of 21 strategic environmental measures. By early July, 393 of SP's 645 cities had already signed onto the program's protocol of 10 commitments, covering such areas as sewage treatment, collection and recycling of solid wastes, environmental education, sustainable housing, air pollution control, rational water use, etc. (click on box below to view full-sized image of the basic commitment checklist). [As you might notice, several of the Green City commitments are tie-ins to other portions of the State's 21 measures program.]

Municipalities agreeing to the commitments will be given preference in state programs, technical and financial assistance. This help will range from strictly environment related — drafting a municipal environment code and supplementary regulations, staffing and training a municipal environment authority, designing and implementing an environmental education or environmental zoning program, etc. — to more common municipal concerns, such as paving or repaving neighborhood streets.

The active cooperation of municipal administrations is key if Serra is to meet the goals set out in his 21 measures initiative. (more…)

Copyright © 2007 The Temas Blog. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact legal@temasactuales.com so we can take legal action immediately.
Plugin by Taragana

Ginuwine Shelves Group TGT And Signs Solo Act

Fri, 11 Oct 2008 13:01:45 GMT

posted by shugaray

R&B Singer Ginuwine has shelved his collaboration album with Tyrese and Tank (TGT) after signing a new recording deal with Notifi Records earlier this week. The R&B singer will opt to use his time to work on his sixth studio album which he hopes to release early next year.

Ginuwine has spent the last few years touring and hasn’t released an album since 2005’s “Back II Da Basics.”
“I have been touring and working on various projects the last couple of years and pondering what I wanted my next moves to be. I didn’t want to rush into just doing what a label told me to do but rather take time to be creative and find music and projects that I have creative control over” Ginuwine said.

Ira Dewitt, CEO of Notifi, added, “Our current plans include having a single out this Sept./Oct. and an album released by quarter one of 2009. We are lining up top producers and tracks as we speak.”
Ginuwine has release five platinum selling albums since his debut in 1996. Check out a couple of the groups songs below.

Click here to view the embedded video. Click here to view the embedded video.

Incredible transforming furnitures

Wed, 21 Aug 2008 01:39:00 GMT

posted by noelevz
Who doesn't need more space? Be it in an apartment or even your own house, a space saving tool is really a welcome addition to any home. Well, here are some of the most innovative new furnitures out now or coming in the near future.

Flexible Love functions both as a single chair and an extended bench that can seat up to 16 people! It is made from low-cost recycled materials like paper and wood.
via: treehugger

Flat pack furniture are furnitures that are literally flat, it starts out entirely as sheets of wood, metal or even cardboard. They are reminiscent of 3d toy wood puzzles but are sturdy enough to be used daily.
via: weburbanist

Chairs + table is a Tetris-inspired furniture. It is multipurpose furniture composed of 2 chairs and 1 table which literally transforms into a Sofa and a single bed.
via: sdesignunit.com

The Kitchenette by Designer Marta Antoszkiewicz is a cube-like kitchen table whose chairs fit nicely under the table when not in use.
via: martaa.com

I'm quite sure you wouldn't believe me if I told you that all the furniture below could fit into one tiny box? This ingenious concept can be carried, unpacked and rapidly assembled by just two people. Check out the video below to see the boxed room in action!
via: weburbanist

URBAN CHANGE GIVES AWAY 10,000 BOOK BAGS ON 8.16.08

Tue, 9 Jul 2008 14:40:39 GMT

posted by milacurt
URBAN CHANGE GIVES AWAY 10,000 BOOK BAGS ON 8.16.08

Actor Hill Harper and R&B Singer Ginuwine to Support Life Day!

Hill Harper and Jay Cameron

Ginuwine and Sole`

Washington, DC (BlackNews.com) - On August 16, 2008, just before the start of the school year, children from all across the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area will be getting an education of a different kind. By coming together in an effort to get connected with their community through participation in Life Day: 10,000 on 8.16.08, area youth will acquire a sense of civic duty and pride. This 10,000 book bag giveaway, the culmination of Life Day: 10,000 on 8.16.08, is designed to provide children in grades K-12 with book bags filled with school supplies and other life-enhancing materials.

Sponsored by Urban Change, a five-year organization that provides life-changing and socially aware activities, the first annual Life Day: 10,000 on 8.16.08 is aimed at communities of color to promote a fresh new start on the upcoming year. The day will include a special performance of FAME, from the participants of Life Camp, an Urban Change performing arts camp for youth, as well as appearances by guest celebrities actor Hill Harper (CSI: NY) and R&B Singer Ginuwine.

"As the day draws closer, all those involved in Life Day: 10,000 on 8.16.08 are confident that it will succeed in more ways than one; not only will at-risk youth be provided with excellent tools to embark on a new school year with, but all who will attend and experience Life Day: 10,000 on 8.16.08 will also be imbued with a new sense of pride and accomplishment," said Jay Cameron, founder of Urban Change, which has to date reached over 100,000 people worldwide.

The goal of Life Day: 10,000 on 8.16.08 is simple: to provide 10,000 underprivileged children with book bags. There is one way to get the bag, come to Life Day.

Always willing to lend a hand to the local community, celebrities Hill Harper, Ginuwine and wife Sole, have pledged their participation in Life Day: 10,000 on 8.16.08. Harper, whose book Letters to A Young Sister will be one of the donated items in the book bags. The book features a foreword by actress Gabrielle Union, as well as advice from other accomplished and well-known African American women such as Michelle Obama, Ruby Dee, Angela Bassett, Ciara, Eve, Nia Long, and Kim Porter.

Commenting on his partnership with Jay Cameron and his participation at Life Day, Harper said, "I am very excited about working with Urban Change on Life Day: 10,000 on 8.16.08 because the organization is very committed to helping at-risk youth," said Harper. "Mentoring has long been a cherished cause for me and this event is another way for me to truly make a positive difference in the lives of our youth."

"In addition to Radio One's support, we are thrilled to have Comcast to be our media sponsor," said Cameron. "We are excited by the opportunity to get more individuals, organizations and companies involved in this worthwhile event."

Event Information
Life Day: 10,000 on 8.16.08
Life Center Church
5610 Linda Lane
Camp Springs, Maryland
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
www.10000bookbags.com

Urban Change's is a five-year organization in Prince Georges County, Maryland. The organization's mission is to improve the quality of community life by offering educational programs on sexual health, emotional and physical well-being and life skills (i.e.: parenthood and career training). Through the arts, support groups and workshops, Urban Change endeavors to increase the informed awareness of those we serve as well as provide motivation, practical tools and encouragement toward the achievement of the highest possible levels of personal integrity.

Warning: Dumb-ss ahead...

Wed, 24 Jul 2008 19:00:00 GMT

posted by GOODEThoughts

[WARNING: IF THE TERM DUMBASS OFFENDS YOU…WELL, I GUESS IT’S ALREADY TOO LATE]

I saw a guy walking down the street this afternoon wearing what used to be called an undershirt and is now colloquially known as a wife beater. He was also wearing white boxer briefs. I know this because his trousers were sagging so low he had to walk like a penguin just to stay mobile. When I saw this winner, the first thing that raced through my mind was: “Dumbass.”

Now before you start whining about freedom of expression and cultural sensitivity and generational fashions and some other such gobbly-gook, I’m there already. I get it. I’m no longer cool. My hipster days are long gone. Nowadays young women look at me and think one of three things: 1) Wow, he reminds me of my dad; 2) Wow, he reminds me of Carl Winslow; or 3) Wow, I really need to get to the gym.

Still, my age and lack of coolness aside, I’m just not feeling the butt thing. (I suppose there might have been a better way to say that, but…oh well.)

There’s a lot of current culture that I’m just not feeling. Tattoos, for instance. Time was that unless you were a sailor or a biker or a member of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey’s side shows, tattoos were an intimate, private thing. Nowadays I see pre-teens with tattoos on their necks and legs and backs—and not the kind that come off with soap and water either. I saw one middle school young lady the other day at Megalomart with a tattoo on her neck that read Juan’s Property. I guess I’m getting a little jaded because what was most surprising to me wasn’t the tattoo itself, but the fact that the apostrophe was in the right place.

Since I’m on my soapbox, let me just add one more cultural, social, and fashion faux pax: the grill. Again, I love a good grill. Throw a healthy piece of salmon or rib eye or even eggplant on some small metal rods with hot coals underneath and I’m there, man, ready for dinner. Place those same metal rods in a person’s mouth, spell out “G-money” in fake diamonds, and this time I’m ready to lose my lunch.

True story: I was at a cafeteria a year or two ago and I saw a fellow have a conniption fit because he had taken his “grill” out while he was eating and placed it on his tray. As he was paying and about to leave the restaurant, he realized that he’d lost his precious mouth piece. My lunch mate and I watched with amusement as he tore through several garbage cans, sifting through dozens, hundreds of discarded meals until he found his missing “grill.” Upon locating and wiping his trophy on his tee shirt, guess where he placed it next.

Dumbass.