Information bringing people together...
Maren's list of environmental, cultural, and
social justice events in and around Pittsburgh.
Local food resources
MarensList is Experiencing Technical Difficulties
Due to a change in how this platform works, it has become very difficult to make new postings for future events. I hope to find a solution soon, but in the meantime my apologies for a rather thin slate of events! There really is a lot going on... note that I also share events on Facebook, so look me up there if you're at loose ends.
Apr 28: Food Waste and Our Environment
The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) makes the connection between food waste and the environment.
Consider this: About 40 percent of food grown and produced in the United States goes uneaten – that’s $165 billion worth of wasted dairy, meat, produce, and more. In fact, the average American family throws out about 25 percent of the food they buy each week.
All that waste takes an environmental toll. For one thing, that uneaten food is all too often relegated to local landfills where it rots, emitting potent greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane.
Experts say that we could cut out food waste by just 15 percent nationally, it would not only stave off these emissions, but also save enough to feed 26 million people.
Join GASP for a panel discussion with two Pittsburghers who are helping to lead the charge against food waste locally – Dylan Lew, of Ecotone Renewables, and Sara Swaney of 412 Food Rescue.
Learn more about the problem and how YOU can be part of the solution.
6 p.m., on Zoom. Free & open to the public -- register here.
Apr 19: Labor and the plastics crisis (A-Z Impacts of Plastic)
Join the A-Z team as we explore the intersections of labor and our plastics crisis. Learn how workers involved in plastics production AND environmental nonprofit workers fighting plastic industry pollution can stand in solidarity for workers rights and healthy communities.
You’ll also learn more about
- The role of whistleblowers in exposing workplace injustice
- The community health impacts of workplace endangerment in the petrochemical and plastic industries
- How you can help secure better protections for all workers, regardless of industry
Apr 17: Sustainability Salon on Food (Part II)
The 111th Sustainability Salon will continue our annual focus on Food. This month's speakers will include:

If you haven't been here before, you may enjoy checking out our roof garden and solar installation (and now apiary!) as well as the many other green and interesting things around our place. If interested folks are online and everything is working smoothly by around 3:30, perhaps I can conduct a virtual tour.
And if you like to make music or listen to homemade music, think back to our evening sings -- we typically ran the gamut from Irish fiddle tunes to protest songs to the Beatles, and a fun time was had by all. Folks would bring instruments, and/or pick up one of ours. Conversations would continue through the evening, as well. With a virtual event this is less likely to happen, but we can share music by turns, reminisce, chat online, and look forward to the post-COVID era!
Mar 27: Sustainability Salon on Food (Part I)

If you haven't been here before, you may enjoy checking out our roof garden and solar installation (and now apiary!) as well as the many other green and interesting things around our place. If interested folks are online and everything is working smoothly by around 3:30, perhaps I can conduct a virtual tour.
And if you like to make music or listen to homemade music, think back to our evening sings -- we typically ran the gamut from Irish fiddle tunes to protest songs to the Beatles, and a fun time was had by all. Folks would bring instruments, and/or pick up one of ours. Conversations would continue through the evening, as well. With a virtual event this is less likely to happen, but we can share music by turns, reminisce, chat online, and look forward to the post-COVID era!
Mar 23: Teach-In on BFFPPA
What is the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act -- and how can you support it?
- A presentation (giving an overview of the BFFPPA bill) from Congressional aides:
Dr Anja Malawi Brandon (Senator Jeff Merkley) &
Shane Trimmer (Congressman Alan Lowenthal) - Alexis Goldsmith: National Organizing Director of Beyond Plastics sharing how we can support the bill
- A short film by Stiv Wilson (creator of "Story of Plastics”)
- Live Q & A session
Mar 19: Climate Strike
Join a Rally & March for Climate Justice!
A coalition of intersectional social and environmental justice groups are co-organizing local participation in the Global Climate Strike on Friday, March 19th. The day-long event will provide opportunities to make noise and take action for the widespread desire to prioritize climate change in Southwestern PA and invest in the wellbeing of communities over the interests of a few. Now is the time to stand up for bold action to ensure good jobs and a livable future for all. Skip class >> Save the planet.
https://www.facebook.com/events/473879987128033
Mar 11 & 25: Bioplastic -- Hype or Hope?
Please join us for a conversation on the emerging field of Bioplastic and the potential to grow a new industry in our region!
Learn how new scientific advancements in this industry may hold promise to phase out fossil fuel and petrochemical-based materials and provide new economic development possibilities.
Register once for two events!
Event #1: The Future of Bioplastic – March 11, 2021
Join our host Dr. Patricia DeMarco for an overview of the circular economy, an intro to the pros and cons of bioplastic, the promise of hemp as a versatile material and the R & D efforts that are so important to create products that are biodegradable, compostable and recyclable.
Guest speakers include:
Dr. Patricia DeMarco, Chatham University
Dr. Clifford Lau, Duquesne University
Anne Rouse, U.S. Fulbright Scholar, producer and educator
Taylor Weiss, University of Arizona
Event #2: Building a Bioplastic Industry – March 25, 2021
Join our host Joanne Martin for a conversation on ReImagine Beaver County and the efforts to create an eco-industrial park to provide clean jobs and economic development initiatives that advance sustainable solutions.
Guest Speakers Include:
Joanne Martin, ReImagine Beaver County
Eric Hurlock, Industrial Hemp Podcast
Kristen Olmi, K.O. Consulting
and more...
An Event Series Presented By:
-- ReImagine Beaver County
-- Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community
-- League of Women Voters of PA
-- Climate Reality Project
-- Breathe Project
Feb 28: Sustainable, Successful Political Campaigns
Feb 27: Sustainability Salon on Fukushima and the Future
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Sunset for nuclear power? (photo: Pexels/Pixabay, under Creative Commons) |
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International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors at Fukushima Daiichi in 2013 (photo: IAEA) |
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If you haven't been here before, you may enjoy checking out our roof garden and solar installation (and now apiary!) as well as the many other green and interesting things around our place. If interested folks are online and everything is working smoothly by around 3:30, perhaps I can conduct a virtual tour.
And if you like to make music or listen to homemade music, think back to our evening sings -- we typically ran the gamut from Irish fiddle tunes to protest songs to the Beatles, and a fun time was had by all. Folks would bring instruments, and/or pick up one of ours. Conversations would continue through the evening, as well. With a virtual event this is less likely to happen, but we can share music by turns, reminisce, chat online, and look forward to the post-COVID era!