http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf

Promote equitable, affordable housing. Expand location- and energy-efficient housing choices for people of all ages, incomes, races, and ethnicities to increase mobility and lower the combined cost of housing and transportation.

Enhance economic competitiveness. Improve economic competitiveness through reliable and timely access to employment centers, educational opportunities, services and other basic needs by workers, as well as expanded business access to markets.

Support existing communities. Target federal funding toward existing communities—through strategies like transit oriented, mixed-use development, and land recycling—to increase community revitalization and the efficiency of public works investments and safeguard rural landscapes.

Coordinate and leverage federal policies and investment. Align federal policies and funding to remove barriers to collaboration, leverage funding, and increase the accountability and effectiveness of all levels of government to plan for future growth, including making smart energy choices such as locally generated renewable energy

Value communities and neighborhoods. Enhance the unique characteristics of all communities by investing in healthy, safe, and walkable neighborhoods—rural, urban, or suburban.

Race to Green for state and municipal governments that streamline regulations and attract private investment for retrofit projects: Much of the authority to alter codes, regulations, and performance standards relating to commercial energy efficiency lies in the jurisdiction of states and localities. The President’s Budget will propose new competitive grants to states and/or local governments that streamline standards, encouraging upgrades and attracting private sector investment.

The Better Buildings Challenge: The President is challenging CEOs and University Presidents to make their organizations leaders in saving energy, which will save them money and improve productivity. Partners will commit to a series of actions to make their facilities more efficient. They will in turn become eligible for benefits including public recognition, technical assistance, and best-practices sharing through a network of peers.

Jackson County Courthouse in Murphysboro

SIUC Student Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

It’s that time of year again when we start discussing RESOLUTIONS! People have all kinds of ways with dealing with the passing of a year and the welcoming of a new one. I’m all for inventory! Here’s a radical idea. Instead of making resolutions that (let’s face it) focuses on US, let’s make them focus on our community, our neighborhood (alright, get one or two in for you too). Grist just did a fabulous list on 7 resolutions to make your neighborhood/town/city a better place. With 7 resolutions you can fit three more in, of your own choosing.

If you really want to bring the New Year in right, read Jeff Biggers’s New Year’s Resolution to stop mountain top removal! Very inspiring!

and a look at what to expect on the activists lines in 2011 – let’s just say, things are getting personal! Greenpeace is doing a marvelous job of furthering the movement to educate, engage and make progress toward climate policies that are solutions for ALL of us.

Well if you are the U.S. – you use it – FAST ! ?? 
Helium Blues…
A great article on The Muse gets at the crux of the matter.
And for some video information: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVg8EPl9ZmQ