How cool is this?
I hope other cities can develop their own city data feed and Iphone app (Seattle…are ya listening??).

We don’t have an Iphone although hubs lives on his Ipod. I wonder if there is an app for this (seems like there is an app for just about everything else!)?

Recycling in San Francisco Made Easy With the Iphone
Written by Gavin Newsom
Published on June 15th, 2009

San Francisco created the “EcoFinder” iPhone App to help residents recycle and dispose of materials. The open data philosophy behind the app is Government 2.0 at work.

With the release today of San Francisco’s first iPhone app based on a City data feed, recycling just got much easier for our residents.

San Franciscans already lead the nation in recycling – in May we announced a 72% diversion rate of all materials going to the landfill – but we want to do more. Last week we passed the nation’s first mandatory recycling and composting laws. We’ve pledged to recycle 75% of the materials that would otherwise go to the landfill by 2010 and zero waste by 2020.

We will only reach these lofty goals together — with the help of all our residents. That’s why the City’s environment department (@SFEnvironment) has launched an iPhone version of the popular web-based EcoFinder tool.

Residents can now find out where to recycle or properly dispose of materials using our convenient, location-based mobile application. Instead of dumping old electronics or furniture on the sidewalk, the EcoFinder iPhone app tells you where these materials should go, based on your location.

I know that most people want to do the right thing with the unwanted materials in their lives, but they may not know, for example, how to recycle compact fluorescent bulbs which contain mercury. The EcoFinder iPhone app is part of our ongoing effort to provide residents and businesses in San Francisco with the information and tools to be environmentally responsible.

This iPhone app is a great example of San Francisco embracing the emerging philosophy of Government 2.0 — using web and mobile technologies to provide more effective processes for delivering government services. By sharing our EcoFinder database via an XML data feed, we’ve been able to develop the iPhone app with community partners, as well as provide accurate information to Earth911.com’s national recycling database.

I’m pushing for this kind of innovation across my administration. Earlier this month, we launched a new application that allows residents to contact the City´s 311 Call Center via the social networking site Twitter (@SF311) to report potholes, graffiti or receive information about city services.

The opportunity to fundamentally transform government by deploying the innovation and expertise in the web and mobile industries should not be ignored by municipalities. I firmly believe that, just as San Francisco has been an environmental leader, we can help change the way cities connect with their government.

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco-Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

In reading the article below from Eco-Worldly I am wondering why in the world are we exploring for more OIL when we should be concentrating our efforts on alternatives!

Western Gray Whale Critically Threatened by Oil and Gas Exploration
Written by Derek Markham
Published on June 16th, 2009

One of the world’s most critically endangered whales, the western gray whale, is being pushed out of its annual feeding area by loud industrial activity from oil and gas exploration by Exxon, BP, and Rosneft, says a panel of top scientists.

“Western gray whale cows with their calves feed near the shore, but the industrial noise resulting from oil and gas development activities is pushing them out of the area.” – Doug Norlen, Pacific Environment

The Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel (WGWAP), a group of 11 scientists and representatives from Shell and Sakhalin Energy, discussed the effects of oil and gas development on the gray whales off the coast of Sakhalin Island (their main annual feeding area) in a meeting in April.

The scientists disclosed that the number of whales in the feeding area was greatly reduced during 2008, which may translate to less successful breeding for the animals.

“Any disturbance of these critically endangered whales’ behavior is particularly concerning as there are only 130 of them left.” – Norlen

According to the WWF, Exxon, BP, and Rosneft have denied the threats and refused to address the issue, and continue to plan for further seismic testing and construction in the area in 2009, possibly leading to further displacement of western gray whales from their traditional annual feeding area.

“The new information presented at this meeting has heightened rather than diminished the Panel’s concern that whale distribution and behaviour may have been seriously affected by industrial activities – on land and offshore – in 2008.” – Western Gray Whale Panel Report

A petition calling for postponement of new development work by major oil companies in the feeding area has been signed by 35,000 people, and the timing for action on the petition is crucial, as the whales will begin arriving at the feeding area near Sakhalin within a month. The petition also calls for companies to work with scientists to find ways to protect the endangered animals.

Only 25 to 30 breeding females remain, making the western gray whale one of the world’s most endangered. The small population leaves only a slim chance for the survival of the species if the industrial activity nearby continues.

“These companies can either choose to act responsibly or stay their course and help push the western gray whale further toward extinction.” – Aleksey Knizhnikov, WWF Russia

The Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel is calling for a moratorium on all development activities in the feeding area this summer, and Sakhalin Energy has agreed to cancel their planned seismic activities in the area this year.

Download the Western Gray Whale Panel Report, and sign the petition to postpone new development in the area.

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco-Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com