May :
full text available online at www.clarkforkjournal.com -click on this issue.
June:
"SILC will be a model community near Missoula, Montana, that’s over 100% energy independent. We say over 100% because it’s not only going to use zero fossil fuel and have zero greenhouse gas emissions - it’s actually going to absorb CO2, and provide organic food for Missoula as well.
The idea is to build a working vision of what the future of community could be, if we do things right. Powered by wind, solar, and geothermal, SILC will feature a biodynamic garden and greenhouse, aquaculture pond, house a dozen families (with room for a dozen more), and last for centuries - all the while removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
SILC's residents will live in a dozen superinsulated monolithic domes (www.monolithic.com) which will surround the main lodge, a two-story, 75' diameter superinsulated dome. The Lodge will house:
-
Kitchen and Dining facilities
-
Library/Computer room
-
Daycare and Classroom
-
Resource Management/Finance Office
-
Naturopathic Medical/Reiki/Massage Facility
-
Janitorial/HVAC/Maintenance/Mechanical Shop
-
Laundry
-
Painting/Sculpture/Art studio
-
Recording Studio
-
Exersize and Dance Hall
-
Meditation Hall
-
Performance Hall for Music, Dance, Theatre, Cinema, Lectures, and Conferences
-
Root Cellar/Food Storage/Emergency Shelter
-
Central Arboretum and Great Room
The idea is to provide a tangible model of a world without global warming. And unlike many other global warming solutions - this one will provide results you an come and walk around on.
"SILC will be an open-door learning community. People from all walks of life are encouraged to visit and experience what sustainable interdependent community living is all about."
Currently we are fundraising for SILC with a July 25th benefit concert at Missoula's Wilma Theatre. The concert stars Divine Intervention. With an outstanding female vocalist, Cello virtuoso, Harmonica virtuoso, Mandolin, and percussion, Divine Intervention delights audiences with a high-energy eclectic fusion of Classical, Folk, Funk, Bluegrass, and Rock.
Advance tickets are available at Missoula's Jeanette Rankin Peace center for $15, or at the door for $17.50. Advertising space in the program book is still available; for more information please call (406) 542-7376.
JULY
Continued promotion of July 25th concert at Missoula's Wilma Theatre starring Divine Intervention and Friends.
July 25th - Concert!
150 people attended this event!
This is the largest global warming rally to date in Montana!
July 26th- Feartured article on SILC in The Missoula Independent: Up Front "Greener Pastures: As the World warms, There's No Place Like Dome."
AUGUST
SILC in chrysalis! Ongoing developmental evolution of ideas underpinning SILC's social, financial, energetic, biodynamic, and structural fabric.
Completion of SILC scale model
SEPTEMBER
Article 2 in a series for the Clark Fork Journal: "A vision for the future of sustainable community - SILC: Beautiful, flexible, stronger than steel."
Sept. 7th: Lecture and music performance for Sustainable Transportation and Development Event at University Center, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Sept 8th: SILC outreach booth at Missoula Hempfest, Caras Park, Missoula, MT
Sept 14th: Presentation to UM Philosophy club: "Creating Sustainable Community".
Sept 21st: Interview on MCAT TV's "What's Up Missoula" show with Rikki Danielsen. Tape two 1/2 hour live shows on Sustainable Interdependent Living Community (SILC): Purpose, cost, social dynamics, infrastructure, sustainability.
OCTOBER
Oct 22nd: Organize "No New Coal" rally in conjunction with www.GlobalWarmingsolution.org and MontPIRG. Demonstration against Montana Governor Schweitzer's proposed "Coal to Liquids" plants. Coordinated to preceed a lecture by Dr. James Hansen, senior climate scientist, NASA
When and where: University of Montana (UM) Oval, 7pm. Endorsed by Dr. James Hansen, senior climate scientist, NASA.
200 people attended this event!
This is the largest global warming rally to date in Montana!
From Montana Kaimin:
Presidential Lecture prompts protest
Story by Mark Page | October 23, 2007
Montana Kaimin
The global warming debate spilled out onto the University of Montana Oval Monday evening as about 200 people gathered to protest coal power in Montana and increase local awareness about the causes of global warming.
“We’re doing what we can to get our elected leaders to enact big cuts in greenhouse gas emissions,” said Seth Pogue, an event organizer affiliated with the Live Earth Action Resource Network. “We are demanding accountability from our elected officials.”
The coal plants that have been supported by Gov. Brian Schweitzer and members of the Montana Congressional Delegation were the particular issue the speakers wanted to address, Pogue said.
“So-called ‘clean coal,’” he said, “that’s an oxymoron.”
Organizers erected a stage at 6 p.m. in the center of the Oval complete with sound equipment and lights. The event included both music and speeches from local environmentalists, including a former senior director of Greenpeace and representatives of the Sierra Club and MontPIRG.
James Roof, formerly of Greenpeace, said the energy industry’s ties to national politicians make it tough for change to take place.
“The fossil fuel industry has too much influence on our policy,” he said. “It’s very important for you all to take a stand in Montana.”
As a member of Greenpeace, Roof helped organize boating operations to help fight various pollution-related issues, but now has founded his own organization, climategroundzero.org.
A representative of MontPIRG, Matt Leow, was also on hand to encourage people to instigate change by voting. Though MontPIRG does not endorse political candidates, they encourage people to vote with issues in mind.
“Politicians, there is a lot of pressure on them to support the industries of their states,” Leow said. “It’s down to young people like you voting.”
The protest fell on the same night as the University hosted a lecture by a prominent climate scientist from NASA, James Hansen. (See article on Page 1) The event ended as the speech by Hansen was scheduled to begin.
After the scheduled guests spoke, members of the audience were given the chance to speak their minds on the issues. James Wiener, who is running for a seat on the Missoula City Council in Ward 1, which includes the University, came forward to express his support.
Wiener said he wanted to bring the issue home to the people of Missoula, telling them how clean air makes their city more livable, and how this should be the goal of local government.
“What we’re talking about is the roads we drive and the neighborhoods we live in,” Wiener said. “You need to ask the City Council members what they can do to make this a good city to live in.”
-end story-
November
December
-
Ongoing meetings regarding SILC's inclusion of a Waldorf school. Positive response regarding same by Executive Director of Ravalli County Economic development Authority.
-
Fundraising.
-
Ongoing property search uncovers a magnificent 93 acre heavily timbered organic farm overlooking the Clark Fork river. Orchard, beekeeping, spring (75psi @ 35gpm), several extremely well-constucted pole buildings that can be converted to strawbale houses, and many other very attractive attributes. This may well be our new home.
-
SILC Narrowly misses inclusion for full funding as part of a rider to this month's Congressional energy bill.
2008
Happy New Year!
January
- The Missoula Independent's January 3 cover story has this to say:
"Seth Pogues (sic), executive director of Missoula-based Live Earth Action Resource Network (LEARN), announced his plans for a Sustainable Interdependent Living Community, featuring a homeopathic medical facility, organic garden maintained by residents, solar heated water and 12 domes providing residential housing for interns and artists, encircling a two-story dome community center."
February thru May: Hiatus. Seth Pogue in California to finish Master's thesis in Conservation Biology.
April: Attend World Ecocity Summit, San Francisco, CA.
June: Networking with a number of other ecovillages that are springing up around the country.
July: Visit I.D.E.A.L. community, Jaffrey, BC. These people have a wonderful thing going! http://www.idealsociety.org/html/Philosophy_Education/Life_at_Ideal/Life_at_Ideal.html
August: Meetings to explore feasibility of building SILC at IDEAL.
September: Agreement is made to build SILC at IDEAL.
October: Two board members & Secretary of IDEAL travel to Germany to meet with a green investment banker to discuss funding options.
Latest update October 2008. More soon!
