Green transportation in Europe 
Monday, March 7, 2011, 08:08 PM - Inspiring
Two miles of solar panels to power Antwerp station and Belgian train system. Will we ever catch on to Europe's green transportation systems?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... lgium-rail

My Luscious Backyard 
Thursday, March 25, 2010, 05:04 PM - Inspiring
This small business in Toronto gets people to trade space for a flower garden and then makes local,organic and edible flowers available. Can think of all kinds of neat adaptations for community associations. What a savvy approach to local. photo: Joan Francuz.



http://www.mylusciousbackyard.ca/about.html

Street Artist  
Friday, January 15, 2010, 07:43 PM - Inspiring
French street artist JR gives face to thousands of people on endless streets yet he himself remains anonymous. He recently won a TED prize. Awed by the vision and humbled by the humility.

http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/011685.html

Matching Grants in Seattle 
Wednesday, August 12, 2009, 09:43 PM - Inspiring
Seattle is an inspiring story of community development and smart funding strategies.

The city began with small neighbourhood matching grants to community groups. $1000-5000. What they did with the money was up to them. No strings.



Amazing what came out of this program. This is the after shot of the previous. Community gardens that neighbours created for themselves.



The only conditions were that the neighbourhood group had their own matching funds either in cash or in-kind. This was a neglected park washroom before.



This was an empty space under an overpass.




It has grown so large and gained such momentum that it has changed the face of planning in Seattle. It now takes place through decentralized neighbourhood councils in collaboration with city councillors. Each neighbourhood makes its own neighbourhood plan.



These photos are courtesy of Jim Diers from a PPT presentation at the Asset-Based Community Development Forum, Coady Institute. Check out his book "Neighbour Power."


Different Ways to Learn 
Monday, January 26, 2009, 07:01 PM - Inspiring
My friend Natasha's son Samuel asked her how long he would have to be in school. She told him plus or minus 15 yrs and more if he wanted to go to university. He said, "I'm not going to university, mom, I'm going to space."



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