November 11, 2008

Washington (DC) Mayor Adrian Fenty was listed among the “20 Heroes of Health and Fitness” by Men’s Health magazine. Fenty was cited for his efforts to make his city more bike-friendly. His efforts include spending $7 million for road and trail improvements, bike racks, signage, maps, and general education. He also has implemented the SmartBike DC program where people can pay a $40 annual fee and ride one of the 120 three'speed bicycles in the fleet. “Any mayor worth his election ballots must move people out of cars into other modes of transportation” stated Fenty in the article. Other honorees included Barack Obama, Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, and Ashley Judd.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley took measures to make his city more environmentally friendly, as he encouraged (and subsidized) downtown hotels to get “Green Seal Certified” as part of Chicago’s “Green Hotels Initiative.” Daley acknowledging the efforts of 25 Chicago hotels, five of which were awarded the Green Seal on October 15, a day that included presentations from Commissioner Joyce Gallagher and Green Seal CEO Arthur Weissman. The ultimate goal is for Chicago to have the most Green Seal certified hotels in the nation.

Green Seal, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) provides credible, transparent environmental certification standards in today’s marketplace.

To become Green Seal Certified, hotels must meet a list of environmental requirements, including:

• Install energy efficient equipment in the office, kitchen, and laundry facilities

• Install water conserving devices such as 2.2 gallons per minute faucets, 2.5 gallons per minute showerheads, and 1.6 gallons per flush toilets

• Implement a successful recycling program that is monitored on a monthly basis for waste reduction targets

• Use non-phosphate, nontoxic, biodegradable cleaning products and detergents

• Offer guest a towel/linen reuse option;

• Use 30 percent post consumer recycled paper

• Establish a purchasing policy that incorporates environmental goals and preferences

• Minimize use of chlorine.

This initiative is particularly relevant as Daley and Chicago try to “go green,” 70 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the city come from buildings or the energy production needed to serve them, according to a Chicago Climate Action Plan.

Addressing those hotels that were making efforts to go green, Daley said, "Whether you are working to install energy efficient equipment in your kitchens and laundry facilities, installing water'saving plumbing fixtures, or planning for a green roof, like the one we have on top of city hall, your efforts not only serve as a model for others, but you are also helping Chicago achieve its goal of having the most Green Seal certified hotels in the nation."

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker signed a proclamation declaring October 16 World Food Day in Salt Lake City in effort to raise awareness of food insecurity on local, national, and global levels.

On that day, over two-dozen Salt Lake restaurants participated by contributing proceeds from specially created meals to the charities of their choice. Other food service related industries offered money donations. Also included was a public walking tour of food security providers on October 14.

Denise Cerreta, owner and founder of “One World Everybody Eats,” a 501c3 non-profit foundation that has been operating in Utah for six years, spearheaded the proclamation signed by Becker, which marked Salt Lake’s largest and most coordinated effort to participate in World Food Day. The mission statement of “One World Everybody Eats” is, among other things, to eliminate world hunger and eliminate waste in the food industry.

World Food Day, a United Nation’s creation, has been celebrated in communities across the globe for over 20 years, raising awareness about poverty and hunger and highlighting the plight of the 923 million undernourished people in the world.

In Salt Lake City, one out of every seven families is food insecure, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 5.1 percent of Utah residents are dealing with hunger.

Salt Lake City is the first to do something of this nature, and the mayor’s office encourages other cities to follow its lead. To learn more, those interested can log onto www.oneworldeverybodyeats.com and click on world food day. The staff of One World has offered to mentor other cities to establish this concept.