Landscape Architects' Meeting to Feature Vice President Al Gore

[RestoreGore]

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/ne...ase,86130.shtml


Landscape Architects' Meeting to Feature Vice President Al Gore
Posted : Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:14:01 GMT
Author : American Society of Landscape Architects
Category : PressRelease
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WASHINGTON, April 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has announced that former Vice President Al Gore will be the closing keynote speaker for its 2007 Annual Meeting on October 8 in San Francisco. He will present An Inconvenient Truth, the visually stunning multimedia presentation that inspires audiences to confront environmental issues in the world today.

The Society's mission is to lead, educate, and participate in the careful stewardship, wise planning, and artful design of our cultural and natural environments. In 1992, ASLA presented then-Senator and soon-to-be Vice President Al Gore with its Olmsted Medal, the highest honor the Society may bestow upon an individual outside the profession of landscape architecture.

"It was only the third time the medal had ever been presented and this early honor turned out to be very prescient given Al Gore's steadfast leadership, vision, and stewardship of the environment," said Nancy C. Somerville, executive vice president and CEO of ASLA. "His speaking tour and documentary have educated millions on what we must do to protect our planet for ourselves and for generations to come. Landscape architects are on the forefront of designing our built environment and protecting our natural resources and his presentation will provide a rallying point for the profession."

~~~~~~~~~
I think this is a very good thing in that how our built environment is planned in the future will do much to mitigate GHG levels. Mr. Gore is giving this presentation to every sector that will have an influence on our environmental future in the hopes of rallying people to the cause worth taking on... the future sustainability of our planet. I also didn't think I would see something like this planned for so late in the year with all the rumors swirling around put out by people who claim to be in "the know" in our media. That's why I tend to stay in the real world regarding what this good man is doing, because it is of substance and importance and not hype.

[RestoreGore]

1. Now watch this faaaaaaaalllllllll.... n/t

[malaise]

2. K & R

Run Al run!

[mod mom]

3. He is the Keynote for the AIA "Growing Beyond Green" May 3-5 in San Antonio

as well:

http://www.aiaconvention.com/live/61/events/61SAN07A/SN960233

AIA=American Institute of Architects

[mod mom]

4. Hubby will be presenting this project in @ AIA in TX:

On track (still under contruction) to be the 1st Platinum LEED Hospital in the country:

http://future.childrenshospital.com/

btw RFK Jr was the keynote last year & Hubby had a chance to peak w him afterward. It was the week his article came out in Rollingstone.

[RestoreGore]

7. This is incredible

And very positive. I will definitely be looking into this. Thanks again! Nice to know there are also people here who do care for discussing this. I am interested in cost savings and in how they calculate savings regarding GHGs when developing their plans. The way this building is shaped in a rounded fashion looks as though it will get maximum light exposure and other benefits which I am sure was part of the plan. Very innovative and beautiful.

[RestoreGore]

6. This is great , thank you

And architects are truly a vital link to progress on this crisis. It's good that he is talking at these conventions.

[RestoreGore]

5. It is obviously a waste of time posting about his environmental efforts here

All some people on certain sites seem to want is speculation, daydreaming, and feeding into the very media they claim they abhor. There is never a conversation based on the substance of what he is doing and the real impact he is making in the world, nor the solutions we MUST begin NOW to save this planet without the rhetoric. I truly am beginning to believe that the so called "support" for him on some of these blogs is just a shield to another agenda. This is the jist of it:

"Oh please, Al, run and save us because we NEED you so bad because you are popular and cool now! But if you do, don't do it as your own man (because you can't "win" that way) and please lose weight and not embarrass us! And don't dare to think for yourself and to actually enjoy your life after all you have been through and after all of the years politics let you down. And please, following an issue that is your passion is just a waste of time and really, you don't mean all you say about it anyway, right?... We really don't care about that because Hillary Clinton is "unelectable" and we say it is YOUR DUTY to get back into the corrupt muck and mire that drove you out to save us whether you like it or not! We want this tinhorn BS media to be on you 24/7 again and trash you and your passions because it gives us something to talk about. We want hype and entertainment value and polls and BS backbiting over the true substance of what you are accomplishing and we will stamp our feet until we get it! Afterall, if we get embroiled in the political end of it we then can say we had no time to actually help you do anything of substance to mitigate our effect on this Earth now... Anyway, if you run you will win... it's GUARANTEED because we say so and because there really is no corporate military industrial secret society system in place here that steals elections and decides policy and "candidates" over the people based on dollar amount over ideals.... that is all just a ruse. Just do what we want and forget all about that, and then all of our problems will just go POOF. And anyway, even though we let you and our country down in 2000 you owe us another chance. Just look at how we proved ourselves in the last six years by giving our entire Constitution over to the very people who stole the election from you... Oh wait, bad example... but hey, we have your back!"


Same old story.

[Matamoros]

8. Al has let us down

I voted for Al.

He has let us down. I was shocked to read that he lives in a 22 room mansion and has a $39,000.00 per year electric bill. SHOCKED! He was driving a fleet of SUVs and just THIS YEAR got a hybrid. He wrote "Earth in the Balance" in 1991.

Al, if you want people to really rally behind you, you must practice what you preach. I take public transportation and live in a small place out of choice.

Now, you are working for a big payout for Landscape Architects. Who are these "Landscape Architects"?

These are the same guys who bulldoze forests to put in sprinkler systems with faux fountains and non-native species to please the tastes of rich fat capitalists? We will see the native habitats of animals and creatures destroyed to be replaced with what amounts to "artwork" for the rich by "landscape architects". A landscape architect is a person who destroys nature to install sprinkler systems and create a kind of beautiful green desert. Devoid of natural life and repugnant to any who truly love nature and the environment.

Just another sellout Al.
I am beyond merely disappointed.

[RestoreGore]

9. Didn't look at it in that perspective

Kind of thought he would be going there to impart some knowledge on them, not as a sellout. But I understand where you are coming from. Hopefully his talk would touch on some of what you brought out here, especially regarding future sustainability.

[mod mom]

10. Were those kkkarl's talking points you repeat?

Wow you must really be concerned about Gore's ability to win. Whether's it's Gore or Obama or another Dem, get used to it because we are going to win BIG in '08!


BTW you are poorly informed on landscape architecture as well. Here is a resource in how they support sustainability in case you are interested in facts:

http://www.asla.org/

[Matamoros]

12. Landscape architecture

Landscape architecture begins with a bulldozer!
Mother nature has spent millions of years creating the balance. Fueling up a bulldozer and turning it on her is not something I can condone.

I may be a bit harsh on Uncle Al, but I really believe it and have made huge sacrifices in my personal lifestyle after reading his book in 1991. I live in a small place and do not drive an automobile - although I too can afford a fleet of them.

I'm very disappointed, that's all. Everyone else is all talk about it, so when you have actually acted and done something - something which involved personal sacrifice, you tend to lash out at those who are all talk about it. We can do better.

[Matamoros]

13. Landscape Architecture

Isn't going to the American Society of Landscape Architects' webpage for information on Landscape architecture a bit like getting information on animal cruelty from KFC?

I question raping the earth's natural balance with bulldozers and blueprints for the pleasure of corporate aestheticists.

[mod mom]

15. My husband is an architect who works with very responsible landscape architects.

When designing buildings (an in his case they promote green architecture) the landscape architects work to enhance the site to promote indigenous plantings to the site.

An attack on the entire field is the like lumping idiot son et al and Conyers, Waxman and Feingold since they are all politicians. Every field has experts. In landscape architecture there is a acceditating body which promotes sustainability and working with nature, sensibly.

[blm]

17. Current trend is to take out the plants not suitable to an area and re-introduce the

plants and grasses that do belong there.

Gore and other environmentalists are joined by an increasing number of landscape architects on this front.

[Matamoros]

18. We are still raping the land with wasteful suburban sprawl

Any project that begins with a bulldozer and not a wrecking ball is wrongheaded. We occupy far too much of the land surface in America. Our society has allowed us to build a city, when the social problems emerge, move further away from them and let the city decay.

We are like locusts on the landscape.

[mod mom]

19. Why don't you target short sighted developers. Most architects promote

urban renewal and planning. There is a vast amount of literature on the subject, if you are truly interested in making a difference instead of foisting blame on those attempting to make a difference.

[RestoreGore]

20. And Mr. Gore is against sprawl

Did you ever think that is why he accepted this invitation? And did you ever think that not all architects think as you have painted them? I gave you the benefit of the doubt with my first response because I do agree that there are wasteful practices out there ( especially in regards to water usage,) but now I think you are just painting with a broad brush.

[blm]

21. Spend your valuable time targeting those who work against the environment

rather than adding your criticisms to the burdens of those who work to effect positive change for the environment.

Because, bottom line, that is what you're doing. It's REALLY brave to go after those already closest to your side - try testing that courage against the REAL SPOILERS of this earth.

[RestoreGore]

16. Where in the press release is this tied to 2008? n/t

[Neshanic]

11. Oh, bulldoze for clients like the Edwardses? Those kind of clients?

I made the grevious error of pointing out the absurdity of the Edwards compound because of it size and obvious clearcutting. Also it's complete disregard of LEED standards.

None of our candidates, their candidates, or anyone in that strata of our population lives the way they preach if they do preach the gospel of environmentalism. It's kind of like third world baby shopping for the rich and famous, but no nanny involved. Of course, yes there is the odd person in that super "A" list of the Gores, Clintons, Edwardses, and other liberal politicians/mega rich that are more "pure" in following dogma.

[Matamoros]

14. I am not the only voice in the wilderness!

I thought I was alone in believing that our politicians - YES, even Liberals! Should practice what they preach.

Al Gore wrote "Earth in the Balance" in 1991.
Why the 22 room home?
Why the sumptious grounds?
Why the heated swimming pool?
Why the fleet of SUVs?
Why the $39,000.00 per year energy bill?

I use public transportation and live in a very small home by choice, not by economic necessity.
I have chosen to live in a city and not maintain a lawn, but live near a park.

Now I hear that Al is speaking for the Landscape Architects association. A group of guys that begin their day by gassing up a bulldozer and taking it to mother nature.