TEDxPhilly

According to a recent article on GOOD Transportation, Ride For Your Life: In Barcelona, Bike Sharing Saves More Than Gas “a successful and widely used bike sharing program in Barcelona prevents 12 deaths a year.” Supported by a recent study published earlier this summer by the British Medical Journal, which based it’s findings on citywide shifts in commuter habits, as affected by the bike sharing program which was launched in 2007.

This news isn’t surprising when you consider the facts:

• On average, commuting 10 miles a day by bike instead of car burns 110,250 calories (keeping off 30 pounds of fat each year)
• Commuting by bicycle for 15 minutes each way (about 2-3 miles) meets the Center for Disease Control’s minimum recommendation of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per day
• Regular physical activity (such as bicycling) may help reduce your risk for many diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancers, and osteoporosis. It also helps to control weight; contributes to healthy bones, muscles, and joints; and reduces falls among older adults

Both Washington DC and New York City are set to launch new programs in the coming year with 10,000 bikes located at stations throughout each city respectively, with hopes to increase those numbers exponentially in coming years. The decision to go ahead with these plans were highly influenced by a 2009 report issued by the Department of Transportation which outlined the considerable environmental and health benefits of such a program.

The perfect precursor to TEDxPhilly: The City…  AIGA’s Philadelphia Screening of Gary Hustwit’s New Film – Urbanized

Who is allowed to shape our cities, and how do they do it? Unlike many other fields of design, cities aren’t created by any one specialist or expert. There are many contributors to urban change, including ordinary citizens who can have a great impact improving the cities in which they live. By exploring a diverse range of urban design projects around the world, Urbanized frames a global discussion on the future of cities.

EVENT DETAILS:
Special screening with director Gary Hustwit in association with AIGA Philadelphia and AIA Philadelphia. Presented in conjunction with the The Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design at Drexel University.

November 3, 2011, 6:30 and 9:00 PM screening times
Drexel University, Mitchell Auditorium, Bossone Research Center
Philadelphia PA, USA
Tickets on sale now.

Would you like your artwork to be featured in the program for one of the most inspiring and unique events in Philadelphia?

Show us your interpretation of the theme THE CITY!! Whether it is your existing artwork, or something new…we want to see your photographs, paintings, drawings, mixed-media pieces, etc – any creative version of the theme. There is no entry fee and you may submit as many entries as you like for consideration. Enter your best city-based designs and artwork today and be a part of this exciting event! GET CREATIVE!!

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: OCTOBER 10th, 2011
Email all entries to: artwork@tedxphilly.com

REQUIREMENTS:
File size: please send a 300dpi PDF file or hi-res JPG
Please include: your name and title of your work (if it has one)
Size: 4.25” (h) x 5.5”(w)
Bleed: if you know what a bleed is then go for it. Please add ⅛” all the way around
Color: No color requirements…black and white, full color, monochromatic, anything you like….

If your document is not submitted correctly, it will not be accepted. We have provided a template to help ensure your artwork fits properly - click here to download. Please be sure to follow the requirements so we can all be happy!

*If you are more of a 3-dimensional artist and are interested in exhibiting at our event, please email us with some information about the type of work you do, some photos, and your contact information. If you would like to create something specific for the event, please include a 600 word or less description.

Interest in urban beekeeping has been growing over the past several years. Take a look at how Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are cultivating local honey from urban bees…

PHILADELPHIA
The Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild has been promoting local and sustainable apiculture for some time in the area. They celebrate their sweet delights through an annual Honey Festival (which recently passed.) In addition, they hold monthly workshops/meetings on pertinent topics for urban beekeepers. Philadelphia is so lucky to have this group!

Tyler School of Art at Temple University will be hosting a Feast of Forage with horticulturist Nance Klehm on Sept. 21. Considering the streets of North Philadelphia as a wild urban garden of edible and medicinal plants, Klehm will lead a walking tour of sidewalks, parking lots, and brown field sites where a smorgasbord of earthly delights are waiting to be harvested.

In related news, The New York Times wrote an article on the urban foraging debate in New York City’s parks. Access the article here.