The first land trusts in Rhode Island were formed in 1972 (Sakonnet Preservation Association and Block Island Conservancy), according to the Rhode Island Land Trust Council.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between 300,000 and 630,000 infants are born in the United States each year with mercury levels that are associated with the loss of IQ.

Use a toaster oven for small meals. They may only require a third of the energy needed to heat a full-size oven.

What: “What’s Going On? The facts about toxic chemicals in personal-care products and what we need to do to make products safer for everyone.”
When: Saturday March 13,
4-5:30 p.m.
Where: The Westin, 1 West Exchange St., Providence.
About: Presentation by Mia Davis, the national grassroots coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, and question-and-answer session with Davis, Clean Water Action of Rhode Island and Ava Anderson, the 16-year old founder of Ava Anderson Non-Toxic, a company that has signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
To register: RSVP by sending an e-mail to intern@safecosmetics.org with “March 13" in the subject line.
Info: Visit safecosmetics.org.

What: “Saving the Blue Planet: Patterns, Trends and Prospects for Marine Biodiversity.”
When: Tuesday, March 16, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Edwards Auditorium, The University of Rhode Island, 64 Upper College Road, Kingston.
About: Boris Worm is associate professor of biology at Dalhousie University, Canada. He is well known for his commitment to public awareness of marine conservation. His research has shown that populations of the ocean’s large predators have declined by up to 90 percent in many areas. Most recently, he led an international team that examined efforts to restore marine ecosystems and rebuild fisheries throughout the world.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Info: Visit uri.edu.

What: Providence Green Drinks/Science Café.
When: Thursday, March 18, 5:30-8 p.m.
Where: AS220, 115 Empire St., Providence.
About: Rich Pederson, from the Southside Community Land Trust, will talk about personal composting systems, including what kinds of bins and barrels to use, and what can go in to your system. He will focus on all the basics, plus special needs urban composters might have. Greg Garritt, of the Environment Council of Rhode Island, will be speaking about efforts to get a municipal and/or statewide composing system going in Rhode Island. A statewide dialogue has been developing about all the ways we can save money and landfill space.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Info: Visit ejlri.wordpress.com.

What: Coastal Cleanup.
When: Saturday, March 20, noon-2 p.m.
Where: Tuckerman right of way, Middletown
About: Sponsored by Clean Ocean Access.
Info: Visit cleanoceanaccess.

What: “A Backpack of Solutions.”
When: Monday, March 29,
9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Where: The Westerly Land Trust offices, 10 High St., Westerly.
About: Save The Bay and The Westerly Land Trust are co-sponsors of a “Climate Change Backpack Workshop” from the Northeast Science Center Collaborative. This teaching tool helps educators become familiar with the science of climate change, with help from the materials in the backpack — graphs, experiments, a climate-change play, an imitation ice core and a compact fluorescent light bulb.
Cost: Workshop, $30; workshop and purchase of Climate Change Backpack, $130. Backpacks also are available for loan.
To register: Visit savebay.org.
Info: Call Rebekah Kepple at 401-315-2709.

What: Screening of the documentary “Fresh.”
When: Tuesday, March 30. Doors open at 6 p.m.; film starts at 7 p.m.
Where: Local 121, 121 Washington St., Providence.
About: “Fresh” celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing the food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet. The film features urban farmer and activist, Will Allen, the recipient of MacArthur’s 2008 Genius Award, and sustainable farmer and entrepreneur, Joel Salatin, made famous by Michael Pollan’s book, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma.” The screening is being sponsored by ecoRI.org, Farm Fresh Rhode Island and Local 121.
Cost: $12, includes screening and buffet.
Info: Visit freshthemovie.com.

The Loraine Tisdale Environmental Education Awards are given each winter to three Rhode Island schools to support an environmental project in the spring.
      This year, $250 checks have been presented to the St. Rocco School in Johnston for its recycling project, Johnston High School for a water quality testing program and the Davisville Middle School for development of a garden that will be used to teach students about gardening and composting and will be used to provide fresh vegetables to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
      The Environment Council of Rhode Island’s Education Fund supports the Tisdale awards through a raffle each spring. Tickets are $5 each, and eight prizes will be raffled off. Tickets can be obtained by sending a check to Environment Council of R.I. Education Fund, PO Box 40568, Providence, RI 02940. Stubs will be mailed out, and the drawing is scheduled for May 5.
      For more information, call 401-621-8048.

The Greenwich Bay Watershed Group has begun an initiative to jump-start a safe bike and pedestrian pathway to the Warwick Intermodal Train Station. The path would connect to the existing Cranston-to-Coventry bike path.
     With the economy turning sour, area residents are hard-pressed to find jobs locally, according to Richard Langseth, executive director of the Greenwich Bay Watershed Group. In increasing numbers, they are becoming commuters to seek work in Boston and Connecticut, he said.
     “For them and us, the Intermodal should be a lifeline to badly needed jobs,” Langseth said. “It is a facility that can help make Warwick work.”
     With energy prices again on the rise, and mounting concerns about carbon footprints and global warming, commuters are turning to bikes and walking as modes of transport to train stations, buses and job sites. Conveniently, the Warwick Intermodal Train Station is just a couple miles from the existing Washington Secondary Bike Path. But the challenges that cyclists and walkers face are significant, especially along a short stretch of Greenwich Avenue, Langseth said.
      The Greenwich Bay Watershed Group will be scheduling neighborhood meetings to discuss the development of this bike path.

There is considerable interest from Rhode Island residents, businesses and organizations in participating in the hearings of the Senate Task Force on Liquefied Natural Gas. The most appropriate time for the public to testify will be Tuesday, March 16, at 2 p.m. in the Senate Lounge at the Statehouse.
     There are three organizations scheduled to speak for about 10 minutes each, and then the floor will be opened for public comment. The hearing ends at 4 p.m.
      If you think you may want to address the task force, contact Kelly Mahoney of the Senate Policy Office by calling 401-276-5551 or via e-mail at kmahoney@rilin.state.ri.us.
      If you would prefer to submit written testimony, you may send it to Kelly Mahoney, Senate Policy Office, Room SB 27, Statehouse, Providence, RI 02903.

Senators from Oregon and Washington have joined with East Coast counterparts to file a bill in Congress last week that would return control over liquefied natural gas ports to the states.
     Oregon and Washington are fighting the Bradwood Landing LNG project near the mouth of the Columbia River. Officials in those states claim it is not needed and federal approval was granted before full environmental reviews were in.
     Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have said Oregonians should decide where and when to put LNG terminals in the state.
     Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell said LNG terminals have a huge effect on coastal communities.