The River City Run, located in Old Sacramento, connects the heart of the city with the confluence of the two major rivers. The run/walk promotes health, both of one’s body and of the natural environment in which we live. The River City Run benefits local sustainable living projects. Since 2005, funds from this event have supported $20,000 in Sustainable Sacramento Grants to thirteen projects. A sustainable Sacramento is vital for the communities future as a desirable, safe beautiful place to live. Everyone wins!





Our left over t-shirts from last years run were brought to a village in the jungles of Equador and donated to the villagers.



What is sustainable living?
Sustainable Living

Sustainable means the ability to sustain, to maintain into perpetuity.

One of the frequently cited definitions of sustainable development is in the 1987 report, Our Common Future, by the World Commission on Environment and Development. Sustainable development is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
 
Worldwide, sustainable development is vital for populations struggling to survive. Currently, the World Bank estimates 1.1 billion people (one in six of humanity) live in extreme poverty defined as lacking in basic needs for survival. Almost half the people in the continent of Africa live in extreme poverty. This means people are chronically lacking in sufficient food, safe drinking water and sanitation, health care, education for their children, possibly shelter and basic articles of clothing, like shoes. Sustainable development is actions taken to meet the basic needs of people in ways that don’t deplete natural resources for future generations.
 
The rest of the world’s population (five in six of humanity) meet or exceed their basic needs. For this part of humanity, sustainable living is important. Sustainable living means maintaining a balanced, dynamic harmony that meets human needs within the natural resources available. Living sustainably maintains a balance with the local resources and natural cycles both on land and in the sea that supports life on the planet.

The most harmful consumer activities are (roughly in decreasing importance): from (The Consumer Guide to Effective Environmental Choices, Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists, M. Brower and W. Leon, Three Rivers Press, N.Y. 1999)

• Driving cars and light trucks
• Eating meat and poultry
• Home heating, hot water, and air conditioning
• Household appliances and lighting
• Home construction
• Household water use and sewage production.

These translate into the following prioritized actions for American consumers:
1. Choose a place to live that reduces the need to drive.
2. Own as few motor vehicles as you can
3. Choose a fuel efficient, low polluting car
4. Reduce your motor vehicle travel – burning gas generates lots of pollution
5. Whenever possible walk, bike, and take public transportation, instead of driving
6. Eat less meat
7. Buy organic produce
8. Choose smaller homes that use less materials and take less energy to heat and cool
9. Take steps to reduce the energy used for heating your home and hot water
10. Install efficient lighting and appliances
11. Choose an electricity supplier offering renewable energy