With the help of UrbanVelo I was introduced to the Streetsblog Network. The network is a gathering place for web surfers from around the country to discuss and share information about sustainable transportation, smart growth and livable streets. Think of it as one-stop shopping for transportation policy goodness.

The network is a daily news source, online community and political mobilizer for the Livable Streets movement. We are part of a growing coalition of individuals and organizations in cities around the world working to transform our cities by reducing dependence on private automobiles and improving conditions for cyclists, pedestrians and transit riders.

Streetsblog’s purpose is twofold: to create a place where people who blog on smart growth, livable streets and sustainable transportation issues can come together and learn from each other. And to provide a clearinghouse for information related to the transportation bill, or “TEA,” that directs the spending of hundreds of billions of federal dollars. The next such bill is set to come up for reauthorization in 2009.

According the the blog’s editor, “If there is going to be a grassroots movement for change in local and federal transportation policy, then our readers will be among the most active and knowledgeable participants in that movement.”

You’ve got to check it out. I’m amazed at the depth of information to be found. There are crazy links to every imaginable piece of relevant information. And there is a glossary of teams with comprehensive explanation and links to more.

Marriott hotel has just introduced a series of eco-friendly meeting products to help reduce environmental impact of the company and its guests.

According to a company press release, the average three-day meeting at a Marriott hotel attended by 1,000 people produces more than 12 tons of trash, uses 200,000 kilowatts of power and consumes 100,000 gallons of water.

Beginning this summer, Marriott will introduce a series of meeting products that are eco-friendly and will help guests and meeting planners reduce their environmental impact.  Marriott is building on an aggressive environmental strategy by adding new elements to green its meetings.

Products and Services include:

• 100% post-consumer fiber writing pads
• Bic Ecolutions pens made from recycled content and biodegradable (Marriott purchases 47 million pens per year)
• Access to recycling containers in or near meeting rooms in many of the hotels
• Meeting rooms set with water service in pitchers or coolers rather than plastic bottles
• Boxed lunch containers made of recycled content, including biodegradable cutlery kits and napkins
• Organic, sustainable and natural food and beverage options in many hotels to include Fair-Trade teas and meeting room chocolate options
• Organic flower options
• Linen-less banquet buffet tables made of 49%-recycled aluminum and are 99% recyclable at many hotels
• Safe-to-donate food given to America’s Second Harvest’s network of food banks

According to Bruno Lunghi, CMP, Marriott’s vice president for event management, “Our customers have been demanding greener meetings and we feel we can make a difference in the world by taking steps to reduce our footprint on the environment.  This is just the beginning of an evolving program that continue to add ‘green’ products and services as they become available.”

Marriott has a comprehensive environmental preservation program, which you can learn more about at the company website. If you are using a hotel convention space in the Marriott family, make sure you ask about these options. And be sure to save this page, because several of these ideas you can implement in your own meetings.