Earthapalooza - April 22nd

From Mike Carberry from I-Renew
Iowa City’s Earth Day Extravaganza


The Iowa Global Warming Campaign, Sierra Club and I-Renew are hosting a special “Earth Day” event on Tuesday, April 22, which is open to members of the public. The event offers free admission and refreshments and will feature a film screening of “Global Warming: the Signs and the Science,” a film that uses expert dialogues on global warming to talk about how we can reverse its course. After the film, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in a discussion about the film and related issues. The event also includes a Sierra Club Cool Cities/Counties Press Conference & an Eco Fair with information tables from 12 local environmental groups.

WHAT: “Earthapalooza” event featuring ‘Global Warming: the Signs and the Science’ film screening and discussion. Eco Fair and Sierra Club Press Conference. Free and open to the public.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

WHERE: Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City Iowa

WHO: Iowa Global Warming Campaign, Sierra Club and I-Renew supporters and the public

SCHEDULE:

6:00 pm: Event starts with Mike Carberry (IGW) welcome speech about Earth Day and Global Warming Solutions.

6:15 pm: Presentation of Cool Cities/Counties Certificates to representatives of Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty and Johnson County. Photo opportunity and short thank you speeches by recipients.

6:45 pm: Introduction of documentary film “Global Warming: The Signs and The Science”

6:50 to 7:50 pm: Documentary film “Global Warming: The Signs and The Science”

7:50 to 8:45 pm: Discussion of film, global warming science and solutions and next steps with guests Sharon Benzoni (UI), Michelle Kenyon Brown (I-Renew) and other climate change and renewable energy experts.

The Iowa Global Warming Campaign seeks to have state and national leaders, both Democrats and Republicans, discuss publicly, frequently and specifically how they will address global warming, and pledge that they make that plan a top priority. Iowa Global Warming’s founding members are the Iowa Environmental Council, Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-Renew), Environmental Law & Policy Center, League of Conservation Voters, National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, and Union of Concerned Scientists.

The Sierra Club's members and supporters are more than 1.3 million of your friends and neighbors. Inspired by nature, we work together to protect our communities and the planet. The Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.

I-Renew (Iowa Renewable Energy Association) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1992. I-RENEW sponsors practical educational activities designed to reach individuals, farms, businesses, schools, and utilities, while also encouraging retail opportunities. The association is a vehicle for pooling and disseminating existing knowledge and experience in renewables and energy efficiency.

I Am Every Day (Earth Day) People

‘Everyday is Earth Day’
Film event brings together green activists, public

The Iowa Global Warming Campaign, the Cedar-Wapsie group of the Sierra Club and I-Renew are hosting a special “green” event on Monday, April 7, which is open to members of the public. The event offers free admission and refreshments and will feature a film screening of “Global Warming: the Signs and the Science,” a film that uses expert dialogues on global warming to talk about how we can reverse its course. After the film, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in a discussion about the film and related issues.

The Iowa Global Warming Campaign seeks to have state and national leaders, both Democrats and Republicans, discuss publicly, frequently and specifically how they will address global warming, and pledge that they make that plan a top priority. Iowa Global Warming’s founding members are the Iowa Environmental Council, Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-Renew), Environmental Law & Policy Center, League of Conservation Voters, National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, and Union of Concerned Scientists.

WHAT: “Everyday is Earth Day” event featuring ‘Global Warming: the Signs and the Science’ film screening and discussion. Free and open to the public.

WHEN: Monday, April 7, 2008 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Beems Auditorium, Cedar Rapids Public Library, 500 1st St. SE

WHO: Iowa Global Warming Campaign, Sierra Club and I-Renew supporters and the public

Carpooling?

State of the Earth: What Can We Learn From Bees

Building a sustainable society is the critical challenge of this century. Everything depends on it.

-- Sen. Gaylord Nelson, Founder, Earth Day

What if all government leaders were required to give a State of the Earth Address like Australia did in 2006?-- I wonder what they would say?

Living on a biosphere, we can not assume that our actions have no consequences and we must assume, often, there are unintended ones. A recent story about the disappearance of bees is a great example of how our actions may endanger our food supply.

According to the February 27, 2007 New York Times, "in 4 states throughout the country, US bees had been disappearing inexplicably at an alarming rate, threatening not only farmers' livelihoods but also the production of numerous crops, including California almonds, one of the nation's most profitable exports."... "Honeybees are flying off and disappearing in mystery that has flummoxed researchers and threatens production of numerous crops that rely on bee pollination; researchers call syndrome colony collapse disorder and say bees are presumably dying in fields from exhaustion or becoming disoriented and dying from cold; one study says that honeybees annually pollinate more than $14 billion worth of seeds and crops in US, mostly fruits, vegetables and nuts; investigators are exploring range of theories about disappearing bees, including viruses, fungus, poor bee nutrition, pesticides, bee stress; beekeepers earn much more renting their bees out to pollinate crops than in producing honey, and researchers are concerned that trucking colonies around country to pollinate crops could add to bees' stress and help spread viruses and mites of crops that rely on pollination." The article went on to mention a limited study which forwarded the idea that cellphones may be disorienting the bees.

4/27 Update: Another study suggests a "fungus killed bee colonies across Europe and Asia [and] may be to blame for the current collapse of bee colonies in the U.S. and Canada, researchers said. The sudden deaths of the buzzing insects, a condition called Colony Collapse Disorder, has disturbed beekeepers, scientists and farmers who depend on bees for pollination." The same report suggested that pesticides ans inadequate food resources may also contribute. More than a quarter of the country's 2.4 million bee colonies have been lost, according to an estimate from the Apiary Inspectors of America, a national group that tracks beekeeping.

The "highly preliminary" results announced Wednesday showed evidence of the single-celled parasite called Nosema ceranae on a few hives taken from Merced County for testing, said Joe DeRisi, a biochemist at the University of California, San Francisco, who found the SARS virus in 2003.
DeRisi used a technique known as "shotgun sequencing," that allows rapid reading of a genetic code and then matches it to computerized libraries of known genes from thousands of germs.phenomenon is occurring.

Fact Monster reports, Bees are of inestimable value as agents of cross-pollination (see pollination), and many plants are entirely dependent on particular kinds of bees for their reproduction (such as red clover, which is pollinated by the bumblebee, and many orchids). In many cases the use of insecticides for agricultural pest control has had the unwelcome side effect of killing the bees necessary for maintaining the crop. Such environmental stresses plus several species of parasitic mites devastated honeybee populations in the United States beginning in the 1980s, making it necessary for farmers to rent bees from keepers in order to get their crops pollinated and greatly affecting the pollination of plants in the wild. Bee venom has been found to have medicinal properties.

On this Earth Day weekend, it is important to remember the need to balance our economic needs with the needs of a delicate planet. As Gaylord Nelson and others proposed, we need to forge a "sustainable society". As Nelson said, "Understanding that sustainability is the ultimate issue will bring America face to face with the political challenge of forging a sustainable society during the next few decades. It is a challenge America can meet if we have the leadership and political will to do so." He proposed the following:

Forging a Sustainable Society
Forging a sustainable society is our first and most important order of business. We have not yet begun a national discussion on what sustainability means and why it is important. That is a failure of past congresses and presidents. Here's what must happen to set our country on the path of sustainability:

- The President must begin a national dialogue on the issue of sustainability by beginning a tradition of a biennial "State of the Environment" address. This biennial message would be in addition to the traditional State of the Union address.

- The Congress must undertake a comprehensive series of educational hearings on the concept and significance of sustainability.

- The public must encourage serious Presidential and congressional attention to the issue of sustainability.

- The youth of America are also involved, making it clear to the President and Congress that sustainability is essential to the security of our nation.

Earth Day Weekend Events in Iowa City

You say you want to do something about Global Climate Change and helping the environment? Start this weekend.

Saturday, April 21st

Creekside Neighborhood 4th annual Ralston Creek Clean-up

9:00 am to 12:00 pm - meet at Creekside Park - wear clothes and shoes you don't mind mucking about in. Contact Del Holland delholland@aol.com for more information.

Exciting Earth Day activities are scheduled to take place at the new East Side Recycling Center located at 2401 Scott Boulevard SE. The East Side Recycling Center is a new endeavor by the City to expand recycling opportunities and participation on the east side of town. Recycling drop-off bins are in place now, including cardboard, tin, newspaper/paper, plastics (#1-7), brown/green glass, and clear glass.

The Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore is also located in the existing building on the site. The ReStore is a reuse center for building supplies and materials; donations of used building materials are taken and then sold to citizens and contractors. For more information.

Scheduled Earth Day activities include:
9:00-12:00 Household Hazardous Waste collection:
Please note: HHW will be taken by appointment ONLY; call 319-887-6160 to make an appointment. The charge is $3 per household.

9:00-12:00 Electronic Waste collection:
Please note: regular landfill fees apply:

$5 for monitor less than 18
$10 for monitor or TV greater than 18
$2 for miscellaneous items

9:00-12:00 "Bring a Bucket" compost sample give-a-way (small quantities, please)

1:00 - 4:00 Snyder Creek Clean-up (please contact Carol Sweeting at 356-5164 for information)

9:00 - 3:00 ReStore hours, open for sales of reusable building materials

All day displays: invasive species education booth, a creative reuse display by ReStore and United Action for Youth, a Furniture Project display and more!!

Future plans for the East Side Recycling Center include the Salvage Barn, the Furniture Project, a "green" environmental education center, an oil recycling drop-off site, a compost and woodchip pick-up station, and an electronic waste drop-off site.

Please see www.icgov.org/landfill or call the recycling coordinator at 887-6160 with any questions.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

I-Renew Earth Day Clean Fuel Car Show and Benefit Concert, Englert Theatre, Iowa City

Iowa native and internationally renowned singer-songwriter Greg Brown will perform a benefit concert on Earth Day to support Iowa's efforts to create clean, renewable energy. Prior to the show people will be able to see the latest road-ready technology in clean fuel automobiles, including bio-fuel cars, E-85 ethanol, and electric hybrids. Iowa Renewable Energy Association's (I-Renew) Solar Traveler, a mobile 1000 watt solar generator, will provide power to light up the show. The amazing bluegrass due, Mike & Amy Finders will
play the opening act.

The event is a benefit for I-Renew, a non-profit member-based organization dedicated to the development of a diverse energy system and economy. I-Renew supports Iowa's homegrown renewable energy resources such as wind and biomass, the advancement of energy efficiency technologies, and community based energy development to lead the nation toward energy independence.

Schedule for Sunday, April 22, 2007
5:00 Clean Fuel Car Show outside the Englert
6:00 Doors open
7:00 Mike & Amy Finders perform
8:00 Greg Brown performs

Tickets can be purchased through the Englert Theatre. Cost is $26 per ticket or $50 for a ticket and membership to I-Renew (worth $76).