EVENTS

This 11th annual Earth Day Celebration is an environmentally-based event that celebrates the Earth and its resources. This year’s event theme is "Small Steps, Big Changes" and features educational activity booths, the John H. Baldwin Film & Lecture Series, a musical stage, a Procession of All Species, and much more! The event is produced by the volunteer efforts of the Earth Day Steering Committee.

There will be free LTD shuttles from the downtown station and Saturday Market to EWEB’s River Edge Plaza during event hours.

John Baldwin Film and Lecture Series

11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.  Sarah Mazze - Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Climate Masters Program - "Big Steps With a Small Footprint: Strategies for Curbing Your Climate Impact"
Industry, power generation and transportation contribute much of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. But we as individuals are driving industry with our consumption, creating demand for electricity to heat and light our homes, and burning fossil fuels to maintain our mobility. Community members, therefore, are ground zero for responding to climate change. Sarah will share simple and creative ways on how you can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions in your home, yard, food and transportation choices and strategies for motivating behavior change.

12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.  "Our Ocean Panel"- Susan Allen, Our Ocean
Our Ocean is a coalition of conservationists, scientists, ocean users, local leaders and business people from around the state working to preserve Oregon’s coastal legacy. This Panel will be discussing what is being done to establish marine reserves and protected areas along the Oregon coast.

1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.  Alder Fuller - Earth's Impending Climate: Hot, Extreme, Chaotic & Violent
Even in the face of overwhelming new evidence, mainstream organizations – including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – continue to assert that with relatively modest efforts (e.g., Kyoto-level), humans can stop global warming and climate change. Furthermore, they continue to predict what climatologists refer to as "type 1" climate change: gradual and smooth, and that humans can adjust Earth's thermostat to a setting of their choosing. Even though we should diligently try to slow it, the thesis of this presentation, based in published evidence and systems sciences, is that: 1) due to "lag times" and positive feedback loops in the climate system, modest efforts are insufficient to stop climate change; 2) humans do not have the ability to adjust Earth's "thermostat" as they choose; 3) Earth's climate changes are far more commonly "type 2": abrupt, rapid, chaotic and - at times - violent; 4) our climate is about to "lurch" to a new state that hasn't existed in over 50 million years that will make Earth feel like a different planet; and 5) in addition to more substantive mitigation efforts, our communities must begin immediate preparations for adaptation. There are many positive things that we can do to prepare with existing technology. But we must understand the problem clearly from a system sciences perspective before we can address effectively it. 

2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. John Edward Davidson, University of Oregon Department of Political Science -"The Stewardship Doctrine: Environmental Sovereignty and the Constitutional Duty of Preservation."
Although many of the environmental challenges confronting us are entirely modern (global warming, radioactive waste, etc.), some of the ethical and legal tools needed to effectively address these problems are quite old.  If we wish to survive, as a society and a species, one of the first steps we must take is to recall and restore the traditional principles of intergenerational stewardship.  The stewardship ethic was understood and embraced by this country's founders but has been largely forgotten during the last century.  By abandoning this core part of our shared philosophic, legal and political heritage, we made the loss of our environmental heritage possible — almost inevitable.  John will examine traditional political and environmental stewardship concepts, and discuss the ways in which the legal principles needed to address our current challenges can be found already embedded in our federal and state constitutions. 

3:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m.  Lorraine Kerwood- NextStep Recycling
NextStep is a thriving community service organization educating and empowering low-income and disadvantaged Oregonians with access to technology, refurbished electronics and skills training on electronic reuse and recycling.

Oregon E-Cycles, established by Oregon’s Electronics Recycling Law (ORS 459A.300-.365), is a new statewide program that requires electronics manufacturers to provide responsible recycling for computers, monitors and TVs. The program is an example of product stewardship. Product stewardship directs everyone involved in the life cycle of a product to take shared responsibility for the impacts to our health and environment that result from the production, use, and end-of-life management of the product.

Confused by the new electronics recycling law? Wondering if it applies to you and your business? Who is handling your material? Where does it go? Whose watching over this any way?  Lorraine Kerwood, Founder and Executive Director of NextStep Recycling, and member of the DEQ Advisory Workgroup for the law,  shares information and brings you the infomation on how the program works and how it is progressing in the first quarter of 2009.

4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.  Local Food Panel, to discuss ideas raised from "Good Food the Movie"
Come learn about the local food movement in the Willamette Valley. See through the eyes of Julie Tilt, a sustainable business leader in the region, Sarah Cantril from Huerto de la Familia, and Lynne Fessenden from Willamette Food and Farm, who both work to empower local community members by providing and creating access to local food, and David Desmond and Mari Taylor, two local farmers from Lost Creek Farm Organics. Learn about how their organizations are supporting local food, how they interact, and their ideas about the future of the movement. Feel free to bring your questions too!

Films:

11:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.  "Common Ground III: Oregon's Network of Marine Reserves and Marine Protected Areas" (28 min)
Common Ground III interviews leading Oregon scientists who describe the science behind marine protected areas and reserves and explain why Oregon needs them now. The video also includes comments from coastal leaders and business owners who were actively involved in developing marine reserve proposals last year. This Oregon-produced documentary reveals why a network of marine protected areas and reserves gives us the best chance to ensure we can continue to benefit from our ocean’s bounty, not just today but in the future. Immediately following the screening, a panel of coastal residents, scientists, fishermen and conservationists will be available to answer questions. Common Ground III was produced by Green Fire Productions in Eugene.

11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.  "King Corn" (90 min)
By growing an acre of corn in Iowa two friends uncover the devastating impact that corn is having on the environment, public health and family farms. Watch as these two friends try and follow their crop through the food cycle and learn some of the scary realities of the corn based food system.

1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. "Escape from Affluenza" (60 min)
This video shows audiences how to declare their independence from the epidemic of rampant consumerism and materialism ailing Americans and our environment by adopting the practices of simple living. With stories of real people from Seattle to the Netherlands who have altered their lifestyles and re-discovered the joy of living, ESCAPE FROM AFFLUENZA offers the antidote to debt, stress, time-pressure and possession-overload.

3:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.  "Good Food the Movie" (75 min)
Food, where it comes from, how it is grown and processed is becoming more important for everyone, and Good Food introduces us to farmers and ranchers, stores and restaurants that are building a more sustainable food system. For decades small family farmers have been disappearing, but there is new life in the fields, orchards and pastures of the Pacific Northwest, and in the business community to help sustain them. In Good Food we see the beautiful rural landscapes and meet some of the leaders in bringing good food to tables across the region.

The film premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival last year to enthusiastic audiences in sold out theaters and since then has screened in small theaters, in other film festivals, and many community settings. Filmmakers Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young will attend to introduce and discuss the film.

4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.  "Live Earth Films" (45min)
Live Earth commissioned award-winning filmmakers to create nearly 60 short films to engage the global Live Earth audience and demonstrate solutions to the climate crisis as part of the ongoing messaging campaign. The talent garnered includes renowned music artists, feature directors, animation directors, documentary filmmakers and music video directors

• Africa- Speaking with Earth and Sky - Africa is predicted to be the continent most severely affected by global warming and climate change. The indigenous people of the continent live in harmony with nature and thus feel the changes profoundly. They are intimately aware of the fragile balance that is life, yet their voices are seldom heard. This film will give them a voice.
• H2 Uh Oh - Follows one man's journey from a world that is flooded to a world that has no water.
• Dave - Documentary about bio fuel.
• The Village Green - A documentary about an English Village that has decided to become the first carbon neutral village.
• The Aral Sea - A moving piece on the dissipation of the Aral Sea and the local people's actions to try and repair the damage.
• Don’t Let It All Unravel - A simple and striking film depicting the world as knitting which slowly unravels over 90 seconds to nothing.
• Sad Fish - Using children as subjects for an investigation of contemporary environmental issues.
• The Wind - Montage of motion controlled time-lapse photography of the earth and weather.
• Switch On. Switch Off - A rhythmically graphic exploration of what switching off and on a simple everyday switch means in global terms.
• Mermaid - A visually arresting film about the effects of climate change on a coral reef in Australia.
• Rubbish- A British comedic short film on the tradeoffs and intricacies of recycling at apartment complex.
  

MECCA Recycled Art - (North Bldg., EWEB Community Room)
Craft activities for children and adults, including musical instruments, costume-making, junk jewelry & collage, make your own posters, bumper stickers & pins and other fun crafts using reclaimed materials.

Earth Day Book Swap
Reduce, reuse, reread! Join us in EWEB’s cafeteria to swap or purchase your favorite earth-friendly books, suggest publications for others to read or just kickback with a cuppa joe and a book.

Earth Day 2009: Small steps, big change book list
Ten don’t miss titles sure to help you discover the small steps in your life that will help us all make a big change.

1. Slug Bread & Beheaded Thistles by Ellen Sandbeck Amusing and Useful Techniques for Nontoxic Housekeeping and Gardening
   
   
2. Low Carbon Diet: A 30-day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds by David Gershon Winner of the 2007 Independent Publisher "Most Likely to Save the Planet" Book Award; Recommended in this month’s National Geographic Magazine.
   
   
3. Choose to REUSE by Nikki & David Goldbeck An Encyclopedia of Services, Businesses, Tools, & Charitable Programs That Facilitates Reuse
   
   
4. Found Object Art by Dorothy Spencer  Mindblowing art from reused materials!
   
   
5. Hot, Flat & Crowded: Why we need a green revolution and how it can renew America by Thomas Friedman As the green revolution goes mainstream, Friedman offers his no nonsense view on key differences between green washing and the real revolution that can make the world a better place for all.
   
   
6. The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming by Laurie David and Cambria Gordon Quite simply it is an AMAZING book that really captures the interest of older children and teens, makes them laugh with clever wording and great pictures, and educates about an important environmental issue. It was also a blast for adults to read as well.

Small steps, big changes for children:

1. 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth by The Earth Works Group This valuable and entertaining book shows children how specific elements of their environment--like a light switch or a toilet--are connected to the rest of the world.
   
   
2. Ecology Crafts for Kids 50 Great Ways to Make Friends with Planet Earth by Bobbe Needham Old news is good news when newspapers are transformed into papier-mache projects. With this collection of "recycling" ideas, the whole family will have a ball making sure that nothing goes to waste. Saving the earth has never been so much fun!
   
   
3. The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry The many different animals that live in a great kapok tree in the Brazilian rainforest try to convince a man with an ax of the importance of not cutting down their home
   
   
4. Brother Eagle, Sister Sky by Seattle Chief Seattle's words have been transformed into an experience children of all ages and localities can use to stimulate an awareness of a natural world that is rapidly losing its beauty

Free Bike Tune-ups
Bicycle mechanics from Paul’s Bicycle Way of Life will be on hand to provide free, minor tune-ups on site. Grab your bike and pedal over to take advantage of this great offer. One bike per person, please!

Procession Of All Species
A Celebration of all creatures great and small! The Procession of All Species is an artistic celebration in which participants honor all species of life on our home planet. Anyone can join the Procession by donning a costume, mask, or other representation of their favorite plant, animal, mineral, ecosystem or natural wonder (but NO live animals, motorized vehicles or written signs/messages).

Costumes and masks can be made onsite, beginning at 11 AM. The Procession of All Species will assemble at 2:00 PM behind the Main Stage at EWEB’s River Edge Plaza Fountain, on the riverside proscenium. The route will meander through the Plaza and proceed across the Peter DeFazio Footbridge, over the Willamette River, and ending in Alton Baker Park. This year’s procession will again be lead by Rich Glauber and Eugene’s favorite Brazilian Troupe, Samba Ja!

Pacific Tree Climbing Institute
A free, introductory tree climbing experience open to all ages! PTCI is an Oregon outfitter/guide service that offers recreational, guided canopy tours. If you’re under 18 years of age, remember to bring a parent or legal guardian to sign the mandatory liability release! Located by the EWEB Credit Union Building on 4th Avenue & Mill Street.

The SunRover
Constructed as a demonstration of solar electric technology, the SunRover generates power from the sun. The blue photovoltaic (PV) panels mounted on top of the SunRover harness the sunlight to produce clean electricity. The SunRover can operate as a portable generator, delivering power to community events and educational demonstrations. Producing electricity with zero emissions and very little environmental impact, the SunRover has no moving parts and little maintenance is required. When parked at EWEB’s facilities, the SunRover recharges onboard batteries and feeds excess power into EWEB’s electric lines. The PV panels can produce up to 1080 watts of power in ideal conditions. In an average year in the Willamette Valley, the panels should produce about 1400 kilowatt hours. Using energy efficient (Energy Star®) appliances, this would be enough energy to power your refrigerator, clothes washer, dishwasher, television and microwave for an entire year.