Ecominds-a Mailing List: Two climate events on May 20 - take your pick

[Ralph Wyman (rwmuusja]

1. THIRD THURSDAY GLOBAL ISSUES FORUM

Free and open to the public.

Where? Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church,
511 Groveland Avenue, Minneapolis (a few blocks south of Loring Park).
Park in church lot east of church on Groveland.

     Thursday, May 20, 7:00 - 9:00 pm.

CONFRONTING CLIMATE CHANGE: REPORTS FROM COPENHAGEN
Neither the limited success of the Copenhagen Climate Conference nor the
comfortable cynicism of the "climate deniers" can change the fact that
climate change is a very significant challenge. Join two local "climate
champions" to dialogue about this issue. They will share their experiences
at the Copenhagen conference and discuss what local residents can do in the
coming months to support climate legislation, energy efficiency and healthy
life styles in our communities. Presenters: Paul Thompson and Jim Nelson 

Paul is a member of the Edina Energy and Environment Commission, a retired
teacher, former Peace Corps volunteer and founder of the blog Cool Planet.
In 1989 he won the Sargent Shriver Award for  distinguished Humanitarian
Service, given to a retired Peace Corps volunteer whose activities carry on
the spirit of the Peace Corps. Paul was very engaged throughout the
Copenhagen summit rallying activists. He continues climate work and
promoting healthy life styles in his own community and consults with other
communities. He is an avid volunteer for many groups including the Will
Steger Foundation and <http://350.org/>350.org.

Jim is a long-time active member of Citizens for Global Solutions. He spent
a 42-year career as a finance manager in a number of regional aerospace
companies. Currently, he performs market research for Compass Consulting
Group helping international companies that produce environmental
technologies. He is also Managing Director for a small wholesale plant
nursery business. At Copenhagen he spent time with members of several UN
Association groups from around the world promoting re-vegetation to help
restore climate balance. Jim is especially concerned about the poor and
marginalized who are most often negatively impacted by climate change.


>>>


2. SAVE MOTHER EARTH! PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY.  THANKS SO VERY MUCH. 

Vigil for the Gulf oil disaster

                Thursday, May 20 at 8:00 pm, Stone Arch Bridge, Minneapolis.

Thursday, May 20 marks one month since the tragic Deepwater Horizon oil rig
explosion ignited one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history.
Local citizens will mark the date with a Candlelight Vigil to honor the lost
lives and livelihoods of the Gulf coast and to demonstrate opposition to
another environmental disaster in the making in America's Arctic Ocean,
where risky exploratory drilling is set to begin amid swells and sea-ice on
July 1.


We support the people who are working tirelessly to stop the flow of oil
into the Gulf. The disaster response crews are in our thoughts and prayers.
The faster we can stop the flow of oil, the less damage our wildlife and
coastal communities will face.

Like the Gulf Coast, America's Arctic Ocean is a fragile ecosystem that
supports abundant, unique wildlife like the beloved polar bear.  The Inupiat
people have lived off the bounty of this place for thousands of years.
Neither the existing technology nor capacity is sufficient to clean up a
spill in the Arctic's harsh environment.

As the disaster in the Gulf has shown us, drilling is a dirty and dangerous
business. President Obama must call for a timeout on new offshore drilling
in the Arctic Ocean and around the nation until we can prevent a drilling
disaster from happening in America's extremely sensitive ecosystems.

WHEN:          Thursday, May 20, 8 p.m.
WHO:           Alaska Wilderness League & Everyone who wants to join us!

WHERE:        Stone Arch Bridge over the Mississippi River - our direct
waterway connection to the Gulf of Mexico
                125 Main St SE 
                Mpls MN 55414.

Please consider using alternative transportation to join us. The closest
Hiawatha Light Rail stop is Government Plaza Station, 352 S. 5th St.

Bring candles and message signs if you have them!

CONTACT:   Lois Norrgard, Alaska Wilderness 
League, 952-881-7282, <mailto:lois [at] alaskawild.org>lois [at] alaskawild.org




"If we do not do the impossible, we shall be faced with the unthinkable."
social philosopher Murray Bookchin