Know + reduce your carbon footprint! Earth Month 2015 Actions: It’s Our Turn To Lead
Today being TAX DAY in the US, perhaps it’s time to pay a tax to the environment? It doesn’t have to be cash: it can be an action as simple as picking up someone else’s litter or making a change in your lifestyle. Can you bring your own cup next time you buy coffee? Can you use a glass or stainless steel bottle for your water or other beverage? Can you bring your own bags to the store? Can you cut back on how much meat or processed foods you eat?
One focus of Earth Month this year is ACTION and CLIMATE; the tagline is “it’s our turn to lead.” In California, many of us are calling attention to our drought and water conservation and protection including paying attention to how fracking and pesticides impact our drinking water through by-product pollution. While it is important to conserve water, the big users in California are industrial–agriculture and oil. Calculate YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT here –and then take steps to lower it and thereby reduce not only your carbon footprint but conserve water.
You can also sign this climate petition to help save the planet by telling global and local leaders that: “Scientists warn us that climate change could accelerate beyond our control, threatening our survival and everything we love. We call on you to keep global temperature rise under the unacceptably dangerous level of 2 degrees C, by phasing out carbon pollution to zero. To achieve this, you must urgently forge realistic global, national and local agreements, to rapidly shift our societies and economies to 100% clean energy by 2050. Do this fairly, with support to the most vulnerable among us. Our world is worth saving and now is our moment to act. But to change everything, we need everyone. Join us.”
But the most important thing you can do is take direct action. Not sure where to start? Attend an Earth Day event and become informed; you’ll also meet like-minded people and learn what YOU CAN DO locally that will have a global impact.
Special Earth Month events in the Ventura and Santa Barbara areas include Santa Barbara’s Earth Day fundraising kick off tonight, Weds. April 15 and a “Eat Local Dinner” on Saturday, April 18 ($100). “From Sea and Field to Plate” features the artistry of Jeff Olsson, Executive Chef and owner of New West Catering and Industrial Eats, in a menu centered around local, seasonal ingredients from Fairview Gardens and complemented by local seafood from The Cultured Abalone Farm and other sustainable sources. The 4-course, family-style meal includes wine pairings from Buttonwood Farm Winery. A pre-meal reception includes Jun Brewery, Mattole Valley Naturals, beer from Firestone Walker Brewing Co., and local artisan treats. I heard Jeff Ollson speak at the 2014 Wine Blogger’s Conference, and I’ve enjoyed his food there and at Industrial Eats in Buelton. As April 18 is our 12 wedding anniversary, I think this is where we should be celebrating! Purchase tickets by emailing Kathi King at kking@cecmail.org or call 963-0583 x108.
Santa Barbara’s free two day Earth Day Festival is Saturday, April 18, 2015 (11am-7pm) and Sunday, April 19, 2015 (11am-6pm) in Alameda Park, Santa Barbara (map it). A full range of activities (schedule here) include workshops, booths with information, a march for climate, kids activities, yoga classes, and music by Spencer the Gardener and Upbeat, and more. Volunteer for SB’s Earth Day here.
While Ventura College will not be having an Earth Day this year (because I wasn’t up for organizing it and my students didn’t seem too interested), Pattie Ridenour is hosting a film festival each day next week, I will be showing Wild and talking about my experiences hiking the PCT on Earth Day Weds April 22 at 330, and there will be a campus cleanup the morning of Thurs. April 23.
VC Geosciences 6th Annual Film Festival Schedule:
Monday, April 20, 3:30pm, SCI-313 someplace with a mountain
DISRUPTION Tuesday, April 21, 12:30pm, SCI-313
Wednesday, April 22, 3:30pm, SCI-313 Damocracy
GREEN GOLD Thursday, April 23, 12:30pm, SCI-313
Ventura’s free Earth Day on Saturday April 25 is organized by and raises funds for The Ventura Charter School which makes it particularly child-centered with fun eco-arts and craft activities for kids and kid-oriented and created acts. Located on the Beachfront Promenade by the County Fairgrounds, the event offers a stage with entertainment and:
art predator 
Reblogged this on whisper down the write alley and commented:
extra credit activities? make-up absences? research materials for papers?