Subject: 25 Ideas for What You Can Do for Earth Day 25
Date: 95-03-28 00:45:55 EST
From: CDChase@QUALCOMM.Com (Carolyn Chase)
To: DiscCenter@aol.com, LadyDM@aol.com


Greetings! Thank you for requesting Earth Day organizing information. This
list of 25 Ideas is oriented toward individuals. If you have suggestions
for this list, or for the creation of others please email to
earthday@qualcomm.com. Also let me know if this is of use to you.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE from the Earth Day Network CONTACT: Carolyn Chase
(619)272-7370

"Your Choices Matter"
25 Ideas for What You Can Do for Earth Day 25

Each year for Earth Day, there is a visible opportunity to assess how we
are doing with respect to the environment upon which we all ultimately
depend. Twenty-five years after the first Earth Day, the environment
continues to show the stresses of increasing human impacts.

The 25th Anniversary of Earth Day will be observed by millions of people in
every state in this nation. Earth Day is a gentle reminder that if there's
one issue, that's everyone's issue - it's the environment.

As individuals and in our institutions - whether it be our office or our
government - the choices we make add up. Each and every one of us can make
choices that help improve and protect our environment and convince others
to do so as well.

There are literally thousands of things that can be done, from easy to
hard. From the basic to the exotic. This choices list, compiled for the
25th Anniversary of Earth Day this April, is meant to get you started:
thinking and acting. Some of the items on this list are difficult to do ,
some are easy, but they all have an impact, and those impacts add up. Your
choices matter.

For more information on how to contact specific groups offering
environmental products or education concerning your individual
environmental choices, contact the Earth Day Network at (619)272-7370;
Write to P.O. Box 9827, San Diego CA 92169 or email to
earthday@qualcomm.com.

MORE MORE MORE

25 Ideas for What You Can Do for the 25th Anniversary of Earth Day

1. Attend or help organize Earth Day Events.
By supporting environmental events you'll make the contacts to do
everything else on this list and meet people who care about making a
difference. If you are interested in ideas for organizing events, sample
volunteer forms and proclamations, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope
with $2.00 postage to: Earth Day Organizer's Guide, P.O. Box 9827, San
Diego CA 92169.

2. Support environmentally conscious businesses in your purchasing and
investment decisions.

3. "Adopt" a beach or park or community area. Restore or improve it for
Earth Day.

4. Be a friend to wildlife. Support preservation efforts for endangered
species and habitats.

5. Communicate regularly to your elected officials about the importance of
maintaining a clean, healthy environment. Respond to environmental issues
with your support.

6. Use natural pest control methods in your garden.

7. Join, contribute, or volunteer with an environmental group.

8. Reduce your energy consumption/Increase your energy efficiency.

9. Fast for a day.
This personal act will raise your awareness of your relationship with food.
Donate the money you would have spent on food to a local non-profit group.

10. Dispose of hazardous materials properly and minimize your use of such
products, and support the development of alternatives.

11. Conserve Water

12. Buy Organic foods, eat vegetarian and reduce your overall meat
consumption.

13. Wear Earth-friendlier fashion: clothes are now available made with
organic cotton, hemp, recycled PET plastic, and unbleached and non-toxic
dyes.

14. Keep your engine well-tuned, emissions systems checked, buy radial
tires & check tire pressure regularly.

15. Don't buy products made from tropical hardwoods or old-growth trees.

16. Read an environmental book.

17. Support recycling at home and in your workplace. Recycle everything you
can including: paper (especially newspapers, cardboard), glass, metals
(especially aluminum), plastics (1 & 2), and motor oil. It is practical and
economic to recycle many items in any business.

18. Compost food and yard debris.

19. Use only biodegradable soaps and detergents.

20. Plant native, naturally drought-resistant trees and plants;

21. Buy products made with recycled materials especially paper and paper
products with "post-consumer" content.

22. Reduce your use of disposable items such as cups, grocery bags,
napkins, batteries, etc.

23. Reuse: Buy used or antique items and goods.

24. Bicycle, Carpool or use Public Transportation.

25. Make an Earth Day promise or pledge and keep it.

Sample Earth Day Pledge:
I pledge to do my share by letting my concern for the future shape how i: O
EDUCATE:    I pledge to educate myself and others on environmental issues.
O JOIN: I pledge to join or volunteer with an environmental group.
O PURCHASE:     I pledge to buy and use products that are least harmful to
the environment.
O WORK: I pledge to bring environmental values into my workplace.
O VOTE: I pledge to support and vote for candidates who support the passage
of local, state     and federal laws and international treaties that
protect the environment.
O ACT:  I pledge to do my utmost to recycle, conserve energy, save water,
use efficient transportation, and try to adopt a lifestyle as if every day
were Earth Day.
Signed:__________________________________________________
Date:________________

Thank you for yourinterest. Please mail comments, complaints and
suggestions to earthday@qualcomm.com and let us know if this was of use to
you and how.

Carolyn Chase, Earth Day Network,San Diego
"Say it, mean it, do it"
(619)272-7370 voice
(619)272-2933 FAX

Subject: Summary of themes for Earth Day 25
Date: 95-03-28 00:49:04 EST
From: CDChase@QUALCOMM.Com (Carolyn Chase)
To: LadyDM@aol.com

Summary  of themes for Earth Day 25

compiled by the Earth Day Network

The Earth Day Network  approach is:
        1. for local groups to choose their own theme that is relevant to
their community, bioregion and issues and
        2. to promote overall participation and action
        3. to focus on the fact that the number and diversity of themes is
a sign of the healthy ecosystem of the Earth Day movement.


Here are some of the themes being used around the U.S.:

The National Wildlife Federation is using the "Home is where the Habitat is.
"

Campus Green Vote and the "PIRG"s (Public Interest Research Groups) will be
promoting the theme "Free the Planet" targeted to campus activists.

Many congregations are rallying around "God's Earth, Our Home."

Zero Population Growth is using "It's in Our Hands"

Earth Day Arizona presents "REACHING TOWARD 2000, "EARTH DAY '95

Champaign/Urbana IL: Earth Day: Together We Will Make a Difference

Contra Costa, Concord, CA
The 6th annual Earth Day Festival expresses the theme: One People, One Planet

California State University at San Bernardino : "Healthy Habitat."

Palo Alto, CA Bay Area Action is focusing on Habitat Restoration projects
for Earth Day 1995 with the theme: Restoring Nature, Restoring Hope.

The Santa Barbara Earth Day Coalition: "Earth Day: The Next 25 Years"

Denver CO: "Earth Day is for All of Us"

Omaha NE: "The Challenge of an Environmental Future"

"Delaware's good nature depends on you!" is the slogan of the Delaware
Department of Natural Resources.

Earth Day Tampa Bay: It's not just a day, It's a life style."

Conservation Council for Hawaii. Their local theme is "Ola Ka'aina i ke
kaiaulu - The Land Thrives through Community."

Littleton, NH: A Year of Conservation

Chicago: Earth Day 25 - A Celebration of Community

Crawfordsville, Indiana, Earth Day Montgomery County Their local theme is
Earth Day - Every Day.

Earth Day Indiana: the local theme is "Walk the Balance: Steps to a Healthy
Environment."

Maine Earth Day Celebration and Fair  with the theme of "Education and
Community Activism."

Springfield MO Conservation Nature Center: Their theme is: "Don't just
stand there - do something!"

The theme of the 1995 St. Louis Earth Day Community Festival  is "Creating
a Sustainable St. Louis"

NEVADA, Reno, Earth Day Fair : Earth Day 25: Continuing the Vision.

Apalachin, NY: The Waterman Conservation Education Center  Western New York
state along with the theme: "Backyard Wildlife"

NORTH CAROLINA, Charlotte Their theme is: "A New Beginning."

Raleigh NC, South Bend IN and Erie PA: "The Time Has Come"

Tulsa, OKLAHOMA: Their theme is: "Good Planets are Hard to Find."

"Acting Together for a Better Community" is the theme for Earth Day '95 in
the Portland  Oregon metro area.

Earth Day Rhode Island  local theme of "At 25 - Let's Keep it Alive,"

San Diego Earth Day All Species parade entries will reflect the theme:
"Each One, Reach One, Teach One."

The Austin TX Earth Day Festival will take place with the theme: "Past,
Present, Future."

Dallas Texas: Their local theme is "Celebrating our Environment Through
Community Service."

South Carolina Wildlife Federation: "Home is where the Habitat is"

The Alexandria Earth Day Festival  theme "Air+".

GREAT, the Greater Richmond VA Environmental Action Trust: "25 years, Green
and Growing"

Earth Day Northwest, Seattle, Washington: theme "It's Up To Us."

"If the environment is a fad, then it's going to be our last fad. . .We are
building a movement, a movement with a broad base, a movement which
transcends political boundaries. It is a movement that values people more
than technology, people more than political boundaries, people more than
profit." April 22, 1970, Denis Hayes, organizer of the first Earth Day and
Chair of Earth Day Northwest.


Finally, reported from Dhaka, Bangladesh: "The main slogan of the Earth Day
of this year is "Help us to Survive." The children will march in a
procession in the City carrying posters and highlighting the main slogan of
the day-"SAVE US FROM HAZARD."


This file and the information contained in it, was produced by the
volunteers and affiliates of the Earth Day Network, Inc. The Earth Day
Network is a volunteer-based non-profit group empowering individuals using
Earth Day as a vehicle for increasing environmental education,
responsiblity and action. If you find the content of value to you, please
send contributions to: Earth Day Network, P.O. Box 9827, San Diego, CA
92169-9827; email to earthday@qualcomm.com; 24-hour voicemail information:
(619)496-3361.

This file may be copied and distributed, in whole or in part, free of
charge and only with the above notice acknowledging the Earth Day Network
included.




Carolyn Chase, Earth Day Network,San Diego
"Say it, mean it, do it"
(619)272-7370 voice
(619)272-2933 FAX




----------------------- Headers --------------------------------
Subject: Earth Day Classroom Ideas
Date: 95-03-28 00:49:38 EST
From: CDChase@QUALCOMM.Com (Carolyn Chase)
To: LadyDM@aol.com


Earth Day Classroom Ideas

Lesson Ideas
* Use the Earth Day Lesson Plans in your classroom. Contact: Earth Day
Resources (see below). * Integrate environmental issues into all lessons *
Organize an essay contest with an environmental theme such as: what the
environment could be like on Earth Day 2000. * Show videos about nature
such as National Geographic specials or NATURE program. * Read stories with
environmental themes such as The Lorax by Dr. Seuss.

Working with Others
* Organize a "pledge drive" encouraging people to make an Earth Day
promise. People can write their own promises to improve the environment on
paper "leaves" which can then be placed on a "tree" either painted onto a
poster or you can build your own "tree." Challenge other classes or schools
to see who can sign up the most people. * Hold an environmental fair. If
you can charge for table space, the proceeds can go to an environmental
organization or for books for the library or to set up a recycling program.
* Invite speakers to talk about environmental issues. Invite elected
officials to speak. * Have students write letters to officials asking them
to support a specific local project. * Do an environmental survey of your
school. Look to see have much waste is generated and what types, how much
water is used, how much and what types of paper, what kinds of cleaners,
how much food, how much energy.

Schoolyard Activities
* Plant trees where appropriate around school grounds. * Grow trees from
seed.
* Set up an organic garden at your school complete with a compost pile. *
Survey how many different kinds of plants, animals, and insects live in/
around your schoolyard and draw pictures of them. * Organize a cleanup of
the schoolyard or a local park.

Recycling
* Organize a school recycling program with collection bins in the cafeteria
and other areas where waste is generated. * Set up paper reuse box in your
classroom. Paper with one good side can go into a box to be reused.

Energy & Water
Conserve and Renew Curriculum designed for grades 4-6 and readily adaptable
to other grades. An activity guide focusing on conservation and renewable
energy sources. Twenty-three field-tested hands on activities, teacher
background information, student handouts, annotated guide to energy
education resources. $12 made payable to SSU Academic Foundations to
"Conserve and Renew, Energy Center, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park,
CA 94928 (707) 664-2577. Also, Eco Clip Art for Educators, and Energy
Education Hypercard Stack for Apple Macintosh users. $12 each.

Arts & Crafts
* Organize an Earth Day poster contest dramatizing the best (beauty) and
worst (pollution) of nature. * Make a paper tree on the classroom wall with
each leaf containing the individual promises of students to improve the
environment. * Have students perform a play or puppet show with an
environmental theme. * Make reusable canvas bags as a sewing project * Make
nature cards to wish parents and friends a happy Earth Day! * Sing songs
about nature.
* Organize an All-Species parade with students dressed as their favorite
animal or plant, form and entry and enter a local Parade with a "Take Care
of the Earth" theme or create your own theme.* Create Earth Day Grocery
bags - request summary of this simple and meaningful project

Field Trips
* Visit a landfill and a recycling center to learn about different ways to
deal with waste. * Arrange a tour of a local energy facilities. * Survey
what kinds of garbage washes up on an ocean beach or lakeshore. "Adopt" a
site and organize a clean-up. * Visit a nature center, natural history or
science museum, or a wilderness area. * Take a trip to a local organic
farm.


Youth Resources for Earth Day

Organizations

TREE Musketeers, 136 Main Street, Suite A, El Segundo CA 90245
(310)322-0263 (800)473-0263
To bring about environmental improvement through their own actions and by
their examples to challenge other young people and businesses to join the
youth environmental movement.

The Natural Guard 142 Howard Ave., New Haven CT 06519 (203)787-0229 A free
program offering children grades K-12 the information, tools, and
mentorship needed to asses their local community's environmental needs and
assist in creating service projects that address those needs.Information in
both English and Spanish.

Earth Force, project of the Pew Charitable Trust, 1501 Wilson Blvd. 12th
floor, Arlington VA 22209 (703)243-7400 "Pennies for the Planet" Campaign.

Kids for a Clean Environment
Grass roots youth organization started by a child for children. PO Box
158254, Nashville, TN 37215 (615)-331-7381 Kids Town Hall Meetings, Kids
Earth Flag

Contact your local chapter of the American Lung Association for a variety
of free stuff about clean air and air pollution. Check your local phone
book.

The National Wildlife Federation has special youth publications and Earth
Day Wildlife curricula. 1400 Sixteenth St., NW Washington DC 20036-2266
(202)797-6800

The Cousteau Society has a Dolphin Club with special comics and games
related to oceans. 870 Greenbriar Circle Suite 402 Chesapeake VA
(804)523-9335.

Books . . . just a few special ones . . .

Good Planets are Hard to Find
An environmental information guide, dictionary and action book for kids
(and adults) 44 pages. $7 Ecology Action Workbook for Junior and Senior
High School Students, Elementary and Secondary Teachers, Community Groups,
Ecology Groups. 24 pages, 150 word ecology dictionary. $3. Kids Ecology
Book Written for grades 3, 4, and 5, this beautiful book is in dictionary
format but can also be read as text. Kids who read this book will know what
they can do to save the planet. 52 pages. Ages 8-11. $8. Ecology Books from
AMC Media Corporation. Bulk rates available on request. (800) 667-6119 250
H St., Suite 729, Blaine WA 98230

Think for the Earth, Act on Home Turf: The Environmental Action Journal for
Concerned Kids Ages 6-60. This coloring book depicts environmental themes.
Each topic has the address of a decision maker on the reverse to whom the
colored-in messages can be sent. $4.95 + $1 postage. Discounts to educators
for class sets.  Contact Crayon Power, PO Box1006 Bloomfield, NJ 07003 and
ask for "Think for the Earth, Act on Home Turf" or call 201-338-9575.


Other Educator Resources for Earth Day


Earth Day in Your School and Community: Working with the Earth, the Economy
and the Environment. A guide for Study and Celebration Creation. 120 page
workbook for teachers includes How to Make Masks for All Species Parades,
etc. $10.

Rot and Roll, Cassette tape of 12 songs about composting and recycling with
songbook and activities. $10

Tune in with All Species, cassette tape, song book, music notation,
illustrations and activities for each song. $10

Take me to the Zoo by Dave Lizor, cassette tape, song book, music notation,
illustrations and activities for each song. $10

from Heartland All Species Project, 5644 Charlotte, Kansas City, MO 64110
(816)333-5663. Add $2.00 for postage and handling.

Earth Day Lesson Plans for grades K-6 or 7-12 including lesson outlines,
discussion questions and home exercises. $10 each Fact Sheets:
Set #1: global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain, tropical rainforest,
pesticide, water conservation, tree planting, recycling Set #2:
agriculture, food choices, American forests, the automobile, energy,
household hazards, composting and population growth 8 sheets each set $4
per set non-members Planning & organizing your Environmental event: $12
non-members
originally prepared by Stanford Haas Center for Public Service Projects for
the Planet: to help organize long-term projects: Project #1 Organizing
Recycling in the Workplace: $10 non-members Project #2: Organizing
Ridesharing in the Workplace: $10 non-members Campus Environmental Audit
"thorough guide": $12 Workplace Environmental Audit "brief guide" $5 Earth
Day Resources, 116 Montgomery St. Suite 530, San Francisco CA 94105 (415)
495-5987 / (800) 727-8619

Dedicated to improving the environmental quality of life through education.
Published Literature and Curricula topics include: An Environmental
Education Guide for Teachers, Tuning the Green Machine, An integrated View
of Environmental Systems, Water Pollution and Environmental Studies,
Activities Guide to Populations and Environmental Studies, Activities Guide
to Watershed Investigations, Waste Minimization & Education, Pollution
Prevention, Practical Guide to Protecting Rural and Urban Land, The Nature
Conservancy Student Stewardship Program Manuals among others. Prices range
from $14-$32 + $3 postage per book Chadbourne & Chadbourne, Inc., 18554
Haskins Road, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023-1823 (216) 543-7303 / for book
orders call(800) 484-7949 and enter code 1993. Bulk rates available upon
request.

Outdoor Biology Instructional Strategies (OBIS) OBIS is an outdoor program
offering young people fun and educational opportunities to investigate
ecological relationships in their local environment. Easy-to-follow and
challenging activities may be done in independent modules or in a sequence.
For children ages ten to fifteen. Delta Education also has a complete
catalog of "Hands-On Science" kits, tools and supplies for K-8. Everything
from games and books to bug-collectors. Neat! Delta Education, Inc. PO Box
915, Hudson NH 03051-0915 (800) 258-1302

Education Resource Catalog
This catalog includes information about: memberships, consulting services,
public relations, fundraising, media, databases, on-line services,
catalogs, books, periodicals, newsletters, teaching kits, software,
curricula, equipment, test kits, clothing, videos, movers, and other
products, services or tools. Alliance for Environmental Education, PO Box
369, The Plains, VA 22171 (703) 330-5667

"The Time Has Come" inspirational children's song and performance package.
Includes cassette and instructions on how to produce for your local events.
$25 from Earth Emerge and See 277 Hudson St., Cornwall on Hudson, NY 12520.
(914)534-3769.

This information compiled as a service to the Earth Day Movement by Carolyn
Chase, San Diego Earth Day, P.O. Box 9827, San Diego CA 92169
(619)272-7370. ###

Carolyn Chase, Earth Day Network,San Diego
"Say it, mean it, do it"
(619)272-7370 voice
(619)272-2933 FAX




----------------------- Headers --------------------------------
Subject: Grocery Bags on Earth Day!
Date: 95-03-28 00:50:08 EST
From: CDChase@QUALCOMM.Com (Carolyn Chase)
To: LadyDM@aol.com

Grocery Bags on Earth Day!

Here's a wonderful activity to involve students and their communities in
Earth Day

Each student in the school decorates a large paper grocery bag from a local
store with a picture of the earth, the words "Earth Day, 1994" (or
similar), the name of their school, and possibly some catchy Earth Day
slogan (i.e., Re-duce, Re-use, Re-cycle; Treat the Earth Well; Earth Day,
Every Day) or your promise this year for Earth Day.

When the bags are decorated, they are returned to the store to be
distributed to shoppers on Earth Day.

That's all there is to it.  Arbor Heights Elementary and teacher Mark
Ahlness decorated 489 bags for their local Safeway. The third graders went
to all the classrooms in little teams to show others how to make the bags.
On April 20 they carried all the bags to the store, where they were met by
2 local TV stations! They had a  wonderful time the next day watching the
videotaped segments of ourselves on the evening news! Plus, the store
manager promised the class a pizza party (imagine the glee!).

From around the country:
The students in grades 4, 5, 6, & 8 in my school decorated Earth Day
Grocery bags. They completed 200 bags. The bags were beautiful and the
messages very carefully thought out. Anyone can tell be looking at these
bags how much the kids care about their planet and its preservation. Along
with this project the 8th graders had written Earth Day editorials in
computer lab. Some of these were selected to read over the PA each morning
to stimulate the students in their decorating efforts. "It takes a whole
village to educate
a child." African proverb Cathy Kerscher Computer Lab Teacher St. Joseph
School, Maumee, Ohio

My class was really into it and many did two bags. They came up with some
great slogans. It was great to see their commitment. The bag project was
wildly popular 500 bags were decorated and will be delivered to Fred Meyers
by 12:00 today. Thanks
Bill Feather
Horizon School, Mukilteo, WA

The Safeway  was very cooperative. They really loved the project and we
have started a new relationship with a local business! I made a poster that
said who made the bags and they posted it at the main entrance. They asked
their customers if they wanted plastic or an Earth Day bag and many of them
were very interested and pleased. It was very worthwhile. Next year I hope
to get the whole school involved. Thanks for the great idea. The Safeway
manager said they will post your nation- wide results in their newsletter.
Krista Canterbury, Olympic Hills, Seattle Public Schools

The students at Arbor Heights Elementary want to spread the word to get as
many Earth Day Grocery Bags passed out as they can - so they posted a
notice on computer networks, and last year they counted about 14,000 bags!

They had an incredible time keeping track of who was doing the project,
where they live, and how many bags were made - all posted on a large map.

Since this year is the 25th anniversary - the changes of collecting bags in
all 50 states could be realized.

So..... please let us know how many bags you pass out on Earth Day. If you
respond, we (and the students) will tabulate the total and publish the
total number distributed (and the names of participating schools). Imagine
all the thousands of Earth Day Grocery Bags people will be unpacking in
their kitchens!

Good luck with your bags, and please remember to send us a note saying how
many bags you decorated, the name and address of your school, and the
store(s) that participated with you. We'll publish the total number of bags
reported nationwide.

Send computer mail to: earthday@qualcomm.com, and
mahlness@quest.arc.nasa.gov or mail a post card with your total to: Earth
Day Network P.O. Box 9827, San Diego CA 92169.

How to make Earth Day Grocery Bags

Here's how its been done ao far:

1. Contact the manager of a local grocery store (more meaningful to all
involved if it's a store where families in your school shop).

2. Ask if you can have a "bundle" (that's 500!) of large paper grocery bags
to decorate for Earth Day at your school. Explain that you'll return them a
day or two before Earth Day (April 22). It might be helpful to bring along
an already decorated bag to show. It's also helpful if the bags you get
have one blank (or pretty clear) side.

3. Deciding who will make the bags and what they will look like is up to
you. We've tried to make ours look somewhat uniform and still leave some
room for individual expression. I made a few templates of the earth from
different angles showing the continents out of three pound coffee can lids.
The kids could then trace the "earth" and color in (actually, markers are
more ecologically correct than crayons) the distributed the bags and
templates to classrooms, we also sent along a couple of examples of
completed bags and some suggestions for slogans, like "Earth Day, Every
Day", "Earth Day 25", "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle", etc. Some kids wanted to
put their names, classroom number, etc. on, and we said fine, just NO LAST
NAMES. I have had small groups of students distribute the bags and do a
brief demonstration in each classroom.

4. When the bags are collected from classrooms, I had some decisions to
make regarding spelling accuracy and how that might reflect on our school,
but I would say 99% of the bags went out "as is".

5. Delivering the bags to the store has been really quite fun for the
class, and was a good public relations opportunity for our school as well.
You might let your school and grocer know that others across the country
(so far, from Alaska to Maryland) are also doing the same thing!

###

Carolyn Chase, Earth Day Network,San Diego
"Say it, mean it, do it"
(619)272-7370 voice
(619)272-2933 FAX