RISE: AN INTERACTIVE INTERPRETATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE

The Earth Day 2008 event aimed to raise public awareness on the issues of climate change and its potential local and global impacts. The day began with a 3-mile walk along a "projected" Monterey coastline in the event of a 1-3-meter rise in sea level.  Along the way, climate change experts, including local professors and scientists, provided insight on climate change issues, as well as possible solutions.  The walk concluded with a free picnic at Windows on the Bay.

Speakers:
Dr. Jeff Langholz, Monterey Institute of International Studies
Dr. Franklin Schwing, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Bill Monning, California State Assembly Candidate
Sue Higgins, Deputy Director of the Cebrowski Institute at the Naval Postgraduate School

Climate Crews National Competition: 
Rise: An Interactive Interpretation of Climate Change is one of 10 campaigns chosen to participate in a national "Climate Crews" competition sponsored by Americans for Informed Democracy and The People Speak. Learn more about the Climate Crews Competition, and remember to visit again after May 1 to vote for your favorite campaign (this one, of course).

Climate Change Awareness Walk: 
We started in front of Fisherman’s Wharf along the waterfront in downtown Monterey, walked along waterfront and around Lake El Estero, and ended up at Windows on the Bay. 

MAP OF THE ROUTE

LECTURE: MARINE DEBRIS

Ximena Waissbluth

Our distinguished Earth Day speaker this year was Ms. Ximena Waissbluth, a local activist with the Monterey Chapter of Surfrider Foundation. Her talk discussed various issues related to marine debris. She covered a variety of topics including: quantities & qualities of plastics found in the North Pacific Gyre, effects of plastics on sea life through ingestion and entanglement, health implications of toxic chemicals both absorbing into and leaching from plastics, alternatives to petroleum based plastics such as bio-plastics (e.g. corn or potato based), solutions, hurdles and activism.

Ms. Waissbluth was very compelling, letting students know how plastics are hurting marine animals as well as the marine ecosystem as a whole. She covered the health implications of using plastics in our everyday lives. She indicated that certain types of plastics have long been linked to neurotoxins, but this fact has not been communicated effectively to the public. She showed many alternatives to these products made from corn, potato and sugar that are now cost competitive due to the rise in oil prices. She then outlined what Surfrider is doing in the community to combat this problem, namely working to ban Styrofoam, educating people through outreach, and conducting local beach cleanups. 

We thank Ximena Waissbluth for taking the time to educate us on this important issue.

Visit Surfrider Monterey for more information.

Keynote Speaker:
"Global Challenges to Forest Conservation"
NED DALY
Vice President of Operations
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Guest Speaker:
"Putting the Squeeze on Carbon: Setting Targets, Unleashing Markets, Building Wedges"
JEFFREY GREENBLATT
Environmental Scientist for Climate and Air Program
Environmental Defense

Activities Included:

• Informational booths operated by local organizations and businesses
• Interactive computer stations to measure your eco-footprint
• Organic and vegetarian cuisine sampling stations
• Guides for "green" products and sustainable dining options in the area
• Free prize give-aways
• Live music

Sponsored by a generous donation from the Hayward Foundation

Earth Day 2006 was a great success! 25 community organizations and businesses participated in the event, including:

• Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA)
• Association of Environmental Professionals
• Cal-Am
• Central Avenue Bakery
• Fishwise
• Fort Ord Community Outreach/ US Army BRAC Cleanup
• Friends of the Sea Otter
• Green Heiress
• Green Party of Monterey County
• HOPE: Helping Our Peninsula's Environment
• Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Monterey Salinas Transit
• Peace and Justice Center and Peace Coalition
• Sierra Club
• Surfrider Foundation
• Sustainability Academy
• Sustainable Base Reuse Institute
• Sustainable Monterey County Beyond Peak Oil
• Trader Joe’s
• Watsonville Wetlands Watch

The idea of a global holiday called "Earth Day" was first introduced by John McConnell at a UNESCO Conference on the Environment in San Francisco in 1969. The first Earth Day proclamation was issued by San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto in March of 1970. Earth Day soon became a recognized holiday with the purpose of celebrating Earth's splendor and raising awareness on the need for preserving and reviving the threatened ecological balances upon which all life on Earth and its inhabitants depend. Since 1970, the idea of the Earth Day holiday has spread world-wide propelled by the support of U. N. Secretary General U Thant, Margaret Mead, and many others. The ringing of the United Nations Peace Bell at the moment of the March Equinox on Earth Day was eventually made into an annual tradition.

On Saturday, April 19th 2008 the Monterey Institute hosted its annual Earth Day Celebration. The event aimed to raise public awareness about climate change and its potential local and global impacts. The event included a 3-mile hike along a projected Monterey coastline if there is a 1-3 meter rise in sea level. Along the way, climate change experts provided insight on climate change as well as possible solutions. A free community picnic at Windows on the Bay concluded the event.