21st Annual Walk or Bike for the Earth: Healthy Planet, Healthy You

What are you doing on the morning of Sunday, April 18th? Take part in our 21st annual Walk or Bike for the Earth!

All registered participants in the Walk or Bike for th Earth receive free admission to EarthFest 2010, which begins immediately following the conclusion of the Walk or Bike for the Earth.

Help support Earth Day Coalition’s year-round environmental education initiatives right here in North East Ohio by collecting pledges for your walk or bike. Ask your friends, co-workers, and family members to sponsor you. The more donations you collect the more prizes you are eligible to win! This year's Grand Prize is two airline tickets on Southwest Airlines.

For those who “Walk for the Earth,” registration begins at 7:00 am at the Hippo Lot behind the RainForest at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo with step off at 9:00 am. Jazzercise warmups and hot coffee will be provided. From there, participants will embark on a 6-mile nature hike through the Brookside Reservation that will loop back to the zoo. Along the way, participants will learn about the zoo’s composting and recycling projects, as well as nature preservation, water quality testing, and more.

Those who wish to “Bike for the Earth” will sign in and launch from community locations on either the east side at Dewey's, the west side from The Root in Lakewood, downtown from Phoenix, or southside from Canal Visitor Center. The emphasis will be on using bicycles as transportation. Ride leaders from Ohio City Bicycle Co-op will provide free safety checks and lessons on commuting via bicycle.

Register online today by clicking here!

More information about the event - download a flyer, map or pledge sheet online at www.earthdaycoalition.org.

• Support environmental education in Northeast Ohio
• Free admission to Zoo, RainForest, and all EarthFest exhibits
• Healthy snacks at reception tent near amphitheater
• Membership in Earth Day Coalition for one year
• Free Bike Safety Check and Commuter Education via Ohio City Bicycle Co-op
• Family-friendly and safe ride led by an OCBC expert.
• Secure valet bike parking at event
• -Expert-led group ride back to starting point leaves at 3 pm

Register today before it’s too late. Make a commitment to a healthier planet and a healthier you!

Visit the Walk or Bike for the Earth webpage

The World's Top Films in Mountain Culture, Environment and Adrenaline Sports Come to Cleveland!

Ignite your passion for adventure when these movies from the renowned Banff Mountain Film Festival arrive in town. The tour makes a stop at the Allen Theater in Playhouse Square Center for an exclusive showing in Northern Ohio on Friday, April 9 & Saturday, April 10, 2010.

The festival kicks off with Friday’s Opening Night Reception sponsored by CoolCleveland.com and features light appetizers and dessert. Appetizers will also be served for Saturday’s reception. On tap for both nights is complimentary Red Bull and Caribou Coffee and a cash bar. The receptions, which run from 6:00-7:30 p.m., also include exhibits for outdoor enthusiasts and prize sign-ups. The films, different each night, start at 7:30 p.m.

The popular High Altitude Party, held in the balcony of the Allen Saturday night features beer and appetizers courtesy of Fat Head’s Brewery, plus dessert, goodie bags, balcony seating and live music.

Advance ticket prices, thru April 1, are: $30-$40 and can be purchased at Geiger’s, Spin and at www.theedgefilms.com. Ticket prices will increase $5 each at midnight on 4/1/10 and will be available on-line or at Playhouse Square Center only.

Visit www.thedgefilms.com

Keeping Green Simple
by SMDP Highschool Intern Lenay Creer

In my school there is a teacher who likes to say,
“Keep it simple, stupid.” Though he may have only been talking about over complicating math, I have been applying this rule to life - including how we can all make life greener.

Going Green should never be a trial or a chore. It can be a simple task that is done every day and makes you feel better about your effect on our planet. So here it is, a list of 5 easy tasks that can make your every day life greener.

1. Make it a habit
Doing a little each day counts when you add it up to 365 actions to bettering the world. I don’t know about you but that sounds to me like a super hero. Whatever it is, make it part of your life and let it become something you just naturally do - one of the little things - like turning off lights in rooms that aren’t being used or not letting your faucet drip.
2. Make it easy for everyone around you
You can’t force someone to do what you want, but if they have the resources to do so they may just do it.
• Providing recycling stations at your place of employment is a small suggestion to make to your supervisor. Companies that are eco-friendly are also more appealing to customers.
• Car-pooling reduces your carbon footprint and is a good excuse to make new friends.
• Staying well stocked at home and at work will reduce costs and cut back on the need to make emergency trips to stores.
3. Cut back
• One of the world’s simplest workouts also helps reduce energy consumption. TAKING THE STAIRS.
• Use less paper. Deforestation does more than just destroy animal habitat, it creates deserts, adds to CO2 emmissions, and reduces biodiversity - so send e-mails or texts.
4. Do it yourself
This is not necessarily easy but it can be fun
• Grow a garden. You can avoid those nasty pesticides, it’s cheaper than the supermarket, and there is no carbon footprint to the grocery store
• Eat less meat. You don’t have to go vegan but having one vegetarian meal a week will reduce the energy and fuel needed to ship meat across the country.
5. Remember the 3 R’s
Reduce: Get rid of the non-essentials, such as watching TV all day, or buying things you won’t frequently use and will end up in the trash.
Reuse: Get the most out of things before trashing them, and take old clothing or jewelry and turn them into crafts that you will want to wear and use every day.
Recycle: Everyone can do it. For clothing items, send them to a thrift store or the Salvation Army - or if you want to make some money, take your gently use clothes to Plato’s closet where they will give you cash on the spot. Paper and Plastics can be used in fabric making, just drop them off at your local drop off center.

So you see it really isn’t that hard.
Do your part. Keep it simple.

Visit earthdaycoalition.org