MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release

“Global Warming, Local Solutions”

CONTACT: Enid Sisskin -- esisskin@bellsouth.net, 850-261-0460

Larry Chamblin -- larryswf@yahoo.com, 850-456-5515

“Global Warming, Local Solutions” campaign launched at meeting, rally PENSACOLA, FL March 19, 2007 – Sustainable West Florida and Gulf Coast Environmental Defense, in coordination with other local organizations, today announced a campaign to raise public awareness about global warming and address climate change issues in the Gulf Coast area. “Global Warming, Local Action” is part of the national Step It Up campaign to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050. The local campaign begins with a public meeting on April 10 and continues with a rally on April 14 and Earth Day on April 21.

Public meeting will be held Tuesday, April 10, 6 - 8 p.m., in Hagler Auditorium (Bldg. 2a), Pensacola Junior College (NW corner of campus) off Underwood between 9th and Tippin Ave. Presenters will include Dr. Christopher Houser, assistant professor at the University of West Florida, whose areas of research are coastal morphology and physical geography; Michael O’Donovan, Pensacola photographer who has been trained in global warming communications by the national Climate Project; Dr. Enid Sisskin, a director of Gulf Coast Environmental Defense, an instructor in the Master of Public Health Program at the University of West Florida and a WUWF staff member; and Larry Chamblin of Sustainable West Florida.

Step It Up Rally will be held on Saturday, April 14, noon - 2 p.m., at the Pensacola Beach Pavilion.

Earth Day is Saturday, April 21, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., at Bayview Community Center on Bayou Texar at 2000 Lloyd Street, Pensacola (20th Ave. and Lloyd and Mallory Streets). “Global Warming, Local Solutions” sponsors are Sustainable West Florida, Gulf Coast Environmental Defense, PTK Honor Society of Pensacola Junior College, and Student Environmental Action Society (SEAS) of the University of West Florida. Co-sponsors include the Northwest Florida Group of the Sierra Club, Citizens Against Toxic Exposure (CATE), Bay Area Safe Air Coalition (BASAC), League of Women Voters of the Pensacola Bay Area (LWV), Panhandle Progressives, Population Connection, and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE). Since its release last year, the Al Gore documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, has drawn national attention to the potentially catastrophic effects of global warming. In a February report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provided a new level of scientific certainty about climate change and created a new urgency for individual and collective action. “Global Warming, Local Solutions” seeks to stimulate action at the local level.

PRESS RELEASE
EARTH DAY PENSACOLA 2007
37TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

APRIL 21st 10 am to 5 pm

Free Admission

BAYVIEW COMMUNITY CENTER AND PARK

2000 E. Lloyd St. Pensacola, Fl 32503

“Our task must be to free ourselves…by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole [of] nature in its beauty."
~Albert Einstein, 1950 Earth Day

Pensacola brings together federal, state, and local environmental agencies, educational and activist groups, natural health practitioners, and businesses offering environmentally sustainable products. Visit the various booths and displays and learn how to live more earth-friendly, what the needs and issues are for our local environment, and what each of us can do to help. Vendors will be selling various art prints, gifts items, natural supplements, natural skin care, clothing, jewelry, native plants, live herbs, books and CD’s.

Earth Day will be held at the beautiful Bayview Park located on Bayou Texar in East Hill. Bayview offers picnic areas and a children’s playground. Bring all your family members to enjoy the activities of the day. Parking is available in front and back of the community center as well as at the tennis courts. Hybrid cars get preferred parking in the main parking lot!! Free Trees!!!

Visit the United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Florida booth and find out how you can support this worthwhile organization and receive a voucher for a free tree provided by The Echo Center. The Echo Center is a nursery and promotes awareness of the benefits of planting native plants.

Kids, take the Earth Day Challenge!! Complete any five of the many eco-friendly “hands-on” activities and receive an Earth Day patch and a discount coupon to Sam’s Fun City. Activity sheets will be available at the Information booth. Have fun on the playground, get your face painted, scale the Rock Climbing wall, play on the inflatable slides, obstacle course, or bungee run!! Emerald Coast Entertainment is our sponsor for all the inflatables. Get your picture taken at the Exit Realty NFI booth with our critter props. The Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida will have some of their rescued birds and animals. Learn how the choices we make affect the habitats of our wildlife, endangering their species.

For all our dog lovers..Bayview Park offers 2 doggie areas, with one on the water. Come and see the 4-H guide dog puppies or adopt a greyhound. Pet lovers…please respect our human counterparts and keep your pet on a leash!! Come and walk the Labyrinth provided by Celestial Inspirations. An ancient meditation tool; labyrinths have been used for over 4000 years for reflection, meditation, prayer, and comfort and are found in just about every major religious tradition in the world. It is a tool for people of all beliefs to come together for a common spiritual experience.

Suzanne Peck of Classic Country AM1620 will broadcasting on-site!! Live music - from our great local musicians - will be playing outside at the upper picnic area. Be entertained by some of our famous local talent.

We will begin our celebration with an opening drum circle lead by Grandfather Drums Mike Beck. Michael DeMaria will grace us with his Native American flute and drums. Mr. Mac will perform interactive children’s music. From Jerry’s Kids (Grateful Dead tribute), Jimani (Classic Rock) to Galvaney’s Groove you will be entertained with a wide variety of musical styles.

Begin the day on the newly finished dock with a Yoga demonstration by Sandra Sanford and Linda Kramer of Breathe Yoga studio. Healthy lifestyle demonstrations such as Pilates, Multiple Martial Arts by Big Green Drum, and Renaissance dancing will be presented during the day on the center stage inside the Community center. Food will be available for every palette, including lighter vegetarian fare and choices for heartier appetites. Earth Day Pensacola is an all volunteer non-profit organization and is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors: Natural Lawn Organic Care ( a division of Wiggins Enterprises), Ever’man Natural Foods, Rock-Climb, Inc., Lamar Advertising, Cox Communications, Currin Graphics, Classic Country AM1620, Exit Realty NFI, ESP-Natural Gas, The Light, Natural Awakenings, Madcat Associates, Crescent Studios, United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Florida, Fl Dept. of Environmental Protection and NESD (Neighborhood Environmental Services Department, Sam’s Fun City, Godwin Development, Amethyst Cottage and John S. Carr Realty..

For more information and a complete listing of all activities, schedule of events, vendors, exhibitors, and agencies visit our website: www.earthdaypensacola.org or call 850-439-0844.

EARTH DAY PENSACOLA NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!
To volunteer, contact Earth Day headquarters at 850-501-3662 or email vol@earthdaypensacola.org

All of April we need Poster Distributors

BAYVIEW PARK
Friday (April 20th - setup only), 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.

Saturday (April 21st), 10:00 a.m. TO 5:00 p.m.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!!!

Friday (!!) 12:00 noon - 8:00 p.m. - Interior table and chair set-up

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. - Table and chair set-up

8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Direct traffic for vendor unloading

8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Unload Vendor booth materials/ assist with setup

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Load Vendor booth materials

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Park clean-up

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Character costume “Petey the Pelican” must be at least 5’7” tall

10:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. - Information booth

We love our volunteers!! For your support, volunteers receive a free Earth Day T-Shirt, Earth Day poster and a letter of recognition for their participation.

To volunteer, contact Earth Day headquarters at 850-501-3662 or email vol@earthdaypensacola.org