As in all the great social movements of the past century, the faith community is taking a leading role in the environmental movement. On Oct. 22, nearly 40 congregation leaders of the Interfaith Green Network (IGN) met to strategize efforts to combat climate change in our community. Over the years, this network of more than 20 Oak Park & River Forest area congregations has come together toward building a vision and role for congregations in caring for Planet Earth.
This month's "Keeping it Reel" will let you be the judge! Watch up to 10 trailers for films being considered for the One Earth Film Festival. Then vote on your favorites, and we will add you to a drawing for a chance to win a private film screening. Vote here. Submit your “nominations” and suggestions for a future "Keeping it Reel" feature. Contact Sally Stovall: sally@greencommunityconnections.org.
Introduction to Biomimicry, Interactive Workshop: Sunday, Nov 9, 2014, 2:00-4:00pm, Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield St. Have you ever wondered how we will make the leap from today to our sustainable future? Biomimicry, the practice of learning from nature to solve human problems, is emerging as a powerful and disruptive tool for creating sustainable design and systemic transformation.
As creator of the One Earth Film Festival, Green Community Connections believes in the power of film to inform, inspire and transform. Our new Keeping It Reel feature will curate short videos and feature-length film trailers that focus on a variety of sustainability and environmental issues that affect us all. You will find in this feature not only a variety of topics but also a variety of approaches to the topic, including factual, inspirational, light and humorous, personal stories and public advocacy. In the righthand column are two videos to start off our new series. Enjoy!
Please give us your feedback and participate by submitting your "nominations" for a future feature. Contact Sally Stovall: sally@greencommunityconnections.org.
Meet Kathryn Jonas, a long time Oak Park, IL, resident, tree expert and advocate. In addition to her many other credentials Kathryn was trained and has served as a “treekeeper” through the Treekeepers program at Openlands.
What's more exciting than attending the Midwest's premier environmental film festival? That's easy: helping to plan and run it. The 2014 One Earth Film Festival (OEFF2014) drew almost 2,500 viewers and expanded to more Chicagoland venues. We need many talented and passionate volunteers to grow the festival and its impact in 2015.
It's not every day you meet national activists and get the chance to make history with them. On Saturday, September 6, ten Green Community Connections members and more area residents joined marchers at various points along the Oak Park-to-Chicago leg of the Great March for Climate Action. Billed as the "longest climate march in American history," the Great March for Climate Action's goal is to "change the hearts and minds of the American people, our elected leaders and people across the world to act now to address the climate crisis."
Margot McMahon Tells How "Sculpture Saves the Trees" Sept.23 at Library: Ten sculptors including Margot McMahon of Oak Park worked through Chicago Sculpture International and teamed with the Chicago Park District to keep dead trees from being removed by sculpting them. McMahon carved and painted 13 flying song birds and an owl from a 200-year old tree that toppled in a wind storm in her back yard on Humprey Avenue. These birds now perch on her Jackson Park Tree along Lake Shore Drive south of 57th Street to remind commuters to reduce their carbon footprint. Meet sculptor Margot McMahon and see the birds she carved that are now part of this innovative project on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. at the Oak Park Public Library.
Please call into the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules today, and daily through Sept 15th, about the rules for fracking and say-
"Please prohibit the rules for fracking. The IDNR did not develop detailed plans for air pollution, radiation, seismicity and chemical disclosure that will actually protect Illinois residents from fracking related harm. And what's up with the IDNR charging such low fines? Fracking can harm people, animals and the environment - why give the industry a pass? The IDNR is understaffed and underfunded. They admit it themselves. They are not ready to take on the daunting task of regulating this dangerous industry. We ask that you prohibit the rules for fracking."
12 calls to 12 members of the committee, in 6 days -- we can do this!
Their office numbers can be found here: http://www.ilga.gov/
If JCAR, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, votes to prohibit the rules then that would shoot a hole in the hydraulic fracturing program in Illinois and would send the regulations back to the General Assembly for a do over -- yahoo!
The rules can be found at: http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/
The IDNR admits, in their responses to the over 30,000 public comments about fracking, that they are understaffed, and that they face many challenges and unknowns about the daunting task of regulating of the fracking industry. (You can find it on page 14): http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/
Thanks for making these calls and passing this to your contacts,
Frack Free Illinois
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SolarChicago Workshop: Thursday, August 21, 2014, 7:00-8:30pm, Oak Park Main Library, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301
This program helps homeowners pool their buying power to make going solar more affordable than ever (25% off the average installed cost) while helping to achieve community clean energy installation goals. Solar Chicago was undertaken by the City of Chicago (City), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Vote Solar, a non-profit organization working to bring solar energy into the mainstream. This initiative is available to Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park and other Cook County residents as well.
Learn more from the program contractors about the basics of residential solar and have your questions answered at the upcoming workshop: Thursday, August 21, 2014, 7:00-8:30pm at the Oak Park Main Library, 834 Lake St, Oak Park, hosted by Green Community Connections, Seven Generations Ahead / PlanItGreen, and the Interfaith Green Network. The workshop is free and open to the public. If you are unable to attend, program details are on the Solar Chicago web site. (http://www.mygroupenergy.com/
