By Jim Stanford on April 21, 2009
Dig the ribbit: "The Thin Green Line" shows Friday at CFA.
At JH Underground, powered wholly by renewable energy without the slaying of trees, every day is Earth Day.
But once a year, the rest of America decides to pay at least token attention to the health of our planet, and eco-savvy Jackson joins in solidarity.
So, at risk of inviting parody from Stuff White People Like, here is the list of events slated for Earth Week. Yes, a whole week. (Insert your own jokes about Birkenstocks, Toyota Priuses, organic food and Barack Obama.)
The fest culminates in the ECO-Fair on Saturday in the Jackson Whole Grocer parking lot, where all things crunchy will be on display. Also noteworthy: Green Drinks at LMC on Wednesday and a showing of the frog movie “The Thin Green Line” on Friday at Center for the Arts.
• Tuesday, April 21: A Locavore’s Night Out
The Wildwood Room, Victor, Idaho, 5 to 9 p.m., FREE admission
An evening to learn more about our local food production with representatives from farms, ranches, bakeries and breweries, while enjoying a dinner prepared with local ingredients by Bill Boney, music, a raffle and much more.
Sponsored by Slow Food in the Tetons, Grand Targhee Resort, Idaho Preferred and Pursue Balance.
• Wednesday, April 22: “Moving Sustainability Initiatives into Action – An ICLEI Community Conversation”
Teton County Fair Building, Noon to 4:30 p.m., FREE – RSVP requested
The Economy. Climate Change. Jobs. Energy. These are issues that define our future. Got an opinion about them? Want to better understand how they’re related? So do millions of others. And on Earth Day everyone will have a chance to speak, listen and act. Jackson is one of just 10 communities selected from hundreds to host a “Spotlight Conversation on Climate Action.”
Keynote speaker Rhys Roth from Climate Solutions. RSVP to info@pursuebalance.org or call (307) 413-2767.
Sponsored by Teton County, Town of Jackson, Jackson Whole Grocer and Pursue Balance.
• Green Drinks
Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary, 5 to 7 p.m. – cash bar
Join a lively mixture of people for some “green drinks.” Just say, “Are you green?” and we will look after you and introduce you to whoever is there. It’s a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there’s always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organizing network.
Sponsored by Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary and Teton Area 10×10.
• Thursday, April 23: “Green = Green Panel Series: The Outdoor Industry”
First Interstate Bank, noon to 1:30 p.m. – FREE
Tired of general, generic sustainability talks? Well then, let’s get SPECIFIC. Come hear fellow businesses in the outdoor industry talk about the lessons learned, successes and setbacks they have experienced from “going green.” Bring your questions and your lunch.
Sponsored by the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, RRR Campaign, and Pursue Balance.
• Friday, April 24: film screening: “The Thin Green Line” with filmmaker Allison Argo
Center for the Arts Theater, 7 p.m. – FREE
Frogs have been hopping the planet for 250 million years. They’ve evolved into some of the most wondrous and diverse animals on Earth. But suddenly they’re slipping away. From Australia to Panama, we’ve already lost one-third of the world’s amphibians and more are disappearing each day. Some say it’s the greatest extinction since the dinosaurs.
Ecosystems are beginning to unravel, important medical cures are vanishing, and we’re losing a dear, old friend. It’s one of the greatest environmental crises of our time. Scientists and citizens around the world are rushing to stem the tide before the next frog crosses the thin, green line.
Sponsored by the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, Pursue Balance and One Percent for the Tetons.
• Saturday, April 25: 2009 ECO-Fair: Simple and Sustainable Living in the Tetons
Jackson Whole Grocer parking lot, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – suggested donation $3
ECO-Fair features informational booths, local food vendors, music, activities for kids and adults, great raffle prizes, sustainable coupon book offerings, and much more! Bring your own reusable bag to decorate and an appetite for great food and fun.
Sponsored by Pursue Balance and Jackson Whole Grocer.
• “Where Do We Go From Here?”
Center for the Arts Theater, 7 p.m. – suggested donation $5
Keynote speaker K.C. Golden, author of the Mayors’ Climate Change Agreement, speaks about “Climate Solutions: For a New, Sustainable, Broadly-Shared Prosperity.” Question-and-answer moderated discussion with Mayor Mark Barron, County Commissioner Ben Ellis, author Nancy Taylor, biologist Forrest McCarthy and others from our community.
Sponsored by Teton County, Bank of Jackson Hole, Mark Barron, Ben Ellis, Wyoming Inn, Jackson Whole Grocer and Pursue Balance.
Throughout the week
• Bag 2 Differ will be providing every child in every school in the Teton County School District with a canvas grocery bag. This will launch the beginning of the Ski Town Plastic Bag Reduction Challenge. (More on this contest later.)
• Amphibian programs and film screenings with filmmaker Allison Argo in the middle and elementary schools with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival.
For information on any of the Earth Week events, e-mail info(at)pursuebalance.org or call (307) 413-2767.
Posted under Economy, Environment, Food, Holidays
I am afraid we need to quit fooling ourselves with the feel-good fluff of patting ourselves on the back in Jackson as eco-savvy. As Tom Dewell’s well documented piece many months back unveiled, we are energy pigs in the valley. There are many great steps being taken by individuals in town, but come on. For a place with over 250 days of sunshine, I’ve seen more solar energy generated on a the roof of one family’s small German farm than in Jackson. If you can show me a place with more giant trucks with one person driving, let me know. Seen any light rail around? We do not even have the option of recycling many materials that are required to be recycled in some US cities (plastic #5,7, paper board) Hell, you can not even find a bus to and from the airport. Seen any wind power lately??? We drive 30 miles a day to go skiing. Our heart is there, no doubt, but our collective action is a disgrace compared to our responsibility living where we do. Jim, lets try to wake people up and inspire real action, rather than stroke a town ego that needs no stroking. That said, I am all for the amazing efforts going on and the brilliant folks behind them.