The 2008 Earth Day Celebration event will be held on Saturday, April 26th from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Starr-Gennett Building in the Gorge. Check back for more information, coming soon.

Join us for Peace Forum, a weekly discussion series (with free lunch!) in the Earlham School of Religion dining room, noon on Thursdays.
Alex Haworth: Tackling Earlham's Ecological footprint: With and against the grain
Alex is a senior History major at Earlham College, and has been a impressive student activist and leader. He has been instrumental in Earlham's Bike Co-op, a writer for the Earlham Active, and involved in a variety of environmental activism.

Barbara Sha Cox, who we highlighted in December of 2006 for her work in examining the issues around factory farming, has an editorial in today's Palladium-Item with more thoughts on bills being considered by the state of Indiana related to CAFOs:

There are several legislators who are concerned and have introduced legislation to address the issues. However, their legislation is always blocked by those who are not listening to the citizens and have chosen to only listen to agricultural business. Legislators interested in the citizens' point of view include Senator Allen Paul (R-Richmond) with his bill for a moratorium for three years to study the issues and place in law regulations that would address the issues.

You can read the full editorial at the Pal-Item website.

The Wayne and Union Counties Solid Waste Management District has posted a comprehensive guide showing where things can go for reuse, recycling and disposal in those counties. From air conditioners to cardboard to furniture to tires, the guide provides contact information for organizations that accept those items, hours of operation, and costs involved if any. The next time you're wondering how to make sure your specialty item doesn't end up in a landfill forever and ever, check out this useful guide.

Friday, November 16th, 1:00 PM—5:00 PM in the City Building, Council Chambers. FREE for City/County Officials and Builders, the workshop will feature information about: Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs), Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs), Energy Efficiency products, Passive Solar Rooms, Using recycled & reused materials in the building process, and more. Green Building improves energy efficiency throughout the home, lessens waste to the landfill, and saves resources. Be the first to learn how you can "Build Green" on your block!

Pre-register by November 15th with the Department of Metropolitan Development by calling - 983-7342 or email pklusman@ci.richmond.in.us.

Please join us for Peace Forum, every Thursday at noon in the Earlham School of Religion dining room. A simple lunch is provided. October 4 we will hear from Stephanie Hays-Mussoni about "Climate Change." We hope to see you there!

Richmond, IN – Mayor Sally Hutton will sign the U. S. Conference of Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement on Tuesday, August 28, 2007, at 5:00 P.M., at the Richmond/Wayne County Environmental Awareness Council meeting. The public is invited to attend the signing in the Community Room, 2nd Floor of the City Municipal Building, 50 North 5th Street, Richmond.

The U.S. Conference of Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement encourages the federal government to enact policies and programs to meet or exceed guidelines set by the Kyoto Protocol. Over 640 Mayors from across the country have signed the U.S. Mayor’s Conference Climate Protection Agreement.  continue reading »

Sustainable Indiana, Inc. is absolutely thrilled to be able to bring this incredible workshop to West Central Indiana. Don't miss your chance to learn from one of the leading educators in Permaculture. Several people from the Richmond/Wayne County area will likely be going to the workshop together - comment below if you'd like to join us.  continue reading »

Local resident Sam Neff has an article in today's Pal-Item about how to replace your standard light bulbs with energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs. Neff says,

Compact fluorescents, in the shape of a swirly spiral, emit the same light as classic incandescents but use 75-80 percent less electricity. If every one of 110 million American households bought just one CFB, took it home and screwed it in the place of an ordinary 60-watt bulb, the energy saved would be enough to power a city of 1.5 million people.

Read the full article for more information.

The Richmond Art Works Tree Show to benefit the Cope Environmental Center runs from April 1 through 30, 2007. On Thursday, April 5 2007 from 5 to 7 PM, the opening reception and benefit auction will happen. For more information, visit the Richmond Art Works site.