Step It Up 2007

[Robert Wicke posted this listing of Step It Up events in SE MI this Saturday]

Bill McKibben's Step It Up is a campaign with the ultimate goal of 80% carbon emissions reduction by 2050. The web site <http://www.stepitup07.org/> was started by McKibben and I think 6 college students working at $100/wk, with the short range goal of achieving maybe 100 actions regarding global warming by April 14. Now, a short time after putting it up, there are well over 1200 planned. Those in Michigan amount to about 40. They are listed at <http://events.stepitup2007.org/events/search/state/MI> A handful are listed here:


Belle Isle Walk
Detroit, MI

April 14, 2007 12:00PM to 02:00PM
Event Description:

A Walk on Climate at Belle Isle, Detroit. No program, just a walk with signs and the banner.
Begin at Fountain Drive, to Casino Way to Central Ave to Muse Road to
Loiter Way to Vista Drive to Strand, then turn around and reverse
direction.
Location:
Belle Isle Fountain Drive
Directions:
E. Jefferson to Belle Isle RSVP: <http://events.stepitup2007.org/events/show/618>


Earth Circle
Detroit, MI

April 14, 2007 12:00PM to 06:00PM
Event Description:
Swords into Plowshares Peace Center and Gallery presents "Earth Circle: An Event to Honor Our Earth, Our Home, and Our Hearts" on Saturday, April 14th, from 1 2pm-6pm. Join us in community to celebrate and connect to the Earth. Experience two uplifting concerts, ponder and discuss the meaning of Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth", offer hope to the interactive art exhibit "Ark of Hope", and play in a drum circle. All ages are welcome at this free event (donations are welcome). Light refreshments will be provided. At noon on the second floor of Central United Methodist Church, on the south east corner of Woodward and E. Adams, Chris Schleuder will play his acoustic guitar. Chris is an up and coming musician from Kalamazoo and his poetic and peaceful lyrics are sure to light the way for a meaningful afternoon. The Grammy Award winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" about global warming will be shown from 1 2:30 to 2:00pm. After the movie, Kathryn Savoie, the environmental program director at ACCESS will lead discussion about what each person can do to solve global warming. She is one of fifty people trained by Al Gore as part of the Climate Project; a grassroots educational effort associated with the documentary. Joe Reilly, a Michigan based singer, songwriter, guitarist, activist and environmental educator, will energize us^'musical messages of hope and peace. His background in the study and performance of many different musical styles, including Native American music, folk, blues, jazz, liturgical, and classical, as well as his academic studies of environmental justice and racism and spiritual roots in Catholicism and Native American religions has led to a writing style that incorporates these diverse influences into a unique and powerful voice. With the help of the Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters, the Ark of Hope will be the focal point of the second half of the afternoon. We will add our own individual art to the Temenos books, hand Grafted pages providing images and words for global healing, peace, and gratitude that the Ark houses. The Ark of Hope was created in 2001 by artist Sally Linder and cabinet maker Kevin Jennes. Beautifully designed and Grafted this wooden chest was created as a place of refuge for the Earth Charter document, an international peoples treaty for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century. The Ark has taken on a life of pilgrimage, traveling the globe as a focus of education, dialogue, and commitment to the future of the Earth. Lori Fithian, drum circle facilitator from Ann Arbor, will rouse us into a high energy, fun drum circle in Grand Circus Park. Lori has studied many different drumming traditions as well as drum circle facilitation techniques with guru Arthur Hall, and has been facilitating "drummunity", a word she invented, for the past five years. Bring a drum if you have one, but if not, don't worry, there will be plenty available! There will be educational booths with environmental organizations, inter-generational arts and crafts, light refreshments and a chance to buy some music from musicians, Earth friendly t-shirts, and gifts from the Peace Center/Gallery gift shop.
Location:
Swords into Plowshares Peace Center 33 East Adams Detroit, MI 48226
Directions:
Southeast corner of Woodward and E. Adams in Detroit, near Comerica Park.

Questions? Email the Host
RSVP <http://events.stepitup2007.org/events/show/1092>


stop the dream cruise
Beverly Hills, MI

April 14, 2007 12:00PM to 03:00PM
Event Description:
For over a decade, thousands of vintage cars have spewed CO2 up and down Detroit's suburban Woodward Avenue corridor each August. What began as a one-day event is now officially 3 days, and unofficially 2 weeks. It is logistic gridlock for personal and commercial drivers along its 15 mile route; retail death for merchants other than party stores; expensive for the bordering municipalities; and a global warming nightmare for the Detroit region. We will meet for a counter-cruise think tank and spend a few hours planting trees and native plants, or pulling invasives, while we plan to mount an offensive on a nostalgic idea which needs to turn into a memory. There is a extensive playground for children.
Location:
Beverly Park Beverly Road at Norchester
Directions:
Take Southfield Rd to 13 1/2 Mile Road which is Beverly Road; go west on Beverly 1/3 mile; turn left into Beverly Park parking lot. Meet at pavillion. Bring picnic lunch if you wish between noon and 1 pm; work will begin at 1 pm. Garden gloves, trowels, small shovels, garbage bags will be needed.

Questions? Email the Host
RSVP <http://events.stepitup2007.org/events/show/1125>


Ann Arbor and UofM Step It Up!
Ann Arbor, MI

April 14, 2007 12:00PM to 02:00PM
Event Description:
NEW LOCATION!! Gather on the INGALLS MALL by the BURTON MEMORIAL TOWER on the University of Michigan campus. http://www.wbwc.org/stepitup_bw2.pdf http://www.wbwc.org/stepitupCARDS.pdf
Location:
North University - between Hill Auditorium and the Michigan League.
Directions:
230 S. Ingalls is not an actual street - it is the mall between the Modern Language Building (corner of Washington and Thayer) and the Michigan League. http://tinyurl.com/3cv66q

Questions? Email the Host
RSVP <http://events.stepitup2007.org/events/show/13>



There are 36 other Michigan events listed at <http://events.stepitup2007.org/events/search/state/MI> (RSVP forms with all, including those listed here, at the given URLs)