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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 20, 2007)
a? justgut a — *5 * X; & JR7#* ■■ m V- ' ' ' ■ a 1 •* À 7 0u¿ to uu/e, tke, planet by Malka Geffen ti » • nvironmental politics have recently heated up with the Oscar win for Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and the release of the United Nation's report on climate change. Earth Day, April 22, is now in its 27th year and, like any 27-year-old, is finally coming into its own. Portland, with its plethora of bike riders, farmers markets and green buildings, is renowned for being one of the most eco-friendly cities in the United States. What does this have to do with being queer? People who fight for queer rights—some simply by being out to family, friends and co-workers in unwelcoming environments—have been fighting for other important causes since before Stonewall. For many queers, safeguarding the environment is a critical cause worthy of the power and conviction they have garnered from living in a minority population often treated with hostility by society at large. Queer Portlanders who work toward a more sustainable future have a variety of reasons for their efforts and just as many ways of getting there. TIP #1: DRIVE LESS WALKING, BICYCLING, TAKING MASS 1 PANSU AND CAFPOOLIMG WILL PE DUCE GPEEN h OUSE GAS EMISSIONS SUBSTANTIALLY SAVE MONEY AND IMPPOVE AIP QUALITY M * EARTH DAY 2007: PLANTING SEEDS OF COMMUNITY is from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. April 21 at Woodlawn Park, Northeast 13th Avenue and Dekum Street. More information at www.cityrepair.org/earthday. Now in its eighth year, the Earth Day celebration brings more than 4,000 people to a different commu nity in Portland every year. More than 100 local and sustainable businesses and environ mental organizations will be on hand. Three solar-powered stages of entertainment, a kids’ village and a health and wellness area add to rhe largess of the event. A free seed and plant exchange and classes from Portland Community Gardens will be available as well as organized bicycle rides from all parts of Portland to Woodlawn Park. ■ EARTH DAY EVENTS TRASH TO TREASURES EARTH MY RASH PINOT PEDAL 2007 begins noon April 22 at EARTH DAY AT PEOPLE'S FOOD CO-OP is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 20 and 21 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 22 at Portland Children’s Museum, 4015 S.W. Canyon Road. More information at www.portlandcm.org. Kids can climb aboard and explore a biodiesel bus from TriMet and learn how to repair a bicycle, make a compost bin and create recycled planters for seedlings. At 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. April 22, kids can sing, clap and jump along with Earthsinger Dave Orleans. Urban Wineworks, 407 N.W. 16th Ave. More information at www.urbanwineworks.com/ buzz_bike.html. Pinot Pedal 2007 is an Earth Day bike ride and celebration for the promotion of sustainability. It brings together the bicycling community, the sustainable farming communi ty and the community of urban development. The two-hour ride is organized by and will ben efit Bicycles and Ideas for Kids’ Empowerment. After the ride there will be live music, food, wine, beer, guest speakers and a silent auction.. is from noon to 3 p.m. April 22 at 3029 S.E. 21st Ave. More information at www.peoples.coop. People’s is offering tours of the building’s green features every 20 minutes (including cob, eco roofs, bioswales and more). There will also be a seed-planting activity for kids and free energy efficient light bulbs. ©
