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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
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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. ©