Rally for Climate Action at the Ohio Statehouse

Join the Central Ohio Climate Action Coalition on Wednesday, April 20 from 11am to 1pm at the Ohio Statehouse west side steps facing High Street, to show the world that Ohio wants climate justice, a transition to 100 percent renewable energy and a sustainable future. This will be an "Earth Week" demonstration planned by the Central Ohio Climate Action Coalition. Ohio Interfaith Power and Light (IPL) is taking the lead by coordinating numerous faith-based organizations and arranging bus transportation to the rally from several Ohio cities. A Lobby Day after the noon-time rally is being organized by both IPL and Sierra Club. Small groups will meet with our state legislators after the rally to discuss the reality of climate change and the moral duty to act. Specifically, our representatives will be asked to "end the freeze" on the Renewable Energy and Efficiency Portfolio Standards and reinstate the law that was passed with near unanimous support in 2008 to speed the transition to clean energy.

Simply Living is participating with IPL, the Sierra Club and other groups, including the Citizens Climate Lobby – Columbus and Delaware Chapters, Sustainable Clintonville, Clintonville Clean Energy Collaborative, NexGen Climate, Columbus Community Bill of Rights, The Columbus Free Press, the Move To Amend - Interfaith Caucus and all individuals of conscience concerned about the causes and solutions to the threat of global warming. More information can be found on Facebook (search "Climate Action Coalition Rally at Ohio Statehouse").

Green Columbus – Volunteer to Branch Out! and Celebrate Earth Day at the Commons

Green Columbus has organized Earth Day for 10 years. Since the first Earth Day, 82,000 volunteer hours of citizen service have been tallied on establishing gardens, cleaning river banks, popping honeysuckle and planting trees. Earth Day Columbus is verified as the largest Earth Day volunteer effort in the world.
 

To celebrate a decade of Earth Day, Green Columbus and the City of Columbus have partnered  to plant 300,000 trees by 2020. Green Columbus asks for the central Ohio community this Earth Day to Branch Out. The goal is to plant 20,000 trees in addition to the many other projects planned annually. This goal is unattainable without more volunteers, more service sites and more donations than ever before.

Green Columbus Executive Director Kristen Pendrey noted, “The model created by Green Columbus’ Earth Day is a microcosm of the effort required to make sustainability commonplace, fundamentally exemplifying inclusivity and partnership. The time required to coordinate and organize Earth Day involves endless meetings and introductions to people and groups just beginning to realize that being green is a lot easier than they originally made it up in their minds to be.”

You can get involved. As of March 24, Green Columbus has 90 service sites registered in the Central Ohio region – 739 of 4,455 volunteer spots have been filled and 20,000 trees have been ordered. Service sites will host volunteers between April 16-April 23 for projects such as invasive species removal, litter pickups, community garden preparation and tree plantings. Service site hosts each receive a free pizza from Donatos Pizza. Volunteer rewards will be provided by Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and Chipotle Mexican Grill. Anyone can sign up to volunteer for various projects at earthdaycolumbus.org.

An Earth Day Celebration at Columbus Commons marks the end of the Earth Day Columbus week of volunteer activities on Saturday, April 23, 2016. Bands include Kyle Marler, Jbird Electric Co., The Redvines, Mr. Eric, the Shazzbots, the Salty Caramels, Forest & the Evergreens and The Ark Band. The Celebration also includes a children’s area, food trucks, eco-conscious organizations and vendors and Great Lakes Brewing Company beer for purchase by anyone who is of age. The Celebration is zero-waste, meaning at least 90 percent of all waste is diverted from landfill via recycling and composting. The 8th Annual Weisenbach Earth Day Challenge Cup awards will be presented at the Celebration to the organizations who provide or host the most volunteers at Earth Day service sites. The Challenge Cup was renamed in honor of Dan Weisenbach, the committed sustainability advocate and Green Columbus board member who passed in November of 2015.

The booth registration deadline is April 8. Nonprofits can register for $150 and for-profit registration is $200. Contact executivedirector@greencbus.org to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

Green Columbus also hosts the Columbus chapter of Green Drinks, an international program that combines happy hour and green topics. They meet the third Wednesday of each month to discuss initiatives that are occurring in our community.