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Huffington Post contributor Bruce Tenenbaum argues that by refusing to invest in the space program, we hinder the human race’s long-term viability (“We Can’t Save the Earth, April 23, 2009). “Sooner or later,” he writes, “the Earth’s magnetic fields will drastically change, possibly increasing our exposure to the dangers of solar radiation. Another new ice age is coming. You want climate change? You’re going to get it. The continents and ocean floor are moving, so eventually New York might find itself bordering the Sahara Desert. And some of this will likely happen within tens of thousands of years, not billions. ... Cutting emissions, recycling waste and a commitment to solar and wind power make terrific sense. But, cosmically speaking, these are just short term solutions.” I think I agree with him on this, and I also understand that environmentalism isn’t really about saving Planet Earth. The planet, as such, will manage to go on regardless of humanity’s existence. Environmental activism, as I practice it, is more about averting our self-destruction as a species than averting the cessation of Earth’s existence. Still, in order to achieve those long-term solutions, we need to implement the short-term solutions as quickly and as widely as possible. The more time and resources we have to devote to these projects, the better our chances for success. We should use our natural resources, particularly the less renewable and nonrenewable ones, judiciously. This is not to say we need to revert to an austere lifestyle that’s all hard work and no fun. We can develop more elegant ways of living in harmony with the earth. There are so many underimplemented low-tech ways of feeding, transporting, and entertaining ourselves without hastening our civilization’s decline and fall. So while it’s not at all a bad idea to start working on the next space station, the hyperdrive, and bending space to provide intergalactic transport, hey! We have bicycles right now! We have solar panels right now! Today we can work toward attenuating the growth of the human population, so that when the time does come for us to leave, there are fewer, healthier, and better-educated people who need to be evacuated. We can head off a lot of human suffering in the future with some investment in that goal today. With each passing day, technology enhances our ability to extend ourselves into realms never imagined by our ancestors; the pool of human knowledge brings us exponentially closer to a broader and deeper awareness of our place in the universe. I believe our investment in conservation efforts will pay off exponentially in the future as well. A stitch in time saves nine, which in turn saves eighty-one, which in turn saves 6,561 which in turn saves 43,046,721! Critical Mass “Do the Localmotion!” Friday, May 1, 6 p.m., various locations. http://www.chicagocriticalmass.org The fun festive monthly bike rides Chicagoans have come to know and love on the last Friday of each month have grown to the point that smaller “mini-masses” have sprouted up and are growing in neighborhoods and suburbs. Four mini-masses happen every first Friday of the month, with others organizing periodically. If you live or work near Wicker Park (north side of Chicago), Pilsen (south side), Oak Park or Evanston, bring your self-powered transportation mode and hook up with your local mass for a smaller, more intimate experience with fellow velorutionaries! This month’s ride falls on May Day, which is especially auspicious. If you’re interested in starting a monthly ride in your town or neighborhood, the webmasters at chicagocriticalmass.org will publicize your ride. As the weather warms and gas prices rise, no doubt we’ll see quite a few spring up over the next few months. Watch this space for updates. Free. The “Ins” and “Outs” of Composting Saturday, May 2, 9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m., Angelic Organics Learning Center, 1547 Rockton Rd., Local nature guru Nance Klehm remarked in a recent article in the Chicago Reader: “Billions of humans suck nutrients and don’t give back to the dirt. Change that now.” Start composting! At this workshop you’ll learn what makes a successful compost pile, and decide which methods will work best for your household. Overview various types of compost bins, build a pile together, and tour our farm-scale compost operation. Meet the worms in a real vermiculture system, and find out how to implement indoor composting at home. Dress to work outside. $45 registration, recommended to reserve in advance. Climate Cycle Ride May 9, 2009, 9 a.m.–12 p.m., Soldiers Field, Chicago. The win-win situation is familiar, but today’s event is a win-win-win. Win for the participants, who enjoy a beautiful twelve or 22-mile bike ride on Chicago’s lakefront. It’s a win for Chicago taxpayers, who will be footing lower energy bills for Chicago Public Schools for years to come. And it’s a win for everyone who breathes air and relies on a stable, cool climate. This will be Chicago’s inaugural Climate Cycle Ride bikeathon, raising money to put solar panels on public schools and support green energy education. The ride will start from the Great Lawn of Grant Park, adjacent to Soldiers Field. Choose from a twelve-mile or 22-mile course along the beautiful lakefront. Riders are asked to raise $200 minimum for the Climate Cycle’s Solar Schools Program. Interested in helping, but maybe not up for the ride? Volunteer to be a ride marshall, assist at the rest stops, or help out with the festival at the end!
Basic Bike Maintenance Monday, May 11, 7 p.m.–8 p.m., REI Northbrook, 888 Willow Rd. Come learn easy at home maintenance tips, how to change a flat tire and more! We will also look at how to clean and lubricate your bike as well as other simple repairs that can be done at home! You do not need to bring a bicycle to participate in the class, we will be teaching all of the skills using a demo bike. Call 847-480-1938 for information. Free.
National Bike To Work Week May 9–15. www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth The League of American Bicyclists has designated this week as National Bike To Work Week. Although Chicagoland and Michiana delay their Bike Week events until June, Iowa readers can enjoy the week’s events and support the Des Moines Bike Kollective! As of April 6, just one week after registration opened, 594 bicycle commuters had registered at bikeiowa.com. The event schedule shows a variety of programs planned—info and discussion sessions, group rides, meals, happy hours, and shopping specials for commuters. The big event is at the downtown YMCA from 6 a.m.–8 a.m. on Friday the 15th for the Bike to Work Day Rally. Other BTWW events are happening all over Iowa that week, including Quad Cities, Iowa City, and Coralville, so stop by bikeiowa.com to get in on the action.
Greenfest Saturday and Sunday, May 17–18, Navy Pier, Chicago. If you’ve attended Greenfest in the past, you know it’s an impressive showcase of talent, activism, leadership and creativity. For two days, Greenfest brings some of earth’s most compelling speakers on green issues as well as collaborators for social justice. The festival features 350 marketplace vendors and information booths, and additionally features 125 speakers. Recommended: Amy Goodman, Greg Palast, Paul Stamets, Alice Waters, Ron Reagan, Bernadine Dohrn, William Ayers, Medea Benjamin—I can’t name all the great speakers coming to town this year, so I recommend looking at the online schedule. Bonus: if you use the CTA or the free secure bike valet parking, you get a $5 coupon good towards the price of admission! Or drive there, and pay to park like a sucker! Hours are 10 a.m. –7 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.–6 p.m. on Sunday. Full admission price is $15 for one or both days. Bike The Drive Sunday, May 24, 5:30 a.m., Grant Park (Columbus and Jackson), Chicago. Rise early for Chicago’s favorite annual event on two wheels: Bike The Drive! From 5:30 a.m.–9:45 a.m., Lake Shore Drive is closed to car traffic and open exclusively to bikes! Enjoy thirty miles of unimpeded biking on smooth pavement—probably the closest thing to bike heaven outside of Copenhagen. The festival afterwards features live music from Funkadesi and a pancake breakfast ($7). Proceeds benefit the Active Transportation Alliance.
Have a green event that The Monthly Aspectarian readers would like to know about? Send notices to Kathleen Ellis at k@thleen.org. Thanks to Jef Benner for this month’s link to the HuffPo article!
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