WHEN:
Earth Day Wednesday, April 22, 2009, Enjoy Green Drinks in the evening, after work.
WHERE:
At 16 participating Green Drinks chapters throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed! All will come together to stage a same-day gathering in their respective cities, attempting to top the world attendance record of 1,800 set in Melbourne, Australia, and to rally support for action to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Info on where to find a nearby location is in the sidebar and on Facebook.
WHY:
To push for action on Chesapeake Bay cleanup once and for all. The group will launch a letter writing campaign that night, partnering with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s campaign of letters to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson asking the EPA to enforce the Clean Water Act for the benefit of the Chesapeake Bay.
“We are coming together on Earth Day to ‘toast’ our Chesapeake Bay and write for action from the EPA on the road to the Bay's restoration,” said Lynne Forsman, founder of Green Drinks Annapolis. “We know we can count on Green Drinkers to unite and join in!”
Each Chesapeake watershed Green Drinks group will invite and partner with its local Bay-related groups to create a unique event appropriate to its membership, in addition to the letter writing campaign. And each will post its plans on a dedicated website, www.greendrinksforthebay.org, to be provided by consulting company Greener Results. Everyone in attendance will be asked to hand-write, on the spot, a personalized note to the EPA Administrator about his or her connections to the Chesapeake Bay and the desire that it be brought back to health as a thriving National Treasure.
“Green Drinks has come up with a unique way to make Earth Day really count for the Che
sapeake Bay and have fun at the same time,” said William C. Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “It's so important that all of us let EPA know that we demand they get tough on pollution. CBF commends Green Drinks for their participation in speaking out for clean water this Earth Day and showing their commitment to saving the Bay.”
WHO:
All who care about the environment and the Chesapeake Bay are invited to be a part of this historic event!
MORE:
Green Drinks is a monthly get-together of the environmentally minded who enjoy a little fun with their eco-consciousness. This “fun side of environmental awareness” demonstrates that being good to the Earth does not have to be difficult or expensive. The goal is to bring together all who share a passion for the environment in a casual, fun, unstructured way to learn, share ideas and make a difference -- locally.
Green Drinks started in London England in 1989 by Edwin Datschefski (GreenDrinks). Today there are over 430 “chapters” world-wide. Green Drinks are monthly gatherings of like-minded environmentalists and eco-friendly people who meet after work for sessions known simply as Green Drinks. Most chapters hold their “meetings” at bars and restaurants that share their zeal for environmental awareness and protection. And many Green Drinkers have found jobs, made deals, and had moments of serendipity. Walking, carpooling and riding a bike are encouraged as well as drinking responsibly. (Those who don't drink alcoholic beverages are warmly invited too!)
Planning for the Chesapeake watershed event began in February when Laura Wood Habr, founder of Green Drinks Virginia Beach, described the idea to her Annapolis counterparts this way: “We should be the Green Drinks Gatekeepers of the Bay.” The Annapolis and Virginia Beach groups then rallied the groups throughout the watershed to come together collectively on Earth Day.
Contacts:
Laura Wood Habr & Lynne Forsman
