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06:09:40 04/30/09
It's Underway North Mich Earth Keepers Bag 12 000 Trees For Planting Sun May3
[LESS INFO] 1 VIEWS | ADDED 06:09:40 04/30/09
It's Happening! And it's colorful!Update as rainbow marks start of EarthKeeper Tree Project: Across northern Michigan 12,000 trees bagged, delivery for Sunday, May 3 record plantingRainbow appears over Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola as volunteers across northern Michigan prepare 12,000 trees for planting by about 100 churches and temples during interfaith Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper Tree Project. (Sagola Photos provided by Jessica Schultz, EarthKeeper volunteer)Volunteers at the Central United Methodist Church in Escanaba bag and prepare seedlings. (Escanaba photos provided by Jill Martin, Presbyterian EarthKeeper Volunteer)(Upper Peninsula of Michigan) - Across northern Michigan, 12,000 trees are being delivered to about 100 churches and temples across northern Michigan as the EarthKeeper Tree Project kicks into high gear in preparation for planting at thousands of locations on Sunday, May 3.On Thursday, April 30 volunteers were bagging the seedlings that are being given to ten faith traditions.In Sagola, Michigan, a rainbow appeared over the Grace Presbyterian Church as about 30 EarthKeeper volunteers spent three hours bagging 1,500 seedlings.The trees were blessed by Rev. David Anderson and then prepared to be delivered or picked up by seven other churches including Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian and a non-EarthKeeper but welcomed congregation - the Mission Covenant Church in Foster City. The Presbyterian and Catholic volunteers in Sagola came in all ages and included three generations of one family. Young children were taught by adults how to properly bag the seedlings and as the night ended the kids scurried around the church picking up pine needles to help with the clean up. Among those volunteering in Sagola were Marie Anderson, Sue Piasini, Gabriella Schultz, age 3; Chrissy Pringle, Brooke Hesse, Yvonne Schultz, Mary Schuteman, Jeff and Shelia Mott and their children Celia and Medoria Mott; Kassandra Donaldson, Mary Brault, Mara Smith, age 11 and Cameron Schultz, age 6.EarthKeeper volunteers at Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola, MI prepare 1,500 trees for planting and distribution in Dickinson County as 12,000 trees will be planted by about 100 churches and temples during interfaith Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper Tree Project. (Sagola Photos provided by Jessica Schultz, EarthKeeper volunteer)EarthKeeper volunteers from the Presbyterian and United Methodist churches in Delta County separated and bagged 1,000 trees on Thursday (April 30) at the Central United Methodist Church in Escanaba.Bagging was also underway in Marquette and numerous other locations. Among those bagging trees in Escanaba were First Presbyterian Church members Kathy Christiansen and Jill Martin, plus Central United Methodist Church members Lois Nordin, Rocky Blixt, Bron Harmon, Cat Lindberg and Pat Rogers; all are Escanaba area residents.Among the Delta County churches participating (followed by the approx. number of trees each will receive) are St. Stephen’s Episcopal, Escanaba (150); Bethany Lutheran, Escanaba (250); First Presbyterian, Escanaba (150); Escanaba Central UMC, Escanaba (150); Trinity Episcopal, Gladstone (150) and Calvary Lutheran, Rapid River (150).Among the Dickinson County churches participating (followed by city and the approx. number of trees each will receive) are St. Rose Catholic, Channing (180); Zion of Metropolitan Lutheran, Felch (180); Our Saviour Lutheran, Iron Mountain (180); First Presbyterian, Kingsford (180); St. Mary Queen of Peace Catholic, Kingsford (180); Sagola Presbyterian, Sagola (420); and the Felch and Foster City churches including Mission Covenant Church in Foster City (180).Volunteers at the Central United Methodist Church in Escanaba bag and prepare seedlings. (Escanaba photos provided by Jill Martin, Presbyterian EarthKeeper Volunteer)EarthKeeper volunteers at Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola, MI prepare 1,500 trees for planting and distribution in Dickinson County as 12,000 trees will be planted by about 100 churches and temples during interfaith Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper Tree Project. (Sagola Photos provided by Jessica Schultz, EarthKeeper volunteer)Most of the 12,000 12 to 16 inch White Spruce and Red Pine seedlings in the EarthKeeper Tree Project will be planted on Sunday (May 3).The EarthKeeper co-founders are Carl Lindquist, executive director of the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership, and Rev. Jon Magmuson of Marquette. Magnuson is campus pastor for Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northern Michigan University and executive director of the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette.The Earth Keeper Implementation Team co-chairs are Gail Griffith, who is a member of Marquette Unitarian Universalist Congregation, and Rev. Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, head priest of Lake Superior Zendo, a Marquette Zen Buddhist Temple.The EarthKeeper team includes ten faith traditions (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, Zen Buddist, Quakers) with over 150 participating churches/temples, the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP), the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute (CTI), and the NMU EK Student Team.The trees were purchased or donated by the U.P. EarthKeeper team, SWP, Holli Forest Products, the Forestland Group, Plum Creek Timber Company and Meister's Greenhouses.Some groups and individuals have donated money to help the tree project including Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Western U.P. Chapter 30918 in Ironwood, Michigan.Experts say 12,000 mature trees absorb 3 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually and produce enough oxygen to support 24,000 humans.This is the fifth year that the U.P. EarthKeepers have launched an Earth Day environment project.From 2005-2007, over 15,000 U.P. residents turned in more than 360 tons of household hazardous waste at a dozen collection sites across the U.P. Most of the items were recycled and the remainder was properly disposed under federal guidelines including electronic waste (e-waste) like computers, monitors and printers plus cell phones, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, oil-based paint and vehicle batteries.Last year the EarthKeepers provided a household energy conservation checklist that resulted in over 3 million pounds of carbon being.For details on the tree distribution call Catholic EarthKeeper Kyra Fillmore, the project faith community communications coordinator, at 906-228-2388.For tree planting information contact the SWP at 906-228-6095.Related websites:U.P. EarthKeeper TeamNonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership in Marquette, MINonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI
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21:49:23 12/14/07
Earth Keepers Protecting Planet Earth One Person At A Time
[LESS INFO] 1 VIEWS | ADDED 21:49:23 12/14/07
Earth Keeping: A look back at four years of successful projects including an extremely busy 2007The Earth Keeper Initiative honored in 2007 by Lake Superior Magazine, the Acton Institute and World MagazineAs environment ministers from about 190 countries struggle over a global warming treaty in Indonesia, the Michigan Earth Keeper Initiative is completing its fourth successful year.The Earth Keepers have proven that every person can make a difference in their own community.The November 2007 issue of Lake Superior Magazine honors the outcome of numerous Earth Keeper projects.Earth Keeper projects involve more than 400 volunteers from nine faith communities with over 140 churches/temples and Native American tribes including the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community plus youth of all ages.Earth Keeper Initiative volunteer media advisor Greg Peterson reports on another successful year cleaning the environment in northern Michigan and protecting Lake Superior.In the near future, Earth Keeper stories will detail efforts of the Northern Michigan University student team and the Manoomin Project - a wild rice restoration endeavor involving at-risk teens and American Indian guides.Time: 10:00--- (Marquette, Michigan) - The impact of numerous environmental projects created by the northern Michigan Earth Keepers over the past few years is measured in the hundreds of tons as over 15,000 residents have turned in hazardous waste, teens are restoring wild rice beds, businesses and homes are reducing power consumption and thousands of dollars used to protect Lake SuperiorThe non-profit Michigan Earth Keeper Initiative, its nine faith communities, an Upper Peninsula American Indian tribe and over 400 volunteers were honored this week with the “2007 Lake Superior Magazine Achievement Award.”The annual award established in 1994 “recognizes organizations or individuals who have improved the well-being of Lake Superior and it’s residents,” said Lake Superior Magazine Editor Konnie LeMay who traveled from Duluth, Minnesota to honor the interfaith environment project.(Photos by Greg Peterson, Tom Buchkoe, Steve Durocher and Samantha Otto)LeMay cited “734,000 pounds worth of environmental impact just since the signing the Earth Keeper Covenant in July 2004 by nine faith communities.”Presenting an engraved crystal plaque during a Sept. 17, 2007 ceremony at Presque Isle Park in Marquette, LeMay said the “spiritual role model of the Earth Keepers certainly has improved the well-being and environmental awareness of Upper Michigan’s residents - it has offered a concrete way to action.”The Lake Superior Magazine November issue honors the Marquette-based Earth Keepers whose environment projects include annual Earth Day hazardous waste collections, an energetic student team with its own projects, wild rice restoration, an energy summit, and most recently a classical music concert to protect the biggest, deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes that Native Americans call Gitchie Gummi.The project is co-sponsored by the Cedar Tree Institute, the Superior Watershed Partnership, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and the congregations of over 140 churches and temples representing nine faith communities (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, and Zen Buddhist).Rev. Jon Magnuson, who dreamed of creating the Earth Keepers ten years ago, told LeMay that Lake Superior Magazine first announced the existence of the faith-based environment initiative.“Lake Superior Magazine announced the informal announcement of the Earth Keeper Covenant” and we want to thank the magazine for being a partner that way,” Rev. Magnuson said.The covenant was signed by the leaders of the nine faith communities in 2004 pledging to actively protect the environment and reach out to American Indian tribes.Rev. Magnuson honored the memory of one of the first signers of the covenant - Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan Bishop James Kelsey who was killed in a June 3, 2007 traffic accident.Bishop Kelsey was “one of the Earth Keepers true point people for the religious leaders,” Magnuson said.“Jim Kelsey’s spirit will carry us on - he was known as the environmental bishop and that was because of this work that he partnered with us on,” Magnuson said.Magnuson said the Earth Keepers “lift and honor” the members of the “Keweenaw Bay Indian Community have been with us on every one of our initiatives” including a sister effort called the Manoomin project that involves restoring wild rice to seven remote sites in northern Michigan.United Methodist Church Marquette District Superintendent Grant Lobb accepted the Lake Superior Magazine award on behalf of the nine faith leaders.Over 15,000 residents have participated in annual Earth Day hazardous waste collections (2005-2007) at sites across the U.P. have recycled or properly disposed of about 370 tons of pharmaceuticals, old/broken computers, cell phones, pesticides, raw liquid mercury, drain cleaner, oil-based paint, vehicle batteries and many other substances.2005 - 2007 Earth Keeper Clean SweepPharmaceutical, electronic, household hazardous waste The Manoomin ProjectAmerican Indian guides teach at-risk teens to plant wild rice.The teens learn to respect themselves, nature and tribal customs The Earth Keeper Manoomin Project have planted over one ton of wild rice seeds in the past three years through the hands of at-risk teenagers and American Indian guides. The project teaches teens to respect themselves, nature and American Indian heritage.The Manoomin Project includes classroom time and other learning like Tai Chi relaxation exercises and listening to stories from American Indian elders. In July 2007, KBIC elder Glenn Bressette of Harvey, MI explained how he overcame some of the same obstacles the at-risk teens are currently facing.Bressette described racism in Marquette when he was young when his mother told all her children to lie about their American Indian heritage. Bressette said he was called a "dirty Indian" and an "old drunken Indian." Bresette said when he was in his teens police officers shot at him as he tried to steal gasoline and described how he became an alcoholic trying to numb the pain from racism.The Boreal Chamber Symphony "One night only" July 15, 2007 Lake Superior Day The Boreal Chamber Symphony was formed by Midwest classical musicians during April 2007 that made its "one night only" performance a free benefit for the Earth Keepers on Lake Superior Day. The musicians to raised thousands of dollars for the Lake Superior Defense Fund.Nearly 400 people attended the nearly four hour event - the debut of the Boreal Chamber Symphony directed by Craig Randal Johnson of Minneapolis - raising thousands of dollars for the Lake Superior Defense Fund. Thousands of people watched an on-line video made of a rehearsal on the edge of the lakeshore using Lake Superior as an musical instrument following a June 25, 2007 press conference at Presque Isle in Marquette that promoted the concert.2007 Earth Keeper Energy Summit Over 500 businesses, churches/temples, and homeowners pledged to reduce power consumption, some received energy audits, millions in energy savings in next few years This summer's Earth Keeper Energy Summit inspired 500 businesses, homeowners and churches/temples to reduce their power consumption - and many signed up for energy audits. The participants are expected to reduce their utility bills by millions of dollars over the next few years.The Northern Michigan UniversityEarthKeeper Student Team The Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team is creating chapters at three other Upper Peninsula of Michigan universities. The nine Earth Keeper faith leaders and the KBIC President/CEO Susan LaFernier stood together at NMU on April 6, 2006 to announce the creation of the student team.The student efforts have included an adopt-a-watershed project and spreading the Earth Keeper message to children and adults at schools, churches and temples.The NMU EK Student Team participated in all Earth Keeper events. In October 2006, the students recorded a video for an MTV contest.On October 6, 2006, Rev. Lynn Hubbard of Eden on the Bay Lutheran Church in Munising sponsored a benefit concert for the student team with Greg LaCombe and the Loose Ends band.Rev. Hubbard has scheduled a second benefit concert for the student team at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, October 12, 2007 at Upfront & Company restaurant in Marquette. The public is encouraged to attend the free benefit concert.The Earth Keepers have been fortunate to receive several international awards including the Lake Superior Magazine honor.---Pictured left to right (in above photo) are Earth Keeper consultant Ron Sundell; Cedar Tree institute Executive Director Rev. Jon Magnuson, Catholic Earth Keeper Kyra Fillmore representing Roman Catholic Bishop Alex Sample, Lake Superior Magazine Editor Konnie LeMay, United Methodist Church Marquette District Superintendent Grant Lobb, Jewish Earth Keeper Jacob Silver of Temple Beth Sholom in Ishpeming, U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak's District Director Tom Baldini, Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan Operations Coordinator Jane Cisluycis, and Superior Watershed Partnership Executive Director Carl Lindquist.In August 2006 and repeating again in 2007, the Grand Rapids, Michigan based Acton Institute named the Earth Keeper Initiative and the Cedar Tree Institute one of the 13 hardest working faith-based non-profits in America.The Manoomin Project received the hardest working honor in 2006 putting two Cedar Tree Institute projects on the hardest working list. World Magazine did features stories on the projects as part of the award.---On September 8, 2006, the Lake Superior Bi-National Forum presented the Earth Keepers with its Environmental Stewardship award during a ceremony in Marquette attended by the 9 faith leaders.---The Earth Keepers and the Manoomin Project have been fortunate to receive a large amount of positive coverage by the news media including national magazine articles, an United Methodist Church national TV crew did a story in Marquette during the 2007 clean sweep, and Rev. Magnuson was one of the guests on a national Native American radio talk show on September 14, 2007.Numerous national magazines have done stories on the Earth Keepers including Grit, The Lutheran, Thrivent Magazine and others. The Associated Press has run numerous stories on the Earth keepers and the U.P. media has been very supportive.---The Earth Keeper TeamA core group of about a dozen dedicates souls who inspire 400 plus volunteers and whose faith communties have turned out over 15,000 northern Michigan residents to three Earth Day clean sweeps that have recycled or properly disposed of about 370 tons of hazardous waste. ----- Having fun while protecting the environment: Rev. Jon Magnuson, whose dreamed up the Earth Keepers ten years ago, shares a light moment with one of the hardest working volunteers during the Lake Superior Magazine press conference in Marquette, MI on Sept. 17, 2007.Catholic Earth Keeper Kyra Fillmore of Marquette is a mother of two young children who shuffles a busy home life with doing God's work. Her husband and father are also very active in Earth Keepers.--- Over one ton of pharmaceuticals and over $500,000 narcotics was collected during the 2007 Earth Keeper Clean Sweep at 19 free drop-off sites across a 400 mile area of northern Michigan. The drugs were destroyed in a high-tech, low pollution, EPA-approved incinerator near St. Louis, Missouri. --- Over 320 tons of electronic waste (below) was turned in by the public during the 2006 Earth Keeper Clean Sweep. Old/broken computers, cell phones and other electronics were recycled. The photo by Tom Buchkoe of Marquette represents about 80 percent of the e-waste that was turned in by the public, small businesses and schools.---The annual "Blessing of the Wild Rice" (below) is held each September in Marquette as a show of respect for the return of the once native grain - and to thank the supporters of the Manoomin Project. Everyone has a fun time and the meal includes various forms of wild rice.The wild rice is prepared in several ways including searing the grain into a crunchy treat mixed with dried fruit.--- Native American guide Don Chosa created this offering (below) to nature during the 2006 Blessing of the Wild Rice.--- A member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Native American guide Don Chosa and the teens (below) bring the natural offering into the woods where it was placed behind a log during the 2006 Blessing of the Wild Rice in Marquette.---The at-risk teens involved in the Manoomin Project first arrive - in essence doing community service - after being sentenced in juvenbile court. Many of the teens have so much fun planting and testing the wild rice they ask to return the next year.These teens are truly a joy to work with and only need a little bit of positive attention to grow into the great leaders of tomorrow. The Manoomin Project honors the teenagers and the KBIC for working so hard to restore wild rice to northern Michigan. Below are links to a tribute music video honoring those involved in the project. Earth Keeper related website addresses are:Earth Keeper TV:http://earthkeepers.blip.tv/The Cedar Tree Institute:http://www.cedartreeinstitute.com/The Superior Watershed Partnershiphttp://www.superiorwatersheds.org/The Lake Superior Interfaith Communication Network:http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com/-----Earth Keeper TV Manoomin Project Music Video on blip tv:http://blip.tv/file/341528/You Tube - Manoomin Project Music Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0QPBLruQZ8---articles:World Magazine:http://www.worldmag.com/articles/12177Manoomin Project article/photos (scroll down a little bit):http://www.cedartreeinstitute.com/envprojects.html---
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19:30:17 11/02/07
Students Protect Environment Northern Michigan Youth Of All Ages Defend Earth Like 1960s Activism
[LESS INFO] 3 VIEWS | ADDED 19:30:17 11/02/07
Northern Michigan youth from preteen to twenties protect the earth in rebirth of 1960s student environmental activismA successful fundraiser was recently held for the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team and NMU Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) to support environment related projects in northern Michigan.Pictured left to right, above, are Johnny Bergdahl, Jon Berglund, Pastor Chad Christensen, Sammy and Breanna Bahrman (hidden), Sammy Bergdahl, Kendra Heikkila, and Elizabeth McCarthy.The Emanuel Lutheran Youth group protects environment through projects, education and donationsYouth wing of Emanuel Lutheran Church of Skandia. donate to NMU Lutheran Campus Ministry, support NMU EK student projects(Marquette, Michigan) - Ranging from preteen to mid-twenties, northern Michigan students of all ages are participating in a wide variety of projects to protect the earth even spending time after school collecting refundable bottles and cans to raise money for environmental donations one dime at a time. The Emanuel Lutheran Youth (ELY) group of Skandia, Michigan spent hundreds of hours collecting bottles and cans and recently donated that money to Upper Peninsula environmental causes undertaken by Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper (NMU EK) students. Pictured left to right are Emanuel Lutheran Youth group members Kendra Heikkila, Elizabeth McCarthy, Andy Bahrman, Breanna Bahrman, Johnny Bergdahl, Jon Berglund, Sammy Bergdahl, and Pastor Chad Christensen.Led by Pastor Chad Christensen, the ELY are the youth arm of the Emanuel Lutheran Church of Skandia. “This year we were learning about the environment,” Rev. Christensen said. The youth group has learned how “in our day-to-day lives, we can best care for the Earth and our surroundings,” Christensen said. Formed in 2002, the ELY is comprised of youth ranging in age from 11 to 18. The ELY learned this summer what they can do at home like creating a compost pile and the best use of household hazardous waste - everyday items that can have a negative effect on the environment if not properly handled, disposed or recycled. “They learned about reading labels on cleaning agents and herbicides used for gardening,” Christensen said. “Why we should not flush pharmaceuticals so they don’t get in groundwater.” The ELY presented a check to the NMU Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) during an October 2007 benefit concert for its environmental wing, the NMU EK Student Team in Marquette. The student EarthKeepers, who are attempting to start student chapters at three other universities, are part of the overall Michigan Earth Keeper Initiative that was recently declared one of America’s 15 hardest working faith-based non-profits for the second year in a row by a national magazine. Reminiscent of student environmental activism 40 years ago, the youths are being noticed in an area where some adult business leaders are supporting a controversial sulfide mining proposal. Pictured above: Rev. Jon Magnuson, who dreamed of creating the Earth keeper Initiative a decade ago, speaks to the audience during a successful fundraiser was recently held in Marquette for the Northern Michigan University Earth Keeper Student Team and Lutheran Campus Ministry to support environment related projects in northern Michigan.Rev. Magnuson, is director of the Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northern Michigan University and is the adult advisor and founder of the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper Student Team.The Emanuel Lutheran Youth group of the Emanuel Lutheran Church of Skandia gave a check to the groups from money they raised during recycling and cleanup projects.Donations were also given by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Eden on the Bay Lutheran Church in Munising, and the public.Greg LaCombe and the Loose Ends of Munising, MI provided music that inspired dancing by many of the hundreds who attended ranging in age from 7 to 70.The ELY members “are learning to protect the earth and they are concerned about the state of the planet that my generation is leaving them,” said Rev. Jon Magnuson, director of LCM and the NMU EK Student Team. During the presentation of the check, Magnuson thanked the Skandia youths for raising the money one dime at a time. The ELY group “have the same environmental goals as the Earth Keeper students they are helping,” said Magnuson, who dreamed of creating the interfaith Earth Keepers ten years ago. Hundreds attended the free NMU EK benefit concert featuring the Munising band “Greg LaCombe and Loose Ends.” The Munising band, Greg LaCombe and the Loose Ends, inspired many people to dance at a recent successful free benefit concert in Marquette for Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team and NMU Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) to support environment related projects in northern Michigan.Donations were given by Emanuel Lutheran Youth group of the Emanuel Lutheran Church of Skandia, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Eden on the Bay Lutheran Church in Munising, the Turtle Island Project and its co-founder/director Rev. Dr. Lynn Hubbard of Munising and the public.Hundreds of Upper Peninsula residents attended ranging in age from 7 to 70. The annual NMU EK benefit concert is sponsored by the non-profit Turtle Island Project, its founder/director Rev. Dr. Lynn Hubbard, and Eden on the Bay Lutheran Church, all of Munising. Other benefit concert sponsors include Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and the public. Hubbard said he organizes the annual concert because “the student Earth Keepers are doing important work to protect the environment that deserves to be supported.” A successful fundraiser was recently held in Marquette for the Northern Michigan University Earth Keeper (NMU EK) Student Team and NMU Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) to support environment related projects in northern Michigan.Pictured left to right are Turtle Island Project founder/director Rev. Dr. Lynn Hubbard of Munising, who sponsors the annual free benefit concert, and Rev. Jon Magnuson, director of NMU LCM and the NMU EK Student Team.The ELY group pick a different theme each year for their October lock-in retreat and in 2007 it’s learning how to protect the environment and putting those lessons to work. “Prior to concert, we had come from (LCM) Lothlorien house and the NMU students talked to us about climate control and pollution,” Christensen said “We also toured the Marquette Food Co-op.” The university students and the Skandia area youths both participated in the 2006 and 2007 Earth Keeper Clean Sweep that collected old/unwanted drugs and old/broken electronics like computers and cells phones. All items in the Earth Day collections were either recycled or properly disposed Pastor Christensen said the ELY “wanted to give the donation to Lutheran Campus Ministry for their work in environmental care.” “We are learning in confirmation classes about the environment in the scriptures,” Christensen said. “In Genesis the Bible explains God’s creative hand is forming the world.” “We learned from the NMU students that it does make a difference on how we dispose of oil, and where our trash may end up if we are littering,” Christensen said. During October’s “lock-in” the ELY group “played games and trivia on bible and environment issues and held Saturday morning worship,” Rev. Christensen said. The “lock-in” part is spending a night at their church, but the youth are very active for several weeks surrounding the event including collecting bottles and cans to raise money - one dime at a time - for organizations that help the community. The ELY have raised money for the Nifty Thrifty Food Pantry, Inc. in Eben Junction and collected canned food from the Emanuel Lutheran Church congregation. “Last year the youth had a fasting retreat so we learned about world hunger themes,” said Rev. Christensen. The numerous ELY service projects include cleaning road ditches and caroling at Christmas time for people who are shut in for most of the winter. Christian education is a big part of the ELY program including a retreat at the Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp in Crystal Falls, MI that examined “participation in church life and what that will mean when they get older,” Christensen said. In the spring of 2008, the ELY will take a field trip to Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota that is named after Martin Luther, the founder of Lutheranism and the Protestant (and German) Reformation. Christensen joined the Emanuel Lutheran Church of Skandia in 2000 as his first calling after studying at Luther Seminary. Christensen hails from the Rockwellian town of Walnut Grove, MN - home of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the celebrated author of the "Little House” Books - a series of novels that inspired the Little House on the Prairie TV show. Christian education is a big part of the ELY program including a retreat at the Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp in Crystal Falls, MI that examined “participation in church life and what that will mean when they get older,” Christensen said. In the spring of 2008, the ELY will take a field trip to Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota that is named after Martin Luther, the founder of Lutheranism and the Protestant (and German) Reformation. Christensen joined the Emanuel Lutheran Church of Skandia in 2000 as his first calling after studying at Luther Seminary. Christensen hails from the Rockwellian town of Walnut Grove, MN - home of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the celebrated author of the "Little House” Books - a series of novels that inspired the Little House on the Prairie TV show. The numerous ELY service projects include cleaning road ditches and caroling at Christmas time for people who are shut in for most of the winter. Related info: Emanuel Lutheran Church of Skandia 9812 U.S. 41 South Skandia, Michigan 49885-0150 Pastor Rev. Chad Christensen chchriste@yahoo.com 906-942-7245 email: emanuel@tds.netrelated websites: http://www.godsworkourhands.net/ScriptLib/OS/Congregations/cdsDetail.asp?Id=A5A3A6AB92http://www.godsworkourhands.net/ScriptLib/RE/Trendnet/cdsTrendNet.asp?Id=A5A3A6AB92--- Northern Michigan University Lutheran Campus Ministry Lothlorien house Marquette, Michigan 49855 http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.comhttp://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,207119.shtmlhttp://www.elca.org/campusministry/celebrate100/pdf/essays.pdf--- The Cedar Tree Institute: http://www.CedarTreeInstitute.org906-228-5494 --- Luther Seminary 2481 Como Avenue St. Paul, MN 55108 Admissions: 1-800-LUTHER3 Info: 651-641-3456 . Website: http://www.luthersem.edu/--- Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp 138 Fortune Lake Camp Rd Crystal Falls, MI 49920 Phone 906-875-3697 Toll Free: 877-569-4968 Fax: 906-875-4829 http://www.fortunelake.org--- Marquette Food Co-op 109 W. Baraga Ave. Marquette, Michigan 49855 Co-op: 906-225-0671 FAX: 906-225-1169 email: info@marquettefood.coopwebsite: http://www.marquettefood.coop/--- Laura Ingalls Wilder - Author of the "Little House" Books http://www.lauraingallswilder.com/
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21:05:45 10/18/07
Nmu Five Acre Native Plants Research Project To Be Destroyed To Make Dorms
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 21:05:45 10/18/07
Students fight university plan to bulldoze an environmental study project for building dorms in Marquette, Michigan **Video coming soon !!!Northern Michigan University students are trying to save their four-year-old Native Plants project that will be a valuable seed tool for other northern Michigan environment efforts and help attract students to the campus along Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula if its not destroyed to make dorms“Green wash” at Northern Michigan UniversityPlans to destroy a student environment and research project is at university with slogan "Northern Naturally" (Marquette, Michigan) - Northern Michigan University students are battling a university plan to bulldoze a four-year-old environment study project to build new dorms.Northern Michigan University (NMU) student Michael Joko Rotter is leading a petition drive and other student efforts to stop the university from destroying the five acre Outdoor Classroom and Native Plants Research Area - that has received $24,000 in state and federal funding.During the past week, Rotter started a petition drive and media campaign - collecting over 500 signatures and organizing several student organizations to battle the NMU administration plans to eliminate the Native Plants Project garden and research area.NMU Student Michael Rotter is leading the fight to protect the Native Plants Project that has involved the blood, sweat and tears of hundreds of students"We have spent the last four years working hard to make the area natural and educational," said Rotter, a 22-year-old NMU senior."Native plants contribute to helping keep our waterways clean, building habitat for animals and other organisms, and contribute to a more sustainable lawn."The five-acre native plants outdoor classroom has oak/jack pine savanna, a retention pond/wetland area, upland mesic forest and shrub types representing various northern Michigan habitats .“If NMU is going to use the slogan “Northern Naturally” to me this project is the epitome of that whole slogan,” said project professor Dr. Ronald Sundell, director of the NMU Environmental Science Program.NMU students put loving care into the five-acre Native Plants Project on the north side of campus (NMU Native Plant Project Photos by Professor Dr. Ronald Sundell)“The project has been approved by the university under their former master plan that is now being revised - now they are saying they are going to put up new dorms - brick and mortar,” said Dr. Sundell, who is active in several northern Michigan environment projects.The students hope to convince "campus planners to preserve our native plants and make Northern green and not give it a ‘green wash'," said Rotter, who is a member of the NMU EarthKeeper Student Team that has organized numerous environment projects including helping to recycle or properly disposed of over 370 tons of household hazardous waste on the past three Earth Days.The project includes field sampling of vegetation, insects, birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians); ecological modeling, plant identification, native plant propagation, restoration techniques; water quality and oil analysis plus weather and climate studies.Literally hundreds of students from the student environmental science organization and NMU classes have assisted in the development of this site,” Sundell said. Over the past four years, hundreds of NMU students have worked hard to build the Native Plants Project that will soon become a beautiful part of campus if it's not destroyed by NMU dorm planners“I think there are opportunities for the university to enhance their environmental science program and attract significant numbers of new students to NMU,” Sundell said.“And it’s things like the Native Plants Project that makes this attractive to potential students interested in environmental restoration and environmental sustainability.”Rotter has fostered support from the NMU Environmental Science Organization, Superior Geography Club, Sustainable Agriculture club, and the Students Against Sulfide Mining.NMU students instrumental in creating and nurturing the Native Plant Project over the past four years are Mike Stefancic, a graduate who was part of the first planting; and Jason Woodhull, who trained by Stefancic and then passed the torch to Michael Rotter. Thousands of students hours have gone into making the project a success and it includes The project includes field sampling of vegetation, insects, birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians“These students have helped out during the summers doing the planting, maintaining and developing of the site,” Sundell said.“This was the worst drought in the recorded history of the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) and with the help of Mike Rotter and other student volunteers we were able to add an additional 11,000 plants to the campus Native Plant Project this summer,” Sundell said.“And during this dry summer the students maintained the part we had established - even under these harsh conditions it grew in size about one third of an acre.”“It takes a lot of care for these plants to become well establish - but once they are established they will need minimal maintenance,” Sundell said.If it’s not destroyed, the project will help other environmental efforts in northern Michigan.“You can’t go a lot of places and find native seed - we are becoming a major seed source,” Sundell said“We are planning to give the seeds to organizations across the central U.P. for restoration projects.” The Native Plants Project is coming of age and soon will add beauty to the campus.Beautiful flowers are part of the project that is coming of age and will soon have many flowering plants in brilliant colors“It may not look aesthetically pretty at the present because it takes time to be establish - but once established it will become an area of great beauty with all sorts of flowering plants and grasses in shades of white, yellow, pink and purple - it will be an amazing hill site that the campus can be proud of,” Sundell said.The project is located on a small hill between the new science building and the NMU Learning Resource Center on the north side of campus.“There is other space on campus that Northern could use for housing and dorms,” Sundell said.This map shows the five acre project at NMU that is growing each year but now faces destruction to make way for dorms and other student housingThe National Weather Service automated weather tower for Marquette sits in the middle of the native plants area and would have to be moved if the site if developed for dorms. NWS weather instruments hang from the 30-foot tower.“It’s a perfect site for collecting the weather data because its sits in middle of an open area, surrounded by natural vegetation and is not close to buildings or sidewalks which can skew the weather data,” Sundell said.“It’s hard to find an appropriate location in the city of Marquette to collect this weather data so our native plants site was one of the few locations available and a perfect site for this automated weather tower,” Sundell said.In a similar project, Rotter recently helped turn the NMU Lutheran Campus Ministry lawn into a Native Plant Garden that includes rocks from three of the Great lakes, dozens of Michigan plants, and a solar fountain.On Friday, Oct. 5, 2007, just hours before getting the bad news from NMU, Rotter arranged to have a Lutheran pastor and a Zen Buddhist head priest conduct a blessing of the garden that encircles the Lutheran Campus Ministry house.Two pastors conducted a blessing on the Lutheran Campus Ministry new Native Plants Garden on Friday Oct. 5, 2007 that was attended by LMC board members and LCM students. (Garden Blessing Photos by Greg Peterson)Prayers, incense, bells, and chants were part of the ceremony arranged by Rotter, who is a member of Lake Superior Zendo, a Marquette Zen Buddhist temple.Stones from three of the Great Lakes are part of the Lutheran Campus Ministry Native Plants Garden that encircles the house and replaces the lawn. Rotter held two student meetings this week to discuss ways to stop NMU from destroying the project. “We had a really good turn out at the meeting with a majority of the audience in support of the project,” Rotter said. Pleas to university officials to reconsider the plan has fallen on deaf ears, Rotter said. “We felt that the planning commission and the few administrators there did not take us seriously - they choose to argue against the project instead of hearing our concerns,” Rotter said. Students are learning a great deal about the environment as the work inside and out on the Native Plants Project at NMU“Our next step will be to keep collecting signatures so by December when the proposal comes to the NMU Board of Trustees we can hand them copies of all the signatures and a letter from student leaders with our concerns,” Rotter said.Rotter is asking the public and students to inundate NMU administration officials with emails requesting that the Native Plant Project be spared.People can email NMU President Les Wong at: wong@nmu.eduThe email of NMU Provost Susan Koch is:skoch@nmu.edu"Their job is to help us obtain a good education and we think that it is essential that they keep educational opportunities like the native plant study area in tack," Rotter said."The students want the study area, what we have to do now is make sure the administration hears our voices."Rotter said the Native Plant Project has a wide range of long-term study and future "research value."There are 45 two-meter research plots available to students and faculty for either undergraduate or graduate level research studies, Rotter said."The plots are currently being used for native plant propagation and seed source," Rotter said.The students have received support and/or technical assistance (including memorandums of agreement) from numerous agencies including the Hiawatha National Forest (U.S. Forest Service) and the National Weather Service (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the Superior Watershed Partnership, Upper Peninsula Resource Conservation and Development Council, The Nature Conservancy, the Seaborg Center's Upward Bound Math and Science Program and many members of the public and NMU students, faculty and staff.Funding has been provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes National Program Office ($18,000), Northern Michigan University (approx. $6,000 for water line/cedar edging) and recently the NMU Development Fund.The five-acre Native Plants Project is located on the northside of the Northern Michigan University campus. (NMU Native Plant Project Photos by Professor Dr. Ronald Sundell)Future projects being considered include small wind turbine and solar panel demonstration sites, areas set aside depicting uses of native plants by Native Americans, a greenhouse dedicated to native plants propagation and research; and established viewing areas, trails, and signs.Rotter can be reached by calling 231-250-3061 or email: mrotter@nmu.eduThe NMU EK Student team can be reached by calling 906-475-5068 or email: earthkeeper@charter.netThe project professor Dr. Ronald Sundell can be reached by calling 906-227-1359 or email: rsundell@nmu.edu
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04:52:57 09/22/07
Earth Keepers Manoomin Project A Success Thanks To Volunteers Students Tribe Supporters
[LESS INFO] 6 VIEWS | ADDED 04:52:57 09/22/07
(Marquette, Michigan) - The impact of numerous environmental projects created by the northern Michigan Earth Keepers over the past few years is measured in the hundreds of tons as over 15,000 residents have turned in hazardous waste, teens are restoring wild rice beds, businesses and homes are reducing power consumption and thousands of dollars used to protect Lake SuperiorThe non-profit Michigan Earth Keeper Initiative, its nine faith communities, an Upper Peninsula American Indian tribe and over 400 volunteers were honored this week with the “2007 Lake Superior Magazine Achievement Award.”The annual award established in 1994 “recognizes organizations or individuals who have improved the well-being of Lake Superior and it’s residents,” said Lake Superior Magazine Editor Konnie LeMay who traveled from Duluth, Minnesota to honor the interfaith environment project.(Photos by Greg Peterson, Tom Buchkoe, Steve Durocher and Samantha Otto)LeMay cited “734,000 pounds worth of environmental impact just since the signing the Earth Keeper Covenant in July 2004 by nine faith communities.”Presenting an engraved crystal plaque during a Sept. 17, 2007 ceremony at Presque Isle Park in Marquette, LeMay said the “spiritual role model of the Earth Keepers certainly has improved the well-being and environmental awareness of Upper Michigan’s residents - it has offered a concrete way to action.” The Lake Superior Magazine November issue honors the Marquette-based Earth Keepers whose environment projects include annual Earth Day hazardous waste collections, an energetic student team with its own projects, wild rice restoration, an energy summit, and most recently a classical music concert to protect the biggest, deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes that Native Americans call Gitchie Gummi. The project is co-sponsored by the Cedar Tree Institute, the Superior Watershed Partnership, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and the congregations of over 140 churches and temples representing nine faith communities (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, and Zen Buddhist).Rev. Jon Magnuson, who dreamed of creating the Earth Keepers ten years ago, told LeMay that Lake Superior Magazine first announced the existence of the faith-based environment initiative. “Lake Superior Magazine announced the informal announcement of the Earth Keeper Covenant” and we want to thank the magazine for being a partner that way,” Rev. Magnuson said.The covenant was signed by the leaders of the nine faith communities in 2004 pledging to actively protect the environment and reach out to American Indian tribes.Rev. Magnuson honored the memory of one of the first signers of the covenant - Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan Bishop James Kelsey who was killed in a June 3, 2007 traffic accident. Bishop Kelsey was “one of the Earth Keepers true point people for the religious leaders,” Magnuson said.“Jim Kelsey’s spirit will carry us on - he was known as the environmental bishop and that was because of this work that he partnered with us on,” Magnuson said.Magnuson said the Earth Keepers “lift and honor” the members of the “Keweenaw Bay Indian Community have been with us on every one of our initiatives” including a sister effort called the Manoomin project that involves restoring wild rice to seven remote sites in northern Michigan. United Methodist Church Marquette District Superintendent Grant Lobb accepted the Lake Superior Magazine award on behalf of the nine faith leaders.Over 15,000 residents have participated in annual Earth Day hazardous waste collections (2005-2007) at sites across the U.P. have recycled or properly disposed of about 370 tons of pharmaceuticals, old/broken computers, cell phones, pesticides, raw liquid mercury, drain cleaner, oil-based paint, vehicle batteries and many other substances.2005 - 2007 Earth Keeper Clean SweepPharmaceutical, electronic, household hazardous waste The Manoomin ProjectAmerican Indian guides teach at-risk teens to plant wild rice.The teens learn to respect themselves, nature and tribal customs The Earth Keeper Manoomin Project have planted over one ton of wild rice seeds in the past three years through the hands of at-risk teenagers and American Indian guides. The project teaches teens to respect themselves, nature and American Indian heritage.The Manoomin Project includes classroom time and other learning like Tai Chi relaxation exercises and listening to stories from American Indian elders. In July 2007, KBIC elder Glenn Bressette of Harvey, MI explained how he overcame some of the same obstacles the at-risk teens are currently facing. Bressette described racism in Marquette when he was young when his mother told all her children to lie about their American Indian heritage. Bressette said he was called a "dirty Indian" and an "old drunken Indian." Bresette said when he was in his teens police officers shot at him as he tried to steal gasoline and described how he became an alcoholic trying to numb the pain from racism.The Boreal Chamber Symphony "One night only" July 15, 2007 Lake Superior Day The Boreal Chamber Symphony was formed by Midwest classical musicians during April 2007 that made its "one night only" performance a free benefit for the Earth Keepers on Lake Superior Day. The musicians to raised thousands of dollars for the Lake Superior Defense Fund. Nearly 400 people attended the nearly four hour event - the debut of the Boreal Chamber Symphony directed by Craig Randal Johnson of Minneapolis - raising thousands of dollars for the Lake Superior Defense Fund. Thousands of people watched an on-line video made of a rehearsal on the edge of the lakeshore using Lake Superior as an musical instrument following a June 25, 2007 press conference at Presque Isle in Marquette that promoted the concert.2007 Earth Keeper Energy SummitOver 500 businesses, churches/temples, and homeowners pledged to reduce power consumption, some received energy audits, millions in energy savings in next few years This summer's Earth Keeper Energy Summit inspired 500 businesses, homeowners and churches/temples to reduce their power consumption - and many signed up for energy audits. The participants are expected to reduce their utility bills by millions of dollars over the next few years.The Northern Michigan UniversityEarthKeeper Student Team The Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team is creating chapters at three other Upper Peninsula of Michigan universities. The nine Earth Keeper faith leaders and the KBIC President/CEO Susan LaFernier stood together at NMU on April 6, 2006 to announce the creation of the student team.The student efforts have included an adopt-a-watershed project and spreading the Earth Keeper message to children and adults at schools, churches and temples.The NMU EK Student Team participated in all Earth Keeper events. In October 2006, the students recorded a video for an MTV contest. On October 6, 2006, Rev. Lynn Hubbard of Eden on the Bay Lutheran Church in Munising sponsored a benefit concert for the student team with Greg LaCombe and the Loose Ends band.Rev. Hubbard has scheduled a second benefit concert for the student team at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, October 12, 2007 at Upfront & Company restaurant in Marquette. The public is encouraged to attend the free benefit concert. The Earth Keepers have been fortunate to receive several international awards including the Lake Superior Magazine honor.--- Pictured left to right (in above photo) are Earth Keeper consultant Ron Sundell; Cedar Tree institute Executive Director Rev. Jon Magnuson, Catholic Earth Keeper Kyra Fillmore representing Roman Catholic Bishop Alex Sample, Lake Superior Magazine Editor Konnie LeMay, United Methodist Church Marquette District Superintendent Grant Lobb, Jewish Earth Keeper Jacob Silver of Temple Beth Sholom in Ishpeming, U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak's District Director Tom Baldini, Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan Operations Coordinator Jane Cisluycis, and Superior Watershed Partnership Executive Director Carl Lindquist.In August 2006 and repeating again in 2007, the Grand Rapids, Michigan based Acton Institute named the Earth Keeper Initiative and the Cedar Tree Institute one of the 13 hardest working faith-based non-profits in America.The Manoomin Project received the hardest working honor in 2006 putting two Cedar Tree Institute projects on the hardest working list. World Magazine did features stories on the projects as part of the award.---On September 8, 2006, the Lake Superior Bi-National Forum presented the Earth Keepers with its Environmental Stewardship award during a ceremony in Marquette attended by the 9 faith leaders.---The Earth Keepers and the Manoomin Project have been fortunate to receive a large amount of positive coverage by the news media including national magazine articles, an United Methodist Church national TV crew did a story in Marquette during the 2007 clean sweep, and Rev. Magnuson was one of the guests on a national Native American radio talk show on September 14, 2007.Numerous national magazines have done stories on the Earth Keepers including Grit, The Lutheran, Thrivent Magazine and others. The Associated Press has run numerous stories on the Earth keepers and the U.P. media has been very supportive.---The Earth Keeper TeamA core group of about a dozen dedicates souls who inspire 400 plus volunteers and whose faith communties have turned out over 15,000 northern Michigan residents to three Earth Day clean sweeps that have recycled or properly disposed of about 370 tons of hazardous waste. ----- Having fun while protecting the environment: Rev. Jon Magnuson, whose dreamed up the Earth Keepers ten years ago, shares a light moment with one of the hardest working volunteers during the Lake Superior Magazine press conference in Marquette, MI on Sept. 17, 2007.Catholic Earth Keeper Kyra Fillmore of Marquette is a mother of two young children who shuffles a busy home life with doing God's work. Her husband and father are also very active in Earth Keepers. --- Over one ton of pharmaceuticals and over $500,000 narcotics was collected during the 2007 Earth Keeper Clean Sweep at 19 free drop-off sites across a 400 mile area of northern Michigan. The drugs were destroyed in a high-tech, low pollution, EPA-approved incinerator near St. Louis, Missouri. --- Over 320 tons of electronic waste (below) was turned in by the public during the 2006 Earth Keeper Clean Sweep. Old/broken computers, cell phones and other electronics were recycled. The photo by Tom Buchkoe of Marquette represents about 80 percent of the e-waste that was turned in by the public, small businesses and schools.---The annual "Blessing of the Wild Rice" (below) is held each September in Marquette as a show of respect for the return of the once native grain - and to thank the supporters of the Manoomin Project. Everyone has a fun time and the meal includes various forms of wild rice.The wild rice is prepared in several ways including searing the grain into a crunchy treat mixed with dried fruit. --- Native American guide Don Chosa created this offering (below) to nature during the 2006 Blessing of the Wild Rice.--- A member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Native American guide Don Chosa and the teens (below) bring the natural offering into the woods where it was placed behind a log during the 2006 Blessing of the Wild Rice in Marquette.---The at-risk teens involved in the Manoomin Project first arrive - in essence doing community service - after being sentenced in juvenbile court. Many of the teens have so much fun planting and testing the wild rice they ask to return the next year.These teens are truly a joy to work with and only need a little bit of positive attention to grow into the great leaders of tomorrow. The Manoomin Project honors the teenagers and the KBIC for working so hard to restore wild rice to northern Michigan. Below are links to a tribute music video honoring those involved in the project. Earth Keeper related website addresses are:Earth Keeper TV:http://earthkeepers.blip.tv/The Cedar Tree Institute:http://www.cedartreeinstitute.com/The Superior Watershed Partnershiphttp://www.superiorwatersheds.orgThe Lake Superior Interfaith Communication Network:http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com/-----Earth Keeper TV Manoomin Project Music Video on blip tv:http://blip.tv/file/341528/You Tube - Manoomin Project Music Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0QPBLruQZ8---articles:World Magazine:http://www.worldmag.com/articles/12177Manoomin Project article/photos (scroll down a little bit):http://www.cedartreeinstitute.com/envprojects.html---
21 Views
00:05:31 07/17/07
Boreal Chamber Symphony Lights Up The Northern Night On Lake Superior Day
[LESS INFO] 21 VIEWS | ADDED 00:05:31 07/17/07
Hundreds of people spent their Sunday night at the debut of the Boreal Chamber Symphony in Michigan's Upper Peninsula for a wide-ranging classical music concert to protect Lake Superior.The Lake Superior Day free concert was a benefit for numerous projects involving the immense Superior watershed.Superior Watershed Partnership Executive Director Carl Lindquist said the attendance of nearly 400 people proves that the public cares about Lake SuperiorEarth Keeper volunteer media advisor Greg Peterson reports all the donations go to the Lake Superior Defense fund.Length: 6:02It was standing room only for the (July 15, 2005) Lake Superior Day debut of the Boreal Chamber Symphony in Marquette, Michigan in a concert to benefit the largest, deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes.The concert was sponsored by the Superior Watershed Partnership and the Cedar Tree Institute and honored the Earth Keeper Initiative that the two Marquette non-profit organizations founded in 2004.Conductor Craig Randal Johnson of Minneapolis, Minnesota led 20 professional classical musicians from around the Midwest in a concert of numerous moods including a special piece commissioned for the event entitled "Fall Storm on Lake Superior." Over 350 people attended the free three-hour concert Sunday night that raised thousands of dollars for the Lake Superior Defense Fund. With a view of Lake Superior, the concert included music and interpretive dance using items from the shoreline including rocks, sand, water, and driftwood.The Earth Keepers have numerous ongoing projects to protect the immense Lake Superior watershed including wild rice restoration and Earth Day household hazardous waste collections across northern Michigan.Annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweeps have recycled or properly disposed of over 370 tons of waste that would otherwise have ended up in landfills including old/broken computers, cell phones, household poisons, vehicle batteries, and pharmaceuticals.Karl BohnakMaster of CeremoniesWLUC TV-6 MeteorologistThe organizers thanked the crowd for their ongoing support of Earth Keeper projects."In the last three years, the Upper Peninsula has broken three national records as far as pollution prevention goes and we hope to continue that with your support," said Carl Lindquist, executive director of the Superior Watershed Partnership.The annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweeps have broken United States Environmental Protection Agency household hazardous waste collection records for the past three years, Lindquist said."There is no cost here - it's just a gift back to you - and it's brought to you basically by a couple of dozen very generous people," said Rev. Jon Magnuson, executive director of the Cedar Tree Institute.The Boreal Chamber symphony was formed just for the one-night event, although organizers hope to hold a concert every Lake Superior Day. Conductor Johnson has encouraged musicians around Lake Superior to form similar annual concerts to protect the largest freshwater lake in North America.Carrie BioloPercussionistThe Superior Watershed Partnership and the Cedar Tree Institute have collaborated on numerous environmental projects over the last decade including but not limited to stream restoration, controlling invasive species, restoring native plant species, storm water management, dune restoration, Great Lakes monitoring, wild rice restoration, erosion control and energy conservation. Partners in those projects include Marquette County Juvenile Court, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, and over 140 churches/temples.The bishops/leaders of nine faith traditions (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, and Zen Buddhist) signed the Earth Keeper Covenant in 2004 pledging to actively protect the environment and reach out to American Indian tribes.For more information contact the concert co-sponsors: Carl Lindquist, 906-228-6095; Rev. Jon Magnuson, 906-228-5494Related websites:Superior Watershed Partnershiphttp://www.superiorwatersheds.orgThe Cedar Tree Institutehttp://www.cedartreeinstitute.comConductor Craig Randal Johnsonhttp://www.tonttu.comLake Superior Binational Forumhttp://www.superiorforum.info
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22:56:50 05/05/07
Part 1 A Look At The 2007 Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep On Earth Day Across Northern Michigan
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 22:56:50 05/05/07
The 2007 Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep is now history and is - in fact - historic.Over one ton of drugs was collected in only three hours - plus an estimated $500,000 in narcotics was turned in at 19 sites across northern Michigan.This is the first in a series of reports on the third annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep by volunteer media advisor Greg Peterson.Part one takes an overall look at the collection - future stories will include further comments and more details on sponsors the United States Environmental protection Agency (EPA), and Thrivent Financial; the hardworking Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper Student Team, and the thoughts of police officers and pharmacists who made the clean sweep a success.Part 1: 3:56Here is additional information on the Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep:Northern Michigan Residents Turn In Tens of Thousands of Pharmaceuticals Weighing Over One TonNarcotics Have Estimated Street Value of $500,000(Marquette, Michigan) - Northern Michigan residents turned in tens of thousands of pills plus narcotics with an estimated street value of half a million dollars during the third annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep.Superior Watershed Partnership Director Carl Lindquist said over one ton of medicines and personal care products were turned in by the public during the 2007 Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep.Organizers said the collected narcotics have an estimated street value of $500,000."We had a great public turnout," Lindquist said.The collection was sponsored by nine faith communities (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church UMC, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, and Zen Buddhist), the Superior Watershed Partnership, the Cedar Tree Institute, and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.About 2,000 people turned in pharmaceuticals but many collected from family and friends.Assistance was provided by the Michigan Pharmacists Association and law enforcement including the DEA and Michigan Sheriff's Association.“As we heal and cleanse the Earth, we are also healing the human heart," said Lutheran Rev. Jon Magnuson, event founder and head of Northern Michigan University (NMU) Lutheran Campus Ministry.Sponsors include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.The EPA says trace amounts of pharmaceuticals are turning up in America's drinking water."This is an ideal approach for grassroots community members and the faith-based community to work with the federal government, American Indians and others to achieve environmental gain," said Chicago EPA official John Perrecone while visiting collection sites.Lutheran Mary Sloan Armstrong of Harvey brought 18 large dust-covered bottles of medicine that belonged to her late father Illinois druggist J.K. Sloan."This stuff goes back about one hundred years, " said Marquette pharmacist Dave Campana.Pharmacist Kent Jenema said a turn-of-the-century “doctor's traveling pharmacy" kit was left at the Marquette St. Peter Catholic Cathedral."Some of the most abuse things in the area are prescription drugs and a lot of people after they get their prescription refilled don't use them, said Marquette Police officer Brandon Boesl."Lots of controlled substances came through that won't get sold or end up in the water," said Lutheran Rev. Tari Stage-Harvey of St. Ignace.Marquette pharmacist Bob Hodges said controlled drugs were inventoried as "required by law."The Earth Keeper collection is an example of "community engagement in properly disposing of pharmaceuticals (that) will help us stop and prevent prescription drug abuse, and the harm it can cause," said U.S. Drug Czar John Walters.A study revealed 14 percent of Marquette area students admit using prescription medication to get high."A lot of times prescription drugs that are suitable for abuse can be stolen from people for whom they are prescribed," said social worker Paul Olson.Katherine Grier said her mother was "addicted to prescription pain killers and sleeping pills" so she hid the drugs because she “did not want to flush them down the toilet."Ishpeming Police Officer Robert Sibley said addicts burglarize homes to get drugs and “either use it themselves or sell it on the streets."Gladstone First Lutheran Church Rev. Jonathan Schmidt said the collection shows “care of the environment and the need to remove drugs that might be abused."NMU student Miranda Revere said Delta County Prosecutor Steve Parks described the problem of “teens abusing prescription drugs" so finding volunteers “was not difficult."Marquette Messiah Lutheran Church Pastor Nancy Amacher said “we believe the earth is God's created gift and part of our stewardship is to care for ourselves as well as the forests, waterways, and their inhabitants."Marquette Baha'i spiritual assembly chair Dr. Rodney Clarken said "the interfaith aspect of this project has given it a unique energy and power" and hopes people will connect protecting the Earth and their spiritual beliefs.10-year-old Eve McCowen volunteered with her parents and other Baha'i at a Lutheran church."We came here to collect the vitamins, pills and any other medicines - so they won't pollute the earth," said McCowen, a fourth grader.Lutheran Don Flint dropped the old drugs off at an Ironwood Catholic church because it's not right “to flush pharmaceuticals down the toilet."The NMU EarthKeeper Student Team traveled hundreds of miles to all collections sites.A Lutheran, NMU student project director Jennifer Simula said the students "all have smiles on their faces" and are letting everyone know “they are involved in a great project."Botany major Michael Rotter was amazed “a 21-year-old Buddhist college kid can sit down and talk to a 30-year-old pharmacist and we can both relate to the 50-year-old Methodist pastor."Some people “dropped off pharmaceuticals for friends and family members," said NMU student Ashley Ormson, a member of Lutheran Campus Ministry.NMU student Matt Nordine enjoyed the four-hour round drive to St. Ignace “to actively participate in Earth Day."NMU student Lauren Murphy said it's easy to mix good grades with environmental work because "we keep a good balance.""We collected a lot of medicines, old suntan lotions, eye drops, cosmetics and other stuff like that," said NMU student Kristy Knutson.UMC of St. Ignace Rev. Jim Balfour said “it is wonderful to work in a community where the churches come together easily to address the threats to God's world."Presbyterian Earth Keeper Sue Piasini of Sagola, MI saw a flock of geese while going to the clean sweep and thought “we are going to take care of the water for you."Northern Michigan Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes said the public had an "eagerness about being a part of the solution" at the Fortune Lake Lutheran Bible Camp in Iron County.Marquette Roman Catholic Bishop Alexander Sample said it is “wonderful to see that the younger generation is at the heart of this Earth Keepers effort."Catholic Earth Keeper Kyra Fillmore said "people were unloading medicines from deceased relatives or from past illness."Catholic Earth Keeper Linda O'Brien said the drug collection allowed participants to "shed the reminder of pain from loved ones."Northern Michigan Bishop James Kelsey said “care for the environment is an expression of love for God and one another."Jewish Earth Keeper Jacob Silver of Temple Beth Sholom said the planet's future will depend on how youth are motivated by adults because “for Jews, the earth is all we have."Earth Keeper Rev. Charlie West of the Grace UMC in Marquette said church members "felt really good about providing this service for the community."Zen Buddhist Head Priest Paul Lehmberg of the Lake Superior Zendo Temple said “we're passing along our worry" over the condition of the earth to youth.Rev. Lehmberg said his 15-year-old daughter, Freya, and Rev. West's 13-year-old son, Christopher, were excited to volunteerUMC Northern Michigan District Superintendent Grant R. Lobb said the words "cleaner water" kept popping into his mind while watching people drop off pharmaceuticals.Catholic Earth Keeper Kelly Mathews said “some people brought in bottles with 50 to 80 pills" and “I found the financial waste totally unnecessary."Unitarian Earth Keeper Gail Griffith agreed the waste of medicine in America is sad because some pharmaceuticals “end up as trash, but we need to insure that trash doesn't end up harming our waters."Presbyterian Earth Keeper Lynnea Kuzak was thanked by a resident who wanted her late husband's cancer medication properly disposed.Joy Ibsen of Trout Creek Trinity Lutheran Church said "the earth and water is allergic to many powerful prescriptions and chemicals."Mary Klups of Ontonagon County brought in pain and blood pressure medication leftover from her late husband's cancer treatment.White Pine pharmacist Chuck Blezek said people were told to flush old prescriptions down the toilet but “only lately that we've found out that it's the wrong thing to do."Munising UMC site coordinator Phil Hansen said some participants "brought in large quantities" of drugs.The previous two cleans sweeps gathered nearly 400 tons of hazardous waste including household poisons, vehicle batteries, old computers and cell phones - all was properly disposed or recycled.For more information contact the Superior Watershed Partnership at 906-228-6095 and Greg at 906-475-5068, or email: earthkeeper@charter.netEarth Keeper TV:http://earthkeepers.blip.tv/Earth Keeper related website addresses are:The Superior Watershed Partnership:http://www.superiorwatersheds.orgThe Cedar Tree Institute:http://www.cedartreeinstitute.com/The Lake Superior Interfaith Communication Network:http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com/
113 Views
03:43:16 04/28/07
Northern Michigan Residents Turn In Tens Of Thousands Of Pharmaceuticals Weighing Over One Ton
[LESS INFO] 113 VIEWS | ADDED 03:43:16 04/28/07
Narcotics Have Estimated Street Value of $500,000Third Annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep Targeted All MedicinesEarth Day: 2007 Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep(Marquette, Michigan) - Northern Michigan residents honored Earth Day by turning in tens of thousands of pills plus narcotics with an estimated street value of half a million dollars during the third annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep.The 2007 Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep targeted out-of-date and unwanted medications of all kinds, according to Carl Lindquist, executive director of the Superior Watershed Partnership.Earth Keeper TV will soon have an updated videos and stories about the pharmaceutical collection.Lindquist estimated that over one ton of pharmaceuticals and personal care products were turned in by the public.The "controlled substances" turned in have an estimated street value of $500,000 including narcotics in pill and liquid form, clean sweep organizers said.Several police officers estimated that each one of the narcotics and other controlled drugs had a street value ranging from $5 to $25 per pill.“We had a great public turnout, a lot of people showed up with old medications,” said Lindquist said. “We are again breaking records for the Great Lakes and maybe the nation.”Lindquist said the exact number of controlled substances turned in was still being tallied.About 2,000 people turned in items but the many had also collected pharmaceuticals from other family and friends, organizers said.The 2007 clean sweep went off without a hitch thanks to the U.P. chapter of the Michigan Pharmacists Association, and numerous law enforcement agencies including the DEA and Michigan Sheriff's Association, organizers said. Pharmacists and law enforcement officers were present at all collection sites to ensure security and proper collection of the pharmaceuticals, Lindquist said.The third annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep was coordinated by the Superior Watershed Partnership and the Cedar Tree Institute, both Marquette-based non-profit environmental groups.The clean sweep was again sponsored by nine U.P. faith communities with 130,000 members (60 percent of U.P. residents), the Superior Watershed Partnership, the Cedar Tree Institute, and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.The project involves the congregations of over 140 churches and temples representing nine faith communities (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, and Zen Buddhist).The clean sweep had over 400 volunteers including 150 members of Thrivent Financial and 40 Northern Michigan University (NMU) students.Financial sponsors again this year include the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and $15,000 from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a not-for-profit financial services membership organization and fraternal benefit society.Rev. Jon Magnuson, Earth Keeper Initiative founder, said "one of the gifts that the faith community brings to the environmental movement is that the external damage done in the environment is a reflection of what is going on in the human condition, in the human heart - so as we heal and cleanse the Earth, we are also healing the human heart.”“We are in trouble with the way we live with the Earth, we have lost our balance" but projects like the clean sweeps are one example of humans correcting man-made problems, said Rev. Magnuson, co-organizer of the clean sweeps and the head of Lutheran Campus Ministry at NMU.Lindquist said the pharmaceuticals will be taken to an EPA-licensed incinerator at Veolia Environmental Services near St. Louis, Missouri.The EPA is funding the collection of pharmaceuticals and personal care products because trace amounts of chemicals from those substances are turning up in America’s drinking water.EPA official John Perrecone from Chicago visited several of the collection sites and praised the Superior Watershed Partnership and the Earth Keeper team for its organization and success pulling off the largest geographical pharmaceutical collection in U.S. history.“From the EPA’s prospective this is an ideal approach for grassroots community members and the faith-based community to work with the federal government, American Indians and others to achieve environmental gain,” said Perrecone, Ecosystem Projects Manager at the Midwestern Region office of EPA located in Chicago.The 19 Earth Keeper sites collect “the whole gamut” of over-the-counter and prescription medications including a wide range of narcotic pain killers, sleeping pills, syringes/needles, and antibiotics.The public also turned in a wide range of personal care products like shampoo, lotions and soaps.Although an environmental project, the pharmaceutical collection had several great side-effects like removing drugs that could be accidentally consumed by children thinking the pills were candy, and preventing diversion of controlled substances such as narcotics by people addicted to prescription medications.Some of the medication was over 100 years old, including 18 large dust-covered antique bottles filled with liquids and powders that Lutheran Mary Sloan Armstrong of Harvey brought to the Messiah Lutheran Church collection site in Marquette.Armstrong said the medicines - some with Latin labels - belonged to her late father J.K. Sloan, who ran Sloan’s Pharmacy in Galva, Illinois for decades prior to his death.“These are drug bottles that were in the basement of my dad’s pharmacy,” said Armstrong. “We’ve had them for about 30 years (since her father’s death) and haven’t done anything with them. We thought this would be a good chance to get rid of the contents.”Pharmacists gathered around Armstrong’s car to get a look at the century old drugs that had a variety of deteriorating cork-like lids.“This stuff goes back about one hundred years, “ said Marquette pharmacist Dave Campana, while lifting several of the bottles out of an old wooden crate.“These are really old powders that they used to make up medications - you don’t find these in pharmacies anymore because they don’t have a need for it. But they used it years ago,” Campana said. “These powders and liquids are considered hazardous waste but they are drugs.”A member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Harvey, Armstrong said some of the bottles have pre-civil war patents and her family plans to search her late father’s basement for more bottles after learning the importance of proper disposal of medicines through the clean sweep.Meanwhile at the St. Peter Catholic Cathedral collection site in Marquette, one person dropped off a “turn-of-the century” black folding case containing eight small bottles filled with powders.“This is what would have been a doctor’s traveling pharmacy,” said Marquette pharmacist Kent Jenema, while showing the leather zippered case to an EPA observer. “This has a lot of old patent type medications from mostly natural sources that predates some of the pharmacy that we know today.”The third annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep was praised by America’s Drug Czar, law enforcement officers and prosecutors."Prescription drug abuse is a serious problem across the Nation, increasingly affecting families who have been untouched by illegal drug use," said U.S. Drug Czar John Walters, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and a member of the President's CabinetWalters cited the 2007 Pharmaceutical Clean sweep across northern Michigan as an example of “community engagement in properly disposing of pharmaceuticals (that) will help us stop and prevent prescription drug abuse, and the harm it can cause.”Remote areas like Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are not immune to prescription drug abuse.About 14 percent of students in Alger and Marquette counties admit using prescription medication to get high, according to a 2006 survey by the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development."And in our own community here in the U.P., it's an under-reported problem and a lot of times prescription drugs that are suitable for abuse can be stolen from people for whom they are prescribed,” said Paul Olson, a licensed social worker who works for the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development in Marquette.Katherine Geier removed all the narcotics from her home, delivering OxyContin and other medication to the collection site at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Ishpeming.“My mother had become addicted to prescription pain killers and sleeping pills, so I ended up hiding them from her,” Geier said. “So I had all these narcotics and I did not know what to do with them.”“I did not want to flush them down the toilet,” Geier said. “So I finally found a proper was to dispose of them.”Drug addicts and burglars “will break into people’s homes and steal these narcotic drugs for their own personal gain - they will either use it themselves or sell it on the streets,” said Ishpeming Police Officer Robert Sibley, one of dozens of law enforcement officers stationed at the 19 collection sites. “This is a big problem and we are working on it all the time.”Police were pleased the clean sweep prevented lots of “controlled” drugs from possible diversion to the street.“This is great,” said Marquette Police officer Brandon Boesl, while transferring counted narcotics to a special holding container during the collection at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Marquette.“Some of the most abuse things in the area are prescription drugs and a lot of people after they get their prescription refilled don’t use them - and other family members or children can get a hold of them - and this is a great way to get rid of them,” officer Boesl said.Marquette General Hospital Pharmacist Bob Hodges said “these are controlled drugs and we are inventorying them so that we will have a better record of the drugs that are being collected - it’s required by law.” After counting pills from a dusty bottle filled with narcotics, Ishpeming pharmacist Steve Lyford said “to dispose of these medicines in a safe way is a real good idea.”Over 100 people dropped off pharmaceuticals at the First Presbyterian Church in Escanaba, MI. Including over 3,700 (controlled substance) pills.Some participants held medications "for many years after the death of a relative because they did not know what to do with it," said Jill Wiese Martin, site manager and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Escanaba, MI."Most people were relieved to be able to bring this material in without any hassles and many were very aware that this material should not be just flushed," said Wiese Martin, adding many participants were frustrated that left over medicine goes to waste when it is replaced by new treatment."We need a systematic way to routinely and safely dispose of unused and unwanted medications," said Wiese Martin, an environmental scientist. "An organized means for collection and disposal just does not exist."Removing pharmaceuticals and personal care products is important to protect the many rivers in the Escanaba area, and on Lake Michigan bays that are world renown walleye fisheries."Little Bay de Noc is a very rich ecosystem, one of the richest due to it's complex geology, geography and the many surface water streams that discharge in to it," Wiese Martin said.In addition to being an environment professional, Wiese Martin says protecting the water is important part of her Presbyterian faith."We need to protect and preserve God's creation for all, even to the extent that future adverse outcomes can be avoided and minimized," Wiese Martin said. "It provides an another mission opportunity in God's world and hope to our children that we care about the world we are leaving them."The city of Escanaba, Bay de Noc Community College and public school educators are "actively promoting a number of issues" including "the importance of wetlands to the entire bay ecosystem," creating "a walkable community" and reducing the "human/consumer waste stream," Wiese Martin said.At the First Lutheran Church in Gladstone, about 75 people dropped off medicines and security was provided by Michigan State Police and Gladstone Public Safety Officers, including some in plain clothes."This was a wonderful event - a perfect marriage of two concerns - care of the environment and the need to remove drugs that might otherwise be abused from the community," said Pastor Jonathan Schmidt.Delta County Prosecutor Steve Parks visited the Gladstone clean sweep location and told the site manager he was pleased to see narcotics and other prescriptions drugs removed from his community.Northern Michigan University student Miranda Revere said while volunteering at the First Lutheran Church in Gladstone she learned how severe the prescription drug abuse problem is from the Delta County prosecutor and the pastor.“Delta County has a problem with teens abusing prescription drugs, so finding people to help at the pharmaceutical collection was not difficult at all,” said Revere, a 21-year-old business management major from Clio, MI.“The county prosecuting attorney discussed the committee that has been put together to help this problem,” said Revere, who has attended NMU for three years.For the year in a row, 10-year-old Eve McCowen volunteered at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Marquette and was assigned the task of taking bags full of personal care products and non-prescription medications and dumping them into large holding containers. “We came here to collect the vitamins, pills and any other medicines - so they won’t pollute the earth anymore,” said McCowen, a fourth grader, who volunteered with her parents and other members of the Marquette Baha'i Spiritual Assembly.“There has been a lot of stuff and I have been dumping them into this barrel,” said McCowen with a huge grin.The Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team sent volunteers literally hundreds of miles to all 19 collections sites.NMU EK project director Jennifer Simula said the students really enjoy doing their part to protect the environment.“They are wearing green T-shirts and they all have smiles on their faces,” said Simula as three students each emptied several large shopping bags full of medicines and person care products.“The students are greeting everybody as they come in, providing hospitality and letting everyone know what’s going on and that they are involved in a great project,” said Simula, who is a student leader in Lutheran Campus Ministry at NMU.The students have many projects and are working on setting up chapters at three other U.P. universities while still keeping up with classroom assignments.“The pharmacists brought knowledge of all the things we collect, the law officers praised us for getting these drugs in a secure place and out of the potential of being abused,” said Michael Rotter, a senior majoring in botany.“The amazing thing about the clean sweep, is me being a 21-year-old Buddhist college kid can sit down and talk to a 30 year old pharmacist father and we can both relate to the 50-year-old Methodist pastor,” Rotter said.The Earth Keepers “had people from the community drop off pharmaceuticals for friends and family members” adding it was such a “beautiful day” many walked to their collection site, said NMU EK Student Team member Ashley Ormson of Negaunee, a sophomore with a double major in International Relations and French.“I was very happy that everything went smoothly for the three hours, and we didn't encounter any complications,” said Ormson, a member of Messiah Lutheran Church and student leader with Lutheran Campus Ministry at NMU.NMU EK Student Team member Matt Nordine, who volunteered at the UMC church in St. Ignace, did not mind the four-hour round trip drive because “it was good to actively participate in Earth Day.”NMU EK team member Lauren Murphy said it is easy to mix her studies and getting good grades with several environmental projects because “we keep a good balance - on the weekends we go to our projects and help out and during the week we go to the Earth Keeper meetings after class.”“We collected a lot of medicines, old suntan lotions, eye drops, cosmetics and other stuff like that,” said NMU EK team member Kristy Knutson, while going thru bags of items dropped off by Marquette residents.“Lots of controlled substances came through that won't get sold or end up in the water,” said Rev. Tari Stage-Harvey, pastor of the Zion Lutheran Church in St. Ignace and Trinity Lutheran Church in Brevort (combined 100 parishioners).Rev. Jim Balfour, pastor of United Methodist of St. Ignace, said he was “happy to see people from so many churches help” with the clean sweep."It is wonderful to work in a community where the churches come together easily to address the threats to God's world," Pastor Balfour said.Pastor Balfour thanked Earth Keepers for the clean sweeps and literature that was passed out to the public because it helps "people understand how many of the common items of our daily lives can be a threat to the environment when they have out lived their usefulness."Presbyterian Earth Keeper team member Sue Piasini of Sagola said she "saw a flock of geese when I was going to the clean sweep and I thought ‘we are going to take care of the water for you' and it was such a nice sunny day."Three pharmacists from two retail stores "never stopped counting pills during the entire three hours," said Piasini, who volunteered at the Salvation Army Bread of Life Center in Iron Mountain."One plastic bag had over 2,000 pills and they had to sort them all out," said Piasini, a member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola, MI.Members of several faith communities were among the volunteers and everyone was in a great mood "joking and having a fun time," said Piasini.Earth Keeper surveys were filled out by all 94 people, mostly senior citizens, who dropped off pharmaceuticals and many brought in drugs collected from family and friends, Piasini said."One person brought a full duffel bag" of pharmaceuticals, said Piasini, who has two grandchildren and is the mother of four grown children.Bishop Alexander K. Sample, Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette, said he is “thrilled” with the results and was especially happy about the large youth involvement in protecting the environment and taking prescription drugs off the streets.“It is wonderful to see that the younger generation is at the heart of this Earth Keepers effort,” said Bishop Sample, who oversees 97 U.P. parishes and missions with 65,400 members. “They understand better than many, the connection between faith and care for creation, God's gift to us.”“We have to be concerned about our young people and the world we will hand on to them,” Bishop Sample said.“It is a way for us, as people of faith, to show our concern for the world that our Creator has entrusted to our care and stewardship,” Bishop Sample said.Catholic Earth Keeper team member Kyra Fillmore, a 29-year-old mother of two small children, said “people were unloading medicines from deceased relatives or from past illness.”"This collection was a quieter, more personal event," said Fillmore, a member of St. Louis the King Catholic Church in Harvey. “I'm grateful that Earth Keepers could provide a comfortable place for people to - in a sense - release past pains and help keep our water clean as well.”Catholic Earth Keeper Linda of Marquette, who drove five hours round trip to volunteer at the Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, MI, called the clean sweep "a most spiritual event for cleansing the soul of medicinal toxins."O'Brien believes participants "shed the reminder of pain from loved ones or oneself physical medicinal needs.""Residents were able to make their home environment safer by disposing of unused or unwanted medicines and old health care products in an ethical way," O'Brien said. "They responded knowing that they are also contributing to the health and safety beyond their own doorstep."Retired steelworker Don Flint of Ironwood said his wife, Betty, cleaned out their medicine cabinets "to get rid of medications that we don't want any more" because "we've become more aware that it's not the right thing to do to flush pharmaceuticals down the toilet."A Lutheran, Flint, 64, dropped off old antibiotics, arthritis pain medicine, aspirin, Tylenol and lotions at the Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church collection site in Ironwood.The Flints are members of the (ELCA) Salem Lutheran Church in Ironwood, which recently formed the Christ Lutheran Parish with 3 other ELCA churches in Ironwood.Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan (EDNM) Bishop James Kelsey, who brought several old medications to a Catholic collection site, said he hopes that others will follow the example of the Earth Keeper team and that the clean sweeps are “a catalyst for a movement much bigger than our demographics” in remote northern Michigan with a population of about 260,000 people spread across hundreds of square miles.“Care for the environment is an expression of love for God and one another," said Kelsey, who serves as Bishop for 27 Episcopal congregations with 2,500 members in the U.P.Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes of the Northern Great Lakes Synod (NGLS), who volunteered at the Fortune Lake Lutheran Bible Camp in Crystal Falls, said the public was happy to participate and had an “eagerness about being a part of the solution.”“It was a morning of solutions to difficult problems and I am proud of my church," said Bishop Skrenes, the head of 91 U.P. Lutheran congregations with 40,000 members.The NGLS also includes Finlandia University in Hancock and the Northland Lutheran Retirement Community in Marinette, WI.Jewish Earth Keeper Jacob Silver of Negaunee Township said future health of the planet will depend on how youth are motivated by adults - and protecting nature is clear in the annual teachings and observations of Tikkun Olam and Passover. “It is important that adults and parents are seen by youth to be carrying out the moral obligation for Tikkun Olam,” said Silver, one of 70 members of Temple Beth Sholom in Ishpeming, MI. “This creates a reality for the youth - thus, it spreads the message to care for the environment across generations.”Silver said “for Jews, the Earth is all we have.”“There is no mention, thus no concept, of existence after death in the five books of Moses, our Torah,” Silver said. “So, the welfare of the planet is always a prime commitment for Jews.”“There is nowhere else, and if we foul the Earth, we can be left ultimately homeless,” Silver said.Silver added that “the welfare of the Earth, and its parts, is a primary commitment for Jews.”“The Earth Keepers provide, not only an opportunity to help heal the Earth, but also collaboration with members of faith communities in the area - it is a wonderful organization,” Silver said.For the third year in a row, northern Michigan Zen Buddhists volunteered at the Grace United Methodist Church in Marquette, and the head priest said it is "the beginning of a tradition and it felt good to be back there on Earth Day" with UMC Rev. Charlie West and "his hospitable crew doing something for the earth and raising consciousness about yet another hazard that is degrading and poisoning our environment.""Each year during the Clean Sweeps, I see wider involvement and more publicity, and each year I see more evidence of young people participating, which is absolutely a necessity over the long haul," said Reverend Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, leader of the Lake Superior Zendo - a Marquette Zen Buddhist temple.Rev. Lehmberg said his 15-year-old daughter, Freya, and Rev. West’s 13-year-old son, Christopher, were excited to volunteer."We're passing along our enthusiasms, and our worry" over the environmental condition of the earth and that youth concern for nature and involvement is essential to the future of the planet, Rev. Lehmberg said.Dr. Rodney Clarken, chair of the Marquette Baha'i spiritual assembly who volunteered at a Lutheran church, said "the interfaith aspect of this project has given it a unique energy and power - when you see the results over the past three years" adding that he hopes people will see the connection between protecting the Earth and their spiritual beliefs."The environmental crisis is foundationally a spiritual crisis, and until you address those spiritual issues you will not have significant impact on the environment. ," said Clarken, NMU interim associate dean of Teacher Education and director of School of Education, adding there are about 40 members of Baha'i in Marquette (about 100 in Upper Peninsula) , and 144,000 in the United States (about 6 million world wide)."In our world of rapid and accelerating change, protecting our environment, both physically and spiritually, is increasingly critical and challenging," Clarken said. "Baha'is believe that only in seeking spiritual solutions to our material problems will we be able to sustain and advance civilization."Clarken said that Baha'ullah - the Prophet-Founder of Baha'i - wrote: "The earth is but one county, and mankind its citizens."United Methodist Church (UMC) Marquette District Superintendent (DS) Grant R. Lobb said the words "cleaner water" kept popping into his mind as he stood in "the warm parking lot watching a number of individuals and couples bringing in their outdated pills, tablets and syringes" into the basement of the Grace United Methodist Church in Marquette.The clean sweep means "cleaner water for all of us," said Lobb, DS of the Marquette District of the Detroit Annual Conference UMC, which has 8,372 parishioners and 60 northern Michigan congregations.Supt. Lobb said he is "impressed by the participation of our senior citizens, who not only took the time to look through their cupboards and cabinets for outdated medicines, but also made the effort to drive to the collection sites in order to turn in their items."Catholic Earth Keeper team member Kelly Mathews of Big Bay, and her husband, Chris Mathews, 45, brought numerous medicines bottles to the collection including 18-year-old prescription sinus medication they found while recently cleaning out their medicine cabinet.Mathews said she “could not believe the amount of unused medication” adding America’s medical system needs to find a way to prevent the waste of these drugs.“Some people brought in bottles with 50 to 80 more pills,” said Mathews, a 36-year-old mother of two who says her family switched to natural remedies years ago because they believe those medications are usually safer than prescription medicines.“I found the financial waste was totally unnecessary; those drugs were paid by someone - who would have thought that there would be so much going to waste,” Mathews said. “Many people commented on how much the drugs had cost and that they never actually used them. I wonder, why the excess?”Marquette Unitarian Universalist Congregation (MUUC) Earth Keeper team member Gail Griffith of Marquette agreed with Mathews that the waste of medicine in America is sad.“The pharmacist at Grace United Methodist told me that a drug I turned in, with an expiration date in 1992, was worth over $600,” Griffith said. “It had been prescribed but not completely used.”“It's too bad that so much money is used to buy pharmaceuticals that end up as trash, but we need to insure that trash doesn't end up harming our waters,” Griffith said.Presbyterian Earth Keeper team member Lynnea Kuzak, who volunteered at the First United Methodist Church in Manistique, said she was thanked by a resident who lost her husband to cancer last September and wished that all his medication had been properly disposed."Another person told me ‘I didn't like putting them down the toilet,’ " said Kuzak, 28, the director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church in Marquette.Presbyterian Pastor Dave Anderson of Iron Mountain is thankful for the interfaith clean sweeps because “I worry about the legacy our generation will leave for future ones, but it is good to know that we are doing something about it through opportunities like this.”Rev. Anderson, who serves as the chaplain for the Dickinson County Health Care System, added that “we all need to realize that the pick up and disposal of polluting waste like electronic equipment and outdated pharmaceuticals is making a big difference now and for future generations.”"As God's children, we feel like we are provided a concrete, tangible way to make a difference in our environment,” said Rev. Anderson, who is pastor of the Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola.”Lutheran Joy Ibsen said on the Sunday morning following the clean sweep her Lutheran congregation sang “We Gather at the River-- the beautiful, the beautiful river.”I couldn't help but think how perfectly that song was for us on Earth Day,” Ibsen said. "To me, there is a special symbolism in this year's Clean Sweep--preventing pharmaceuticals from entering our water systems.”Ibsen said she was struck by how many prescriptions were thrown away because of serious side effects despite advances in medical care.“So many of our environmental problems come from the side effects of our advanced society - and every prescription has side effects,” said Ibsen, the organist at Trinity Lutheran Church in Trout Creek, MI.“One woman told me she had paid $140 for a certain prescriptions which gave her nothing but welts - she could not take it because of her allergic reaction, said Ibsen, lay minister, vice president of the church council at Trinity Lutheran.Ibsen said, like people, “the earth and water is allergic to many powerful prescriptions and chemicals.”Mary Klups of Ontonagon County brought in several types of pain and blood pressure medication, including two bottles of morphine, leftover from her late husband’s cancer treatment.“I had several drugs I have kept, waiting to dispose of in the right way,” said Klups, while dropping off pharmaceuticals at the White Pine Community United Methodist Church.“I also have several of my own medications including some very expensive medicine that did not work out because I had an allergic reaction to it,” Klups said. “I really appreciate having a way to get rid of all this.”White Pine pharmacist Chuck Blezek said “for years we told people to flush old prescriptions down the toilet - it is only lately that we have found out that it is the wrong thing to do.”“This is a very worthwhile thing Earth Keepers is doing,” Blezek said.Wayne Sparks of White Pine said he dropped off drugs “because I don’t have any other good way of disposing of these medications.”UMC Earth Keeper team member Rev. Charlie West said that church members “felt really good about providing this service for the community.”“These chemicals should not be loose in the creation - we're glad they will be disposed of carefully," said Rev. West, pastor of the Grace UMC in Marquette and project director of the first clean sweep. "We had some over the counter medicine from 20 years ago - and we saw a lot of the same people we have seen over the past two years” at the previous clean sweeps.Two weeks after a lengthy blizzard that dumped over five feet of snow, those participating enjoyed sun with temperatures in the 70's, that Rev. West described as “a good day to be disposing of chemicals carefully - so the creation will continue to be healthy and wholesome.”Messiah Lutheran Church Pastor Nancy Amacher praised the police for standing watch, pharmacists “who utilized their knowledge and expertise,” NMU students that “helped wherever needed” and others for “helping out on a sunny Saturday morning when they could have been sleeping in or doing their own thing.”“As people of faith we believe the earth is God's created gift and part of our stewardship is to care for ourselves as well as the forests, waterways, and their inhabitants,” said Rev. Amacher.Munising United Methodist Church site coordinator Phil Hansen said many participants collected from family and friends and “almost all people brought in large quantities of items” filling plastic grocery bags.“We had more controlled substances turned in than we expected,” said Hansen., adding security was provided by Munising Police Chief Steven Swanberg and Lt. Mike Nettleton. “People were happy that a pharmacist was on duty and their privacy was protected.”Hansen said many people were previously “unaware that throwing away medicine or flushing it was harmful and they will not do that in the future.”Gee Petruske collected items from his community in remote Grand Marais and made an hour-long special trip to Munising to deliver the items. Background:The EPA and Lindquist said the clean sweep targeted medicines because trace amounts of pharmaceuticals are turning up in America's rivers, lakes, and drinking water.The EPA says most treatment plants are not designed to filter out these medications.When pills or liquid medicines are poured down the sink or flushed down the toilet they remain diluted in the water supply after treatment and these trace amounts are suspected of causing a range of health problems, according to the EPA.As leftover and waste pharmaceuticals get flushed down drains, research is showing that they are increasingly being detected in our lakes and rivers at levels that could be causing harm to the environment and ecosystem," said Elizabeth LaPlante, senior manager for the EPA Great Lakes National Programs Office in Chicago, Ill"Specifically, reproductive and development problems in aquatic species, hormonal disruption and antibiotic resistance are some concerns associated with pharmaceuticals in our wastewater," LaPlante said."The Earth Keeper Pharmaceutical Collection event, therefore, is an excellent opportunity to prevent the introduction of these chemicals into Lake Superior and other water bodies," LaPlante said.Lindquist said that recent national studies have documented that over 80 percent of the rivers sampled "tested positive for a range of pharmaceuticals including antibiotics, birth control hormones, antidepressants, veterinary drugs and other medications."Lindquist said some urban centers have even detected "traces of pharmaceuticals in their tap water."Pharmaceuticals in some rivers have also been linked to behavioral and sexual mutations in species of fish, amphibians and birds, according to EPA studies.Pharmaceutical compounds known as endocrine disruptors have even been linked to neurological problems in children and increased incidence of some cancers, Lindquist said.There were 19 drop off sites across a 400 mile area (and in all 15 counties) of Michigan's Upper Peninsula that open Saturday, April 21, 2007 from 9 a.m. to noon local time on Earth Day eve.In 2006, over 320 tons of electronic waste (old/broken computers, cell phones etc.) were dropped off in just three hours by an estimated 10,000 U.P. residents. It took 9 semi trucks to haul the e-waste to an EPA approved recycling centers in the Lower Peninsula.In 2005, the first clean sweep collected 45 tons of household poisons and vehicle batteries. The hazardous waste, including over two pounds of mercury, were properly disposed of in various ways according to EPA and state guidelines.Both previous clean sweeps broke EPA collection records for the Great Lakes, organizers said.Thrivent Financial for Lutherans donated $5,000 for the 2006 clean sweep.Thrivent Financial also awarded a $75,000 Youth Leadership Initiative grant to Northern Michigan University’s Lutheran Campus Ministry in 2006 for development of an on-going program for college students to become involved in the ecological stewardship of the environment. Three other universities are also involved in the program, including Michigan Tech, Finlandia University and Lake Superior State University.Partners who helped make the clean sweep a success include U.S. Senator Carl Levin's Office, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, the NMU Environmental Science Program and many others.Last fall, the Earth Keeper Initiative and its partners were honored with three international awards.The Earth Keeper Initiative received several prestigious awards in 2006 including an international Environmental Stewardship award from the Lake Superior Binational Program and the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) Award.The Earth Keeper Clean Sweep was named one of the 15 hardest working non-profit projects in America in 2006 by World Magazine, an international religious publication.The NMU EK team was created last April as the student wing of the Earth Keeper Intiative. The In addition to assisting in the annual clean sweeps, the NMU EK Student Team has numerous projects including (Adopt-A-Watershed) cleaning, testing, and developing a plan for six tributaries to three of the Great Lakes, recruiting students for chapters at three other U.P. universities, plus youth and adult outreach on practical everyday ways people can reduce human impact on the environment.The Superior Watershed Partnership has on-going programs that including Adopt-Your-Watershed, public environmental education, summer youth programs, land conservation, habitat restoration, energy conservation and numerous opportunities for volunteers to get "hands-on experience" in their communities, national parks, national forests and their local watershed, Lindquist said.For more information on the clean sweep (or the other projects) contact the Superior Watershed Partnership at 906-228-6095 and Greg at 906-475-5068, or email: earthkeeper@charter.netEarth Keeper TV:http://earthkeepers.blip.tv/Earth Keeper related website addresses are:The Superior Watershed Partnershiphttp://www.superiorwatersheds.orgThe Cedar Tree Institute:http://www.cedartreeinstitute.com/The Lake Superior Interfaith Communication Network:http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com/
