The Turtle Island Project

Zaagkii Project, Upper Peninsula EarthKeepers, Turtle island Project, Earth Healing Initiative

2011-01-19T07:55:00.001-08:00

Dear Samuel Donoso and Sanna Yankovic,

Hi Samuel and Sanna.
My name is Greg Peterson.

I am part swede - presuming you are in Sweden just based on the email I received at EarthKeeper@charter.net

Anyway - good idea - I did tweet and Facebook thing on your page.

I am a news reporter and the volunteer media advisor for several environment projects in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the shores of Lake Superior.

All have videos on youtube and bliptv and can easily found with google search - usernames include yoopernewsman (me) and munisingwhitehorse (Turtle Island Project)

All also have blogs on wordpress and blogger.
---
ZaagkiiProject:
http://www.wingsandseeds.org
http://www.youtube.com/ZaagkiiTV
---
Upper Peninsula EarthKeepers:
http://www.CedarTreeInstitute.org
http://www.youtube.com/yoopernewsman

(Please look into my history of videos from last few years for to Tree Planting Project video, Pharmaceutical collections video, Household hazardous waste video, and electronic waste collection video)
---
Turtle Island Project
http://www.youtube.com/MunisingWhiteHorse
Http://www.CelticChristianityToday.org
---
Earth Healing Initiative:
http://www.youtube.com/EarthHealingTV
---
I realize you have lots of videos to choose from already but please consider using a few of our videos if they fit your website.

Either way keep up the good work !!

Sincerely,
Greg Peterson
Michigan's Upper Peninsula
1-906-401-0109
**yoopernewsman on skype of my name in Negaunee, MI

in reference to: Samuel Donoso (view on Google Sidewiki)

Eagle Rock Documentary Preview

2010-11-21T09:35:00.000-08:00

A preview of the Michigan State University student documentary about the effects of sulfide mining and the destruction of sacred Eagle Rock by mining giant Rio Tinto/Kennecott Minerals
Located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Eagle Rock has been sacred to the Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) people for thousands of years

This group from Michigan State University is preparing a documentary about Eagle Rock and the evils of sulfide mining.
It was an honor to share my many hours of raw video with MSU student Samantha "Sam" Harris for use in this upcoming documentary.
I believe there will be a short and long version about the story of sacred Eagle Rock that has been desecrated by Rio Tinto/Kennecott Minerals.
The Ojibwa (Anishinaabe) have held spiritual ceremonies at Eagle Rock for thousands of years.
Located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (U.P.), Eagle Rock is one of the tribe's most sacred sites.
The Native American spirits at sacred Eagle Rock have been offended and injured by the bulldozers and explosives at the hands of an evil corporation.
Eagle Rock has been desecrated by international mining Goliath Rio Tinto - that has been accused of global crimes including being complicit in war crimes, crimes against humanity, bribery and countless other violations of the rights and lives of Indigenous Peoples.
Eagle Rock is located on the Yellow Dog Plains in northern Marquette County not far from Lake Superior.
In fact, Rio Tinto and its Kennecott Minerals had the unmitigated gall to name the mine the Eagle Project - then bulldozed the area around sacred Eagle Rock and will dynamite through Eagle Rock for the portal its underground mine tunnel.
The Ojibwa have treaty rights to Eagle Rock and the Yellow Dog Plains - but the state ignored the tribe's concerns and leased the land to Kennecott Minerals (Rio Tinto subsidiary).
Sacred Eagle Rock has been turned into an industrial site - with the complicity of nearly all of Michigan's lawmakers (Democrat and Republican), who have accepted money from Rio Tinto or its minions.
Sulfuric Acid is a byproduct of sulfide mining - and untold billions of gallons of that ultra-toxic liquid will be created by this mine and the others that are scheduled to be built.
Sulfide "Acid" Mining in northern Michigan will destroy millions of acres of forestland and other areas as dozens of mines are planned if the first mine begins sucking nickel and copper from beneath Salmon Trout River on the Yellow Dog Plains.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hid a report that states there is a significant chance the river will collapse into the mine thus sending sulfuric acid into Lake Superior - then in an unprecedented move the state agency went into business with the mine owners.
The DNR is supposed to act as an environmental watchdog to the mine owners they have gone into business with.
That is only one of many examples of conflict of interest and possibly crimes.
Michigan politicians created a new law to allow Sulfide "Acid" Mining that intentionally opens the door to uranium mining in the U.P.
One of the last accessible pristine areas in the United States, the U.P. is in grave danger of turning into a toxic wasteland.
The northern Michigan media, starved for advertising, has accepted large sums from the mining company - and has ignored many questionable and likely criminal acts by lawmakers and others.
A judge would not allow a defense by two Ojibwa and a local resident, who were arrested for trespassing while trying to protect Eagle Rock.
The Judge (and lawmakers) apparently fear jury nullification of the trespassing law.
As it has done thousands of times before, Rio Tinto has bought all the watchdogs - lawmakers, state agencies, the media, and even the judicial system.
Among the numerous groups and people fighting to preserve Michigan’s beautiful forests and plains are the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (with support from many tribes), Save the Wild U.P., the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and the Cedar Tree Institute.
Another group fighting to protect and save for Michigan's pristine lands is Oshkinawe-Ogichidaag Akiing (New Warriors for the Earth), a Native and non-Native environmental organization “grounded in Anishinaabe traditions with a mission to educate and empower our communities to take action on mining and other social-ecological issues facing our communities.”
These groups are operating on a shoestring budget.
May those who care help us.
May the Creator help us.
To be pointed in the right direction call Greg at 1-906-401-0109

2010 National Sacred Places Prayer Days in U.S. and northern Michigan: Sacred Eagle Rock, Yellow Dog Plains, Lake Superior

2010-06-17T16:09:00.000-07:00

2010 National Sacred Places Prayer Days across U.S. and northern Michigan including sacred Eagle Rock, Yellow Dog Plains, Lake Superior

National Sacred Places Prayer Days

Across the Nation and in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

This is from Jessica Koski of KBIC, who attends Yale University and has been a longtime warrior in the fight to protect sacred Eagle Rock and the Yellow Dog Plains.

It announces a new group and events for National Sacred Places Prayer Day involving sacred Eagle Rock:

On Saturday, June 19, 2010 in two northern Michigan cities - Marquette and at the KBIC Powwow Grounds in Baraga.

National Sacred Places Prayer Day: Honoring our Water

All Welcome

June 19, 2010

Water Ceremony at Sunrise on Little Presque Isle Point near Marquette, MI

Community Potluck Picnic and Gathering

12 Noon at the Baraga Powwow Grounds Pavilion in Baraga, Michigan

Please join us on Saturday, June 19, 2010 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula for a day of prayer to protect Native American sacred places.

We will gather at sunrise at Little Presque Isle Point on the shores of Lake Superior to pray for threatened sacred places and to honor the sacredness of the water and Mother Earth.

Eagle Rock, a sacred place to Anishinaabe people, is currently threatened as the proposed mine portal for the Rio Tinto/Kennecott Eagle Mine on the Yellow Dog Plains.

Our fresh groundwater, waterways and Lake Superior are threatened by the Eagle Mine and increasing sulfide and uranium mining interests throughout the Great Lakes region.

Native and non-Native people nationwide will gather at this time for Solstice ceremonies and to honor sacred places, with a special emphasis on the need for Congress to build a door to the courts for Native nations to protect our traditional churches.

We ask that all women who wish to participate wear a skirt in order to honor our traditional way. Women are also welcome to bring blue prayer ties and blue shawls for the water.

A community potluck picnic and gathering in honor of National Sacred Places Prayer Day will follow at the Powwow Grounds Pavilion in Baraga, MI at 12 noon.

Please join to show your support, ask questions and learn how you can help be a part of the movement to protect our sacred places, water and way of life for future generations.

Directions to Little Presque Isle Point:

From Marquette, Michigan, take 550 North towards Big Bay.

Turn right at the Blue Flag for Little Presque Isle Point.

Directions to Baraga Powwow Grounds Pavilion:

From L'Anse, Michigan take US 41 North towards Houghton.

Turn right at the Powwow Grounds sign.

Turn left at the red building and follow the road to the first pavilion.

Please contact jlkoski@gmail.com or 715-550-0124 if any questions.

Hosted by the Stand for the Land and Oshki Ogitchidaawin Aki (New Warriors for the Earth or NWE) which is a new Native/non-Native environmental organization grounded in Anishinaabe traditions with a mission to educate and empower our communities to take action on mining and other social-ecological issues facing our communities.

Press release from the Morning Star Institute:

THE MORNING STAR INSTITUTE

611 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

Washington, DC

20003

(202) 547-5531

News Statement released on 6/17/10

For Immediate Release

JUNE 18-23 SET FOR 2010 NATIONAL SACRED PLACES PRAYER DAYS

Washington, DC — Observances and ceremonies will be held across the country from June 18 through June 23 to mark the 2010 National Days of Prayer to Protect Native American Sacred Places.

The observance in Washington, D.C. will be held on Monday, June 21 at 9:00 a.m. on the United States Capitol Grounds, West Front Grassy Area (see details under the Washington, D.C. listing in the alphabetical list on the following pages).

Descriptions of certain sacred places and threats they face, as well as times and places for public commemorations are listed below.

Some of the gatherings highlighted in this release are educational forums, not religious ceremonies, and are open to the general public.

Others are ceremonial and may be conducted in private.

In addition to those listed below, there will be observances and prayers offered at other sacred places that are under threat and at those not endangered at this time.

“Native and non-Native people nationwide gather at this time for Solstice ceremonies and to honor sacred places, with a special emphasis this year on sacred waters and those beings that depend on them,” said Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne & Hodulgee Muscogee).

She is President of The Morning Star Institute, which organizes the National Sacred Places Prayer Days.

“Ceremonies are being conducted as Native American peoples engage in legal struggles with federal agencies that side with developers that endanger Native sacred places,” said Ms. Harjo.

“Once again, we call on Congress to build a door to the courts for Native nations to protect our traditional churches. Many sacred places are being damaged because Native nations do not have equal access under the First Amendment to defend them.”

All other peoples in the United States can use the First Amendment to protect their churches, but the Supreme Court closed that door to Native Americans in 1988.

The Court, from 1988 to 2009, has declined to allow federal religious freedom statutes to be used to protect Native American sacred places or the exercise of Native American religious freedom at sacred places.

“Today, Native Americans are the only peoples in the United States who do not have a constitutional or statutory right of action to protect sacred places or our exercise of religious freedom there,” said Ms. Harjo.

“That simply must change as a matter of fairness and equity. Native nations have been cobbling together protections based on defenses intended for other purposes. Some may permit a place at the table when development is being contemplated, but Native peoples are not taken seriously because the agencies and developers know that the Supreme Court does not appear inclined to hear lawsuits which lack a tailor-made cause of action.”

“The Obama Administration is strengthening consultation and sacred sites Executive Orders,” said Ms. Harjo, “but executive orders do not create legal protections.”

During his presidential campaign in 2008, Sen. Barack Obama addressed this issue as part of his Native American policy platform for religious freedom, cultural rights and sacred places protection:

“Native American sacred places and site-specific ceremonies are under threat from development, pollution, and vandalism.

Barack Obama supports legal protections for sacred places and cultural traditions, including Native ancestors’ burial grounds and churches.”

“Native American people are heartened that President Obama is fulfilling his promise,” said Ms. Harjo. “And we look forward to the day when the President calls on Congress to create a right of action so we can defend our holy places. Over 20 years have passed without Congress creating a door to the courthouse for Native Americans. Now, with the support of the President, we pray that this will be the last year we are denied justice.”

The 2010 observances will be the eighth of the National Prayer Days to Protect Native American Sacred Places.

The first National Prayer Day was conducted on June 20, 2003, on the U.S. Capitol Grounds and nationwide to emphasize the need for Congress to enact a cause of action to protect Native sacred places.

That need still exists.

Native peoples also are encouraged that the U.S. is reviewing the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and consulting with tribal leaders about whether or not to adopt it.

The Declaration includes the following statements regarding sacred places:

“Article 11, 1: Indigenous peoples have the right to practise and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs. This includes the right to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures, such as archaeological and historical sites, artifacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and performing arts and literature.

“Article 11, 2: States shall provide redress through effective mechanisms, which may include restitution, developed in conjunction with indigenous peoples, with respect to their cultural, intellectual, religious and spiritual property taken without their free, prior and informed consent or in violation of their laws, traditions and customs.”

“Article 12, 1: Indigenous peoples have the right to manifest, practice, develop and teach their spiritual and religious traditions, customs and ceremonies; the right to maintain, protect, and have access in privacy to their religious and cultural sites; the right to the use and control of their ceremonial objects; and the right to the repatriation of their human remains.”

“Article 25: Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinctive spiritual relationship with their traditionally owned or otherwise occupied and used lands, territories, waters and coastal seas and other resources and to uphold their responsibilities to future generations in this regard."

In addition to those listed separately below, prayers will be offered for the following sacred places, among others:

All Waters and Wetlands

Antelope Hills

Apache Leap

Badger Two Medicine

Badlands

Bear Butte

Bear Medicine Lodge

Black Hills

Black Mesa

Boboquivari Mountain

Cape Wind

Cave Rock

Chief Cliff

Coastal Chumash sacred lands in the Gaviota Coast

Coldwater Springs

Colorado River

Columbia River

Eagle Rock in Michigan's Upper Peninsulapan>

Everglades

Fajada Butte

Gulf of Mexico

Haleakala Crater

Hickory Ground

Hualapai Nation landforms in Truxton and Crozier Canyons

Indian Pass

Kaho’olawe

Katuktu

Kituwah

Klamath River

Lake Superior

Mauna Kea

Medicine Bluff

Medicine Hole

Medicine Wheels

Mokuhinia

Moku’ula

Mount Shasta

Mount Taylor

Mount Tenabo

Nine Mile Canyon

Ocmulgee Old Fields and National Monument

Palo Duro Canyon

Petroglyphs National Monument

Pipestone National Monument. Puget Sound

Puvungna

Rainbow Bridge

Rattlesnake Island

Rio Grande River

Sweetgrass Hills

Sutter Buttes

Tse Whit Zen Village

Tsi-litch Semiahmah Village

Valley of Chiefs

Walking Woman Place

Woodruff Butte

Wolf River

Yucca Mountain

Zuni Salt Lake

Sacred places of all removed Native nations

Arizona: Mount Graham, Dzil Nchaa Si An

Mount Graham is sacred to the Western Apache people and is known to the San Carlos Apache as Dzil Nchaa Si An.

It is a holy landscape where Gaahn or Mountain Spirits reside and ancestral Apache rest.

It is a place of ceremonies and medicine plants, and home to the endangered red squirrel.

The Pinaleño Mountains or Mount Graham is a unique ecological treasure.

It is the tallest mountain in southern Arizona and encompasses six different life zones from the valley floor to its peak at 10,720 ft.

Called a "Sky Island" ecosystem, the old growth forests on Mount Graham's summit are the Arizona equivalent of rainforests.

The abundant springs and high altitude meadows have offered sustenance and a source of healing to Apache people who live in the desert.

The cool moist characteristics of the Mountain have nurtured 18 different plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.

In the 1980s, the University of Arizona and their partners at the time, including the Vatican and the Smithsonian Institution, chose Mount Graham as the site to construct an observatory with seven large telescopes known as the Columbus Project.

Beginning in 1988, the Arizona congressional delegation succeeded in gaining exemptions for the project from the endangered species, environmental, historical preservation and other laws.

In 1989, the University of Arizona was granted a 20-year special use permit by the Coronado National Forest and the U.S. Forest Service, and appropriation riders kept the project flush with public benefits without having to abide by federal laws or regulations, including federal Indian laws intended to protect religious freedom, burial grounds and cultural properties.

Vatican spokesmen stated that Mount Graham was not a religious or sacred place.

University employees and lobbyists attempted to undermine the reputations of Apache religious leaders and practitioners, and retained at least one San Carlos tribal official to testify that the Mountain was not sacred or significant to the Apache peoples.

For decades, Apache peoples, scientists, conservationists and university students have resisted the University of Arizona's decision to build the telescopes on the Mountain's summit.

Even though frequent cloud cover makes telescope viewing marginal and Mount Graham was ranked 38th in a study of astronomical sites in the U.S., the Arizona congressional delegation and the University have persisted with the project.

Today, the construction of telescopes and resulting federal closure of the Mountain’s top are desecrating the Mountain and its irreplaceable relationship with Apache peoples.

The struggle continues to protect the natural and cultural heritage of Mount Graham from the precedent-setting destruction still being caused by the University in building their observatory on Mount Graham.

The efforts of cultural protection and environmental organizations and affected Tribes to protect the sacredness of Mount Graham continue unabated.

The University of Arizona is now operating its observatory without a valid special use permit.

Its 20-year federal permit expired on April 19, 2009.

The University has asked the Coronado National Forest for a new permit, but, as of June of 2010, a decision on whether to grant the permit has not yet been made.

The Forest Service has determined that it needs to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to gather information as to the pros and cons of granting a new permit.

The University has objected strenuously to a new EIS. From what little information the Mount Graham Coalition and the San Carlos Apache Tribe have learned, the Forest Service’s and the University’s lawyers are “in discussions” to determine the final form of the permit renewal process.

There are a number of reasons for the Forest Service to deny a new permit.

The lapsed permit had a number of terms and conditions that were violated by the University.

Many of these conditions should have led to the revocation of the permit but did not.

All of these violations need to be studied to determine whether the University can follow the rules of a new permit.

The conditions of Mount Graham have changed substantially since the permit was granted and the observatory is even less compatible with the religious and ecological importance of Mount Graham.

Since the permit was granted, the “shape” of Mount Graham has been deemed eligible for placement on the national list of historic places.

In addition, the Forest Service now acknowledges that Mount Graham is a Traditional Cultural Property to Western Apache people and has taken steps to consult (although it has a long way to go) with traditional Apache about the sacred nature of the Mountain and how to protect it.

The University may go to Congress for yet another exemption to religious freedom and environmental laws and to force the Forest Service to issue a new permit.

Supporters of Mount Graham would be the last to hear of any lobbying along these lines and must be ever vigilant to stop this from happening.

For these and many other reasons, it is important for supporters of Apache peoples and Mount Graham to urge the Forest Service to deny the University a new permit and require that the existing telescopes on Mount Graham be removed.

After 20 years of construction, the large telescope project is still not complete and is useless as a scientific instrument.

Although the primary mirrors are in place on the telescope, the two secondary mirrors, which are indispensable for the telescope, were broken by the University of Arizona.

One was broken while being installed in the telescope and the other was broken at the University’s mirror lab. It will be at least several years before replacement mirrors are cast and ready for the telescope.

Since the telescope was originally designed, the University realized what studies had shown all along: Mount Graham is not suitable for a large telescope because of weather and other factors.

To compensate for the poor placement of the telescope, the University is attempting to add electronic correction equipment to the telescope to compensate for the poor “seeing.”

However, this equipment is a long way from being perfected.

Several fires devastated the top of Mount Graham in past years.

They were fought to protect the telescopes more than the ecosystem and, as a result, much damage was done to the Mountain that could have been avoided.

The Forest Service has decided to thin the forest and otherwise manipulate the ecosystem to try to protect what remains and to restore what has been damaged.

The final decision on what “treatments” will be carried out will be released soon.

However, there may still be time to weigh in with the Forest Service to make sure that any plan helps and not hurts the Mountain.

It also appears that, while the University is unwilling to voluntarily withdraw from Mount Graham, it does admit that serious mistakes were made that it does not to want to make again. Now is the time to gently work with the University to urge it to correct past mistakes.

Prayers and diligence are needed now more than ever for Mount Graham.

The ecosystem is under serious threat from climate change and other patterns of destruction; there is an opportunity for the Forest Service to deny a new permit for the telescopes and require they be removed; and there is a chance to protect the existing ecosystem and restore some of what has been lost.

And, the sacredness of Mount Graham continues to be challenged and, while the Mountain is able to protect itself, supporters can help to protect it.

For more information, contact the Mount Graham Coalition, Roger Featherstone, President, at greenfire@featherstone.ws or Dinah Bear, Secretary, at Bear6@verizon.net

Arizona: San Francisco Peaks

The San Francisco Peaks are on federal land that is sacred to Apache, Hopi, Hualapai, Navajo, Yavapai and other Native nations.

The San Francisco Peaks are home to many sacred beings, medicine places and origin sites. Myriad ceremonies are conducted there for healing, well-being, balance, commemoration, passages and the world’s water and life cycles.

Indeed, the U.S. Forest Service has indicated that the San Francisco Peaks are sacred and holy to over thirteen Tribes in the southwestern United States.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Forest Service and the privately owned Snowbowl ski resort, which is located on the San Francisco Peaks, plan to expand the ski area and to use recycled sewage to make artificial snow.

The expansion and sewage-to-snow plans could have a disastrous impact on the Native religions and people and on the water and health of the entire region.

The creeping recreational development has concerned Native spiritual leaders and tribal officials for decades, but current plans far exceed the past activity at the resort.

The area is within the Coconino National Forest.

Native nations attempted to protect the San Francisco Peaks in court.

The District Court ruled for the development in January 2006.

In March 2007, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the lower court’s decision and ruled for the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation and others.

A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit ruled that the Forest Service violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the National Environmental Policy Act in allowing the Snowbowl Resort to expand over 100 acres of rare alpine ecosystem, part of the area that is sacred to Native Peoples.

The federal government challenged that decision and petitioned the Ninth Circuit for rehearing en banc.

Such petitions are rarely granted, but the Court granted this one.

The case was argued in front of the 11-judge en banc panel of the Ninth Circuit in Pasadena in December 2007. The Ninth Circuit issued the decision of the en banc panel on August 8, 2008, ruling in favor of development.

The Native nations submitted a writ of certiorari for the U.S. Supreme Court. On June 8, 2009, the Supreme Court declined to review the decision.

The Tribes attempted to reach some sort of administrative accommodation with the new Administration, but such efforts have not borne fruit.

The Save the Peaks Coalition subsequently filed suit against the federal government on a NEPA issue.

Oral arguments on the case were scheduled for June 14, 2010.

The Court unilaterally issued a new order in May, requiring briefing on the issue of res judicata and rescheduling the oral argument to July 16, 2010, at the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Phoenix, Arizona.

Gatherings and prayer vigils are being held at the Courthouse.

California: Medicine Lake Highlands and Hatchet and Bunchgrass Mountains

Medicine Lake Highlands is a critically important tribal region located northeast of Mount Shasta in the mountains of northern California.

The Pit River, Modoc, Shasta, Karuk, Wintu and other Tribes revere the area for its natural healing powers and for its connections to their Tribes' longstanding histories.

For example, the Pit River Tribe believes that the Creator and his son bathed in Medicine Lake after they created the earth, and the Creator imparted his spirit to the waters. Because of the Lake's sacredness, Tribes from the coast of California to the Rocky Mountains use the surrounding area as a training ground for medicine people.

The Highlands is also sought after by geothermal energy companies that have applied for development permits from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), which manage the area.

Since the 1990s, the Pit River Tribe, Stanford Environmental Law Clinic and other supporters of the protection of the sacred Medicine Lake Highlands in northeastern California have been challenging the BLM and USFS failure to undertake adequate environmental review and tribal consultation for industrial-scale energy development in the Highlands.

On November 6, 2006, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the BLM and USFS original extension of Calpine Corporation’s geothermal leases in the Highlands violated both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

The agencies should have prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before renewing the leases and should have included a "no action" alternative. Because the agencies violated NEPA and NHPA, both the five-year lease extensions and the subsequent 40-year extensions were undone.

The Court also said that BLM and USFS violated their fiduciary duty to the Pit River Tribe by failing to complete an EIS before extending the Calpine leases.

When the case was sent back to the trial court to implement the Ninth Circuit’s decision, the trial judge ruled that, notwithstanding the invalidation of the lease extensions, the 1988 leases were still intact. In response, Stanford Environmental Law Clinic (SELC) filed an appeal challenging the lower court’s interpretation, which went directly against the original Ninth Circuit ruling.

At the new hearing on March 10, 2010, the SELC attorneys maintained that the leases, originally issued in 1988 for a duration of five years, and renewed once, expired by their own terms when the 1998 renewals for 40 years were declared null and void by the Ninth Circuit judges.

The outcome of the latest hearing is expected soon, so prayers are requested that the Court will fully support the protection of the sacred Medicine Lake Highlands.

The culturally-important Hatchet and Bunchgrass Mountains and the surrounding lands in Traditional Pit River Indian Territory are in jeopardy of being destroyed, due to a plan to build 49 monolithic windmill energy turbines and related roads and ancillary, interconnections, operations and maintenance facilities in the heart of this region.

Hatchet Ridge Wind Company, an affiliate of RES America Developments and Renewable Resources, is initiating its windmill construction project.

The project would significantly and negatively alter over 100 acres of this natural region and include up to 49 turbines on steel towers with a height of up to 503 feet.

Ancillary facilities would include a substation, an overhead transmission circuit, a switching/interconnection facility and a control room/operations and maintenance building.

Access roads would be built, including 6.5 miles of 20-foot-wide permanent roads, and one mile of additional roads.

The project would have severe negative impact on sacred and cultural places, as well as on the winged and four-legged beings.

Native people could no longer access particular ceremonial plants on Hatchet Mountain as part of their cultural practices and they do not support the project.

The visual impact of the towers on the ridge destroys the integrity of the setting of this sacred area.

Birds traditionally important to the local tribal culture, such as eagles, ospreys, ducks and geese, cross the ridge and would be shredded by the blades. Migration routes of deer across the ridge could be disrupted. Sound quality issues would also affect the serenity and isolation of the ridge, disrupting human experiences in the area.

Bunchgrass Mountain is just north of the area impacted by the project.

An ancient trail runs along the top of the ridge top, connecting the Pit River to Goose Valley and sites downriver; in addition to regular travel, this trail is used to reach remote areas during vision quests and such quests continue among some young men.

Clearly, the proposed windmill project will have severe negative impacts on the natural world, as well as the well-being and cultural rights of Native peoples.

Advocates for the Protection of Sacred Sites and their allies have protested against the project, will continue to do so and will not sit idly by and allow the destruction of important sacred and cultural regions to take place.

For more information on the efforts to protect the sacred Medicine Lake Highlands and Hatchet and Bunchgrass Mountains from the building of massive energy power facilities, contact the Advocates for the Protection of Sacred Sites: Radley Davis, Pit River Nation, 530-917-6064; Mark LeBeau, Pit River Nation, 916-801-4422; and James Hayward, Sr., Redding Rancheria, 530-410-2875

California: Needles – Ft. Mojave Indian Tribe, Saturday, June 19, 6:00 a.m.

The Ft. Mojave Indian Tribe remains in urgent need of prayer to protect the Maze and surrounding sacred areas along the Lower Colorado River.

The Maze is both a physical manifestation and a spiritual pathway for the afterlife.

It has always been, and will always be, an integral and significant part of the Mojave way of life, beliefs, traditions, culture and religion.

The Mojave will observe the Prayer Day at a geoglyph feature northwest of the Maze property.

This geoglyph is connected to the Maze and tells the story of the whole area.

The geoglyph has been impacted by off highway vehicle and recreational use.

Pacific Gas & Electric, by its ownership and operation of the Topock Natural Gas Compressor Station near Needles, California over the last 50 years, has polluted the groundwater under and around the Maze with hexavalent chromium, a toxic chemical that can cause numerous human and ecological health problems.

PG&E, BLM and California Department of Toxic Substances Control proceeded with Interim Measures to contain and investigate the contamination, which included the construction of a new Treatment Plant within the Maze area and the drilling of about 150 wells in California and Arizona, on either side of the Colorado River.

These, taken together, create continuing cumulative adverse impacts to the sacred landscape and tribal beliefs.

In 2005, Ft. Mojave filed a lawsuit seeking the removal of the plant, total restoration of the sacred area, an environmental baseline of prior to the plant's construction and any other actions that could serve to remedy the desecration.

Settlement negotiations concluded in November 2006 aimed to achieve each of these goals and secure other remedies including repatriation of the sacred area to tribal ownership, sensitivity training for PG&E employees and contractors, a written public apology and reimbursement of past and future tribal costs.

The 125-acre parcel, containing portions of the Maze, came back into tribal ownership this year amid a celebration at the property.

Even though settlement was achieved, deep prayer is still needed to ask for a deeper understanding by PG&E and the agencies, particularly the BLM and USDOI, as to the nature of this traditional cultural landscape and that they should not be afraid to acknowledge it as "Sacred in its Entirety" during selection of the Final Remedy which is expected to occur in late Fall 2010.

The state and federal agencies need to ensure that they doing all they can to try and mitigate the adverse impacts to the sacred area and Tribe and require:

a) Measures to restore the land and its life forms, improve tribal access and reduce incompatible uses

b) Measures to strengthen traditional Mojave spiritual, cultural and funerary traditions; and c) Measures to continue to allow the Tribe to participate in the remediation project.

Prayer is also needed to ask for forgiveness for any continuing desecration that may occur until the offending facilities, including the interim measure treatment plant, are actually removed and that the Final Remedy will respect the sacred nature of this area.

This issue is national in scope: the Maze has been officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978 and is formally recognized as nationally significant.

Moreover, the failure of state and federal agencies to consider direct and indirect impacts to Native sacred places during pollution remediation activities remains a national problem requiring congressional oversight.

Contact: Nora McDowell-Antone, Tribal Topock Project Manager, at (928) 768-4475, NoraMcDowell-Antone@fortmojave.com or Courtney Ann Coyle, Tribal Attorney, at (858) 454-8687, CourtCoyle@aol.com

California: Redlands – California-Pacific Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church at the University of Redlands, Friday, June 18, at 7:00 a.m.

A Prayer Observance for Sacred Places will be conducted on Friday, June 18, at 7:00 a.m., on the Quad at the University of Redlands in Redlands, California.

The Prayer Observance will take place during the California-Pacific Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.

It will be led by Rev. Cynthia Abrams (Seneca) and Suanne Ware-Diaz (Kiowa), who welcome and encourage the public to join them, along with the delegates and guests attending the Conference.

Contact: Suanne Ware-Diaz at soozware@yahoo.com or (571) 236-7274.

California: Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians’ Burial & Ceremonial Grounds

The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians respectfully requests prayer for the preservation of a Kumeyaay tribal burial ground and ceremonial place that is under the threat of imminent destruction from a local water district reservoir and pump station project near San Diego, California.

Viejas prays for an end to the severe and irreparable harm done to burials and ceremonial places within our ancestral territory over the last 100 plus years.

A hearing is scheduled June 17, 2010, before the state Native American Heritage Commission to determine whether the site should be declared a sanctified tribal cemetery and ceremonial site.

If the Commission makes those findings, the state attorney general could sue the water district if it continues building there.

Viejas also requests urgent prayer for a successful outcome to the lawsuit filed by it June 1, 2010, to enjoin construction there and stop the harms committed by the water district against our ancestors at this property.

The Tribe’s Superior Court hearing for a preliminary injunction is scheduled for June 25, 2010.

For more information, contact: Robert Scheid, Viejas Public Relations Director, at (619) 659-2316 or by email at rscheid@viejas-nsn.gov

Colorado: Boulder - Native American Rights Fund, Monday, June 21, at 6:00 a.m.

The National Day of Prayer to Protect Native American Sacred Places is being observed at the Native American Rights Fund on Monday, June 21, 2010, at 6:00 a.m.

The public is welcome to a Sunrise Ceremony that will be held on NARF's front lawn beginning at 6:00 a.m.

The program is expected to last for one hour with a prayer ceremony.

Andy Cozad from the Native American Church and John Echohawk, NARF Executive Director, will be speaking, as well as other NARF staff.

Speakers will be followed by a moment of silence to show concern for the sacred places that are being damaged and destroyed today.

The Native American Rights Fund is headquartered at 1506 Broadway in Boulder, Colorado.

NARF extends an open invitation to its program and requests that participants bring a chair or a blanket to the front lawn and to bring food and/or beverages to share at the completion of the program.

As part of its mission, the Native American Rights Fund advocates for sacred site protection, religious freedom efforts and cultural rights.

NARF attorneys and staff participate in local and national gatherings and discussions about how to protect lands that are sacred and precious to Native Americans.

The NARF utilizes its resources to protect First Amendment rights of Native American religious leaders, prisoners and members of the Native American Church, and to assert tribal rights to cultural property and human remains, in compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

Contact: Native American Rights Fund at (303) 447-8760.

Kansas: Lawrence - Wakarusa Wetlands, Sunday, June 20, at Sunrise (5:45 a.m.)

(Storm date, in case of severe weather: Monday, June 21, at Sunrise)

Haskell Wetland Preservation Organization (WPO) and Save the Wakarusa Wetlands will observe National Prayer Day at Sunrise (about 5:45 a.m.) on Sunday, June 20, beside the Wakarusa Wetlands at the Haskell Medicine Wheel south of Lawrence, Kansas.

Haskell WPO is a Native student organization, and Save the Wakarusa Wetlands, Inc., is an association of Lawrence-based supporters among from Haskell Indian Nations University, University of Kansas, Washburn University, and Baker University alumni, students and community supporters.

In case of lightning strikes, funnel clouds or other severe weather, the observation will take place on Monday, June 21, at Sunrise.

The ceremony will be led by Millie Pepion, President of WPO, and is open to all who wish to add their prayers to save this sacred place from the highway builders.

Participants will ask for the protection of the Wakarusa Wetlands (aka, Haskell-Baker Wetlands), threatened by an eight-to-ten lane highway project approved by the Army Corps of Engineers, but delayed by state budget constraints and a federal law suit filed by WPO and a consortium of supporter groups, including Jayhawk Audubon, Kansas University Environs, Save the Wakarusa Wetlands, Kansas Sierra Club and KU EcoJustice.

Recently, Douglas County drained the entire wetlands remaining on the Haskell campus.

Local officials claim this was necessary to protect a road segment they intend to remove soon if the South Lawrence Trafficway is built through the wetlands just to the south of the campus.

This obscene act eliminated the last small portion of the Wakarusa Wetlands remaining within the current boundaries of Haskell Indian Nations University.

This sacred place is the last significant trace of the original Wakarusa Bottoms, an 18,000-acre prairie wetland environment that existed for thousands of years before whites drained and dammed the wetlands, which supplied Native peoples of the region with valuable medicines and important ceremonial items.

Elders have said the Creator caused the course of the Wakarusa River to go directly east toward the rising sun, in sharp contrast to the other rivers in the region, as a sign of sacred healing plants and herbs found in abundance there.

About 600 acres of the Wakarusa Wetlands was located directly south of the dorms at Haskell Institute, long the nation’s largest and most tribally diverse federal boarding school.

This last major remnant of the wetlands was a crucial refuge where Native students from all across the country survived government efforts to exterminate their cultures.

There, in the Wakarusa Wetlands refuge, young Indians from Maine to California sang forbidden songs, performed dances that were federally punishable with jail time and refused to let authorities "kill the Indian" in them.

Parents and other tribal leaders camped, sometimes for weeks or months, beside these wetlands on the north bank of the Wakarusa.

They were awaiting permission from school officials to retrieve or at least visit their children. These elders used the Wakarusa Wetlands as an outdoor classroom to pass on final lessons about healing and other traditional knowledge. The wetlands quickly became the most essential place where Haskell students could get news about family and fellow tribesmen.

The wetlands was where they heard about what was happening back home in the crucial era of enrollment, allotments and the selling off of their homelands.

The wetlands also provided the least censored way to send messages home whenever someone speaking a related language arrived in camp, as against learning enough English to send a letter that had to pass censorship by both school authorities and the federal agents interpreting the contents to one’s parents.

Despite massive efforts to drain the wetlands in the early twentieth century, and Haskell's loss of all but a few acres of this property during the Eisenhower termination era, the Wakarusa Wetlands, like Haskell Indian Nations University itself, has survived and flourished.

The entire historic Haskell campus, including the Wetlands, is being considered for designation as a National Historic Heritage area.

Contact: Millie Pepion, President, Haskell Wetlands Preservation Organization (WPO), Haskell Indian Nations University, at (480) 258-2930 or by email at minipah@msn.com and Michael Caron at (785) 842-6293 or by email at mcaron@sunflower.com with Save the Wakarusa Wetlands www.savethewetlands.org

Massachusetts: Palmer - World Peace and Prayer Day, Monday, June 21, Ceremony at 7:00 p.m.

Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe and organizer of the World Peace and Prayer Day, will conduct a public ceremony on Sunday, June 21, at 7:00 p.m., Blue Star Equiculture at Burgundy Brook Farm in Palmer, Massachusetts.

In his message of “great urgency,” Arvol Looking Horse wrote:

“The dangers we are faced with at this time are not of spirit. The catastrophe that has happened with the oil spill which looks like the bleeding of Grandmother Earth, is made by human mistakes, mistakes that we cannot afford to continue to make….We ask for prayers that the oil spill, this bleeding, will stop. That the winds stay calm to assist in the work.

Pray for the people to be guided in repairing this mistake, and that we may also seek to live in harmony, as we make the choice to change the destructive path we are on.

“So let us unite spiritually, All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer. Along with this immediate effort, I also ask to please remember June 21st, World Peace and Prayer Day/Honoring Sacred Sites day.

Whether it is a natural site, a temple, a church, a synagogue or just your own sacred space, let us make a prayer for all life, for good decision making by our Nations, for our children’s future and well-being, and the generations to come.”

For more information, contact: Paula Horne-Mullen at paula@wolakota.org

Michigan: Honoring Our Water, Little Presque Isle Point, Marquette,

Saturday, June 19, Water Ceremony, Sunrise;

Community Potluck Picnic and Gathering, Baraga Powwow Grounds Pavilion, Noon

All are welcome to join us on Saturday, June 19, 2010, for Sacred Places Prayer Day: Honoring Our Water.

We will gather for a Water Ceremony at Sunrise at Little Presque Isle Point on the shores of Lake Superior to pray for threatened sacred places and to honor the sacredness of the water and Mother Earth.

Eagle Rock, a sacred place to Anishinaabe people, is currently threatened as the proposed mine portal for the Rio Tinto/Kennecott Eagle Mine on the Yellow Dog Plains.

Our fresh groundwater, waterways and Lake Superior are threatened by the Eagle Mine and increasing sulfide and uranium mining interests throughout the Great Lakes region.

Women are encouraged to bring blue prayer ties and blue shawls for the water. We also ask that all women who wish to participate wear a skirt in order to honor our traditional way.

A Community Potluck Picnic and Gathering in honor of National Sacred Places Prayer Day will follow at the Powwow Grounds Pavilion in Baraga, Michigan, at 12:00 Noon.

Please join to show your support, ask questions and learn how you can help be a part of the movement to protect our sacred places, water and way of life for future generations.

Directions to Little Presque Isle Point: From Marquette, Michigan, take 550 North towards Big Bay. Turn right at the Blue Flag for Little Presque Isle Point.

Directions to Baraga Powwow Grounds Pavilion: From L'Anse, Michigan, take US 41 North towards Houghton. Turn right at the Powwow Grounds sign. Turn left at the red building and follow the road to the first pavilion.

These events are being hosted by the Stand for the Land and Oshki Ogitchidaawin Aki (New Warriors for the Earth or NWE), which is a new Native/non-Native environmental organization grounded in Anishinaabe traditions with a mission to educate and empower our communities to take action on mining and other social-ecological issues facing our communities.

Please contact Jessica Koski, at jlkoski@gmail.com or 715-550-0124, if you have any questions.

New Mexico: Albuquerque – Rain Cloud & the Albuquerque Center for Peace & Justice,

Monday, June 21, 6:00 p.m.

Rain Cloud will gather on Monday, June 21, at 6:00 p.m., to offer prayers for sacred places. A Pipe Ceremony will be conducted at the time of the Solstice in the parking lot of the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice, at 202 Harvard Drive, Southeast, in Albuquerque.

Rain Cloud is a local collaborative, dedicated to increasing and improving behavioral health services and empowering Indian people living in off-reservation Indian communities in New Mexico.

It was created as a result of the State of New Mexico’s behavioral health transformation initiative, which began in 2005. Rain Cloud was granted local collaborative status in January 2009.

For more information, contact: Gwendolyn Packard at 505-321-6532 or by email at gwenpack@gmail.com

New York: American Indian Community House, New York City - Friday, June 18 at Noon

In New York City, the American Indian Community House and the American Indian Law Alliance are sponsoring an observance at Noon on Friday, June 18, for the protection, health and well-being of all sacred places. The program is expected to last for one hour and the public is welcome to attend. The American Indian Community House is located at 11 Broadway, Second Floor.

For more information, please contact JoAnn K. Chase, AICH Executive Director, at (212) 598-0100 or by e-mail at jchase@aich.org

New York: Ganondagan State Historic Site, Monday, June 21, from 11:30 a.m. to Mid-day

At Ganondagan State Historic Site in New York, there will be a Gahnonyoh (Thanksgiving), starting at 11:30 a.m. and ending at Mid-day, on Monday, June 21, to protect sacred places and to promote world peace. “We invite spiritual leaders and the general public to join us on that day as we offer words of Thanksgiving or Gahnonyoh in Seneca,” says G. Peter Jemison (Seneca), who is the Caretaker of Ganondagan.

“We will gather before noon near the Great White Pine at the head of the Trail of Peace to offer a Thanksgiving,” says Jemison. “Members of the Faithkeepers School from Coldsprings, New York, will join us this year. The event is open to the general public, but no photography, please.”

Ganondagan is the site of the seventeenth century town, once the capitol of the Seneca Nation, which was destroyed by the French in 1687. Today, it is the only historic site in New York dedicated to a Native American theme.

Ganondagan is sacred to the Seneca People because nearby are the remains of Jikonhsaseh the Mother of Nations, who was the first person to accept the message of Peace brought by the Peacemaker, who united the Haudenosaunee or Five Nations: Seneca Nation, Cayuga Nation, Onondaga Nation, Oneida Nation and Mohawk Nation.

Contact: G. Peter Jemison at (585) 924-5848 or by e-mail pjemison@rochester.rr.com

New York: Onondaga Lake Park, Friday, June 19, Sunrise, 6:00 a.m.

Onondaga Nation invites all to Honor the Lake with a peaceful gathering at Onondaga Lake Park, Friday, June 19, at Sunrise, 6:00 a.m.

The gathering will occur beside Onondaga Lake near the Salt Museum.

All who wish for the full clean up and healing of the Onondaga Lake are invited to attend and to bring friends and family.

Please note that Prayers and Meditations for the Lake take place on an ongoing basis.

For more information, contact Onondaga Nation communications at 315-492-1922 or ONONCOMM@verizon.net

North Dakota: Missouri River, Fort Berthold Reservation

Private prayer ceremonies will be held on the Fort Berthold Reservation for the sacred and cultural places all along the Missouri River and its tributaries, which have been the home of many Native Nations since the beginning of time.

Ohio: Newark - Newark Earthworks, Eagle Mound, Great Circle, Sunday, June 20, 7:00 p.m.

The Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio (NAICCO) is answering the call of Arvol Looking Horse, the 19th Generation keeper of the Lakota/Dakota/ Nakota Sacred Bundle and The Morning Star Institute for the 2010 National Days of Prayer to Protect Native American Sacred Places.

NAICCO is having an Intertribal and Interdenominational Prayer Circle and Talking Circle at the Eagle Mound in the Great Circle in Newark/Heath, Ohio, on Sunday, June 20, at 7:00 p.m.

The General Community is invited to join us as we pray for Mother Earth and for all of Creation.

The Newark Earthworks are large, deliberately designed areas of earthworks built 2,000 years ago over a 4-square mile area by the Indigenous Peoples of the Hopewell Culture.

Before the destruction of most of the Earthworks during the establishment of the city of Newark, Ohio, the Earthworks consisted of a complex and extensive array of circles, a square, an octagon, parallel embankments and circular and elliptical mounds.

The remaining sites range in size from 20 to 50 acres, where each earthworks is in a geometric shape with earthen walls that vary from 6 to 30 feel tall and are connected by walled earthen roadways.

In addition to the geometric forms, there was the apparent use of a standard unit of measure and other mathematical consistencies in the spacing of the earthworks. The Octagon Earthworks is an astronomical calendar tracking the 18.6-year lunar cycle, marking the lunar standstills in spectacular moonrises.

It was built in the shape of a circle and octagon connected by a walled ceremonial road, and covers a total of more than 20 hectares of land.

The Great Circle is nearly 1,200 feet in diameter and was possibly used as a ceremonial center and game courts by its builders. The Ellipse was a walled cemetery with many burial mounds and contained an earthen circle open to the east, before its destruction and excavation to clear the land for heavy industry.

The Great Circle and the Octagon Earthworks have been acknowledged as sacred places and have become state parks/monuments.

However, the Octagon Earthworks are leased to a private country club and open to the public only four days per year.

The Ellipse cemetery is owned privately and currently being prepared for sale as an industrial park. Many of the major earthworks in Ohio are now under consideration for designation as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization [UNESCO], and a proposal is being prepared.

For additional information about the Earthworks, see:

http://whc.unesco. org/en/tentative lists/5243

For more information about June 20th event, contact: Mark Welsh at 614-443-6120.

Oklahoma: TICAR, Friday-Saturday, June 18-19, The Coyote Creek Center for Environmental Justice in Marlan – Friday, June 18, Supper/Presentations, 6:00 p.m. Saturday, June 19, Tour, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The Tulsa Indian Coalition Against Racism (TICAR) is honored to co-sponsor with The Coyote Creek Center for Environmental Justice events in honor of the Southwest Organizing Project, the Peoples' Freedom Caravan and the National Sacred Places Prayer Day.

The events will take place at The Coyote Creek Center for Environmental Justice, 27100 Acre Road, Marlan, OK 74644

(10 miles north of the Cimarron Turnpike) HWY 412 exit on HWY 177 North and 5 miles east on Acre Road. Signs will be posted on HWY 177 North.

The program for Friday, June 18th, begins with Supper at 6:00 p.m., followed by Presentations and statements from TICAR and any other invited groups, a Cultural presentation and Open discussion.

The Toxic Tour Caravan will be conducted on Saturday, June 19th, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 am.

Traveling with the Albuquerque-based Southwest Organizing Project and the Peoples' Freedom Caravan to the US Social Forum in Detroit are representatives from El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos (immigrant rights group), New Mexico Youth Radio, the Chain Breaker Collective (bicycle collective from Santa Fe) and the Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment (MASE, anti-uranium mining group from NW New Mexico).

From Southwest Workers Union are: Fuerza Unida, Mexican American Studies Student Organizaiton (MASSO), Youth Leadership Organization (YLO), Mecha, NRP, Progressive Leadership Alliance in Nevada, Pushback Network, Via Campensina from Guatemala.

For more information please call: 580-268-3017.

South Dakota: Rapid City - National Congress of American Indians, Wednesday, June 23, at 7:00 a.m., Rapid City Convention Center Grounds

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) will observe the National Day of Prayer to Protect Native American Sacred Places on Wednesday, June 23, at 7:00 a.m., on the Grounds of the Rapid City Convention Center.

The observance will take place on the final day of the annual NCAI Mid-Year Conference in Rapid City, South Dakota.

For additional information, contact NCAI Deputy Director Robert Holden at 202-466-7767 x 221 or by email at RHolden@NCAI.org

Tennessee: Chattanooga – Sunday, June 20, at

6:30 a.m., Chickamauga Mound;

9:00 a.m., Davis Town Site at Brainerd Levee;

12:00 Noon, Moccasin Bend Mound.

Nashville – 2:30 p.m., Fewkes Mound Site, Primm Park, Brentwood.

In Tennessee, there will be gatherings in Chattanooga and Nashville to pay respects to two remaining sacred places and two lost sites. The public is invited to observe the National Day of Prayer to Protect Sacred Places on Sunday, June 20.

The first gathering will take place at Sunrise, 6.30 a.m., at Chickamauga Mound, one of two remaining Woodland-period mounds in Chattanooga.

Everyone is requested to bring breakfast food to share.

The address is 3701 Amnicola Hwy, Chickamauga Creek Riverwalk Park, Chattanooga.

A second gathering will take place at 9:00 a.m., at the Davis Town Site at Brainerd Levee, which is a site of Native/Spanish contact in the 16th Century. Human remains and sacred objects taken from this Mound have yet to be reinterred.

Public parking is available off Shallowford & N. Moore Road, Chattanooga.

The third gathering will take place at 12:00 Noon at Moccasin Bend Mound, which is one of two remaining Woodland-period mounds in Chattanooga. Pine Breeze Building, Chattanooga.

In Nashville, the gathering will take place at 2:30 p.m., at the Fewkes Mound Site, at Primm Park, Brentwood. Human remains and sacred objects taken from this Mound have yet to be reinterred.

For the Chattanooga gatherings, contact: Corky Allen at callen@chattanooga.net or 423-842-7960; or
Tom Kunesh at tpkunesh@chattanooga.net or 423-781-0197.

For the Nashville gathering, contact: Melba Checote Eads at melbaceads@dtccom.net or 615-210-7276.

Washington, DC: U.S. Capitol, West Front Grassy Area - June 21, Monday, at 9:00 a.m.

The observance in Washington, DC, will take place at the U.S. Capitol on the West Front Grassy Area on Monday, June 21 at 9:00 a.m.

The public is invited to attend this respectful observance to honor sacred places, sacred beings and sacred waters, and all those who care for them and protect them from harm. The observance will take the form of a talking circle. All are welcome to offer good words, songs or a moment of silence for all sacred places, beings and waters, especially for those that are being threatened, desecrated or damaged at this time.

This observance is organized by The Morning Star Institute, a national Native rights organization founded in 1984 and dedicated to Native Peoples’ cultural and traditional rights, including religious freedom and sacred places protection.

Contact: The Morning Star Institute at (202) 547-5531 or Suzan Shown Harjo at suzan_harjo@yahoo.com

Washington: Snoqualmie Falls, at the Cedar Tree, Monday, June 21, 7:00 a.m.

Snoqualmie Falls is a Sacred Place of Creation for the Snoqualmie and other Tribes of the Puget Sound region. On June 21st, Monday, at 7:00 a.m., there will be a gathering at the base of the Cedar Tree, where Snoqualmie and other tribal people will share heartfelt words and uplift one another.

All are welcome and encouraged to bring food and drink to share, rain or shine. “It’s a blessing to share,” says Snoqualmie Falls Ambassador Lois Sweet Dorman. “We honor all our relations in this way; let us uplift one another in our time of need!”

The Snoqualmie Tribe has exhausted its legal remedies in their decades old challenge of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s licensing of the hydroelectric facility at Snoqualmie Falls.

In June of 2009, the Bellevue, Washington-based Puget Sound Energy announced that it has a federal license to operate for another 35 years and will spend $250 million to redevelop the hydroelectric project. Puget has been busy in the last year, re-envisioning this Sacred Place from top to bottom, literally. Most recently was the re-opening of the Public Park at the top of the Falls after a closure for extensive landscaping projects. Its press announcement stated that it was now ready for the next generation to enjoy.

Puget Sound Energy, which owns the park and powerhouses at Snoqualmie Falls, has just closed the trail and lower falls park for sweeping renovations. The next opportunity to hike to the base of the 268-foot waterfall will be several years from now.

“As we observe the 2010 Prayer for the Protection of Sacred Places, we will again gather to add our prayers to those songs, drums, bells, rattles, dances and war cries going up across the Globe,” says Ambassador Dorman. “We are always together in Spirit. We are stronger together. We remain strong in prayer and in Spirit.”

Contact: Lois Sweet Dorman, Snoqualmie Falls Ambassador, at nightfishes@qwest.net

The Morning Star Institute

611 Pennsylvania Ave. SE

#377

Washington, DC

20003

Call the The Morning Star Institute:

(202) 547-5531

June 3, 2010 Stand For The Land Rally Michigan State Capitol: Protest Arrests of Native Americans, Kennecott Minerals Police Raid at Sacred Eagle Rock

2010-05-30T11:33:00.000-07:00

June 3, 2010 Stand For The Land Rally

To Prevent Sulfide Mining

Protest Eagle Rock Police Raid and Arrests by Kennecott Minerals

The pristine Upper Peninsula of Michigan is in jeopardy from 30 sulfide "acid" mines if the mine planned by Kennecott Eagle Minerals moves forward with protection from Michigan's Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm and her environmental protection agencies

Scroll down for the schedule for rally planned by Upper Peninsula Ojibwa, Stand for the Land and several environment groups at Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan on Thurs. June 3, 2010 following the massive May 27 police raid ordered by Kennecott Eagle Minerals on the defenders of Eagle Rock resulting in arrest of two Ojibwa campers for Trespassing and demanding others leave!

Everyone Please Attend:

STAND FOR THE LAND RALLY - LANSING, MI June 3rd

A contingency of native and non-native residents of the Upper Peninsula are going to the State Capitol in Lansing to hand deliver an Environmental Justice petition and a Tribal Treaty Rights Statement to our Governor and to talk to the Natural Resources Commission about the Eagle Mine Project.
We will be talk about the use of state public lands for a private multi-national corporation's gain.

We will talk about Eagle Rock - a sacred site of the Anishinaabe that is now fenced in and in accessible to the public and the Anishinaabe.

We will talk about the violation of Treaty Rights.

We will talk about rights of communities that have been violated through the lack of engagement from permitting agencies in the permitting of the Eagle Mine on the Yellow Dog Plains in Marquette County.

Groups and citizens from all around Michigan and the Great Lakes are asked
to participate.

Rally Schedule:

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

11:00 am Meet on Capitol Lawn

11:30 am Reading of the Environmental Justice Petition

Reading a Tribal Rights Statement

Eagle Rock (Song For The People) - sung by Drew Nelson

Other Voices Joining In

1:00 pm Deliver the petitions and Tribal Rights Statement to the Governor's office

3:00 pm Walk to Natural Resources Commission Meeting - 333 E. Michigan Ave - Lansing Center

4:30 pm Give Public Comment at NRC Meeting

Here is the schedule of events for next week and more detail:

June 2nd - Washtenaw County Circuit Court - 1:30 pm Ann Arbor.
Venue argument for the Contested Case Appeal
This will determine the location of the court case - Ann Arbor or Lansing
Merits of the case will not be discussed yet.

June 3rd - Capitol Steps, Lansing - 11:00 am *Stand for the Land Rally*

The actual speaking/singing event starts at 11:30 and we have until 2:00 for this rally.
There are many musicians joining us and we have a P.A. system so that all can hear.
We will then hand deliver an Environmental Justice Petition to the Governor's Office along with other documents and statements to her attention.

June 3rd - 3:00 pm Walk from Capitol Steps to Lansing Center - 333 E. Michigan Ave - three blocks away to attend Natural Resources Commission Meeting.
Public Comment starts at 4:30.

Musicians are lining up!!
Drew Nelson will be singing his new song Eagle Rock!
Rachael and Dominac Davis, Jen Sygit & Sam Corbin and Miko Fossum will add their voices and sounds to this event.
This is a peaceful demonstration of our rights.
Be there.

Cynthia Pryor
Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, Inc
1-906-360-2414
http://www.yellowdogwatershed.com
http://www.standfortheland.com
http://www.savethewildeup.org

Police Raid: Native American encampment to defend Sacred Eagle Rock is crushed by Kennecott Minerals to construct a nickel and copper mine

2010-05-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

Kennecott Eagle Minerals crushes Eagle Rock encampment, orders heavily-armed police raid, two campers arrested, demands other campers to leave, disrespectfully douses sacred grandfather father without an elder as requested by Native Americans, trashes Eagle Rock Community Garden

Kennecott celebrates aftermath of raid by bribing cops with picnic, according to Stand for the Land blog

Scroll down for photos of police raid, links to Indian Country Today story

(Big Bay, Michigan) - On orders from an international mining company, dozens of heavily armed police raided a month old Ojibwa encampment at sacred Eagle Rock in northern Michigan and during which mine officials intentionally disrespected American Indians traditions and beliefs in the process.

The raid happened on Thursday, May 27, 2010 - a little more than a month after the camp was created at sunset on April 23 by three brave American Indian women from Baraga, Michigan - KBIC members Charlotte Loonsfoot, 37, and Chalsea Smith, 20; and Georgenia Earring of the Cheyenne River Lakota Sioux tribe in South Dakota.

Then the mine officials literally crushed the camp and the Eagle Rock Community Garden that has been expanded in recent days.

Sacred Eagle Rock and the Yellow Dog Plains are State of Michigan public land that Ojibwa have rights to under federal treaties instead the state leased the land to Kennecott Eagle Minerals for its sulfide mine that will produce sulfuric acid byproduct as they mine nickel, copper and other minerals.

Some 30 other similar mines will pop up like mushrooms in the same area if the Eagle Mine Project starts digging under the Salmon Trout River; and underneath Eagle Rock to create a tunnel to the mine.

Kennecott disrespected several Ojibwa traditions including a request to have an elder douse the grandfather fire and arresting a camper in a fasting ritual with her bundle on Eagle Rock.

Meanwhile, terror tactics were reported by the American Indian and non-native Eagle Rock defenders in the days leading up to the raid including numerous sharpened metal objects and large nails have been scattered in the sand at the edge of a river that the campers sometimes use to cool down from record high temperatures this past week.

The objects were not at the water's edge a few days earlier. An approximately nine-inch nail showed no signs of rust and appeared to be relatively new.

In addition, in the week prior to the raid Kennecott construction personnel constructed a fence across a path that mine officials know is being used by the campers to collect drinking water and to water the new eagle Rock Community Garden.

Also campers have repeatedly spotted unknown people in camouflage sneaking around in the bushes around the outer perimeter of the campsite at the base of Eagle Rock.

While the Eagle Rock camp was set up by Ojibwa tribal members, the campers included members of several tribes including Lakota and Cherokee plus members of numerous other tribes expressed support for the campers in internet posts and letters.

Please read story in Indian Country Today (ICT) newspaper:
Raid at Eagle Rock:

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/greatlakes

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/greatlakes/95060709.html

Raid at Eagle Rock in ICT digital edition pages 7 and 8:

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/digitalcopy/95104274.html

http://flipflashpages.uniflip.com/2/16715/60551/pub/

Michigan State Police standing on the remote Triple A Road near the entrance to Eagle Rock. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Marquette County Sheriff's Department cars blocking Triple A Road at the Eagle Project nickel and Copper mine entrance about three quarters of a mile east of sacred Eagle Rock.
Also pictured Powell Township fire and ambulance vehicles and personnel, who were on standby in case someone was hurt during the police raid on sacred Eagle Rock.
The media and campers were allowed to walk past the blockade to the former encampment but warned to stay on the road or face arrest. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Michigan State Police and mine security perched atop Eagle Rock – the officers were armed with high power rifles. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Following police raid, Eagle Rock campers stand on the Triple A Road at the former entrance to the sacred Eagle Rock encampment as Michigan State Police stand watch in the background
In foreground, are two of the four campers present when police moved in plus longtime blogger and camper Gabriel Caplett (on left with video camera ) who has been writing daily updates on the camp for the past month on the StandForTheLand Blog and also has written hundreds of updates about the effort to block by several environment groups and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community since plans for the the mine were announced in 2004.
Pictured with Caplett in the foreground are Kalvin Hartwig (center), a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa, and nonnative Catherine Parker (right) of Marquette.
Michigan State Police standing on the Triple A Road near the entrance to Eagle Rock after raid on campers and arrest of two members of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for "trespassing" when they refused to leave the sacred Eagle Rock Ojibwa encampment. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Kennecott Eagle Minerals employees string the fence across the driveway to the Eagle Rock encampment's with state police and mine security looking on, (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Michigan State Police and mine security perched atop Eagle Rock – the officers were armed with high power rifles. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Two of the four campers that were present when police moved in on May 27, 2010. Kalvin Hartwig, a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa, and non-Native Catherine Parker of Marquette, Michigan stand in front of the former encampment entrance at Eagle Rock that is filled with the mine's heavy equipment and police. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

The remains of the Eagle Rock Community Garden that was pulled up by Eagle Project mine officials and placed into purple children's swimming pools at the encampment entrance. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Mine equipment at entrance to Eagle Rock with Stand For the Land sign and a pole with a lone Eagle Feather on top. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Powell Township ambulance and fire vehicles and personnel on standby at the entrance to the Eagle Project nickel and copper mine about three quarters of a mile from Sacred Eagle Rock. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Michigan Ojibwa: Help Protect Sacred Eagle Rock from Kennecott Minerals Sulfide Mine

2010-05-01T21:36:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

Urgent Plea from Ojibwa Warrior: Supporters needed at Sacred Eagle Rock in northern Michigan to help prevent Kennecott Sulfide Mine

Above, Photo of Sitting Bull on American Flag atop Sacred Eagle Rock

American Indians and non-natives are encouraged to visit the northern Michigan campsite that is blocking a sulfide mine - as in sulfuric acid - from being built under Sacred Eagle Rock

Levi Tadgerson, an Anishinaabe man who loves and respects the environment, narrates this video that invites everyone to join the encampment at the base of Eagle Rock - the sooner the better because a confrontation between mine owners, the police and those protecting Sacred Eagle Rock could happen at any moment.

EarthHealingTV youtube

Urgent: Join tribes, others who areblocking Sacred Eagle Rock from mining giant Kennecott

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv542P75-fw

Please watch 3 minute video by Tadgerson - who is a 22-year-old Northern Michigan University senior and member of Bay Mills Indian Community. The video was shot on 4/29/2010.

Playing A "Thank you" Drum is Elder Bobby "Bullet" St. Germaine of Iron River, MI

In the video, you will see the many amazing things happening to protect Sacred Eagle Rock including an appearance by popular American Indian singer/songwriter Elder Bobby "Bullet" St. Germaine of Iron River, MI - an elder of the Lac Du Flambeau tribe in Wisconsin.

Germain, who sings and leads a thank you drum under the shadow of Sacred Eagle Rock, says all those helping at the standoff are "warriors" in a larger cause.

"Warriors" who are protecting Sacred Eagle Rock

Photos by Greg Peterson

The Blue "Water Flag" that hangs atop Sacred Eagle Rock

Eagle Rock has been a sacred place to hold ceremonies since the Ojibwa tribe was created and was seeded to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) under treaties with the American government.

The multi-tribe encampment, that could be raided by mine guards and police at any moment, is blocking the Eagle Mine Project by international mining giant Kennecott Minerals and its parent company Rio Tinto.

KBIC member Glen Bressette Jr., 38, of Harvey, Michigan brought a rare legally-permitted Eagle has been received to award feathers to those who honor their tribes by protecting sacred Eagle Rock and other honorable actions.

Cliff's edge atop Sacred Eagle Rock in Marquette County, Michigan

Dozens of people from numerous tribes have spent days at the camp - and many others have brought supplies to the remote site on dirt roads about an hour from any city.

The state of Michigan has claimed ownership to the land - but the lease with Kennecott only takes effect when the mine has secured all permits.
Opponents say the mine must still get a federal EPA groundwater permit - but under a technicality the mine owners say they do not need the permit and recently put up No Trespassing signs.

The American Indians rushed to the sight after Kennecott ordered the arrest of longtime mine opponent Cynthia Pryor of Big Bay, MI on April 20, 2010.

Pryor was out for her usual walk on the Yellow Dog Plains when she spotted a bulldozer - and refused to leave saying the mine still had an EPA permit pending.

Pryor is a member of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve.

Among the Ojibwa tribes from Michigan and Wisconsin on sight are KBIC, Lac Du Flambeau, and Bay Mills Indian Community.

As of April 30th, the mine guards has not confronted the campers - but the day before ordered no still or video cameras are allowed. That has campers worried about why what they do not want videotaped or documented - thus nerves are high.

When a reporter arrived a short time later - the campers allowed him on the sight and this story was videotaped.

For more information call:
1-906-401-0109

The video was produced by the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI, which has founded numerous youth, faith and Native American related environment projects.

Bobby "Bullet" St. Germaineof Iron River, MI - a member of the Lac Du Flambeau tribe inWisconsin.

He is a well-know longtime nativesinger:

http://www.bobbybullet.com

Petition to support Cynthia Pryor

www.savethewildup.org/jailed/petition

Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve:

http://www.yellowdogwatershed.org/blog

Save the Wild U.P. (SWUP):

http://www.savethewildup.org

SWUP Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20079015072

SWUP Causes on Facebook

http://www.causes.com/causes/46130?recruiter_id=60587135

Stand for the Land blog:

http://standfortheland.com

Stand for the Land flickr photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49633257@N03

Stories by Gabriel Caplett and otherson the Headwaters: Citizen Journalism For the Great Lakeswebsite.

http://headwaters.net

Headwaters stories include oppositionto the Kennecott Eagle Mine project and alleged international crimesand bad acts by Kennecott Mining and its parent company Rio Tinto:

Taking a Stand: Sacred SiteCelebrated Despite Citizen Arrest

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/taking-a-stand-sacred-site-celebrated-despite-citizen-arrest

Pryor Ordered to Leave Jail:

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/pryor-ordered-to-leave-jail

Cynthia Prior Pleads Not Guilty:

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/cynthia-pryor-pleads-not-guilty

Cynthia Pryor arrested at mineproperty:

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/citizen-arrested-for-%E2%80%9Ctrespassing%E2%80%9D-on-public-land/

Eagle Mine Concerns Raised at Rio TintoMeeting:

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/audio-rio-tintos-annual-general-meeting

Upper Peninsula Mine Threatens SacredTribal Rights:

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-blog/upper-peninsula-mine-threatens-sacred-tribal-rights

Rio Tinto Stomps on Indigenous Rightsin Upper Peninsula of Michigan:

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-blog/rio-tinto-stomps-out-indigenous-rights-in-upper-michigan

Kennecott Minerals parent company RioTinto accused of crimes ranging from bribery to espionage toviolating mining act:

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/uk-serious-fraud-office-to-investigate-rio-tinto

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/rio-tinto-employees-charged-with-industrial-espionage-and-bribery

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/rio-tinto-pleads-guilty-to-breach-of-mining-management-act-again-2

USA Today and Washington Post storiesfrom Associated Press by writer John Flesher article about ChaunceyMoran, vice chairman of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and avolunteer stream monitor

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2007-09-08-276323347_x.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/08/AR2007090800356.html

More stories and info about ChaunceyMoran:

http://www.waterkeeper.org/ht/d/OrganizationDetails/id/707

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AP05J20091126

Mining Journal stories:

Native American activists protest atEagle Rock 4/25/10:

http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543341.html

Mining Journal Editorial: Cooler headsmust prevail in mine protests 4/25/10:

http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543354.html

Pryor pleads not guilty to trespassing:Mining opponent arrested at Kennecott operation 4/21/10:

http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543227.html

Mine foe Pryor remains jailed 4/22/10:

http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543253.html

Rally Held at Eagle Rock

http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543014.html?nav=5006

Mining Journal Video of Rally:

http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543018.html?nav=5056

DEQ mine decision questioned 1/16/10:

http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/539169.html

Yellow Dog Plains on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Dog_Plains

Yellow Dog Plains Pix via Wikipedia ByMaynard Leon and Kirill Zikanov (Wiki username Kirillz)

Trouble on the Yellow Dog Plains:

http://savethewildup.org/files/swup/265.pdf

GRANHOLM, DEQ DECISION CONDEMNED BYU.P.

http://www.ausableanglers.org/files/members/RIVERWATCH48.pdf

Protect the Earth: Part 2, Walk toEagle Rock By Michele Bourdieu

http://keweenawnow.blogspot.com/2009/08/protect-earth-part-2-walk-to-eagle-rock.html

State of Michigan Info on Eagle MineProject:

http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3311_4111_18442-130551--,00.html

Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute:

http://www.CedarTreeInstitute.org

Cowboys & Angels free benefit concert Dec. 13 fights American Indian domestic violence, teen suicide

2008-12-07T11:22:00.000-08:00

December 15, 2008: "Cowboys and Angels": Third annual free northern Michigan benefit concert to battle domestic violence and teen suicides on one of the the poorest American Indian reservations in the U.S.

It was standing room only during the 2007 Cowboys and Angels benefit concert at the Falling Rock Café and Book Store in Munsing.

Rev. Dr. Lynn Hubbard, the non-profit Turtle Island Project director and a Munising pastor, played to a full house during the second annual free benefit concert.

The third annual free benefit concert will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2008 and include original songs by Hubbard and seasonal music. (Photos by Greg Peterson, non-profit Turtle Island Project)

(Munising, Michigan) - A free benefit concert to battle American Indian teen suicide and family violence will be held on December 13, 2008 in northern Michigan.

The non-profit Turtle Island Project (TIP) in Munising is organizing the third annual "Cowboys and Angels" concert to benefit the White Buffalo Calf Woman Society (WBCWS) in Mission, South Dakota – the first Native American domestic violence shelter in the world.

The WBCWS battles domestic violence, sexual assault and an alarming increase in teen suicides on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, the home of the Sicangu Lakota people.

Poverty, depression, a lack of jobs, drugs, alcohol and other social problems are among the reasons behind Rosebud suicides and family violence.

Performing on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 7 - 9 p.m. at the Falling Rock Cafe and Bookstore at 104 East Munising Ave. in downtown Munising, Michigan will be Pastor Lynn Hubbard. The concert includes original songs written by Rev. Hubbard and traditional songs of the season.

The WBCWS was founded 30 years ago by a group of courageous Native American women including current executive director Tillie Black Bear.

"The White Buffalo Calf Woman's Society and its domestic violence shelter are vital to address social issues like teen suicide and domestic violence on the Rosebud reservation," said Dr. Hubbard, pastor of the Eden on the Bay Lutheran Church in Munising, MI. "Women and children are treated with dignity."

"The Rosebud Reservation has been described as a Third World Country in America's heartland," Hubbard said. "Social problems on the Rosebud can sometimes seem overwhelming but the answer starts with a person donating money or volunteering their time and praying for the people.”

The TIP has organized numerous free benefit concerts in the U.P. and SD for the WBCWS including two by Iron County-based folk groups, White Water and Duo Borealis.

For more information call 906-202-0590 or email turtleislandproject@charter.net
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Related websites:
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White Buffalo Calf Woman Society, Inc.

Turtle Island Project main website

Turtle Island TV (blipTV)

Rosebud Tribe official website

email the non-profit Turtle Island Project

Widget

2008-11-30T20:34:00.001-08:00

U.S. Islamic Leader Imam Hassan Qazwini: Human race, religions have lots in common, few differences

2008-10-27T15:36:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

Important Message from the Leader of Largest Mosque in North America - Imam Hassan Qazwini: Major world religions and people have more in common than differences

Imam Hassan Qazwini, leader of the Islamic Center of America

(Photo by Greg Peterson)

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The interfaith Earth Keeper Initiative in Michigan's Upper Peninsula has always promoted interfaith connections - and America's top Muslim Imam brought just that message to Marquette, MI.

Thies video is the first of several with excerpts from a heart-felt and candid conversaion between northern Michigan residents (most Christians) and U.S. Muslim leader Imam Hassan Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America on Oct. 22, 2008 at the Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) Lothlórien House in Marquette, Michigan.

Northern Michigan University (NMU) Health " Nutrition Professor Mohey Mowafy (above left) of Marquette introduced Imam Hassan Qazwini to an eager audience of mostly Christians for a living room chat.

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Imam Hassan Qazwini:

"I was born in Iraq (1964) in a city called Karbala. It's a holy city in Iraq. After that I went to Kuwait and then to Iran. (studied in Iran). In 1992 I came to the United States."

"Up until I came to the United States in 1992, I knew there were Christians in Iraq but I never had any interaction with Christians. I never had any interaction with Jews in Iraq. I lived my own inner world. In Karbala, everybody is Muslim."

"There were Christians, there were Jews and obviously other denominations in Iraq, but I lived my own inner world. In Karbala, everybody is Muslim, so I really did not have any interaction beyond my little world."

"It was in the United States when I have my first encounter with non-Muslims."

Iman Hassan Qazwini spoke candidaly to about 25 people at the Lutheran Campus Ministry home in Marquette. In one of several lighter moments, Imam Qazwini urged everyone to see the new Oliver Stone movie "W" about President George W. Bush. (Photos by Greg Peterson)

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Imam Hassan Qazwini told a story about riding in a car with his brother in California and stopping into a busy Christian church - and discovering that all religions believe the concept of love:

He said to Muslims - Jesus is as respected and revered as Mohammad.
Imam Hassan Qazwini said all religions and peoples basically "hold the same values - the same beliefs."

"We passed by a church in a city called West Covina. So I see a church, it was Sunday, it was a church and the parking lot was full. Probably there was over 300 to 400 cars. So I asked my brother What was going on here?' He said the pastor is giving a sermon."

"I said Can we go?' He says What?' I said Can we go in?' He said you want to go in, really?' I said Yes really.' He says - he wanted to say, he didn't say - out of respect - he wanted to say: Are you out of your mind?' But he didn't say that." (Laughter from audience)

"He said Are you sure you really want to go inside the church?'
I said Yes.' He said "What do you do?' I said Come on, I'm not going to covert to Christianity. What's going on here?" (laughter) I said I have a chance to see what does the pastor have to say when he speaks to this congregation.'

"I know what I tell my, what I say to my congregation What I preach to my congregation. I want to see what he says. So we went in and it was a beautiful church and the pastor was speaking. There was at least 400 to 500 people listening."
"And I listened but at that time my English was not that good. My brother was occasionally translating."

"But, all I heard him talking about was love. Jesus loving you. You love Jesus. And about the concept of love. So as he's talking I am listening."

"I said to myself Look, in our religion we also talk about love."
"Muslims believe that God has 99 names. And one of his names is Al-Wadud. And Al-Wadud is "The Loving One."

"I said to myself Look almost everything he is talking about is there in my religion.' And how similar we look. And for every word he says quoting Jesus. I have a word to quote from Mohammad. As Muslims, Jesus to us - he is a prophet as well."

"He (Jesus Christ) is as respected as Mohammad and as revered as Mohammad because we Muslims believe there are five superior messengers - Mohammad, Jesus, Moses, Noah and Abraham."

"So we place Jesus almost in the same place - or status - as we place Mohammad."

"In my mind as I am listening (to the Christian pastor) These words he was uttering are resonating in my mind. And reflecting my own faith system."

An Iman of Many Gestures: However the biggest gesture from Imam Hassan Qazwini was a message of love, peace, respect and common ground to all the World's major religions. (Photos by Greg Peterson)

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"When we do not see each other, when we do not interact with each other. We think of each other - that we are weird. I think you are weird. You may think that I am weird."

"You may thing that I harbor some very weird thoughts. I could be a very weird person. I could be someone who does not think like you think. And probably I would have the same thought about you."

"But when we meet, and we mingle, and we exchange thoughts, we find how striking our similarities are."

"Be Muslims, Christians, Jews or what else - non-denominational - basically we hold the same values - the same beliefs. And we worship God with different tongues and different languages and different styles - but the direction is the same."
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Related Links:
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Mosque photo courtesy the Islamic Center of America website

Imam Hassan Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America

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Critic of Imam Hassan Qazwini:

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Wikipedia article on Karbala, Iraq:

Wikipedia article on "People from Karbala" (Iraq):

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Muslim 99 names for God: Al-Wadud is"The Loving One":

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Articles about Muslims " Quran: Muslims believe there are five superior messengers - Mohammad, Jesus, Moses, Noah and Abraham:

http://www.shiatv.net/search_result.php?search_id=Blessing

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Imam Hassan Qazwini NPR interview May 12, 2005 on opening of new Islamic Center of America Mosque in Dearborn - the largest in the U.S. (Recording of NPR interview)

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Photo courtesy NMU website

Mohey Mowafy
NMU Health " Nutrition Professor
906-249-9133 (hm)
906-227-2366 (wk)
Professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation
201C Physical Education Instructional Facility
Began teaching at NMU in 1976
mmowafy@nmu.edu

NMU Health " Nutrition Professor Mohey Mowafy is member of speakers bureau with talks on biodiversity:

Mohey Mowafy, a 63-year-old Northern Michigan University professor, brought 32 students to the Democratic Party rally with former Pres. Bill Clinton " an effort to recruit Rudy Giuliani into presidential bid:

Meet NMU Professors:

NMU President's Council " Prof. Mohey Mowafy:

Northern Michigan University Professor Mohey Mowafy on health and nutrion:
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Lutheran Campus Ministry - Marquette, MI
http://www.nmulutherans.org

Rev. Jon Magnuson, founder " executive director of the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute, welcomes Imam Hassan Qazwini to the Lutheran Campus Ministry house in Marquette, MI.

U.S. Muslim Leader Imam Hassan Qazwini: Selfish pollute environment; Don't hunt for fun

2008-10-27T15:33:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

Northern Michigan University (NMU) Health & Nutrition Professor Mohey Mowafy (above left) of Marquette introduced Imam Hassan Qazwini (center) to an eager audience of mostly Christians for a living room chat.

Rev. Warren Geier (right) of Bethany Lutheran Church in Ishpeming, MI was among several Lutheran pastors on hand.

Imam Qazwini answered a wide range of questions including the murder of many of his family members in Iraq, the War in Iraq, hunting, interfaith environment projects and common perceptions and misconceptions between religions. (Photos by Greg Peterson)
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Imam Hassan Qazwini: Humans are selfish and dont treat the environment with justice - its the responsibility of all humans and all religions to respect the environment

The Michigan Earth Keeper Initiative has always promoted interfaith connections - and America's top Muslim Imam brought just that message to Marquette, MI

Talk by Imam Hassan Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America on Oct. 22, 2008 at the Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) Lothlórien House in Marquette, Michigan

Northern Michigan University (NMU) Health & Nutrition Professor Mohey Mowafy of Marquette introduced Imam Hassan Qazwini:

Verbatim comments by Imam Hassan Qazwini:

In the Quran God says:

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Thahara alfasadu feealbarri waalbahri bima kasabat aydee alnnasiliyutheeqahum baAAda allathee AAamiloolaAAallahum yarjiAAoona. Quran (Ar-Rum: verse 41)

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Quran (Ar-Rum: verse 41) translated:

Corruption (Mischief) has appeared on land and sea because of (the meed) that the hands of men have earned, that (Allah) may give them a taste of some of their deeds: in order that they may turn back (from Evil). Quran (Ar-Rum: verse 41)
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Corruption has appeared on the sea and on the land due to what the man did - or what the man does.

Meaning that God created this very beautiful, splendid planet. And he gave it to us as a gift. But he asked us not to corrupt it, not to ruin it, not to destroy it. Use it for our benefit.

Did you know that in this country, we only form five percent of the worlds population, but we consume 25 percent of the worlds energy. What does this mean? This means that I am taking my own share - yet I am taking the share of five other people in this world. I am using my own share plus the share that belongs to five other people - I am consuming.

It means that I am stepping over my limits. And I am doing such injustice to the environment. Why? Simply because I am selfish. I want to enjoy myself. I dont care about the environment. I dont care about others and I want to use everything for my own benefit only.

Artwork by Esteban Barahona of San José, Costa Rica and courtesy Wikipedia

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I always remind my friend - I say many of you love hunting. How many of you hunt?
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Answering the Imams question - news reporter Greg Peterson says I am growing my beard (for deer season) right now.
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Imam Hassan Qazwini continues:

Hunting is a hobby that many people love to do.

In Islam, my religion, two people can hunt only.
A hunter - meaning whose career is hunting, someone who makes a living out of hunting.
And the second one: A man who is wandering the desert or the woods. And he got so hungry, and he could not find anything to eat, he went and he hunted something. He ate. Thats fine.

Photo by Greg Peterson

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But for someone to do it as a hobby - its prohibited (in Islam).
Why?

Because God allowed me, permitted me as a human being, he gave me the right to take the life of an innocent animal only when I need it. When I need to fill my stomach. When I am hungry. Or when I need to make a living because I have to make a living.

But for me to go out and enjoy myself with the cost of killing an innocent animal - God says: Here your freedom is over. You can not take the life of an innocent animal simply because you wanted to enjoy yourself. Simply because you wanted to have some fun.

But obviously, you may tell me: I am not going to waste it. I will take it.

I know, but what was my incentive when I hunted this animal. My incentive was to enjoy myself not because I was hungry.

My point that I am trying to say is this: That God want this equilibrium to be kept and to be preserved.
We Muslims refrain from eating so many kind of fish - the kind of fish that does not have scale on the skin - we cannot eat. Why?

Because we know that if we are allowed to eat everything in the ocean then the balance the equilibrium in the ocean will be upset.
Therefor - not only my well-being - the well-being of the environment will be in danger.

Photo by Greg Peterson

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So the bottom line is - that Islam is one of the religions that emphasizes protecting the environment.

You can use from the environment as much as you need - not as much as you enjoy.
You can use the environment as much as you need - not as much as you enjoy.

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Related Links:
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Mosque photo courtesy the Islamic Center of America website

Imam Hassan Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America

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Critic of Imam Hassan Qazwini:

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Quran and the environment:

http://www.blogtoplist.com/religion/blogdetails-17864-3.html

http://theislamicscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/man-and-pollution.html

http://Quran.al-islam.com/Targama/DispTargam.asp?nType=1&nSora=30&nAya=41&nSeg=1&l=eng&t=eng

http://www.Quranexplorer.com/?gclid=CISVuKeYw5YCFSMeDQodMnDFKw

http://uniqueislam.com/MAN%20AND%20POLLUTION.htm

http://www.islamforall.net/qur%27an.htm

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/Qur'an/scislam.html

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1157962482299&pagename=Zone-English-HealthScience%2FHSELayout

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Saddam Hussein:

http://www.answers.com/topic/saddam-hussein

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Movie "W" by Oliver Stone:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/02/georgebush.usa

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1175491

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg7vwicPx98

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Imam Hassan Qazwini taped NPR interview May 12, 2005 on opening of new Islamic Center of America Mosque in Dearborn - the largest in the U.S.

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Quran explained by Wikipedia:

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Wikipedia Islam, Quran & Allah related artwork by Esteban Barahona of San José, Costa Rica:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Allah-eser2.png

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Esteban.barahona

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:IslamSymbolAllah.PNG

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Dcp7323-Edirne-Eski_Camii_Allah.jpg

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Allah

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Allah-eser2.png

http://anagami.deviantart.com

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Quran photos new & old:

http://www.bornrich.org/entry/13th-century-quran-sold-for-a-world-record-at-christies

http://foreninger.uio.no/mss/bilder/quran%20001.jpg

http://foreninger.uio.no/mss/bilder/quran%20002.jpg

http://foreninger.uio.no/mss/bilder/quran%20004.jpg

http://foreninger.uio.no/mss/bilder/quran%20006.jpg

http://foreninger.uio.no/

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Mohammad photos on the University of North Florida website:

http://www.unf.edu/classes/freshmancore/core1images/muhammad-westernimage.jpg

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Prophet Muhammad & Other Islamic Prophets on Wikipedia:

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Wikipedia article on Karbala, Iraq:

Wikipedia article on "People from Karbala" (Iraq):

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Muslim 99 names for God: Al-Wadud isThe Loving One:

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Articles about Muslims & Quran: Muslims believe there are five superior messengers - Mohamad, Jesus, Moses, Noah and Abraham:

http://www.shiatv.net/search_result.php?search_id=Blessing

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Imam Hassan Qazwini NPR interview May 12, 2005 on opening of new Islamic Center of America Mosque in Dearborn - the largest in the U.S. (Recording of NPR interview)

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Photo courtesy NMU website

Mohey Mowafy
NMU Health & Nutrition Professor
906-249-9133 (hm)
906-227-2366 (wk)
Professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation
201C Physical Education Instructional Facility
Began teaching at NMU in 1976
mmowafy@nmu.edu

NMU Health & Nutrition Professor Mohey Mowafy is member of speakers bureau with talks on biodiversity:

Mohey Mowafy, a 63-year-old Northern Michigan University professor, brought 32 students to the Democratic Party rally with former Pres. Bill Clinton & an effort to recruit Rudy Giuliani into presidential bid:

Meet NMU Professors:

NMU Presidents Council & Prof. Mohey Mowafy:

Northern Michigan University Professor Mohey Mowafy on health and nutrion:
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Lutheran Campus Ministry - Marquette, MI
http://www.nmulutherans.org

Rev. Jon Magnuson, founder & executive director of the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute, welcomes Imam Hassan Qazwini to the Lutheran Campus Ministry house in Marquette, MI.

Fly a kite, family picnic: Make plans for Lake Superior Day July 20, 2008 by Lake Superior Binational Forum

2008-06-22T05:34:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

Make your Lake Superior Day plans now: July 20, 2008 celebrate the world's largest, cleanest freshwater lake - annual event sponsored by Lake Superior Binational Forum, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada

Celebrate Lake Superior Day on Sunday, July 20, 2008

Whats better than a July picnic on a hot, sandy beach next to the worlds largest freshwater lake?

A picnic and a Lake Superior celebration!

Individuals and families, churches and kids, communities and clubs, and businesses and industries hold activities or events that celebrate Lake Superior Day, held annually on the third Sunday in July (July 20 this year).

Can you do something that symbolizes your own connection to the lake on that day?

Lake Superior Day was started in the early 1990s to highlight the importance of this great water body to the basins environment and economy.

The Lake Superior Binational Forum promotes this basin-wide event to highlight the special connections people have to this unique world treasure.

Many events have been held to educate or entertain people about lake issues, special places, and recreational opportunities.

You are invited to hold activities or events that celebrate this world-class lake.

This year the theme is Lets Go Fly a Kite! to symbolize clean energy sources such as wind power.

Organize your group or family to fly a kite at your favorite beach or park on July 20!

Click on this link for more information about flying a kite on Lake Superior Day.

Families fly kites made from homemade materials off the deck of the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth.

Photo (above) from Minnesota Sea Grant Dec. 2007 newsletter: Making a Great Lake Superior by Sharon Moen.

Photo by Marie Zhuikov

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Last year almost 45 groups and communities participated in some way, including special events such as dragon boat races, beach clean ups, musical concerts, library displays, church services, and signed proclamations that designate the third Sunday in July as Lake Superior Day.

Contact the Lake Superior Binational Forum to receive free color postcards and buttons to give to your Lake Superior supporters at your event.

The Forum's website offers ideas about how the day was celebrated last year and what you can do to celebrate Lake Superior. Click on Current Projects. New information is posted regularly.

For more information email organizers - or call (715) 682-1489

University of Minnesota Sea Grant Foundation photo

South Carolina Map - Geology.com

Lake Superior's surface covers 31,700 square miles, or about the size of South Carolina.

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The lake is so big it could hold all the water from the other four Great Lakes, plus three more lakes the size of Lake Erie.

The Johnson-Sea-Link deep-sea scientific research submersible
Photo courtesy the Public Library of Science journal via Wikipedia

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In 1985, scientists using a submersible vessel descended for the first time to the deepest part, which is near the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigans Upper Peninsula.

Lake Superior s deepest point is 1,332 feet, which would almost cover the Sears Tower in Chicago, one of the worlds tallest buildings.

Sears Tower photo by Western Michigan University student Meghan Hurley of Glenview, Illinois.

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The lake stretches approximately 350 miles from west to east, and 160 miles north to south. If you could travel along the entire Lake Superior shoreline, you would travel 1,826 miles, or the distance from Duluth to San Francisco.

The Lake Superior Binational Forum is a multi-sector stakeholder group of U.S. and Canadian volunteers that work together to provide input to governments about lake issues and educate basin residents about ways to protect and restore the lake.

Members come from Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ontario.

Northland College Ashland, Wisconsin photos courtesy:
Northland College, Liturgical Environments, Wayne Nasi Construction

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The Forum is located in the United States at Northland College in Ashland, WI, and funded in the U.S. by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Great Lakes National Program Office.

The Canadian Forum office is at EcoSuperior in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and funded by Environment Canada.

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Top Ten Ways You Can Protect Lake Superior Every Day

Wisconsin DNR Map

1. Install water saving devices on your kitchen and bathroom faucets and showerheads. Purchase these at local hardware and building supply stores--most cost between one dollar and nine dollars.

2. Replace regular light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs. Burning an energy bulb requires less energy, which means power plants burn less coal and that produces less mercury in the air.

3. Never burn garbage, especially plastics or tires, in burn barrels on your property. These produce more toxins in the air than an industrial incinerator. Not only do you breathe these toxic fumes as the garbage burns, but the pollutants enter the lake when it rains.

4. Instead of burning garbage, recycle or compost what you can and throw away the rest.

5. Take your lawn and household hazardous materials to area Cleansweeps collection days in Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, and Iron counties this summer. Call the Northwest Regional Planning Commission at 715-635-2197 for dates and locations of collections in your county.

6. Put your lawn on a chemical-free diet. Poisonous lawn herbicides and pesticides seep into waterways that end up in the lake and soil, which can hurt your family and neighbors. Lawn chemicals can also sicken or kill birds and pets. Bring these kinds of chemicals to a Cleansweep event where they are disposed of safely.

7. Never pour any liquids into a storm drain. Storm drains empty untreated liquids into a nearby river, stream, or Lake Superior.

8. When youre boating or fishing, inspect your boat and trailer and remove any plants and animals before leaving the water body. Drain water from the motor, live well, bilge, and transom before leaving the water body. Never release live bait fish in the water or live earthworms on the land or water.

9. When planning landscaping or gardening activities, use plants that are native to the region. Consult with garden centers or the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute for a list of the best native plants for this area. Learn what non-native species look like and additional prevention tips by contacting your local state or federal natural resource management agency and ask for information and identification material for non-native species.

10. Love it! When you care about something as grand as Lake Superior, youll feel good about making sure it stays a Great Lake.

For more info contact:

Lissa Radke
US Coordinator
Lake Superior Binational Forum
Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College
Ashland, WI
54806

715-682-1489
FAX 715-682-1218

"Water is life, and the quality of water determines the quality of life." --Lake Superior Binational Forum vision statement

Lake Superior Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in July!

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Interfaith projects to protect Lake Superior are discussed in this video by:

Rev. Tesshin Paul Lehmberg
Head Priest
Lake Superior Zendo
Zen Buddhist Temple

Rev. Jon Magnuson, LSBF board member
Lutheran Campus Ministry
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, Michigan

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Supers:

South Carolina map courtesy Geology.com

The Johnson-Sea-Link deep-sea scientific research submersible
Photo courtesy the Public Library of Science journal via Wikipedia

Sears Tower photo by WMU student Meghan Hurley

Minnesota Sea Grant photo by Marie Zhuikov
Families fly kites made from homemade materials off the deck of the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth
---
For more info contact:

Lissa Radke
US Coordinator
Lake Superior Binational Forum
Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College
Ashland, WI
54806

715-682-1489
FAX 715-682-1218

Lake Superior Binational Forum
http://www.superiorforum.info

Lake Superior Binational Forum vision statement:
"Water is life, and the quality of water determines the quality of life."

Lake Superior Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in July
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Related websites:
---
Lake Superior Binational Forum
http://www.superiorforum.info

Flying a kite on Lake Superior Day pdf:
http://www.superiorforum.info/uploads/Kite_Poster.pdf
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Wisconsin DNR page on Lake Superior:
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/nature/habitat/lakesuperior.htm
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University of Minnesota Sea Grant Foundation
http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/

Minnesota Sea Grant Dec. 2007 newsletter: Making a Great Lake Superior by Sharon Moen
http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/newsletter/2007/12/making_a_great_lake_superior.html

Minnesota Sea Grant kite flying photo by Marie Zhuikov
Families fly kites made from homemade materials off the deck of the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth.
---
Northland College Ashland, Wisconsin photos courtesy:

Northland College:
http://www.northland.edu/Northland

Liturgical Environments:
http://www.liturgicalenvironments.com
http://www.liturgicalenvironments.com/Images/Leaded%20Glass%20Contemporary/LdNORTHLAND-COLLEGE.jpg

Wayne Nasi Construction:
http://www.wnasi.com
http://www.wnasi.com/images/portfolio/school_northland.jpg
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EcoSuperior Environmental Programs:
http://www.ecosuperior.com
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Environment Canada:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/

Telephone
1-819-997-2800
Canada only:
1-800-668-6767
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Johnson-Sea-Link - Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_Sea_Link

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution:

http://www.hboi.edu

Submersible & crew info:
http://www.hboi.edu/marineops/jsl_crew.html

The Johnsen Lab page of Johnson-Sea-Link
http://www.biology.duke.edu/johnsenlab/gallery/insidechamber.html

Johnson-Sea-Link, deep-sea scientific research submersible built by The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in 1971.
Submersible was designed by Edwin Albert Link, friend of Harbor Branch founder Seward Johnson.
Image first published March 15, 2005 in the Public Library of Science journal.
Source: Gulf of Mexico Cruise SJ0107
The Public Library of Science journal website states that the content of all PLoS journals is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 license.
---
South Carolina Map - Geology.com
http://geology.com/state-map/maps/south-carolina-state-map.gif
---
Sears Tower photo by Western Michigan University student Meghan Hurley of Glenview, Illinois:
http://homepages.wmich.edu/~m4hurley/searstower2_skyscraper_1.jpg
http://homepages.wmich.edu/~m4hurley

Earth Healing, EPA Earth Day Challenge: Erie, PA residents protect Lake Erie by turning in medicines at Pennsylvania Sea Grant collection

2008-06-19T01:48:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

View of Erie, Pennsylvania from Presque Isle
Photo by Pat Noble, WikiProject Erie

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Pennsylvania Sea Grant Keep Unwanted Medicine out of Lake Erie Medicine Collection Day in Erie, Pennsylvania on April 26, 2008
All medicine collection photos in this story are by Anna McCartney, Erie Times-News in Education

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Erie, Pennsylvania residents turn in about 600 pounds worth of medicine and personal care products, over 73,000 pills at the April 2008 Sea Grant Pharmaceutical collection during EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

(Erie, Pennsylvania) - Erie, Pennsylvania area residents dropped off about 600 pounds worth of medicine and personal care products on Saturday, April 26, 2008 during the Pennsylvania Sea Grant pharmaceutical collection.

Showing their love for Lake Erie, residents brought in over 73,000 pills and a large amount of controlled substances like narcotic pain medication, according to Sara Grisè, Pennsylvania Sea Grant coastal outreach specialist.

The collection was held at the Cruise Boat Terminal Building behind the Memorial Library named for Dr. Raymond Blasco in Erie, Pennsylvania.

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Keep Unwanted Medicine out of Lake Erie Medicine Collection results:

87 participants

Collected 120 gallons of materials

5 of the 120 gallons were controlled substances

About 600 pounds worth of medicine and personal care products

Controlled category II:

1,031 pills

130 milliliters of liquids

Controlled category III, IV, V:

1,397 pills

1,180 milliliters of liquids

Controlled Unidentified:

1,410 pills

102 milliliters of liquids

4 pieces of gum

6 towelettes
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Controlled total: 3,839 pills

Non-Controlled total: 69,232 pills

Personal Care products: 384
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The Keep Unwanted Medicine out of Lake Erie Medicine Collection Day was held as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge.

The challenge involved over 100 pharmaceutical and electronic waste collections in hundreds of communities across eight states in the Great Lakes Basin.

Ohio EPA Map of polluted Lake Erie in 1970s

Across America, the reputation of Lake Erie - especially in the 1960s and 1970s - was that of an extremely polluted and even dead lake.

By all accounts, residents and officials have done a great job restoring Lake Erie - where fishing, boating and swimming are popular.

Lake Erie photo (above) courtesy Jim's Photos Unixdoctor

View of Lake Erie from Cranch Park in Erie, PA
Photo by Pat Noble, WikiProject Erie

EPA Graphic

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The EPA Lake Erie Lakewide Management Plan has been a big force in the recovery of Lake Erie.

EPA/Bay City Times/Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab Photo

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In recent years, officials have been fighting the Zebra Muscle problem in Lake Erie. It's been a love/hate relationship as the muscles have done good and bad things to the lake.

One goal of the pharmaceutical collection was to prevent medicine s from being discharged into Lake Erie and to make sure the drugs don't end up in other surrounding lakes and streams.

Goal of medicine collection is to protect rivers, lakes and streams like Cascade Creek in Erie, PA
Photo by Pat Noble, WikiProject Erie

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Many wastewater treatment plants around the world are not designed to remove the cocktail of chemicals after the drugs are flushed or dumped down the drain - and the drugs can leach out of landfills into the groundwater.

Pictured above are Erie Police Dept. officers. Law enforcement officers are required by federal law at collections of controlled substances

Students and pharmacists from the LECOM School of Pharmacy counted and sorted drugs during the medicine collection

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Some of the unsung heros at pharmaceuticals collections are the police and pharmacists - without whom the collections would not be possible.
At all locations, including Erie, Law enforcement and pharmacists were on hand to accept the pharmaceuticals.

Based on experience, organizers discovered the turnout was bigger when residents don't have to preregister.

Of the 87 residents participating in the collection, 61 did not preregister.

Sara Grisè, Pennsylvania Sea Grant coastal outreach specialist (pictured above on the right; and Marti Martz, also a Pennsylvania Sea Grant coastal outreach specialist, and many others worked hard to make the collection a success.

Over 70,000 pills were turned as Erie, PA area residents showed their love for Lake Erie by participating in the Keep Unwanted Medicine out of Lake Erie Medicine Collection Day

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And similar to the other collections, most Erie participants were older adults as 89 percent were over the age of 46.

Assisting in the proper disposal of the medicines was ECS & R - Environmental Coordination Services and Recycling in Cochranton, Pennsylvania.

Medicine Collection Sponsors:

The organizers of the Erie collection included Pennsylvania Sea Grant, the City of Erie, Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force, LECOM school of Pharmacy, and Erie Times-News in Education.

Organizers partnered with the WJET-TV Channel 24 Erie Green Campaign.

WSEE TV provided their news story for use in a video about the collection.

The Pennsylvania Sea Grant received a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Great Lakes map highlighting Lake Erie by Lawrence W. Ellerbruch, Northern Michigan University

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The Earth Healing Initiative assisted some challenge organizers by offering interfaith liaisons to volunteer and encourage members of local churches and temples to participate in the Earth Day related events in their area.

This video on the projects connected to the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge was made possible by a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the EPA's Region 5 office in Chicago, the EPA Great Lakes national Program Office also in Chicago in cooperation with the non-profit Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative in Marquette, MI.

The EHI involves American Indian tribes and a coalition of churches, synagogues and other faith traditions joining together to heal, protect and defend the environment.
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For more info contact:

Sara Grisè
Pennsylvania Sea Grant
814-217-9011

Unwanted Medications
301 Peninsula Drive, Suite 3
Erie, PA

Marti Martz
Coastal Outreach Specialist
Pennsylvania Sea Grant
814-217-9015
814-217-9021 (fax)
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Erie collection organizers received assistance from EPA Region 3 (with assistance from Region 5), Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Organizers thank following organizations who were part of the team that make the collection program a success:

Community Health Net
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Environmental Coordination Services and Recycling (ECS&R)
Erie County Environmental Coalition
Erie Center on Health and Aging
Erie County Health Department
Erie Housing Authority
Erie Port Authority
Erie Wastewater Treatment Facility
Local Pharmacies
Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC)
Hamot Medical Center
Lake Erie Sierra Club
Local Senior centers
Pennsylvania Lake Erie Watershed Association
Presque Isle Audubon
State Board of Pharmacy
USDEA local agent
Visiting Nurses Association
WJET-TV 24 Erie Green Campaign
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Related websites:
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Pennsylvania Sea Grant:
http://www.pserie.psu.edu/seagrant/seagindex.htm

In November 2006, Sara Grisè joined Pennsylvania Sea Grant as a Coastal Outreach Specialist:
http://www.pserie.psu.edu/seagrant/about/grise.htm
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EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago, Illinois
http://www.epa.gov/region5
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ECS&R - Environmental Coordination Services & Recycling
3237 US Highway 19
Cochranton, PA
16314

814-425-7773
814-425-3201 (fax)

ECS&R 24 hour emergency response call:

877-902-2452

email:
info@ecsr.net

http://www.ecsr.net/
http://www.ecsr.net/environmental.html
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WJET-TV 24 Erie Green Campaign:
http://yourerie.com/
http://yourerie.com/content/green
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WSEE TV Erie. PA
http://www.wsee.tv/
http://www.wsee.tv/news.php
http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=WSEE01
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City of Erie
http://ci.erie.pa.us/

City of Erie flag/seal are courtesy the English Wikipedia Graphics Lab & Cronholm144

Erie Police Dept.
http://ci.erie.pa.us/Departments/PoliceDepartment/tabid/72/Default.aspx
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Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force
http://www.earthforce.org/section/offices/lea
http://www.earthforce.org/section/offices/lea/leasuccess_stories

http://www.earthforce.org/section/offices/lea/leacontact_us
http://www.earthforce.org/section/offices/lea/leaschools
http://www.earthforce.org/
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LECOM School of Pharmacy in Erie, PA

Photo by Pat Noble, WikiProject Erie

LECOM school of Pharmacy
http://www.lecom.edu/school_pharmacy.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LECOM
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Erie Times-News newspaper building in Erie, PA

Photo by Pat Noble, WikiProject Erie

Erie Times-News in Education
http://www.goerie.com/
http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=ETN
Erie Times-News front page April 23, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Times-News
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Erie, PA photos by Pat Noble

Erie, Pennsylvania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie

Erie photos courtesy Pat Noble aka Pnoble805, a member of WikiProject Erie
Photos include Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry monument, Liberty Park's Pepsi Amphitheater, Times-News building, skyline of Erie, Pennsylvania as seen from Presque Isle, Cranch Park, west branch of Cascade Creek under a small bridge at Frontier Park, and the LECOM medical school.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Pnoble805
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Pnoble805#My_work_on_WikiProject_Erie

City of Erie flag/seal are courtesy the English Wikipedia Graphics Lab & Cronholm144
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Lake Erie Photos courtesy Jim's Photos Unixdoctor
http://www.unixdoctor.com/gallery/niagara/Lake_Erie_02
http://www.unixdoctor.com/gallery/albums.php
---
Lake Erie map graphic courtesy Lawrence W. Ellerbruch, Northern Michigan University
http://ellerbruch.nmu.edu/classes/cs255f03/cs255students/ateraves/P6/tutorial2.html
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Shallow Lake Erie photo courtesy Environment Canada:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/
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Lake Erie polluted photo courtesy Ohio EPA
http://www.epa.state.oh.us/oleo/reports/leqi/leqi2004/pollutionsources/Pollutionsourcespic.jpg
http://www.epa.state.oh.us/
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EPA: Lake Erie Management Plan reports:

http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/erie.html
http://www.epa.gov/lakeerie/index.html
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EPA - Zebra Mussels photo info:
http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/image/viz_iss4.html
Zebra mussels washed up on beach, Lake Erie
Bay City Times (courtesy Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab)
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White House Office of Drug Control Policy:
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/
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Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative
http://www.earthhealinginitiative.org/

Call:
906-401-0109
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Cedar Tree Institute
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org/
---

Earth 911:
http://earth911.org/
http://earth911.org/blog/2008
---

Interfaith graphics by Justice St. Rain (Baha'i Community)
Interfaith Resources - Special Ideas website:
http://www.interfaithresources.com/

Justice St. Rain
1-800-326-1197 (toll free)
1-847-733-3559 (wk)

Interfaith Resources
P.O. Box 9
511 Diamond Rd
Heltonville, IN
47436

Photos of the April 2008 pharmaceutical collection in Erie, Pennsylvania

Photos by Anna McCartney, Erie Times-News in Education

Earth Healing: EPA funds June 21 RSVP e-waste collection in Hancock, MI

2008-06-06T14:36:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

Western U.P. electronic waste collections set: June 21 in Houghton and Keweenaw counties; July 12 in Baraga County; dates for other areas TBA

The Western Upper Peninsula Electronics Recycling Program, a project of the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), provides households with an environmentally and economically sound solution to disposing of electronic waste.

Residents of Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon Counties, who have generated electronic waste in their household, may bring their items to e-waste collection sites on the specified collection dates in their area.

The initiative received grants and/or other assistance from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The northern Michigan collection is connected to the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge that involves over 100 projects in eight states across the Great Lakes Basin.

More than a dozen previous collections since 2005 have garnered nearly 48 tons of e-waste from over 850 participants.
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2005: 8 collections, 26.5 tons
2006: 4 collections, 15 tons
2007: 1 collection, 6.25 tons
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Commonly called e-waste, electronics waste includes old and broken computers, cell phones, TVs and other items found in many homes.

The collection for Houghton and Keweenaw counties will be on June 21 from 9 am to noon at the health department offices in Hancock.

An e-waste collection will be held in Baraga County on July 12 from 10 a.m. to noon at a site to be announced.

Collection events for other Copper Country counties will be announced in the future.

The cost to drop off e-waste is 10 cents per pound.

The Western Upper Peninsula Electronics Recycling Program will accept a wide range of e-waste during collection events including cell phones, computer and related equipment like laptops, monitors, towers aka central processing units, printers, scanners, keyboards and computer mice

Other e-waste accepted includes stereo equipment, televisions, VCR and DVD players, copiers, cordless telephones, fax machines, fluorescent light bulbs that are 4 to 8 feet in length, microwave ovens and batteries including alkaline, nickel cadmium, lead acid, lithium, mercury.

Organizers said it estimated that between 1997 and 2007, nearly 500 million personal computers will became obsolete. That's almost 2 computers for every person living in the United States.

TV's and computer monitors contain an average of 4 pounds of lead, as well as other toxins.

According to Closing the Circle News, the manufacture of one computer consumes 529 pounds of fossil fuels, 49 pounds of chemicals, and 3,307 pounds of water.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency projects that nationwide nearly 250 million computers will become obsolete in the next five years.

For additional information contact the Western Upper Peninsula Electronics Recycling Program or RSVP at 906-482-7382.

The goal of the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge was the collecting and recycling of one million pounds of electronics (e-Waste) plus the collection and proper disposal of one million pills. The EPA says those goals were exceeded by 400 to 500 percent.

The Earth Healing Initiative assisted some challenge organizers by offering interfaith liaisons to volunteer and encourage members of local churches and temples to participate in the Earth Day related events in their area.

This video on the projects connected to the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge was made possible by a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the EPA's Region 5 office in Chicago, the EPA Great Lakes national Program Office also in Chicago in cooperation with the non-profit Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative in Marquette, MI.

The EHI involves American Indian tribes and a coalition of churches, synagogues and other faith traditions joining together to heal, protect and defend the environment.

Im Greg Peterson and youre watching Earth Healing TV
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Related websites:
---

Western Upper Peninsula District Health Department:
http://www.wupdhd.org
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e-waste info:
http://www.wupdhd.org/rsvp/e-waste.html
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RSVP:
http://www.wupdhd.org/rsvp/index.html
---
Contact info:
Western Upper Peninsula District Health Department and the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program
540 Depot Street
Hancock, MI
49930

Barbara Maronen
906-482-7382
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EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago, Illinois
http://www.epa.gov/region5
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Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative
http://www.EarthHealingInitiative.org

906-401-0109
---

Cedar Tree Institute
http://www.CedarTreeInstitute.org
---

EPA Great Lakes Challenge continues: Kalamazoo April 21 pharmaceutical collection for SW Michigan

2008-06-05T13:48:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

Free, special collection for old prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals for residents of southwest Michigan set for June 21, 2008 in Kalamazoo County

Residents of the Kalamazoo area and all of southwest Michigan can to their part to protect the Great Lakes during a free public pharmaceutical collection later this month.

Old and unwanted medicines and personal care products will be accepted on Saturday, June 21, from 9 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Loy Norrix High School, 606 E. Kilgore (off Lovers Lane) in Kalamazoo.

The pharmaceutical collection is sponsored by Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that provided a grant for the project.

The collection is connected to the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge that involves over 100 projects in eight states across the Great Lakes Basin.

Southwest Michigan residents can rid their home of unwanted prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals plus personal care products.

For example - items that will be accepted include:

Prescription medication, such as antibiotics, birth control, and insulin (but no sharps or syringes)

Medication samples and over-the-counter medication, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, cold medicine

Personal care products, such as medicated ointments, lotions, and shampoos

Veterinary medications

Items that will not be accepted include:

Medical waste like sharps and syringes

Products containing mercury like thermometers
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The collection is free to all households in southwest Michigan.

Organizers say the collection is important to protect Lake Michigan and other lakes and streams - like Arcadia Creek.

The reason - an investigation by the Associated Press found a wide variety of pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, mood stabilizers and hormones, in the drinking water of 41 million Americans.

Most medications pass untreated through wastewater treatment plants because those facilities are not designed to remove the chemicals.

That means the pharmaceuticals are discharged into local rivers or groundwater.

For more information call 269-373-5211

Or visit the EPA and Kalamazoo County websites at these addresses:
http://www.epa.gov/ppcp
http://www.kalcounty.com/hcs

Again - a free pharmaceutical collection for residents of the Kalamazoo area and southwest Michigan will be held on Saturday, June 21 from 9 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Loy Norrix High School at 606 E. Kilgore (off Lovers Lane) in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The pharmaceutical collection is sponsored by Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The goal of the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge was the collecting and recycling of one million pounds of electronics (e-Waste) plus the collection and proper disposal of one million pills. The EPA says those goals were exceeded many times over.

The Earth Healing Initiative assisted challenge organizers by offering interfaith liaisons to volunteer and encourage members of local churches and temples to participate in the Earth Day related events in their area.

This video on the projects connected to the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge was made possible by a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the EPA's Region 5 office in Chicago the EPA Great Lakes national Program Office also in Chicago in cooperation with the non-profit Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative in Marquette, MI.

Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services
http://www.kalcounty.com/hcs

Kalamazoo County Environmental Health Bureau
http://www.kalcounty.com/eh/index.htm

Kalamazoo County homepage:
http://www.kalcounty.com
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EPA - Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)
http://www.epa.gov/ppcp
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EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago, Illinois
http://www.epa.gov/region5
---

Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative
http://www.EarthHealingInitiative.org

906-401-0109
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Cedar Tree Institute
http://www.CedarTreeInstitute.org
---
Kalamazoo - Southwest Michigan First
http://www.southwestmichiganfirst.com/index.cfm
Maps:
http://www.southwestmichiganfirst.com/pdf/Kalamazoo%20Region.pdf
http://www.southwestmichiganfirst.com/pdf/Kalamazoo%20County1.pdf
---
Kalamazoo Downtown Central City website:
http://www.central-city.net
http://www.central-city.net/festivalsite?mth=festivalsite&subc=festplanning
---

Kalamazoo Wikimedia:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Kalamazoo%2C_Michigan
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Kalamazoo.jpg
---
Kalamazoo River:
www.kalamazooriver.net
---

Loy Norrix High School:
http://www.kalamazoopublicschools.com/education/school/school.php?sectionid=24
http://www.kalamazoopublicschools.com/education/school/schoolmap.php?sectiondetailid=279&sc_id=1210344809
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loy_Norrix
---

Earth Healing Initiative & EPA challenge: Creating interfaith environment group in your town

2008-05-28T09:08:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

(Marquette, Michigan) - The founder of two interfaith environment groups is often asked by people around the globe to explain the best way to start an effective similar interfaith group in their own community.

Along the shores of Lake Superior, creating similar interfaith environmental groups was discussed by leaders of the Earth Healing Initiative and the Upper Peninsula Earth Keeper Initiative, both based in Marquette, Michigan.

The non-profit Earth Healing Initiative provided interfaith volunteers and participants top numerous cities during the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge.

The challenge involved the recycling of millions of pounds of electronics and the proper disposal of millions of pills and other pharmaceuticals in April 2008 during over 100 projects across eight states that make up the Great Lakes Basin.

This warm and calm day in May 2008 produced the tiniest of ripples in an unusually calm Lake Superior as wildlife heralded spring in the background. The serene setting was perfect to discuss interfaith environment work and how it can be created in others areas of the world.

Earth Healing founder Rev. Jon Magnuson co-founded the Earth Keeper Initiative that started when nine northern Michigan faith leaders signed the Earth keeper Covenant in 2004.

The bishops and other faith leaders pledged to reach out to Native Americans and actively participate in interfaith environment projects.

This video includes the thoughts of Rev. Jon Magnuson, director of Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) at Northern Michigan University (NMU) in Marquette, MI; and Rev. Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, head priest of Lake Superior Zendo, a Marquette Zen Buddhist temple; and Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes of the Northern Great Lakes Synod (NGLS) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Rev. Lehmberg and Bishop Skrenes were among the nine original signers of the Earth keeper Covenant.

The non-profit Cedar Tree Institute (CTI) co-founded the interfaith Earth Keeper Initiative in Michigan's Upper Peninsula that works closely with ten faith traditions on a wide range of environment projects that include college students, at-risk teens, American Indian tribes and others.

Rev. Magnuson is the executive director of the CTI.
.
The CTI Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative is developing a relationship with the same faith communities in northern Michigan and others across the Great lakes.

The faith communities include Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, The Religious Society of Friends (commonly known as the Quakers) and Zen Buddhist.

The Earth Healing Initiative assisted challenge organizers by offering interfaith liaisons to volunteer and encourage members of local churches and temples to participate in the Earth Day related events in their area.

This video on the projects connected to the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge was made possible by a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the EPA's Region 5 office in Chicago the EPA Great Lakes national Program Office - also in Chicago - in cooperation with the non-profit interfaith Earth Healing Initiative in Marquette, Michigan.

The Earth Healing Initiative involves American Indian tribes and "a coalition of churches synagogues and other faith traditions joining together to heal protect and defend the environment" said Rev. Magnuson, Earth Healing founder.

The next project during the summer of 2008 involves encouraging bee and butterfly pollenization through means that include creating habitat thanks to help from at-risk teens and American Indian tribes. The pollen project is important because billions of bees have died prematurely across the country and the problem has become alarming in the Midwest. More on this project in the near future.
---
Supers:

Rev. Tesshin Paul Lehmberg
Head Priest
Lake Superior Zendo
Zen Buddhist Temple

Rev. Jon Magnuson
Lutheran Campus Ministry
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, Michigan

Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes
Northern Great Lakes Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

---
Related Links:
---

Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative
http://www.EarthHealingInitiative.org

906-401-0109
---

EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago, Illinois
http://www.epa.gov/region5
---

Cedar Tree Institute
http://www.CedarTreeInstitute.org
---
The Lake Superior Interfaith Communication Network
http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com
---

ELCA Northern Great Lakes Synod
http://www.nglsynod.org
---
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
8765 W. Higgins Road
Chicago, IL
60631

1-800-638-3522
(aka 1-800-NET-ELCA)

1-773-380-2700
Fax: 1-773-380-1465
---

ELCA Website:
http://www.elca.org
Ecumenical:
http://www.elca.org/ecumenical
---

Earth 911:
http://earth911.org/blog/2008
---

Interfaith Resources
P.O. Box 9
511 Diamond Rd
Heltonville, IN
47436
---

Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative & EPA Great Lakes Challenge praised by Bishop Thomas Skrenes: "Every day is Earth Day"

2008-05-26T14:42:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge: Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes says - "We are all environmentalists" & "Every day is Earth Day"

Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes praises interfaith success of the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

(Marquette, Michigan) - A Lutheran Bishop who has participated in interfaith Earth Day recycling projects for four years in a row said.

"Celebrate - what a great day Earth Day has been 2008," said Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes of the Northern Great Lakes Synod (NGLS) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). "The Earth Healing Initiative has been a great success this year."

"Congratulations Earth Healers - you've done it, it has been a success," Bishop Skrenes said. "The EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge has been a great success."

"Computers have been recycled, pharmaceuticals have been brought together for proper disposal," Skrenes said. "We are hearing reports from all over the Midwest about wonderful things that are happening."

"Pharmacological waste - more than a million pills - and all kinds of poundage of equipment and computer materials that are surplus that will not pollute the beautiful Great Lakes over the next years because of the success of this challenge."

"Congratulations to those members of the faith communities and others who have been a part of this," Skrenes said. "It has been a great day, a great week, a great Earth day 2008."

"What a great opportunity it has been to be part of the ecumenical work and interfaith work of assisting others to see the environmental concerns set before us," said Bishop Skrenes of Marquette, Michigan.

"We are all environmentalists," Skrenes said. "Everybody is an environmentalist because all of us want clean air to breathe, all of us want clean drinking water. We all enjoy the outdoors and nature."

"So every single one of us - no matter our political understandings are - no matter where we are on the liberal and conservative line - no matter what we think of any of the big issues facing the world today - all of us can agree that it is in all of our interests."

The interfaith protecting of the environment "is an honoring of the God that made us, that we can be part of this movement to preserve to reuse to recycle - to make a difference," Skrenes said.

"We call that the environmental movement," Skrenes said. "Sometimes all kinds of political forces connect to that but yet all of us agree that we can all certainly conserve and save and bring back - and then give to the next generation what has been given to us."

With hundreds of thousands of people participating across eight states in the Midwest and Northeast, Bishop Skrenes said interfaith environment projects like the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge will help ensure a better future for all humans.

"It is a sign of great significance that people can join hands and work together," Skrenes said. "So celebrate - it is a good day for the environment and it is a good day for all of us together."

Bishop Skrenes thanked the EPA, faith communities and "people of goodwill throughout the upper Midwest who have been a part of this work."

"Thanks to the Environmental Protection Agency for their help and assistance in all of this work," Bishop Skrenes said. "The EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge has been a part of the lives and will be a part of the future of this whole area."

"It is a wonderful opportunity to begin to look at what it is that we hold in common," Skrenes said. "What we hold in common is this wonderful Great Lakes basin."

"This is a wonderful place with lakes and streams and forests everywhere in the Midwest, and the great plains and the great fields," Skrenes said. "We have been a part of saving some of this and making a difference - that's what it is all about making a difference."

"The faith communities do that each and every day in so many ways, this is just one more way. People of faith have bonded together and are working together to make a difference in the world."

"When we are working together as different believing communities great things can happen," Skrenes said.

"Sometimes we become so focused on what divides us, what disconnects us, what separates us - and there are important things that sometimes do that - but yet we can all have loyalty and allegiance to this world that has been our home and this part of the world that we have been blessed with by God."

"God has given us the privilege of living here in the midst of these lakes and in the midst of all of this beautiful nature," Skrenes said.

"When people of faith, whether they be of Christian traditions or of other traditions, gather together to work on what connects us. One of those things that connects us is respect and awe for the creation that surrounds us."

"We are part of a movement together in these early years of the Twenty-first (21st) Century to save what has been given to us by the generations before us and what God has provided to us," Skrenes said.

"When you can have people of all traditions working together - wonderful things can happen. People joining hands and making things happen. A spectacular success was this initiative. Thanks be to God for that - and thanks be to all the people that made this possible."

Bishop Skrenes is one of the original nine faith leaders who signed the Earth Keeper Covenant in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in 2004 that lead to many interfaith projects

Background: Earth Healing Initiative and the Michigan Earth Keeper Initiative

The Cedar Tree Institute (CTI) co-founded the interfaith Earth Keeper Initiative in Michigan's Upper Peninsula that works closely with ten faith traditions on a wide range of environment projects that include college students, at-risk teens, American Indian tribes and others.
.
The CTI Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative is developing the same relationship with the same faith communities in northern Michigan and others across the Great lakes.

The faith communities include Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, The Religious Society of Friends (commonly known as the Quakers) and Zen Buddhist.

Springtime, Earth Day, the Great Lakes challenge and similar events are a renewal, Skrenes said.

"Now in the springtime - what a better time of year there is than spring I can not imagine. Springtime when the trees are just blossoming and the flowers are coming up and the spring rains - to be reminded of what a great God we have who has provided all this to us."

"So it is our privilege then to do this ministry to do this work together. "Every day is Earth Day - every day is an environmental concern day," Skrenes said.
---
Related Links:
---

Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative
http://www.EarthHealingInitiative.org

906-401-0109
---

EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago, Illinois
http://www.epa.gov/region5
---

Cedar Tree Institute
http://www.CedarTreeInstitute.org
---
The Lake Superior Interfaith Communication Network
http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com
---

ELCA Website:
http://www.elca.org
Ecumenical:
http://www.elca.org/ecumenical
---

Earth 911:
http://earth911.org/blog/2008
---

Interfaith Resources
P.O. Box 9
511 Diamond Rd
Heltonville, IN
47436
---

Bishop Thomas Skrenes cites interfaith and other successes of EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

2008-05-25T11:38:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

An Earth Healing message, thank you and congratulations from Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes about the success of the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

A Lutheran Bishop who has participated in interfaith Earth Day recycling projects for four years in a row said "the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge has been a success."

Celebrate - what a great day Earth Day has been 2008," said Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes of the Northern Great Lakes Synod (NGLS) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). "The Earth Healing Initiative has been a great success this year."

"Computers have been recycled, pharmaceuticals have been brought together for proper disposal," Skrenes said.

"What a great opportunity it has been to be part of the ecumenical work and interfaith work of assisting others to see the environmental concerns set before us," said Bishop Skrenes of Marquette, Michigan.

With hundreds of thousands of people participating across eight states in the Midwest and Northeast, Bishop Skrenes said interfaith environment projects like the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge will help ensure a better future for all humans.

"It is a sign of great significance that people can join hands and work together," Skrenes said. "So celebrate - it is a good day for the environment and it is a good day for all of us together."

Bishop Skrenes thanked the EPA, faith communities and "people of goodwill throughout the upper Midwest who have been a part of this work."

"It has been a great day, a great week, a great Earth day 2008," Skrenes said.

"The EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge has been a part of the lives and will be a part of the future of this whole area."

Bishop Skrenes is one of the original nine faith leaders who signed the Earth Keeper Covenant in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in 2004 that lead to many interfaith projects

Background: Earth Healing Initiative and the Michigan Earth Keeper Initiative

The Cedar Tree Institute (CTI) co-founded the interfaith Earth Keeper Initiative in Michigan's Upper Peninsula that works closely with ten faith traditions on a wide range of environment projects that include college students, at-risk teens, American Indian tribes and others.
.
The CTI Earth healing Initiative is developing the same relationship with the same faith communities in northern Michigan and others across the Great lakes.

The faith communities include Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, The Religious Society of Friends (commonly known as the Quakers) and Zen Buddhist.

Earth Healing: E-waste, pharmaceutical collections like EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge protect ground & drinking water

2008-05-24T15:36:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

The EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge removed a huge amount of electronic waste and pharmaceuticals from eight states.

The goal of the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge was the collecting and recycling of one million pounds of electronics (e-Waste) plus the collection and proper disposal of one million pills.

These goals were exceeded many times over.
---
A few examples:
---

In Milwaukee: 32 tons of electronic waste and 3.5 tons of pharmaceuticals were turned in.
---

At the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin near Green Bay: Approx. 4 tons of e-waste was collected plus thousands of pounds of other trash cleaned from reservation

Tribal members turned in ver 23 pounds of medicines including 100 bottles of pills, more than 25 computers and dozens of related components like hard drives, printers, keyboards and speakers; televisions, radios, DVD players, 12 cell phones and over 100 small batteries.
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In Traverse City: Over 28,750 pounds (over 12.5 tons) of computers and other e-waste was collected.
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The electronic waste is recycled, and the pharmaceuticals are incinerated in state-of-the-art EPA -license facilities.

So why is this important?

The old and broken electronics - like computers, cell phones and TVs - contain heavy metals that can leach into the groundwater if dumped into landfills.

The unused pharmaceuticals can end up in your drinking water if they are flushed or poured down the drain.
Thats because most wastewater treatment facilities are not designed to remove chemicals from these pharmaceuticals including hormones, narcotics, seizure medication and many more - that end up back in your drinking water.

In an April 2008 press conference in Milwaukee - EPA and other officials explained why the Great Lakes Challenge and similar projects are important to protect the environment and your health.

Pharmaceutical chemicals are sent back out into the Great Lakes, rivers and other places were people recreate and are the intakes for drinking water.

Studies show that the chemicals are appearing in the nations drinking water in small amounts - the long term effects are not known - however they have been linked to mutations in fish and other wildlife.

Also - these medicines can be stolen, diverted or accidently ingested by children - if they languish in your medicine cabinet.

Around the country many e-waste and pharmaceutical take back programs have been developed by governments and local businesses.
Please check with your local officials to find out details for your area.
Because every day should be Earth Day.

This video on the projects connected to the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge was made possible by a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the EPA's Region 5 office in Chicago the EPA Great Lakes national Program Office also in Chicago in cooperation with the non-profit Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative in Marquette, MI.

The EHI involves American Indian tribes and "a coalition of churches synagogues and other faith traditions joining together to heal protect and defend the environment," said EHI founder Rev Jon Magnuson of Marquette Michigan.

Im Greg Peterson and youre watching Earth Healing TV
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Supers:

Bill Graffin
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District

Voice of:
Dr. Susan E. Boehme
EPA Coastal Sediment Specialist
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant

EPA Milwaukee Medicine Collection Photos/Video by Dr. Susan Boehme

EPA Milwaukee e-waste video by John Perrecone

Bharat Mathur
EPA deputy regional administrator
EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago

Tom Barrett
Milwaukee Mayor

Rick Meyers
City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works
DPW Recycling Manager
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EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago, Illinois
http://www.epa.gov/region5
---
EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago, Illinois
Bharat Mathur, EPA Deputy Regional Administrator

312-886-3000
mathur.bharat@epa.gov

http://www.epa.gov/region5/aboutr5/organization.htm
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For more information on the electronics collection contact:
City of Milwaukee Dept of Public Works
Rick Meyers, Recycling Manager
414-286-2334
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Milwaukee Dept. Of Public Works:
http://www.mpw.net

Milwaukee DPW e-Waste event page:
http://www.mpw.net/Pages/escrap.html

City of Milwaukee e-Waste event flyer:
http://www.mpw.net/docs/escrap_flyer.pdf

City of Milwaukee e-Waste advertisement
http://www.mpw.net/docs/escrap_ad.pdf
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Medicine collection sponsor/contact:
Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District
260 West Seeboth St.
Milwaukee, WI 53204

Steve Jacquart, Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District
414-225-2138 (wk)
---

Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District:
http://www.mmsd.com

Milorganite - How do we make this stuff?
http://www.mmsd.com/news/detail.cfm?id=114
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Milwaukee pdf flyer - scroll down pdf to bottom to see mini-version:
http://www.mmsd.com/images/programs/MedicineCollection_041908.pdf
---
Traverse City, Michigan
April 26, 2008

Sponsor/Contact: Grand Traverse County Resource Recovery

Kim Duane Elliott
231-995-6075
kelliott@grandtraverse.org

Type of Event: e-Waste

Goodwill Industries, Sam's Club and Grand Traverse County Resource Recovery held a free Computer Recycling Collection.

Tons of home and business computer equipment and peripherals were dropped of to a donation truck at Sam's Club, 2401 US Hwy 31 S, Traverse City on Saturday, April 26, 2008.

websites:

Grand Traverse County Resource Recovery:
http://www.co.grand-traverse.mi.us/departments/resource_recovery.htm

Recycle Smart Brochure-pdf:
http://www.co.grand-traverse.mi.us/AssetFactory.aspx?did=2359
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Related information/websites:
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Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative:
http://www.EarthHealingInitiative.org
---
Milwaukee Earth Healing Initiative page:
http://www.earthhealinginitiative.org/milwaukee.html
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Final EPA Flow of the River blog post:
http://flowoftheriver.epa.gov/greatlakeschallenge/2008/05/so-long-and-tha.html
---
Media News Wire:
http://media-newswire.com/release_1064289.html
---
Freedom Ring Blog - Milwaukee:
http://freedomeden.blogspot.com/2008/04/milwaukees-great-lakes-2008-earth-day.html
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EPA #1 results press release:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/fa96ab2aafc467688525743a003c9efa?OpenDocument
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EPA says challenge a big success: Goals met and exceeded
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/epas-great-lakes-earth-day,367679.shtml
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Interfaith graphics by Justice St. Rain (Baha'i Community) of Interfaith Resources - Special Ideas website:
http://www.interfaithresources.com

Justice St. Rain
1-800-326-1197 (toll free)
1-847-733-3559 (wk)

Interfaith Resources
P.O. Box 9
511 Diamond Rd
Heltonville, IN
47436
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Project sites included locations in eight states:

Illinois:
Alton, Beecher, Bellwood, Bolingbrook, Carol Stream, Channahon, Chicago, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Glenview, Joliet, Lockport, Lombard, Mount Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Romeoville, Shorewood, Villa Park, West Chicago, Wheaton, Woodstock

Indiana:
Columbia City, Hammond, Knox, LaPorte, Fort Wayne, Rushville, Valparaiso

Michigan:
Bay City (two events), Benton Harbor, Bloomfield Hills, Dearborn Heights, East Lansing, Farmington Hills, Goodells, Grand Rapids (two events) Harbor Springs, Lansing, Midland, Monroe, Royal Oaks, Sault Ste. Marie, Southfield, Traverse City

Minnesota:
Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Duluth, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Madison, Maple Grove, New Ulm, Saint Cloud, Shakopee, St. Louis Park, St. Paul

New York:
Brockport, Buffalo, Fredonia, Rochester (two events), Syracuse (two events).

Ohio:
Cleveland, Grove City, Kent, Perrysburg, Sandusky, Springfield, Toledo, Warren

Pennsylvania:
Erie, Lancaster

Wisconsin:
Appleton, Brillion, Chilton, Crandon, Green Bay, Keshena (Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and College of Menominee Nation), Manitowoc, Milwaukee, New Holstein, Oshkosh, Plover (two events), Racine, Superior, Waupaca.
---
A special thanks to the residents of Milwaukee who proved they love their city, Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes.

Also, we appreciate the support of the city of Milwaukee DPW and MMSD event partners without whom the collection would not have been possible:

E-scrap collection sponsors:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW), Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, the Italian Community Center, Midwest Computer Recyclers and WISN TV.

Medicine collection sponsors:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Milwaukee Police, Milwaukee Brewers, City of Milwaukee, Aurora Pharmacy, Columbia St. Mary's, City of Racine, Racine Police Department, Burlington Police Department, Western Racine County Health Department, Caledonia/Mt. Pleasant Health Department, Ozaukee County Public Health Department, Ozaukee County Sheriff's Department, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Village of Saukville, Washington County, Washington County Sheriff's Department, and City of West Bend Sewer Utility.

Milwaukee Loves Lake Michigan: Residents turn in 32 tons of electronics; 3.5 tons of pharmaceuticals in EPA Earth Day challenge

2008-05-22T13:30:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

City of Milwaukee DPW collects about 32 tons of electronics and Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District garners 3.5 tons of pharmaceuticals in EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

Milwaukee area residents turned in 32 tons of electronic waste and 3.5 tons of pharmaceuticals during two events in EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

There were two collection events in the Milwaukee area as part of the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge.

About 3.5 tons of pharmaceuticals were turned by the public during the Milwaukee areas Medicine Collection Day on Saturday, April 19, 2008 sponsored by the Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District (MMSD).

Meanwhile - the Milwaukee DPW organized an electronics collection on Saturday, April 26, 2008 that garner about 32 tons of electronics.
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Electronics collection:

E-Waste coillection photos by John Perrecone, EPA

Hundreds of Milwaukee residents dropped off electronics as nearly 32 tons of e-waste was collected during the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge.

The Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW) kept things organized and flowing smoothly as cars lined up to drop off electronics for recycling.

The collection site off-loaded an average of three cars per minute.

The electronics are often called e-waste or e-scrap.

Officials say 706 cars dropped off electronics at the collection site located in a large parking lot south of the Italian Community Center just west of the Summerfest Grounds.

This collection site was within eyeshot of Lake Michigan near the Henry Maier Festival Park better known as the Summerfest Grounds where the world's largest music festival is held.

The one-day collection event - organized by the City of Milwaukee DPW - was held on April 26, 2008

More than two thirds of the collection involved computers and related equipment.

The DPW collected 643 computer monitors weighing over ten tons - thats 21,188 pounds of computer monitors.

And - residents dropped off 338 televisions weighing nearly 13, 200 pounds - thats over 5 tons of TVs from city of Milwaukee homes.

Other computer related equipment turned in included nearly 15,100 pounds of personal computers - thats over 7 tons of PCs alone.

Nearly 5 tons of computer printers were turned in - that adds up to 9,148 pounds of printers.

Eight percent of the collection - nearly 5,000 pounds - involved miscellaneous e-waste like cell phones and other electronic items.

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Equipment type Pounds Percent by Weight

Monitors 21,188 33% (643 computer monitors recycled)

PCs 15,098 24%

TVs 13,185 21% (338 televisions recycled)

Printers 9,148 14%

Miscellaneous 4,878 8%

TOTAL 63,497 100%
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The challenge was important because scrap electronics are the fastest growing segment of municipal solid waste stream.

Electronic waste or e-scrap may contain hazardous materials including lead, mercury and heavy metals that can pose a risk to human and environmental health through the release of toxins into the air and water.

During a press conference, EPA, DPW and other Milwaukee officials said the recycling of electronics is needed to avoid unwanted pollution and divert waste from the landfills.

EPA officials called the challenge a great success - adding it's a win-win situation for the public and for the Great Lakes ecosystem.

The challenge was an easy for everyone to take part in protecting the Great Lakes.

The EPA awarded grants to numerous cities participating in the challenge including the city of Milwaukee.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said the "recycling televisions and computers reduces the risks of toxins contained in these products being released into our air and water."

Event partners included the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW), Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, the Italian Community Center, Midwest Computer Recyclers and WISN-TV.

The contact is Rick Meyers with the City of Milwaukee Dept of Public Works. Call Meyers at 414-286-2334
---
Pharmaceutical collection:

Pharmaceutical collection phtos by Susan Boehme

There was a second successful challenge collection event in the Milwaukee area.

About 3.5 tons of pharmaceuticals were turned during the Milwaukee areas Medicine Collection Day sponsored by the Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District (MMSD).

The name of the pharmaceutical collection was "A prescription for clean water and safe kids.

In just four hours, more than 2,000 people delivered 3.5 tons of unused medication to collection sites in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, and Washington Counties for the third annual Medicine Collection Day.

The event is held to help protect our rivers and Lake Michigan, prevent childhood poisonings, and reduce substance abuse.

Never flush or pour old medicine down the drain.

Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove them from wastewater.
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Participants Non-controlled Controlled

Substances Substances

Milwaukee County 1,080 4,487 lbs 36,831 (Pills, Patches & Bottles)

Ozaukee County 365 1,022 lbs 3 (30 gallon drums)

Racine County 523 761 lbs 50 lbs

Washington County 380 743 lbs 83 lbs

Totals: 2,348 7,013 lbs

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Law enforcement destroys controlled substances, which include: narcotic pain killers, cough syrup with codeine, and tranquilizers.

Veolia Environmental Services incinerates non-controlled substances at a federally licensed incinerator. Examples of non-controlled substances include: blood pressure medicine, aspirin, and cholesterol medication.

The medicine collection program thanks the following partners:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Milwaukee Police, Milwaukee Brewers, City of Milwaukee, Aurora Pharmacy, Columbia St. Mary's, City of Racine, Racine Police Department, Burlington Police Department, Western Racine County Health Department, Caledonia/Mt. Pleasant Health Department, Ozaukee County Public Health Department, Ozaukee County Sheriff's Department, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Village of Saukville, Washington County, Washington County Sheriff's Department, and City of West Bend Sewer Utility.

For more information on the medicine collection call MMSD Public Information Manager Bill Graffin at 1-414-225-2077
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The MMSD distributed nearly 200,000 postcards promoting the event that has been widely publicized by area media.

The Earth Healing Initiative distributed the final 5,000 cards to interfaith contacts in the Milwaukee area.

The Earth Healing Initiative thanks our local interfaith liaison in Milwaukee.

He's Rev. Brad Brown, campus pastor at Marquette University Lutheran Campus Ministry - in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee events were among about 100 projects involving hundreds of communities across eight states around the Great Lakes basin that participated in the EPA Earth Day 2008 challenge.

The goal of the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge was the collecting and recycling of one million pounds of electronics (e-Waste) plus the collection and proper disposal of one million pills.

The EHI involves American Indian tribes and "a coalition of churches synagogues and other faith traditions joining together to heal protect and defend the environment" said EHI founder Rev Jon Magnuson of Marquette Michigan
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Supers:

Bharat Mathur
EPA deputy regional administrator
EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago

Tom Barrett
Milwaukee Mayor

Rick Meyers
Director/City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW)

EPA Milwaukee collection Photos by Jon Perrecone and Susan Boehme

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For more information on the electronics collection contact:
City of Milwaukee Dept of Public Works
Rick Meyers, Recycling Manager
414-286-2334
---

Milwaukee Dept. Of Public Works

Milwaukee DPW e-Waste event page:
http://www.mpw.net/Pages/escrap.html

City of Milwaukee e-Waste event flyer:
http://www.mpw.net/docs/escrap_flyer.pdf

City of Milwaukee e-Waste advertisement
http://www.mpw.net/docs/escrap_ad.pdf
---

Medicine collection sponsor/contact:
Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District
260 West Seeboth St.
Milwaukee, WI 53204

Steve Jacquart, Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District
414-225-2138 (wk)
---
Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District

Milorganite - How do we make this stuff?
http://www.mmsd.com/news/detail.cfm?id=114
---
Milwaukee pdf flyer - scroll down pdf to bottom to see mini-version:
http://www.mmsd.com/images/programs/MedicineCollection_041908.pdf
---
Related information/websites:
---

Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative

---
Final EPA Flow of the River blog post:
http://flowoftheriver.epa.gov/greatlakeschallenge/2008/05/so-long-and-tha.html
---
Media News Wire:
http://media-newswire.com/release_1064289.html
---
Freedom Ring Blog - Milwaukee:
http://freedomeden.blogspot.com/2008/04/milwaukees-great-lakes-2008-earth-day.html
---

EPA #1 results press release:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/fa96ab2aafc467688525743a003c9efa?OpenDocument
---
EPA says challenge a big success: Goals met and exceeded
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/epas-great-lakes-earth-day,367679.shtml
---
WISN TV Milwaukee:
http://www.wisn.com/aboutwisn12/15961138/detail.html
---
EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago, Illinois
http://www.epa.gov/region5
---
EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago, Illinois
Bharat Mathur, EPA Deputy Regional Administrator

312-886-3000
mathur.bharat@epa.gov

http://www.epa.gov/region5/aboutr5/organization.htm

---

Midwest Computer Recyclers:

http://www.deadcomputers.com

-------
WISN News Channel 12 in Milwaukee is one of the sponsors:
http://www.wisn.com
WISN produced a 15 second PSA about the event
-------

Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful
Joe Wilson, executive director
414-272-5462, ext. 103

website:
http://www.kgmb.org/

KGMB is coordinating volunteers for event on Sat., April 26, 2008

KGMB has numerous events scheduled in near future and would like volunteers.
http://www.kgmb.org/volunteer.html

Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, Inc. (KGMB) is an award winning, private, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. Established in 1983, it has been affiliated with Keep America Beautiful, Inc. since 1985.

KGMB has a strong history of responsiveness, renewal and innovation. KGMB uses a unique combination of community improvement programs like Great American Cleanup and education to accomplish its goals.

KGMB Goals
KGMB works in partnership with its communities to address:
neighborhood cleanup and beautification
waste reduction, reuse, and recycling
environmental education for children
environmental forums
renewable and efficient energy use
resource conservation
---
KGMB Conact info:
http://www.kgmb.org/contact.html

KGMB facility features an in-house waste reduction education center.
Educational tours can be arranged by phone:
414-272-5462

email:
education@kgmb.org

KGMB links:
http://www.greeningmilwaukee.org
http://www.everydrop.org
-------
Milwaukee Earth Healing Initiative page:
http://www.earthhealinginitiative.org/milwaukee.html
---
Earth Healing Initiative Milwaukee interfaith liaison:
Rev. Brad Brown, campus pastor
Marquette University Lutheran Campus Ministry
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
414-288-3691

email:
bradley.brown@mu.edu

Pastor Brown's blog:
http://www.mulutherans.com/index.php

Marquette University Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) website:
http://www.mulutherans.com
---

Marquette University Ministry
AMU 236
1442 W. Wisconsin Ave. P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI
53201-1881

922 South 29th Street
Milwaukee, WI
53215
---
website:
http://www.marquette.edu/um
http://www.marquette.edu/um/staff/
http://www.marquette.edu/um/worship/documents/1018107web.pdf

Phone: 414-288-6873 Fax: 414-288-3696
---

---

Project sites included locations in eight states:

Illinois:
Alton, Beecher, Bellwood, Bolingbrook, Carol Stream, Channahon, Chicago, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Glenview, Joliet, Lockport, Lombard, Mount Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Romeoville, Shorewood, Villa Park, West Chicago, Wheaton, Woodstock

Indiana:
Columbia City, Hammond, Knox, LaPorte, Fort Wayne, Rushville, Valparaiso

Michigan:
Bay City (two events), Benton Harbor, Bloomfield Hills, Dearborn Heights, East Lansing, Farmington Hills, Goodells, Grand Rapids (two events) Harbor Springs, Lansing, Midland, Monroe, Royal Oaks, Sault Ste. Marie, Southfield, Traverse City

Minnesota:
Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Duluth, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Madison, Maple Grove, New Ulm, Saint Cloud, Shakopee, St. Louis Park, St. Paul

New York:
Brockport, Buffalo, Fredonia, Rochester (two events), Syracuse (two events).

Ohio:
Cleveland, Grove City, Kent, Perrysburg, Sandusky, Springfield, Toledo, Warren

Pennsylvania:
Erie, Lancaster

Wisconsin:
Appleton, Brillion, Chilton, Crandon, Green Bay, Keshena (Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and College of Menominee Nation), Manitowoc, Milwaukee, New Holstein, Oshkosh, Plover (two events), Racine, Superior, Waupaca.
---
A special thanks to the residents of Milwaukee who proved they love their city, Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes.

Also, we appreciate the support of the city of Milwaukee DPW and MMSD event partners without whom the collection would not have been possible:

E-scrap collection sponsors:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW), Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, the Italian Community Center, Midwest Computer Recyclers and WISN TV.

Medicine collection sponsors:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Milwaukee Police, Milwaukee Brewers, City of Milwaukee, Aurora Pharmacy, Columbia St. Mary's, City of Racine, Racine Police Department, Burlington Police Department, Western Racine County Health Department, Caledonia/Mt. Pleasant Health Department, Ozaukee County Public Health Department, Ozaukee County Sheriff's Department, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Village of Saukville, Washington County, Washington County Sheriff's Department, and City of West Bend Sewer Utility.
---

Spirit of the Sturgeon: Menominee Indian Tribe of WI & Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative

2008-05-04T15:12:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

(Keshena, Wisconsin) - The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin contributed over 4 tons of electronic and pharmaceutical waste to the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge.

This is the second of several videos explaining the numerous MITW projects including teaching youth about the legend of the sturgeon and its place in tribal culture, cleaning up the reservation, replacing gang symbols with Native American art and making garbage monsters.

In part two, the non-profit interfaith Earth Healing Initiative looks at the sturgeon education classes.

---

(Keshena, WI) - The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin in Keshena held massive electronic and pharmaceutical waste collections during the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge - involving over 100 projects across eight states that comprise the Great Lakes basin.

However, the tribe was creative as it added other facets to the challenge like teaching the children about its culture and the close relationship to the earth and its many lakes and streams.

All classes at the tribal school taught the students about the sturgeon, that is a vital part of Menominee legend and heritage, said Joe Awanahopay, language arts instructor at the Menominee tribal school.

Joe Awanahopay, Menominee Tribal School language arts instructor

Called the protectors of Menominee wild rice, the sturgeon used to spawn on the reservation until a man made dam blocked the route so the sturgeon could not reach their ancestral spawning grounds.

Earth Week tribal school classes applied subjects like math, history and others to different aspects of the life cycle, biology, habitat, legends, current/past spawning grounds and the cultural and practical value of the sturgeon, an important fish to the Menominee people since the dawn of their tribe.

"The sturgeon are a historic importance to our people," Awanahopay said.

"Since the beginning of time, our people have relied upon the sturgeons for various reasons including for food and scraping hides." "In our legends, the sturgeon are the protectors of our wild rice," said Awanahopay of the slow growing giant fish known for its thick hide and rubbery snout whose uses and related regulations have sometimes pitted white fishermen against American Indians.

"We have been engaging the students in the culture, language, science and the social studies of what the sturgeon mean to our people."

"In the science department they have been studying the anatomy and the physiology of the sturgeon," Awanahopay said. "In the language arts department they are looking at the sturgeon habitats and what the effects of pollution are."

"In social studies they are looking at the different migrations, the geography, the path the sturgeon used to take to come to their home here - their traditional spawning grounds on the Menoninee Indian reservation," Awanahopay said. "Because of two dams that are here now south of our reservation, sturgeon are no longer able to come home here to their ancestral spawning grounds."

The tribal school students are immersed in Menominee culture and learn to speak the language and its meaning.

This was applied to the sturgeon lessons.

"In the language and culture room, I focus on the historic importance and the legends of the sturgeon and how these things were passed down from one generation to another generation and why its important for our youth to hang on to that," Awanahopay said.

The students learn "to look forward into the future with the knowledge of the sturgeon, but yet hang onto their spiritual and cultural heritage that is so rich."

The tribal school students have a vast reservoir of sturgeon knowledge that the elders are happy to pass on.

"We are so fortunate to have so many elders that we still work with that are able to give us this knowledge and pass it from one generation to the next, despite all of the forced assimilation and the changes in our youth, who are trying to make their way in modern society yet integrate the traditions with the technology in todays world Awanahopay said.

Other tribal projects during the challenge included a collection of unwanted medications and e-waste at the College of Menominee Nation and the clean up of two reservation communities by tribal school students, the Menominee Teen Court Panel, and many other volunteers.

The students also whitewashed gang graffiti at a skateboard park replacing it with American Indian art.

Adults participated in the challenge in a big way - as the tribe's Solid Waste and Recycling Department held curbside e-waste collections during Earth week 2008 - and all month accepted e-waste at the transfer station. Cardboard and other items are also recycled by the Menominee tribe

More than four tons of e-waste and other recyclables were removed from the reservation during April.

At the College of Menominee Nation, the Earth Day 2008 e-waste and medicine collections went smoothly as people turned in hundreds of items.

The collection is among numerous Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (MITW) projects that are part of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge that runs through the end of April.

Gang graffiti was whitewashed from a skateboard park wall near the tribal school by K-8 students. The MITW youth honored Earth Day and replaced graffiti with positive Native American symbols.

"The younger students put their hands in paint and made flower hand prints on the wall," said teacher Beth Waukechon. "All week students have been cleaning up the reservation, and one student was so inspired she wants to start an Earth Club."

On Friday, April 25, over 180 students cleaned up litter around the community of Neopit.

"The students are giving thanks to Mother Earth for all that she had done," Waukechon said. "They are taking a moment each day to do that."

"We know that Mother Earth can shake us off at any moment," she said. "We are the ones that need her, she doesn't need us."

"Clean up the Rez Day" was held on Thursday, April 24 at the tribe's Youth Development and Outreach program. The Menominee Teen Court Panel and volunteers cleaned up garbage, said Claudette Hewson, MITW Restorative Justice Coordinator.

The teen panel, ages 14 to 17, is a peer review for youthful offenders sentenced in tribal court who "need to learn healthy behaviors," Hewson said. On May 2, at-risk teens will paint over more reservation gang graffiti.

Sponsors include the tribe's Community Resource Center, Menominee County Police, Menominee Tribal Police, Tribal Clinic Wellness Program (Maehnowesekiyah), Probation and Parole, Community Recycling Project, Recreation Department, EarthHealing.org and the U.S. Post Office in Keshena.

Earth Week tribal school classes applied subjects like math, history and others to different aspects of the life cycle, biology and value of the sturgeon, an important fish to the Menominee tribe.

Overseeing the pharmaceutical collection was Heidi Cartwright, a part-time Manawa police officer and college police science instructor.

"One of premises of the class is to do things, not just talk about what we are going to do and how the world is going to be changed, but having students do things," Dr. Van Lopik said.

The grant pays for 50 recycling bins.

The class has participated in the ten-week Recycle Mania project two years in a row that involves weighing recyclables as they leave the building. This year, the class ranked 136 out of 200 colleges and universities with 8 pounds of recyclables per person, beating out Ohio State and Georgetown, Van Lopik said.

Native American students recently created "Garbage Monsters" out of bottles, paper and other items found in their trash in a project at the Keshena Public Schools, said Diana Wolf, MITW Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator. After naming their monsters, the students explained other uses for the garbage.

This video on the projects connected to the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the EPA's Region 5 office in Chicago, the EPA Great Lakes national Program Office, also in Chicago, in cooperation with the non-profit Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative in Marquette, MI.

---

I'm Greg Peterson and you're watching Earth Healing TV

---

Related website about Keshena, Neopit, the College of Menominee Nation and Menominee County, WI:

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin official website - homepage:

http://www.menominee-nsn.gov

MITW Tribal School website:

http://mts.bia.edu

---

College of Menominee Nation:

http://www.menominee.edu

---

Earth Healing Initiative Keshena, WI page:

http://www.earthhealinginitiative.org/keshena.html

Earth Healing Initiative:

http://www.earthhealinginitiative.org

---

MITW Maehnowesekiyah Wellness Center:

http://www.menominee-nsn.gov/healthFamily/maehnowesekiyah/maehHome.php

http://www.wcadv.org/index.cfm?go=about/news_pressrelease&id=26

http://www.reznetnews.org/article/news/scared_and_scarred

---

University of WI Cooperative Extention wesbsite page for Menominee tribe info like schools, college:

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/menominee/index.html

---

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Youth Development & Outreach

http://www.menominee-nsn.gov/healthFamily/youthDevel/youthHome.php

---

Youth Development and Outreach

W3191 Fredenberg Drive

P.O. Box 910

Keshena, WI 54135

715-799-5137

715-799-5227 (Fax)

Director: Darwin Dick

---

Great Lakes Inter Tribal Council

http://www.glitc.org/pages/mtw.html

---

Interfaith graphics by Justice St. Rain (Bah'i Community) of Interfaith Resources - Special Ideas website:

http://www.interfaithresources.com

http://www.interfaithresources.com/subcategories.php?dir=leftMenuSub&template=default&id=10

http://www.interfaithresources.com/products.php?id=2469

---

Call Justice St. Rain at Interfaith resources:

1-800-326-1197

---

Interfaith Resources

P.O. Box 9

511 Diamond Rd.

Heltonville, Indiana

47436

---

"Bah'u'llh, the One who founded the Faithclaims to fulfill the prophecies concerning the Promised One of all religions. His life and teachings are worthy of further study to determine the goodness of His fruit, and the validity of His claim."

Quote from "Finding Common Ground"

How many beliefs do you share with members of the Bah'i Community?

You may be surprised!

By Justice St. Rain

(Bloomington, IN: Published by Special Ideas, 1997), p. 11

Interfaith graphics located with help from Bahai Media and Public Information specialist Ellen Price

wk: 847-733-3559

http://www.bahai.us

---

Samuels Recycling - Green Bay, WI:

http://www.samuelsrec.com/mapmenu.htm

---

Links to sites about Samuel's Recycling in Green Bay (Buyer Mike Zastrow - 1-920-494-3451)

http://www.altermetalrecycling.com/Green_Bay_WI.jsp

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/markets/matcompany.asp?sortby=city

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/markets/comp_detail.asp?id=400

http://search.greenbaypressgazette.com/sp?aff=109&catId=19220500

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_the_Menominee_Nation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keshena%2C_Wisconsin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopit%2C_Wisconsin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menominee_County%2C_Wisconsin

http://www.wisconline.com/counties/menominee/

http://www.wisconline.com/counties/menominee/data.html

---

Earth Healing Initiative & College of Menominee Nation: Great Lakes recycling

2008-04-30T18:23:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

College of Menominee Nation: EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge and a lesson in Great Lakes recycling 101

Dr. William Van Lopik, College of Menominee Nation professor of the Implementing Sustainable Development classes

The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin contributed over 4 tons of electronic and pharmaceutical waste to the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge.

This is the first of several vidoes explaining the tribes numerous projects that included cleaning up the reservation, replacing gang symbols with Native American art, teaching youth about the legend of the sturgeon and its place in tribal culture.

In part one, the non-profit interfaith Earth Healing Initiative looks at the many recycling projects of the College of Menominee nation.
---

(Keshena, WI) - The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin in Keshena is being praised for its massive cleanup projects during the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge - involving over 100 projects across eight states that comprise the Great lakes basin.

The college of Menominee Nation held a pharmaceutical and electronic waste collection as part of the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge.

Other tribal projects during the challenge included the clean up of two reservation communities by tribal school students, The Menominee Teen Court Panel, and many other volunteers.

All classes at the tribal school taught the students about the sturgeon, that is a vital part of Menominee legend and heritage.

Called the protector guardian of Menominee wild rice, the sturgeon used to spawn on the reservation until a man made dam blocked the route so the sturgeon could not reach their ancestral spawning grounds.

The students also whitewashed gang graffiti at a skateboard park replacing it with American Indian art.

Native American and other students also made garbage monsters at the Keshena Public Schools with help from their parents using common every day trash from home. The students made a presentation on how to be reuse stuff they normally thrown in the trash like plastic jugs.

More than four tons of e-waste and other recyclables - plus litter - was removed from the reservation during April.

Faculty and students brought their old computers, cell phones and medicines to an e-waste and pharmaceutical collection site at the tribal college in Keshena, Wisconsin to help a federal Earth Day challenge to clean up the Great Lakes Basin, while younger students cleaned up the reservation and whitewashed gang graffiti.

At the College of Menominee Nation, the Earth Day 2008 e-waste and medicine collections went smoothly as people turned in hundreds of items.

Over 23 pounds of medicines were turned in including 100 bottles of pills, more than 25 computers and dozens of related components like hard drives, printers, keyboards and speakers; televisions, radios, DVD players, 12 cell phones and over 100 small batteries.

The collection is among numerous Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (MITW) projects that are part of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge that runs through the end of April.

Gang graffiti was whitewashed from a skateboard park wall near the tribal school by K-8 students. The MITW youth honored Earth Day and replaced graffiti with positive Native American symbols.

"The younger students put their hands in paint and made flower hand prints on the wall," said teacher Beth Waukechon. "All week students have been cleaning up the reservation, and one student was so inspired she wants to start an Earth Club."

On Friday, April 25, over 180 students cleaned up litter around the community of Neopit.

"The students are giving thanks to Mother Earth for all that she had done," Waukechon said. "They are taking a moment each day to do that."

"We know that Mother Earth can shake us off at any moment," she said. "We are the ones that need her, she doesn't need us."

"Clean up the Rez Day" was held on Thursday, April 24 at the tribe's Youth Development and Outreach program. The Menominee Teen Court Panel and volunteers cleaned up garbage, said Claudette Hewson, MITW Restorative Justice Coordinator.

The teen panel, ages 14 to 17, is a peer review for youthful offenders sentenced in tribal court who "need to learn healthy behaviors," Hewson said. On May 2, at-risk teens will paint over more reservation gang graffiti.

Sponsors include the tribe's Community Resource Center, Menominee County Police, Menominee Tribal Police, Tribal Clinic Wellness Program (Maehnowesekiyah), Probation and Parole, Community Recycling Project, Recreation Department, EarthHealing.org and the U.S. Post Office in Keshena.

Earth Week tribal school classes applied subjects like math, history and others to different aspects of the life cycle, biology and value of the sturgeon, an important fish to the Menominee tribe.

Overseeing the pharmaceutical collection was Heidi Cartwright, pictured on the left above, a part-time Manawa police officer and college police science instructor.

While hosting the collection, the college's Implementing Sustainable Development class found out they won the National Recycling Coalition Bin Grant through Coca-Cola, said professor William Van Lopik, Ph.D.

"One of premises of the class is to do things, not just talk about what we are going to do and how the world is going to be changed, but having students do things," Dr. Van Lopik said.

The grant pays for 50 recycling bins that the college plans to share with the tribal school.

The MITW held curbside pickup of electronics during Earth Week. A couple thousand pounds of electronics were turned in at the MITW transfer station since April 1. The total is expected to reach several tons.

Native American students recently created "Garbage Monsters" out of bottles, paper and other items found in their trash in a project at the Keshena Public Schools, said Diana Wolf, MITW Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator. After naming their monsters, the students explained other uses for the garbage.

The EHI involves American Indian tribes and "a coalition of churches, synagogues and other faith traditions joining together to heal, protect and defend the environment," said EHI founder Rev. Jon Magnuson of Marquette, Michigan.
---

I'm Greg Peterson and you're watching Earth Healing TV
---
Related website about Keshena, Neopit, the College of Menominee Nation and Menominee County, WI:
---
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin official website - homepage:
http://www.menominee-nsn.gov

---
MITW Tribal School website:
http://mts.bia.edu/

---
College of Menominee Nation
http://www.menominee.edu
---
Earth Healing Initiative Keshena, WI page:
http://www.earthhealinginitiative.org/keshena.html

Earth Healing Initiative:
http://www.earthhealinginitiative.org
---
MITW Maehnowesekiyah Wellness Center:
http://www.menominee-nsn.gov/healthFamily/maehnowesekiyah/maehHome.php
http://www.wcadv.org/index.cfm?go=about/news_pressrelease&id=26
http://www.reznetnews.org/article/news/scared_and_scarred
---
University of WI Cooperative Extention wesbsite page for Menominee tribe info like schools, college:
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/menominee/index.html
---
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Youth Development & Outreach
http://www.menominee-nsn.gov/healthFamily/youthDevel/youthHome.php
---
Youth Development and Outreach
W3191 Fredenberg Drive
P.O. Box 910
Keshena, WI 54135
715-799-5137
715-799-5227 (Fax)
Director: Darwin Dick
---
Great Lakes Inter Tribal Council
http://www.glitc.org/pages/mtw.html
---
Samuels Recycling - Green Bay, WI:
http://www.samuelsrec.com/mapmenu.htm
---
Links to sites about Samuel's Recycling in Green Bay (Buyer Mike Zastrow - 1-920-494-3451)
http://www.altermetalrecycling.com/Green_Bay_WI.jsp
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/markets/matcompany.asp?sortby=city
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/markets/comp_detail.asp?id=400
http://search.greenbaypressgazette.com/sp?aff=109&catId=19220500
--
From Wikipedia:
The College of the Menominee Nation (abbreviated CMN) is one of 34 tribal based community colleges in the United States. The college's main campus is in Keshena, Wisconsin and has another campus in Oneida, Wisconsin. The college is one of two tribal based colleges in Wisconsin.
The tribal college was chartered in 1993. The college began offering classes in the 1993 Spring semester. The College of Menominee Nation was granted full accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission on August 7, 1998. The college is a member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_the_Menominee_Nation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keshena%2C_Wisconsin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopit%2C_Wisconsin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menominee_County%2C_Wisconsin

http://www.wisconline.com/counties/menominee/
http://www.wisconline.com/counties/menominee/data.html

Recycle Mania:
http://www.recyclemaniacs.org/overview.htm
http://www.recyclemaniacs.org/university_detail08.asp?ID=4018

National Recycling Coalition Bin Grant through Coca-Cola:
http://www.nrc-recycle.org/bingrantrelease.aspx
http://www.nrc-recycle.org/coca-colanrcbingrantprogram.aspx
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-22-2008/0004797928&EDATE=

Earth Healing Initiative: EPA Great Lakes Program Manager Mary Gade tells wonders of the Great Lakes on Earth Day 2008

2008-04-25T00:09:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

At the Metcalfe Federal Building, the unwanted medicines collection continues under the supervision of two plainclothes Chicago police officers. (Photo courtesy EPA Flow of the River Blog)

EPA Regional Administrator Mary A. Gade encourages public to participate in EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge; lauds the wonder of the Great Lakes and reminds audience how much progress has been made since Earth Day started nearly 40 years ago

EPA Regional Administrator Mary A. Gade celebrates Earth Day 2008 in Chicago

2008-04-24T23:58:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

At the Metcalfe Federal Building, the unwanted medicines collection continues under the supervision of two plainclothes Chicago police officers. (Photo courtesy EPA Flow of the River Blog)

Earth Healing Initiative: EPA Region 5 deputy administrator Bharat Mathur says 2008 Earth Day Challenge e-waste, pharmaceutical collections protect Great Lakes

2008-04-23T00:34:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently held a press conference with City of Milwaukee officials about the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge and the goal of collecting one million pounds of electronics to recycle and one million pills to properly dispose.

Those speaking the April 16, 20087 press conference included EPA deputy regional administrator Bharat Mathur (EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago, Ill.)

Bharat explained the importance of thje pharmaceutical and e-waste collections that are going on during Earth Week across eight states in the Great Lakes basin.

The EPA and the Earth Healing Initiative would like to thank those who provided this video including the city of Milwaukee "City Channel 25" and the Milwaukee Department of Public Works.
-------
Related information/websites:
-------
EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago, Illinois
Mary A. Gade, Regional Administrator, Great Lakes National Program Manager
The Regional Administrator reports directly to the EPA Administrator at EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

312-886-3000
gade.mary@epa.gov

http://www.epa.gov/region5/
---
EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago, Illinois
Bharat Mathur, EPA Deputy Regional Administrator

312-886-3000
mathur.bharat@epa.gov

http://www.epa.gov/region5/aboutr5/organization.htm
----
EPA Press Release:
Ask Not What the Environment Can Do For You this Earth Day
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/dc57b08b5acd42bc852573c90044a9c4/bb279434e6f40c6e8525743200582794!OpenDocument
---
USA Today story on Lake Superior Climate Change:
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/globalwarming/2008-04-21-climatechange_N.htm
---

Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative page:
http://www.earthhealinginitiative.org
-------
City of Milwaukee "City Channel 25"
http://www.Milwaukee.gov
-------

Interfaith graphics by Justice St. Rain (Bah'i Community) of Interfaith Resources - Special Ideas website:
http://www.interfaithresources.com
http://www.interfaithresources.com/subcategories.php?dir=leftMenuSub&template=default&id=10
http://www.interfaithresources.com/products.php?id=2469
---
Call Justice St. Rain at Interfaith resources:
1-800-326-1197
---
Interfaith Resources
416 W 4th St.
Bloomington IN
47404
---
Bah'u'llh, the One who founded the Faithclaims to fulfill the prophecies concerning the Promised One of all religions. His life and teachings are worthy of further study to determine the goodness of His fruit, and the validity of His claim.

Quote from Finding Common Ground
How many beliefs do you share with members of the Bah'i Community?
You may be surprised!
By Justice St. Rain
(Bloomington, IN: Published by Special Ideas, 1997), p. 11

Interfaith graphics located with help from Bahai Media and Public Information specialist Ellen Price

wk: 847-733-3559

http://www.bahai.us
-------

Project sites include locations in eight states:

Illinois:
Alton, Beecher, Bellwood, Bolingbrook, Carol Stream, Channahon, Chicago, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Glenview, Joliet, Lockport, Lombard, Mount Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Romeoville, Shorewood, Villa Park, West Chicago, Wheaton, Woodstock

Indiana:
Columbia City, Hammond, Knox, LaPorte, Fort Wayne, Rushville, Valparaiso

Michigan:
Bay City (two events), Benton Harbor, Bloomfield Hills, Dearborn Heights, East Lansing, Farmington Hills, Goodells, Grand Rapids (two events) Harbor Springs, Lansing, Midland, Monroe, Royal Oaks, Sault Ste. Marie, Southfield, Traverse City

Minnesota:
Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Duluth, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Madison, Maple Grove, New Ulm, Saint Cloud, Shakopee, St. Louis Park, St. Paul

New York:
Brockport, Buffalo, Fredonia, Rochester (two events), Syracuse (two events).

Ohio:
Cleveland, Grove City, Kent, Perrysburg, Sandusky, Springfield, Toledo, Warren

Pennsylvania:
Erie, Lancaster

Wisconsin:
Appleton, Brillion, Chilton, Crandon, Green Bay, Keshena (Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and College of Menominee Nation), Manitowoc, Milwaukee, New Holstein, Oshkosh, Plover (two events), Racine, Superior, Waupaca.
----

Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge & Earth Healing Initiative: City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works, EPA press conference on e-waste collection for city residents Sat. April 26, 2008

2008-04-23T00:09:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

(Milwaukee, WI) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency held a press conference with City of Milwaukee officials about the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge.

Milwaukees Earth Day Challenge event on Saturday, April 26 is a one-day electronic scrap collection hosted by the city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works.

Those speaking the April 16, 2008 press conference included EPA deputy regional administrator Bharat Mathur (EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago, Ill.), Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Rick Meyers, and others.

Event partners include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW), Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, the Italian Community Center, Midwest Computer Recyclers and WISN TV.

Event partners include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW), Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, the Italian Community Center, Midwest Computer Recyclers and WISN TV.
---

EPA Funds Electronic Scrap Event
City Residents get Opportunity to Recycle Televisions and Electronics

Milwaukees Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will offer City of Milwaukee residents an opportunity to recycle their old television sets.

The one-day electronic scrap collection event will be held on Saturday, April 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Italian Community Center South parking lot, located at 631 East Chicago.

Scrap electronics constitute the fastest growing segment of municipal solid waste stream.

Electronic waste or e-scrap may contain hazardous materials including lead, mercury and heavy metals that can pose a risk to human and environmental health through the release of toxics into the air and water. Proper disposal and recycling are needed to avoid unwanted pollution and divert waste from the landfills.

Televisions, computers and all computer accessories (monitors, printers, laptops, desktop PCs, keyboards, mice, and related cables) will be accepted.

Items will be processed for reuse or recycling in an environmentally responsible manner.

Any personal information left on the hard drives will be destroyed.

This event is free and open to City of Milwaukee residents, who must present an ID or copy of a bill with a Milwaukee address.

The event is for residents only.

For Additional Information Contact: Cecilia Gilbert, Permits & Communications Manager, 286-3261 or 708-2295 (cell)

The EPA, Milwaukee City officials hold a news conference on April 16, 2008 about the electronics collection scheduled on Saturday, April 26, 2008 (City of Milwaukee photo)

Mary A. Gade, EPA Great Lakes National Program Manager and Region 5 Administrator, stated, EPA is counting on thousands of people in the Great Lakes basin to do their part and find a nearby collection event where they can safely get rid of their old electronics."

"Its a win-win situation for the public and for the Great Lakes ecosystem. This is an easy was for everyone to take part in protecting the Great Lakes, Gade said.

Event partners include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW), Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, the Italian Community Center, Midwest Computer Recyclers and WISN TV.
---

---

News Story:

City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin holds e-waste collection in EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

Milwaukee's Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge event on Saturday, April 26, 2008 is a one-day electronic scrap collection hosted by the city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works.

(Milwaukee, WI) - The EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge is underway with about 100 projects in hundreds of communities across eight states including a second event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works is hosting an electronic waste collection for its residents on Saturday, April 26, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The e-Waste collection will be held in a parking lot just south of Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee.

Event partners include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW), Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, the Italian Community Center, Midwest Computer Recyclers and WISN TV.

City of Milwaukee residents are invited to bring their unwanted televisions and computer equipment to this event to get them recycled.

Material will be recycled at no charge to residents of Milwaukee. Officials added the event is not for business waste - just residents.

Milwaukee city officials and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency held an April 16, 2008 news conference to explain details about the electronics collection.

The EPA has awarded grants to numerous cities participating in the challenge including the city of Milwaukee.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said recycling televisions and computers reduces the risks of toxins contained in these products being released into our air and water.

The contact is Rick Meyers with the City of Milwaukee Dept of Public Works. Call Meyers at 414-286-2334

The Milwaukee event is among about 100 projects involving hundreds of communities across eight states around the Great Lakes basin that are participating in an Earth Day 2008 challenge from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

On Saturday April 19, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)held its third annual Medicine Collection Day.

Named A prescription for clean water and safe kids, the pharmaceutical collections was held in Milwaukee, Racine, Ozaukee, and Washington counties.

The MMSD distributed nearly 200,000 postcards promoting the event that has been widely publicized by area media.

The Earth Healing Initiative distributed the final 5,000 cards to interfaith contacts in the Milwaukee area.

The goal of the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge is collecting and recycling one million pounds of electronics (e-Waste) and the collection of one million pills for proper disposal.

Interfaith graphic (top left) by Justice St. Rain (Bah'i Community) of Interfaith Resources

The Earth Healing Initiative is assisting by offering interfaith liaisons to volunteer and encouraging members of local churches and temples to participate in the Earth Day related events in their area.
---
City of Milwaukee DPW e-waste project:

April 26, 2008
From: 10 am to 2 pm
Type of event: e-Waste

Contact: City of Milwaukee Dept of Public Works Rick Meyers (414-286-2334)

Held in parking lot just south of Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee

City of Milwaukee residents are invited to bring their unwanted televisions and computer equipment to this event to get them recycled. Material will be recycled at no charge to residents of Milwaukee. No businesses please.

Milwaukee Dept. Of Public Works:
http://www.mpw.net
Milwaukee DPW e-Waste event page:
http://www.mpw.net/Pages/escrap.html

City of Milwaukee e-Waste event flyer:
http://www.mpw.net/docs/escrap_flyer.pdf

City of Milwaukee e-Waste advertisement
http://www.mpw.net/docs/escrap_ad.pdf

City of Milwaukee event map:
http://www.mpw.net/docs/escrap_map.pdf
---
Related Stories:

WISN News Milwaukee, WI:
http://www.wisn.com/news/15902308/detail.html
---
Related information/websites:
---
WISN News Channel 12 in Milwaukee is one of the sponsors:
http://www.wisn.com

Milwaukee: PSA highlights Milwaukee DPW e-waste event & EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

2008-04-22T15:54:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

Milwaukee: 2008 Earth Day Challenge PSA by WISN-TV Ch. 12

Milwaukee television station - WISN-TV Channel 12 (ABC) created this 15 second Public Service Announcement - about Milwaukees Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge event on Saturday, April 26 - a one-day electronic scrap collection hosted by the city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works.

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Additional Information Contact: Cecilia Gilbert, Permits & Communications Manager, 286-3261 or 708-2295 (cell)

EPA Funds Electronic Scrap Event
City Residents get Opportunity to Recycle Televisions and Electronics

Milwaukees Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will offer City of Milwaukee residents an opportunity to recycle their old television sets.

The one-day electronic scrap collection event will be held on Saturday, April 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Italian Community Center South parking lot, located at 631 East Chicago.

Scrap electronics constitute the fastest growing segment of municipal solid waste stream.

Electronic waste or e-scrap may contain hazardous materials including lead, mercury and heavy metals that can pose a risk to human and environmental health through the release of toxics into the air and water. Proper disposal and recycling are needed to avoid unwanted pollution and divert waste from the landfills.

Televisions, computers and all computer accessories (monitors, printers, laptops, desktop PCs, keyboards, mice, and related cables) will be accepted.

Items will be processed for reuse or recycling in an environmentally responsible manner.

Any personal information left on the hard drives will be destroyed.

This event is free and open to City of Milwaukee residents, who must present an ID or copy of a bill with a Milwaukee address.

The event is for residents only.

The EPA, Milwaukee City officials hold a news conference on April 16, 2008 about the electronics collection scheduled on Saturday, April 26, 2008 (City of Milwaukee photo)

"Its a win-win situation for the public and for the Great Lakes ecosystem. This is an easy was for everyone to take part in protecting the Great Lakes, Glade said.

Event partners include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW), Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, the Italian Community Center, Midwest Computer Recyclers and WISN TV.
---

---

News Story:

Milwaukee city officials and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency held an April 16, 2008 news conference to explain details about the electronics collection.

The EPA has awarded grants to numerous cities participating in the challenge including the city of Milwaukee.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said recycling televisions and computers reduces the risks of toxins contained in these products being released into our air and water.

The contact is Rick Meyers with the City of Milwaukee Dept of Public Works. Call Meyers at 414-286-2334

The Earth Healing Initiative has put our local interfaith liaison in touch with Milwaukee officials.
Hes Rev. Brad Brown, campus pastor at Marquette University Lutheran Campus Ministry - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The Milwaukee event is among about 100 projects involving hundreds of communities across eight states around the Great Lakes basin that are participating in an Earth Day 2008 challenge from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

On Saturday April 19, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)held its third annual Medicine Collection Day.

Named A prescription for clean water and safe kids, the pharmaceutical collections was held in Milwaukee, Racine, Ozaukee, and Washington counties.

The MMSD distributed nearly 200,000 postcards promoting the event that has been widely publicized by area media.

The Earth Healing Initiative distributed the final 5,000 cards to interfaith contacts in the Milwaukee area.

The goal of the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge is collecting and recycling one million pounds of electronics (e-Waste) and the collection of one million pills for proper disposal.

Interfaith graphic (top left) by Justice St. Rain (Bah'i Community) of Interfaith Resources

Held in parking lot just south of Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee

City of Milwaukee residents are invited to bring their unwanted televisions and computer equipment to this event to get them recycled. Material will be recycled at no charge to residents of Milwaukee. No businesses please.

Milwaukee Dept. Of Public Works:
http://www.mpw.net
Milwaukee DPW e-Waste event page:
http://www.mpw.net/Pages/escrap.html

City of Milwaukee e-Waste event flyer:
http://www.mpw.net/docs/escrap_flyer.pdf

City of Milwaukee e-Waste advertisement
http://www.mpw.net/docs/escrap_ad.pdf

City of Milwaukee event map:
http://www.mpw.net/docs/escrap_map.pdf
---
Related Stories:

WISN News Milwaukee, WI:
http://www.wisn.com/news/15902308/detail.html
---
Related information/websites:
---
WISN News Channel 12 in Milwaukee is one of the sponsors:
http://www.wisn.com
http://www.wisn.com/news/15902308/detail.html
WISN produced a 15 second PSA about the event
-------
Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful
Joe Wilson, executive director
414-272-5462, ext. 103

website:
http://www.kgmb.org/

KGMB is coordinating volunteers for event on Sat., April 26, 2008

KGMB has numerous events scheduled in near future and would like volunteers.
http://www.kgmb.org/volunteer.html

Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, Inc. (KGMB) is an award winning, private, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. Established in 1983, it has been affiliated with Keep America Beautiful, Inc. since 1985.

KGMB has a strong history of responsiveness, renewal and innovation. KGMB uses a unique combination of community improvement programs like Great American Cleanup and education to accomplish its goals.

KGMB Goals
KGMB works in partnership with its communities to address:
neighborhood cleanup and beautification
waste reduction, reuse, and recycling
environmental education for children
environmental forums
renewable and efficient energy use
resource conservation
---
KGMB Conact info:
http://www.kgmb.org/contact.html

KGMB facility features an in-house waste reduction education center.
Educational tours can be arranged by phone:
414-272-5462

email:
education@kgmb.org

KGMB links:
http://www.greeningmilwaukee.org
http://www.everydrop.org
-------
Milwaukee Earth Healing Initiative page:
http://www.earthhealinginitiative.org/milwaukee.html
---
Earth Healing Initiative Milwaukee interfaith liaison:
Rev. Brad Brown, campus pastor
Marquette University Lutheran Campus Ministry - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
414-288-3691

email:
bradley.brown@mu.edu

Pastor Browns blog:
http://www.mulutherans.com/index.php

Marquette University Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) website:
http://www.mulutherans.com
---
Marquette University Ministry
AMU 236
1442 W. Wisconsin Ave. P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI
53201-1881

922 South 29th Street
Milwaukee, WI
53215
---
website:
http://www.marquette.edu/um
http://www.marquette.edu/um/staff/
http://www.marquette.edu/um/worship/documents/1018107web.pdf

Phone: 414-288-6873 Fax: 414-288-3696
---

Interfaith graphics by Justice St. Rain (Bah'i Community) of Interfaith Resources - Special Ideas website:
http://www.interfaithresources.com
http://www.interfaithresources.com/subcategories.php?dir=leftMenuSub&template=default&id=10
http://www.interfaithresources.com/products.php?id=2469
---
Call Justice St. Rain at Interfaith resources:
1-800-326-1197
---
Interfaith Resources
P.O. Box 9
511 Diamond Rd
Heltonville, Indiana
47436
---
Bah'u'llh, the One who founded the Faithclaims to fulfill the prophecies concerning the Promised One of all religions. His life and teachings are worthy of further study to determine the goodness of His fruit, and the validity of His claim.

Quote from Finding Common Ground
How many beliefs do you share with members of the Bah'i Community?
You may be surprised!
By Justice St. Rain
(Bloomington, IN: Published by Special Ideas, 1997), p. 11

Interfaith graphics located with help from Bahai Media and Public Information specialist Ellen Price

wk: 847-733-3559

http://www.bahai.us
---

Milwaukee: PSA highlights Milwaukee DPW in EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge e-waste collection Sat., April 26

2008-04-22T15:51:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

Milwaukee: 2008 Earth Day Challenge PSA by WISN-TV Ch. 12

Items will be processed for reuse or recycling in an environmentally responsible manner.

Any personal information left on the hard drives will be destroyed.

This event is free and open to City of Milwaukee residents, who must present an ID or copy of a bill with a Milwaukee address.

The event is for residents only.

The EPA, Milwaukee City officials hold a news conference on April 16, 2008 about the electronics collection scheduled on Saturday, April 26, 2008 (City of Milwaukee photo)

---

News Story:

The contact is Rick Meyers with the City of Milwaukee Dept of Public Works. Call Meyers at 414-286-2334

Interfaith graphic (top left) by Justice St. Rain (Bah'i Community) of Interfaith Resources

Earth Healing Initiative: Faith groups, Native Americans vital part of EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

2008-04-20T17:29:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

"Garbage Monsters" teach lessons to tribal students in Wisconsin; Native Americans and interfaith groups help collect a million pounds of e-waste, and a million pills to reach goal of EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

(Kesenha, Wisconsin) - Tribal school students and their parents recently learned a creative lesson about the environment and the human capability to waste as they rummaged through their trash to find discarded items that were used to make the heads, legs, arms, eyes and bodies of "Garbage Monsters."

The students even named their multi-colored Garbage Monsters.

These same students will be cleaning up a town on their Wisconsin reservation this week as part of a Great Lakes environment project involving hundreds of cities in eight states.

The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin has three projects underway to honor Earth Day 2008.

More on that in a moment.

Faith leaders across eight Great Lakes states are urging their members to participate in an Earth Day 2008 challenge to collect one million pounds of electronics and more than one million pills because trust is needed between all people to stop an environmental crisis.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge has moved into high gear with more than 100 projects involving literally hundreds of communities collecting pharmaceuticals, electronics and household poisons.

The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (MITW) is holding a curbside pickup of electronics for members during Earth Week, April 21-24.

Over 1,000 pounds of electronics have been turned in at the MITW transfer station since April 1 and the total weigh of circuit boards to be recycled is expected to reach several tons by the end of the month.

The College of Menominee Nation is hosting pharmaceutical and electronics collections on April 22.

An EPA grant to the non-profit interfaith Earth Healing Initiative (EHI) is mobilizing religious communities in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania.

A Lutheran Bishop who has participated in interfaith Earth Day recycling projects for three years in a row encourages people of all faiths to get involved and help protect the environment.

We are in an environmental crisis in many ways, said Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes of the Northern Great Lakes Synod (NGLS) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

The Great Lakes watershed is really kind of a mother to all of us here in the populated areas of the upper Midwest, he said.

Interfaith environment projects like the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge will help ensure a better future for all humans, Skrenes said, adding sometimes its relationships and trusting each other that really count in environmental work.

The culture, the society and the environment are now connecting in some fantastic new ways to build relationships between people, said Skrenes, who has recorded several videos on interfaith environment action with help from the EHI.

We are building trust along and across denominational lines, in the Christian communities and into the wider faith communities of the whole country, Skrenes said.

The colorful interfaith graphic in this image (above, top left) is used courtesy of Justice St. Rain and his Interfaith Resources Special Ideas website. St. Rain is an author and a member of the Baha'i Community

The EHI involves American Indian tribes and "a coalition and partnership of churches, synagogues and other faith traditions joining together and sharing their projects and resources to heal, protect and defend the environment," said founder Rev. Jon Magnuson of Marquette, Michigan.

Magnuson said that Michigan Native Americans have been working with the Cedar Tree Institute for five years and the EHI is hoping to expandi that relationship to tribes across the Great Lakes Basin.

Progressive Christians and other faith traditions can learn a lot about respecting the planet and wildlife from the heritage and culture of American Indian tribes, Magnuson said.

On Friday, April 25, students at the tribal K-8 school are picking up litter and cleaning up the a reservation community.

The students and their parents recently created "Garbage Monsters" out of bottles, paper and other items found in their trash, said Diana Wolf, MITW Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator.

After naming their monsters, the students gave a presentation on other uses for the garbage they used to make the creatures.

Photos show "garbage monsters" created by tribal school students who are learning about protecting the environment at the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin in Keshena. One photo (above, bottom right)shows electronics being recycled by the tribe that members are dropping off at the transfer station.

Interfaith and Native American participation in environment projects like the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge will help ensure a better future for all humans, said Skrenes, adding "sometimes its relationships and trusting each other that really count in environmental work."

Bishop Skrenes hopes everyone across the Great Lakes Basin will participate in their local project.

Saying its not your grandfathers environment movement anymore, Skrenes said that environmental work is now more mainstream and no longer an obscure thing for a certain group of people unlike 40 years ago when he was in high school and I dare say some of my relatives said it was kind of a hippie movement.

The church is called to bring people together to be part of the healing, Skrenes said.

This interfaith earth healing effort is really a great gift that has been given to all of us, Skrenes said. It is our calling and our responsibility to assist in renewal and rebuilding - its Gods work and its the work of Gods people.

Examples of established interfaith organizations that are assisting the EHI include the University of Minnesota Lutheran Campus Ministry, the Arrowhead Interfaith Council in Duluth, the Marquette University Ministry outlets in Milwaukee, several Catholic interfaith groups and the office of Ecumenical Formation and Inter-Religious Relations at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Residents of Duluth, Minnesota will clean out their medicine cabinets on April 26 as part of the challenge.

Two previous Duluth area pharmaceutical collections held in 2007 garnered nearly 600 pounds of unwanted medications from about 400 families.

The Earth Healing Initiative interfaith liaison in Duluth is Rev. Doug Paulson, a campus pastor for Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota.

Paulson said he has spread the information to dozens of churches and temples with help from the Arrowhead Interfaith Council.

The drive-thru event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 26 at the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 2626 Courtland Street in Duluth.

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Earth Healing Initiative is helping with two challenge events.

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District held its successful "prescription for clean water and safe kids" pharmaceutical collection on Saturday, April 19 in Milwaukee, Racine, Ozaukee, and Washington counties.

Meanwhile, the city of Milwaukee is hosting an electronic waste collection for its residents on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in a parking lot just south of Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee

The Earth Healing Initiative Milwaukee interfaith liaison is Rev. Brad Brown, campus pastor at Marquette University Lutheran Campus Ministry.

Brown said interfaith contacts at the university have helped distribute 5,000 of the 200,000 postcards promoting the pharmaceutical collection.

Clergy in local churches and temples have promoted both events, Brown said.

EPA grants to some of the organizers help fund projects aimed at recycling computers, cell phones and other electronics commonly known as "e-waste plus collecting out-of-date and unwanted pharmaceuticals for proper disposal in high tech incinerators.

To comply with federal drug laws, police officers and pharmacists are accepting the medications. While some of the projects have been running all month or during Earth Week, the bulk of the remaining events will be held Saturday, April 26. Collections, rules, times and dates vary from city to city.

The interfaith EHI is one of numerous environment and Native American projects founded by the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, Michigan including the Earth Keepers, known for removing more than 370 tons of e-Waste, pharmaceuticals and household hazardous waste (HHW) during three Earth Day clean sweeps across the Upper Peninsula.

The northern Michigan Earth Keepers have alliances with ten faith traditions across the Upper Peninsula, and the EHI is coordinating the same relationships with religious communities across the Great Lakes and beyond.

Bishop Skrenes is among the faith leaders who have signed the northern Michigan Earth Keeper Covenant pledging to actively participate in environment projects, build bridges with others faiths, and reach out to Native American communities.

Bishop Skrenes said the interfaith clean sweep is an example for other communities in the world because it shows like-minded people with good hearts can make a real impact in their communities when tackling environmental problem that seem daunting or too big for the average person to really make a difference.

The ongoing Earth Keeper project involves the congregations of over 150 churches and temples representing ten faith communities: Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Bahá'í, Jewish, Zen Buddhist and the Religious Society of Friends commonly known as the Quakers.

The Upper Peninsula Earth Keepers set up collection sites across a 400-mile area of northern Michigan on Earth Day 2005-2007. About 15,000 residents turned in over 320 tons of e-Waste, 45 tons of HHW including car batteries, oil-based paint, pesticides, liquid mercury, and other common poisons and over one ton of pharmaceuticals including $500,000 in narcotics.

People of many spiritual dimensions resonate to this work, Skrenes said. This is a good effort for all of us to be involved with.

This is about the environment, this is about cleaning up and making things new again and restoring things to the ways they once were and can be, Skrenes said.

People who are spiritual reflect upon and think about creation, Skrenes said. We think about the lakes and the streams and the forest and all of the rest that God has produced.

The 2008 EPA challenge collection sites in large cities and surrounding areas like Chicago, Milwaukee and Cleveland.

Illinois: Alton, Beecher, Bellwood, Bolingbrook, Carol Stream, Channahon, Chicago, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Glenview, Joliet, Lockport, Lombard, Mount Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Romeoville, Shorewood, Villa Park, West Chicago, Wheaton, Woodstock

Indiana: Columbia City, Hammond, Knox, LaPorte, Fort Wayne, Rushville, Valparaiso

Michigan: Bay City (two events), Benton Harbor, Bloomfield Hills, Dearborn Heights, East Lansing, Farmington Hills, Goodells, Grand Rapids (two events) Harbor Springs, Lansing, Midland, Monroe, Royal Oaks, Sault Ste. Marie, Southfield, Traverse City

Minnesota: Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Duluth, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Madison, Maple Grove, New Ulm, Saint Cloud, Shakopee, St. Louis Park, St. Paul
New York: Brockport, Buffalo, Fredonia, Rochester (two events), Syracuse (two events).

Ohio: Cleveland, Grove City, Kent, Perrysburg, Sandusky, Springfield, Toledo, Warren

Pennsylvania: Erie, Lancaster

Wisconsin: Appleton, Brillion, Chilton, Crandon, Green Bay, Keshena (Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and College of Menominee Nation), Manitowoc, Milwaukee (two events), New Holstein, Oshkosh, Plover (two events), Racine, Superior, Waupaca.

The EHI works in collaboration with the EPA and other government and non-government organizations, said Magnuson, executive director of the Cedar Tree Institute

The EHI is organizing faith community volunteers and participants plus providing free media assistance to the Earth Day projects including press releases, press contacts, internet videos, podcasts and postings.

For more information on the EHI project call 906-401-0109.
---
Related websites:
---
EPA:
Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge:
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/earthday2008
Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge event list:
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/earthday2008/events.html
EPA Press Release on challenge:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/D48F2AD96EC624E38525740B003AEE57
---
Earth Healing Initiative:
http://www.EarthHealingInitiative.org

------
Interfaith graphics by Justice St. Rain (Bah'i Community) of Interfaith Resources - Special Ideas website:

http://www.interfaithresources.com

http://www.interfaithresources.com/subcategories.php?dir=leftMenuSub&template=default&id=10

http://www.interfaithresources.com/products.php?id=2469

---
Call Justice St. Rain at Interfaith resources:
1-800-326-1197
---
Interfaith Resources
416 W 4th St.
Bloomington IN
47404
---
Bah'u'llh, the One who founded the Faithclaims to fulfill the prophecies concerning the Promised One of all religions. His life and teachings are worthy of further study to determine the goodness of His fruit, and the validity of His claim.

Quote from Finding Common Ground
How many beliefs do you share with members of the Bah'i Community?
You may be surprised!
By Justice St. Rain
(Bloomington, IN: Published by Special Ideas, 1997), p. 11

Interfaith graphics located with help from Bahai Media and Public Information specialist Ellen Price

wk: 847-733-3559

http://www.bahai.us

-------

Earth Healing Initiative Keshena, WI page:

http://www.earthhealinginitiative.org/keshena.html

Earth Healing Initiative:

http://www.earthhealinginitiative.org

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin homepage

http://www.menominee-nsn.gov

College of Menominee Nation:

http://www.menominee.edu

Earth Week Flyer - Call: Diana 715-799-5189 or Jeremy 715-799-5710:

http://www.menominee-nsn.gov/earthWeekFlyer.pdf

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Duluth, Minnesota:

University of Minnesota Lutheran Campus Ministry
P.O. Box 3649
Duluth, MN
55803-3649

UM LCM Website:
http://www.d.umn.edu/lcm/index.html

Pastor Doug Paulson page: Anchored in Christ's love, Lutheran Campus Ministry is an open, welcoming and caring Community:
http://www.d.umn.edu/lcm/doug.html
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Arrowhead Interfaith Council (AIC)
102 W. 2nd Street
Duluth, MN
55802

Arrowhead Interfaith Council (AIC) website
http://www.arrowheadinterfaith.org/home.html

AIC members page:
http://www.arrowheadinterfaith.org/members.html
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AIC President
Erik Nordgren, AIC President
218-525-3136
president@arrowheadinterfaith.org
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AIC Interfaith Committee
"The Interfaith Committee plans events which foster interfaith dialogue and learning"

AIC Interfaith Committee Chair
JoAnn Chesser
218-728-1516
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Milwaukee, WI:

Rev. Brad Brown
Lutheran Campus Pastor Marquette University

email:
bradley.brown@mu.edu

414-288-3691 (Pastor Brown vm)
414-305-2349 (cell)
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Pastor Brad Brown's blog:
http://www.mulutherans.com/index.php

Marquette University Lutheran Campus Ministry website:
http://www.mulutherans.com
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Marquette University Ministry
AMU 236
1442 W. Wisconsin Ave.
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee., WI
53201-1881
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Phone: 414-288-6873
Fax: 414-288-3696
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website:
http://www.marquette.edu/um
staff:
http://www.marquette.edu/um/staff/
Campus faith list:
http://www.marquette.edu/um/worship/documents/1018107web.pdf

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