Obama's Inauguration – Green Events Near & Far

Many Americans are gearing up for a trip to DC with the intention or hope to catch president-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration.

From an environmental perspective, January 20th couldn’t come sooner.  I was appalled after reading a Rolling Stone article regarding Bush’s midnight regulations – the majority of these last minute regs (including the hit on the Endangered Species Act) are atrocities to the environment, leaving many to question how big of a mess Obama will need to clean up.

Looking forward, I became very excited when learning Obama (just like Lincoln in 1861!) is planning his journey to DC from Philadelphia on Saturday.  Continuing his eco-friendly platform, he’s taking a train to pick up my buddy Joe Biden in Wilmington.  Unfortunately, you won’t be able to catch our next president in Philadelphia unless you were lucky enough to be an invitation-only member of 200-300 volunteers from the Obama election campaign. The public can see Obama at 1 PM at the Wilmington Amtrak Station or in Baltimore later in the day. 

Are you dying to take part of an Obama event (like I am) and have a spare $500 you can drop (which I sort of don’t?)…

Good news – theres’s still tickets to the Green Inaugural Ball this Saturday, January 17th. Taking place at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, the ball has been designed to reduce the impact on the environment in every aspect, and carbon/wind power credits will be purchased to offset what can’t be reduced.  Some of the ‘green’ highlights of the ball are an organic/local buffet with vegan & vegetarian options, organic/local beverages; all bottles, plastic and paper products will be recycled; flowers from the event will be locally grown; and their website is hosted by AISO.net.  Environmentally-involved speakers during the event include Graham Hill, founder of Treehugger,com; Summer Rayne Oakes, correspondent of Discovery Planet Green; Margie Alt, Executive Director of Environment America; Thassanee Wanick, General Counsul of Thailand; Chistiana Wyly, Environmental Entreprener, and Gay Browne, Founder of Greenopia; and the main performer is Wyclef Jean.

If you’re one of the many staying in Philly to celebrate the Inaugration, there’s a few ways you can help the enviromental locally with the Sierra Club. If you sign up by today, you can recieve a free ticket to the Bryn Mawr Film Institute Screening of Obama Inauguration.

• PHILADELPHIA – Weatherization Training & Installation, Jan. 19 – 8:30am-
  2pm.  Coordinated with Global Citizen and Energy Coordinating Agency
  Where: Temple University’s Liacouras Center, 1776 North Broad Street, Phila, PA 19122
  What:  Training in weatherization techniques by ECA at Temple, then
  ECA will lead hands-on work in homes of seniors and disabled residents
  nearby.  Contact:  Robin Mann, 610-527-4598
• CHESTER COUNTY – Valley Forge National Historical Park Tree Protection and Invasives Removal, Jan. 17 & Jan. 19, 9:00am-noon
  Coordinated with National Park Service, Ernestine White
  Where:  Visitor’s Center, Valley Forge NHP
  What:  Help mulch newly planted trees and remove invasive vines that are harming other trees in the Park.
  Contact:  For 1/17, contact Sea Caplan, Sierra Singles, Or 1/19, contact Rick Wolf, 610-933-6414
• MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Free the Trees from Invasives, Jan. 17 & Jan. 19, 9:00am-2pm
  Coordinated with Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust
  What:  Vine and other invasives removal.
  Contact:  Lauren Steele, 215-657-0830
• DELAWARE COUNTY – Litter Cleanup in the Darby Creek watershed, Jan. 19, 9:00am-noon
  Where:  TBD
  Contact:  Robin Mann, 610-527-4598

Posted by Julie

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher