[All] Climate Change event for Sept. 21

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Hi folks

On Sept. 21 New York City will be hosting the people's march which is expected to be the largest climate change march in history. The event is being promoted by 350.org and many communities around the world are doing similar marches to show solidarity. Several different people have approached me to organize a local event in Waterloo so here goes one concept: 

Materials, displays and/or guest speakers can help present information on the following: 

-How to prepare families for in-climate weather.
-The GRCA can provide information re: flood risks while promoting ways we can work to protect our watershed ie: Tree planting, farm grant programs, ways to get involved etc.
-We can have a display about the rain barrel program and ways to offset storm water. 
-We can have CREW Waterloo promote ways to save energy around the house
-We could have a display on recycle and green bin programs, showing how recycling saves energy and our environment
-We can feature a presentation to highlight the success of local business reducing their carbon footprints.
-We can provide information on the LRT and encourage public involvement with the formation of safe bike routes. 

Groups I'm thinking of approaching for this event: 
Tritag
The Region of Waterloo's emergency management dept. & Waste management
GRCA
CREW
Reep
Sustainable Waterloo

The focus is to inform, inspire and educate the public towards a more fossil free future while fostering climate adaptation to protect their families. 

In order to make this happen we would need the following:

A venue 
Media Releases to inform public of event
Volunteers: folks willing to set up, host and take down displays and tell folks where the wash room is.
Signs to help direct folks to the event set up the day of event and pulled down afterwards.
A host for speakers
Folks to help return any unused materials, brochures etc. 

In the past I did these things with my family just paying out of pocket and relying on the kindness of others to help make it happen. Now that my older daughter is in Carlton in Ottawa there's one less person to help at this end.  I'm working a part time job and I'm heading on a trip the next day so I won't be able to do any post event tasks like interviews with media or returning materials. I could really use the help on this one. 

With that being said, would anyone from GREN be willing to assist me in making this event happen? Is a project GREN would like to spear-head or support? I'd rather see GREN get credit then I personally speaking. It's a good way to raise our profile as an organization. 


The press prefers 2 weeks notice on events. Plans must be finalized by September 6th if this is to happen at all. The main thing we need right now is simply a venue. 
We could start at the main entrance of Waterloo Park at Father David Bauer Drive and do a march to the Swimplex's Hauser Haus room for the displays. The walk is child friendly. There are cute animals along the way and they don't seem to mind it. Last time I did a rally along this route we had a goat braying with our chanting. It was a lovely united species event.  

So if GREN wishes to be a part of this or if folks want to volunteer, let me know and we can go from there. 

Lulu 
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