Earth Day with Stephen Lewis Event - "Enough Already!"

Momentum is building around environmental issues and a watershed moment is on the horizon in Stratford. On Earth Day, Tuesday April 22, 2008, Stephen Lewis will deliver the keynote address, "Enough Already!" at C.A.R.E. Stratford's Earth Day event. "For too long, we've taken a fragmented approach to ecological and social justice issues, we need to act cognizant of the fact that everything is connected," said organizer Kerry McManus.
From his role as chair of the "International Conference of the Changing Atmosphere" held in 1988 in Toronto to his current position as Professor in Global Health, Faculty of Social Sciences at McMaster University, Stephen Lewis is keenly aware of the connections between environment, poverty and health. "We are at a pivotal time in history where it is vital that we understand the interplay of our actions on our world. When choosing a speaker to deliver this message, our committee quickly agreed that no one was better suited for this responsibility than Stephen Lewis," commented McManus.
Inspired by the theme for the event, Pam Gerrand has written a song that she will share that evening. "The conditions of the world are calling us all to take action, to step into the heart of compassion and harness the power of our individual efforts to make a change for global good. This razor's edge has brought us to a point of urgency and powerful awakening, to a point of 'Enough Already'. This theme spoke to my heart, and I am honoured to share the song that was born of this inspiration at the Stratford Earth Day event, featuring the keynote address by a uniquely inspiring and passionate advocate for conscious change, Stephen Lewis,"stated Gerrand.
As evidence of the building environmental movement, C.A.R.E. Stratford has received more nominations for Environmental leader awards than ever in its history. Celebrating local unsung heroes is important to C.A.R.E. Stratford. In a time when smog alerts are commonplace and frustration over inaction is typical, pausing to reflect on the positive is important to re-energize and re-focus our collective attention. Though barriers exist, inspiring examples of persistence and ingenuity are around us as well.
During the day a program for elementary students will include both action and awareness components. Stratford's Volunteer Civic Beautification and Environmental Awareness Committee, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority and C.A.R.E. Stratford have organized a full day where participants will plant trees, package Swan Food as well as learn about composting and proper disposal of batteries.
Doors and exhibits will open for the evening event at 5:30 with the formal program beginning at 7p.m. While the speech by Stephen Lewis is the centrepiece of the evening, the organizers are hoping all attendees will spend time visiting the exhibits. The exchange of ideas and current programming has long been an integral element in C.A.R.E. Stratford's events. A key objective for the organization from its onset was to provide an opportunity for cross-pollination of ideas and activities.
Tickets are $25. In Stratford, tickets are available at Anything Grows, Blowes Stationery, the Gentle Rain and P'Lovers. For those outside of Stratford, tickets are available by contacting Kerry McManus at (519) 273-9012 or by emailing carestratford@cyg.net.
C.A.R.E. Stratford, Common Action for the Restoration of the Environment Stratford, is a grassroots environmental group which seeks to restore the local environment by thinking globally and acting locally.
For additional information, please contact:
Kerry McManus
(519) 273-9012
kerrmcma@fc.amdsb.ca
www.carestratford.org