Earth Day week of activities in Fresno

Members of Earth Democracy Group, Fresno Branch, during Earth Week activities.

By Jean Hays, Earth Democracy Group

The Fresno Branch Earth Democracy Group planned a week of activities for April 22-29, 2017, that included creative learning about climate, especially for the young; a tribal water ceremony; and a challenge to Governor Brown to be a “climate” leader.

It was a busy Earth Week for WILPF Fresno. Activities included our two booths at the Earth Day Faire, where children of all ages cleaned the plastic from the ocean and freed plastic fish from plastic rings. This was the “hit” of our Booth One. Visitors could also learn to clean tiles using a vinegar solution and purchase “air-cleaning” plants.

On April 23, we hosted a river blessing at the San Joaquin River. Members of the Choinumni Tribe conducted a beautiful ceremony at the river’s edge, after which two people spoke about growing up on the river.

On the three days of April 24-26, the WILPF Library Committee visited various schools to present Earth lessons.

And, finally, on April 29, after participating in the People’s Climate March in the afternoon, we hosted an outdoor evening presentation with Adam Scow, California Director of Food & Water Watch. His talk, “Winning a 100% Clean Energy Future for California,” is a most important topic in this state, where Governor Brown wants to be praised as a “green” governor, yet continues to allow fracking, especially in the Central Valley, and the use of contaminated fracking water for agricultural irrigation. To go down in history as a real “climate” leader, the Governor needs to follow New York’s Governor Cuomo and other governors who have now banned fracking.

See more photos on the WILPF Fresno Earth Democracy Facebook page.

Inset: The Fresno Earth Democracy Group’s “fish pond.”