Green Festival 2012 NYC: A Recap

by Ayana Free, Editor

I had a wonderful time attending the Green Festival 2012 on Earth Day, Sunday April 22.  There were great speakers, fun exhibits for the kids, and wonderful green products to sample.  Here is a summary of my favorites:

PANEL:  "Occupy the Dream Presents: Corporations are not People, Money is not Speech!" - Occupying the Main Stage was an engaging panel on the impact of the Citizens United decision and the adverse impact of money on democratic politics.  Occupy the Dream panelSpeakers Russell Simmons, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, David DeGraw, Josh Silver spoke passionately about the issues and answered audience questions, motivating young attendants to get involved and remain active in local and national politics. 

PAMPER: There were numerous women-owned companies selling fantastic green products.  The Lotus Odyssey sells aromatic hand-crafted soaps made with essential oils.  The proceeds go to support a women's shelter in India.  I purchased a Lucky Seven bag (with small bars of seven different soaps).  So far, Devi Nectar is my favorite bar.  It has a natural exfoliant and smells amazing. 

MUNCH: There were several delicious vegetarian and vegan vendors.  I also sampled some delicious chocolate and vegan cheese.  My chocolate award goes to Divine.  These scrumptions chocolate bars are made with fair trade, shade-grown and sun-dried cocoa beans from a women-owned co-op in Ghana.  The co-op also owns a portion of the business.  Try their dark chocolate with ginger and orange! No need to wait for a special occasion or the next Green Festival to treat yourself to this chocolate goodness.  I picked up a bar at my nearest Duane Reade.   

FASHION: I tried on several of Sprout's new timepieces.  Looking for an eco-luxe watch?  Consider Sprout's new line.  
This new line (non-vegan) features corn resin cases, mother of pearl dials, conflict-free diamond accents and fish leather scale bands. 

Want to get involved?  The Green Festival is headed to Chicago this upcoming weekend (May 5-6), then to Washington, DC in September and out west to both San Francisco and LA in November.  Please click here for scheduling details. 

Earth Day 2012 in the NYC: Celebrate the Earth in the Big Apple

The weather is great!  Take your bike and pets to the park.  On your way, explore Earth Day activities all over the NYC. There are tons of great, green events all throughout all the five boroughs. 

Manhattan

Everything’s Grand

Take the train to Earth Day New York’s Annual NYC EarthFair inside and outside the Grand Central Terminal.  There are lots of kid friendly activities, including books, nutrition and outdoor concerts.

Where: Grand Central Terminal, 87 E 42nd Street

When: Fri-Sat, April 19-21 (inside in Vanderbilt Hall) and Fri-Sat, April 20-21 (outside Grand Central).

Bright Lights, Big City

Sometimes it’s fun to play tourist.  Head to Times Square, enjoy the exhibits, green vehicle display and fun concerts, including Broadway performers. 

Where: Times Square

When: Sat, April 21

Go Big, Go Sustainable

For a veritable explosion of activity, go to the New York City Green Festival at the Jacob Javits Center.  Come check out a host of exhibits and excellent featured speakers, including Van Jones!

Where: Jacob Javits Center, 655 W. 34th Street

When: Sat-Sun, April 21-22, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Bronx

Plant Trees by the Riverside

Bronx River Alliance volunteers will plant native plants and shrubs donated by Million Trees NYC along the waterfront to green the park and protect the Bronx River. 

Where: Shoelace Park - 217th Street at Bronx Blvd 

When:  Sat, April 21 10-1pm

Brooklyn

Green goods in the heart of BK

Celebrate the Earth in Green in Bklyn - a great one-stop local eco shop.  They have a full day of activities planned including community gardening, vegan treats and local honey tasting.

Where: Green in BKLYN, 432 Myrtle Ave 

When:  Sun, April 22

April showers bring May flowers

Celebrate Earth day in May at the fifth annual Go Green! Greenpoint! Earth Day Festival in McCarren Park in the center of Greenpoint & Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Bring the kids and dogs to this great community event complete with educational exhibits, arts & crafts, children's activities, and live music.

When: Sat, May 5, 11 AM - 5 PM 

Where: McCarren Park, Brooklyn

Queens

Flowers for princesses and princes

Wander through the Queens Botanical Garden with your little ones.  Head to the Earth Day children’s activity table, free with admission.

Where: Queens Botanical Garden,
 43-50 Main Street, 
Flushing  

When: Sun, April 22, 1-4pm

Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Three Women Leaders

What could be a better posthumous nod to Wangari Maathai than the recognition of three outstanding women leaders and activists for the Nobel Peace Prize?  The winners were Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, fellow Liberian and peace activist Leymah Gbowee, and Yemeni pro-democracy campaigner Tawakul Karman.  The Nobel Prize Committee announced that collectively, these women are being honored for their "non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work." President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee  

Besides Maathai, there have been nine other women awarded this distinction.  This year's award winners demonstrate, as Maathai did, that women of color can make powerful changes in the world by having the courage to speak their truths.  Their focused tenacity in the face of political and violent opposition is inspiring.  Hopefully, this award will bring increased attention to women's rights and peace-building efforts, particularly in Africa and the Middle East.  Yemeni activist Tawakul Karman

In Memoriam: Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai, Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, passed away at the age of 71.  Known around the world for her activism and advocacy for women, Maathai may be best remembered for the simple courage of encouraging women to plant trees.  She founded the Green Belt Movement in the 1970's, teaching women to plant trees as a way to maintain the fuel supply and prevent soil erosion.  Discouraged by the Kenyan government and dissuaded by her university faculty peers, she faced life's challenges with humor, grace and strength. 

Here at chocolate granola, we take a moment of silence to remember this great woman warrior, peace maker, activist.  Please see below for news coverage of her passing, interview clips and other links.

• NYTimes coverage of her passing
• Environmental icon: 
• Memories from her colleagues  
• Nobel prize interview and recognition 
• Kenyan and United Nations legacy 

Happy Earth Day

Celebrate the 41^st anniversary of Earth Day in the Big Apple: Check out these free events across the city.  Almost all of these events are great for families of all ages.

One Stop Green Celebration: Earth Day NY  

Thursday, April 21, 2011 - 12:00pm - Friday, April 22, 2011 - 6:00pm

Grand Central Station Vanderbilt Avenue btwn 42nd & 45th Streets in Manhattan.

Earth Day NY, a two-day festival of art, music, and the environment. A large exhibit area highlights environmental groups, green businesses and kid’s activities that will include educational interactive displays.  While there, check out Recycle-A-Bicycle, a community-based non-profit organization and bike shop that provides educational training programs, encourages environmental stewardship and promotes everyday bicycle use.  Recycle-A-Bicycle will be selling recycled bicycle jewelry and crafts at Earth Day NY.

Flashing Lights, Big City        

April 22 (11 am - 5 pm)

Times Square

Head to midtown for an interactive exhibit area in Times Square highlighting green businesses, non-profits, and eco-friendly sponsors.  One exciting feature will be the CO2 E drive, a "runway show" of green vehicles.

Green Runways, Ecolux Fashion

April 22-23

Bloomingdale’s Soho location

Eco-fashionistas head to Bloomingdale’s in Soho this week through Saturday, April 23 for green fashion.  Bloomie’s Soho is hosting "The GreenShows Spring Ecolux Designer Pop-Up Shop" with ten fashion and accessories designers. The designers presenting their Spring/Summer 2011 collections include Samantha Pleet, Suzanne Rae, Ajna Collection, Robin Brouillette, H. Fredriksson, Artists and Revolutionaries, The Battalion, and 2011 Ecco Domani Fashion Fund winner for sustainable design, STUDY by Tara St James, Sprout and The Sway. 

Grow a Green Surprise

Saturday, April 23, 2011 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Central Park Conservatory

If the weather permits, take the little tykes to Central Park for their Recycled Container Gardening.  Bring a clean empty soup or vegetable can.  The park will provide the craft materials and plant to turn these cans into beautiful planters.  All ages welcome.  Your little ones will enjoy getting their hands dirty with this fun, creative project.

Dreaming of a Cleaner Planet

Friday, April 22 at 3:30 pm
Battery Park
Kids can make a dream catcher out of plastic container tops and other recycled materials at the Battery Park City Library, Manhattan's first green LEED certified branch.  Free for ages 4-10.

Celebrate Earth Day in Brooklyn

Saturday, April 23 11 a. -5 pm (raindate Sunday April 24) 

IKEA Erie Basin Park, Red Hook

Join Brooklynites for the Ceremonial Launch of the Giant Floating Earth Ball, which symbolizes a commitment to mitigating the impact of climate change.  The EnviroMedia Mobile Mobile- The Amazing Traveling Nature & Maritime Museum presents several activities including live music, public tours of the Mobile Nature and Maritime Museum, e-recyvling and an Aquatic Ecology Lab.

Celebrate Earth Day in the Bronx 

April 22-23

Earth Day Garden Walk
April 22, 2011

Wave Hill 

Celebrate Earth Day with the family by participating in this kid-friendly garden walk. Hunt for early-blooming flowers, creepy crawly critters and other signs of spring with a garden interpreter.  Ideal for ages 6+.  Free with admission to grounds: $8 adults, $4 students/seniors, $2 children 6+; admission is free until 12pm.

April 23, 2011
Wave Hill Ecology Building, 10 am -1:00 pm

Artist Miwa Koizumi will show garden visitors how to reuse colored plastic bags and recycle them into rain hats, rain gear and Earth Day flags and flowers for a festive Earth Day parade. The event is free and admission to the grounds is free until noon.