Local residents 'Step It Up' for environment

Author: Kelly Janis

Whether as part of a bagpipe-led procession in Shelburne, a bike ride in Brandon, a ski-down in Killington or a trek from a sugaring shack to the statehouse in Montpelier, Vermonters turned out en masse on Saturday to "Step It Up" and demand that Congress pledge to cut the nation's carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050.

Residents of the town that spawned the national movement proved no exception in their zeal. An estimated 300 people gathered on the Middlebury Town Green to enjoy live music and drumming before assembling on the footbridge near the Marble Works complex for a group photograph.

An hour later, the crowd poured into the Middlebury municipal gym for an environmental fair, kicked off with a performance by the Ripton-based folk trio Bread and Bones.

As the twang of a guitar and string bass dissipated, the fair's coordinator, Stacey Lee-Dobek, took to the stage to welcome revelers to the event, which featured presenters from a wide array of local organizations committed to curbing climate change.

"I want people to leave learning something," Lee-Dobek said. "And if you already know something, tell someone else."

Lee-Dobek introduced Professor of English John Elder, widely respected in the community for his environmental activism.

"In my brief remarks, what I want to focus on is the relationship between what we need to do and how we feel," said Elder.

He proceeded to address three distinct sentiments. The first was that of grief and loss.

"We all know that climate change is already a very serious fact, and it is going to become worse even if we do everything right," Elder said. "The carbon is already in the atmosphere."

Such a reality, however, is not cause for hopelessness - a notion underlying the second feeling Elder expressed.

"This is a moment in which I think we need to feel powerful. Powerful for change," said Elder.

As a consequence of this power, Elder said, we ought to conjure celebratory feelings, and orient ourselves toward "inclusive, pleasure-oriented environmentalism."

Elder's commentary was proceeded by that of Ron Slabaugh, president of the Addison County Relocalization Network (ACoRN), which, according to brochures distributed at the event, aims to "revitalize our local economy to help our communities provide sustainable sources of food, water, energy, employment and other essential resources, and to promote conservation and a healthy environment." The organization, which was established in late 2005, meets monthly to discuss actions pertaining to such issues as local food, renewable energy and idling.

"We need to fashion a future in which we live with less energy," Slabaugh said. "It is time to move from despair into empowerment."

The program continued with a performance by musical guest Catch Betty. "This first song is dedicated to the largest contributor to global warming in our area," she said. "It's called 'We Must Breathe Free.' International Paper in Ticonderoga, this one's for you."

"We will not close our eyes to your deeds Ö the air and sky belong to us all," Catch Betty sang as fair-goers milled about with buttons declaring "I love wind power" pinned to their shirts, and giggling youngsters ran in circles with construction paper kites and streamers in tow.

The gym's walls were festively adorned with colorful banners bearing such messages as "we are all a part of this chain" and "good planets are hard to find."

A clothesline hung along another wall, brimming with eco-friendly suggestions attached to clothespins: "repair old things Ö give something away Ö donate old cell phones Ö ride the bus Ö walk Ö build bike paths Ö turn down water heater Ö replace lawn with native plants Ö collect rain water Ö no topping off gas tank."

Against this backdrop, the crowd circulated to a selection of entertaining and informative stations. Among them was Vermont Soap Works' Sudzy Putty Fun Center, where, alongside a selection of the company's organic products, an extensive offering of soap scraps were available to be molded into a flurry of forms. "Instead of throwing them away, we've turned it into a way for kids to learn about scent, touch and shape," said Soap Works employee April Marble.

"We're in the market of helping the environment," Marble said. "We're very pleased to be here."

Also represented was Rutland's Central Vermont Public Service Corporation (CVPS). "We're beginning a new renewable energy project here in Vermont," said Senior Energy Consultant David J. Dunn. "This fair seemed like the perfect place to highlight that, and support others who are fighting global warming."

The project, known as "Cow Power," entails "a voluntary service rider that promotes development and reliance on renewable energy in Vermont." Its aim is to craft a market for energy generated from the burning of methane from cow manure. CVPS customers can opt to contribute an additional monthly fee to facilitate the company's quest to "deliver renewable energy one cow at a time."

Idle-Free VT coordinator Wayne Michaud also turned out to promote his cause. The non-profit, grassroots campaign addresses unnecessary vehicle idling in the state and works toward the enactment of an idle-reduction law.

Michaud was inspired to pursue the issue after witnessing trucks idling at the Chittenden Solid Waste District's drop-off center in Hinesburg. "They would go on for ten minutes," he said. "Finally, I decided I was going to call Chittenden Solid Waste."

Subsequent to his phone call, the center posted anti-idling signs.

"They took my concern and did something about it," Michaud said.

Idling at the center, and in other locations, did not cease altogether, however. "It's a long, drawn out process to make change," Michaud said. In spite of this, he is optimistic that his "business idle-free" initiative - one which he calls a "win-win" situation for businesses and the environment alike - is capable of garnering the support of lawmakers.

This optimism seems to be contagious.

Representatives of SolarFest 2007 - a two-day summer event in Tinmouth which brings together over 90 renewable energy and sustainable future exhibitors for a music, theater and dance festival dedicated to environmental activism - said they were motivated in their cause by the work of Bill McKibben. "We're very excited that he's doing that work and raising awareness," said Hugh Coyle '83.

Middlebury's rally registered as an apt venue for similar work. "This event brings together a community of like-minded individuals," said SolarFest's Bud Yost.

Coyle and Yost are unique in their attitude and approach. "People like to talk about the problem, and we like to provide the solution," Coyle said. "It's not just theory, it's not just ideas. We can do this."

In an event report on Step It Up's website, Middlebury resident Greg Dennis concluded that the environmental fair and rally's "amazing turnout [is] proof that many, many Vermonters are committed to doing what it takes" to salvage the ailing environment.

Much of this turnout may be attributed to the event's upbeat atmosphere. "It's not merely a guilt-ridden, hand-wringing, dramatic crisis," Coyle said. "There are exciting, joyful, good things out there to celebrate. We want to show the positive spirit of this movement."

Elder echoed this sentiment in his remarks. He noted that, in some years, the shift in the sugaring season from March to February has caused tree-tapping to coincide with Mardi Gras celebrations, which he compared to Middlebury's environmental rally.

"Mardi Gras is a wonderful festival for us to think about at this time of loss, aspiration and potential," Elder said. "All over the world, in different religious traditions, there are ways to express what I think is essentially a sp
ring ritual of partying. Winter is almost over. Put on your dancing shoes, walk around the streets with your friends wearing bright clothes and then get serious about renewal: personal transformation, community celebration, and, finally, transformation of our whole system into something not only more sustainable, but more festive and fun."