As an amateur environmentalist and healthy-lifestyle advocate, I'm always on the lookout for events and happenings that act as forums for conversations about sustainability and ecoconsciousness. (Speaking of acting: Hats off to the quasi greened-up 79th Annual Academy Awards for integrating Oscar recipient Al Gore's ecomessage into Sunday night's telecast.). But let's just say, go figure, that you don't live in Hollyweird. Less-televised goings on in communities around the country constantly promote awareness and change. It's just a matter of knowing how to find them. Contact your city's convention and visitors bureau for a events calendar or search Ecopalooza for upcoming expos, festivals, and seminars.
I recently found out about a noteworthy project called Cool Globes. Come June 2, 100 individually decorated mini-Earths—each depicting a local artist's ideas and solutions for climate change—will sprout up along Chicago's lakefront. Every globe is sponsored by a Chicago-based company, such as mom-owned Healthy Handfuls—makers of convenient, organic snacks for tykes—or an organization, such as the Sierra Club Chicago branch, that is dedicated to environmental health. Throughout the summer, Chicagoans will enjoy the public displays and will have the chance to attend climate-centric lectures. Plus, kids will create their own globes and videos, documenting their solutions to global warming. Winners will be displayed at the Field Museum. How cool is that?!