Contact: Rick Peterson, Manager of News Services, 920-832-6590
For Immediate Release
April 21, 2004

Lawrence University Earth Day Festival Features State Legislator, Literature Drop

APPLETON, WIS. -- Live music, information booths, a rock climbing wall, a literature drop and an address by State Representative Spencer Black (D-Madison) highlight Lawrence University's sixth annual Earth Day Festival Saturday, May 1 on the Lawrence Main Hall Green. All Earth Day
Festival activities are free and open to the public. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be moved inside the Lawrence Memorial Union.

Black, one of the state legislature's strongest environmental advocates, presents "Protecting the Earth in a Time of Challenges" at 1 p.m. Black will review recent environmental accomplishments, examine some of the biggest challenges that remain and discuss ways individual citizens can
affect decisions that are made regarding the environment.Black, one of the state legislature's strongest environmental advocates, presents "Protecting the Earth in a Time of Challenges" at 1 p.m. Black will review recent environmental accomplishments, examine some of the biggest challenges that remain and discuss ways individual citizens can affect decisions that are made regarding the environment.

First elected to the state assembly in 1984, Black's work on behalf of conservation and environmental issues has been recognized with the Clean Water Action Council Environmental Advocate of the Year Award, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association Environmental Excellence Award, the Audubon Society Environmentalist of the Year Award and The Nature
Conservancy President's Public Service Award, among others.

Lawrence's Earth Day Festival activities begin at 9 a.m. with a trash pickup along the north banks of the Fox River adjacent to the Lawrence campus. All volunteers interested in participating can meet at the front of the Lawrence Memorial Union.

Between 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on the Main Hall Green, the festival will feature information booths addressing various environmental issues, including environmentally friendly hybrid automobiles, energy efficiency, wildlife rehabilitation and rock identification conducted by members of the Lawrence geology department. Lawrence's Lower Six Brass Band will provide musical entertainment from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Beginning at 2 p.m., members of Greenfire, Lawrence's student environmental awareness organization, and other area residents, will participate in a door-to-door "literature drop" to an estimated 2,700 households in the Fox Cities. Greenfire is part of a 57-member, state-wide coalition of organizations and businesses that is distributing information aimed at educating Wisconsin residents about recent attacks on environmental protections and urging them to contact their elected officials. In addition to Appleton, the literature drop is targeting Milwaukee, Madison, La Crosse and Green Bay with a goal of reaching 40,000 households across the state.

"Earth Day has always been a time when Americans come together to demonstrate their concern for the environment and acknowledge that we must care for our Earth if we are to care for ourselves," said Steve Rogness, president of Greenfire. "This Earth Day, we hope to empower
Wisconsinites to participate in the political process by proclaiming their love for the outdoors and demanding better environmental protections from our state and federal government."