EVENTS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
THANKS, BONNIE
Music Legend Gives Crowd a Good Time — and Something to Talk About
Bonnie Raitt’s been a legend for her activism as well as her music long before most stars started jumping on the green bandwagon. So we were honored by her May 16 benefit in Tucson — a boot-tapping good time that raised nearly $5,000 to support our conservation work.
In addition to helping us celebrate the week’s big victory for polar bears — their long-awaited protection under the Endangered Species Act — Ms. Raitt’s performance boosted our work to stop uranium mining near the Grand Canyon. Many long-time Bonnie fans know she’s a back-in-the-day champion of the anti-nuke movement, co-founding MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy) to produce 1979's historic NO NUKES concerts, album, and film.
Bonnie gave us a shout-out from the stage, dedicating John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery” to the Center and our work. After the show, she met up with our staff and donors who purchased special VIP tickets to a backstage reception.
Our best to you, Bonnie, for the inspiration and support.
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Verde River “Hidden Wonders” Hike
If a river flows in the wild and no one hears it, does it matter if it goes dry?
The answer, of course, is yes — but Joanne Oellers, the Center’s Verde campaign coordinator, means to make sure hikers see and hear central Arizona’s Verde River, a beautiful and species-rich waterway endangered by unsustainable groundwater pumping. This Saturday, August 30, Oellers will lead an interpretive hike along Granite Creek and the upper Verde, teaching participants about the river’s conservation and its diversity of animals, plants, and other wonders.
If you’re going to be in the Prescott, Arizona area this weekend, get the scoop on the hike here and RSVP to (928) 772-8204 or joellers@biologicaldiversity.org to sign up and ask about future Verde hikes.
Learn more about the Verde and our campaign to save it here.
The Last Polar Bear: Facing the Truth of a Warming World
This summer, Seattle’s Burke Museum will premiere a wildlife photography exhibit devoted to the polar bear, global warming, and many of the issues involved in the bear’s recent listing under the Endangered Species Act. The exhibit will highlight 40 huge, vivid — and, quite frankly, spectacular — images taken by acclaimed photographer Steven Kazlowski, which document the annual life cycle of the polar bear and offer a dramatic representation of the Arctic’s dwindling sea ice. Besides the photographs, exhibit attendees can see a moving portrait of wild polar bear behavior in Ice Bears of the Arctic, a brand-new documentary by Alaskan filmmaker Arthur C. Smith. The exhibit will kick off in Seattle, go on a national tour, and close at the end of the year. Call (206) 543-5590 or visit www.burkemuseum.org for more information.
2008 Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year
A race against time to see and save the 33 endangered species of San Francisco’s Golden Gate National Parks.
Events throughout 2008 in San Francisco
San Francisco ’s Golden Gate National Parks — aka the GGNRA — contain more endangered species than any other national park in continental North America, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia national parks combined. The GGNRA’s astounding diversity is cause for celebration but also for concern, as many of the plants and animals depending on this urban oasis are in dire danger of extinction.
That concern inspired organizers to launch an event that would reconnect the region’s residents with the recreation area’s natural wonders, especially its imperiled wildlife. Big Year is both an educational and a competitive event, culminating in a Big Year Award for the park visitor who sees and helps the largest number of the 33 listed species — through individual exploration or guided expedition — between January 1 and December 31, 2008. More than six dozen guided field trips are planned for the year.
Participants are encouraged to take part in conservation actions for the species, from restoring California least tern habitat to reducing their carbon footprint to ensure survival of the Bay checkerspot butterfly.
Every action counts, and everyone is invited to participate.
To sign up, visit the Big Year Web site.
For more information, contact Brent Plater by e-mail.
Read the Center’s Big Year press release.
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