Roanoke Group
of the Virginia Chapter

A Publication for Members and Friends
of the Roanoke Group of the Sierra Club

February-March 2007

Contents (quick links):

Film Festival
Riverman Bruce Ingram at Earth Friendly Friday in February
Earth Friendly Friday for March - Exploring SE England by Foot
Roanoke Group's Christopulos honored as Virginia Volunteer of the Year!

FILM FESTIVAL:  PUTTING A CHILL ON GLOBAL WARMING Real World Solutions for Real Global Problems

ROANOKE SIERRA CLUB announces our sponsorship of a four-part Thursday evening film festival at Hollins University that will highlight the threats of global warming and offer solutions ranging from personal to international. This series is also being sponsored by Hollins University, Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition, and SmithLewis Architecture. Each session will focus on a particular theme of this issue and will feature one or more top quality films, followed by a discussion by an expert panel with audience participation. The venue for this event is the Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center, Hollins University, 7916 Williamson Road, Roanoke. All sessions are free and open to the public and will run from 7 to 9 PM.

Session 1 - Feb. 15, 2007 Theme: The Science and Consequences of Global Climate Change. "Earth to America" Hilarious excerpts from TBS comedy/variety show on climate change. "Too Hot Not to Handle" A primer on global warming, this HBO documentary features contributions from leading scientists in the field and shows how businesses, local governments, and citizens are taking positive actions to reduce global warming emissions. Diana Christopulos will serve as moderator for our panel which will include Dr. Renee Godard, Chair of Hollins' Environmental Advisory Board, Dr. M. Rupert Cutler, and Hollins student environmental leader Sara Geres.

Session 2 - Feb. 22, 2007 Theme: National and international politics of global warming. Special features from "Oil on Ice" (the case against oil production in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge), include music video of "Shik'eenoothii" ("Take Care of Me"), a native Gwich'in song, and "Voices of the Future" (students comment on energy issues) "Rising Waters" Through personal stories of Pacific Islanders, this film puts a human face on the international climate change debate by showing the viewers the physical and cultural impacts caused by global warming (rising sea level), and how Pacific Islanders are engaging in the international debate. Mark McClain will lead the panel discussion among local experts on international policies and politics including Dr. Jon Bohland.

Session 3 - Mar. 8, 2007 Theme: Impacts of energy consumption: personal and community actions for a clean energy future. "Kilowatt Ours" Filmmaker Jeff Barrie takes viewers on a journey from the light switches in their house to the coal mines of West Virginia, and on to the solar panel fields of Florida, as he discovers solutions to America's energy problems. The focus of this film is the peril of coal-fired power plants, and how personal actions can make a difference in the quest for clean, renewable energy. Our panel for this session will include Gregg Lewis of SmithLewis Architecture, Joseph Tamez, MD, and local government officials.

Session 4 - Mar. 15, 2007 Theme: The transition to alternative energies. "French Fries to Go" A funny and hopeful short film that documents the origins of Telluride, Colorado's biodiesel project, and features cameos by Daryl Hannah, Dennis Weaver and Dr. Andrew Weil. Panelists will include Dr. C-J Brodrick, James Madison U. and other biodiesel advocates and experts. "Wind Over Water" In November 2001, Cape Wind Associates announced plans for America's first offshore wind farm. There ensued a battle among environmentalists and residents, and journalist Ole Tangen was on hand to document the controversy. The discussion will be led by Dr. Godard and will include Mike Town, Sierra Club Virginia Chapter Director, Lea Lupkin, Earthbound (Roanoke College), and Aaron Barr, Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Details on all panelists were not available at press time for this newsletter, but will be posted to our web site as they becomes available, and you will also find a locator map. Visit http://virginia.sierraclub.org/roanoke/festival.html    or call Mark McClain at 540-387-0930.

Earth Friendly Friday: Feb. 9 - Canoeing & Conserving Virginia's Rivers

Award-winning outdoor writer Bruce Ingram knows how to float or fish a river, and he has shared that joy in hundreds of photographs, books and articles, including guides to the James River, the New River, and the Shenandoah & Rappahannock Rivers. His articles on fishing, hunting, birding, canoeing, have appeared in local, regional and national publications.

But that is only the beginning. He is also a conservationist who paddles the fine line between celebrating a river and loving it to death. As he has noted, "If a… river does not have a constituency, a following of hardcore anglers, paddlers, and conservationists, I then strongly believe that it is doomed."

Bruce has used the money earned as a writer over the past 24 years to buy rural land and has placed 392 acres under conservation easements. The land includes headwater springs in the James and New River Watersheds.

His conservation writing includes works on recent environmental issues such as the Shenandoah-Potomac fish kills and logging in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.

Bruce Ingram is an educator, teaching English at Lord Botetourt High School and Introduction to Freshwater Fishing at Virginia Western Community College. He and his wife Elaine live in Botetourt County with their two children.

Join Bruce on a photographic tour of Virginia's rivers, exploring their beauty and learning about some of the threats they face. His books will be available for purchase and signing before and after the program.

For event location and details, see "Earth Friendly Friday", below.

Earth Friendly Friday - March 9 - A Walk on the "Weald" Side:
Mark McClain & Diana Christopulos Explore Southeast England By Foot

England is a veritable paradise for walkers, with thousands of miles of public footpaths, bridleways, and byways. So let's forget about the outrageous cost of hiring a car (not to mention the contribution to global warming pollution and the sheer terror of driving on the left). We'll hit the trail for a 100+ mile ramble through picturesque farmlands, forests, sheep meadows, ancient villages, world-famous religious shrines, and friendly pubs.

Join us as we carry everything in our "rucksacks" on a self-guided (and occasionally misguided) walking holiday in Kent.

We'll give you a rundown how we got the idea for our trip plus planning and logistics tips (complete with pictures for illustration). Then we'll present a multi-media video that captures the experience, warts and all.

Eschewing the dramatic scenery of the famous Lakes District, we opted for the bucolic and historic Southeast, where picturesque (don't call them quaint) villages dot the map. Sometimes we followed well known routes such as the North Downs Way and Royal Military Canal Path. Other times, we trod along local footpaths which often go through someone's back yard (garden, that is).

Learn how we walked near Sir Paul McCartney's estate without even knowing it, why you should never show up at a B&B before tea time, how we watched the Grand National on the "telly" at an English winery ("who knew there were English wineries?"), and why we, like every loyal Brit, know exactly where we were when Charles and Camilla tied the knot.

What about that "Weald" thing? To find out about that and more strange English words, just show up on March 9! See "Earth Friendly Friday", page 4, for details.

BREAKING NEWS! Diana Christopulos was chosen as 2006 Volunteer of the Year for the Sierra Club's Virginia Chapter. The award was based on her active and dedicated service to our group for the Cool Cities campaign and for hard work and clear progress in that effort. This honor was announced at the Chapter Awards dinner January 13.