Poetry to Protect the Planet Explores Climate Change from the Artist’s Perspective
Sunday, September 29 at 2:00 pm FREE
The Village of Catskill Climate Smart Committee invites you to attend Poetry to Protect the Planet, an event that explores environmental issues through verse at the Bridge Street Theater on Sunday, September 29 at 2:00 pm. This event is free and all are encouraged to attend.
Organized and hosted by artist Robert Tomlinson, the event features readings by Tom Bonville, Gary Dale Burns, Brian Dewan, Kate Reese Hurd, Andrea Mitchell and Karen Schoemer; with music by Leslie Ritter and Scott Petito. Each featured reader will select three poems that reflect upon human impacts on the natural world. The event was co-organized by Mr. Tomlinson and Climate Smart Committee member Deena Lebow, and will include a presentation on the Village’s efforts to become a certified climate smart community.
“I’m delighted and honored to be joining the Climate Smart Committee to create this event, which uses poetry and song to raise the awareness in our community of the dangers of the Climate Crisis that we are now experiencing” said Mr. Tomlinson, “I am hopeful that our presentation will inspire our residents to take action to curb our harmful behaviors that are so damaging the planet we call home.”
Global warming is impacting many regions of the world, including New York’s Hudson Valley. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the last five years have been the hottest in recorded history. In addition to rising temperatures, heavy precipitation and sea level rise are causing increased flooding in many locations, including the Hudson Valley/Catskill region. Evidence indicates that global warming is caused by the emission greenhouse gas from the burning of fossil fuels.
The Climate Smart Communities program is an initiative led by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Office of Climate Change that supports efforts by local government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for changing environmental conditions caused by global warming. Communities can become certified as Climate Smart by completing actions to conserve energy, encourage use of renewable energy, increase walkability of neighborhoods, support local and green economic development, adopt climate-friendly land use policies and pursue greater resiliency. For more information about the Climate Smart Communities program, visit https://climatesmart.ny.gov/.
The Catskill Village Board voted to pursue certification and form a Climate Smart Committee in November of 2018. Committee members have been taking steps toward completing actions required for certification since earlier this year. For more information about the committee, contact coordinator Nancy Richards at nrichards@villageofcatskill.net. To learn more about the Poetry to Protect the Planet event, contact Robert Tomlinson at artist.rt@gmail.com ###