Maharishi University of Management
1000 N. 4th St., Fairfield, Iowa 52557 Ph. 641-472-1134
http://www.eco-fair.org
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Charisse Lown, Ph. 641-472-7000, ext. 4803
--- PRESS RELEASE ---
Eco-Fair Teaches Harmony with Environment
Famous Speakers, Practical Seminars, a Fun-Filled Eco-Fashion Show,
And More Highlight This Year’s Eco-Fair, May 23–26
Fairfield, Iowa — From an eco-fashion show to a biological machine that
cleans wastewater—Eco-Fair 2003 aims to educate people about the latest
ecological technologies for "sustainable living" and to inspire participants
to implement them in their daily lives. And it all happens with a little fun
thrown into the mix, from the eco-fashion show to a concert.
The theme this year is "Celebrating the Earth, Organizing for
Sustainability." Speakers will include Tad Hargrave from Youth for
Environmental Sanity (YES!) giving workshops on cutting-edge marketing and
fundraising techniques, Marc Companion, an expert on developing technologies
for "living lighter" on the planet, and John Ikerd, an authority on organic
agriculture.
Dozens of sessions offered by hands-on experts will teach people how to live
without fossil fuels, how to use solar energy, how to improve energy
efficiency, and much more.
Other Eco-Fair activities will include an eco-fashion show of organic
clothing, a film festival featuring success stories of famed
environmentalists, a concert, tours of energy-efficient and "off-the-grid"
homes, a competition for students, and a trade fair that will feature booths
offering international cuisine, vendors of environmentally friendly products,
and information about local and regional businesses that have an ecological
orientation.
The Eco-Fair is for students, business professionals, and the general public.
See http://www.eco-fair.org for details.
Nationally Known Eco-Fair Speakers Include Tad Hargrave and Marc Companion
Tad Hargrave: Executive Director of the Canadian branch of Youth for
Environmental Sanity (YES!) a world-renowned youth organization. One of his
workshops will be on cutting-edge marketing training for locally owned
socially responsible businesses to design a tailor made cash flow creating
plan to compete with large multinational corporations challenging our
communities. The second workshop will be on very simple and powerful
strategies for raising money. No need to ask money from foundations,
government, or corporations, freeing activists from any sense of begging,
struggling or suffering.
Marc Companion, education coordinator for Ocean Arks International, will
speak on living systems for waste treatment, food production, green
architecture, and habitat restoration, as well as demonstrate the Living
Machine, a biological water filter system.
Another featured speaker will be Ronnie Cummins, national director of the
Organic Consumers Association and author of Genetically Engineered Food: A
Self-Defense Guide for Consumers. He will give a talk on genetic engineering,
factory farming, and organics.
Eco-Fashion Show Features Organic Clothing, Wearable Art, and More
A highlight of this year’s Eco-Fair will the annual eco-fashion show, an
evening of music, entertainment, and modeling of environmentally friendly
organic fashion. The fashions featured will range from organic apparel from
eco-friendly labels, original design clothes, and "wearable art." The
entertainment will include a demonstration of African drumming by the
acclaimed master Madou Dembele."The eco-fashion show is always wildly popular—
and wildly entertaining," says organizer Lila Wallace. Last year so many
people showed up that organizers had to turn a large number away. This year
it will be held at the Fairfield High School auditorium in order to
accommodate a much larger crowd.""We hope to entertain and educate," Ms.
Wallace said. "We want people to know there are alternatives to damaging the
environment as a result of the processes that are used for bleaching and
dyeing cotton."For more information, contact [log in to unmask]
Competition Offers $100 Prizes for Student Eco-Projects
A new event this year is an eco-competition for students. High school and
college students can win cash prizes of $100 by presenting a project or
artistic expression related to improving the environment.Projects will be
presented at a special session on Saturday afternoon, May 24. Awards will be
presented at the eco-fashion show that evening.A "People’s Choice Award" of
$100 will be given to best high school and college-level entries in each of
the following three categories. • Applied Eco-Project—Present a practical
plan to initiate ecological improvements. Projects already implemented, or
about to be implemented are especially welcome and may include drawings,
photos, models, and a written summary.• Eco-Science Project—Present your
work on a research question involving a topic that affects the environment.
Science fair and other projects that have been exhibited elsewhere are
welcome. May include drawings, photos, models, demonstrations, and written
summary. • Personal Artistic Expression —Express your connection with the
environment through any medium of your choice, such as photography,
site-specific environmental art, dramatic presentations, poetry, short
stories, music, visual art, digital mediaStudent projects or artwork that
have been entered in other competitions are acceptable.
For more information and a registration form, e-mail <[log in to unmask]>, call
641-472-7000, ext. 4803, or see <A HREF="http://www.eco-fair.org/">www.eco-fair.org</A>. The deadline for
submissions is May 7.The competition will be part of the Sustainable Living
Exposition at the Eco-Fair. Exhibit booths are free for students and
non-profit groups. Exhibit registration must be submitted by May 7. Please
contact [log in to unmask] # #
Erin E. Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
[log in to unmask]
www.iowa.sierraclub.org
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