Climate Change: Chicago's "Cool Globes" Exhibit

• Freak Winter Is Europe's Warmest In 700 Years
• Global Warming Will Increase World Death Rate
• Rising Sea Levels Could Divide and Conquer Antarctic Ice
• How the Obesity Epidemic Is Aggravating Global Warming
• Angry Shareholders Urge Exxon to Get Green
• Bush Claims His Policies Led to Emissions Drop
• Global Warming Is Shrinking the Great Lakes

Climate Change Makes Beach Life a Bummer
Any one of those headlines alone is alarming, but the last point? That the largest freshwater resource in the world, the Great Lakes system, is "under the weather" should serve as a major wake-up call for those who live in or near Detroit, Grand Rapids, Toledo, Buffalo, Rochester, Montreal, Toronto, and Chicago. The Great Lakes are far more than a source of fun and recreation, they support economic development throughout this vast region shared by two countries and also supply several million people with basic drinking water.

Chicago in fact -- where beautiful Lake Michigan stretches from one end of the city to the other -- has seen an alarming number of beach closings this summer, due to dangerously high E. coli bacteria counts in the water. Well, the beaches aren't completely "closed," as families can still flock to them -- but only to enjoy the sun and sand.

Several times already this season, TV news and other Chicago area media have blared warnings that Lake Michigan beach-lovers should not dip as much as a toe in those serene, blue waters. City officials attribute this fourfold increase in the number of beach closings primarily to unusually high temperatures and periods of excessive rain. There's also a bit of a problem with sea gull waste at many Chicago beaches.

But equally troubling of late is this... A BP refinery south of Chicago, in the town of Whiting, Indiana, has just been given a permit by the local EPA to increase the amounts of ammonia and sludge it dumps into Lake Michigan -- by 50% and 35%, respectively. Illinois officials and the public are particularly disheartened by this because BP bills itself as one of the more environmentally responsible oil companies. Their intention to further pollute the lake, however, sends an entirely different signal.

Cool Globes Turning Heads Around Chicago
Luckily, there's a unique, optional activity available for those who want to enjoy the lakefront, but dare not advance toward the water. It's a public art exhibit called Cool Globes: Hot Ideas For a Cooler Planet, and it serves as just the wake-up call that's needed to involve more people in solutions to global warming.

An outdoor art exhibit of 123 super-large globes, the project features a series of imaginatively decorated orbs made solely from environment-friendly material. Each themed with a different solution to global warming, the exhibit literally takes the climate change message to the streets. It goes beyond merely beautifying the Chicago lakefront; Cool Globes actually educates those taking in these awesome replicas of Planet Earth. Each is designed with symbols and messages about global warming and what every individual can do at home and work to help effect change.

Designed by noteworthy artists in Chicago and beyond, the Cool Globes primarily are displayed along the picturesque stretch of land between two world-class attractions: The Field Museum and Navy Pier. In addition, 200 mini-globes are displayed around town, designed by the likes of documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and Senator Barack Obama.

The exhibit's goals are to provoke discussion about the threat of global warming and promote simple habits that individuals can adapt to help protect the planet. Based on the record number of Chicago residents and tourists visiting the outdoor exhibit, the message is well being communicated.

Cool Globes also showcases the sustainability efforts of leading companies and aims to encourage other businesses to conserve energy. The City of Chicago has demonstrated special leadership in this area. In particular, Mayor Richard M. Daley has garnered a fine reputation over the years for bringing about environment-friendly construction and more among companies that may not previously have prioritized the issue.

Cool Globes' participating artists were selected by a jury of area dignitaries, based on renderings they submitted for the honor. Selectees then were sent a plain, white sphere measuring five-feet in diameter to decorate. The artists used a plethora of recyclable or environmentally-sound material such as bottle caps, seed packets, snapshots of flora from around the world, stainless steel, yarn, rusted sheet metal, and wood.

Cool Globes continues through September 2007. At exhibit end, the Cool Globes will be auctioned to benefit non-profit organizations dedicated to curbing the effects of global warming.

35 Cool Tips being promoted in the initiative include these easy-to-implement actions:
• Use less hot water
• Go fluorescent with home lighting
• Bring your own bags to the grocery store
• Buy more fresh foods, not energy-zapping frozens
• Walk, bike, carpool or take mass transit more frequently
• Unplug electronics such as televisions, computers, cell phone rechargers when not in use

Professional Artists and Their Works Include:
• Jim Dine, "Ride a Bike"
• Gregory "Mr. Imagination" Warmack, "Buy Recycled"
• Andrea Harris, "Facing the Earth"
• Christopher Campagna, "Atlas: The World is in Our Hands"
• Mirjana Ugrinov, "Drop by Drop"
• Carlos E. Jimenez, "Heal the Earth: Plant a Tree"
• Beth Shadur, " Seventh Generation"
• Micki LeMieux, "Global Reflection"

Mother Earth's Little Helper
Wendy Abrams, an environmental activist and marketer, is the visionary behind CoolGlobes. A native of Highland Park, Ill., Abrams says she grew concerned and active in 2001, when the U.S. backed away from the Kyoto Treaty and had no climate change initiatives to replace it. Her frustration led to spend time in Washington and Montreal, attending various conferences where she was able to network with and support others involved in bringing awareness to the issue.

"I also met with Michael Oppenheimer of Princeton University six years ago about climate change," Abrams says. "And as alarming as the science was at that time, it's frightening that things are deteriorating even faster than predicted."

Abrams views former Vice President Al Gore's leadership on the issue, including the recent Live Earth concerts, as terrific. "But given the reality of the science," she adds, "the public isn't proportionately concerned."

A Model City Takes Action
CoolGlobes was launched in Chicago because of the City's track record of promoting environmentally sound policies, including:
• Adding hybrid buses to the mass transit system
• Building "green" libraries, schools and police stations
• The Bike 2015 initiative

The City of Chicago first drew attention to its greening efforts a lush garden was planted on the rooftop of City Hall. Now, businesses from Wal-Mart to McDonald's are doing the same, which earns them financial support and other consideration from the City. In fact, the City of Chicago has planted or negotiated the construction of over 2 million square feet of rooftop gardens, exceeding similar efforts by all other U.S. cities combined.

Cool Globe's Sponsors Include:
• Toyota
• McDonald's
• BP
• Walgreens
• Whole Foods
• Exelon
• Ford
• Abbott Laboratories

Chicagoland youth also are playing a prominent role in Cool Globes. For example, Wendy Abrams' 12-year-old daughter, Emily, created one of the most talked-about globes, which features drawings submitted by children from around the world. And student-artists involved in the Gallery 37 after-school arts program designed 40 of the mini-globes.

To involve other children in the global warming initiative, CoolGlobes.com offers kids' fun lessons for creating paper mache globes. In addition, a downloadable activity sheet is available.

More Must-see Links:

* Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel and Senator Dick Durbin Oppose BP Permit re: Lake Michigan

* The Greening of Chicago at Time.com

* Outdoor Illinois magazine's Greening of Chicago PDF with photos

* California Climate Change Portal

* Climate Change at Wikipedia

* Great Lakes Information Network

* Chicago Beach Closings at Chicago Tribune