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RCGA
and Missouri Coalition for the Environment to Host Environmental
Summit--April 14th at Monsanto Research Center at Missouri
Botanical Garden
As part of
the April "St. Louis Earth Day 2000" celebration, the RCGA and
the Missouri Coalition will be hosting an environmental conference.
The half day event will feature discussion with Natural Capitalism
author, Hunter Lovins, of the Rocky Mountain Institute, as
well as a panel of speakers representing several local companies
that have incorporated "environmentally-friendly" business practices
in their respective operations.
The
speakers will focus on efficiencies and economies derived from
alternative approaches to manufacturing processes, new technologies,
marketing and sales strategies and financial/natural resource
management. Presentations will be focused on the practical, using
Lovins' book as a conceptual base. Applications of many of the
principles discussed in Natural Capitalism have been in
practice at many St. Louis firms for more than a dozen years.
In
addition to the April 14th "summit," this year's Earth
Day Celebration will also feature a series of workshops, targeted
at public and private participants alike, that will address regional
environmental issues, including air quality management, waste
reduction/recycling, energy conservation/efficiency and brownfield
redevelopment. As is illustrated by the recent implementation
of new clean air programs--enhanced auto inspections and reformulated
gasoline--regional environmental management is now directly impacting
the St. Louis region. These forums are intended to provide an
opportunity for both education and dialogue amongst all stakeholder
groups.
Historically,
"Earth Day" has consisted of a variety of events at a single venue,
with messages tailored to predominantly young audiences. The Earth
Day 2000 event is scheduled to be held at a variety of venues
throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area, including Forest Park,
Saint Louis Zoo, Botanical Garden, History Museum, Art Museum
and several locations in St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson
Counties, throughout the month of April. While many of these events
are still aimed at younger audiences, the summit and the workshops
have been added this year to engage an adult audience on a more
substantive basis.
For
more information about the Earth Day 2000 events, call 314/962-5838
or e-mail earthdaystl@aol.com. For more information about regional
environmental issues, which are part of the RCGA's 2000 Environmental
agenda, please contact Michael Alesandrini, RCGA director of Environmental
Affairs, at 314/444-1144, e-mail at drini@stlrcga.org or check
the RCGA website at www.stlrcga.org.
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