Wisdom in Wilderness: The Poetic Vision of Mary Oliver, a Spirit of Place kayaking trip retreat

Kayaking 40 miles along the shores of Lake Superior coastline

August 3-7, 2009

Cost: $850 (Limited to 10 persons)

Interfaith kayaking trip along 40 miles of Lake Superior shoreline, while reading journals of 16th Century Jesuit Missionaries to the Ojibwa tribe; discussions of spirituality and nature; hearty meals including smoked fish and homemade bread; Lodging in an Historic Inn and rustic lakeside cabins.

Facilitators: Rev. John Magnuson & Rev. Lee Goodwin

Retreat #2

God and the Bomb

Science, Faith and the Future of Nuclear Technology

Nov. 12-15, 2009

Pecos Benedictine Monastery, New Mexico

(20 miles north of Santa Fe and 60 miles from Los Alamos)

Historical perspectives on the development of the Atomic Bomb

Small group dialogues on the faith and science with psycho-social insights on the challenge of nuclear technology

Prayers and reflection with members of the Benedictine Community

Ethical considerations for the promise and threat of nuclear energy

Afternoons in Santa Fe and at the Los Alamos National Laboratory with daily hikes in the Sangre de Christo Mountains.

Presenters:

Larry Rasmussen, PhD., Reinhold Niebuhr Professor Emeritus of Social Ethics, Union Theological Seminary

Robert Kraus, PhD., Deputy Director of Research and Development, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Facilitator:
Rev. Jon Magnuson, Director, nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute,

Cost: $850
Limited to 12 persons

Registration Deadline: September 1, 2009

Requires a $250 deposit

Links:

Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute presents: Lake Superior "Wisdom in Wilderness" Spirit of Place Kayak trip

Word Press story on Kayak retreat

Current TV link on Kayak Retreat

Current TV Link #2 on Kayak Retreat

Both 2009 Spirit of Place events:

http://earthkeeperinitiative.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/godandthebomblosalamoslab-2

Poet Mary Oliver on Wikipedia

Pet Mary Oliver on Poets.org

This is the sixth of seven EarthKeeping columns that were published in numerous Upper Peninsula newspapers about the 2009 EarthKeeper Tree Project. During the first two weeks of May, 12,000 trees were planted in all corners of northern Michigan and one town in Wisconsin.

By Kyra L. Fillmore, Catholic EarthKeeper team member and organized the distribution of 12,000 trees

Every year, spring seems like a miracle to me. Long months of cold weather had started to create some discontent and cabin fever within the four walls of our small home but on May 3 the open air and smell of earth had my three children smiling happily and laughing.

My kids, with trowels in hands dug a small hole and planted our “newborn”(my daughter’s word for our red pine seedling). There was a tiny squabble as to who would get to pour the water, but a quick compromise was met as both my 4 and 7 year old tipped the bucket together. Then they quietly, and reverently began to place stones around the base of the tree, “for protection,” my 7-year-old explained.

Kyra and Tim Fillmore's children, left to right, Jack, 7; Eileen, 4; and the baby Llewellyn. (Photo by Kyra Filllmore)

My family was not the only one to plant a tree last week. People from over 100 faith communities in all counties of the Upper Peninsula and even into Wisconsin took part in the EarthKeeper Tree Project, an interfaith initiative to plant 12,000 red pine seedlings with help from faith communities and organizations throughout the U.P.

Thank you to the Bishops and faith leaders of ten denominations, the Superior Watershed Partnership, the Cedar Tree Institute, the local conservation districts, and the hundreds of pastors and lay people who volunteered time and commitment to make this project happen. It took a lot of hard work and some faith in each other, but we did it.

After our tree was planted, my kids wanted to plant more. The spring winds and warm sunshine kept us outside most of the day, My husband brought out the small pepper, onion and tomato shoots that had been started indoors and we talked about how nice they would all taste in late summer salads.

The miracle of planting a seed and watching it grow into something beautiful, something nourishing had begun in our backyard.

Its because of hard work and faith that EarthKeepers has seen many seeds come to fruit over the years, household hazardous waste, e-waste and pharmaceutical collections, education on wise energy use and protection of Upper Peninsula rivers and streams.

Next year one of our hopes is to launch the Interfaith Garden Initiative, bringing folks together to plant seeds of faith whether it be to fill food pantries with fresh vegetables, offer places of solace to pray and meditate or places of serenity to promote healing. Just as a small tree seedling can bring a family together on a spring day, a community garden can allow folks from all religions and walks of life to come together to experience the mystery of the cycle of life.

Maybe it can allow us to grow a little closer with each other and give us time to marvel at the beauty around us. Maybe it can offer food and peace to those less fortunate. Maybe it will allow us to see miracles.

I will leave you with this vision of people planting trees and vegetables and flowers, of laughter and cooperation, of warm sun and dark earth. I’ll plant this seed…..and have a little faith.

By Kyra L. Fillmore, Catholic EarthKeeper team member and U.P. tree distribution coordinator

Editors Note:

This is the sixth in a series of seven columns being published in northern Michigan newspapers about the 2009 Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper Tree project.

During the first two week of May 2009, over 12,000 trees were planted across the U.P. thanks to thousands of northern Michigan residents from over 100 churches and temples.

Officially called the EarthKeeper "communications coordinator for faith communities," Kyra Fillmore organized the distribution of the 12,000 trees to the 100 churches and temples. This was not an easy task.

With three young children vying for her attention, Kyra stayed calm as her phone rang off the hook each day for weeks. Kyra's children helped plant some of the trees and she made sure they were always first.

Her husband, Tim, was supportive and kept his cool even though their home must not have had a quiet moment for several weeks. Krya will tell you her faith gave her the strength to take care of a family and a huge project.

The project ran smoothly because of Kyra's ability to juggle 12,004 things at one time.

Thank you Kyra.

This is the fifth of seven EarthKeeper columns being printed in northern Michigan newspapers about the planting of 12,000 trees across the Upper Peninsula. The trees were planted during the first two weeks of May 2009

By Rev. Jon Magnuson, EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder, campus pastor for Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northern Michigan University and the executive director of the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI

Sunday May 3, 2009 marked an historic moment for the interfaith community in Northern Michigan. Blessed by hymns and prayers, in three hours 12,000 trees were gently planted in yards, wetlands, on church properties, at campgrounds and cutover timberlands in all fifteen counties of the Upper Peninsula.

Thousands of volunteers from over a hundred faith communities representing ten religious traditions joined together in an unprecedented sign of hope and promise. Stories continue to be gathered celebrating this collaborative effort in our neighborhoods, villages, and cities.

A priest from a nearby Roman Catholic parish marked the day by reverently placing a small seedling in the hands of children receiving their first communion.

A rainbow formed an arc over a tiny Presbyterian church in Sagola as volunteers prepared dozens of trees for distribution in the community.

In a Lutheran parking lot, a Jewish physician blessed a dozen trees as he prepared to bring them back for planting near his Synagogue.

On that same Sunday, during an early afternoon potluck, a single small tree was presented to the only son of a soon to be ordained Methodist pastor, a single mother, to be planted next to a parsonage.

During a prior Saturday night evening service in my own community, I watched a steady stream of elders, some with canes, many worn and bent by life's hard journey, approach an altar at the close of the service to carry small seedlings back to their homes and apartments for planting.

Environmental challenges, globally and locally, that face us are inviting levels of response and collaboration that many of us have never witnessed in our lifetime. It's actually a time of great promise.

With support of our churches and quiet generous supporters, the interfaith EarthKeeper Initiative will continue its hands-on work alongside environmental groups to build a more sustainable and just world as part of this landscape we have come to call home.

Every generation faces forces of cynicism and despair. Ours is no exception. When it comes to emotional and physical health, there's plenty of increasing, frightening evidence about the negative impacts of pollution, economic stress and the consequences of failed environmental regulation.

In the 16th century, the protestant reformer Martin Luther was once asked what he would do if he knew the world would end tomorrow. His answer still rings across the centuries. It's been said that Luther paused, and thoughtfully responded, "I would plant a tree."

We have lived out, one recent afternoon, such a bold sign of hopeful defiance.

The EarthKeeper Initiative is a collaborative effort of ten traditions: Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, Zen Buddist, Quakers.

Kyra Fillmore services as Communications Coordinator.

Chairs of the EarthKeeping Vision Council are Paul Lehmberg and Gail Griffith.

Greg Peterson serves as media specialist.

The Cedar Tree Institute and The Superior Watershed Partnership, both Marquette-based nonprofits, continue to provide counsel and logistical support.

This column was written by Rev. Jon Magnuson, EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder

Presbyterian EarthKeeper Jill Martin of Ford River Township in Delta County writes the fourth of seven columns about the environment and the interfaith U.P. EarthKeeper Tree Project involving the planting of 12,000 trees across the Upper Peninsula

By Jill Martin, Presbyterian EarthKeeper team member, environmental scientist with Wilcox Professional Services in Escanaba, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Escanaba

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein comes to mind this year as the Earthkeeper's work to plant 12,000 trees across the U.P. If Mr. Silverstein were writing this book today, would he include other things the tree could give the little boy?

This book published in 1964 is a lesson in how the natural world contributes to humans in spirit, in basic needs, and in economic growth. In the twilight of the little boy's life, nature cycles back to give him rest and comfort.

The tree gives the little boy now an old man, a place to sit on its stump which is the only spiritual and creature comfort he needed. The tree sustains the life cycle needs of the boy and yet it ends on a very human note – "the tree was happy." Is this happy ending from 1964 still viable?

The problem as I see it is the math. It seems like it might take far more than one tree per person on the planet to sustain our recent rates of economic growth.

Last fall, I heard a radio report about work that NASA does where they look back to earth snapping pictures of the forests over time. This got one curious researcher, Nalini Nadkarni interested in determining the number of trees on the planet and the ratio of trees to humans (Going Out On A Limb With A Tree Person Ratio).

Turns out there are over 400 billion trees on the planet. At the time of this work a simple math exercise involving the number of trees on the planet divided by the number of people on the planet equals 61 trees per person. The story went on to say that while not everyone uses that many trees in a lifetime, some use more and some use less. This depends on where you live and the resources available to you and the prosperity and economic model of your culture.

The report also talked about all the ways wood products are used, but it did not mention the ecological contributions such as species preservation, biodiversity, habitat, water quality contributions, soil amendments, and as we are learning now, the contribution toward stabilizing global climate change.

Forests contribute a significant role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a major greenhouse gas. In the process, carbon is sequestered in the tree over the life of the tree typically referred to as a carbon "sink". The carbon stored in a tree is limited when the tree reaches maturity and then the "sink" is full.

When trees are cut down, they are mostly put into manufacturing processes that then release carbon dioxide by producing the wood products we consume. Now the key here is keeping the forest stocks greater than the use to let trees do their natural thing by removing carbon dioxide.

In the tropical forest, each year, about 1.5 billion tons of stored carbon is converted by deforestation into about 6 billion tons of carbon dioxide, and emitted into the atmosphere. Thus, although the stock of tropical forest carbon is very large, and only about 0.5% of it flows from forest to atmosphere annually this flow into the atmosphere is what matters for global warming (Union of Concerned Scientist ).

So keeping a large forest stock and reducing our demand for consumption of forest products beyond what the forest can assimilate will help in reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

Earthkeepers have been active over the past couple years in nudging us to reduce our carbon footprint. In partnership with the Superior Watershed Partnership and the Cedar Tree Institute they have been advocating life style changes to reduce carbon emissions through conservation practices and reduced consumption of goods and services that either contributes directly or indirectly in carbon emissions.

Last year (2008), over 3 million pounds of carbon emissions were reduced through conservation activities in one month alone by undertaking activities on a checklist. This year planting 12,000 trees are estimated to capture 3 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

That amounts to approximately 150 million pounds of captured carbon dioxide, assuming the trees live 50 -100 years after being planted.

So, is the happy ending portrayed in Mr. Silverstein's 1964 book still viable? I would argue yes! As a global community, we need to act locally. I tend to agree with Professor Nadkarni, "I don't want people to feel guilty about their relationships with trees. We may be falling behind in our tree count, but it's not only possible, it's deeply appealing, to go out into the woods or the backyard or the hillside with a seed and a shovel and repair the damage."

This year, put your faith to work and act locally with your friends and neighbors, plant some trees.

Editor's note:

This is the fourth of seven columns about the environment and the interfaith 2009 U.P. EarthKeeper Tree Project. The column was written by Presbyterian EarthKeeper Jill Martin of Ford River Township in Delta County.

The EarthKeepers planted 12,000 trees across the Upper Peninsula during the first two weeks of May 2009 thanks to thousands of volunteers and over 100 churches/temples.

Raging forest fires underline importance of planting trees

Earth Day 2009: First tree planted and blessed by northern Michigan bishops and faith leaders on Earth Day 2009 near shores of Lake Superior at Presque Isle in Marquette (Marquette, Michigan) - Northern Michigan residents planted more than 12,000 trees in early May across a 400-mile area of the Upper Peninsula and in northern Wisconsin during the 2009 interfaith EarthKeeper Tree Project. White Spruce and Red Pine seedlings measuring 12 to 16 inches tall were given to over 100 churches and temples in all 15 Upper Peninsula (U.P.) counties and Minocqua, WI, said Catholic EarthKeeper Kyra Fillmore of Marquette, the project distribution coordinator. "We hope these trees grow strong and tall," Fillmore said. EarthKeeper volunteers planted the 12,000 trees by homes, camps, parks, American Indian reservations and many other places with help from hundreds of chilren ranging in age from two-years-old to twenty-two. In a tragic irony, within hours of the last trees being planted two raging forest fires erupted in Marquette and Alger counties. In Marquette County, 33 structures were destroyed including 12 homes. In Baraga County, an EarthKeeper tree planter was preparing to bury a cousin at the Pinery Cemetery when the wildfire ripped through the Native American cemetery destroying 45 spirit houses. Fortunately there were no deaths or serious injuries reported. Untold thousands and thousands of trees were burned in the forest fires. The fires underline the need for people to plant trees and remove dead underbrush from around your home. "My kids and I had a great time packing trees and planting trees," said Carl Lindquist, who has a son Nels, 13, and a daughter Ingrid, 11, and is executive director of the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership in Marquette. "I think everyone likes to feel like they are part of something much bigger than they are." The EarthKeeper team includes ten faith traditions with over 150 participating churches/temples (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, Zen Buddist, Quakers), plus the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership, the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute, and the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team. Three Native American sisters and their mom volunteered at the Marquette tree distribution center. The girls planted trees behind their Gwinn, MI home hoping to attract more wildlife to what has turned into a nature preserve of sorts with a wide variety of wild animals and birds. "We've decided to do a wildlife sanctuary in our backyard because we already have deer and many other animals come," said Pamella Vincent, 17, a senior at Gwinn High School. "It will be really cool to see different animals come because of the trees." In the eight-acre area, "we already have Sand Hill Cranes, and deer and coyotes there, so we are trying to get more animals to come," said Paige Vincent, 14, an eighth grader at Gwinn Middle School. The youngest sister, Gilbert Elementary School sixth grader Paula Vincent, 12, said she has spotted cranes and "had popcorn in my hand and a crow came to eat out of my hand. The Vincent family are members of St. James the Less Episcopal Church in Harvey, MI. The girl’s mom Theresa Vincent said her great-grandpa was a Cherokee chief in Maryland who was joined by other relatives in walking the "Trail of Tears" into the Appalachian foothills. Vincent said she has taught her daughters about the respect Native Americans have for the land and wildlife. "We're here to help keep the earth green and the trees are important," Theresa Vincent said. The family believes it's important to "keep in touch with Mother Earth" in ways that include "recycling, reducing (energy consumption) and reusing" manmade products. The sisters said Americans Indians have always respected the environment. "It's always been tradition for natives that if you take something away from the earth, you have to give it back - or give a blessing - so normally we would give tobacco or (in this case) plant trees," Paige Vincent said. "We're planting trees to give back to Mother Nature." The trees were purchased or donated by the U.P. EarthKeeper team, Superior Watershed Partnership, Holli Forest Products, the Forestland Group, Plum Creek Timber Company and Meister's Greenhouses. Some groups and individuals have donated money to help the tree project including Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Western U.P. Chapter 30918 in Ironwood, MI. The EarthKeepers is "focused on how the faith communities can work together" despite theological differences, said Northern Great Lakes Synod Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes. "Religious differences are a huge factor in many parts of life and certainly there are big differences between different religious communities," said Bishop Skrenes, the head of 94 U.P. Lutheran congregations with 40,000 members. Skrenes asked "where is it that we can find ways to work together?" "Nature is one of those places and EarthKeepers has provided us the opportunity to again renew our relationship with people who are very different in some ways and yet very similar," said Skrenes, an original signer of the EarthKeeper Covenant. Volunteer Johnny Bryant delivered 3,000 seedlings - one fourth of the entire planting effort - from a Marquette warehouse to Messiah Lutheran Church that served as the Marquette County distribution center for 25 churches and temples. In a parking lot of the Marquette distribution center, the trees were blessed by numerous other faith traditions as the seedlings were picked up including a Catholic and Jewish blessing. After speaking in Hebrew, Dr. Michael Grossman, a member an Ishpeming Synagogue, translated what he had said into English and explained some of the Jewish beliefs about protecting the environment. "We have blessings for everything in Judaism, so I just blessed the trees," said Grossman, a member of Temple Beth Sholom in Ishpeming. "We are grateful to God for bringing trees from the earth - when we eat we bless the bread - when we drink wine we bless the fruit." "Trees are symbolic of life," Grossman said. "Trees are very important in Judaism as I am sure they are important to all faith traditions." Grossman then planted the trees at several locations in west Marquette County and in the city of Negaunee with help from two employees from his office. "We jumped at the chance to help plant the trees," said Rachel Riley, 25, hile standing next to fellow volunteer Kim McCarthy, 35, both of Negaunee. After the long winter, "I've been meaning to get out and do some work." Gail Griffith of Marquette, the EarthKeeper Implementation Team co-chair, brought trees to her congregation at the Marquette Unitarian Universalist Church (MUUC). The MUUC planted seedlings in a Memorial Garden on their property near Harvey, MI and other trees as a future noise buffer to the heavy M-28 traffic that passes by their meeting house. The MUUC donated some of their trees to youth projects including 30 seedlings to a 4-H group. ‘We had a blessing of the trees as part of our service," Griffith said. Powell Township students (above) in the first through fourth grades planted about 30 seeedlings donated by the UU congregation. In Big Bay, MI, the first through fourth graders at Powell Township Schools planted about 30 of the UU trees at several locations including in the schoolyard and at near-by Perkins Park. “The students really took on a great deal of empathy for the trees - they carefully placed them in the holes, tucked the dirt around, created moats, stood up the sticks,” said teacher Kathy Wright. “Most kids visit their trees faithfully, sometimes leaving little special rocks or giving the trees and extra drink.” The students and teachers “thank the Unitarian Universalist congregation for the opportunity to connect with our Mother Earth, and for the vehicle to teach our kids about the value of trees and earth stewardship,” Wright said. MUUC member Nancy Irish the planting was more fun than work. "We were digging and watering," Irish said. "We talked about how big they would be 20 years from now, and how we might drive by and remember the day that 12,000 trees were planted all across the U.P." Northern Michigan Quakers planted approximately 50 trees during the EarthKeeper project. The Lake Superior Friends is one of two U.P. Quaker groups in northern Michigan (the other is Keweenaw Friends Meeting in Houghton). David McCowen of Lake Superior Friends said at one of their recent meetings a seven-year-old girl said planting trees is one way to respect the planet. "I think it is important to help the earth by planting trees, because it is giving and good for the earth," the youngster said. In accordance with their religion, the Quakers quietly support the EarthKeepers and seldom publicly discuss their daily actions that show respect for the earth, wildlife and people, McCowen said. One of the basic testimonials of the Quakers is "Simplicity of Living," McCowen said. "A modern outgrowth of that testimonial is care for the environment." "Being planters of the trees helps us personally take part in continuing that creation," McCowen said. "Here in the UP it is easy to take trees for granted, but trees are a major part of the surroundings that we love." "The technical benefits of trees are well known: carbon sequestration, sound buffers, wind breaks, wildlife habitat, fuel source, cellulose fiber source," McCowen said. "But faith communities have the privilege and responsibility of unselfishly considering the natural environment as being inherently desirable." Lake Superior Friends Meeting member Jim Smit of Harvey said that "stewardship of the earth finds its roots in the biblical account of creation." "Adam's job was to cultivate a garden filled with beautiful trees that produced good fruit," Smit said. "Six times in the creation story the writer pauses to say that God looked at what he had made, and behold, it was very good," Smit said, adding "the implication is that we are meant to celebrate the earth and protect it." Smit said an example of Quaker views on the environment was explained during the Faith and Practice book written based on the North Pacific Yearly Meeting that reads in part: "We are obliged to cherish the earth, and to protect all its resources in a spirit of humble stewardship, committed to the right sharing of these resources among people everywhere." "Friends use questions or queries to approach issues of faith, implying that each of us is a seeker after truth," Smit said. The Faith and Practice book from the Friends' (Quaker's) 1972 Philadelphia Yearly Meeting questioned human impact on the environment: "Are you concerned that our increasing power over nature should not be used irresponsibly but with reverence for life and with a sense of the splendor of God's continuing creation?" McCowen said passages in the Bible books of Genesis, Isaiah and Leviticus reflect the Quaker view on nature, land and the Earth: "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." - Genesis 1:31 "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." - Isaiah 55:12 "Your land must not be sold on a permanent basis, because you do not own it; it belongs to God, and you are like foreigners who are allowed to make use of it." - Leviticus 25:23 In Chocolay Township, seven-year-old Isabelle Gostomski was dressed in her finest Sunday dress as she and her father planted a seedling in their front yard. "I got it from church and it's a tree - today was my first communion and I got this for a present." said Gostomski, the daughter of Jennifer and Greg Gostomski. The family attends St. Louis the King parish in Harvey, MI. Several faith leaders gave examples how the tree is used in religion in both a literal way and in a figurative way as in the "tree of life." Whiling hosting a planting party on a Bahá`í holy day, Steve Lockwood showed the amateur foresters "some trees that he planted that are twenty years old and they were a lot taller than me," said Eve McCowen, 12, about her fourth participation in a hands-on EarthKeeper environment project. 12-year-old Eve McCowen of Marquette, a veteran of several EarthKeeper projects, helps plant trees. (Photo by Dennis McCowen) "I knew they (the seedlings) might be really big trees in 20 years," said the home-schooled sixth grader who is more active in community projects than many of her public school peers including Girl Scouts, piano, cross-country skiing, being in the outdoors and always the enthusiastic Earth Keeper volunteer. She is the daughter of Dennis and Lisa McCowen of Marquette, MI. Eve remembers well being a nine-year-old unloading cars and stacking broken computers almost a big as she was during the 2006 EarthKeeper Electronic (e-waste) Clean Sweep that garnered over 320 tons of e-waste across the Upper Peninsula. The next year Eve dumped countless bags of old medicines and personal products like shampoo into the proper containers during the 2007 Earth Keeper Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep that saw over one ton of pills turned in by northern Michigan residents. The e-waste was recycled and the pharmaceuticals destroyed using EPA guidelines to ensure the medicines were not flushed only to end up in America's drinking water. The Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá`ís of Marquette are among the congregations of over 100 churches and temples from ten faith traditions who planted 12,000 trees across 400 miles of northern Michigan during early May 2009. "If we cut down all the trees there wont be any more trees," Eve McCowen said. "The animals can't live in nests in trees if there are no trees." Bahá`ís took turns using a heavy steel rod to poke planting holes in the soil and planted the seedlings," she said. "After we put the tree in the ground and we put dirt around it." Eve said she realized that logging was necessary to provide paper for schools and wood to build homes, but added "some people just have fun cutting down tree." If you cut down a tree you have to replace a tree," she said. "When you breathe we get oxygen from the trees and the trees pick up your carbon dioxide and turns it into oxygen." Trees and the environment are much more than a cause to Bahá`ís because "this world and nature is the embodiment of the name of God, the creator, the maker," said Marquette Bahá`í local chair Dr. Rodney Clarken while explaining the Bahá`í faith to NMU students during the "Sacred Planet" series sponsored by the NMU Earth Keeper Student Team. "When we look at nature, we see the name of God reflected in all of God's creation - but in nature particularly we see that image of God in the same way we see the image of God in the human being," Clarken told the students. There are about 40 Bahá'ís in the Marquette area, 144,000 in the United States and six million around the world, said Clarken, the director of the NMU School of Education, associate dean of Teacher Education and professor. Rev. Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, a Soto Zen Buddhist priest, told the NMU Sacred Planet forum how 2,500 years ago "the Buddha sat under a tree" called the Bodhi Tree until he discovered "the root of suffering - and how to rid one's self of suffering." "The leaf of the Bodhi Tree is one of the symbols of Buddhism, said Lehmberg, head priest of Lake Superior Zendo, a Zen Buddhist temple in Marquette, MI. "It's shaped a little bit like a poplar leaf but it's got kind of a little tail - like a heart with a tail." "It's said the descendants of this Bodhi Tree are still alive, probably because we want them to be alive. We want this connection between us and the Buddha 2,500 years ago," said Lehmberg, who is also an English professor at Northern Michigan University. "The natural world is very important in Buddhism, particularly in Zen," said Lehmberg, the co-chair of the EarthKeeper Implementation Team. Rev. Lehmberg told the forum a story about Dogen, a Japanese Monk who founded Zen Buddhism in the Thirteenth Century. "When Dogen would dip water from a stream or a well to drink, he would always pour half of it back," Lehmberg said. "He would pour half of it back as a sign of respect for the natural world, as a symbol that he is a part of the natural world and must treat that natural world with great care." Lehmberg said that "Lake Superior Zendo was honored to once again participate with other EarthKeeper congregations in this important work." "We must - we absolutely must - care for mother earth," Lehmberg said. "Human life, literally and figuratively, is inseparable from mother earth," Lehmberg said. "We are inextricably threaded to her - in caring for her, we care for ourselves." Negaunee Township resident Ronald Heikkila spent several days this week planting 31 red pine seedlings around his home. "What you do is to try not to get roots in their," Heikkila said while planting tree number seven. "Look at all the nightcrawlers," Heikkila said "I can't believe the quality of this soil - if you wanted to go fishing here would be the place to come." "I am going to get some good topsoil and put it in their - and if it rains a little bit, it's going to settle the soil," said Heikkila, his hands covered in black dirt. On Sunday (May 3), eight Copper Country residents including two elementary school children, planted 12 trees in the 16-acre Calumet Township Waterworks Park on the shores of Lake Superior. "We received permission from the Calumet township supervisor, Paul Lehto, to plant the trees," said Susan Rokicki. "We gave three (seedlings) to township treasurer, Debra Aubin, to plant in her yard." "We supported the trees with sticks to keep them visible and safe," Rokicki said. "We will return from time to time to see if our dozen need anything." A natural fit with the interfaith EarthKeepers, some of the planters are members of Soka Gakkai International (SGI) Buddhist Network's Copper Range district. The three SGI members are Susan Rokicki, Jorge Kurita and Jean Larson; plus friends Margo McCafferty-Rudd, Joseph Mihal and Maureen Tobin, and children Max Rudd and Rebecca Naumenko. The SGI Buddhist network "actively promotes peace, culture and education through personal transformation and social responsibility, originating in Japan," said Rokicki, who is restoring a Norwegian Lutheran Church in Calumet and is a Lutheran church pianist/organist. "We are one of the originators of the Earth Charter and the act of planting and dedicating trees is embedded in our tradition," Rokicki said. In Sault Ste. Marie, Father Bob Aldrich blessed seedlings at the St. James Episcopal Church. Some of the trees were planted in front of the church by by Father Aldrich with help from Rev. Larry Rice, deacon; and sexton David Cook, said Pam Briglio, the St. James office administrator. In Escanaba, MI EarthKeeper volunteers - from the First Presbyterian Church and the Central United Methodist Church - separated and bagged 1,000 trees. In Cornell, 100 red pines were planted Wednesday night (May 6) at a camp about 12 miles from Escanaba owned by Paul and Denise DeHaan, who are members of the First Presbyterian Church in Escanaba. "We planted approximately 100 trees on an area of clear cut land," said Presbyterian Earth Keeper Jill Martin of Ford River Township. & Paul DeHann said his daughter Maggie "will remember planting these trees and come out here as an adult to see them quite a bit bigger." DeHann gave strict instructions his daughter that the planted area would now be off limits to ORVs because the trees needed protection to grow. Jill and her husband Hal Martin then walked along the Ford River to check out the water levels. A member of First Presbyterian Church in Escanaba, Martin said on May 3 children at her church "planted three trees into planters in the sanctuary." Martin said a young girl jumped over a planted seedling so that when the tree was big she could say: "I jumped over that tree." "The message was that seedlings are like child trees, when we plant them, we nurture them and watch them grow up to be big and we love the kids and trees like crazy," Martin said. "Many people told me they were going straight out to camp or the farm to plant the trees," Martin said. A Presbyterian member of the EarthKeeper team, Martin said the project made her feel "like the tree lady this year." Martin said Monday (May 4) a young man playing tennis shouted out: "Hey, I planted my trees." "Many people paused in thought when I suggested that a Red Pine could live 400 years," said Martin, an environmental scientist with Wilcox Professional Services in Escanaba. "It is a wonderful feeling when you know that 400 years into the future this simple act in God's creation could still be here as testament to our faith." In Marquette, Lutheran Pastor Tim Bernard blessed the same group of trees three times on Sunday (May 3) during two services at Messiah Lutheran Church and one service at St. Mark's Lutheran Church. "These trees have been blessed three times which is a very Trinitarian number - they will grow profusely and abundantly," Rev. Bernard joked at the final service evoking laughter from the congregation. Dozens of second grade children ages 7 and 8 spent the week planting seedlings they were given Saturday (May 2) during a rehearsal of their first communion the next day at St. Michael Catholic Church in Marquette. "Dear God, bless these trees in the name of all that is holy and divine - Amen," said Rev. Monsignor John "Jed" E. Jenkins while forming the sign of the cross and sprinkling holy water on the seedlings that were then given to the children. "We sprinkle them with this holy water as a sign of the blessing." Giving trees to the St. Michael students to commemorate their first communion "is sponsored by our Christian Service Committee here at the parish," said Sally Luft of Marquette, a committee member. "The committee sees to the needs of the concerns of our environment and of the needy among us." In Sagola, MI, a rainbow appeared over the Grace Presbyterian Church as about 30 EarthKeeper volunteers spent three hours bagging 1,500 seedlings. The trees were blessed by Rev. David Anderson and then prepared to be delivered or picked up by seven other churches including Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian and a non-EarthKeeper but welcomed congregation - the Mission Covenant Church in Foster City. The Presbyterian and Catholic volunteers in Sagola came in all ages and included three generations of one family. Young children were taught by adults how to properly bag the seedlings and as the night ended the kids scurried around the church picking up pine needles to help with the clean up. Sue Piasini of Sagola said her two-year-old grandson Mason Anderson planted trees at his home in Felch and on Tuesday (May 5) outside her office at the North Dickinson Head Start Center. "Mason put every tree into every whole he was told - he was so cute," Piasini said. "He watered the trees with the watering can." Mason is the son of Fawn and Steve Anderson of Felch. At the North Dickinson Nordic Head Start, students planted trees with help from preschool assistant classroom coordinator Mary Beth Schuiteman of Kingsford, MI and preschool classroom coordinator Sue Piasini. Above photos by Alex Schuiteman Schuiteman is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford. Piasini is a member of the Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola and was coordinator of the distribution of 1,500 trees to churches of several faiths in Dickinson County. Schuiteman is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford. Piasini is a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Sagola and coordinated the distribution of 1,500 trees to numerous churches of various faiths in Dickinson County. A group of volunteers planted several trees in Michigamme, MI at the United Methodist Church Camp Michigamme. Late Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan Bishop James Kelsey was remembered at several events during the tree planting including at the Page Center. One of the bishop's favorite places, the Kelsey Cottage is named in his honor at the recreation and retreat area in Little Lake, MI. Members of the Episcopal Ministry Discernment Team representing the 27 congregations of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan gathered at the center on May 2 “for a time of reflection and fellowship.” Two red pine trees were planted on either side of the main entry to the Kelsey cottage, one seedling was planted in memory of Bishop Kelsey, and the second as symbol of diocese renewal. Members present included Nancy Auer, Judy Britton, Susan Harries, Mary Johnson, Kathy Lenten, Charlie Piper, Rayford Ray, Suzanne Ray, Sharon Stenglein, Mary Sullivan, and Bob Trautman. Bishop Kelsey, one of the founders of the EarthKeepers and the first signer of the interfaith EarthKeeper Covenant, was killed in a June 2007 traffic accident that claimed two lives. "I think he'd try to find a place for a tree in his own yard for one and he'd want to plant one at the Page Center at one at the office," said Jane Cisluycis, Diocesan Operations Coordinator. "He'd be really pleased. Since his mantra was about inclusiveness, the fact that the circle is widening would have been really important to him." Kelsey would be "pleased that the EarthKeepers are getting stronger and continuing and more people are getting involved - it hasn't stopped," said Kathy Lenten a member of the diocese Episcopal Ministry Support Team. The EarthKeeper Tree Project "had people of all ages and faiths working together towards another common goal; improving the Great Lakes environment that we live in," said Lindquist, who co-founded the EarthKeeper Initiative with Rev. Jon Magnuson, the executive director of the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette. "Every EarthKeeper project furthers the long term Great Lakes protection and restoration goals of the Superior Watershed Partnership," Lindquist said. The tree projects fits well with the goals of the Superior Watershed Partnership including its other projects like protecting water quality and preventing erosion, said Natasha Koss, Superior Watershed Partnership development director. Trees are a "symbol of life and they represent something that is living and something we can easily put into the ground," Koss said. Trees are a sign "of how well the environment is doing," said Larry Pagel, Messiah Lutheran Church congregation president. Humans "are connected to the earth through our trees." In addition to providing oxygen, trees have practical benefits like offering recreational opportunities including providing shade on a hot day, said Pagel, an NMU business professor. That simple act of sitting under trees is a uniquely human desire that will be fulfilled for centuries to come because of the planting project, said Bishop Skrenes. "Just think of the people that will sit under these trees, admire these trees, look at these trees and breathe the oxygen produced by these trees - just think of all those people for centuries ahead," Skrenes said. Experts say 12,000 mature trees absorb 3 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually and produce enough oxygen to support 24,000 humans. EarthKeeper background: This is the fifth year that the U.P. EarthKeepers have launched an Earth Day environment project. From 2005-2007, over 15,000 U.P. residents turned in more than 360 tons of household hazardous waste at a dozen collection sites across the U.P. Most of the items were recycled and the remainder was properly disposed under federal guidelines including electronic waste (e-waste) like computers, monitors and printers plus cell phones, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, oil-based paint and vehicle batteries. Last year the EarthKeepers provided a household energy conservation checklist that prevented over 3 million pounds of carbon from being released into the atmosphere, Lindquist said. Related Links: Interfaith EarthKeeper Team Nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute This rainbow appeared late in the day on April 30, 2009 over the Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola as an interfaith group prepared seedlings for planting. It was taken by many as a sign that the 2009 interfaith EarthKeeper Tree Project was a good thing being done by people who care. (Photo by Jessica Schultz) The 2009 Sacred Planet series sponsored by the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper Student Team

Update as rainbow marks start of EarthKeeper Tree Project: Across northern Michigan 12,000 trees bagged, delivery for Sunday, May 3 record planting

Rainbow appears over Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola as volunteers across northern Michigan prepare 12,000 trees for planting by about 100 churches and temples during interfaith Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper Tree Project. (Sagola Photos provided by Jessica Schultz, EarthKeeper volunteer)

Volunteers at the Central United Methodist Church in Escanaba bag and prepare seedlings. (Escanaba photos provided by Jill Martin, Presbyterian EarthKeeper Volunteer)

(Upper Peninsula of Michigan) - Across northern Michigan, 12,000 trees are being delivered to about 100 churches and temples across northern Michigan as the EarthKeeper Tree Project kicks into high gear in preparation for planting at thousands of locations on Sunday, May 3.

On Thursday, April 30 volunteers were bagging the seedlings that are being given to ten faith traditions.

In Sagola, Michigan, a rainbow appeared over the Grace Presbyterian Church as about 30 EarthKeeper volunteers spent three hours bagging 1,500 seedlings.

The trees were blessed by Rev. David Anderson and then prepared to be delivered or picked up by seven other churches including Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian and a non-EarthKeeper but welcomed congregation - the Mission Covenant Church in Foster City.

The Presbyterian and Catholic volunteers in Sagola came in all ages and included three generations of one family. Young children were taught by adults how to properly bag the seedlings and as the night ended the kids scurried around the church picking up pine needles to help with the clean up.

Among those volunteering in Sagola were Marie Anderson, Sue Piasini, Gabriella Schultz, age 3; Chrissy Pringle, Brooke Hesse, Yvonne Schultz, Mary Schuteman, Jeff and Shelia Mott and their children Celia and Medoria Mott; Kassandra Donaldson, Mary Brault, Mara Smith, age 11 and Cameron Schultz, age 6.

EarthKeeper volunteers at Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola, MI prepare 1,500 trees for planting and distribution in Dickinson County as 12,000 trees will be planted by about 100 churches and temples during interfaith Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper Tree Project. (Sagola Photos provided by Jessica Schultz, EarthKeeper volunteer)

EarthKeeper volunteers from the Presbyterian and United Methodist churches in Delta County separated and bagged 1,000 trees on Thursday (April 30) at the Central United Methodist Church in Escanaba.

Bagging was also underway in Marquette and numerous other locations.

Among those bagging trees in Escanaba were First Presbyterian Church members Kathy Christiansen and Jill Martin, plus Central United Methodist Church members Lois Nordin, Rocky Blixt, Bron Harmon, Cat Lindberg and Pat Rogers; all are Escanaba area residents.

Among the Delta County churches participating (followed by the approx. number of trees each will receive) are St. Stephen’s Episcopal, Escanaba (150); Bethany Lutheran, Escanaba (250); First Presbyterian, Escanaba (150); Escanaba Central UMC, Escanaba (150); Trinity Episcopal, Gladstone (150) and Calvary Lutheran, Rapid River (150).

Among the Dickinson County churches participating (followed by city and the approx. number of trees each will receive) are St. Rose Catholic, Channing (180); Zion of Metropolitan Lutheran, Felch (180); Our Saviour Lutheran, Iron Mountain (180); First Presbyterian, Kingsford (180); St. Mary Queen of Peace Catholic, Kingsford (180); Sagola Presbyterian, Sagola (420); and the Felch and Foster City churches including Mission Covenant Church in Foster City (180).

Volunteers at the Central United Methodist Church in Escanaba bag and prepare seedlings. (Escanaba photos provided by Jill Martin, Presbyterian EarthKeeper Volunteer)

EarthKeeper volunteers at Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola, MI prepare 1,500 trees for planting and distribution in Dickinson County as 12,000 trees will be planted by about 100 churches and temples during interfaith Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper Tree Project. (Sagola Photos provided by Jessica Schultz, EarthKeeper volunteer)

Most of the 12,000 12 to 16 inch White Spruce and Red Pine seedlings in the EarthKeeper Tree Project will be planted on Sunday (May 3).

The EarthKeeper co-founders are Carl Lindquist, executive director of the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership, and Rev. Jon Magmuson of Marquette. Magnuson is campus pastor for Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northern Michigan University and executive director of the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette.

The Earth Keeper Implementation Team co-chairs are Gail Griffith, who is a member of Marquette Unitarian Universalist Congregation, and Rev. Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, head priest of Lake Superior Zendo, a Marquette Zen Buddhist Temple.

The EarthKeeper team includes ten faith traditions (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, Zen Buddist, Quakers) with over 150 participating churches/temples, the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP), the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute (CTI), and the NMU EK Student Team.

The trees were purchased or donated by the U.P. EarthKeeper team, SWP, Holli Forest Products, the Forestland Group, Plum Creek Timber Company and Meister's Greenhouses.

Some groups and individuals have donated money to help the tree project including Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Western U.P. Chapter 30918 in Ironwood, Michigan.

Experts say 12,000 mature trees absorb 3 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually and produce enough oxygen to support 24,000 humans.

This is the fifth year that the U.P. EarthKeepers have launched an Earth Day environment project.

From 2005-2007, over 15,000 U.P. residents turned in more than 360 tons of household hazardous waste at a dozen collection sites across the U.P. Most of the items were recycled and the remainder was properly disposed under federal guidelines including electronic waste (e-waste) like computers, monitors and printers plus cell phones, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, oil-based paint and vehicle batteries.
Last year the EarthKeepers provided a household energy conservation checklist that resulted in over 3 million pounds of carbon being.

For details on the tree distribution call Catholic EarthKeeper Kyra Fillmore, the project faith community communications coordinator, at 906-228-2388.

For tree planting information contact the SWP at 906-228-6095.

Related websites:

U.P. EarthKeeper Team

Nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership in Marquette, MI

Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI

The Earth Day 2009 interfaith EarthKeeper Tree Project "Blessing of the Trees" ceremony was held next to the pavillion at Presque Isle, a popular Marquette, Michigan nature area - that is surrounded on three sides by Lake Superior. Faith leaders blessed a three-foot native species white spruce - the first of 12,000 trees to be planted across the Upper Peninsula on May 9 at over 100 churches and temples. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

On Earth Day 2009 near the shores of Lake Superior, northern Michigan bishops and other faith leaders explain the connection between religion and protecting the environment to Marquette reporters including from two TV stations - WBUP/WBKP TV 5&10 and WLUC TV-6 - and two newspapers - the Mining Journal in Marquette and the U.P. Catholic. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

(Marquette, Michigan) - Despite a major snowstorm a day earlier, bishops and leaders from northern Michigan's largest faith communities planted the first of 12,000 trees during an Earth Day ceremony on the shores of Lake Superior.

Standing on a hillside surrounded by huge pine trees two bishops and several other faith leaders blessed a three-foot native species white spruce tree and took turns putting shovels full of dirt into the hole.

With a cold wind blowing and icy waves of Lake Superior crashing in the background, the Earth Day 2009 late afternoon blessing of the trees ceremony was held on Presque Isle - that is surrounded on three sides by the largest freshwater lake on the planet.

The storm dumped up to 20 inches of snow in parts of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, however several weeks of mild weather ensured the ground was not frozen.

Anticipating the cold April weather, organizers earlier decided to plant the rest of the trees on Sunday, May 3 when the weather is more appropriate for planting the 12,000 12-to-16-inch seedlings at numerous locations across northern Michigan including 100 churches and temples.

Superior Watershed Project Executive Director Carl Lindquist explain how his nonprofit organizations has handled some of the technical aspects of the many EarthKeeper projects since 2004. The EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder, Lindquist said EarthKeeping ideas are spreading to other communities. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

The concept of "EarthKeeping goes beyond the Upper Peninsula" because throughout the Great Lakes states "we're having a ripple effect" as people and groups "are replicating the work that the EarthKeepers have done here," said Carl Lindquist, SWP executive director. "They are patterning their events after some of the successful programs we have had here."

Leaders from northern Michigan's largest faith communities gathered in the Presque Isle Pavillion to speak to those gathered for the Earth Day 2009 event.

EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder Rev. Jon Magnuson, the NMU Lutheran Campus Ministry pastor, talks about the effectiveness of faith communities to turn out volunteers for environment projects (Photo by Greg Peterson)

"This is very much a marvelous moment in the life of our work together as faith communities," said Rev. Jon Magnuson, CTI executive director and EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder.

"This is another step in our interfaith work," Magnuson said. "We have found an expression of our faith in very, very hands-on work like this the EarthKeeping Tree Project."

The EarthKeeper team includes ten faith traditions (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, Zen Buddist, Quakers) with over 150 participating churches/temples, the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP), the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute (CTI), and the NMU EK Student Team.

Meanwhile, the next day Thurs., April 23, several EarthKeeper faith leaders spoke about the project and protecting the environment to students at Northern Michigan University.

It was the final of numerous "Sacred Planet" events on campus sponsored by the NMU EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team.

NMU EK leaders Ben Sheelk, speaking above, and Sarah Swanson joined faith leaders for the Earth Day tree blessing, coordinated the Sacred Planet series, and the entire team will help plant the 12,000 trees.

Singing, drums and guitar music were a big part of the final Sacred Planet lecture series at NMU.

Those speaking at NMU were Dr. Michael Grossman of Jewish Temple Beth Sholom in Ishpeming; Rev. Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, head priest of the Zen Buddhist temple Lake Superior Zendo; Catholic EarthKeeper Kyra Fillmore, the project faith community communications coordinator; and Dr. Rodney H. Clarken, chair of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Marquette. (Above photos by Greg Peterson)

The faith leaders spoke to members of the Marquette media inside the Presque isle Pavillion just prior to the tree blessing ceremony.

All humans "are called to be steward's of God's creation - and no matter what faith tradition we come from that responsibility lies with us human creatures," said Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette Bishop Alexander K. Sample.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette Bishop Alexander K. Sample speaks to reporters prior to the tree blessing on Earth Day 2009. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

"Those of us endowed with intelligence and with the ability to choose good and avoid evil," said Bishop Sample, who oversees 94 U.P. parishes and missions with 61,000 members.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette Bishop Alexander K. Sample, pictured center in front of the tree, holds a blue bible he used during the blessing of the trees on Earth Day 2009. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Holding an open bible, Bishop Sample said the book of Revelations "speaks of the life-giving power of water and how the tree draws its life from the water."

Bishop Sample said he grew up in the desert southwest and "didn't see a lot of water" or the "beauty of the forests and trees."

Sample said "I truly thought I had entered paradise" when he moved with his family to the Upper Peninsula at the age of 17.

Northern Great Lakes Synod Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes of Marquette speaks to the media, above, on Earth Day 2009 and a short time later leads a blessing outside, below, for the first of 12,000 trees that the interfaith EarthKeepers will plant across northern Michigan on May 3. (Photos by Greg Peterson)

"This whole movement has focused on how the faith communities can work together to preserve this great gift that we have here in the Upper Peninsula - this great watershed and it's wonderful combination of lakes and streams - and forests everywhere," said Northern Great Lakes Synod Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes.

"Trees cover the earth and trees are part of healing the earth," said Skrenes, the head of 94 U.P. Lutheran congregations with 40,000 members.

The Earth Keeper's ten faith communities have "various ways of doing things and looking at life" but "come together for this important task," said United Methodist Church (UMC) Marquette District Superintendent Grant R. Lobb.

United Methodist Church (UMC) Marquette District Superintendent Grant R. Lobb told the media that the EarthKeeper Tree Project will be planting thousands of gifts for the next generation. (Photos by Greg Peterson)

"We are glad to be part of EarthKeepers," said Lobb, whose district has 8,372 parishioners and 60 northern Michigan congregations.

"Planting a tree is a gift for the next generation and the generation beyond that," Lobb said. "We are going to be giving thousands of gifts for the generations to come."

Reverend Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, the EarthKeeper Implementation Team co-chair, is pictured above talking about the environment and the Zen Buddhist faith.

The head priest for the Lake Superior Zendo temple in Marquette, Lehmberg is pictured below adding soil to the base of the tree, and blessing the tree with folded hands. (Photos by Greg Peterson)

The head priest for Lake Superior Zendo, a Marquette Zen Buddhist Temple, said "the trees - in effect - will be planting us."

"We consider ourselfs very fortunate to be participating with EarthKeepers - if we are going to accomplish anything we (all faiths) need to come together," said Reverend Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, EarthKeeper Implementation Team co-chair.

Baha'is believe that "nature is to be respected and protected as a divine trust for which we all answerable," said Dr. Rodney H. Clarken, chair of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Marquette.

"How great it is to be in this beautiful community of Marquette in these very beautiful surroundings" and "celebrate together with our friends, colleagues and our co-religionists in our various faiths traditions" while "saving and celebrating of God's creation," Clarken said.

There are about 40 Bahá'ís in the Marquette area, 144,000 in the United States and six million around the world., Clarken said.

REMEMBERING LATE EPISCOPAL BISHOP JIM KELSEY, THE ULTIMATE EARTHKEEPER

Two employees of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan couldn't help reflect on what the event would have meant to late Bishop James Kelsey, one of the founders of the EarthKeepers and the first signer of the interfaith EarthKeeper Covenant.

"I think he'd try to find a place for a tree in his own yard and he'd want to plant one at the Page Center and at one at the office," said Jane Cisluycis, Diocesan Operations Coordinator. "He'd be really pleased."

"Since his mantra was about inclusiveness, the fact that the circle is widening would have been really important to him," said Cisluycis, referring to the recent addition of another faith tradition to the EarthKeepers "The more people included the better."

Pictured above on top left, Jane Cisluycis, Diocesan Operations Coordinator; and Kathy Lenten a member of the diocese Episcopal Ministry Support Team; are pictured sharing a smile while remembering late Bishop Jim Kelsey.

Bishop Kelsey loved God, his family, his friends, the EarthKeepers, his serene Page Center, people and life.

Bishop Kelsey would be "pleased that the EarthKeepers are getting stronger and continuing and more people are getting involved - it hasn't stopped," said Kathy Lenten a member of the diocese Episcopal Ministry Support Team.

Kelsey was killed in a traffic accident about six weeks after he and thousands of Episcopalians participated the April 2007 EarthKeeper Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep.

On Sunday June 3,2007, Kelsey had visited services at diocese churches in the far eastern U.P. when he lost control of his vehicle on the long drive home. He is fondly remembered as the "Earth Bishop."

Marquette Unitarian Universalist Congregation (MUUC) celebrant coordinator Nancy Irish said "the image of people of all ages and faiths across the Upper Peninsula planting 12,000 trees in their respective sacred spaces is a most beautiful and fitting one to us - if an image were a sound it would be like a glorious interfaith choir singing to our pretty planet."

"The connection with and stewardship of the earth is central to Unitarian Universalism," Irish said.

Imitating the adults who were covering the spruce roots with shovels full of dirt, a 6-year-old boy grabbed the shovel and put in his share of soil into the hole.

Dakota "Cody" Farwell is the son of Frank and Laura Farwell, who are members of St.Paul's Episcopal Church in Marquette. The family moved to Marquette from Madison,Wisconsin in 2006.

"Cody loves trees," said Laura, a former adjunct professor and Fortune 500 business consultant who now volunteers with the Labrador Education and Rescue Network.

Cody said "trees are good - they are plants."

"I shoveled a scoop of dirt," the precocious youngster said apparently enjoying the excitement he created in the crowd including smiles on the faces of the faith leaders.

The trees were purchased or donated by the U.P. EarthKeeper team, SWP, Holli Forest Products, the Forestland Group, Plum Creek Timber Company and Meister's Greenhouses, said Lindquist, EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder.

Some groups and individuals have donated money to help the tree project including Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Western U.P. Chapter 30918 in Ironwood, Michigan.

In addition to providing oxygen trees are important for other scientific, economic and practical reasons from soil health to being "fun for children to climb," said Presbyterian Earth Keeper Jill Martin of Ford River Township.

"They have a substantial cooling effect on summer temperatures particularly the deciduous trees," said Martin, an environmental scientist with Wilcox Professional Services in Escanaba.

"They are also important from a biological integration standpoint - they help sustain the ecological web from the soil organisms to birds that nest in their trees," Martin said.

"Trees are a big part of the economic commerce of this part of the world," Martin said. "The upper Midwest is very tightly integrated to the forest as a sustainable resource."

"Presbyterians view ourselves as servants in gods world and this effort is service to sustaining God's world, " said Martin, a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Escanaba.

Respecting a tree: SWP Executive Director Carl Lindquist digs a hole for the blessing of the spruce tree and after the ceremony makes sure the soil and other conditions are perfect. (Photos by Greg Peterson)

It is not too late to request trees, organizers said.

"We cannot guarantee the number or species of trees but we want all faith communities to participate," said Catholic EarthKeeper team member Kyra Fillmore, the project's communications coordinator for faith communities.

"This is about more than putting trees in the ground it's an expression by the faith communities of love and care for God's creation."

Experts say 12,000 mature trees absorb 3 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually and produce enough oxygen to support 24,000 humans.

This is the fifth year that the U.P. EarthKeepers have launched an Earth Day environment project.

From 2005-2007, over 15,000 U.P. residents turned in more than 360 tons of household hazardous waste at a dozen collection sites across the U.P.

Most of the items were recycled and the remainder was properly disposed under federal guidelines including electronic waste (e-waste) like computers, monitors and printers plus cell phones, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, oil-based paint and vehicle batteries.

Last year the EarthKeepers provided a household energy conservation checklist that resulted in over 3 million pounds of carbon being reduced.

The Media: Two Marquette newspapers and two Marquette TV stations covered the blessing of the trees on Earth Day 2009.

The EarthKeepers thank all the national, state and local media who have spread the word about our projects over the past five years, (Photos by Greg Peterson)

Unable to attend the blessing ceremony and living two hours from Marquette, Episcopal EarthKeeper team member Nancy Auer of Houghton, MI said there are good reasons to plant trees "in a region of the country known for trees" including minimizing the effects of logging.

"We harvest those trees," Auer said. "Every tree has value in that they absorb our carbon emissions and those carbon emissions are increasing therefore we need more trees."

"God asks us to be stewards the earth and it can be as simple as planting a tree," Auer said.

David McCowen, a member of Lake Superior Friends one of two Quaker groups in the U.P., said trees provide "wind breaks, wildlife habitat, fuel source, and a cellulose fiber source."

McCowen said "it is easy to take trees for granted" in the U.P. because "trees are a major part of the surroundings that we love."

"Faith communities have the privilege and responsibility of unselfishly considering the natural environment as being inherently desirable," McCowen said.

An annual Jewish holiday celebrates the blossoming of the almond trees in Israel at the start of spring, said Dr. Constance Arnold, president of the board for Temple Beth Sholom.

"Tu B'Shvat is a very ancient holiday we observe yearly," said Arnold. "This is a reminder of the importance of trees."

Arnold said Tu B'Shvat marks the "New Year of Trees"and Jewish customs include tree planting and eating dried fruits and nuts during an evening meal.

"We get together on that day and have something to eat from as many of the fruits of the tree as you can come up with," Arnold said. "We bring apricots, cherries, olives, dates, pomegranates and cinnamon."

The EarthKeeper Tree Planting Project is "another opportunity to work cooperatively with God and nature to replenish the earth," said Pastor Dave Anderson of Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola and chaplain for the Dickinson County Healthcare System.

The EarthKeeper Covenant signer on behalf of all northern Michigan Presbyterians, Rev. Anderson said planting trees is important because "there is so much harvesting going on just for profitability" and planting a tree "can stand in contrast to a materialistic mindset."

"Trees can be enjoyed for their beauty and charm, without always having to be seen for their market value," Anderson said. "Let's plant this year to beautify the Earth and to enjoy God's creation for the right reasons."
Andersons' Southern U.P. church is going green in many ways and the congregation can't wait to help.

"I am thrilled about this - when my kids were little they planted trees," said Sue Piasini, a member of Grace Presbyterian in Sagola and the mother of four grown children. "Now the tree they planted are huge - they're about 20 feet tall."

Planting the trees is "like coming full circle," said Piasini, a Presbyterian EarthKeeper team member from Channing, Michigan.

"We're so lucky and blessed to live in beautiful area" with beautiful forests, said Piasini, who is helping coordinate the tree project for numerous Dickinson County churches of all faiths including in Felch, Kingsford and Iron Mountain "We're going to plant one tree in our church yard and dedicate it and inspire our people" and the rest of their share of the seedlings will be given to church members and others.

"Our church is going green and we are getting rid of all Styrofoam cups and plates" used during the weekly coffee hour after the service," Piasini said. "You can't imagine all the Styrofoam that is thrown away."

"We are only going to use biodegradable paper products," said Piasini, adding the church is trying to arrange a free energy audit to with a "goal to be more energy efficient."

Catholic EarthKeeper team member Linda O'Brien said "from the beginning of time God has called us to be good stewards of the earth."

"Our Catholic tradition allows us to embrace the EarthKeeper Tree Project as a way to continue our good stewardship of the earth," O'Brien said.
Congregations can still request trees by calling Catholic EarthKeeper Kyra Fillmore, the project faith community communications coordinator, at 906-228-2388.

For tree planting information contact the SWP at 906-228-6095.

Related Links:

Interfaith EarthKeeper Team

Nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership

Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI and its environment projects:

Zaagkii Wings & Seeds Project: Native American and Marquette area teens protecting pollinators project:

Zaagkii TV on youtube

Zaagkii Project Story Part 1 Indian Country Today newspaper

Zaagkii Project Story Part 2 Indian Country Today newspaper

Zaagkii Project hailed as success by U.S. Forest Service

Zaagkii Project blog on wordpress

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Non-profit Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative: Numerous environment projects across the Great Lakes Basin in cooperation with the EPA, American Indian Tribes and local governments

http://www.EarthHealingInitiative.org

Earth Healing TV on youtube

Earth Healing TV on bliptv

Earth Healing Initiative was part of the first EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge with youtube and bliptv videos.

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Cedar Tree Institute: Founder of EarthKeeper Initiative, Earth Healing Initiative, Manoomin Project and Zaagkii Wings & Seeds Project:

http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org

EarthKeeper TV on youtube has EarthKeeper and Manoomin Project including stories and a Manoomin Project music video & more

Manoomin Project story in Indian Country Today

Manoomin Project Story in World Magazine

Turtle Island Project: Respecting the heritage, culture and rights of Native Americans and other Indigenous Peoples and the environment

http://www.TurtleIslandProject.org

Turtle Island TV on blip tv

Turtle Island TV on youtube

Turtle Island Project myspace page

Turtle Island Project blog on wordpress

Turtle Island Project on MSN

Interfaith graphics by Justice St. Rain (Bahá'í Community) of Interfaith Resources - Special Ideas website

Call Justice St. Rain at Interfaith resources:
1-800-326-1197

Justice St Rain:
justice@special-ideas.com

Interfaith Resources
P.O. Box 9
511 Diamond Rd
Heltonville IN
47436

(Marquette, Michigan) - The Upper Peninsula interfaith EarthKeepers will create the equivalent of a forest for Earth Day 2009 as 12,000 trees are planted by about 100 churches and temples across northern Michigan.

The public is invited to an Earth Day 2009 blessing of the trees ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22 next to the Presque Isle pavilion. The bishops and other leaders from ten faith traditions will plant the first of 12,000 12 to 16 inch White Spruce and Red Pine trees.

Interfaith graphics by Justice St. Rain (Bahá'í Community) of Interfaith Resources - Special Ideas website

"The EarthKeeper project this year is one where people from across the Upper Peninsula will see tangible results of their earth stewardship," said Gail Griffith, EarthKeeper Implementation Team co-chair. "I hope that congregations involve their young people in their planning and planting."

The EarthKeeper team includes ten faith traditions with over 150 participating churches/temples, the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP), the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute (CTI), and the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper Student Team.

Founded in 2004, the Earth Keeper Covenant has been signed by the bishops/leaders of ten faith communities: Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, Zen Buddist and the Lake Superior Friends (Quakers).

"Each year the staff at the Superior Watershed Partnership looks forward to helping the EarthKeepers coordinate an event," said Carl Lindquist, SWP executive director. "It's fun and it helps further our long term protection and restoration goals for local watersheds and the Great Lakes."

The trees have been purchased or donated by the U.P. EarthKeeper team, SWP, Holli Forest Products, the Forestland Group, Plum Creek Timber Company and Meister's Greenhouses.

Some groups and individuals have donated money to help the tree project including Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Western U.P. Chapter 30918 in Ironwood, Michigan.

On Saturday, May 2 northern Michigan churches and temples participating in the project will pick up their share of the trees at local conservation district offices and have been asked to bless the seedlings before planting at numerous locations the next day (Sunday, May 3) assisted by the NMU EarthKeeper Student Team and other volunteers.

Pictured holding the a list of EarthKeeper Initiative accomplishments and plans through 2009 are Ben Scheelk (left), the new Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team project coordinator from the Student Leader Fellowship Program and Sarah Swanson (right), the former NMU EK project director who is leaving for Nicaragua. The students held an "Eco-Christmas" in December 2008 and are helping with the planting of 12,000 trees for Earth Day2009 and will be planting community gardens at Upper Peninsula churches and temples. The NMU EK students were part of a Marquette ceremony on Thursday (Nov. 13) 2008 as the Michigan Sierra Club presented its "White Pine Award" to the Upper Peninsula EarthKeepers.(Photo by Greg Peterson, Cedar Tree Institute)

"Our interfaith tree planting effort is more than another conservation project," said Rev. Jon Magnuson, CTI executive director and EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder. "With prayers, hymns and the blessing of 12,000 seedlings, it's a gentle proclamation of a new consciousness and commitment among our faith communities to care for God's creation."

Organizers said congregations can still request trees.

"We cannot guarantee the number or species of trees but we want all faith communities to participate," said Catholic EarthKeeper team member Kyra Fillmore, the project's communications coordinator for faith communities. "This is about more than putting trees in the ground it's an expression by the faith communities of love and care for God's creation."

Catholic EarthKeeper team member Linda O'Brien said "from the beginning of time God has called us to be good stewards of the earth."

"Our Catholic tradition allows us to embrace the EarthKeeper Tree Project as a way to continue our good stewardship of the earth," O'Brien said.

Pictured in the rear, left to right, are David McCowen of Lake Superior Friends (Quakers); Rev. Jon Magnuson, EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder and executive director of the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute; Dr. Jon Rebers, chair of the Sierra Club Central U.P. Group; Dr. Rodney Clarken, leader of the Marquette Baha'i Community and one of the original signers of the EarthKeeper Covenant; Rev. Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, head priest of Lake Superior Zendo, a Marquette Zen Buddhist temple; Nancy Irish, a representative of the Marquette Unitarian Universalist congregation; Natasha Koss, a representative of the Superior Watershed Partnership; (front) Sarah Swanson, the outgoing Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team project director; and Ben Scheelk, the new NMU EK project coordinator from the Student Leader Fellowship Program. (Photo by Greg Peterson, Cedar Tree Institute)

Lindquist said the trees "will be wrapped individually in a plastic bag with planting instructions."

"Kids love helping to plant trees," said Linquist, EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder. "We encourage people to take them home or camp and to plant them as soon as possible and to water them."

The positive environment effects of 12,000 mature trees includes absorbing 3 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually and producing enough oxygen to support 24,000 human beings, according to a treebenefits.com calculator.

The faith leaders participating in the projects said they hope their congregations will request trees.

"To the Catholic community of the Upper Peninsula, I speak words of encouragement to participate fully in this EarthKeepers project," said Bishop Alexander K. Sample, Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette.

Bishop Sample said trees have a connection to the "Easter season."

"We have just celebrated Christ's victory over death, accomplished through the tree of his cross," said Bishop Sample, who oversees 94 U.P. parishes and missions with 61,000 members. "These new trees that will be planted can symbolize for us the new life that the Lord has won for us."

Northern Great Lakes Synod Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes said "trees matter" and encouraged Sunday school classes, confirmation classes, men and women groups and others to plant as many trees as possible.

"What a privilege to put your hands into God's soil and help a tree to grow," said Bishop Skrenes, the head of 94 U.P. Lutheran congregations with 40,000 members. "You can grow a forest."

One tree can provides many positive benefits "such as improving air quality, stabilizing the soil, providing shade, and giving beauty to our sight, to name just a few," said United Methodist Church (UMC) Marquette District Superintendent Grant R. Lobb.

"I have always believed that planting a tree is a gift for the next generation," said Lobb, whose district has 8,372 parishioners and 60 northern Michigan congregations. "Environmental health has always been a concern for United Methodists, so I am confident that many of the (U.P. UMC) congregations will continue their support of the EarthKeeper work, and will join in this wonderful goal of planting thousands of trees across our beautiful landscape."

An annual Jewish holiday celebrates the blossoming of the almond trees in Israel at the start of spring, said Dr. Constance Arnold, president of the board for Temple Beth Sholom.

"Tu B'Shvat is a very ancient holiday we observe yearly - this year it fell on February 9," said Arnold. "This is a reminder of the importance of trees."

The holiday marks the "New Year of Trees"and customs include tree planting and eating dried fruits and nuts during an evening meal.

"We get together on that day and have something to eat from as many of the fruits of the tree as you can come up with," Arnold said. "We bring apricots, cherries, olives, dates, pomegranates and cinnamon."

The EarthKeeper Tree Planting Project is "another opportunity to work cooperatively with God and nature to replenish the earth," said Pastor Dave Anderson of Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola, MI and chaplain for the Dickinson Co. Healthcare System.

"There is so much harvesting going on just for profitability, that a planting like this can stand in contrast to a materialistic mindset," said Rev. Anderson, who signed the EarthKeeper Covenant on behalf of all northern Michigan Presbyterians. "Trees can be enjoyed for their beauty and charm, without always having to be seen for their market value,"

"Let's plant this year to beautify the Earth and to enjoy God's creation for the right reasons," Rev. Anderson said.

The connection between trees and a healthy world has long been taught in the Bahá'í Faith, said Dr. Rodney H. Clarken, chair of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Marquette. There are about 40 Bahá'ís in the Marquette area, 144,000 in the United States and six million around the world., Clarken said.

Clarken cited the works of well-known Bahá`í conservationist Richard St. Barbe Baker of England who is nicknamed the "Man of the Trees." A forester and author who inspired millions to protect what he called the "green mantle" of trees, St. Barbe brought "a message of preserving the natural environment especially trees,"said Clarken.

"Baker had an almost mystical vision about the vital role the world's forests play in the survival of mankind," Clarken said. Baker, who died in 1982 at the age of 92, said his lifelong protection of trees was rooted in his Bahá`í Faith, said Clarken.

As a young man working in a Canadian lumber camp, Baker witnessed the quick ruin of ecosystems when topsoil disappeared in the wind and rain after the clear-cutting of virgin forests, Clarken said.

From inspiring the planting of many thousands of seedlings in Africa to protecting the California Redwoods to his efforts to restore millions of acres of the Sahara Desert, Baker's entire life was dedicated to protecting forests right up until a few days before his death when he planted his last tree at the University of Saskatchewan, Clarken said.

The head priest for Lake Superior Zendo, a Marquette Zen Buddhist Temple, said "we absolutely must care for mother earth."

"Human life, literally and figuratively, is inseparable from mother earth," said Reverend Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, EarthKeeper Implementation Team co-chair. "We are inextricably threaded to her. In caring for her, we care for ourselves."

Planting trees is a "simple and meaningful way to put our environmental concern into action" because they "serve as lungs, shelter, inspiration, comfort, and sustenance for other living creatures," said Nancy Irish, celebrant/coordinator for the Marquette Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

"Planting trees together in our respective sacred spaces is like singing to our planet in a multi-generation, interfaith chorus," Irish said. "The Earth is what we all have in common and this common act of stewardship can only deepen awareness of that commonality."

Trees provide "wind breaks, wildlife habitat, fuel source, and a cellulose fiber source," said David McCowen, a member of Lake Superior Friends, one of two Quaker groups in the U.P.

"Here in the UP it is easy to take trees for granted, but trees are a major part of the surroundings that we love," McCowen said. "Faith communities have the privilege and responsibility of unselfishly considering the natural environment as being inherently desirable."

Episcopal EarthKeeper team member Nancy Auer of Houghton, MI said there are good reasons to plant trees "in a region of the country (the UP) known for trees" including logging.

"We harvest those trees," Auer said. "Every tree has value in that they absorb our carbon emissions and those carbon emissions are increasing therefore we need more trees."

"God asks us to be stewards the earth and it can be as simple as planting a tree," Auer said.

In addition to providing oxygen trees are important for other scientific, economic and practical reasons from soil health to being "fun for children to climb," said Presbyterian Earth Keeper Jill Martin of Ford River Township.

"They have a substantial cooling effect on summer temperatures particularly the deciduous trees," said Martin, an environmental scientist with Wilcox Professional Services in Escanaba.

"They are also important from a biological integration standpoint - they help sustain the ecological web from the soil organisms to birds that nest in their trees," Martin said.

"Trees are a big part of the economic commerce of this part of the world," Martin said. "The upper Midwest is very tightly integrated to the forest as a sustainable resource."

"Presbyterians view ourselves as servants in gods world and this effort is service to sustaining God's world, " said Martin, a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Escanaba.

A Dickinson County church that's going green in many ways is participating in the tree planting project.

"I am thrilled about this - when my kids were little they planted trees," said Sue Piasini, a member of Grace Presbyterian in Sagola and the mother of four grown children. "Now the tree they planted are huge - they're about 20 feet tall."

Planting the trees is "like coming full circle," said Piasini, a Presbyterian EarthKeeper team member from Channing, Michigan.

"We're so lucky and blessed to live in beautiful area" with beautiful forests, said Piasini, who is helping coordinate the tree project for numerous Dickinson County churches of all faiths including in Felch, Kingsford and Iron Mountain "We're going to plant one tree in our church yard and dedicate it and inspire our people" and the rest of their share of the seedlings will be given to church members and others.

"Our church is going green and we are getting rid of all Styrofoam cups and plates" used during the weekly coffee hour after the service," Piasini said. "You can't imagine all the Styrofoam that is thrown away."

"We are only going to use biodegradable paper products," said Piasini, adding the church is trying to arrange a free energy audit to with a "goal to be more energy efficient."

Interfaith graphics by Justice St. Rain (Bahá'í Community) of Interfaith Resources - Special Ideas website

This is the fifth year that the U.P. EarthKeepers have launched an Earth Day environment project.

From 2005-2007, about 15,000 U.P. residents turned in over 360 tons of household hazardous waste at a dozen collection sites across the U.P. Most of the items were recycled and the remainder was properly disposed under federal guidelines including electronic waste like electronic waste like computers, monitors and printers plus cell phones, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, oil-based paint and vehicle batteries.

Last year the EarthKeepers provided a household energy conservation checklist that resulted in over 3 million pounds of carbon being reduced, Lindquist said.

In past projects, the EarthKeepers have partnered with numerous groups including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Keweenaw Bay Indian community.

Congregations that have not yet requested trees should call Fillmore at 906-228-2388. For tree planting technical questions contact the SWP at 906-228-6095.

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Interfaith EarthKeeper Team

Nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership

Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI and its environment projects:

Zaagkii Wings & Seeds Project: Native American and Marquette area teens protecting pollinators project:

Zaagkii TV on youtube

Zaagkii Project Story Part 1 Indian Country Today newspaper

Zaagkii Project Story Part 2 Indian Country Today newspaper

Zaagkii Project hailed as success by U.S. Forest Service

Zaagkii Project blog on wordpress

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Non-profit Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative: Numerous environment projects across the Great Lakes Basin in cooperation with the EPA, American Indian Tribes and local governments

http://www.EarthHealingInitiative.org

Earth Healing TV on youtube

Earth Healing TV on bliptv

Earth Healing Initiative was part of the first EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge with youtube and bliptv videos.

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Cedar Tree Institute: Founder of EarthKeeper Initiative, Earth Healing Initiative, Manoomin Project and Zaagkii Wings & Seeds Project:

http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org

EarthKeeper TV on youtube has EarthKeeper and Manoomin Project including stories and a Manoomin Project music video & more

Manoomin Project story in Indian Country Today

Manoomin Project Story in World Magazine

Turtle Island Project: Respecting the heritage, culture and rights of Native Americans and other Indigenous Peoples and the environment

http://www.TurtleIslandProject.org

Turtle Island TV on blip tv

Turtle Island TV on youtube

Turtle Island Project myspace page

Turtle Island Project blog on wordpress

Turtle Island Project on MSN

Interfaith graphics by Justice St. Rain (Bahá'í Community) of Interfaith Resources - Special Ideas website

Call Justice St. Rain at Interfaith resources:
1-800-326-1197

Justice St Rain:
justice@special-ideas.com

Interfaith Resources
P.O. Box 9
511 Diamond Rd
Heltonville IN
47436

(Marquette, Michigan) - Northern Michigan teens are on a mission to protect pollinators by helping butterflies and restoring native plants to areas of the Upper Peninsula.

Perhaps the best know pollinators are bees - like honey bees and bumble bees.

Billions of these bees are dying across the world in a syndrome called Colony Collapse Disorder.

Zaagkii Project artwork created by a teen volunteer

Bees are disappearing and it’s not clear why - although human impact on the environment are among the suspected causes like pesticides and global warming.

A world without bees would mean world without food. - as was dramatically pointed out in the Jerry Seinfield 2007 comedy - Bee movie.

Bees go on strike causing plants across the world die - that means no food, no flowers, no trees - the death of civilization.

After bees, the next best pollinators are butterflies.

Marquette teens build a butterfly house in July 2008 in the parking lot of the Grace United Methodist Church.

The butterfly houses are longer than the better known birdhouses and are lined with bark.

Marquette, Michigan area teens and Native American youth spent the summer of 2008 building butterfly houses - that are longer and slimmer than birdhouses and are lined with bark.

Teens participating in the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Summer Youth Program built and painted the houses at the tribe’s Natural Resource Department along Lake Superior.

KBIC Natural Resource Department Director Todd Warner said the Zaagkii Project is a good way for youth to become aware of their connection to natural resources and nature.

The butterfly houses offer protection to butterflies that can enter thru tiny slits.

Butterfly houses, pictured above on poles, also offer rest to migrating monarchs and can be used for reproduction.

Marquete teens and two Zaagkii Propject volunteers are pictured in July 2008 planting native plant seeds at the Hiawatha National Forest Green House in Marquette, MI

Marquette teens have planted or distributed 26,000 native plant including at the Hiawatha National Forest greenhouse in Marquette.

In the spring of 2009 some of the plants will be planted at several areas across northern Michigan including at Sand Point - a beach that the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community has been repairing from the effects of copper mining.

The mine dumped copper processing waste into Lake Superior in the late 1800s and early 1900s - polluting miles of shoreline.

KBIC Photo of Sand Point

The tribe capped the pollution and the native plants will be used to attract wildlife and restore the ecosystem.

The Zaagkii Wings and Seeds Project will enter its second year in the summer of 2009.

This is the first of several videos on the many aspect of the Zaagkii Project that was founded by the non- profit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette that has sponsored numerous environment projects.

The three-year Zaagkii Project is sponsored by the CTI, Marquette County Juvenile Court, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) and the United States Forest Service (USFS).

Future videos will include a look at a bee farm in Marquette County that fascinated Zaagkii Project teens who received a close look at the hives and learned about the importance of pollinators.

Pictured above, the Cedar Tree Institute held a BBQ in July 2008 to honor the Zaagkii Project teens at Presque Isle Park in Marquette, MI.

The teens visited a KBIC pow-wow where they were recognized. And amongst numerous news stories done on project Jan Schultz of the USFS was interviewed by a California radio station about Zaagkii Project.

All this in future videos.

The Zaagkii Project is made possible by contributors like the Marquette Community Foundation, the Negaunee Community Fund, the Negaunee Community Youth Fund, the M.E. Davenport Foundation, the Kaufman Foundation, the Phyllis and Max Reynolds Foundation, with assistance from the Upper Peninsula Children's Museum in Marquette, Mich. and the Borealis Seed Company in Big Bay, Mich.

I’m Greg Peterson and you are watching Zaagkii TV

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Related items:
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Environment prayer thanks to EarthWords Dec. 14, 2008 issue - produced by Rev. Charlie West of the Grace UMC Church in Marquette - a leader in the Earth Keeper Initiative.

Eternal God, your amazing power to innovate goes on forever, but in our time we are seeing your glorious Creation slipping away.

Continue to touch our hearts with a concern for Creation; continue to give us wisdom and insight into Creation's healthy parameters; continue to draw us together on Creation's behalf and well-being.

Then as the earth brings forth its shoots may our lives bring forth your love and justice and grace.
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EarthWords Suggests - Give a native species plant:

Consider a (local) live plant gift, or perhaps even a contribution to purchase and preserve rain forest or some other wilderness place!

EarthWords is produced by Charlie West Ink

EarthWords website

email EarthWords

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Austin, Texas Honeybee video courtesy: Johnnie Hargrave

Photos by Richard Burkmar; Paul Billiet & Shirley Burchill

Wikipedia photos by (Usernames when real name not available): Tübingen-Hagelloch, Björn Appel, Warden, Debi Vort, Kristof Van der Poorten, John Severns, Waugsberg, Kenneth Dwain Harrelson, Derek Ramsey, John O'Neill

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KBIC Zaagkii Wings and Seeds Project contact info and web links
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Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) Contacts:

KBIC Tribal Chair Warren C. “Chris” Swartz Jr.
906-353-6623 ext. 4104
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KBIC Vice Chair Susan LaFernier
906-353-6623
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KBIC Natural Resource Department (NRD)

Todd Warner, NRD Director
KBIC Natural Resource Director
Ph: (906) 524-5757 ext. 13
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Evelyn Ravindran, KBIC NRD Natural Resources Specialist
906-524-5757 ext. 11
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KBIC NRD Staffers interviewed:
Katie Kruse, NRD Environment specialist
Char Beesley. Environment Specialist
Kit Laux, NRD Water Quality Specialist
(906) 524-5757
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Other KBIC Contacts:

Kim Klopstein, one of the summer youth supervisors for the KBIC Summer Youth Program
906-201-0020
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United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees United States Forest Service (USFS)
USDA USFS
Forest Service Eastern Region
626 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Suite 700
Milwaukee, Wis.
53202
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USFS Official Jan Schultz speaks to Zaagkii Project supporters and volunteers in July 2008 at a Cedar Tree institute BBQ at Presque Isle Park in Marquette, MI

Jan Schultz, Botany & Non-native Invasive Species Program Leader
USFS Milwaukee
(414) 297-1189 (wk)
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Jane Cliff, USFS Public Relations in Milwaukee
(414) 297-3664
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Angie Lucas, contractor, Hiawatha National Forest Greenhouse Manager
(906) 228-8491
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Terry Miller, forest botanist
Hiawatha National Forest Office
Escanaba, Mich.
906-789-3319
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Deb LeBlanc, WestSide Plant Ecologist
Hiawatha National Forest
Munising, Mich. Office
Does Monach Workshops
906-387-2512 ext. 19
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Beekeeper Jim Hayward
Negaunee, Michigan
(906) 475-7582
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Carole Touchinski, Marquette & Negaunee community foundations
906-226-7666
http://www.mqt-cf.org
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Rev. Jon Magnuson, Zaagkii Wings and Seeds founder & Executive Director of non-profit Cedar Tree Institute (CTI)
(906) 228-5494 (hm)
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Links:
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United States Forest Service (USFS) celebrating wildflowers website:

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/index.shtml

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/index.shtml

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Cedar Tree Institute - non-profit in Marquette, Michigan:

http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org

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Keweenaw Bay Indian Community:

http://www.kbic-nsn.gov

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Marquette County Juvenile Court:

http://www.co.marquette.mi.us/probate.htm

http://www.co.marquette.mi.us/courts.htm

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Marquette County Juvenile Court & Project WEAVE:

http://www.reclaimingfutures.org/?q=locations_marquette

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Borealis Seed Company
Big Bay, Michigan
Run by mother-daughter team of Judy Keast and Suzanne Rabitaille cultivating about 5 acres of a 20-acre spread three miles south of Big Bay, Michigan.

http://www.ltbbodawa-nsn.gov/index.html

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Upper Peninsula Children's Museum
http://www.upcmkids.org

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Bee Movie:
http://www.beemovie.com

Created in 2007 by Jerry Seinfeld and DreamWorks Animation
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Monarch Watch::

http://monarchwatch.org

Monarch Author Lynn M. Rosenblatt
http://www.monarchbutterflyusa.com/Magic.htm

Numerous Monarch related links:
http://www.kidsgardening.com/pollinator/curriculum/resources.php

http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/butterflies/monarch/index.html

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/monarch.htm

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch

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Wikipedia on Monarchs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch_Butterfly

Female Monarch photo:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/63/Monarch_In_May.jpg

Wiki May 2007 Photograph of a Monarch Butterfly by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson

Male Monarch Photo by Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) at the Tyler Arboretum
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Monarch_Butterfly_Danaus_plexippus_Male_2664px.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Ram-Man

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Bees disappearing around the world:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollinator_decline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bees_and_toxic_chemicals
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_Collapse_Disorder
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesticide_toxicity_to_bees
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imidacloprid_effects_on_bee_population
http://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?contentPageId=531&catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&langId=-1
http://www.polinator.org/
http://www.vanishingbees.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diseases_of_the_honey_bee
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_arthropod

Wikipedia Honeybee Photos by Björn Appel, Wikipedia Username Warden.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Warden
Edit by Waugsberg (cropped)
A honeybee on an apiary, cooling by flapping its wings in Tübingen-Hagelloch.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Honeybee-cooling_cropped.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Honeybee-cooling.jpg

Wiki Bee photos by Waugsberg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Waugsberg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Biene_88a.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Biene_88a.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Bienen_im_Flug_52e.jpg
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Bumblebees: Space For Nature Garden biodiversity forum

http://www.wildlife-gardening.org.uk/default.asp?gallery=GalleriesAnimalsInsectsBumblebeesbombus-pascuorum-040616.xml

Bumblebee Photo Copyright Richard Burkmar 2004. Permission is hereby granted for anyone to use this image for non-commercial purposes which are of benefit to the natural environment.
Richard Burkmar (editor of Space for Nature) graduated from the University College of Cardiff in 1984 with a degree in zoology and a PhD in avian ecology in 1989. He currently works for Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service where he manages the North Merseyside Biodiversity Action Plan (Liverpool, St. Helens, Knowsley and Sefton Boroughs).

richard.burkmar@eas.sefton.gov.uk
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Bumblebees: Buckingham Nurseries and Garden Centre
http://www.buckingham-nurseries.co.uk/acatalog/bumblebees.html
Bumblebee photo by Oxford Bee Company/Buckingham Nurseries and Garden Centre

Bumblebees by Christopher O'Toole
http://www.buckingham-nurseries.co.uk/acatalog/Index_Pollination_Bees_27.html#33171

Chris O'Toole is the director of Bee Systematics and Biology Unit at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
He has written many books on insect natural history including Bees of the World and Alien Empire.
Pictures and information provided by the Oxford Bee Company & Buckingham Nurseries and Garden Centre website
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Wind Pollinated plants like Rye are important but are not food sources for pollinators:
Wind Pollinated Rye photo by Paul Billiet and Shirley Burchill
http://www.saburchill.com/chapters/chap0044.html
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Wikipedia on Pollination:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollination

An Andrena bee collects pollen among the stamens of a rose. The female carpel structure appears rough and globular to the left. The bee's stash of pollen is on its hind leg.
By Debi Vort (Username Debivort)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bee_pollenating_a_rose.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Debivort
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A European honey bee collects nectar, while pollen collects on its body.
A European honey bee (Apis mellifera) extracts nectar from an Aster flower using its proboscis. Tiny hairs covering the bee's body maintain a slight electrostatic charge, causing pollen from the flower's anthers to stick to the bee, allowing for pollination when the bee moves on to another flower.
Photo by John Severns (Wikipedia username Severnjc)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:European_honey_bee_extracts_nectar.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Severnjc
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Blueberries being pollinated by bumblebees. Bumblebee hives need to be bought each year as the queens must hibernate (unlike honey bees). They are used nonetheless as they offer advantages with certain fruits as blueberries (such as the fact that they are active even at colder outdoor ambient temperature) A picture showing blueberry pollination by bumblebees, aswell as the system of furrow irrigation using siphon tubes. Pictures were taken at "blueberry fields", Koersel, BelgiumA picture showing blueberry pollination by bumblebees, aswell as the system of furrow irrigation using siphon tubes. Pictures were taken in July 2008 at "blueberry fields", Koersel, Belgium.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:BlueberryPollinationByBumblebees.jpg
Photo by Kristof Van der Poorten Wikipedia username KVDP
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:KVDP
http://kvdp.blogspot.com
http://healingweb.blogspot.com

Environmental Health Science of Columbia University
60 Haven Ave.
Room 100
New York, NY
10032
http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/ehs/index.html
E-mail:
environmentalprojects@gmail.com
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Wikipedia on Cultivars & Hybrids:
A cultivar is a particular variety of a plant species or hybrid that is being cultivated and/or is recognised as a cultivar under the ICNCP. The concept of cultivar is driven by pragmatism, and serves the practical needs of horticulture, agriculture, forestry, etc.
The plant chosen as a cultivar may have been bred deliberately, selected from plants in cultivation, or discovered in the wild. Cultivars can be asexual clones or seed-raised. Clones are genetically identical and will appear so when grown under the same conditions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultivar

Viola 'Clear Crystals Apricot', a hybrid cross viola (Viola x hybrida), Victoria, Australia. Wikipedia photo by John O'Neill (Wikipedia username Jjron)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Jjron
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EmailUser/Jjron
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Keweenaw Peninsula: Michigan's Copper Country:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_mining_in_Michigan
http://www.unr.edu/sb204/geology/westernh.html
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West Virginia White Butterfly & killer Garlic Mustard Seed plants:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia_White
http://www.cbgarden.org/blog/index.php/tag/west-virginia-white-butterfly/
http://leapbio.org/west_virginia_white.php
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5a/3402_white_WV_ws.jpg

West Virginia White, Pieris virginiensis on wild mustard Photo by Randy L Emmitt
http://www.rlephoto.com/butterflies/white_wv01.htm
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Butterflies/Moths:
The Butterfly Site:
http://www.thebutterflysite.com/
Children's butterfly links:
http://www.monarchbutterflyusa.com/Links.htm
Butterfly Encounters:
http://www.butterflyencounters.com/
Butterflys and Moths of North America:
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org
Opler, Paul A., Harry Pavulaan, Ray E. Stanford, Michael Pogue, coordinators. 2006. Butterflies and Moths of North America. Bozeman, MT: NBII Mountain Prairie Information Node. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org
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Deciduous forests:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deciduous
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Viceroys:
Viceroy Butterfly mimics Monarchs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viceroy_butterfly
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Viceroy_Butterfly.jpg
Wikipedia Viceroy photo by Piccolo “Pic” Namek
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:PiccoloNamek

Viceroy:
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/viceroy.htm
Photo by William T. Hark
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Butterfly & endangered species hibernacula:
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Endangered/lists/michigan-cty.html
http://www.naturenorth.com/summer/bgarden/bttgrdF.html
http://entweb.clemson.edu/museum/buttrfly/local/bfly12.htm
http://actazool.nhmus.hu/48/konvicka.pdf
http://earthcaretaker.com/naturalization/llamb.html
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Mourning Cloaks aka Morning Cloaks:
http://www.sierrapotomac.org/W_Needham/MourningCloak_060319.htm
http://www.bentler.us/eastern-washington/insects/mourning-cloak.aspx
http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/1insects/mourningcloak.html
http://www.naturenorth.com/spring/bug/mcloak/Fmcloak.html
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Mason bees - bee houses in wood:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mason_bee
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Osmia_rufa_couple_(aka).jpg
Photo of an Red Mason Bee couple (osmia rufa) by André Karwath of German Wikipedia also known as AKA (André Karwath):
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Aka

Mason Bees:
http://www.farminfo.org/bees/mason-bees.htm

http://www.everythingabout.net/articles/biology/animals/arthropods/insects/bees/mason_bee/
Photo by Kim Taylor of Bruce Coleman Inc.

http://www.masonbeehomes.com/bee_houses.php
http://www.pollinator.com/mason_homes.htm
http://www.insectpix.net/Homes_for_bees.htm
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Brownfield sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownfields
http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/4902/focus/restoration/brownfield/
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Mass Mill - copper processing waste (stamp sands) cleanup:
(search for KBIC in followingf document)
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/tribalgov/ImprovingPartnerships.pdf
http://www.uprcd.org/projects.asp
http://www.upea.com/filesfordownloading/Baragadraft.pdf
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/tribalgov/ImprovingPartnerships.pdf
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Dave Anthony & Northern Michigan University Center for Native American studies:
http://webb.nmu.edu/Centers/NativeAmericanStudies/SiteSections/Calendar/IEDSHighlights.shtml
http://webb.nmu.edu/Centers/NativeAmericanStudies/SiteSections/AboutUs/AboutUs.shtml

Manoomin Project:
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096416108
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org/wildrice2007.html
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,215966.%20shtml
http://blog.americanfeast.com/indigenous_food
http://www.goodnewsdaily.com/show_story.php?ID=3500

Manoomin Project Videos:
http://blip.tv/file/549632
http://blip.tv/file/341528/
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Dreamcatcher:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamcatcher_(Native_American)
http://www.dreamcatcher.com/home.php
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Northern white cedar:
http://forestry.about.com/library/tree/blntwh.htm
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More on honeybee decline:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollinator_decline
http://www.masterbeekeeper.org/pdf/pollination.pdf
The Value of Honey Bees As Pollinators of U.S. Crops in 2000 by Drs. Roger Morse and Nicholas Calderone of Cornell University (2000) :
Colony Collapse Disorder (or CCD) is a poorly understood phenomenon in which worker bees from a beehive or Western honey bee colony abruptly disappear. While such disappearances have occurred throughout the history of apiculture, the term Colony Collapse Disorder was first applied to a drastic rise in the number of disappearances of Western honey bee colonies in North America in late 2006.
European beekeepers observed a similar phenomenon in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, and initial reports have also come in from Switzerland and Germany, albeit to a lesser degree. Possible cases of CCD have also been reported in Taiwan since April 2007.
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Please God ! - Protect the northern Michigan wilderness from pollution & greed

Admission is free but donations are welcome at the Dec. 5, 2008 documentary event in Marquette, Michigan.

Despite a passionate outcry by the public, Michigan officials - including the Democratic governor - are allowing an international mining company with deep pockets to forever change the pristine wilderness known as the Upper Peninsula.

In fact, Governor Jennifer Granholm's top northern Michigan aide recently quit his job to become a government relations official (lobbyist) for the mine's parent company - no doubt a lucrative position.

When the friends of the wilderness betray nature - like our democrat governor - humans have sunk to a new low. Many call it an "Acid" mine because it's deadly byproduct is Sulfuric acid.

Despite a terrible track record and using unproven technology, Kennecott Minerals claim its Eagle mine project won't harm the environment. They must think Upper Peninsula residents are stupid - or greedy.

Once this sulfide mine opens near Lake Superior and beneath a pristine trout stream - the floodgates will open across the Upper Peninsula as numerous mining companies are planning to build acid mines and uranium mines.

The Eagle Project is located between many locations used to film "Anatomy of a Murder." In "Anatomy of a Murder: The Sequel:" Many fear it's northern Michigan's tourism industry that will be beaten to death in an environmental rape that will forever strip the innocence from the Lake Superior basin.

The Marquette Iron Range may not have been perfect as it mined iron ore - but those high paying jobs employed thousands for a century or more.

The sulfide mine is expected to close after about 7 years and employ between 100 to 150 workers.

When the mine managers leave -  what will be left behind?

The must-see documentary was financed by the Charles S. Mott Foundation and produced by the National Wildlife federation.

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Related Links

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National Wildlife Federation

Save the Wild UP

Save the Wild UP Blog

Save the Wild UP story on the Mining Madness documentary

Cedar Tree Institute

Governor Granholm's top U.P. aide goes to work for Kennecott parent company

Lansing City Pulse article with more on documentary, politics and Governor's Granholm's top aid - and point person on controversial mine - going to work for Kennecott parent company