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EPA Provides Major Funding to Earth Keeper Initiative The highly successful Earth Keeper Initiative would not be possible without funding.Major grants and other contributions have been provided by a wide range of people who believe in saving the planet - from grassroots donors to a government agency.Major funding has come from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans - a non-profit company that provides financial services for all faiths.In an upcoming story - we'll look at Thrivent Financial and it's contributions to the projects including helping to create the student arm of the Earth Keeper Initiative at Northern Michigan University.In part 2 of our series volunteer media advisor Greg Peterson looks at the EPA's contributions and reaction to the annual Earth Day clean sweeps:The Earth Keeper Initiative is one federally funded project that truly makes a huge difference - getting big things done on a tight budgetBy any measure, the Earth keeper Clean Sweeps - pound for pound - are one of the most successful grassroots environmental projects ever funded by the U.S. Government. The project has mobilized tens of thousands of people to protect the environment despite being located in one of the remotest areas of the country - Michigan's pristine Upper Peninsula.The United States Environmental Protection Agency has provided grants for the Earth Keeper Initiative.Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of tons of toxic waste has been removed from the environment thanks to the Earth Day clean sweeps - and the project is only three years old.The third annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep in April 2007 saw about 2,000 northern Michigan residents bring in pharmaceuticals and personal care products.Many also brought in drugs from family, friends and neighbors.On Earth Day 2006 - the second Earth Keeper Clean sweep brought in over 320 tons of electronic waste including old computers and cell phones.About 10,000 residents participated in the three-hour events at two dozens collection sites across the Upper peninsula of Michigan. including Mackinac Island where motor vehicles are not allowed - and old fashioned horses pulling drays were used to haul away modern day computers that were no longer useful.The first clean sweep in April 2005 netted about 45 tons of household hazardous waste including poisons like insecticides, herbicides, drain clean, oil-based paint, and hundreds of vehicle batteries. Residents even turned over two pounds of raw liquid mercury.All items collected during the three cleans sweeps were either recycled or properly disposed.The projects are sponsored by the Superior Watershed Partnership, the Cedar Tree Institute, 9 faith traditions with 140 participating churches and temples, and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.None of this would have been possible without a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.In fact organizers Carl Lindquist and Rev. Jon Magnuson got the Earth Keeper Initiative off the ground thanks to an EPA environmental justice grant.The first "clean sweep" project was funded by portion of a $15,000 Environmental Justice Grant.The Environmental Protection Agency grant was awarded to the Cedar Tree Institute and the Central Lake Superior Watershed partnership.In fact, all three clean sweeps has been funded in part by an EPA grant.Carl Linquist is director of the Superior Watershed Partnership and Rev. Jon Magnuson is director of the Cedar Tree Institute.After securing the EPA, grant Lindquist starting working on the vast logistics of the clean sweeps - while Rev. Magnuson visited the bishops or faith leaders of all 9 faith traditions.They are: Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, and Zen BuddhistEPA official John Perrecone of the Midwest region office located in Chicago - visited several collections sites during the Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep.Perrecone was impressed with the 400 volunteers - many of whom were mobilized thru the power of the pulpit as religious leaders across northern Michigan strongly encouraged their congregations to volunteer or participate in the clean sweeps.Perrecone said the EPA believes hazardous waste collections are an important tool in protecting the environment.The U.S. EPA is vital to the success of the Earth Keeper Initiative.In part three - we'll look at another major donor - Thrivent Financial - a not-for-profit financial services membership organization and fraternal benefit society.This is Greg Peterson and you are watching Earth Keeper TV.For more information contact the Superior Watershed Partnership at 906-228-6095 and Greg at 906-475-5068, or email: earthkeeper@charter.netEarth Keeper TV:http://earthkeepers.blip.tv/Earth Keeper related website addresses are:The Superior Watershed Partnership:http://www.superiorwatersheds.orgThe Cedar Tree Institute:http://www.cedartreeinstitute.com/The Lake Superior Interfaith Communication Network:http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com/Ecumenical Good News Site - long version of release:http://www.goodnewsdaily.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4853Short version of story with photos of 100-year-old medicines:http://www.prweb.com//releases/2007/4/prweb522589.htmMarquette, MI paper - Day After Event story:http://www.miningjournal.net/stories/articles.asp?articleID=14005Marquette paper - AP story:http://www.miningjournal.net/stories/articles.asp?articleID=14185Lake Superior Interfaith Communication Network - Cedar Tree Institute:http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com/cleansweep2007.htmlEnvironment News Service - story line up - scroll down:http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2007/2007-05-07-09.asp#anchor6Good News Network:http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/content/view/1981/248/ Great News Network:http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/over_a_ton_of_drugs_500000_in_narcotics_collected_in_2007_earth_keeper_phar

• Release Date

  May 13, 2007

• Runtime

  05:31