Ross Gelbspan, Area Supporters

Help Power Race to Stop Global Warming

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

NEWTON - The third annual (Boston’s first) Green House Network’s Race to Stop Global Warming, an 8K which took off Saturday in Newton, was powered not only by runners of all ages, but sponsors and supporters as well. United in their concern for sustaining a habitable environment for future generations, businesses, contributors and notable community leaders joined to produce a family event that was as enjoyable as it was worthy. Features of the day, which began at 9 a.m. at the Wells Avenue Office Park, included a 1K Children’s Fun Run, Diaper Dash and Toddler Trot as well as prizes for top runners. Bread and Circus Whole Foods Market volunteers staffed a Food and Water Tent with donated treats such as allGoode Organics "Real Food Bars" and drinkable yogurt distributed by Stonyfield Farms’ Moo Crew. Old running shoes were collected by Nike for recycling into new sports items to be donated to communities around the world.

“As the Mayor of Newton,” said Hon. David Cohen, who walked in a city team, “I issued a challenge to other Massachusetts mayors to get involved. I also encouraged all Newton residents to participate, either as runners, walkers, volunteers, or spectators. Newton was proud to be a host for this event.” Races took off at other cities, including Seattle, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Portland. Local sponsors included Nike, Aveda, Environmental Defense, Pax

World Fund Family, WBOS, allGoode Organics, Stonyfield Farm and Gaiam (Whole Foods).

The Town of Brookline, which joined the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign in 2000, endorsed the event and had representatives there as well, as did town community group Climate Change Action Brookline. (The Town has drafted a Local Action Plan on Climate Change, available at http://www.townofbrooklinemass.com/conservation/climatechange.html).

Also manning a booth was Ross Gelbspan, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author of bestselling book “The Heat is On,” which President Clinton told the press he was reading that year. An advisory board member of Green House Network since its inception three years ago, Gelbspan worked at the Boston Globe for 30 years and has long been a respected voice in the environmental movement.

Gelbspan made a presentation in Sept. 2000 to a group of Senators and Congressmen in D.C. His strategies were received by delegates and NGOs at the Hague climate talks in The Hague. He has appeared in numerous publications and on myriadtelevision and radio programs.

A Chicago native, Gelbspan attended Hebrew school at the conservative synagogue Temple Anshe Emet, where he was bar mitzvahed in 1952. At college, he began his leadership role at the pulpit. “I attended Kenyon College in Ohio,” he said, “where, at the time, the school had a graduation requirement that students attend religious services six times a semester. Since the only house of religion available to the students was an Episcopalian Church on campus, we started Friday night services for Jewish students and I acted as de facto rabbi in conducting them.”

Judaic groups and events where Gelbspan has spoken include a 2001 COEJL event, a Northwest Jewish Environmental Project in Portland, Oregon, the Northwest Jewish Environmental Project in Seattle, a luncheon talk at Brandeis University, and Congregation Beth David in Canton. He has also worked with a number of interfaith groups that have mobilized around the climate issue.

Information on Gelbspan’s book and work can be accessed at www.heatisonline.org.

“The Race to Stop Global Warming,” said Green House Network Communications Director Lorien Sekora, who is Jewish, “is more than just a run and walk that is focused on the causes, impacts and solutions to global climate change. It is a place where people representing all facets of life can gather under one banner and show their support for taking care of that which makes it all possible - planet Earth.”

For information on the Green House Network and the Annual Race to Stop Global Warming, please call 503-522-0565 or visit http://www.greenhousenet.org or http://www.racetostopglobalwarming.org.