The premiere of the Pale Blue Dot brought close to 500 people to Grafton on Memorial Day weekend to experience a first-time Museum event named after late astronomer Carl Sagan's description of the Earth upon his seeing a photograph of the planet taken from outer space by the crew of Voyager 1. Increasing signs of global ecological distress led the Museum Board and staff to consider new ways to engage people to think about their relationship to the natural world and its resources.
The Pale Blue Dot was developed to appeal to a wide variety of ages and interests by offering a variety of presentations and experiences in which one might have an AHA moment: an awakening of each person's connection to the Earth and a sense of empowerment to make a difference. A clear example of this was the tremendous response and action the Grafton Elementary fifth grade students had to the Plastic Tumbleweed project.
>>>WATCH a slideshow of people and events...
Friday Night's Events
Friday night's Big Bang celebration in the lovely Craven barn in Grafton -- enhanced by good music, food, and entertainment -- featured an informal address by Jeffrey Hollender, co-founder of Vermont's Seventh Generation. Hollender's personal passion for responsible action toward the environment is reflected in Seventh Generation's products and company policies. His plea for the early teaching of systematic thinking to be applied broadly throughout life was powerful. His perception and articulation of the big picture was compelling to many in the audience as he urged individuals, corporations, and countries to act systematically upon their responsible beliefs now to protect the world we know. An auction of four premier packages of adventure, gardening, Boston excursion, and Cape Cod getaway drew enthusiastic response and garnered money for the Museum's educational programs.
Saturday's Events
Saturday saw a full day of presentations, activities, and entertainment centered around the earth's resources and how we interact with them. A series of talks aimed at adults by leaders in the field of architecture, permaculture, locavore food, and Vermont's landscape and economics featured prominent speakers.
- John Bramley, "Can Vermont's Landscape Work and for Whom?"
- John Connell, "Your New Home: Green, Custom and Factory-Built"
- Amy Cotler, "The Locavore Way"
- David Jacke, "Eden Arising: Ecological Design and the Inner Landscape"
- Don McCormick, "Integrating Renewable Energy, Food, and Fuel Systems," Carbon Harvest Energy, Brattleboro
Professional percussionist Donald Knaack, aka The Junkman, led a workshop for young people ages 10-16 to create their own instruments from recycled materials. Sessions aimed at teens featured Phebe Meyers of Change the World Kids on her volunteer work with students; and a Cool Jobs session on science careers featured archaeologist Gail Golec, whale research scientist Philip Hamilton, and ornithologist and AVEO Program Director Kate Yard.
In addition, there were healthy ethnic foods by local vendors, world music by Trei Arcusi, and many new exhibits at The Nature Museum on the theme of "Endings and Origins." A finale parade featuring Bread and Puppet Theater and marching musicians, including the New Orleans Brass Band Project of Southern Vermont, with rhythm by The Junkman and his recent junksters, encouraged scores of attendees to join the surge around Grafton in celebration of the Earth.
Plastic Tumbleweeds
Throughout it all, winding in the field behind the Museum, around the ball field, and over to Main Street was a line of 2,663 plastic grocery bags, which had been collected and tied in a continuous line by students at Grafton Elementary School to signify the number of plastic bags used each second across the nation.
The visual impact was supplemented by PowerPoint presentations the students had researched and created outlining the negative effects of plastic bags. Inspired by their research, students designed their own reusable bags for people to purchase. In addition, they presented a bill to the Vermont legislature to ban the sale and use of plastic bags throughout Vermont. If this bill were adopted, Vermont would become the first state in the nation to take that step.
The students' activism produced a positive, tangible result that had been inspired by the Pale Blue Dot. These young people researched the facts surrounding plastic bags and, armed with this knowledge, went into action to make a difference. Kudos to all the Grafton Elementary School students who participated and the adult educators and volunteers who supported their efforts!
Thank You!
Thank you to all the professionals who presented programs; to the sponsors and donors who provided the funding for tents and other costs; to generous individuals and companies that donated items for the auction; and to the many volunteers, artists, and contributors who made the two days of events possible. We could not have accomplished this wonderful event without their help. We are grateful to everyone who supported our efforts and made the Pale Blue Dot such a success.
See the complete list of contributors.
The Future of Pale Blue Dot
Now we are assessing the future of the Pale Blue Dot. We welcome any comments or suggestions you might have. Please email them to our Board President at earthmom@willdanforth.com.
