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EPA's Earth Day event features Mayor Hickenlooper and famed Nile expedition leader

Release Date: 4/18/2005
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Denver -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Denver office will welcome Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and renowned expedition leader Pasquale Scaturro to its Earth Day celebration Thursday, April 21 from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at 999 18th Street in Denver. Denver radio's KOSI 101.1 will broadcast live from the second floor mezzanine from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

At noon, Pasquale Scaturro will speak to EPA staff and their families about his experience leading the first source-to-sea descent of the Nile River, an epic adventure featured in the IMAX movie, "Mystery of the Nile." Mr. Scaturro will describe leading his crew through 114 days and 3,260 miles of churning whitewater, malaria, killer crocodiles, 150-foot waterfalls and blinding sandstorms.

At 1 p.m. Mayor Hickenlooper will accept two environmental murals from EPA for inclusion in Denver's Earth Day Mural Project. Mr. Scaturro will also present a mural to the Mayor, depicting his historic expedition of the Nile. The EPA's Denver office is a sponsor of the Project, which will join together 600-plus environmental murals to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest painting in the world. The Environmental Mural Mile is one of 12 miles that are being created by the Art Miles Mural Project in support of the UNESCO Decade for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence Among Children of the World.

"Earth Day provides an important opportunity for us to consider how our lifestyles, consumer choices, and behavior at home and at work impact the environment," EPA Region 8 Administrator Robbie Roberts said.

EPA's celebration of the 35th annual Earth Day will include "Bring Your Kids to Earth Day" events in the second floor Conference Center from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The events will provide hands-on learning of environmental concepts for 3rd through 8th graders. Specific activities include Mural Painting, Earthworm Composting, Eating Locally, Energy and the Environment, Birds of Prey, Recycled Crafts, and a Platte River cleanup activity. Registration for "Bring Your Kids to Earth Day" events is limited to EPA employees and their families.

EPA will also participate in a public celebration of Earth Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the second-floor mezzanine of the Denver Place building at 999 18th St. On the first floor near the EPA Information Center visitors can compete in an "Earth Day bingo" competition for a special prize. On the second floor there will be 15-plus displays and booths where visitors can:

• learn about the hunting behavior of birds of prey while observing them up close
• discover the health benefits of organic produce and community-based agriculture
• hear about the impact of climate change on skiing and other outdoor winter sports industries
• sign up for Windsource renewable energy from Xcel
• learn about wildife trafficking and enforcement at U.S. ports of entry such as airports and borders
• test their environmental IQ at the EPA Jeopardy quiz show

And much more! The public is encouraged to attend the mezzanine events.