9 AM EDT, June 28, 2005
Contact: Jeff McIntire-Strasburg
Phone: (314) 398-1502
Email: jmcstras@animail.net
Web Site: http://sustainablog.blogspot.com
St. Louis, MO – June 28 – St. Louis-based blogger Jeff McIntire-Strasburg will celebrate the second anniversary of his weblog sustainablog by hosting a 24-hour “blogathon” called “Blogging ‘Round the Clock” to raise funds for the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Earthways Center. The event will take place on July 11-12, 2005.
McIntire-Strasburg, an assistant professor of English at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO, made his first post to sustainablog, which is dedicated to the topic of environmental sustainability, on July 11, 2003. “In those two year, I’ve written several hundred posts, and facilitated discussions on everything from solar energy to organic farming to ‘green’ business,” said Mcintire-Strasburg. “Two years is quite a run for a blog, so I felt like this anniversary deserved a celebration.”
“Blogging ‘Round the Clock” will involve McIntire-Strasburg posting to sustainablog for twenty-four hours straight. “I plan to do it with lots of organic coffee, and a little help from my friends.” He has enlisted a number of other "green" bloggers to donate writings to the effort, and plans to publish about fifty posts during the event. Among the bloggers that will contribute to “Blogging ‘Round the Clock” are Joel Makower, an author of numerous books on sustainable business and founder of GreenBiz.com and ClimateBiz.com; Jamais Cascio, senior contributing editor of the Utne Independent Press Award-winning WorldChanging.com; Dave Roberts, assistant editor and blogger for online environmental magazine Grist; and Jacqui Hossford, publisher of green building blog Enviropundit.
McIntire-Strasburg has asked his readers to pledge donations for each post he makes. “Most of the pledges have been in the $.25-.50/post range, and I’d love to raise many small pledges to support the Earthways Center.” He choose the Center as the recipient of funds raised because “it’s a symbol for St. Louisans of the environmentalist maxim “Think Globally, Act Locally.” I couldn’t think of another local institution that better embodies the ideas and issues my readers and I discuss and debate on a daily basis.” Earthways Center Program Manager Jean Ponzi notes “Getting the message out about the value of ‘green’ is the core of EarthWays Center's work. All our programs and outreach are geared to educate and motivate people - to excite people! - about the connections between how environmental protection safeguards the health of individuals and communities, and how investments in resource conservation can yield immediate cost-savings and long-term wealth for the community at large, not just for a few quick-gain individuals… Sustainabilty is a terrific focus for a marathon online dialogue - there's so much to engage with! EarthWays Center appreciates this effort by sustainablog to share the green spotlight - as well as the ‘folding green’ pledges to Missouri Botanical Garden!”
McIntire-Strasburg also hopes that “Blogging ‘Round the Clock” will serve to raise futher awareness of environmental issues, and the innovative solutions that businesses, individuals and non-profit organizations have proposed and enacted to address diverse problems like climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity. “So many environmental problems seem overwhelming. With sustainablog, I want to highlight the many people and groups that are engaging these problem with creativity, ingenuity and passion.”
ABOUT JEFF MCINTIRE-STRASBURG, PH.D.
Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of English and coordinator of interdisciplinary humanities at Lincoln University. He received his Ph.D. in English from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in December, 2001. He has taught English courses at UNLV, Jefferson College, Webster University and St. Louis University, and has published writing in a variety of academic and general-interest publications.
ABOUT SUSTAINABLOG
sustainablog is a weblog focused on environmental and economic sustainability, green and sustainable business, and environmental politics. Started in July, 2003, sustainablog receives about 200 visitors a day, and is linked by over 100 other blogs and websites.
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