Sitkans participated in a local march in solidarity with the People’s Cliimate March in Washington D.C. They marched down Lincoln Street with signs. (Emily Kwong/KCAW photo)

President Donald Trump marked his 100th Day in office on Saturday (04-29-18), days after lifting restrictions on offshore leasing in the Arctic. His stance on climate change has troubled some of his constituents in Sitka and they wrote their concerns in permanent marker. 

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In solidarity with a global demonstration called the People’s Climate March, eighty Sitkans took to the streets Saturday. They  held signs and called for clean energy jobs and environmental protections.

After the march, the group assembled over homemade cookie and handouts. All the environmental non-profits were manning tables, including the Sitka Global Warming Group, Bags for Change, Sitka Electric Vehicle Group, and Sitka Conservation Society. 

This is the second march in two weeks in Sitka. The Parade of Species drew approximately 200 people for Earth Day last weekend, dressed as sea snakes and tigers, singing dandelions and abalone.

Four-month-old Tristan Parker sits atop the shoulders of his father Arthur Parker.”It’s his future. It’s the next generation. We’re responsible for that,” Parker said. (Emily Kwong/KCAW photo)

Tristan Parker attended both. I’d interview him, but he’s only four months old and napping in his mother’s arms.

“It’s his future. It’s the next generation. We’re responsible for that,” said his father Arthur Parker. I ask Amber Parker, Tristan’s mother, what kind of future she hopes for her son. She describes a future with clean water, clean energy, and no plastic.

“I feel like we were created the earth to use it, not abuse it. It’s our responsibility to take care of where we were given to live. We want to instill that in our son to take care of the planet and enjoy it,” Amber said.

That spirit was echoed in Washington D.C., where the People’s Climate March drew 200,000 people.

Approximately 200 Sitkans participated in the annual Parade of Species under blue skies. Many were dressed as their favorite creature, walking and wiggling from Totem Park to the Sitka Sound Science Center. (Photo courtesy of Bethany Goodrich)

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Michelle Putz is part of Bags for Change, a community group interested in reducing the use of disposable plastic bags in Sitka. Putz talks about the health problems associated with plastic bags and efforts by her group to provide reusable bags across town.  The group has distributed collection boxes around town for citizens to donate clean, reusable bags. Those bags will then be distributed those needing them.  The boxes are currently at City Hall, the Sitka Public Library, Sitka Community Hospital, Hames Center, Chamber of Commerce, Spenard Builder’s Supply, and various churches.

The Bags for Change group is meeting tonight, February 27th, at 7 p.m. at St. Peter’s See House. For more information, call 747-2708.

The Green Business Awards are about more than recycling, Putz says. Businesses can promote sustainablility through a variety of practices. (Flickr photo/Eric)

Michelle Putz, with the Sitka Global Warming Group, is coordinating nominations for the Sitka Green Business Award. The certificate recognizes businesses for sustainable environmental practices. For more information, or to nominate a business, visit Sitka Global Warming Group online.

Downloadable audio.

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Michelle Putz, with the Sitka Global Warming Group, will be leading a community discussion on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. at the See House (behind St. Peter’s By the Sea Episcopal church). Called “Bag it for Change,” the group will will discuss their idea to put a fee on plastic and paper bags at grocery stores. Collected fees would go towards school funding residential electric rate stabilization, etc.

Putz will also be hosting a Climate Change Lobby at their house next Tuesday, September 27th.

What started out four years ago as a publicity project for Sustainable Sitka has turned in to a source of pride for some of the businesses who participate.

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Michelle Putz is a first-term member of Sitka’s Assembly who was elected last fall on an openly-green platform. She helped develop the Green Business Awards in 2009.

Putz says she wasn’t necessarily trying to create change, as much as acknowledge the change that was already happening.

“There were businesses out there that were doing good things. And that was really why it came about. We wanted to say thank you for what they were doing. But also it has led into a list of best business practices for being green, and supporting community, that other businesses now have. Sometimes they can pick up things from this list.”

The Sitka Global Warming Group and Sustainable Sitka score nominations in six categories: waste reduction, energy conservation, transportation, green materials, green products, and community environmental education.

Nominate an organization for a Sitka Green Business Award.

Karen Parker, with the Alaska Computer Center, says she didn’t wait for someone else to nominate her business.

“A lot of these are good business practices, and good for the environment at the same time, so we said, Since we’re doing it anyhow, let’s put in a nomination. And we did.”

The Alaska Computer Center has won a Sitka Green Business Award at the platinum level for all four years. That means they participate in over 15 green business practices.

Rob Parker appreciates the expansion in Sitka’s recycling program he’s seen since 2009.

“We collect cardboard, plastics, and then make a pilgrimage once a week to the recycling place. And as we’ve done that over the years I can see that the recycling people have given us more and more alternatives of materials that we can recycle.”

Rob and Karen Parker display a Green Business Award certificate at their sales counter. Other than that, there’s nothing about the appearance of their business that shouts “green.” But they believe the program has value, beyond just feeling good about the environment.

“There are people who will bring used ink cartridges back because they know we recycle them, when they’re getting their new ink cartridges. Or people who get a new battery backup because it’s more energy efficient than whatever’s been going on, and it preserves equipment. So, in that way I’d say they’re aware of it, and they appreciate we’re doing it, and would like to do it themselves.”

Twenty-six winners is a lot of businesses in Sitka. Even KCAW received a platinum award. The group also gave special recognition to fishermen, for their contribution the the local Fish-to-Schools program.

Putz and Sustainable Sitka want to give out even more awards this year, in another round in April. For Michelle Putz, the Green Business Awards won’t be over until there are no losers.

“I would love to have a big event. Presenting the awards at something very public. That would be a nice next step.”

KCAW’s Holly Keen contributed to this report.