Community event planned to raise global warming awareness

COLUMBIA — The Columbia Climate Change Coalition and the Daniel Boone Regional Library will host an educational movie screening and public discussion to raise community awareness and address the issue of global warming.

The free event runs from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Columbia Public Library and will include a screening of the documentary “Everything’s Cool.” The movie was featured at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and discusses America’s new awareness of the issue of global warming and the transfer from non-renewable to renewable energies.

The film will be followed by a panel and public discussion with lawmakers, the media, businesses and individuals on future solutions to the global warming problem. Rep. Judy Baker and Bill Allen, a former biofuels policy coordinator for the Carter administration, will be among the panelists.

Monta Welch, Columbia Climate Change Coalition excutive director, said she hoped the event would educate and inspire conversation and unity about global warming solutions.

“Some people are still not sure what they think and it’s hard for them to separate facts from fiction,” Welch said. “This event will help clarify for some folks what side of the fence they are on this issue. We need to see what we can do about this and move forward together.”

Free compact fluorescent light bulbs will also be available at the Tuesday evening event. For more information, contact Welch at 529-9273 or go to ColumbiaClimateChangeCoalition.org.