WVC at Omak Green Fest 2012 scheduled for April 20

The fourth annual Green Fest 2012 at Wenatchee Valley College at Omak is scheduled for Friday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. As part of Earth Day celebrations, the event will feature a variety of activities on sustainable living and environmental issues. All of the activities are free and open to the public.

Keynote speaker Dr. Claver Hategekimana, WVC Distance Learning coordinator, will present the lecture “Use of Solar Energy to Reduce Carbon Footprint.” Dr. Hategekimana, who is from Rwanda, works with third-world countries in Africa on how to build low-cost solar energy kits.

The award-winning documentary Waste Land will be shown. The film is about renowned artist Vik Muniz’s journey from his home in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and the world’s largest garbage dump. He photographs an eclectic band of “catadores,” or self-designated pickers of recyclable materials. A workshop on how to make eco-friendly detergent and deodorant will be taught to participants.

Music and activities will continue at 5 p.m. at the Omak Civic League Park, with a performance by the Adrian Xavier Reggae Band. Phi Theta Kappa will be holding an eWaste drop off.  Participants may bring their eWaste to the festival to be recycled. eWaste includes televisions, computers, monitors, towers and laptops.

Green Fest is a family-friendly community event sponsored by the Associated Students of Wenatchee Valley College at Omak that celebrates eco-friendly living and informs participants on ways they can live more in-tune with nature and have fun doing it.

For more information about Green Fest 2012, contact Livia Millard at 509.422.7814.