“Civil Rights March”, AirAid and SEE Expo Planned August 25-28

“All people have the right to breathe clean air”, declares Avram Friedman of the Canary Coalition, “That right is being violated by industrial polluters who are not utilizing readily available modern emission control systems. That right is being violated by government agencies that are failing to fully enforce existing air quality regulations. And that right is being violated by law makers who refuse to institute policies that mandate rapid smokestacks cleanups and promote the rapid development and transformation to power and transportation systems based on safe, clean and renewable resources coupled with conservation and energy efficiency programs.”

This is the premise of the upcoming Relay for Clean Air, a 24-hour, 100-mile “civil rights march”, along the Blue Ridge Parkway, from Newfound Gap in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to downtown Asheville, on August 25-26. The Relay for Clean Air will end that Friday night with the nationally publicized AirAid event at the Orange Peel, in Asheville, with singer/songwriter Steve Earle headlining and being joined by other well-known musical artists and speakers.  Meanwhile, in a coordinated effort, The Southern Environment and Energy Expo (S.E.E. EXPO) will be held from August 26-28 at the WNC Agricultural Center in Arden, where available renewable energy technologies and clean cars will be showcased.

“Our spectacular mountain vistas, abundant with diverse plant and wildlife, are all threatened by poor air quality and short-sighted thinking about the future.  AirAid is the siren's warning that in our lifetime great harm has been done to our mountains and the healing must begin today!” proclaims Dr. Anthony Deluccia former Chairman of the Board of the national American Lung Association, one of the scheduled speakers at AirAid.

Ned Ryan Doyle, S.E.E. Expo Coordinator said, “ Supporting the Relay for Clean Air and the Air Aid effort is part of the overall effort to show how all environmental, energy and economic issues are interrelated. Burning coal and driving fossil fueled cars and trucks impacts our air quality, burdens the health care system, effects the natural environment and costs us staggering amounts of money each year. Fortunately, there are viable, practical proven alternatives such as electric vehicles, low emission vehicles, bio fuels made naturally and sustainable energy technologies that produce clean energy. This year’s S.E.E. Expo will feature the Environmental and Conservation Organization’s  (ECO’s) ‘Clean Air Car Fair’, now the nations most comprehensive annual alternative fuel and clean vehicle car fair. The Canary Coalition and the S.E.E. Expo are working together to not only make the public aware of the problems we face, but to show that today there are a wide range of available options to solve those problems.”

The Relay for Clean Air is divided into 40 segments, some for walkers, some for runners and some for bike-riders. Review and download the schedule, then inform the Canary Coalition of when and where you'd like to plug in by emailing info@canarycoalition.org or calling toll free 866-4CANARY (866-422-6279). You'll be sent an instruction sheet and a pledge sheet to help find sponsors for your miles.

Tickets for AirAid are $20 general admission, $15 for participants in the Relay for Clean Air and S.E.E. EXPO vendors. For ticket information visit www.theorangepeel.net or, to call for ticket purchases by phone, use the Ticketweb toll-free number (866) 468-7630

For more information about S.E.E. EXPO visit www.seeexpo.com