Cool Globes

Last weekend in Chicago I walked along the lakefront to see the Cool Globes. Its a public art display of over 100 decorated globes that focus on ways to confront global warming.

I saw it several weeks ago before it was completely set up when there were no plaques explaining what each globe is about. It made much more sense this time. The person I was with last time was concerned that they focus on taking small actions and don't ask people to do enough. This time, with the descriptive plaques in place, I was impressed by how many different angles of climate change and energy solutions were tackled between them all.

Some of the sponsors were a little self serving. A globe sponsored by Toyota was about fuel efficient cars. An investment firm sponsored one about investing in "green" businesses. But I think that's harmless since the messages are good ones.

This one about rooftop gardens is one of my favorites:

There was one globe about population control that I thought was pretty boring at first. It was nothing but a bunch of little colored dots placed around the world. Then a friend pointed out that the little dots were birth control pills!

Another focused on compost worms. If you lift the boxes on the side you can see the worms working away.

I recently learned that someone I know has compost worms in her apartment. She keeps them in a big plastic tub and throws in scraps of food that the worms turn into mulch. I started to tease her for having worms but she seemed a little sensitive about it. So, I went back to making fun of her Solar Oven as "just laying food outside." Although indoor or outdoor compost worms may sound odd at first, I'm completely convinced that they're a great idea.

You can see the globes on the lakefront near the Field Museum if you're in Chicago