Green Drinks talks initiatives at 1st meeting of 2013

With a drink in one hand and the desire to go green in the other, the Bloomington branch of Green Drinks met Wednesday evening to begin the year.

Green Drinks is an international organization that encourages local, social and educational interactions regarding environmental issues. Edwin Datschefski, who founded Green Drinks in 1990 in London, England, said in an email he estimates there are 1,000  branches in 60 countries. The Bloomington branch was formed in 2009, said Marcia Veldman, a member of the organizing committee.

“It was an instant success here in Bloomington,” Veldman said. “It’s helped bring together people interested in sustainability, but working on it in different sectors. I think through Green Drinks those connections are made.”

At Wednesday’s meeting, IU geology professor Michael Hamburger presented “Catastrophe! Natural Disasters, Sustainability, and the Future of Civilization.”
“He was kind of comparing the two parts of his professional interests ­— natural disasters, things out of human control, and things in the environment that are results of people’s choices,” O’Donnell said.

Hamburger said his talk was a turnaround from typical speeches on protection of the environment to protection from the environment.

“It’s a topic that interests people,” he said. “What I tried to do was link the concept of disasters and disaster mitigation with the concept of sustainability and the long-term survival of civilization.”

He spoke to a packed house of about 80 people, Veldman said.

Hamburger said the audience was responsive for his first presentation with Green Drinks.

“They were an engaged and interested audience and after a few beers, they were eager to learn more,” he said with a laugh.

Green Drinks meetings typically last from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Banquet Facility of the Upland Brewing Company.

Each meeting combines a presentation by a speaker with time for the green community to socialize and make announcements.

“It’s a really neat way to bring together people in the sustainability community,” Veldman said. “Because Bloomington is kind of a sustainability hot spot. It allows us to get speakers in the forefront of sustainability issues.”

Molly O’Donnell, a Bloomington resident and a regular Green Drinks attendee, said a wide variety of topics are discussed.

“It’s interesting to meet people talking about creating a hiking trail or focused on local food,” O’Donnell said.

Green Drinks will meet again 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Upland Brewing Company. The meeting will feature presentations from local faith communities and solar contractors who will be installing solar panels this spring at four Bloomington places of worship.