CoolGlobes began with a Hot Idea
Cool Globes was developed in 2006 by environmental activist and concerned mother of four, Wendy Abrams. Upon reading TIME magazine's April 9, 2001 issue ("Global Warming: Climbing temperatures. Melting glaciers. Rising seas. All over the earth we're feeling the heat. Why isn't Washington?"), she became concerned that temperatures could rise to catastrophic levels in her own children's lifetimes.
Alarmed at the lack of government action on the issue and shocked that the general public knew next to nothing about climate change, Wendy spent the next six years educating herself about global warming and sharing her knowledge with others. She was inspired to educate others about global warming and potential solutions. The "Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet" project is the result of the efforts of a dedicated team of hundreds of individuals committed to encouraging people to act to reduce global warming.
Cool Globes is a partnership between the non-profit, government and public sectors of society to increase awareness about and provide individuals and organizations with potential solutions that they can implement in their day-to-day lives and business operations to help combat global warming. Specifically, Cool Globes has partnered with the City of Chicago's Department of the Environment, the Chicago Park District and the Field Museum. Exelon Corporation is the project's presenting sponsor.
The Art and Artists
"Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet" is an innovative project that uses the medium of public art to inspire individuals and organizations to take action against global warming.
Since the theme of the exhibit dealt with the Earth, Cool Globes commissioned sculptor Matt Binns, who specializes in the creation of large models of the Earth, to design the handcrafted model for the five-foot-in-diameter Cool Globes.
Cool Globes worked with Chicago's Department of Public Art to invite artists who worked on the "Cows on Parade" project in 1999 to submit proposals to design a globe. In addition, the local art community identified other artists that might be interested in participating. Cool Globes originally planned to have only about 30 globes in the exhibit. However, due to overwhelming response from artists, the project featured more than 120 globes on display this summer, each depicting a potential solution to global warming. The development of each globe was underwritten by an individual, organizational or corporate sponsor.
Public Education and Awareness
Additional CoolGlobes initiatives will increase awareness about what the public, government and organizations can do to fight global warming. These include the June 1 grand opening and the July 11 business leaders roundtable. A "CoolGlobes for Cool Kids" papier-mache globe contest will help educate the younger generation about the global warming crisis and what kids can do to be a part of the solution. The general public can learn more about the potential solutions to global warming through the CoolGlobes Web site and through docent-led tours of the exhibit that provide interactive discussions about the solutions portrayed on the globes.
Cool Globes: A Carbon-Neutral Project
Leading by example, CoolGlobes is a carbon neutral project. To offset the carbon emitted from the energy needed to create and maintain the exhibit and related events, CoolGlobes has developed a diversified strategy that includes donated "green tags" (renewable energy certificates), investments to plant trees and foster environmentally friendly agricultural practices, and in-kind donations from alternative energy companies.
