On April 24, 2007, Patty and I were among the 700 or so who gathered in the Beth-El Zedeck sanctuary to hear Al Gore speak. It was, for us, an important and moving experience. The Beth-El Zedeck congregation did a superb job of hosting and managing the event. The large attendance stretched the capacity of the facility yet all seemed well under control - from the parking to the gracious greeters to the ever-present yet unobtrusive security. The introductory speeches were gems of oration - intelligent, informative, and movingly gracious. When this well dressed, diverse audience stood up to sing the Star Spangled Banner, a palpable sense of benevolent solidarity filled the hall. We knew that in spite or our many differences, we were united in our concern for the well being of Planet Earth. Al Gore was marvelous. Even though much of the material was drawn from his "An Inconvenient Truth", it took on new meaning in his personal delivery. Tailored to the audience, his 90 minute talk was informative, convincing, humorous, challenging, pertinent and moving. Not one person left the hall untouched. The dessert reception was a perfect ending. The sugar buzz provided by the delightful and plentiful sweets reenergized the audience. Among the myriad of effervescent conversations, a calm and patient former Vice President accommodated all who approached him with remarks, questions or requests - such as mine as you can see by the photograph. All in all, it was a marvelous evening. Yet today, I cannot help wonder how many in the audience will change the way they live in any significant way.

Green Gap is a phenomenon I have been observing with increasing frequency in our community. It is a good thing that more and more of our citizens are hearing and believing the message that Mr. Gore and many others are delivering that sustainability, at its core, is about the prevention of our human extinction. This is serious business indeed, and is the source for much anxiety. Many of these believers are, more and more frequently, inclined to attend meetings, join organizations, support environment groups, make sustainability part of their discussion and applaud Al Gore yet this has produced surprisingly little evidence that the only thing that really matters is occurring at all - a change of the way we live on this Spaceship Earth.

Two days prior to the Vice President's visit - on Earth Day 2007, "Green Broad Ripple", a newly formed not-for-profit organization, hosted "Glimpse the Future - A Colloquium on Local Sustainability" in the Frank Basile Auditorium of our wonderful Indianapolis Art Center. Four speakers presented first real Green efforts in our Community, our City, and our State. Projects already built, in the process of being built, and on the drawing board. These are efforts that are beginning to close the Green Gap - projects that are beginning to make an actual difference. Yet if we are to ensure that the Earth will continue to be habitable by us, our children, and grandchildren, it is imperative that we step up the effort. To this end, Green Broad Ripple was formed with a mission to Educate About Sustainability, Cultivate Green Commerce, and Develop a Green Master Plan for the Broad Ripple Community. Its strategy is to Strengthen Sense of Community, Gather Sufficient Resources, and establish a Consensus-Based Democratic Process.

"We have a Moral Imperative to save the Earth". The Vice President made this point most convincingly. To sit idly by as the Earth looses its capacity to sustain life is not only the height of foolishness, it is morally wrong. The time for words and half measures is over. What is needed is action: action at all levels - the individual, the community, the business/corporation, the state, the nation, and the world. We can begin a serious effort right here in Broad Ripple. Strengthening a Sense of Community is our first logical step. Green Broad Ripple will launch a concerted effort toward this end. If you would like to help, drop me an e-mail at cortellini@broadripplegazette.com. Get involved. You can make a difference.