Contact: Elle Thoni, People Over Petro Coalition
Email: elle@peopleoverpetro.org | Phone: 507-421-2673

MEDIA ADVISORY

“Bessie” the Lake Erie Monster is coming to Cleveland –
and she’s got plastic on her mind.

(Cleveland, OH) – Built by local artists and constructed from plastic trash pulled from the Cuyahoga River, Clevelanders will be able to catch sight of the legendary lake monster at a riverside press conference and rally about plastic pollution on Wednesday, November 12th.

What: “Bessie the Lake Erie Monster Launch and Rally for a Plastic-Free Cleveland” will feature the launch of a life-size floating sculpture on the river, as well as science, health, and community leaders speaking about the plastic pollution problem in Cleveland and Ohio.

Who: Local water advocate and year-round kayaker Eddie Olschansky, i.e. “Trash Fish,” conceived and designed Bessie with local puppet artist Ian Petroni at Ingenuity Cleveland. They are supported by regional environmental groups, including the People Over Petro Coalition, Third Act Ohio, The Climate Reality Project NE Ohio Chapter, and Earthworks. The event is free and open to the public.

Why: Plastic is building up in our lakes and in our bodies. According to the Lake Erie Foundation, the lake has one of the highest concentrations of microplastics in the world. But not many people know the role that local industry plays. Ohio is the #1 producer of plastic in the US and is an emerging hub for waste-to-fuel plastic burning, misleadingly called “advanced” or “chemical recycling.” We are rallying to say no to Ohio becoming a “gateway” for the plastics industry and show that Cleveland is ready to step up and be a national leader in real solutions to the plastic pollution problem.

When: The press conference and rally is scheduled for 3:00pm Wednesday, November 12th with a 3:30pm launch time for the Bessie float from across the river. In the event of inclement weather, the rally will take place at the same time and place the following day, Thursday, November 13th. Any weather-related changes to the event will be posted on bessiesightings.com

Where: Members of the press and public should gather at Settler’s Landing Park at Old River Road, Cleveland, 44113. The location is well-connected to transit via the Settler’s Landing Station connected to the Blue and Green lines. Parking is available at Canal Basin Park lot nearby.

Photo Opp: Bessie will be launched from Great Lakes Watersports on the East side of the river and will travel downstream to the public boat dock at Canal Basin Park for photos with attendees following the rally.

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