It’s official: There’s a full fledge Great Copy Machine Epidemic in our children’s schools. American schools are asked to help combat the epidemic by joining a national day of action to stop global warming on April 17th. To participate, schools need to put their school photocopiers under quarantine and pledge not to make or use any photocopies on that day. To participate:

1. Put together a team of the most creative, fun-loving, eco-conscious students and friends that you can find.

2. Perform a proper medical inspection to “diagnose” your copy machine and determine what disease you believe is making it chew up paper at such an enormous rate. Unfortunately, creating paper uses lots of energy, so it creates lots of CO2 that’s contributing to global warming and making the planet sick.

3. Send an email to the copy crisis team at copycrisisteam (@) gmail (dot) com confirming that your school photocopier has been struck by the disease, and include the name of your school, town, state, and the number of teachers and students who are being affected by it.

4. Then ask the teachers and students in your building not to make or use any photocopies in classes on Wednesday, April 17th as part of a national day of action to stop global warming.

5. On April 17th dress up your photocopier with the disease you’ve diagnosed. Remember, it can be real or imaginary as long as it demonstrates the fact that global warming is real and that we can do something about it by making better choices when it comes to the use of photocopies.

6. Take a photo of your copy machine displaying the “symptoms” you’re observing and email it to the copy crisis team at the address above by 9 pm EST on Friday April 19th, 2008.

7. Then come back on Earth Day to see if your entry is among the top 10 finalists chosen by our crack team of experts here in North Babylon and posted on this website.

8. Cast your vote to determine which of the top 10 diagnoses most accurately depicts the disease behind the Great Copy Machine Epidemic TM of 2008. After all, even a crack team of experts needs the help of everyone else to solve a problem like global warming.

9. Voting will close at 9pm EST on May 2, 2008. At which time the winner will be posted here and notified via email.

10. Remember to think twice before you make or use that extra photocopy in the future!

*** The school who “solves” this year’s epidemic will receive the title of “Copy Crisis Team of the Year” along with a $125 “tree-planting” grant for their school, generously provided by 3 teachers who have pooled their funds to make a difference.

Please visit the Great Copy Epidemic to learn more about how your child’s school can become involved and for updates on this spreading climate change disease.