What's Happening?
Earth Day 2000 is far too big to be fully annotated here, but a quick trip to www.earthday.net will provide a roadmap to Earth Day 2000 celebrations around the U.S., and around the world. Here are some of the American highlights.
California
Los Angles: Heal the Bay's EarthFaire 2000 with major musical talent and other celebrities; The Clean Energy Fair, featuring 100 exhibitors from around California, an organic farmer's market, displays and booths showcasing cutting-edge environmentally responsible products and solar and wind energy, and activities for children; The Earth Day Spring Cleanup in the neighborhoods around Expo Park – thousands of volunteers will clean up trash, paint over graffiti, and plant trees for Earth Day. CONTACT: Heal the Bay, 2701 Ocean Park Boulevard, Suite 150, Santa Monica, CA 90405/(310)581-4188, www.healthebay.org or www.earthdayla.org
San Diego: The 11th annual EarthFair 2000 in Balboa Park will be held on Sunday, April 16. This annual event features the Environmental Heroes Awards, hundreds of booths, and such entertainment as the All-Species Parade, as well as food and activities for kids. CONTACT: San Diego Earth Day, P.O. Box 9827, San Diego, CA 92169; San Diego Earth Works, P.O. Box 9827, San Diego, CA 92169/(619)496-6666.
San Francisco: Earth Day 2000 is a free, interactive, educational event at the Civic Center on April 22. To begin the day, independent parades from all over the city will converge at the Civic Center. There will also be an Earth Day Energy Fast, with participants turning their lights off, walking to work, and in general doing everything they can to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CONTACT: San Francisco Earth Day Coalition, 870 Market Street, Suite 1011, San Francisco, CA 94102/(415)989-8648; Earth Day Energy Fast, 1002 1/2 North Sweetzer Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069/(323)654-6237.
Colorado Boulder: The American Solar Energy Society Earth Day Network is hosting an event with a special focus on solar power and photovoltaics. CONTACT: Solar Energy Society, 2400 Central Avenue, Suite G-1, Boulder CO 80304/(303)443-3130.
District of Columbia The Washington event, which will probably be the largest in the world, will take place on a solar-powered Mall stage, with actor Leonardo DiCaprio presiding as host. Both national and international music acts are promised, and the entertainment will be complemented with special high-tech “energy pavilions,” offering hands-on exhibits and opportunities to sign up for direct action. If all goes according to plan, the EarthFair trash will get recycled, and clean energy will have been used wherever possible. CONTACT: Earth Day Network, 91 Marion Street, Seattle, WA 98104/(206)264-0114, e-mail: earthday@earthday.net.
Florida Orlando: Rollins College is putting together a combination tree planting and canoe cleanup at Bush Auditorium to celebrate Earth Day, and a fair is planned for the Tibet-Butler preserve. CONTACT: OIMS Environmental Committee, 1315 South Orange Avenue Suite 3-A, Orlando FL 32806/(407)423-4680.
Georgia Atlanta: The Environmental Fund for Georgia hosts the Down to Earth Day Celebration, featuring more than 100 green activities. Events include an all-volunteer Green Day, a statewide high school contest, an Earth Day Party in the Park and Rock Down to Earth, a benefit concert. Environmental Fund for Georgia, 1447 Peachtree Street, Suite 502, Atlanta, GA 30309/(404)873-3173.
Illinois Chicago: Chicago is going all-out for Earth Day with a month of events that include an organic food fair, a renewable energy demonstration (featuring free electric car rides) and a concert on the waterfront. CONTACT: Nuclear Energy Information Service, P.O. Box 1637, Evanston, IL 60204/(847)869-7650.
Massachusetts Boston: The Earth Day Network will host a huge, free concert on the esplanade and power the stage with solar energy. Public transit will also be free for the day. Acres will be set aside for environmental tabling, food vendors and arts and crafts. CONTACT: Massachusetts Earth Day Network 2000, 11 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116 02116/(617)247-0700.
Michigan Kalamazoo: Panel discussions on global warming consumerism and deregulation. Also, an outdoor fair with booths, awards for school and community activities, all at the Nazareth Complex. CONTACT: Earth Day, 3299 Gull Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49001/(616)373-5336 or (616)344-9124.
New York New York City: Some 1.8 million people came to New York's mammoth Earth Day event in 1990. For 2000, plans include a street fair, a United Nations Peace Bell Ceremony and park restorations. Earth Day New York, 203 East 42nd Street, Suite 1314, New York, NY 10017.
Texas Austin: If the past is any guide, Austin, Texas' celebrated music community will turn out for an all-day Earth Day fair organized by local group Ecology Action. In nearby San Antonio, Randolph Air Force Base will be greened with tree planting ceremonies. CONTACT: Ecology Action, 707 East 9th Street, Austin, TX 78701-2607/(512)322-0000.
Washington Seattle: The Earth Day Puget Sound Coalition will host a large fair at the Seattle Center on April 22. At New Stadium Exhibit Hall, there will be a two-day consumer show featuring eco-friendly products. CONTACT: Earth Day Puget Sound, 91 Marion Street, Seattle, WA 98104/(206)264-0114; Northwest EnviroExpo, 1008 Western Avenue, #601, Seattle, WA 98103/(206)464-0194.
Tri-Cities: There will be clean-up and beautification projects in Kennewick, Richland and Pasco. A celebration in Richland's Howard Amon Park April 22 will feature 70 exhibit booths, children's activities and entertainment. CONTACT: Tri Cities Earth Day 2000, 505 Swift Boulevard, Richland, WA 99352/(509)942-7730.