Activism: Announcing the Green Generation

Earth Day Network (EDN) is marking Earth Day 2009, April 22, with the kickoff of their Green Generation Campaign, a two-year project culminating on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in 2010. Raquel Garcia, EDN communications manager, says the Green Generation’s core principles are: a carbon-free future based on renewable energy, building individuals’ personal commitment to responsible, sustainable consumption and creation of a new green economy that lifts people out of poverty.

A big component of Earth Day 2009—and of the Green Generation—will be school greening projects. Sean Miller, EDN director of education, says that might involve anything from setting up a recycling program to installing solar panels. EDN has received grant monies to purchase solar panels for underserved, urban schools. “This is a donation that will save the schools money, energy and emissions. It also serves as an opportunity to educate the students and local community members about alternative energy through Earth Day celebrations that will correlate with the installations,” says Miller. Two such schools that will be “greened” this year are Belmont High School in Los Angeles and Thurgood Marshall Academy, a public charter high school in Washington, D.C.