By Rafaela Prifti/ April 22 marks the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Inspired by the widespread anti-war movement on college campuses around the US, a junior senator from Wisconsin Gaylord Nelson sought to merge the students’ energy with the environmental conscience. According to official records, Earth Day inspired 20 million Americans – at the time, 10% of the total US population – to take to the streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development. For half a century Earth Day is observed by gatherings and events that advocate awareness and activism for the state of the planet. Due to the global pandemic of the coronavirus, the gatherings and other events have been canceled but the celebration continues online. Here is a compiled list of events posted online at earthday.org
A range of activists, along with entertainment and political celebrities, will offer discussions, performances, teach-ins, and suggestions for action on the office website of the Earth Day movement. It runs for 24 hours. Among the participants, Pope Francis, Steve Ballmer, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Dave Matthews.
ANIMATION & POETRY FOR OUR 50TH EARTH DAY
Program includes 10 short animated films by professional animators, college students, and children, all from the Pacific Northwest and curated by artist and animator Marilyn Zornado.
An “international telematic festival” featuring live performances by a variety of multimedia artists.
In a World Earth Day Sculpture Challenge, Jupiter Artland and the Centre for Interaction Design at Edinburgh Napier University invites young people to explore sculptures by professional artists and build their own sculptures. The winning design will join Jupiter’s permanent collection.
NAT GEO EARTHDAY NEIGHBORHOOD SAFARI
National Geographic encourages kids to start their own safaris by creating artwork featuring their favorite animals (there are resources on the website) and then hanging their art out so that others can see them from their windows or as they safely walk around the neighborhood.
There is a wide range of other events such as invitations for children to send in art or to participate in sing-alongs, classes about rooftop gardens and climate workshops. You can find something of interest at the website through a calendar of events or you filter the events by type, age group, and language. You may also add an event of your own.
