earth day events
Reclaim Power at Earth Day ATX
E
PLASTICS WARS Celebrate Earth Day
Locally and Globally E
arth Day, on April 22, will serve again as a galvanizing force on ways to save our planet. With the theme
of End Plastic Pollution, the Earth Day Network (EDN) is setting a specific focus this year on the importance of reducing the use of plastics and finding more Earth-friendly alternatives (
EarthDay.org). T e nonprofi t notes that of the
approximately 300 million tons of plastic annually produced to make bags, bottles, packages and other commodities worldwide, only about 10 percent is successfully recycled and reused. T e rest ends up in landfi lls or as litter, leaching dangerous chemicals into soil and water, endangering humans and wildlife alike. EDN asks everyone to pledge
to switch to sustainable alternatives, subscribe to its newsletter, spread the word via social media, educate and mobilize citizens to demand action,
and donate to support the adoption of a global framework to regulate plastic pollution that will engage individuals, companies and governments worldwide. Further, EDN is extending people’s
ability to take personal responsibility by self-rating and guiding their involvement via practical toolkits. “People can create and follow a plan to reduce their plastic footprint and also share that data to help others via the Billion Acts of Green online campaign,” says Valeria Merino, vice president of Global Earth Day, adding that participants will be able to create an ongoing record and track their commitments. T e initiative is also providing materials, tips on organizing cleanup events and social media tie-ins. Help Austin celebrate and forward
progress in sustainability eff orts by participating in various local Earth Day 2018 events, including the following.
This video post went viral:
Tinyurl.com/
PlasticizedSeaLife 8 Austin Edition
AustinAwakenings.com
arth Day ATX 2018 takes place from noon to 7 p.m., April 21 at Huston-
Tillotson (H-T) University. T is year’s festival theme is Reclaiming Power, with programming and activities focused around power—local power, human power, sustainable power and more. Attendees will be able to participate in a wide variety of hands-on learning oppor- tunities and experiences for people of all ages. New themed areas include World of Biking; Changemaker Café; Community Justice Hub; and the Local Power Stage, which will feature new opportunities for immersive and interactive engage- ment. Complimentary returning favorites will include the Modern Vehicle Zone, Eco-Discovery Zone and Movement and Wellness Zone. T e 2018 Earth Day ATX also prom-
ises a March for Science; three outdoor stages featuring live music, speakers and interactive discussions; a panel discussion moderated by Texas Tribune’s Evan Smith; the Eco Discovery Zone; a children’s area; rock climbing; bike demos and workshops; a maker space; and food trucks off ering healthy foods. Earth Day Texas Austin is a nonprofi t
that produces Earth Day ATX and other events including the Green Eggs & Ham breakfast networking series. T eir head- quarters, T e Austin Green Room, is a con- necting point and community resource for the Austin area environmental community. H-T University is Austin’s oldest institution of higher education, founded in 1875. H-T is a historically black university striving to be the “greenest historically black college and university in the country.” T e school has been recognized for their recent sus- tainability eff orts and programs including the Dumpster Project and Green are the New Black. “Our goal is to make this the most
experiential, educational and engaging Earth Day event that Austin has ever seen,” says Reed Sternberg, director at Earth Day Austin. “We are taking
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