Earth Day 2011

Learn about Earth Day

looks at the history of Earth Day and what it really means to us Earthlings.

Earth Day: The History of A Movement

Each year, Earth Day -- April 22 -- marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

The height of hippie and flower-child culture in the United States, 1970 brought the death of Jimi Hendrix, the last Beatles album, and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Protest was the order of the day, but saving the planet was not the cause. War raged in Vietnam, and students nationwide increasingly opposed it.

At the time, Americans were slurping leaded gas through massive V8 sedans. Industry belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of legal consequences or bad press. Air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity. “Environment” was a word that appeared more often in spelling bees than on the evening news.  Although mainstream America remained oblivious to environmental concerns, the stage had been set for change by the publication of Rachel Carson's New York Times bestseller Silent Spring in 1962.  The book represented a watershed moment for the modern environmental movement, selling more than 500,000 copies in 24 countries and, up until that moment, more than any other person, Ms. Carson raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment and public health.

Earth Day 1970 capitalized on the emerging consciousness, channeling the energy of the anti-war protest movement and putting environmental concerns front and center. 

Each year, Earth Day -- April 22 -- marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

"San Francisco Earth Day Festival 2011"

SAN FRANCISCO—New on the Earth Day scene this year is Earth Day SF: a free public event focused on helping our community take action steps toward creating eco-sustainable solutions to our local and global ecological challenges.

This robust new educational festival and multi-cultural entertainment event will keynote pressing environmental issues & promote solution oriented community action. Music, performance and well-known speakers & activists will grace our three stages, Earth Day Main Stage, Speaker's Stage and Earth Mama Stage. Exhibitions, hands on workshops and solution-based talks on eco-green topics are major components of the event in our Permaculture Zone, Alternative Energy Zone, Holistic Wellness Zone and Youth Zone.

Join leading members of the business and indigenous communities, artists and artisans, civic community leaders, local "eco-green" politicians, traditional ceremony keepers, workshop leaders, eco-green & youth activists and environmental & social justice organizations in an inspirational day of hands-on local solutions.

Founders of Earth Day SF are Green Zone Productions and One World-One Voice, co-producing the event in cooperation with the National Organization for Women,Living Mandala, Solar Living Institute, Raw Bay Area, Visionary Culture, Sustainable Living Roadshow, and with the support of Harmony Festival, Global Exchange, Earth Island Institute, 350.org, Green Kids, Teens Turning Green, Grind for the Green /Green For All, Hope and Beyond and more.

The public will experience interactive learning and art projects, green jobs info, organic food offerings including a Sustainable Feast Raw Food Chef Demo, organic beer and wine tasting, green film festival, cutting edge eco fashion shows, alternative vehicle showcase and much more!

Participants have the opportunity to learn how we can all become more connected by creating solutions to pressing environmental issues and learn to live more sustainable, regenerative and meaningful lifestyles...while having FUN!

Earth Day SF is actively seeking sponsors, exhibitors and volunteers.

*Save Endangered Sea Turtles for Earth Day

Scientists estimate that 6.4 million tons of garbage are dumped into the ocean every year. The massive amount of garbage that litters our oceans is one of the main reasons why nearly half of the world’s species of sea turtles currently face extinction.  This issue is particularly serious in the South China Sea, a major lane of migration for many species of sea turtles.  Luckily, at least one organization is dedicated to protecting these cute critters.

Sea Turtles 911 is a non-profit organization based on China’s island province of Hainan, the southernmost Chinese region.  In addition to the work they do year-round­­­­—dubbed the “Five R’s: Rescue, Report, Rehabilitate, Reproduce and Release”—on Earth Day 2011, Sea Turtles 911 will partner with student volunteers, tourists and the staff of the local Ritz-Carlton for its first Earth Day beach cleanup!  Not only will they comb the beaches for refuse—a task of particular importance because sea turtles lay their eggs on beaches—they will also educate tourists and locals alike on the danger posed to the survival of turtles around the world by the increasing human consumption of turtle meat.

Earth Day Network applauds Sea Turtles 911’s efforts. It’s not too late for you to help make the planet safer and healthier! Organize orjoin in an Earth Day activity, using our free Earth Day and educational resources!