Earth Day festival intends to educate and entertain
While it is important to be environmentally conscious year round, Earth Day serves as a one day reminder of people’s global responsibility.
“It’s a good day to come together and acknowledge the earth as a community not just through individual efforts,” said Eric Binkley, 23, a junior English major.
The CU community is coming together to spread awareness and enact change environmentally on Earth Day, which is on April 22. From about 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. there will be an Earth Day festival on Norlin Quad and at the UMC fountain.
Emily Schosid, a senior environmental studies major, vice-chair of CoPIRG and an employee at the Environmental Center, said that the festival hopes to educate students on what they can do personally to make a difference globally.
“The theme for the day is ‘save the planet, save the people,'” Schosid said. “The only way for you to live in a sustainable way is to put people first. I think a lot of people forget that connection.”
CU Biodiesel, a club that promotes the use of biodiesel fuel on campus and in Boulder, is hosting biodiesel wrestling. Participants will tumble around in a kiddie pool full of the alternative fuel. Schosid said that biodiesel is safe enough for people to eat, although she does not recommend it, and that most people do not understand how harmless it is for people and the environment.
There will also be many field day games in which anyone can participate. To stress the importance of using reusable totes rather than plastic bags, there will be a tote bag race, similar to a potato sack race, and Frisbee golf that uses totes as the holes.
The festival will also feature a social action station where people can sign petitions or call politicians and demand more environmental responsibility and policy changes.
Sarah Haynes, 28, a senior environmental studies major and volunteer and promotions coordinator for the Environmental Center, said that all of these activities aim to get people involved.
“There are a lot of stereotypes around environmentalists,” Haynes said. “We’re focused on breaking those down. (Environmentalism) is seen as an elitist movement, but it’s not because the environment is for everyone.”
In addition to the activities, there will be several sustainable businesses showing off and selling their products including Green Guru Gear, Peace Together, Sector Nine and Africa Bags.
The Environmental Center and the Women’s Resource Center are hosting Fashion SWAP from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in UMC 417. Unwanted clothes, jewelry or other items can be brought in order to swap for someone else’s. Anything left at the end of the event will be donated to the Boulder County Safehouse.
You can contact Campus Press Staff Writer Morgan Keys at morgan.keys@colorado.edu.
