Earth Day

This year’s theme for action against global warming is Call for Climate. The eight major U.S. events, along with smaller events around the country are attempting to generate one million phone calls to Congress to urge action on global warming.

The National Mall in Washington, DC will hold the flagship U.S. event and one of the largest Earth Day gatherings in history.  Dozens of smaller events are planned in the area and across the country, from area clean-ups to tree plantings.

The daylong event will feature speeches by environmental leaders, government officials and celebrities, musical performances and dozens of environmentally-related exhibits.

Earth Day was first started in 1970, when Wisconsin U.S. Senator, Gaylord Nelson, after witnessing an oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara California, returned to Washington, DC to sponsor a bill to mark April 22nd as national Earth Day to focus attention on the environment.

Earth Day
The National Mall, south of the Washington Monument Between Constitution and Independence Ave. and 9th & 12th St.
Washington, DC (map it)

Dates and Times – Sunday, April 20, 2008 – Noon – 6:30 p.m.

Admission – FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Smithsonian, or Federal Triangle – Blue and Orange lines, or Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter – Green and Yellow lines, then then a 3-5 block walk, or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Metered street parking is available, but with any major event on the Mall, taking Metro or biking into DC is recommended.

Since it is Earth Day, it’s probably best to leave your carbon producing car in the garage and take Metro, ride a bike or walk to the event.

Images – Our Earth – NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Image by Reto Stöckli (land surface, shallow water, clouds). Enhancements by Robert Simmon (ocean color, compositing, 3D globes, animation). Data and technical support: MODIS Land Group; MODIS Science Data Support Team; MODIS Atmosphere Group; MODIS Ocean Group Additional data: USGS EROS Data Center (topography); USGS Terrestrial Remote Sensing Flagstaff Field Center (Antarctica); Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (city lights). Pollution – Flickr – Miguel A. Lopes “Migufu”.
______________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

• Water, including multiple films including a new episode
  of the Strange Days on Planet Earth series exposing mysterious toxins found in the world’s water systems. The film ‘Til the River Runs Clear presents the clean-up efforts of the Hudson River. The festival’s last day (March 22), also coincides with World Water Day.
• And on a local note, It’s Your Water–Use it Wisely educates children on how the Nation’s Capital sources and delivers its drinking water.
• Portraits of Environmentalist including Ansel Adams and Lady Bird Johnson.
• Environmental clean-up efforts of toxic and polluted sites around the globe.
• Protection of endangered species. 
• Alternative energy.
• The impact of war on the environment.

Additionally, the premiere of a new IMAX film, Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk, presented at the Johnson IMAX Theater in the National Museum of Natural History, explores water conservation during the trip down the Colorado River.

Most of the films are presented at Smithsonian and other museums, local embassies and other theaters.  In addition, many are FREE.

Environmental Film Festival
Presented at 46 venues throughout the Washington, DC area.

Dates and Times – March 11-22, 2008

Tickets – Free to $14.00, depending on film.  Some require advanced ticketing or reservations. Check the festival’s website for specific details for each film or call 202-342-2564.

Images – Courtesy of the Environmental Film Festival,  The Alps © MacGillivray Freeman Films, Battle to Save the Tiger © Save the Tiger Fund, Jungle Beat: Moondance © Sunrise Productions, Scarred Lands and Wounded Lives: The Environmental Footprint of War © USAF.

_________________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler