The City has canceled the Pasadena Earth and Arts Festival for 2015. According to City Manager Michael Beck, "Staff has decided to use its efforts this year to offer a month-long celebration tied to the Mayor's Water Challenge and participate in (and advertise) several events throughout the city instead of the Earth and Arts Festival."
The annual festival was a Pasadena tradition for 12 years. Held at Memorial Park and the Armory Center for the Arts across the street in honor of Earth Day (April 22,) it was free and one of the biggest Earth Day celebrations in Southern California. The family festival included activities, exhibits and entertainment. The City set up tables to inform residents about energy, water-wise and waste-reduced living. Local environmental groups from the Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition to the Citizens Climate Lobby presented their work, goals and ambitions at booths.
Therese Brummel of Transition Pasadena, one of the most active sustainability organizations in the city, said that she was disappointed about the cancelation of the festival. With regards to the possibility of a series of events in connection with the Mayor's Water Challenge she also told Pasastainable: "Water is a top item for our concerns. I am certainly 100 percent for that."
Showing posts with label Earth Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Earth Day. Show all posts
From protest to action: Honoring Earth Day
It's hard to believe, but 44 years ago, on April 22, 1970, a war divided America was able to unite around one cause: environmentalism. On that day, 20 million people gathered for rallies, teach-ins and street blockades. Following the calls of a Democratic senator and a Republican congressman, Gaylord Nelson and Pete McCloskey, they protested against the increasing destruction of the environment. Earth Day was born.
More than four decades later environmentalism is nothing new, nor are the problems we face. Some things have gotten better, others worse. (An article in today's New York Times, Forty-Four Years of Earth Day, highlights some of the achievements and challenges.) On the political front, the demonstrative unity of the original Earth Day is gone. What has sprung up instead are local grassroots movements and within them the often quiet but active will of many individuals to engage themselves for a more sustainable world by picking up shovels in community gardens and by sharing their backyard crop, talents and services.
In Pasadena, an especially large number of groups is pushing for a more resilient community. What ties RIPE Altadena, the Arroyo S.E.C.O. Network of Time Banks, Transition Pasadena e.a. to the original Earth Day is the belief that our environment needs protecting. But there is also something that separates them: their form of environmentalism is as much about doing as about protesting.
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To find out more about local sustainability groups visit their tables at the Pasadena Earth & Arts Festival on May 3.
To learn more about the history of Earth Day go to http://www.earthday.org/greencities/earth-day-2014/history-of-earth-day/. And while you're there, make sure to watch the 5-minute replay of a TV interview with two of the organizers of Earth Day No. 1.
More than four decades later environmentalism is nothing new, nor are the problems we face. Some things have gotten better, others worse. (An article in today's New York Times, Forty-Four Years of Earth Day, highlights some of the achievements and challenges.) On the political front, the demonstrative unity of the original Earth Day is gone. What has sprung up instead are local grassroots movements and within them the often quiet but active will of many individuals to engage themselves for a more sustainable world by picking up shovels in community gardens and by sharing their backyard crop, talents and services.
In Pasadena, an especially large number of groups is pushing for a more resilient community. What ties RIPE Altadena, the Arroyo S.E.C.O. Network of Time Banks, Transition Pasadena e.a. to the original Earth Day is the belief that our environment needs protecting. But there is also something that separates them: their form of environmentalism is as much about doing as about protesting.
- - - - - - - - - - -
To find out more about local sustainability groups visit their tables at the Pasadena Earth & Arts Festival on May 3.
To learn more about the history of Earth Day go to http://www.earthday.org/greencities/earth-day-2014/history-of-earth-day/. And while you're there, make sure to watch the 5-minute replay of a TV interview with two of the organizers of Earth Day No. 1.
Descanso Gardens celebrates Earth Day
Descanso Gardens in La Cañada is inviting visitors to celebrate Earth Day by participating in its festivities this Saturday, April 19.
The planned activities range from a pollinator walk that will illustrate the role insects and larger animals play in nature to a make-and-take-home science project. The California Shakespeare Ensemble will present Stories Under the Oaks. Programming in the California Native Garden will focus on wildflowers and butterflies.
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When: Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
What: Activities for families
Please see the Descanso Gardens website for details.
The planned activities range from a pollinator walk that will illustrate the role insects and larger animals play in nature to a make-and-take-home science project. The California Shakespeare Ensemble will present Stories Under the Oaks. Programming in the California Native Garden will focus on wildflowers and butterflies.
- - - - - - - - - - -
When: Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
What: Activities for families
Please see the Descanso Gardens website for details.
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