15,000 people expected for ‘Clean Energy Now’
By Daily Press staff
While Earth Day is officially April 22, there is plenty of celebrating and educating going on today.
Thousands are expected to attend “Clean Energy Now,” which will be held all day on the Third Street Promenade.
In honor of the 34th anniversary of Earth Day, the Promenade between Broadway and Wilshire Boulevard will be transformed into an EcoFest from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. in efforts to demonstrate how greater Los Angeles puts ecological lifestyles into practice.
There will be 60 environmental exhibits and a solar-powered stage, featuring environmental speakers including Santa Monica Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown, and Earth Day LADirector John Quigley, who gained a modicum of recent fame by sitting in the Old Glory Oak Tree in Santa Clarita for months.
There will be eclectic world music performances by Electric Skychurch, Champa 51, Stephen Longfellow Fiske, Peter Alsop, Rob MacMullan of VH-1’s “You Rock” series, virtuoso violinist Jennifer Nacke, The Agape Children’s Choir, Lyle Gregory, Green Power Girl, Holistic- Hooping.com and special guests.
“This is an extremely important Earth Day because in this election year we have a choice between clean energy solutions or the continued dependence on fossil fuels and the associated issues of global warming, pollution and war,” Quigley said.
“In addition to the theme of clean energy, we are also suggesting people ‘vote for the Earth,’ both in their consumer purchases, and at the ballot box,” he said. “Earth Day is a chance for people to educate themselves about environmental solutions already in the marketplace and learn effective ways they can take action.”
An estimated 15,000 attendees will witness “solutions for a sustainable lifestyle,” demonstrating how the right energy choices support America’s national security, and featuring leading ecological product choices. Exhibitors will promote hydrogen fuel cells, Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles, a Honda natural gas-powered car, solar energy systems, environmentally responsible investing and energy efficient appliances.
Families will also be exposed to hemp and organic cotton clothing displays, “Earth Tic-Tac-Toe” and exotic wildlife. There will be many kid-friendly exhibits and activities as well.
National and local environmental organizations will be on hand at the free event and will include Earth Day LA, the National Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, California League of Conservation Voters, Rock The Vote, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Environment 2004, Earth Institute, International Earth Day Network, Heal the Bay, TreePeople, Coalition for Clean Air, Coalition for the Environment & Jewish Life, Global Green USA, Surfrider Foundation and many others.
The fete is also a chance to clean up the environment through volunteer efforts by Heal the Bay, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring a healthy future for the Santa Monica Bay.
Volunteers will gather at Malibu State Park at 10 a.m. to replace non-native species with native plants in efforts to restore habitat and prevent stream bank erosion. There will also be restoration efforts at Malibu Lagoon State Park. Volunteers are asked to meet at the park at 10 a.m.
Tools and gloves will be provided for volunteers. Be sure to bring drinking water, sunscreen, hats and boots or appropriate waterproof footwear.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 17, 2004. Read the original PDF.