Perhaps you had planned to participate in the villagewide clean-up of parks on April 24 to commemorate Earth Day. Or you might have had other activities scheduled to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22.
Now, with all of us sheltering in place, those plans have been canceled. Once again, technology is coming to the rescue.
“On April 22, Earth Day goes digital,” the Earth Day Network announced at https://www.earthday.org. The site includes a wealth of information about Earth Day — including a calendar listing some 200 online events. Here are a few that piqued our interest.
• The Energy Futures Initiative and Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Program will host a virtual event at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, discussing the way forward on climate and health. The event will begin with remarks by former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, followed by a panel discussion on the climate and health nexus. Experts will discuss the impacts of climate change on human health, highlighting economic, security and social equity issues. Panelists are Michael Greenstone, director of the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago; Amy Luers, executive director of Future Earth and director of the Center for Sustainability in the Digital Age; and Jacqui Patterson, senior director of the Environmental and Climate Justice Program NAACP. To register, visit https://aspeninst.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FHWLzCwPRtivn_P0ouRHGw
• Join the New York Botanical Garden for Earth Day 50 with NYBG at Home, featuring multiple days of online programs. From observing and documenting nature to transcribing historical documents, people can take part in fostering a greater understanding of the natural world. Fellow citizen scientists of all experience levels join online projects focused on gathering and safeguarding data and knowledge about plant biodiversity. Go to https://www.nybg.org/event/take-action-with-citizen-science-webinar/.
• Sky Day Project is a global citizen artwork created by British artist and SkyDay founder Ben Whitehouse. Suitable for all ages, Sky Day Project is designed to connect people to the sky and to each other. Simply look up and document your experience of the dynamic changes overhead and then upload your sky-only photos to https://www.skydayproject.org between April 22 and 30.
• Participate in one or more of 100 free virtual presentations over five days. Topics include outdoor education, sound healing and guided meditation, Reiki and other healing modalities, yoga, spiritual offerings and ceremonies, martial arts, drumming and dancing, live music, arts and crafts, cooking, canning, children’s activities and more. Visit https://touchmotherearth.com/earth-day-5-day-virtual-festival
• After 7.5 years of travel with their vintage tiny home (72 square feet), Shari and Hutch share their story of global adventure, stewardship and personal growth in this Zoom meeting from 4 to 5:30 p.m. April 22. Accompanied by stunning imagery, their story is sure to inspire, entertain and challenge participants to think differently about life on the open road. The event is sponsored by George Mason University’s Social Action and Integrative Learning (SAIL) and other departments. Visit https://zoom.us/j/740209848
• Celebrate Earth Day with PlanToys by participating in the Great Global Cleanup. Clean up your garage, living spaces, yard and street, and encourage neighbors and friends to do the same from a distance. For a chance to be featured on the @PlanToysOfficial Instagram account, take a picture of your efforts and tag #PlanToysEarthDay in the post. Go to https://www.facebook.com/PlanToys/ on Earth Day to download some fun coloring sheets for the kids.
