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Many local organizations have been forced to readapt their Earth Day celebrations as a result of the coronavirus crisis. With stay-at-home orders in place, many are going virtual with their events marking the 50th anniversary of the unofficial holiday. We’ve compiled a list of online gatherings to mark the environmentally-conscious occasion from home:
Stanford University
Starting April 20, Stanford University is hosting five days of events that focus on all things environmental. The main event is a virtual summit on climate resiliency, which will be held on Tuesday, 12:30-2 p.m. Among the local, regional and state speakers is Nuin-Tara Key, deputy director of climate resiliency at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. Visit sustainable.stanford.edu for a full list of the week’s events.
Green Foothills
Former Congressman Pete McCloskey, a co-founder of Earth Day, and his wife, Helen, will be among the speakers at Green Foothills’ virtual Earth Day celebration on Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. The panelists will discuss a wide range of issues, including Earth Day’s origins, the growing green movement, the effort to preserve sacred lands, protecting Coyote Valley and taking care of wetlands along the bay. For more information and to register, visit greenfoothills.org.
Peninsula Open Space Trust and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
The Wild and Scenic Film Festival, an event cohosted by the Peninsula Open Space Trust and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, will showcase environmental and adventure films for free starting on Wednesday. The four-week event will focus on challenge and resilience; wildlife; people and nature and caring for the land. Anyone interested in participating can register at openspacetrust.org.
Palo Alto High School ECO Club
To mark Earth Week, Palo Alto High School’s ECO Club is offering green tips everyday on Monday through Friday through its Instagram account. The community is invited to post a photo of themselves acting on the day’s tip and tagging the club @paly.eco to be entered in the club’s raffle for a chance at prizes.
On Wednesday, the club is hosting an environmental Kahoot! game at 5 p.m. through Zoom. Members of the public can participate through this link or through Meeting ID: 765 1282 4247. Anyone who joins is asked to be respectful and safe.
The celebration continues later in the week, likely on Saturday, according to organizers, with an online screening of the documentary “Terra.” The 2015 film explores the relationship between humans and other living creatures. More details on the screening will be published on the club’s Instagram page.
Stanford University and Ellen Fletcher Middle School
Stanford University and students from Ellen Fletcher Middle School will hold a special Earth Day podcast that will be streamed by KZSU Stanford on Wednesday at 7 p.m., according to tweet from the Stanford Woods Insitute. Speakers will talk about what’s changed since the first Earth Day and share their vision on how to address current environmental issues. Viewers can listen on 90.1 FM or online at kzsu.stanford.edu.
Gunn High School Green Team
Gunn High School’s Green Team is running an Earth Week photo contest through this Friday. The community is encouraged to take a photo in their neighborhood that celebrates nature and share by email to greentgunn@gmail.com by Friday. The winner will receive a Hydro Flask bottle that will be awarded once the shutdown is over.
Peninsula Peace and Justice Center
The Peninsula Peace and Justice Center, based in Palo Alto, is holding a climate rally online this Friday. The event will include a video presentation where climate experts and activists discuss climate justice and political engagement during and after the pandemic.
The virtual event will also include several speakers, including Chris Field, director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. Students who are also members of the Silicon Valley Youth Climate Strike are also scheduled to speak.
Participants can expect to see community members share creative signs, chants and artistic designs to mark Earth Week.
Those interested in joining the rally on Friday at 5:30 p.m. over Zoom can register here.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby
Citizens’ Climate Lobby, which has a Silicon Valley North chapter made up of multiple Midpeninsula cities, will hold a free virtual Earth Day event on Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. PDT (1-4 p.m. EDT), over Zoom.
Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, a scientist and host of the PBS series “Global Weirding: Climate, Politics, and Religion” will kick off the event as the keynote speaker on the topic “Healthy People, Healthy Planet.” Viewers will also learn ways they can help the climate from home during a 15-minute session and then participate in a breakout session that will last for about one to two hours.
To join by video conference, visit citizensclimate.zoom.us. To register for the event, visit eventbrite.com.
Want to see your local Earth Day featured on this list? Send us the details at editor@paweekly.com.
Find comprehensive coverage on the Midpeninsula’s response to the new coronavirus by Palo Alto Online, the Mountain View Voice and the Almanac here.
Quieter streets invite us to enjoy earth-friendly, family-friendly bike rides and walks and learn traffic safety skills–while carefully keeping socially distant. I just found a great new information source to help us do this!
• Palo Alto Safe Routes to School is offering NEW virtual and online bike and pedestrian safety educational resources and activities. https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/trn/safe_routes_to_school/default.asp These include free, personally customized virtual consultations for families. Bring your questions and ask the experts. If you aren’t sure where bicyclists are supposed to ride on the road, are looking for tips for physical distancing while walking or biking during Shelter In Place, are wondering what kind of bike or accessories can improve your walking/biking experience, or if you have other questions, set up a virtual appointment by emailing saferoutes@cityofploalto.org <saferoutes@cityofploalto.org>;
• Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22 and every day!
1). Choose earth-friendly transportation as often as possible;
2). Share the road safely by following Safe Routes to School tips. https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/60871
If you are new to riding or want to get out on a bike more often, check out Palo Alto’s Safe Routes to School Educational Resources for handy information about quieter routes for walking and biking and safety skills information. Find it here. http://cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/trn/safe_routes_to_school/education_resources.asp
Learn how to experience your best ride possible! Riding bikes and walking is a great way to stay fit, have fun, and be green while getting where you want to go.
Happy trails, friends!