Earth Day 2020

Written by Robin McGahey and Alicia Bynum, edited by Abbey Greene

April 22nd, 2020 marks the 50th Annual Earth Day. Now, more than ever, we look to our filmmakers, conservationists, advocates, and supporters for what to do next. As Toni Morrison said, “This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.” So, let us support the artists, the creatives, the communicators, and more and celebrate Earth Day together!

via GIPHY

We have compiled a list of events for you to attend (virtually, of course) and ways to get involved in Earth Day:
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• A free digital event, the Earth Optimism Summit is taking place from April 22-26, 2020. Watch the live broadcast for free right on their website, as well as on Facebook Live, Twitter, and YouTube. The digital event will be showcasing stories of both small and large-scale actions, framing the conversation and demonstrating that success is possible. Share your stories of success with #EarthOptimism and help them inspire millions of people around the world for greater impact!
  
  One part of their programming that you definitely don’t want to miss: Earth Optimism Film Night from 6:00pm - 11:59pm EST. Celebrate Earth Day by watching stunning films, including one-time-only live streams and world premieres, that illustrate successful individual and community conservation efforts worldwide. Curated by Jackson Wild, Earth Optimism Summit speakers, and the Smithsonian Conservation Commons.
  
  
• Have a Jackson Wild movie marathon on us! A lot of our finalists and winners are free to stream online, or available through various streaming platforms. Just hit that play button!
  
  
• Earth Day Live will be streaming from April 22 through April 24, showcasing activists, performers, thought leaders, and artists alike. Everyone will be coming together for an empowering, inspiring, and communal three day livestream mobilization. (Check out their list of participants, there’s a good chance you know at least a few names on the list!) Don’t forget to join the Earth Day Network while you’re at it!
  
  
• Watch Jane Goodall: The Hope, streaming on National Geographic. Follow the inspirational activist and leader Jane Goodall through her travels spreading a message of hope. Jackson Wild is proud to have hosted the global premiere of this film in association with our World Wildlife Day celebration at UN Headquarters. If you missed the event, now you can watch the film for yourself!
  
  
• Join Nat Geo's Explorers at Work. National Geographic's explorers in the field are working to save wildlife and wild places. Meet a few of them by watching their showcase of short videos. 
  
  
• Dominique Gonçalves, an Elephant Ecologist, and David Quammen, an award-winning author, are going live on Facebook with NEWF for a conversation over coffee. They'll be chatting all about biodiversity, ecosystem disruption, and zoonosis.
  
  
• WATCH! This Earth Day NEWF is sharing stories of hope told by Africa's next generation impacting conservation through film - "flooding the world with hope, optimism and action"! Visit their website and watch their Earth Day N.E.W Pitch Film Showcase, produced by the 2017 and 2018 N.E.W Pitch Winners. Films available for 24 hours only!
  
  
• Join Conservation International for a full day of panels and discussions on their  Instagram Live! Their full schedule includes appearances from Dr. Sanjayan, Ashlan and Philippe Cousteau, and more!
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• Paul Nicklen and Dr. Sylvia Earle will be on at 11 am PST for a must-not-miss talk via his Instagram Live!

• Lizzie Daly will be running another amazing Earth Live Lesson! On Earth Day, she’ll be starting off interviewing underwater filmmaker, Dan Abbott, about all things Great Whites. Afterwards, she’ll go on to talk to James Redcliffe & Lloyd Hopkins about tracking animal movements.
  
  
• Full episodes of Our Planet and Chasing Coral are streaming for free on Youtube. (No Netflix subscription necessary!)
  
  
• The International Wildlife Film Festival is going on until April 25th, so be sure to tune in. They’ve got a screening of some of our Jackson Wild Media Lab Fellows’ work, and some amazing films (that you might recognize from our own awards as well)!
  
  
• Join the 22 Day Earth Day challenge, an initiative created by Earth Day Networks. You’ll find resources and materials on all things composting, plastic audits, green power, reducing carbon footprint, workouts, and more tools for at home action.
  
  
• Not everything is movies! We’ve got some reading material for you too: check out Earth League International’s new graphic novels, depicting their work to fight wildlife crime. Earth League International (ELI), in its tradition of innovation and progressiveness, is launching a new and exciting project – graphic novels and comics designed to spark more awareness and understanding of the complex world of environmental and wildlife crime. Beginning on Earth Day, weekly issues of a longer continuous narrative about ELI’s work dealing with rhino horn trafficking will also be released.
  
  
• For all of those with kids, National Geographic has created a fun way to make an at home safari with their Nat Geo @ home. Create a neighborhood safari for your little ones!
  
  
• WildTrust’s Wild Oceans created at home Shark themed fun and games, including arts and crafts projects and cupcake decorating. 
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• Lastly, don’t forget: if you’re a young African filmmaker, submit your Documentary Short Pitch to NEWF for the 2020 N.E.W Documentary Short Pitch Competition!

All of these Earth Day events and activities have grown from the momentum that Earth Day has gathered over the years. Did you ever wonder how it got started?

In 1969, peace activist John McConnell proposed an idea that one whole day be dedicated towards honoring the Earth and World Peace. On April 22nd, 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin officiated America’s first official Earth Day celebration.

Photo Credit: Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Charles W. Harrity of Harvard.edu

Mr. McConnell founded The Earth Society Foundation as a result of lifelong efforts dedicated to “peace, justice and the care of Earth.” Mr. McConnel was the designer of the Earth Flag in preparation for the initiation ceremony of the first-ever Earth Day.

​Twenty some odd years later- Mr. Denis Hayes, the original coordinator for the annual American event, took the concept for Earth Day internationally with events in 141 nations worldwide.

In a recent interview with Inside Climate News, Mr. Hayes states, “There is simply no substitute for a billion people in the streets- and right now, that is against the law.”

Manhattan's Fifth Avenue was closed to motor vehicle traffic for the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Bettmann—Getty Images via Time.com

50 Years Later...​

Modern-day environmental activists like Greata Thunberg are stepping up to address climate change issues that our world continues to face in 2020. Ms. Thunberg’s legacy all started with a single school strike and has since spread to several country’s school systems adopting her “Fridays for Futures.” Thunberg has spoken at climate rallies and attended many noteworthy eco-conferences like the United Nations COP24. In 2019, TIME magazine named her Person of the Year.

Photo Credit: Thunberg with Jane Goodall/ Photograph: Benedikt von Loebell/World Economic Forum

​It is easy to see with the naked eye that Ms. Thunberg’s actions have led to substantial influence in today’s society. However, this eco-rockstar also walks the talk. Great Thunberg lives a low-carbon life, refuses to fly by plane, and is a known vegan. She is an inspiration and proves that anyone can do their part from wherever they are, right now, right this very moment.

​Peace Activists, Environmentalists, and Politicians united together 50 years ago to create this one day out of the year that brings nations together to celebrate the one and only planet that all call home. The message that stands out as clear now as it did then is this -

"(The) key is local participation."

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The Year is 2020...

What a time to be alive. The novel coronavirus has struck our society, pulling us closer together and teaching us new ways to adapt together. As we practice social distancing as a nation, we feel in unison the tension that grows with the unknown. And with that tension, we see so many new ideas being cultivated and humane leaders emerging from our communities.

The struggles we face as a nation with coronavirus and our climate are parallel. The ways that many of our small businesses and individuals are adapting throughout this pandemic are native to some and unheard of to others.

Photo Credit: Jamie Dove

​This small business owner in Northeast Tennessee delivered his farm’s first batch of “no contact deliveries” on April 17th, 2020 to locals around the community. Jamie Dove stepped up as the first restaurant owner in the region to voluntarily close down due to COVID-19. With little time to adjust frugal needs with business costs, River Creek Farm is out delivering fresh garden veggies to the locals of the Northeast Tennessee regions. Per the farm’s standards, they sell “clean, responsibly grown, local produce as priority” eliminating the use of chemical fertilizers, chemical herbicides, chemical pesticides, and GMOs.

Present Day: April 22nd- 24th

“... As we work to flatten the curve of this pandemic, we must strive toward the longer term goal of building a society rooted in sustainability and justice.” - Earth Day Live

Earth Day Live and more are joining together with activist brands like Ben & Jerry’s (featured in our Oceans, Whales, & Ice Cream) to launch a livestream event available to millions of people. Celebrities, musicians, and citizens alike will join hands in pledging to save the world.

Happy 50th Earth Day, see you there!