Students Lead 40 Years of Earth Day

For 40 years, students have led Earth Day, a worldwide celebration to promote sustainability and conservation. While the theme has stayed the same, the movement itself has changed over the years.

From 1970 to 2010

“Earth Day in 1970 was a natural outgrowth of the counter-culture movement at the time and really reflected a sense that we could not go on forever without paying attention to the harm we were doing to the environment,” said Geoff Chase, dean of the Division of Undergraduate Studies.

“Since 1970, energy around Earth Day has waxed and waned, but it has always been a reminder of the fragility of life on the planet. Recently, Earth Day, because of a focus on sustainability, has taken on a renewed energy and it reflects not just a counter-culture sensibility, but a growing sense among the mainstream, as well, that we need to protect our environment while ensuring economic vitality and social equity.”

Chase, who also serves as the president of the board of the Association for the Advancement for Sustainability in Higher Education, has been involved in green issues since the very first Earth Day in 1970, when he was a student himself.

“Students bring an enormous amount of energy and commitment to sustainability and this is extremely important because it shows their understanding of and commitment to a more sustainable world,” Chase said.

Greenfest celebrates sustainability

SDSU Associated Students, along with other student organizations on campus, are bringing that same energy to campus April 19-23 with Greenfest, a weeklong celebration of sustainability and Aztec pride.

“GreenFest is really a culminating end-of-the-year festival that highlights all of the sustainable and green accomplishments of Associated Students and the university as a whole,” said Grant Mack, AS green commissioner and AS president-elect.

Greenfest was started in 2009 as part of AS Green Love, which promotes sustainability issues and projects.

“The AS Green Love Sustainability Advisory Board would not have been created if students did no support sustainable initiatives, but they do overwhelmingly, because students realize that if we don't take care of our environment and start taking responsibility for our actions than we will be in a situation where are global economy and society will collapse,” Mack said.

 “This generation of students and students after us will be faced with and are already facing some serious issues ranging from pollution, scarcity of natural resources, climate change etc. and it is important we start to think holistically and outside of the box if we are going to solve these complex problems.”

Greenfest events

Throughout the week, Greenfest will present a variety of events and activities for students, faculty and staff to enjoy. Highlighted events are included below (full event schedule available here):

• Monday, April 19
  Bike Brunch (10 a.m. -noon, Aztec Center patio): take alternative transportation to campus and receive a free organic breakfast
• Tuesday, April 20
  Student Organizations Farmers Market (11 a.m. -1 p.m., Open Air Theatre Walkway): SDSU student organizations will be selling a variety of food
• Wednesday, April 21
  SDSU Farmers Market (11 a.m. -1 p.m., Campanile Walkway): The popular weekly SDSU Farmers Market moves to Wednesday this week
  Enviro Fashion Show (noon -1 p.m., Aztec Center Patio): Student organizations will showcase their creativity in this fashion show featuring recycled materials
• Thursday, April 22
  Sixth Annual Business Fair (9 a.m.-3 p.m., Campanile and Open Air Theatre walkways): Organized by SDSU’s Enviro-Business Society, this fair will showcase local businesses committed to sustainability
• Friday, April 23
  Green Festival and Concert (7 p.m., Campanile Walkway): This free festival features a variety of fun carnival activities and ends with a sold-out concert featuring LMFAO