Evergreen: Political change through Earth Day
by Deyva Arthur
New York State Green Party

Other than Election Day, Earth Day, April 22, is probably the next significant event for the Green Party all year. But what is the connection between the political party and this day?

Earth Day's main premise of communities recognizing and taking responsibility for the environment is a central part of the Green Party's mission. Ecological Wisdom is one of the ten key values of the Greens, and environmentalism is prominent throughout the party's platforms. Of the priority issues coming out of the 2005 National Convention, Agriculture Policy and Climate Change were at the top.

The first Earth Day was in 1970 and one of the then largest civic events ever to occur, with more 20 million people attending gatherings throughout the county. Sponsored by Senator Gaylord Nelson and coordinated by Denis Hayes, who has since received numerous public-service awards, Earth Day is often attributed as the start of the environmental movement in the United States. It is currently held in more than 160 countries worldwide.
"If you really care about climate change, healthy water, a swift global transition to renewable energy, the fate of whales and snow leopards, or any of a thousand other things, politics is the only game in town," said Hayes recently. "Those of us who care about the environment will either do politics, or we will have politics done to us."

The Green Party is putting the environment back on the political agenda. Earth Day is a way for members to reach out to the wider public. Often Green activists will have a table at local Earth Day festivals with information on the party and current important issues on the local, national and global level.

Some creative approaches to Earth Day by Greens in recent years and planned for 2006 include: a vegetarian food festival to highlight animal rights by the Utah Green Party, a fashion show using recycled products by the Nevada County Greens, and an open house to meet elected Greens in San Francisco.

On Earth Day 2006, the South Carolina Green Party will be holding their state convention. Many local Greens will collaborate with other organizations. Greens in San Diego will be part of the Earth Fair in Balboa Park, which attracted 60,000 visitors last year with displays for green homes and clean cars, an art gallery of recycled materials and a parade of children dressed as their favorite endangered species.

Outside of Los Angeles, STAR ECO Station, a wildlife rescue center, is hosting a children's Earth Day festival. They will have celebrities from children's shows and environmental heroes give talks, as well as vendors for "eco-shopping."

Aside from the catchy events for Earth Day, many Greens, with their aim towards the political arena, will be gathering signatures for petitions on the multitude of environmental issues pressing both locally and nationally. Issues such as strengthening the Federal Endangered Species Act, upholding the Clean Water Act, or demanding immediate action to address global warming are only a few of the petitions circulated this Earth Day.
With the number of registered Greens in the country continuously growing and more elected Greens than ever, the party will have a significant presence on Earth Day. This is a clear sign the environment has growing representation as a political power.

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