Inspired by the anti-war movement of the 1960s and that decade’s catastrophic Santa Barbara oil spill, Wisconsin’s U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson came up with a plan to hold a nationwide environmental “teach-in” in April 1970. With the help of environmental activist Denis Hayes and funding (and a visibility boost) from labor union United Auto Workers, the very first Earth Day was born. While our planet is still beset by environmental disasters — many of them caused or exacerbated by corporations that often co-opt the language of environmental activism, or throw sponsorship dollars at eco events — the world is full of folks who want to make a difference however they can. And that’s what Earth Day is about.
On Saturday, April 18, the Centennial Park Conservancy will host its annual Earth Day celebration at the Centennial Park Bandshell. As always, the free family-friendly event will include a tree giveaway along with dozens of vendors and exhibitors. This year’s lineup is a particularly good one, with performances slated from beloved indie-folk duo The Watson Twins, soul ace Phillip-Michael Scales and others, not to mention a midday yoga session led by Small World Yoga and planned presentations from experts on food waste, recycling, sustainability and a lot more.
In our annual Earth Day-inspired Green Issue, you’ll find details on how to safely recycle your old electronics and how to get free trees. We also have stories on how a state Supreme Court ruling could affect quarry-building across Tennessee and the Metro Planning Department launching an ecological study. Plus, the latest on Nashville’s tree canopy following Winter Storm Fern, and we meet the endangered Nashville crayfish.
Read on for more. Happy Earth Day. D. PATRICK RODGERS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The crustacean plays a key role in its Mill Creek ecosystem, but threats remain
Officials vow to restore canopy after winter storm devastation; Nashville Electric Service steps up tree-trimming
Metro Nashville’s electronic recycling centers feel the effects of churning technology
Organizations like Root Nashville and the Nashville Tree Foundation want to keep the city’s tree canopy strong
Metro Planning prepares to launch an 18-month study focusing on Davidson County’s environment
State Supreme Court guts the County Powers Act, leaving the topic of quarry bans an open question
