ST. LOUIS — Whether the circumstance of the Earth is that of environmental catastrophe one day or bliss the next, the point of Earth Day is to celebrate the planet and learn about environmental issues on April 22 each year.
According to History.com, the celebration was founded by U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisconsin), Earth Day was birthed out of the 1960s during times of social unrest due to environmental, socioeconomic and race relations.
“By raising public awareness of pollution, Nelson hoped to bring environmental causes into the national spotlight,” according to History.com.
The St. Louis area is offering several ways to learn about the planet while celebrating the sun, soil, clean air and water we all enjoy! Below is a list 5 On Your Side compiled to help you get started:
Earth Day Celebration!
April 20 at Cortex Commons from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Join the initiative to help our local environment by participating in the Cortex-wide trash pickup. The event will be hosted by CIC St. Louis.
There will be a “plant potting and sustainable craft station, recourse booths, snacks, lunch and more,” according to AllEvents.in, an event management platform that helps event organizers.
To reserve a spot at absolutely no cost, click here.
Earth Day 2023 - Green Dining!
April 22-23 in the Delmar Loop in University City from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
You can grab a meal while helping the environment during this Green Dining event. “The Loop has 12 restaurants committed to a greener dining scene,” according to The Delmar Loop website.
“Green Dining Districts are commercial areas where 25% of the locally owned restaurants are GDA members, meaning they don’t use Styroform, they recycle, they are phasing in energy efficient lighting and equipment, they conserve water and try to source locally,” according to The Delmar Loop website.
Here is a list of participating restaurants:
For more information regarding this Earth Day initiative, click here.
Vegan Earth Day March
April 22 at the Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis at 1 p.m.
For the International Vegan Earth Day March, meet other eventgoers at Aloe Plaza and march to the Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis. This march signifies a time for action to make sure people and the planet survive.
“… We collectively demand a societal vegan paradigm shift that normalizes non-violence, sustainability, and collective liberation for all earthlings …,” according to event organizers.
St. Louis Earth Day Festival
April 22-23 at the Muny Grounds in Forest Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There will be food, music, and activities offered at this festival hosted by Forest Park Forever, in tandem with earthday365. The community can learn about sustainable products and services provided throughout the business and organizational level of St. Louis.
According to the earthday365 organization, you can also “… meet local non-profits that share Earth Day values, as well as showcasing entertainment and Green Dining Alliance restaurants.”
2023 Sustainability Awards will be provided to community advocates and key players who lift the community through their work. “Awards will provide an opportunity to recognize leadership in areas of utmost importance: climate, food, waste, education, and environmental justice,” according to the earthday365 organization.
To view a list of sponsors, vendors and exhibitors, click here.
Earth Day Workshop
April 22 at Unbounded STL at 10 a.m. to noon.
Your kids can play and be hands-on with the Earth through different activities. Guests can also take home a goodie. Child admission is about $10. To purchase tickets, click here.
Rest & Renew “Earth Day” Restorative Yoga Workshop
April 22 at 2812 Sutton Boulevard in Maplewood
This workshop is centered on restoring the human mind, body and soul during a two-hour yoga session.
According to Marnae Chavers, the event organizer who will lead the session, “She will guide you through a slow, meditative practice concentrating on the following: Pranayama, Intentional Reflection, Asanas, and Meditation.
Tickets cost $20. For more information, click here. To purchase tickets, click here.
Little Creek Earth Day
April 22 at Little Creek Nature Area from 8 a.m. to noon.
According to Friends of the Rainforest, a nonprofit located in St. Louis, the organization strives to inspire youth and adults to protect and preserve the rainforest in Costa Rica and more. They give free information on the environment to St. Louis area school, conservation grants and access to the rainforest for on-the-ground study, according to the organization.
You are asked to join this Earth Day event which will feature several experimental and interactive activities for the entire household. To register for the event, click here.
More information:
Several Earth Day initiatives, be they national or local, are founded upon environmental justice, environmental equity or even environmental racism.
- According to the United States Department of Energy, “Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
- Equally important, “Environmental equity describes a country, or world, in which no single group or community faces disadvantages in dealing with environmental hazards, disasters, or pollution,” according to MobilizeGreen, who can be cited on the trial lawyer for justice, Ben Crump’s website regarding the environmental justice movement.
MobilizeGreen aims to abolish barriers to environmental and green career options for diverse youth, according to their website.
- Crump also cites environmental racism, which is “the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on people of color,” according to their website.
Greenaction garners community strength to evoke change on the government level to protect health and advocate for climate justice.
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