‘Every day should be Earth Day’: EarthFest unites environmental movement, extends activities across April
Environmentalists advocate for policy and individual engagement to fight federal government rollbacks, escalating climate crisis.
Written by Marco Guajardo, Edited by Lauren J. Mapp
When Chloe Banaag started attending University of California San Diego three years ago, the small-town Inland Empire transplant didn't believe in climate change.
Banaag enrolled in a physics class that taught her about the dangers of modernity and the overshoot of natural resources. Now, she finds herself leading advocacy work as a campaign coordinator for the Make Polluters Pay campaign with the UCSD chapter of the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG).
“It's just honestly been the opportunity of my lifetime to be able to make a difference in things that I never thought were even real,” said Banaag, a social psychology and world literature major minoring in environmental studies.
Banaag was among nearly 15,000 attendees, volunteers and vendors in Balboa Park on Saturday for EarthFest, an annual Earth Day celebration.
Sprinkled among over 100 food, product and service booths were 25 local nonprofit and environmental advocacy groups like CALPIRG who invited participants to get involved in their sustainability-centered campaigns. Actions that the groups advocated for ranged from changing individual consumption habits to organized community advocacy at a legislative level.
Some themes throughout the day included recent moves by the Trump administration to cut climate change regulations, environmental protection funding and federal staff.
San Diego 350, part of the coalition advocating for the Make Polluters Pay super fund, had a booth during EarthFest and is among the organizations holding a Unite for Climate March on May 3 to address the Trump administration’s “all-out assault” on climate action, according to its website.
Shayne Petkiewicz, a volunteer with SD350, said upcoming Environmental Protection Agency budget cuts might affect efforts to clean up sewage contamination in the Tijuana River estuary.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin visited the San Diego border area Tuesday to inspect the Tijuana River Valley.
A Hands Off Earth Day rally is also being organized by SD350 during Zeldin’s visit to protest Trump’s executive orders “that aim to strip nonprofit status from organizations that work on climate,” according to the event website. Petkiewicz said the goal is to fight back against attacks on climate policy from the Trump administration.
“We want to have communities that we can live in, that are healthy and for a community or an economy that has good paying green jobs,” Petkiewicz said.
In addition to live music, activities and food, EarthFest featured an education stage with panels and presentations throughout the day on eco-friendly topics such as mycology — the study of fungi — and wildlife conservation.
During the Climate Activism panel on community mobilization, eco-veganism, clean transportation and plastic waste solutions, moderator Ariana Hill asked the speakers to name a simple, no-cost action each person can take to support a more sustainable San Diego.
Panelist Cullen Smyth, team lead with the California Climate Action Corps, promoted local volunteer opportunities and the Climate Action Counts campaign. The CCAC Climate Action Counts drive advocates a ten-step plan for everyday climate-minded actions, according to the campaign website.
While tabling, another team lead — Adrian D’mirez — shared the differences between CCAC’s climate action work, which emphasizes non-policy-oriented volunteering, and climate activism that seeks to affect environmental policies directly.
Smyth said their individually-focused climate action campaigns may inspire participants to participate in climate activism.
“I think when you're working in your communities and you're seeing a need for some sort of resource, it makes you think about our communities on a much larger scale,” Smyth said. “And then you start to think, what other impacts can I make besides this local impact that I'm making?”
During the Tips for an Eco Lifestyle presentation, Sustainability is Sexy founder Liz Murphy said people need to turn to a cyclical product life-cycle as consumers, shifting away from the prevailing linear supply chain life-cycle.
“The most important thing to remember in order to support a circular economy is that the most sustainable option is what we already have,” Murphy said.
San Diego EarthFest organizers also tapped volunteers working with Sustainability is Sexy to implement a zero-waste, on-site waste diversion system. Murphy said SIS was able to divert over 800 lbs of recycling and organic waste from landfills at last year’s EarthFest.
“We like to give events a snapshot of what they're actually generating,” she said, “and how much, with our help, they can divert from our local landfills into recycling and organics.”
Among the volunteers at EarthFest was Lily Hodies, who directed event-goers on how to properly dispose of their event waste. Hodies said she felt a sense of urgency to align her values with her actions, which prompted her to volunteer during the event.
Sustainable food systems and land conservation were among the environmental matters that drove Hodies’ desire to get involved.
Hodies, a senior majoring in management information systems at San Diego State University, also wants to find sustainable solutions for the work she does in the tech industry.
“I want to have a positive impact,” Hodies said. “I want to continue to try and give back as I grow as a person in my career, and also just, step by step, make things better.”
A common thread among environmental advocacy groups, which Hodies acknowledged, was the focus on having younger generations lead the movement.
“We're inheriting the problems that the Earth has been facing, and now we're starting to go into the workforce, go into the world, and be like, how are we going to fix this? How are we going to deal with this?” Hodies said, “These are big, big, large problems that are crippling, honestly.”
EarthFest was one of several earth-focused events in San Diego County held throughout April and into May for what several environmental groups now call Earth Month.
Earlier in the month, South Bay Earth Day was held at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, I Love a Clean San Diego hosted Happy Earth Hour with local environmentally-focused businesses and the World Beat Center held its 33rd Earth Day Celebration.
“Honestly, every day should be Earth Day,” Banaag said.
Upcoming Events:
April 24
Roots and Renewal: The Environmental Health Coalition celebrates 45 years of community environmental policy advocacy at Mujeres Brew House in Barrio Logan. The theme, “Roots and Renewal,” celebrates EHC’s deep roots in the community and history of transformative action, while renewing their spirits for the work ahead, according to the event website. The event will include tacos, dancing and other celebrations. 5:30 p.m. 1983 Julian Ave, San Diego, CA 92113
April 25
Arbor Day: The City of San Diego is hosting a free Arbor Day Event in Colina Del Sol Park, inviting volunteers for tree planting, beautification activities and more. To volunteer in tree planting at the event, register here. 8 to 11 a.m. 5319 Orange Ave, San Diego, CA 92115
April 26
Creek to Bay Cleanup: I Love a Clean San Diego will host the Creek to Bay county-wide neighborhood cleanup, which organizers say is the largest Earth Week cleanup in the county. To view all cleanup sites and sign up as a volunteer register here.
April 27
Goodwill San Diego Sustainability Fair: Goodwill San Diego is hosting its first Sustainability Fair to promote sustainable practices and eco-friendly living. The event will offer upcycled fashion, DIY workshops, activities and presentations from local non-profits. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 3663 Rosecrans St, San Diego, CA 92110, Classroom A
May 3
Unite for Climate March: A coalition of over 40 local environmental, social justice, labor, community and faith-based groups is organizing the Unite for Climate March. Organizers are demanding bold policies that transition us away from fossil fuels.
Thousands of San Diegans are expected to participate in the march. Live music, organization booths, speakers, face painting and other activities will be offered. 11 a.m. Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA
Ongoing Civic Action Campaigns:
Prop 4 Funding Petition: Environmental Health Organization is circulating a petition asking the Strategic Growth Council to use Prop 4 funding to fill the budget gap caused by the federal freeze and the EPA grant terminations.
Make Polluters Pay: The Polluters Pay Climate Superfund, included in SB 684 and AB 1243, is designed to hold fossil fuel companies financially accountable for the environmental damage caused by their emissions. The funding would be directed to initiatives that address or seek to mitigate the damage of climate change, especially in vulnerable communities.
To sign up as a campaign volunteer, register here. Organizations that wants to officially endorse the bill can sign this letter.
