Originally Published 2010-04-20
By Megan Whelan
Campus student organizations will encourage green practices Thursday in celebration of Earth Day at the Dickinson Amphitheater, while community members will do their part this weekend.
Groups such as the Binghamton Sierra Student Coalition, BU Beyond Coal, New York Public Interest Research Group and Engineers Without Borders will set up individual tables between the Dickinson Dining Hall and the Old University Union from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
According to Mary Davis, president of the Student Environmental Awareness Club (SEAC) and a senior double majoring in geology and environmental studies, SEAC will offer rides on a bike it built last year that powers a smoothie-making blender.
More than a billion people celebrate Earth Day on April 22 each year. For the last 40 years, organizers have used the day to forward their belief that all people “have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment.”
“Earth Day is educational and informative,” Davis said. “And it’s a great way to support student organizations on campus.”
Throughout the day, student bands, including Solar Punch, Crow, Dangerous Maybes, Ghost This, Mad Hatters, Elegant Stinghorn and Dan Cohen, will be performing on a solar-powered stage.
Outdoor Pursuits will also lead a hike through the Nature Preserve at 1 p.m.
The Food Co-Op, which aims to have alternative food choices available for students, will be giving samples of free food at its table, said Samantha Tuchfeld, coordinator of the Co-Op and a senior majoring in English. Thrift store T-shirts with the Food Co-Op’s silk screen image will also be on sale.
“Every day is Earth Day here,” Tuchfeld said. “Earth Day is about loving the Earth and making conscious choices.”
Sodexo will serve free eco-friendly food, including veggie burgers and probiotic turkey chili. Challah for Hunger, an organization that raises money and awareness for hunger and disaster relief, will also be selling its bread.
Emily Greene, president of Campus Climate Challenge and a junior double-majoring in biochemistry and math, said that the day’s events are like “an environmental Spring Fling.”
Students will also have the chance to celebrate the Earth this Saturday when the Greater Binghamton area hosts its 21st annual Earth Fest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at MacArthur Elementary School on Vestal Avenue.
The fest will feature more than 50 Earth-friendly local businesses and organizations. There will also be children’s activities, magicians, food, live outdoor electric music and indoor acoustic music.
This year’s event will host several vendors, including Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay and Behlog & Son Produce. Miller Honda will bring a hybrid car to campus, and students can look forward to seeing alpacas brought from an Appalachian alpaca farm, as well as participating in a bike raffle.
Carrying on with this year’s theme, “Healthy Planet, Healthy People,” the celebration will host the River Trails Bike Cruise to promote Binghamton as a bike-friendly city. Admission to Earth Fest is $1 or a donation to Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse.
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