EARTH DAY 2003; A tale of two celebrations

Earth Day was founded over 30 years ago as a way for the citizens of the world to celebrate and educate around environmental and conservation ideas. Gaylord Nelson, a founder of Earth Day, wrote in the Environmental Protection Agency's Journal his thoughts about the first Earth Day.

"It was on that day that Americans made it clear that they understood and were deeply concerned over the deterioration of our environment and the mindless dissipation of our resources."

Nelson wrote those words over 20 years ago, before he could have anticipated the further environmental destruction and current weakening of important laws passed during the 1970s. Earth Day continues to be an important day of celebration throughout the world. In Boise, every year Julia Davis Park becomes a focal point for the celebration as the community comes alive in education and participation. This year the annual event will happen with a slew of presenters and performers on April 19 and 20. The crowd will be entertained by a children's carnival, a beer garden, displays by local non-profits and the Idaho Department of Energy and lots of music. Musicians appearing will include Crash Four, Hoi Polloi, Tim Andreae and out-of-towners the Clumsy Lovers.

Also being organized for Earth Day is the Boise City Earth Day Fair on April 22. The event will be held in the lobby of Boise City Hall and will be attended by state, county and city agencies as well as a few corporate groups. Idaho Power will be in attendance to spotlight its Green Power program and hybrid cars from Larry Miller Honda and Peterson Autoplex will be on display.

The addition of a new Earth Day celebration has ruffled some feathers. Several local environmental groups have expressed concerns at being left out of the city's celebration.

"We have not been contacted by the city at all," said Rachel Winer, of Idaho Conservation League. "I think that it was unfortunate that they don't have any nonprofits involved as presenters. We have been invited by BSU to participate in their Earth Day activities and we will be more than happy to participate in that."

Roger Singer of the Sierra Club also felt the lack of environmental groups at the city's event was unfortunate.

"They didn't want to compete with the event at Julia Davis," said Singer. "I was bit surprised that even when I explained that we would be at both events the city hall representative still would not invite to us to the event. The city approached conservation groups to help with the Foothills levy and get it passed and now don't invite us to the city's Earth Day celebration. I find that very curious."

The city downplayed the lack of non-profits at the City Hall event.

"There was never an intent to snub anyone," said Catherine Chertudi, solid waste and ground water programs manager for the city. "We didn't even think along those lines. We wanted to make sure that we didn't compete with those folks (at Julia Davis)."

Chertudi adds that they were asked by Julia Davis Earth Day organizer Scott King to avoid competing with the other celebration. King denies that there was concern over competition saying that he invited the city to participate in the park.

"In no way shape or form did they want to affiliate which kind of bothered me," said King. "The main issue, I was told by the lady organizing it, was that their people didn't want to work on weekends. It should be all one event."