40th Anniversary of Earth Day
In honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, there will be lots of activities for kids and adults at Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade on Saturday, April 17 from 10am–7 pm. The Promenade (between Broadway and Wilshire) will transform into a free Eco-Fest with over 60 fascinating eco-exhibits, food, music, and fun.
Interactive, kid-friendly entertainment and exhibits will include an interactive drum circle; Stuart Wilde’s live llamas, the wild animals of STAR Eco-Station and Children’s Nature Institute, Heal the Bay, Surfrider, and California Science Center’s nature exhibits. Kids will have a chance to adopt a shark, pet a llama, or sit in the driver’s seat of a Big Blue Bus powered by natural gas.
A “Sustainable Transport Village” will include displays of alternative fuel vehicles including Toyota’s 3rd Generation Prius, Honda hybrid(s) and electric bikes and scooters. However, festival attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or take the Big Blue Bus to the event.
“We are pleased to return to the Promenade and bring so many family-oriented exhibits to Earth Day, because kids can encourage parents to buy environmentally friendly products, which reduces pollution and global warming, making a healthier future for all of us,” said Environmental Consultant to Earth Day LA, Jim Stewart, PhD.
“Earth Day helps people learn about environmental solutions already in the marketplace and learn effective ways to take action. This year we are urging everyone to go to www.B-E-F.org and see how they can become ‘carbon neutral’ and reduce their carbon footprint.”
At the heart of the festival, live music will be presented by Mamapalooza: Women-empowered, Mom-branded Entertainment & Activism for a greener planet, featuring, among others, Stacy Robin and the Mama Earth Band and Sabina with “Free To Be Me Drum Circle” and other award-winning singers & songwriters who will grace the stage from 11am to 7pm. Santa Monica City Councilmember Kevin McKeown, and other public officials are expected to speak.
An estimated 15,000 people will join the carbon neutral event on the Promenade to learn about solar energy systems, environmentally responsible investing, organic gardening, hemp and organic cotton clothing, and much more.
Festival Director, Kacy Palmieri notes, “This festival has always been for the community of Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and the World, as visitors will now come to shop green and have fun while doing it!”
Sponsors of Earth Day include the City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica Mirror, KPFK 90.7 FM, Mamapalooza, Vision Magazine, Whole Life Times, and LA Weekly, and Women of the Green Generation, Green Business Networking, and Greenplanetsearch.com.The event is organized by Earth Day Los Angeles, a project of the non-profit International Humanities Center. To volunteer, email Volunteer@earthdayla.org, or call 866.220.2370. For more information see www.EarthDayonthePromenade.org or call 866.295.8372.
Bhakti Fest Turn On
Bhakti Fest 2010 switches on the lights September 9 - 12 in Joshua Tree, California. This four-day music festival is a celebration of devotion to spirit and vibrant living with the foremost leaders of kirtan (sacred chanting), yoga, raw and natural foods, and seminars. Bhakti Fest takes place in the magical desert of the Joshua Tree Retreat Center on 450 acres of sacred land. The ingenuity and aesthetic of Frank Lloyd Wright is alive in the five buildings being used during the festival for classes, workshops, seminars, meditation and bodywork.
Festival-goers will experience an abundance of kirtan on two stages, with over 80 hours of music by notable kirtan performers such as Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Deva Premal & Miten and Dave Stringer. The country’s leading yoga instructors will share their energy, spirit and experience with practitioners of all levels for 12 hours each day in two yoga halls. Yogis and aspiring yogis alike will have the opportunity to deepen their practice and challenge themselves with new asana styles. Yoga instructors include Shiva Rea, Saul David Raye, Duncan Wong, Annie Carpenter and Sienna Sherman.
The beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright sanctuary will hold workshops and seminars with Ram Dass (via video), Shyamdas, Howard Wills and many more, while the healing sanctuary will house top bodyworkers practicing massage, Shiatsu, Reiki, acupuncture and “structural energy-work.” On the outdoor Oracle Row, practitioners will offer readings using various ancient philosophies.
In the Vendor Village, the leading organic food, clothing, beverage, vitamin and yoga supply companies will display their wares. Hemp clothing, herbs, coconut water, sunscreen and jewelry are a taste of the cornucopia of items for sale.
Bhakti Fest is green! The festival’s Web host buys wind energy credits to offset energy consumption. During the festival all plastics, paper and glass will be recycled, and only carbon-free, recyclable water bottles will be available for purchase. All food vendors are vegetarian.
Bhakti Fest charities will have booths set up for people interested in contributing or discovering more about the services of these organizations. Substantial portions of festival proceeds are donated to charities each year.
Attendance at Bhakti Fest 2009 swelled to 2,500, with over 60 hours of kirtan in three days. Bhakti Fest 2010 promises to be an even more powerful convergence of people and energy! Come early for a special pre-conference Yoga Intensive with Shiva Rea on September 8, and stay for a post-festival Yoga Intensive with Saul David Raye on September 13. See you there!
For more information, visit www.BhaktiFest.com
Festival Encourages People to ‘Be Aware’
Gabriel of Urantia & The Bright & Morning Star Band are on a national “Be Aware” concert tour to raise awareness of important en-vironmental, social and spiritual issues.
Gabriel of Urantia calls attention to global concerns and offers positive, practical solutions. Join them on May 7-9 at Avalon Organic Gardens, Farm, and EcoVillage in Tubac, Arizona. Global Change Multi-Media will be presenting the Be Aware Festival featuring the 11-piece Gabriel of Urantia & The Bright & Morning Star Band. Additional artists include Van’sGuard, Starseed Acoustic Ensemble, The Change Agents Band, DeoVibe, Israfel Awakened, and SaTNesu.
Urantia’s unique style of music, CosmoPop, attracts people from all religions and walks of life who come together under a banner of “One God, One Planetary Family.”
Urantia encourages everyone to be aware of such things as: The need for more green products and living more sustainably; the need to buy locally and to grow organic; the unequal distribution of wealth, supplies, and material goods, such as the lack of proper health care and the high costs of medical services. Urantia also believes we are in need of true spiritual and political leadership.
“These issues aren’t being addressed by mainstream media,” says Global Change Multi-Media Executive Director, Ben Dameean Steinhardt. “People need to realize how important these topics are. To change the world, we have to identify the problems and find viable solutions.”
In addition to live music, the festival includes camping, independent films, activist theater, eco-conscious speakers, Kids’ Village, hayride tours, ethnic foods, vendors, and more. A resident visitor experience is offered after the festival for those interested in learning more about organic gardening, eco-village living, and the vision behind the ‘Be Aware’ movement.
“This gathering is by suggested donation,” says Gabriel of Urantia. “People of all ages, races, and economic brackets are encouraged to come, including the poor and disenfranchised. We trust that people who have the means will support the ‘new-paradigm admission’ and give freely from their hearts so that these festivals continue and those less fortunate can attend.”
The festival is free for kids 11 and under. Suggested donations for ages 12 & up are given at the gate: 3 Days $30; Friday $16, Saturday $20, all proceeds benefit various nonprofit organizations. For more information and camping reservations visit www.BeAware2010.org or call 520.603.9932. Shuttle service available.