Earth Day University | A Microcosm of the Global Effort

On April 22, 2010, the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, college campuses have an opportunity to stand together and demand sustainability at their schools. Earth Day Network is asking student leaders across the world to organize rallies that will unite their campuses, and expand how the student population looks at the environmental movement. Modeled after the Earth Day 2010 global campaign, which targets interest groups ranging from environmental NGOs to religious groups, ethnic groups, labor unions, artists, athletes, international leaders and many more, Earth Day University wants campus student groups of all kinds to act together, create a new face for the environmental movement, and show that this is about more than any one issue, this is a movement to protect our future.

At these rallies, students from each organization will take the stage to address why a green future is important to them. With each group bringing a unique perspective, the rallies will address issues including social justice, renewable energy resources, and climate protection. The rallies provide a platform for everyone to participate, and decentralizes the role of any one group. The goal is to show how a green future is important to everyone. School administrators and professors will join students to offer their thoughts on what needs to be done, and propose a plan to achieve success. This year's campus events are an opportunity to draw huge numbers of students into the movement, and publicly call on school officials to make changes on the campuses they control.

Every school that works toward sustainability is another point in the case that we are not fighting an unwinnable war. If college communities can demonstrate that carbon neutrality is a possible goal, then cities, states and countries can use this model to achieve their own carbon independence.

In addition to these rallies, student can also participate in service acts as part of our Billion Acts of Green® campaign, which will help mobilize one billion people around climate action. The massive collection of service commitments will send a powerful message to positively drive efforts for solving climate change. Earth Day Network is coordinating large and small-scale projects-from tree plantings and water projects to personal goals that each person can make, all geared to lower carbon footprints. In conjunction with community organizations, national, regional and local governments worldwide, actions will be counted toward a Billion Acts of Green®.. Global service activities have already begun, but a major series of service projects will be held the weekend before Earth Day - 17-18 April 2010.

Sign up to register your rally or service projects and learn more about projects near you.
For questions on how to organize your own rallies or service project, contact Campus Manager, Andrew Rozas.