Celebrate Earth Day Every Day

Twenty-five years ago this Saturday, a celebration occurred that astonished sponsors and skeptics alike.

Some 20 million Americans - one-tenth of the population - turned out for the first Earth Day in support of pure water, clean air, ancient forests and endangered species, not to mention rock music and Frisbees.

By 1990, Earth Day had become an international event marked by 200 million worldwide.

This Saturday’s 25th anniversary promises to attract equally widespread participation. Once again, activities are planned throughout the Inland Northwest, with special attention focused on Riverfront Park. There, visitors can choose among an assortment of entertainers, environmental exhibits . . . even a solar-powered model car race.

But the beauty of Earth Day is that it can be celebrated any day of the year, wherever you are.

Today, for instance, you could plant a tree. Or install low-flow shower heads and fix that leaky faucet. You could read an essay about the environment, or request your name be removed from a junk-mail list.

Take along your own grocery bags when you visit the supermarket. Use rechargeable batteries and cloth napkins. Let grass clippings mulch into the lawn, or start a compost pile.

Replace toxic household cleaners with safe substitutes. Check the air pressure in your tires, and have your vehicle’s engine tuned.

And if you want to share your Earth Day enthusiasm with others, here are some of the activities planned this week:

Tuesday

Research scientist Vietchau Nguyen will discuss Hanford’s environmental restoration problems at 12:30 p.m. in Spokane Falls Community College’s Student Union Building and again at 7:30 p.m. in the SFCC Music Auditorium. Free.

There’s a home composting seminar at 7 p.m. at the Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook. Free.

Wednesday

Oil Smart Wednesday commuters are encouraged to bike, bus, carpool or walk to work. Spokane Transit Authority offers free bus rides all day.

The Associated Industries’ Pollution Prevention Expo trade show goes from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Spokane Convention Center. Admission is $10 for one or two people.

Sierra Club’s Earth Day Meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Mountain Gear, 2002 N. Division.

A workshop titled “Your Values, Your Money” teaches how to invest in environmentally friendly ways. Sponsored by the Green Money Journal, it meets from 7-9 p.m. at the Spokane Unitarian Universalist Church, 4340 W. Fort George Wright Drive. Cost is $15.

Learn backyard composting techniques at 7 p.m. at Argonne Library, 4322 N. Argonne. Free.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist William Dietrich will read from his new book, “Northwest Passage: The Great Columbia River,” from 7:30-9 p.m. at Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main. Free.

Thursday

Backyard composting skills shared at noon in the Spokane City Council Chambers, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Free.

A lecture and slide show, “One Acre a Minute: Destruction of the rain forest and the future of our planet,” by Rainforest Action Network director Randy Hayes, will be at 7:30 p.m. in SFCC’s Music Auditorium. Free.

Friday

Sandpoint’s Community Hall is the site of an Earth Day family dance with the Coeur d’Alene Marimba Band. Starts at 7 p.m.

Saturday

Spokane’s Riverfront Park will celebrate Earth Day starting with an 8 a.m. fun run, followed by entertainment and environmental exhibits in the Clocktower Meadow from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other activities include an 11 a.m. tree-planting ceremony on Canada Island; Junior Solar Sprint model car races from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Howard Street Bridge, and an “Eco Adventure” live stage show at the YMCA at 2 and 4 p.m.

The film “Ecological Design: Inventing the Future” will be shown in Room 1-A, Spokane Public Library downtown branch, at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 and 3:30 p.m.

Crews will collect litter along Cheney’s First Street starting at 9 a.m.

Volunteers collecting trash along the Spokane River should meet at the north end of T.J. Meenach Bridge at 10 a.m. Bring bags and gloves. Sponsored by the Spokane Unitarian Universalist Church.

Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Newman Lake Boat Launch to clean up nearby roads. Picnic to follow.

Hike to Tower Mountain, five miles round trip, starting at 10 a.m. Call 926-7949 for directions.

The Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute will host its fifth annual Adopt-A-Stream Stewardship Day. Volunteers who don’t already have a designated stretch of stream should meet at the University of Idaho SUB or Pullman’s Reaney Park at 10 a.m. for assignments and trash bags. The cleanup will be followed by a catered picnic at 1 p.m. in Moscow’s Mountain View Park.

Spokane Art School’s fourth annual Birdhouse and Tea Garden Auction starts at 7 p.m. at 920 N. Howard. Tickets are $25.

Sunday

“Enhancing Human-Earth Relationships,” an interactive gathering featuring Jane Blewett of Earth Community Center, will be from 4-6 p.m. at Gonzaga University’s Jepsen Center. Free.

A Diversity Awareness Celebration sponsored by the Spokane Unitarian Universalist Church, 4340 W. Fort George Wright Drive, will be held from 5-8 p.m. The event includes ethnic food and music, videos, a panel discussion and more.