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How Earth Day And The Epicenter Of Its Movement Are Different This Year

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Yale University

A Yale University study reported this year that “Six in ten Americans are now either 'Alarmed' or 'Concerned' about global warming,” and that “the proportion of 'Alarmed' more than doubled” in five years.

However, only 38% are discussing it, according to the study.  70% said environmental protection was more important than economic growth - that's one in 7 Americans placing the environment as a higher priority than the economy. What's more, 68% of people said “corporations should do more to address global warming,” 62% said Congress should do more and 65% said citizens should do more.

So, what can you do?

Earth Day Network president Kathleen Rogers told me that the key focus in 2019 and 2020, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, is two-fold: spreading the message and voting.

“Think global act local”

For many years, Earth Day Network has focused on the arts as a key vehicle for spreading message about the importance of protecting the environment, leveraging celebrities, local customs and kids in schools who can influence their parents too.

“The messenger is critical…You need to let the messenger be local, because they tell their stories their own way.” Rogers said, adding, "Kim Kardashian, if you're listening, please tweet about it," because of Kardashian's huge Twitter following.

Whether your audience is millions of Twitter followers or your local school, the messaging needs to fit the audience, and be as relevant as ever.  She said they never start an event outside the U.S. without a cultural component, because it bridges divides and builds the relationship, so the audience is more receptive. The arts communicate on another level than the intellect.

Joan Michelson

“It’s really about voting”

When I asked Rogers one thing that people can do this Earth Day, she said without hesitation: “It’s really about…Commit to the greenest candidate you can. Period. For any office. Board of supervisors. School boards. Mayors. City Councils. Tweet at candidates. It’s all about politics. We’ve got the technology. We’ve got the capacity We have brilliant people, but…It’s about voting.”

The urgency of this pivotal moment in the evolution of climate change, coupled with the massive economic opportunity looming from the energy revolution, Rogers wants the U.S. to both lead the way and reap the benefits.

“The energy revolution will dwarf the technology revolution,” Rogers told me, but the deregulation and supports for the fossil fuel industry in the U.S. deprive the U.S. of seizing those opportunities.

Emphasizing that each of us need to do our part by recycling, turning off the water when it’s not being used, and to eliminate plastic as much as possible, Rogers says those are the basics.

This Earth Day, it’s about using your voice – spreading the message, including through culture like music and various art forms, and voting, advocating about environmental issues with your government leadership and your votes.

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