Earth Day at 35: Is it still relevant?

End run around environmentalism?
But the direction of the movement is the subject of debate after two activists wrote a controversial essay in October titled "The Death of Environmentalism."

In their mind, Earth Day will falter if it becomes tied to traditional environmental groups, which they see as lacking inspiration.

"Earth Day should not belong to environmentalists," says Michael Shellenberger, one of the essay authors and co-founder of the New Apollo Project, a coalition promoting renewable sources of energy to reduce emissions tied to global warming as well as America's dependence on oil.

"I can't think of a single example when enviros have been inspirational on global warming," he says.

"We co-founded the New Apollo Project as a vision for investing in the clean energy industries of the future, just as we invested in the highways, microchip and the Internet, which would create millions of good new jobs in the U.S.," Shellenberger says. "That's an inspirational vision that Americans can get behind — far more strategic than narrow, literal-minded efforts to 'stop global warming.'"

Inspiring people, especially youth, to connect with the Earth as opposed to environmental groups is what Earth Day should be about, he says: 'We don't think that Earth Day is limited to advancing environmentalism; it can be much more."

Grass-roots activism
The debate won't be settled any time soon, but neither will it deter hundreds of groups from wrapping themselves around the Earth Day banner for events designed to attract volunteers.

One of them is the Washington Trails Association, a nonprofit group that maintains hiking trails in Washington state.

"I haven't seen the enthusiasm for Earth Day drop off at all," says spokeswoman Lauren Braden, who has worked in the environmental community for 10 years.

This year, she expects up to 30 volunteers for its Earth Day trail maintenance — double the normal number for the weekend projects to repair hiking trails.

Earth Day's call to action is particularly strong at universities, where Earth Clubs are strong, and groups like the Washington Trails association are invited to set up booths on Earth Day, she says.

Such events have led Braden to value the unofficial holiday just as Gaylord Nelson and Michael Shellenberger do. "Earth Day," she says, "is one of the most important ways to attract youth."

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