The goal is to collectively see how many times participants can run the distance of the equator: 24,901 miles. Organizers need at least 415 people to commit to run at least two miles a day for the month to try to reach that number. Runners, walkers or joggers of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels may join this epic challenge. Recruit friends, family and co-workers. Log miles and report them via results page daily or weekly which will be tallied toward the overall goal.
50th EARTH DAY TAKES ON CLIMATE CHANGE Golden Anniversary Marks Call to Action
O
n April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans—10 percent of the nation— took to the streets and campuses to protest environmental degradation so severe that rivers were literally catching on fire. That groundswell was followed by the passage of landmark environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, laws soon adopted by many other countries. Half a century later, as temperatures approach 70 degrees in Antarctica, catastrophic wildfires race through Australia and species die off around the world, the planet’s status seems anything but golden. On this Earth Day, the climate crisis that precipitated these events and trends take center stage: The goal is to mobilize millions, perhaps billions, of Earth’s human inhabitants to rise up in its defense. “The urgency has never
been greater and the stakes have never been higher,” say the organizers of the Earth Day Network. “We are now in an environmental emergency and a climate breakdown. The world needs you—and your actions—for Earth Day 2020.” To learn about personal actions, including step-by-step instructions on how to organize an event, consult EarthDay.org. Participants can join in a cleanup of trash from rivers, beaches, streets and forests; host a teach-in; take part in a climate strike or campus rally to show united action; join the world’s largest citizen science initiative to document declining environmental conditions and participate in social media campaigns to raise awareness. Help Collier and Lee counties celebrate victories and support future progress by participating in these local Earth Day 2020 events.
Please note: The events described in this section were scheduled to take place at the time we went to press. Please check ahead to confirm their status. 24
Collier/Lee Counties
swfl.NaturalAwakenings.com
Free participation. For more information, visit TheVirtualRunChallenge.com/virtual-raceevent/earth-day-24901-mile-challenge. Share your mission by tagging @VirtualRunChallenge and #VRCEarthDayChallenge.
Earth Day Re-Use and Recycle Roundup 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 9
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida encourage residents to donate gently used clothing, shoes and books, electronics, household items, computers and cell phones. Also, free shredding of documents is offered by Goodwill Secure Shred. Residents can rid medicine cabinets and homes of unused, unnecessary or expired medicines with safe disposal by Drug Free Collier’s Operation Medicine Chest. Hazardous household chemicals, all types of batteries, latex and oil-based paints, used motor oil and filters, tires 18 inches or smaller, antifreeze, fluorescent bulbs, ink cartridges, cardboard, plastics #1-7, mercury-containing devices, aluminum electronics, ballasts, and medical sharps and needles are also accepted for collection by Collier County Solid Waste Management. Location: Naples Town Center parking lot, 3759 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples. For more information, call 239-252-7575.
Great American Cleanup Collier County’s “Bay Days” 8 to 11 a.m., April 18
Coordinated by Keep Collier Beautiful, Inc, cleanup signup sites will be in Ever-
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Earth Day 24,901 Mile Run/Walk Challenge April 1-30
