The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold free events for the public on the National Mall this weekend to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. The events will feature interactive, fun and educational exhibits related to environmental protection. Administrator Lisa P. Jackson will be at the EPA Earth Day tent on April 24 between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Senior EPA officials will also be in attendance.
The exhibits will include an environmental crime scene forensics demonstration, automotive technology, climate change habitat loss exhibits, environmental videos, an interactive kids booth about environmental hazards, backyard composting demonstrations, a Chesapeake Bay water model and live mascots teaching kids about recycling and protecting nature, and others.
EPA will also be showcasing the creative efforts of more than 40 college teams and their design solutions to sustainability challenges around the world. The participants of the exhibit will compete for a $75,000 prize as part of EPA’s National Sustainable Design Expo and P3 (People, Prosperity and the Planet) competition. The expo highlights designs that address alternative energy technologies; collection, purification and distribution of water; agricultural practices to reduce pesticide run-off; new technologies for green buildings and other innovative approaches to improve society’s sustainability.
In addition to EPA’s events, Earth Day Network will be sponsoring a free concert on April 25 with Sting, John Legend, The Roots, Bob Weir, Patrick Stump, Mavis Staples, Passion Pit, Q-Tip, Booker T and more. Also attending will be the Rev. Jesse Jackson, director James Cameron, and author Margaret Atwood. Jackson will be introducing John Legend at the Earth Day Network concert on Sunday afternoon.
Source: U.S. EPA