Rock Bands help to ring in Earth Day

Earth day is for hippies.  At least it was when it was founded in 1970, according to Monica Atwell, instructional associate of biology and sponsor of the Environmental Club.

 “Earth Day began during the hippie movement with the original idea to increase our awareness of our impact on the earth,” Atwell said.

She said Earth Day, which has been celebrated annually for nearly forty years, is important for students because of what it promotes.

“Our quality of life is at risk, due to world population alone,” the sponsor added.  “Our earth has 6.5 billion on it now, and everyone needs to eat, get to work, and have shelter.  That requires resources.”

Atwell said North Lake’s Environmental Club promotes saving those resources through recycling.  The club launched a “Use the Blues” campaign to encourage students and faculty to recycle their plastic bottles, aluminum cans, paper and glass in blue bins places around campus.

“It’s human nature to want to give back,” Atwell said, “and recycling provides a medium to do so.”

North Lake will celebrate Earth Day on April 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Vicki Riley, the president of NLC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, encourages students and faculty to participate in the festivities that day in the campus courtyard, rain or shine.

Phi Theta Kappa, Keep Irving Beautiful, the Student Leadership Institute and SPAR are sponsoring the Rock the Green event.

Activities planned include a battle of the bands, performances by environmental trash can band Vocal Trash and former North Lake students Fishing for Comets, spoken word from North Lake speech students and free food and drinks donated by SPAR.

“It’s important for North Lake students to understand how litter affects the environment.  Our event hopes to provide a fun, educational manner for that to happen,” Riley said.

Riley will announce the results of a survey project about where litter originates the impact of cigarette butts and other environmental studies at the event.

Contact Vicki Riley at vikkii@putershop.com with questions or to schedule a performance.  Riley is interested in auditioning bands and other artists for performances at the event.