Tufts’ EarthFest, culminating on April 22 with Earth Day, focuses on day-to-day efforts to care for the planet
EarthFest, a week-long series of events to raise awareness about sustainability at Tufts, culminates this Friday, April 22, in a celebration of the 46th annual Earth Day. EarthFest will include a panel on environmental justice and the screening of Jumbo Wild, a film about the threats posed by developing a massive ski resort in Jumbo Valley, British Columbia.
The events show how students and others can get involved with sustainability activities at Tufts, says Phil Hicks, A18, of the Tufts Sustainability Collective, a student organization that is helping organize EarthFest. “Earth Day reminds us we all need to take care of the earth,” says Hicks. “But at Tufts, we try to go beyond that, and help see how it applies to our everyday life at the university.”
The Earth Day fair, to be held on the Medford/Somerville campus’s Academic Quad from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature refreshments from J.P. Licks, Redbones and the Flatbread Company, as well as live music, and representatives from a wide range of organizations dedicated to sustainability, such as the Tufts Veg Society and the Tufts Garden Club.
Students will also have an opportunity to recycle garments and refresh their wardrobes with something second-hand, thanks to a clothing swap hosted by the Eco-Reps, a program coordinated by the Office of Sustainability. In addition, the Eco-Reps are organizing a zero-waste challenge. Over the week, participants collect any trash they create (everything that cannot be reused, recycled or composted) and bring it to the fair from noon to 1:30 p.m.
The Earth Day celebration isn’t limited to the Medford/Somerville campus. Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Grafton will be celebrating Earth Day at Elm’s Cafe from noon to 1 p.m. on April 22. Community members there are also participating in a zero-waste challenge; participants may bring bags to the cafe and be entered for a raffle prize.
