This year, Gila Earth Day will be digital. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Earth Day organizers across the planet will unite as part of the first “Digital Earth Day,” a global digital mobilization to address the most urgent threats to people and planet.

Gila Earth Day will be participating in this virtual event on Wednesday, April 22, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, from 10:00 am to noon. In an effort to provide a variety of local content for streaming live over the internet, the Planning Committee invites participants to provide digital content, whatever they wish to share with the community. Techno-savvy host(s) will introduce these pre-recorded presentations for live streaming. The material will also be available for viewing any time after the virtual event.

Content may include films, slideshows, performances, lectures or interviews. “Topics may include the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, climate action, local resilience, COVID-19 and the climate crisis, citizen science, Foodprints (the measure of the environmental impacts associated with the growing, producing, transporting, and storing of our food), planting trees, global cleanups, and Artists for the Earth,” said Doyne Wrealli, Program Associate for the Gila Resources Information Project (GRIP) and the coordinator of Gila Earth Day. “But I’m sure there will be some fun surprises, too.”

The Planning Committee is also interested in hearing from people in the community who may have memories and/or photographs from previous Earth Day celebrations. “I’ve heard from a few who were at the very first Earth Day in 1970, and some that were part of the first Earth Day here in Silver City,” said Wrealli. “We’d love to include their stories and photographs, and to hear about any other Earth Day celebrations that were special to them.”

If you or your group would like to submit content or participate in another way, fill out the online registration form at www.gilaresources.info, join us on the Facebook group @GilaEarthDay or contact Doyne Wrealli at earthendoyne@gmail.com or 575-297-9745. The Planning Committee is working hard to ensure that our local Gila Earth Day celebration happens, despite these public health challenges. “We really appreciate the community’s ongoing patience, flexibility, and participation,” said Wrealli.