Can our generation make Earth Day cool again? (Bonus from What On Earth)
Tai Asks Why
CBC
4.2 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 22 April 2024
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The climate is changing. So are we. On What On Earth, you’ll explore a world of solutions with host Laura Lynch and our team of journalists. In 1970, 20 million people showed up to fight for the environment on the first Earth Day. More than five decades later, is it time for this much tamer global event to return to its radical roots?
OG organizer Denis Hayes recounts how – amidst other counterculture movements at the time – his team persuaded roughly one in ten Americans to take to the streets. As he approaches 80, Denis offers his singular piece of advice to the next generation of climate leaders. Then, environmental warriors Maria Blancas and Axcelle Campana share ideas on what a reinspired Earth Day could look like – including making it a public holiday.
More episodes of What On Earth are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/YX9QBtvD
We love to hear from our listeners and regularly feature them on the show. Have a question or idea? Email Earth@cbc.ca
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is a CBC podcast. |
| 0:04.0 | Hi, happy Earth Day. |
| 0:09.0 | Hi, happy Earth Day. I'm Laura Lynch, the host of What on Earth? |
| 0:12.0 | It's a podcast that brings you a world of climate solutions. |
| 0:16.0 | Our team is great at finding inspiration in unexpected places, analyzing new technologies, |
| 0:22.0 | and generally living up to our motto. The climate is |
| 0:25.5 | changing so are we and today we wanted to share with you an episode we're |
| 0:30.5 | proud of it tells the story of the first Earth Day in 1970 from one of its founders. |
| 0:36.2 | An O.G. Although, this O.G. seems to think that stands for old Geiser. |
| 0:41.0 | He's funny, frank, and wise about the past and future. Then we look ahead |
| 0:46.6 | to what's next with some rising stars in this generation of climate organizers. |
| 0:51.6 | Have a listen. |
| 0:55.0 | Come with me back in time. |
| 1:00.0 | It's April 1970. The Vietnam War is dragging on and Americans are becoming increasingly disillusioned with the United States involvement in that conflict. |
| 1:13.4 | Yet even as anti-war protests grow, |
| 1:16.1 | another movement is springing up across the country. |
| 1:19.7 | Even if that war were over tomorrow, |
| 1:22.2 | we would still be killing this planet. |
| 1:25.0 | We are systematically destroying our land, our streams, and our seas. |
| 1:29.3 | We fall our air, deaden our senses, and pollute our our bodies and it's getting worse. |
| 1:35.0 | Now that voice you're listening to there, that's Dennis Hayes, from coverage by CBS News of that day. |
| 1:40.0 | Dennis, you are right here, so what does it like to hear that after all this time? |
... |
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