The 13th Annual Topanga Earth Day, April 21 & 22

 

Eye of the Future is about five children from around the world charged by the earth to share their stories of climate solutions and sustainable designs from their home regions and is one of the environment films being screened at Topanga Earth Day Festival’s first Conscious Film Expo.

One festival, one ton of biodegradable compost, 1.3 tons of recyclables, two days, three music stages, four causes, five workshop stations, 10 bags of garbage, 15 guest speakers, 20 bands, 30 production coordinators and … infinite Inspiration!

What’s new at this year’s 13th Annual Topanga Earth Day Festival is the launch of its first annual Conscious Film Expo featuring an assortment of new feature film documentaries.

This environmental film expo will showcase the new kids’ film, Eye of The Future and three World Premières: A Day On Earth, a stunning photo-journal of the human condition on Mother Earth, was shot simultaneously in 192 countries; Confessions of An Eco-Terrorist, captures the lives and struggles of the heroic warriors of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society as they battle on the open sea against the Japanese whaling fleet (see related article, p.12-13); The Big Fix, brings to light the hidden story of the Gulf oil spill disaster of 2011, as thousands of barrels of ultra-toxic oil dispersants were dumped and sprayed into the Gulf.

Other environmental concerns will also be covered in the two days of screenings: water issues, aerosol chemical spraying (chem-trails), electric vehicles, industrial hemp, the current nuclear crisis, bee colony hive collapse, as well as solutions to move towards a resource-based economy.

The screening tent will be located next to the Community House. Film schedule is 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday. Admission is free.

Musicians confirmed are: Donna Delory; Daniel Bambaata Marley; Luis Conté; Leon Mobley; MakePeace Brothers; Gospel Brunch with Joel Scott & New Horizon; Freedom; Maetar; Fabiano Do Nascimento; Stephanie Lallouz; Clayton Joseph Scott; Blues Divine; Phillip King; Shylah Ray Sunshine; Tim O’Gara; Peter Alsop with Wise & Funny Songs and Ote for President (see related article, p. 16).

Sixty percent of the proceeds are donated to environmental awareness, preservation, and survival programs. This year’s beneficiaries are The Love and Haiti Project created by Benar Geer, loveandhaitiproject.org and Kids Make A Difference, created by Dr. Andy Mars, kidsla.org/community.

In 2009, Topanga Earth Day contributed to International Causes, Earth Justice and Sea Shepherd; and to Local Causes, the California Wildlife Center and the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains: Turtle Project.

In 2010 the Local Beneficiaries were: Common Peace and Topanga Community Food Garden & Fruit Trees at the Topanga Community Club. The International Beneficiaries were: Trees For The Future and Woman's Earth Alliance 501C-3 Not For Profit Organizations.

In 2011, Topanga Earth Day donated to international 501C-3s Sea Shepherd and Doctors Without Borders, and to local 501C-3, Topanga Community Club.

Through recycling and biodegradable composting and in collaboration with Universal Waste and local volunteers, Earth Day is dedicated to creating a successful 90 percent waste-free event. All Vendors use biodegradable cups, spoons, forks, knives, garbage bags, napkins and plates that are made from sugar cane, banana leaf and corn.

In 2011, all recycling and trash were sorted with the result of 1.5 tons of compost, two tons of recycling and 16 64-gallon bags of garbage at the end of a two-day festival.

A free bio-diesel shuttle will pick up at designated parking areas throughout the Canyon to and from the fairgrounds. For details and program schedules: TopangaEarthDay.org. The Topanga Community House Fair Grounds is located at 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290.