EarthX Celebrates Half Earth Day – Halfway to the 50^th Anniversary of Earth Day

The Second Annual Half Earth Day Kicks Off the Six-month Countdown to

Earthx2020 at the Frontiers of Flight Museum

EarthX will celebrate Half Earth Day at the Frontiers of Flight Museum on Tuesday, October 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., marking the year’s halfway point to the 50^th anniversary of the first Earth Day.

“This Half Earth Day is special because we’re starting the countdown to the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day next April,” said Tony Keane, chief executive officer of EarthX. “The first Earth Day in 1970 launched an environmental movement that has continued growing for nearly half a century. One of our goals is to extend our traditionally once-annual observance into year-round mindfulness and action towards a more sustainable future, which we hope will keep Earth Day thriving for another 50 years to come.”

The free celebration will feature space ambassador Anousheh Ansari, CEO of XPRIZE Foundation, which leads incentive competitions to solve humanity’s grand challenges. As the first female private space explorer, Ansari spent 11 days on the International Space Station, and will deliver a compelling presentation about her transformative experience. This month also marks the 15^th anniversary of the Ansari XPRIZE, a $10 million dollar prize awarded for Paul Allen’s SpaceShipOne reusable rocket, which inspired commercial spaceflight. A life-size replica of SpaceShipOne will be unveiled along with Ansari’s spacesuit at Half Earth Day for an ongoing exhibit at the Frontiers of Flight Museum.

Ken McQueen, the new Region 6 EPA Administrator and former New Mexico Secretary for Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources, will speak; and Leilani Münter of the Discovery Channel's "Planet Green" will serve as emcee. Münter is known as a vegan hippie chick with a racecar, a Sports Illustrated Top 10 Female Driver, and the #1 Eco Athlete in the world.

At 7:30 p.m., Half Earth Day will feature a screening of the film SEA OF SHADOWS, a riveting new documentary with the intensity of a Hollywood thriller from National Geographic Documentary Films that won the Sundance Audience Award. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with investigative journalist and television host Carlos Loret de Mola, who is featured in and helped inspire the film. SEA OF SHADOWS follows a team of dedicated scientists, high-tech conservationists, investigative journalists, and undercover agents, as well as the Mexican Navy, as they put their lives on the line to save the last remaining vaquita porpoises. Mexican drug cartels and Chinese traffickers have joined forces to poach rare totoaba fish in the Sea of Cortez using methods that threaten to destroy marine life in the region, including the elusive and endangered vaquita.

Half Earth Day will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22 at the Frontiers of Flight Museum located at 6911 Lemmon Avenue in Dallas. To reserve your free spot for EarthX’s Half Earth Day celebration, visit Half Earth Day. 

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ABOUT EarthX 

EarthX strives to be the leading global connector to positively impact our world for a sustainable future. EarthX is a member of IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature. Formerly Earth Day Texas, EarthX hosts the largest environmental expo, conference and film festival in the world in Dallas. Founded in 2011 by environmentalist and businessman Trammell S. Crow, the Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization promotes environmental awareness by curating an atmosphere for conscious business, nonpartisan collaboration and community-driven sustainable solutions. In 2019, the event drew over 177,000 attendees, 2,000 environmental leaders, exhibitors and 400 speakers. Earthx2020 will be held April 22 – 26, 2020 in Dallas. Visit www.EarthX.org. 

On Facebook:                    @earthxorg

On Twitter:                         @earthxorg

On Instagram:                   @earthxorg

EarthxFilm has partnered to create immersive experiences in New York during Climate Week NYC, which is run in coordination with the United Nations and the City of New York. From September 20-23, Our Village, Community Corner will feature curated VR content from EarthxFilm at the Ford Foundation and Helen Mills Theater, while interactive content at Arcadia Earth will include 360-degree film experiences from Underwater Earth, an EarthxFilm partner, as well as The Wild Immersion, endorsed by Jane Goodall, which screened at EarthxInteractive 2019. 

Additionally, EarthxFilm has curated the content that will screen at the UN SDG Action Zone, a space built inside the UN grounds during the General Assembly to promote and accelerate transformative action on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. EarthxFilm is also working with Ian Urbina, New York Times Bestselling Author of Outlaw Ocean for Climate Week. 

“We started EarthxInteractive to cultivate and broaden the reach of the interactive experiences being developed to highlight the beauty and plight of our planet,” said Tiffany Kieran, director of interactive programming and partnerships for EarthxFilm. “Since our event in Dallas last spring, we’ve been tapped to curate content for both national and international audiences like those at New York Climate Week, bringing an unprecedented level of experiential intimacy to help others connect with the Earth, and often igniting the needed spark to inspire change.”

Arcadia Earth is a large-scale multi-sensory journey through underwater worlds, fantasy lands, and inspirational art installations. A 15-room exhibition created by experiential artist Valentino Vettori, it explores the plight of our planet through human scale art installations and the futuristic lens of augmented and virtual reality. EarthxFilm connected Arcadia Earth with Underwater Earth, which provided 360 films, helped with sponsors and advised on the set-up of the exhibit.

“Everyone talks about climate change in a negative way, but who wants to hear that we’re all going to die?” asked Vettori. “This installation aims to inspire and engage in a more uplifting way that reminds us what we have and what we can do to change the way things are going – eliminate singe-use plastic, eat less meat, waste less food, and shop more responsibly.”

EarthxInteractive, a subdivision of EarthxFilm, is dedicated to immersive storytelling designed to raise awareness for global environmental issues. Held annually during EarthX, it hosts the world’s largest lineup of eco-interactive programming, presenting scores of virtual, augmented and mixed reality experiences, exhibits and workshops from top creators, environmental organizations and technology partners. 

Earthx2019 brought together more than 177,000 concerned environmental citizens, educators, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and thought leaders to celebrate global sustainability. The ninth annual EarthX event was the world’s largest gathering to positively discuss achievable solutions for environmental change. Earthx2020 will be held April 22 – 26, 2020 in Dallas. 

ABOUT EarthxFilm

EarthxFilm, held April 17 – 26, 2020, showcases films and emerging media that explore conservation, climate change, and the environment while honoring the heroes working to protect our planet. Our mission is to turn awareness into action through art and media. We achieve our goals by partnering with top environmental, film, and entertainment organizations across the globe. EarthxFilm presents year-round programs culminating in a ten-day festival each spring. Visit www.EarthxFilm.org.

ABOUT EarthX 

EarthX convenes the world’s largest environmental expo, conference and film festival. Founded in 2011 as Earth Day Dallas by environmentalist and businessman Trammell S. Crow, the Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization promotes environmental awareness and impact through conscious business, nonpartisan collaboration and community-driven sustainable solutions. In 2019, the event drew over 177,000 attendees, 2,000 environmental leaders, exhibitors and 400 speakers. Earthx2020 will be held April 22 – 26, 2020 in Dallas. Visit www.EarthX.org.

On Facebook:@earthxorg / @earthxfilm.org

On Twitter:@earthxorg / @earthxfilm.org

On Instagram:@earthxorg / @earthxfilm.org

Our Village, Community Corner- If Not Us Then Who and Hip Hop Caucus will host Our Village, Community Corner in the lead-up to the UN Climate Action Summit. The space will allow the Global Alliance to meet, while also providing a platform for often-marginalized indigenous voices to reach wider audiences. Indigenous peoples and local communities play a critical role in stewarding and safeguarding the world’s lands and forests. Content will include Guardians of the Kingdom from Underwater Earth, Anote’s Ark from Matthieu Rytz, and Conservation International VR.

Underwater Earth, the team behind Google Street View underwater, is an Australian non-profit focused on highlighting the urgency of action on ocean degradation using the power of creative storytelling combined with innovative technology. Their VR productions, filmed and produced by Christopher Bailhache and Sophie Ansel, are showcased in the Arcadia Ocean room, allowing people to immerse themselves in some of the most remote coral reefs in the world, coming face-to-face with Manta rays, humpback whales, and sharks.

EarthX, is celebrating reducing the use of a million plastic straws, a significant milestone in the Strike Out Straws campaign that was launched at EarthX 2018 to eliminate the proliferation of single-use plastic straws. The Strike Out Straws movement has progressed through a combination of initiatives and with pledges from Studio Movie Grill and support from paper straw distributor, CircleTerra.

After EarthxFilm screened the film STRAWS at the corporate office of Studio Movie Grill, the chain chose to remove straws, except by request, from waters served to guests. Successful testing locally led the chain to remove single use plastic straws for waters chain-wide. The first month implemented, the effort saved 350,000 straws, and is projected to result in a savings of 4.2 million plastic straws and $27,000 annually.

“We are excited to align with EarthX in their effort to eliminate plastic straws and in support of the Strike Out Straws initiative,” added Janet Michaels, director of purchasing for Studio Movie Grill. “In doing so, we are grateful to be able to make a difference for our environment, while also directly improving our bottom line.”

Once discarded, single-use plastic straws, require more than 200 years to break down, adding to plastic debris in landfills. “This is just the beginning,” said Michael Cain, president and co-founder of EarthxFilm. “EarthX will continue to create awareness and encourage those around us to help make a significant impact on the environment.” 

As Strike Out Straws continues towards its next million plastic straws saved, EarthX is also celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day in 2020 by working toward a goal of no single-use plastic and styrofoam to-go containers. Currently, it’s encouraging diners to Go NOCO Loco! by saying NO to plastic and Styrofoam Containers during DFW Restaurant Week running through September 1. 

“Studio Movie Grill is a great example of how slight changes can lead to significant impacts,” continued Cain. “They weren’t in a position to say, ‘no more plastic straws ever’, but they were willing to say, ‘what if we just tried this one thing?’ This not only helped us reach the one million straws milestone, but the theater chain is also expecting to have reduced the use of single use plastic straws by 2.45 million by year-end. It’s one way EarthX is helping answer the SOS from our planet.”

CircleTerra owner Kelly Freeman, who serves on EarthX’s SOS Advisory Council, added, “More and more North Texas businesses are ready to make the change from single use plastic straws. It is exciting and humbling to be a part of the SOS movement.” 

CircleTerra also made a generous donation of biodegradable paper straws, complementing the 200,000 paper straws EarthX committed for DFW Restaurant Week, during EarthX, and at its year-round events. In addition to Freeman, the SOS Advisory Council includes Christian Harper of the City of Fort Worth, Lindsey McNeny from Windows to the Wild, and VanDella Menifee, local educator and community activist. Linda Booker, whose film STRAWS inspired the campaign, also serves on the Council.

Some of the local Dallas businesses that took the EarthX Pledge to Strike Out Straws include: 

Al Biernat's, Alinea, Asian Mint, Cindy’s Deli, Embassy Suites Denton, Houlihans Denton, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Snappy Salads, The Keg Steakhouse, and The Texas Theatre

Businesses and indivduals may join in the campaign and take the pledge at EarthX.org. More information on partnering with EarthX as well as ideas on how to reduce use of straws or plastic packagingis also available at Strike Out Straws or Go NOCO Loco! 

ABOUT EarthX 

EarthX convenes the world’s largest environmental expo, conference and film festival. Founded in 2011 as Earth Day Dallas by environmentalist and businessman Trammell S. Crow, the Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization promotes environmental awareness and impact through conscious business, nonpartisan collaboration and community-driven sustainable solutions. In 2019, the event drew over 177,000 attendees, 2,000 environmental leaders, exhibitors and 400 speakers.

Join EarthxFilm for a Movie Monday screening of KIFARU with Director David Hambridge.

In Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy, rangers devote their lives to caring for and protecting Sudan, the last male white rhino, along with Sudan’s daughter and granddaughter. It’s a privilege and duty they take seriously, no matter how fruitless it can seem. 

Kifaru follows two young recruits over their first four years on the job as they experience the heartbreak and joy of caring for animals whose fate appears sealed. “Why do we fight and plunder the world until nothing is left?” one ranger asks. “The harder question to answer is, why do we give everything to a cause that seems so hopeless?” This film, which lets viewers experience extinction in real time, helps answer that. 

David Hambridge is an Emmy-nominated cinematographer, commercial director and documentary filmmaker based in the U.S. Kifaru is his first feature-length documentary as a director.

Special thanks to our Community Partners, including Planet Rhino (planetrhino.tcu.edu), Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (fossilrim.org), and the Dallas Zoo (www.dallaszoo.org). 

Free Event - Monday, August 26 7 pm - 9 pm

Landmark's Magnolia Theatre

3699 McKinney Avenue

Dallas, TX 75204

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/earthxfilm-presents-kifaru-tickets-65813665445

ABOUT EarthX 

EarthX convenes the world’s largest environmental expo, conference and film festival. Founded in 2011 as Earth Day Dallas by environmentalist and businessman Trammell S. Crow, the Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization promotes environmental awareness and impact through conscious business, nonpartisan collaboration and community-driven sustainable solutions. In 2019, the event drew over 177,000 attendees, 2,000 environmental leaders, exhibitors and 400 speakers. Earthx2020 will be held April 24 – 26, 2020 in Dallas. Visit www.EarthX.org.

On Facebook:@earthxorg

On Twitter:@earthxorg

On Instagram:@earthxorg

EarthxOcean explored the role of oceans in our lives withboth an Inland Ocean Action Summit and the inaugural Island Resilience Forum at the ninth annual EarthX in Dallas. Bringing together global island leaders, champions from the United Nations, and ocean activists, EarthxOcean helped raise the profile of marine conservation as a topic of global scope and significance.

At the Rachel Carson Banquet: Celebrating Our Oceans and Marine Life, EarthxOcean welcomed Fabien Cousteau, son of Jean-Michel Cousteau and grandson of pioneering aquanaut, ocean conservationist, and documentarian Jacques Cousteau. He was joined by Captain Paul Watson founder of the Sea Shepherd, as well as Rudy Reyes and Jim Ritterhoff, founders of Force Blue.

“There are unsung heroes that are not with us today,” said Cousteau at the event. “Those working day in and day out in the farthest corners of the world, those trying to teach our children how to take better care of our life support system – this little oasis of space we call Planet Earth.” 

The Inland Action Ocean Summit convened at Fair Park, with U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) offering the opening remarks on the ocean and the heartland. Speakers discussed how to make the health of the ocean a national issue and the importance of speaking to the broadest number of people possible with Fabien Cousteau; Ben Lecomte, long distance ocean swimmer; and Danni Washington, TV host of Ocean Explorer.

The importance of the inland ocean movement was discussed on a panel with Margo Pellegrino of Paddle4Blue; Kelly Wright, chapter lead for the Wyoming Inland Ocean Coalition; and John Armor, director of National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Sanctuaries. Another panel on upstream pollution and its impact on the ocean involved Iowa farmer Seth Watkins of Pinhook Farm; Dr. Jeremy Jackson, marine biologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography; and Dr. Nancy Rabalais, marine ecologist and “Dead Zone” researcher. Inland ocean issues through 2020 were explored on a panel with John Hocevar of Greenpeace on Plastic Pollution and Raleigh Hoke of the Gulf Restoration Network and Healthy Gulf.

Building a blue print for the 2020 election was addressed in various breakout sessions. How to make your legislative leaders ocean champions was discussed by Jenna Valente of the Healthy Ocean Coalition; Taylor Shedd, Inland Ocean Coalition policy manager; and Cambria Bartlett of Heirs to Our Ocean. Another session on inland youth and student organizing involved Zehra Cheatham, president of the University of Colorado; Vicki Nichols Goldstein, student chapter lead of the Inland Ocean Coalition; and Freya, Caecilia, and Jens Isenhart of Kentucky Heirs to Our Ocean. Finally, David Helvarg, executive director of Blue Frontier; Nikki Caputo, media co-chair of the March for the Ocean; and Eleanor Kerlow, senior communications advisor for Blue Frontier tackled building for 2019 Ocean Day, March for the Ocean, and the Blue/Green New Deal.

The Island Resilience Forum brought together island leaders and champions from the U.N. and around the world to tackle the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. It focused on the development of strategic national energy roadmaps and actionable, fundable projects. The inaugural meeting brought together United Nations’ Ambassadors from Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, the Independent State of Samoa, and a delegation from Sint Maarten, led by the Minister of Justice overseeing national recovery and resilience. Other speakers included leading ocean conservationists, philanthropic champions, scientists, academic leaders, visionary filmmakers, and environmental organizations from around the globe. At the event, the Independent State of Samoa announced its intent to transition to clean, resilient energy generation.

Earthx2019 drew more than 177,000 attendees during three days of exhibitions, a film festival, music, entertainment, learning experiences, discussions, forums, and conferences. After Earthx2019, EarthX announced three early stage start-ups focused on cleantech were awarded a collective $300,000 at the EarthX E-Capital Summit, tripling the initial award offering of $100,000. Earthx2020 will be held April 24 – 26, 2020 in Dallas.

# # #

ABOUT EarthX

EarthX convenes the world’s largest environmental expo, conference and film festival. Founded in 2011 as Earth Day Dallas by environmentalist and businessman Trammell S. Crow, the Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization promotes environmental awareness and impact through conscious business, nonpartisan collaboration and community-driven sustainable solutions. In 2019, the event drew over 177,000 attendees, 2,000 environmental leaders, exhibitors and 400 speakers. Earthx2020 will be held April 24 – 26, 2020 in Dallas. Visit www.EarthX.org.