TV, radio, Internet sing same Earth Day theme

Easter Island is one of the places visited in "People Count: Hot on the Trail," which will air on CNN and the TBS Superstation on Earth Day

By Environmental News Network staff

April 14, 2000
Web posted at: 11:55 a.m. EDT (1555 GMT)

Earth Day 2000 is drawing nigh, and environmentally concerned citizens across the United States and the world are preparing to participate in many scheduled activities. Many will be able to observe the 30th anniversary of Earth Day from the comfort of their own home.

A variety of programs on TV, radio and the Internet are slated in celebration of Earth Day April 22. TV programs in particular abound before and on Earth Day.

One program that is likely to get the attention of viewers is "Planet Earth 2000," the ABC News special set to air April 22. Hosted by "20/20" correspondent Chris Cuomo, the show will focus on coral bleaching off the Florida coast, urban sprawl in Atlanta and the effects of global warming in Alaska.

The program will also include portions of a recent controversial interview with President Clinton conducted by actor Leonardo DiCaprio, chairman of the EarthFair 2000 celebration that will take place in Washington, D.C.

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The meeting between the president and DiCaprio drew the ire of ABC journalists because a young actor and not a reporter had been granted an interview on behalf of the network.

A less controversial TV program is "People Count: Hot on the Trail", a production of the Turner Environment Division of the Turner Broadcasting System. This program looks at climate change through the lens of photographer and filmmaker Barbara Pyle.

Viewers are taken to Easter Island in the South Pacific, where scientists are trying to determine why the island's population mysteriously disappeared in the middle of the 1700s.

One theory is that as the population grew, the people quickly exhausted all of the natural resources. Researchers are looking for evidence that might show how a change in climate precipitated the demise of the people of Easter Island.

Next, Pyle focuses on global warming in New Orleans and how the change in weather patterns may contribute to the dangerous rise of mosquito and termite populations.

Pyle then visits Milton Cambre, an oil-rigger-turned-conservationist who has worked for the past 30 years to bring back the bayous of his childhood.

"People Count" will air April 22 on CNN at 10 p.m. ET, on the TBS Superstation at 7:30 a.m. ET and in Europe, Asia and Latin America on CNN International.

Here's a list of other Earth Day-oriented programming. Check local listings for times and other options:

For kids

Today through April 21, Cartoon Network will air the "Captain Planet Climate Change Marathon." All episodes of "Captain Planet and the Planeteers" will cover energy-related topics.

Prime-time programs for adults

On Friday NBC will air an episode of "Providence" with an enviromental theme.

CBS' "Family Law" will take a look at fuel efficiency in cars in Monday's episode.

The popular ABC drama "Once and Again" will address Earth Day themes also on Monday.

Movies

The TBS Superstation will show "The American President" on Saturday. The movie is about an environmental lobbyist who falls in love with the president. He is a widower.

News

CNN has incorporated plenty of Earth Day programming during the week preceding Earth Day. Interviews and reports will cover topics ranging from President Clinton's environmental legacy, recycling and environmentalism in the past 30 years.

More specifically, on April 16, Time Magazine and CNN will honor three Heroes for the Planet. They include chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall, Texas housewife and toxic waste protester Phyllis Glazer, and California outdoor photographer Galen Rowell. The show airs at 10 p.m. ET.

Other options

If you don't like TV or don't have one, there are other Earth Day options.

Readers can pick up Time magazine's special edition, entitled "How to Save the Earth and the Heroes for the Planet Who Are Making it Happen." The issue will be on newsstands Wednesday.

On the Internet, CNN Interactive will host an Earth Day chatwith Denis Hayes on Friday April 21 at noon ET.

Web aficionados can also log on to Earth Day Network for the live webcast of EarthFair, the organization's mother-of-all-Earth-Day events on the Mall in Washington, D.C. The festivities, hosted by Leonardo DiCaprio, will include presentations by conservation experts and performances by popular musical groups from noon to 4 p.m. ET.

On the dial, National Public Radio plans to broadcast from the Mall on April 22. For two hours, NPR commentators Alex Chadwick and Steve Curwood will conduct live interviews with special guests interspersed with pre-taped segments about global warming and clean energy.

Zero24-7 Web Radio, the web-based radio station founded by the environmental organization Zero Population Growth, will feature songs that address environmental issues — and a few that simply contain the word "green" — on April 21.

On Earth Day, Zero24-7 deejays will provide full coverage of the celebration in Washington, D.C. ZPG correspondents will also report on events in other parts of the United States and around the world.

Copyright 1999, Environmental News Network, All Rights Reserved

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"People Count: Hot on the Trail"
Time Magazine's Heroes for the Earth special
The Earth Day Network
National Public Radio
Zero24-7 Web Radio

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