EarthSolidarity!™
Community Solar: How East Tennessee can harness the power of the sun
Apr 20 8 p.m. EDT
Online discussion with Bryan Jacob, Solar Program Director, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy & Jason Carney, Founder and CEO of Energy Electives
East Tennessee EarthRise and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
For a justice-centered transition away from fossil fuels
Apr 8 5–6 p.m.
Revolutionary Power: An Activist’s Guide to the Energy Transition
Shalanda Baker, Deputy Director for Energy Justice & Secretary’s Advisor on Equity, U.S. Department of Energy
Howard H Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, Distinguished Energy and Environment Lecture Series
Zoom Meeting - Free and open to the public
Dr. Baker will discuss her new book, which offers practical tools to achieve a justice-based transition away from fossil fuels. She argues that transforming our energy system is the next civil rights domain. Those marginalized by our current system, low-income communities, and communities of color, must be the architects to transform the energy sector’s unequal power dynamics.
Join the meeting with this link
Babies born today may be unable to procreate without medical technology
The Guardian: Interview of Shanna Swan. 'Most couples may have to use assisted reproduction by 2045'
In her new book,“Count Down: How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race,” Shanna H Swan, professor of environmental medicine and public health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, provides more evidence how the wide use of plastics and other materials containing hormone-mimicking chemicals interfere with fertility and fecundity.
She advises how one may at least reduce exposure to these substances, to some degree, by making informed purchase decisions, such as avoiding processed food.
Knowledge particularly important for pregnant women!
See also, the ‘Plasticenta’ report referenced in the plastic pollution action alert.
Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act webinar
Watch the webinar recording of
Apr 1 8 p.m.
Reintroduction of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Citizens' Climate Lobby
Zoom Meeting - Free and open to the public
Today the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 has been reintroduced into the House by Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL-22) and 28 original cosponsors. Tune in to learn the updates and details.
Register now for Drive Electric Earth Day event
Apr 10 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Knoxville Electric Vehicle Association (KEVA), Ijams Nature Center, Drive Electric Tennessee (DET), East Tennessee Clean Fuels
Drive Electric Earth Day event in front of the Ijams Visitor Center
Owners of a variety of fully electric & plug-in electric vehicles will bring their cars, answer questions, and share their enthusiasm for driving electric.
Literature & information will be available, along with panel discussions on electric vehicle topics. Expected vehicles include: Tesla models 3, Y, S & X, Nissan Leaf, Chevy Bolt & Volt, Zero motorcycle, and Honda Insight (conversion). More will be added as details develop.
Free and open to the public but due to limited admission, advance registration is required
A series of short presentations/discussions will offer visitors a chance to learn more about specific topics such as EV benefits, tax rebates and purchase incentives, EVs coming in 2021-2022, batteries and charging, used EVs, and road trips.
Register now
COVID-19 safety restrictions will be followed for this event and masks will be required to enter the electric vehicle area.
Integrating economics and ecology
Mar 26 10–11 a.m.
Integrating economics and ecology for seasonal migratory species conservation
Dr. Charles Sims
Howard H. Baker Jr Center for Public Policy
Baker Cafe Zoom Meeting - Free and open to the public
The Baker Cafe Series is an informal discussion about various topics. Guests are encouraged to ask questions that pertain to the topic and gain insight straight from the experts.
Species that migrate face different natural and anthropogenic threats than other species. Protecting migratory species poses unique policy challenges because survival depends on the migratory process's integrity through space and time.
Zoom meeting link
Knoxville Neighborhood Conference
All the virtual content remains accessible
through Apr 3
The City of Knoxville's virtual 2021 Neighborhood Conference
Yearly neighborhood-focused event to connect neighborhoods & strengthen communities
Brought to you by the City of Knoxville's Office of Neighborhood Empowerment, in collaboration with numerous city and county departments
Engage with our community through the Virtual Convention Center Platform — FREE but registration is required
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s conference will be virtual but will include all of the aspects of our in-person conference from the comfort of your own home. You will be able to attend workshops, hear remarks from Mayor Kincannon, visit information booths and more.
Conference details and registration
Open to everyone—neighborhood leaders, members and participants of neighborhood organizations and any city resident interested in the quality of life in Knoxville’s neighborhoods.
Become a Volunteer Forester
Mar 24 6–8 p.m.
Volunteer Forester Certificate Level One
Learn how to properly plant, mulch and prune trees
Trees Knoxville
The class will combine video instruction, 4 weekly Zoom meetings (Mar 24, 31, Apr 7, 14), and one 2-hour field day at a local park for hands-on training, which will follow The Arbor Foundation Covid best practices guidelines.
Virtual Volunteer Forester Registration
Class cost is $25. More information and financial aid available on the registration site.
Switch off your lights for Earth Hour
Mar 27 8:30–9:30 p.m. local time
Take part with your family in Earth Hour 2021
It is a symbol of unity. It is a symbol of hope. It is a symbol of power in collective action for nature.
Earth Hour international partnership
Take part in the Earth Hour Virtual Spotlight: Coming to a small screen near you
Step 1: Follow
Make sure you're following at least one of the Earth Hour social pages and turn on notifications:
Step 2: Watch
On March 27 - the night of Earth Hour - we'll be posting a must-watch video on all our pages.
We can't tell you what the video will be about just yet...but we can promise that it'll make you see our planet and the issues we face in a new light.
Step 3: Share
Share the video far and wide, it's that simple! Share it to your Stories or to your wall, re-Tweet it, send it via DM or Messenger, @tag/mention friends in the comments - the choice is yours. Whether you share it with one person, ten people, or a hundred - remember, it all adds up!
Use the hashtag #EarthHour when you can!
Male sparrows sang sexier tunes during lockdown
Mar 12 noon–1 p.m. EST
Songbirds Changed Their Tune During the Pandemic
Elizabeth Derryberry, associate professor in the UT Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Tennessee Science Forum
Zoom Meeting - Free and open to the public - RSVP
Dr. Derrberry’s study of white-crowned sparrow songs during lockdown received nationwide attention.
With noise pollution from traffic cut in half, white-crowned sparrows sang more softly, using tones more attractive to females.
After registering,
you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.