March 17, 1997

Earthstock ‘97

Student activists from throughout the east coast

have organized a major environmental conference, “Earthstock

‘97,” that will be held in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on

April 4-6. An impressive roster of speakers and bands are expected,

including Sierra Club President Adam Werbach and Physicians For

Social Responsibility founder Helen Caldicott. The voice of the

“Wonder Years” television series, Daniel Stearn, will

also speak about the media and corporate responsibility.

“I am so glad to see the major student environmental

groups working together on an issue,” said Rick Taketa, who

is director of Free The Planet!, the organization behind the conference.

“Participants should get a lot out of the workshops and networking

sessions that we have planned.”

Over the last several months, the leaders of the

student chapter of New Jersey Public Interest Research Groups

(PIRG), the directors of Free The Planet!, and Sierra Student

Coalition, have dedicated hours and dollars to making this event

happen. Proceeds from the conference will benefit Free The Planet!,

whose goal is to link student activists around the United States

in a functional network.

“This could be the most important gathering

of our generation,” said Alexander Lee ‘97, the Middlebury

College student who developed the concept for Earthstock. “It

could be the Woodstock of the 1990s. The main goal is for everybody

to help build unity among high school and college students who

are interested in preserving the creation, and have fun at the

same time.”

Adam Werbach, the 24 year old president of the Sierra

Club, will greet the crowd and Rick Taketa will also deliver a

short speech.

The other speakers will focus on Free The Planet!’s

five central campaigns. Dr. Helen Caldicott, the 1996 recipient

of the Nobel Prize for Peace, will speak on the failures of nuclear

power and the importance of using and developing renewable sources

of energy. Ed Rush, of the Citizens’ Coalition Against Hazardous

Waste, will speak about dioxins and the other dangerous chemicals

penetrating our communities. Roger Featherstone, from Defenders

of Wildlife, will speak about the Endangered Species Act. Bill

McKibben, author of the best-selling The End of Nature, will speak

about saving public lands, global warming, and his more recent

book, Hope, Human and Wild. Daniel Stearn will lecture

on “Corporate Welfare.”

Music will include a set by Cosy Sheridan, winner

of the 1992 Telluride Folk Festival and a popular Vermont student

band called One Fell Swoop. There will be a multi-media presentation

by Lou Gold.

For more information about how to register, please

call Sage Rockermann or Kim Mowery at 401-861-6012 or send an

e-mail to sage.rockermann@ssc.org.