Broadside Hosts Nader at EarthFest '08

By Connect Mason Reporter Edwin Mora

George Mason University’s first annual EarthFest '08, a day long festival stressing sustainability and the environment, will feature local bands, environmental speakers and food.

Earth Fest, which will inaugurate Earth Week, will take place at the Fairfax Campus’ student quad between Student Union I and the Fenwick Library from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Everything is free, except for food and some merchandise, and it’s open to all members of the community.

The event is sponsored by the Student Media Office and co-sponsored by the Phi Kappa Sigma organization. Mason’s student newspaper, Broadside, and Mason’s Environmental Awareness group is will be hosting the event.

“The event involves guest speakers and bands to raise awareness about sustainability and the environment,” says government and international politics major Chloë Briedé, vice president of Mason’s environmental awareness group. “It’s a good way to involve the Mason community on environmental issues.”

There will be three speakers talking about their contributions to the environment including Ralph Nader, an environmental advocate who has returned to this year’s presidential race.

Former Democratic Senator of Alaska, Environmental Activist and former 2008 presidential candidate Mike Gravel was also invited. The third speaker is Gerry Connolly, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

The bands that will be playing include Mambo Sauce, Everyone But Pete, The Speaks, Square Trio and BOB.

“It is an event to teach students how they can make little changes in their life so that they can make a change in the environment,” said Broadside Editor in Chief Janice Leary,

She pointed out some of the changes Broadside is making such as reducing the amount of paper used in printing the newspaper and not leaving the computers on all the time, among others.

“While we are making little changes, we are contributing to improving the environment,” says Leary. “You don’t have to change your whole lifestyle.”

According to Leary, there will be raffles throughout the day, some friendly companies offering eco-friendly information and selling merchandise, as well as some family businesses with environmentally conscious products for sale.