Earth Day essays due Wednesday by 5pm
Remember: Essays for Earth Day Spokane and Down To Earth are due Wednesday at 5pm.
To help commemorate Earth Day 2011, DowntoEarthNW.com is inviting writers and thinkers to put pencils to paper and share what Earth Day means to them in today’s world.
This will be the 41st anniversary of the global celebration, and its popularity and impact has certainly waxed and waned over the years. Sometimes it’s coincided with or led to specific legislation aimed at improving the environment.
Other years, it has sparked much excitement at very local levels, such as celebrations and advocacy in neighborhoods and communities. People get fired up to take action and make a difference while enjoying each other’s company, as was seen at “Taking it to the Streets,” Spokane’s 2010 block party.
This writing contest asks contributors to share why it is or isn’t valuable to continue to commemorate the planet at least once a year, the outlook on future celebrations, the balance between attracting corporate support and keeping it a grassroots event, and how to think globally while focusing locally. Or, as some espouse, is 40 years too long to simply celebrate, and is it time for stronger action and better organized strategies in combating threats to the planet?
Writers can wax philosophical, and describe the colors and music of the planet, discuss the role social justice has had or will have, efforts taking place to educate people to change their ways, and effects if they don’t. Even topics like the growing role of women and children in climate change efforts are welcome.
Writers can use their choice of literary forms to share their earth ethos:
- Short Fiction: 1200-1400 words, also referred to as Sudden or Flash Fiction
- Short Essay: 1000-1200 words. Could be analysis/opinion.
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Poetry: 50 lines max.
Wild card Go nuts with experimental poetry, hip-hop, non-fiction. Try something new.
Rules: Submissions must be submitted electronically to info@downtoearthnw.com by 5 p.m. March 31. The top 3 entries in each category will be published on www.downtoearthnw.com.
Even better, one of the winners will have the chance to read their piece for 10 minutes prior to the April 13 appearance of Maude Barlow at this year’s Get Lit! festival at Spokane Community College (Thanks Get Lit! for the collaboration)
For more information on this contest, contact info@downtoearthnw.com. For information on Get Lit! visit http://outreach.ewu.edu/getlit/home.xml
