BYU NewsNet - Students Mark Early Earth Day

Look at a regular calendar, and Earth Day is on April 22. But not at BYU.

A group of students have collaborated with Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance to celebrate Earth Day a little early - tonight.

"Earth Day comes during finals and graduation, which is the worst time to have an event," said senior Sean Summerhays, co-president of the Eco-Response club. "We figured we could do it earlier in the month so more students can attend."

Summerhays also said he hopes all students, not just Eco-Response members, attend.

"We hope we can help others to see our perspective on incorporating our faith into the practice of stewardship," he said, "but we hope to get a variety of viewpoints."

The celebration begins at 5 p.m. with a showing of Dr. Suess' "The Lorax" in the International Cinema theater in 250 SWKT. "The Lorax," published in 1971 and made into a movie a year later, tells the story of a creature called the Lorax who "speaks for the trees."

The story includes the typical Seussian elements of fanciful creatures, colorful scenery and inventive language, but Seuss' condemnation of industrialization and the timber industry made it somewhat controversial. The book was even banned in some schools and libraries.

Above all, the book is a cautionary tale, and ends with a hopeful call to action.

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it's not," says Seuss' Lorax.

Following the movie showing will be a discussion about local environmental consciousness. Then, participants may also attend Wilderness Alliance's "Faith and the Land: Conversations About Spirituality and Wilderness."

The alliance has hosted similar community discussions throughout Utah.

It is bringing such an event to Provo because of the BYU community's strong interest in conservation, said Deeda Seed, alliance grassroots outreach coordinator.

"What we're hoping to do with the dialogue project is to provide people with the opportunity to talk with each other about what these amazing lands in Utah mean to us, and then to talk about what we hope the future of these lands will be," Seed said. "What we've found is that people care very deeply."

The discussion will be hosted at the home of Charlotte England, wife of the late Eugene England, a well-known scholar and BYU English professor. Refreshments will be provided.