Festival links healthy communities to a healthy environment

San Jose, California, April 21, 2002- In the midst of activities occurring throughout the Bay Area, San Jose's diverse communities will be celebrating their first Multicultural EARTH Day at Roosevelt Park on Sunday, April 21st from 1-4 PM. Sponsored by the Health and Environmental Justice project of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC), the E.A.R.T.H (Education and Access for Reclaiming Total Health) Day festivities will celebrate the diversity of San Jose's communities while highlighting the importance of education, empowerment and action to protect community health and the environment.

"We are going beyond the traditional Earth Day messages of preserving and conserving our natural resources," said Jay Mendoza, director of SVTC's Health and Environmental Justice Project. "Low-income and communities of color are on the front line of the toxics battle. Our communities are the first ones that are sited for toxic dump sites and polluting facilities. The Multicultural EARTH Day is directing much needed attention to San Jose's most important resource-healthy communities that are rich in cultural diversity. "

San Jose City Council Member, Cindy Chavez will open the day's event delivering a message that highlights EARTH Day as a vehicle for communities to come together and celebrate their differences while calling for greater health and environmental protection.

"Many Earth Day events have traditionally been occurring in white and affluent communities," said Kyle Yamasaki, "Many environmentalists don't realize that people of color care about the environment. This festival shows that people of color do care about the environment, and the cultural diversity of San Jose will be reflected in the sharing of dance and music."

Visual artists, cultural performers, health advocates, traditional healers, food vendors, and an outdoor concert "On a Sunday Afternoon" sponsored by Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana (MACLA) are part of the activities planned. MACLA will kick off their week long Floricanto Festival & Conference with a concert in the park at the Multicultural EARTH Day event. The featured bands will include Velvet Fury, Jr. Panthers, Grito Serpentino, KHD, Floppy Rodds, and Firme.

Other entertainment at the Multicultural EARTH Day will include Taiwanese folks songs and dance performances from Indian, Indonesian and other dance groups. Speakers will address different cultural approaches to health and our environment including a people of color understanding of EARTH Day. Artwork by Deborah Kennedy will also be on display.

Two symposia are scheduled to provide opportunities for communities of color and youth. "The Environmental Justice Symposium will bring together people-of-color and other community advocates and representatives to discuss how we, as people-of-color, are experiencing the brunt of environmental pollution, sickness and injustice in Silicon Valley," said Terry Valen, Public Health Organizer for HEJ. "We need to discuss our visions for our community--where we want to go and the resources we need. It will also be an opportunity to promote grassroots movement building around Environmental Justice In preparation for the International People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit scheduled in October 2002."

"Youth are a vital part of our community", said Annie Sayo, Youth Organizer for HEJ. Earth Day's "Youth Thang" will consist of various youth groups from the bay area including, Youth United for Community Action, Washington Youth Center, and the Buddhist Soka Gakkai Institute. "We are creating a space where youth of color can come together and discuss issues about justice. It's a place to meet folks their age who are committed to work for positive changes and a place to learn about a variety of resources," Sayo continued. Other activities for youth participation include a creek walk and clean up.

Other exhibits include bio-diesel generators (gas made from corn oil, ethanol and other non-toxic materials) which can reduce toxic emissions by 70-95%, art made from recycled materials and different kiosks will be open with various foods.

"Our multi-cultural EARTH Day is an outgrowth community awareness and resistance to stop the poisoning in our communities by corporate polluters," said Mendoza. " The Health and Environmental Justice project has been organizing in communities to oppose power plant sitings. Last year14 power plants were planned for San Jose's communities of color. None have been built. "We have been successful, because we provided a vehicle where the people most affected by the toxics had a voice that was heard. This EARTH Day festival is also a celebration of that victory." _________________

Contact SVTC's Health and Environmental Justice Project at 408-287-6707 for more information about the environmental health impacts facing the South Bay community residents. #30

Booths and Tables:
Multicultural EARTH Day will feature more than 50 booths and tables providing free information and resources related to our health, our communities, and the environment.

Health Related Resources include: Santa Clara County Public Health Department Programs on Immunizations, Maternal and Child Health, Lead Poisoning Prevention, Mobile HIV/AIDS testing unit ,Child Health and Disabilities Prevention ; Health Trust; Free massage and healing arts; PlaneTree Health Library; and San Jose Holistic Healthcare.

Participating community groups include: Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Inc., Community Garden Project; Asian Pacific Family Resource Center; Californians for Justice; Indian Health Center; Santa Clara Center for Occupational Safety and Health; and Youth United for Community Action.

Environmental Resources will be provided by: Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition; Green Action; Green Party of Santa Clara; Household Hazardous Waste San Jose City; San Jose City Worm Compost and Home Composting, San Jose Conservation Corp

About Silicon Valley Toxic Coalition:
Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) is a diverse grassroots coalition that for almost twenty years has engaged in research, advocacy, and organizing associated with environmental and human health problems caused by the rapid growth of the high-tech electronics industry. Our goal is to advance environmental sustainability and clean production in the industry, improve health, promote justice, and ensure democratic decision-making for communities and workers affected by the high-tech revolution in Silicon Valley and other high-tech areas of the US and the world.

About the Health and Environmental Justice (HEJ) Project
The HEJ Project helps people in the community to identify, reduce, and prevent exposure to hazardous toxics in the areas they work, live, learn, and play. The HEJ project mainly focuses on the high-tech industry and the toxics they are producing, but we also address the cumulative exposures of Environmental Justice (EJ) communities to a host of environmental toxics.

HEJ works with health care providers and clinics to protect community health, and with local officials and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department on preventive approaches to public health policy. One of the ways HEJ does all of this is through its F.A.C.E.S. program which focuses on educating and organizing residents and workers in the community to improve the health of their environment and work place.

The event is sponsored by the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition with special contributions by the Santa Clara Center for Occupational Safety and Health, Resources for Families and Communities, Asian Pacific Family Resource Center, Indian Health Center, SJSU Multicultural Center, and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.

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