Column by Tate White

April, despite the atypical weather we are currently experiencing, generally reminds us what we have been missing over the cold winter months (in the rare case we forgot). Spring rains are normally accompanied by the greening of the landscape as fresh leaves on deciduous trees grow and buds spurt. Subsequently, it is not surprising that Earth Day—the annual celebration and appreciation of the Earth’s natural environment—is celebrated mid-way through this month. This year, Residence Life Recycling and UK Greenthumb carry on their tradition of celebrating all month long with workshops, community service events, films, presentations, music and more revolving around the promotion of sustainability, responsible global citizenship and the power of local action. Earthdays in the Bluegrass (EDBG) 2009 has arrived, and I encourage all UK community members to participate.

The packed schedule of events, one for just about every day in April, presents the average college student with plenty of opportunities to take part in one or more of the enlightening and entertaining events. This week is a particularly exciting one, when the Beehive Collective will present its work at the Student Center at 7 p.m. tonight. This art-activist collective aims to de-construct the complex issues affecting contemporary society, making them more comprehensible for the average observer.

One of the Beehive Collective’s current campaigns focuses on “The True Cost of Coal,” employing the talents of the artists to create mesmerizing graphics portraying bio-regionally relevant depictions of animals and insects. Their Web site, (http://www.beehivecollective.org) explains that the artists intend for these graphic metaphors to evoke in viewers the vital connections between ecological diversity and cultural diversity, demonstrating how coal inflicts devastating cultural costs as well as environmental ones. I have provided here a limited explanation of the Beehive Collective’s work, hoping it will inspire the reader to attend tonight’s event.

An Evening with the Mountain Keepers presents an appropriate follow-up to the Beehive Collective by providing local demonstrations of public writing and grassroots community action to compare with the collective’s outside perspective of Appalachia’s endangered culture. Commencing at 6 p.m. on Thursday night in the Student Center Grand Ballroom, this event promises to be pleasing to attendees’ intellect as well as visual and auditory senses with a program composed of readings, educational showcases, sculpture and music. The UK Writing Program Community Engagement Series hosts what promises to be an intriguing experience. In case you miss the Beehive Collective Thursday night, members will be present to show their work and answer any questions regarding it.

In case this week is a busy one, preventing you from participating in any of these events, pick up an EDBG 2009 calendar or visit www.earthdaysinthebluegrass.org to find out about other events happening in the coming weeks. Some aspects of EDBG are easy to engage in and promote, such as Car-free day this Friday, when you can practice engaging in alternative forms of transportation and try to integrate this more into your daily routine in the future. If you commute to campus and are unable to walk or ride a bike, try carpooling with other commuters, assuaging the obnoxious issue of parking. Check out the Kernel on every Wednesday of this month to stay updated on other EDBG events.