San Diego Free Press

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San Diego’s Earth Fair 2016: All in for the Environment

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Hey! That's SDFP Editor Doug Porter with a message

Hey! That’s SDFP Editor Doug Porter with a message

Sunday, April 17th. EarthFair Day.

Having heard all the warnings about trying to drive to Earth Fair–not to mention the irony–, I took the bus.

The Number 7 bus was a half hour late and it dropped me on the corner of Park & University. It wasn’t going anywhere near that mess in Balboa Park. Eventually, the Balboa Park “shuttle” appeared. After quibbling with the driver when he asked for another fare, we sped three blocks south only to get in line.  Hurry up and wait.

Traffic was held up at Roosevelt Junior High by the police so the people who drove could turn left across traffic towards parking lots. Even on Earth Day, it’s cars first in San Diego. #CarsRule  #Pedestrians&BusRidersDrool.

After a mere 75 minutes, I was deposited at my destination. I could have walked from Noth Park… …been having a little trouble with the after effects of my cancer surgery lately, and I was trying to buy some extra time in the park.

EarthFair was worth the journey, if for no other reason than to see all these activist types in one place: GreenPeace, SD350, Sierra Club, Environmental Democrats, Vets for Peace, CoastKeeper, Climate Mobilization and a dozen more that I forgot to write down were all there. Everywhere you looked there were Bernie supporters.

And then there were the haters. A Sister of Perpetual Indulgence stood, parasol in hand, warning people, directing traffic. “Intolerant bigots this way. Families with children that way.” I don’t know if they were the real deal–as in Westboro Baptist Church–and I didn’t bother to stop and ask.

There were petitions to sign, voter registration forms to be filled out, performances to watch, and what I presume was healthy food being sold. The folks from the Citizens Plan were gathering signatures. You could sign for an additional two buck tax on cigarettes and against corporate greed.

Purists will no doubt be unhappy to hear that there were numerous representatives from corporate America, singing their siren songs about how Green they’ll be if you’ll only spend a few bucks with them.

I saw about 10% of the fair during my 90-minute visit. I’m sure I missed some great stuff. Even without an EarthFair, Balboa Park is a swell place to hang out on a Sunday afternoon.

Enjoy the photos.

Doug Porter

Doug Porter

Doug Porter was active in the early days of the alternative press in San Diego, contributing to the OB Liberator, the print version of the OB Rag, the San Diego Door, and the San Diego Street Journal. He went on to have a 35-year career in the Hospitality business and decided to go back into raising hell when he retired. He won numerous awards for his columns from the Society of Professional Journalists in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Doug is a cancer survivor (sans vocal chords) and lives in North Park.

Comments

  1. I got there about 10 AM having no trouble proceeding down 163 to the Park Ave exit, hanging a left and parking in the first parking lot on the right. (Inspiration Point?)

    I went first to the Tiny Homes exhibit and bought a T-shirt. Then I made the rounds totally impressed by the number of groups represented there as Doug was. This was a really big deal with so many people involved. On my way in I was asked to sign a petition for the Chargers downtown stadium. I said “I don’t want a stadium for the Chargers in downtown.”

    I signed the petition for an extra 2 buck tax on cigarettes though. The food on sale wasn’t all that healthy – hot dogs and bratwurst. It was hot. After making the rounds, I had no problem getting out of the parking lot and back on the freeway, I-5 south. I forgot you couldn’t get on 94 east that way. I’m glad I went.

  2. Engaged anthropomorphists
    prepare to celebrate 46th an-
    niversary of Earth Day.
    US Senator Gaylord Nelson,
    Wisconsin, recognized founder
    of Save the Planet, marshalls
    recruits, 1970, which led to
    the creation of EPA, another
    expansion of the federal govern-
    ment, but necessary in Order to
    form a more perfect Union.
    “We gotta protect Mother Earth.
    Protecting Mother Earth, our
    creator, is necessary. Furthermore,
    if we fail to recognize Mother
    Earth, we jeopardize our lives
    and risk the end of endangered
    species dependent upon Mother
    Earth’s generosity and love of
    Mother Earth’s creations.”
    To this end, a local community
    spearheads operation Save the
    Planet by offering free bus rides,
    Earth Day, April 22, 2016.
    “Ridicule a free bus ride to nowhere,
    and you mock, smear Earth Day
    worshippers.”
    “But free bus rides? Most buses
    pollute Mother Earth. Fossil-driven
    or fossil-fuel generated electric trans-
    misson vehicles pollute Mother
    Earth’s environment, just as surely
    as we expell carbon dioxide into
    or onto the atmosphere.”
    “Don’t matter. We anthropomor-
    phists recognize indulgence of
    Mother Earth. She recognizes the
    burden to deliver the message of
    salvation, despite the ugliness of
    free bus rides, which is harmful
    but justified tactic to spread the
    message of salvation. No pain,
    to gain, a disgusting assumption
    attributed to human debris.”
    “You’re a savant. I admire your
    savoir-vivre, your attitude to live
    life well. Unfortunately, I work
    Earth Day and my retarded
    employer does not excuse absence
    fixated on popular culture.”

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