Green apple graces the big apple, parks nationwide

Eight environmental music festivals convened in the U.S. Sunday at landmark parks during green week celebrations to gear-up for Earth Day. The interactive and simultaneous festivals conclude on Earth Day 2008, Tuesday, April 22 at the National Mall in Washington, DC. The collaborative efforts of Earth Day Network, the nonprofit organization that founded the original Earth Day in 1970, and Green Apple Festival created the event. Native Energy, an offset leader, aided in the carbon neutral events.

"We're combining music with compelling speech to raise awareness of the problem of global warming and inspire people to action," said Kathleen Rogers, president of Earth Day Network in a press release. “Earth Day 2008 will bring major talent and leaders together to empower people to become environmentally active." According to Green Apple Festival Founder and Executive Producer, Peter Shapiro, "Artists from every genre have raised their hands to participate in America's largest Earth Day celebration, spread out across the country in public parks. We owe endless thanks to the artists and their teams who care enough to underscore the urgency and message of this mission."

The festivals occurred in Central Park in New York City, N.Y.,Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, Ill., Bicentennial Park in Miami, Fla., City Park in Denver, Colo., Fair Park in Dallas, Texas, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., and the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, Calif. For additional information visit: http://www.earthday.net/ and http://www.greenapplefestival.com/. For artist line-up information visit: madisonhousepublicity.com.