Celebrations of Wednesday’s 50th anniversary of Earth Day go virtual in Charlotte

Earth Day marks its 50th anniversary Wednesday, and while the coronavirus pandemic will keep half the world’s population locked down, environmentalists will still find ways to celebrate the day.

Here are a couple in Charlotte:

Sustain Charlotte will host a virtual celebration of Earth Day – and its own 10th anniversary – from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday.

“We’ll share Sustain Charlotte’s history and some of the environmental issues we address, ask attendees to share what they’re doing to celebrate Earth Day, and share announcements about ways that people can get involved in supporting a healthier planet while they’re social distancing,” the group’s website says.

The group also recommends 10 ways to live sustainably in a time of social distancing.

The Carolina Raptor Center and other local organizations will take part in Earth Optimism CLT to celebrate the anniversary with “a healthy serving of hope and optimism” on Webex and Facebook from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday.

“This Earth Day series will recount local, replicable success stories for saving the planet. Come join our site and leave with hope for the planet and inspiration to take up solutions for your community,” a description reads.