To paraphrase the Beatles: "Have you heard? The word is green."
Yes, it seems the ethereality of "love" has given way to the practicality of "green" in the pantheon of popular virtue. If we intend to save the planet, it's way past time to get started. The hug-in can come later.
I guess I'm being a bit glib in the service of the season, but Earth Day was this week, and the second coming of Isthmus Green Day is this Saturday, April 25, so if not now, when? You may have noticed the green tilt to Isthmus in these last two weeks. Last week's cover story, "Hope for the Planet" by Rob Zaleski, while acknowledging the generally dire state of the ecosystem, made the case for being optimistic, in part because soon the kids will be taking over, having learned from our mistakes (it is devoutly hoped).
This week, features editor Linda Falkenstein, who grazes professionally in the service of Isthmus readers, uses the ubiquitous hamburger as an object lesson in the calculus of sustainable eating and bandies the question, "Would a beef patty by any other name taste as sweet?"
The most direct expression of all things green in this issue is the enclosed "Isthmus Green Day Festival Guide," the program for this Saturday's Green Day activities. The guide contains the roster of more than 100 exhibitors who will be participating. The guide also gives you the schedule of events on the three stages, the booth floor plan, speaker profiles and event descriptions. The Launchpad Music stage features four high school bands that are part of the Launchpad competition.
This, and much more as described in the Green Day Festival Guide, happens at Monona Terrace beginning at 9 a.m. Admission is $5 at the door, but you can find out in the festival guide how to get in free by biking, busing or donating to Goodwill. That information is on page 5.
Until Saturday morning, then, remember: All we need is green.
