Nearly 175 exhibitors, musicians and speakers came together Saturday at Sacramento State to bring environmental awareness to the public at Earth Day 2002.

Organizers expected 10,000 people to participate in the fourth annual event that ran from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Sacramento Area Earth Day Network, a volunteer group of more than 20 organizations, hosted the event.

Kathy Ries, coordinator for Earth Day 2002, said that in 1999, when the event began, only about 4,000 people attended. She said that every year the event continues to grow and become more of a success in the Sacramento area.

“It?s amazing how much better the event gets with every year,” Ries said. “We are getting better at getting messages across on sustainable living and getting the community involved as well.”

The event included many organizations working to bring awareness and education on environmental issues to the public.

Exhibitors at Earth Day focused on energy, recycling, protecting species and water resources in the environment, personal health and political action.

Lori Browning, a volunteer for Americans for National Parks, said she hopes people who attended Earth Day will gain awareness of alternative styles of living that are more sustainable to the environment.

“Hopefully people will begin to take action on environmental issues and see that taking action can make a difference,” Browning said.

Louis Fowler, a member of Save the American River Association, said he hopes the public will become more involved in environmental issues to enforce new legislation.

“The more members we get in organizations, the more weight we can throw around politically,” Fowler said.

The event also featured live world music, healing arts demonstrations, crafts and a Mother Earth parade.

The Environmental Speakers? Forum included presentations on climate change, clean energy, protecting American parks and corporate globalization.

Donna Bahneman, a senior at Sac State, said she was enjoying the event on campus and wished that she did not have to go back to class.

“What I?ve seen so far is really great,” Bahneman said, “I think it?s great for the Sacramento area.”

But Junior Elsa Sozmen said she was disappointed that there were not many students at the event.

“I think that it wasn?t publicized enough on campus,” Sozmen said.Karlos Santos-Coy, a senior, said he was disappointed that Earth Day, in his opinion, was so commercialized.

“It?s more about music and selling products than it is about helping the environment and bettering oneself,” Santos-Coy said.

Earth Day 2002 was funded by sponsors including Associated Students, Inc. at Sac State, the City of Sacramento, SMUD and the Sacramento Tree Foundation.

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