JANE GOODALL’S “ROOTS & SHOOTS” YOUTH PROGRAM HOSTS 8^TH ANNUAL DAY OF PEACE ECO FESTIVAL

More than 600 California Youth to Present Inspiring Environmental Projects at Free Eco-Fest Celebrating United Nations International Day of Peace

Celebrity Guests; Concert Performances; Peace Dove Parade; Food Drive for People and Pets; Activities for Kids of All Ages

Dr. Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots global youth program will host its 8^th annual “Day of Peace” festival for California on Sunday, September 19, 2010 on the Santa Monica Pier from 11:00am until 4:00pm pacific.  The event will be open to the general public at no cost.  More than 600 Roots & Shoots youth members from throughout California will be attending the festival to present their wide variety of environmental projects completed throughout the year; inspiring event-goers to do their own part to make the world a better place. 

Festival-goers are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for the Day of Peace Food Drive for People and Pets.  Donations will be distributed by Westside Food Bank to local social service agencies that assist individuals, families, and pets in need.  Day of Peace highlights will also include concert performances, arts and crafts, pet adoptions, educational and eco-friendly exhibits, celebrity guests, and opportunities for attendees to participate in fun environmental activities.  Additionally, event-goers, Roots & Shoots members and celebrity guests will join together for the festival’s annual Peace Dove Parade; flying a collection of more than 100 hand-made giant peace doves (each with a 25 foot wing-span) in a brilliant display of performance art along the Santa Monica Pier, down to the beach, and out to the ocean’s edge.

Through her Roots & Shoots program Dr. Jane Goodall encourages the efforts of young people and adults all across the globe to identify concerns in their communities and take action to create a better world.  With tens of thousands of young people in close to 100 countries, the Roots & Shoots network connects youth of all ages to participate in local and global campaigns to promote better relationships between individuals, a greater understanding of different cultures, and a more balanced co-existence among people, animals and the environment.  The United Nations appointed Dr. Goodall a Messenger of Peace in 2002 and her Roots & Shoots program conducts special Day of Peace events all across the world in support of United Nation’s International Day of Peace. 

For information about festival sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, please visit us at Roots & Shoots California Day of Peace on Facebook or email info@dayofpeaceca.org.

Media Contact:  Bonnie Poindexter, 213-361-6159  bonniepscp@verizon.net

The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium will be closed to public for annual maintenance work the following dates in September:

Tuesday, Sept. 7 through Friday, Sept. 24. The Aquarium will reopen on Saturday, Sept. 25, when regular winter hours will resume.

Winter Hours:

Tuesday – Friday: 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday: 12:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Monday: Closed to the public

For more information, please visit www.healthebay.org/smpa or call 310-393-6149.

To plan a birthday party at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, please visit the following link:

http://www.healthebay.org/smpa/bdayparties/default.asp