Earth Day

EXACTLY how Dave Stewart, co-founder of the '80s pop supergroup the Eurythmics, came to launch a new multimedia venture with the environmental crusaders of Greenpeace is a story of Information Age synergy. It is a story of rock star entrepreneurship, MySpace-era interconnectivity and the ecological crisis mind-set that has seized almost every segment of culture since the release of Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."

You might expect Earth Day to be trumpeted with pictures of melting ice packs, disappearing glaciers and sad-looking polar bears. But that's so 47 seconds ago. Instead, we bring you a stunning photo gallery documenting the ways in which the world's explosive population growth has aggressively changed the landscape. The aerial photos above are just one example. They illustrate deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon between 1992 and 2006; the clearing in the Mato Grosso state in southwest Brazil is occurring at a rate of about 22,000 square kilometers per year.

The historic bohemian enclave of Topanga pays homage to Mother Earth at the 12th Annual Topanga Earth Day, a three-day community festivity. The emphasis is on sustainability, with a gallery of ecological artists, information on biodegradable and sustainable solutions, composting, water conservation and native plants. Additional perks include organic food and drink, live music and a free bio-diesel shuttle. Topanga Community House Fair Grounds, 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. 10 a.m.-Sunset.

Earth Day 2012 arrives with sticker shock: Brace yourself for the $60 light bulb. Light bulb manufacturer Philips is flipping the switch Sunday on its new super-duper energy-efficient LED light bulb; that's when the bulb will go on sale at various outlets, including Home Depot . The full retail price is $60, but consumers will be able to find online deals, rebates and subsidies that will cut the price by $10 or more,  according ...

Earth Day is upon us, and with it, several "green" events, including the broadcasting of "Walden: The Ballad of Thoreau" on public television and in schools. This is surprising at a time when government involvement in the environment is all the rage. Henry David Thoreau, who wrote that "government is best which governs not at all," is probably writhing in his grave.

After turning dates like Mother's Day into consumer bonanzas and elevating Black Friday into a bona fide holiday, retailers have recently embraced Earth Day as yet another reason to shop. But Earth Day, founded by in 1970 by Gaylord Nelson, a former Wisconsin governor and senator, has a save-the-planet ethos that doesn't jibe well with the shop-till-you drop ads marking traditional holidays like Christmas. So some retailers are giving away eco-friendly items instead. Below is a list of some April 22 freebies and deals culled by dealnews.com: 1. Target Corp.

Avatar 20th Century Fox, $29.98; Blu-ray, $39.99 To some, the idea of watching James Cameron's mega-grossing sci-fi action epic "Avatar" at home -- on a small screen and in crummy ol' 2-D -- will seem about as appealing as being stuck in a human body instead of one of those tall blue Pandora models. Yet even at reduced size, "Avatar" is quite the spectacle, with interplanetary landscapes that look like Yes album covers, and an ecology-minded plot that's as rousing as it is corny.

Earth Day , marked each year on April 22, has mushroomed into a longer outdoorsy celebration with the advent of National Park Week , John Muir 's birthday and National Junior Ranger Day. Whatever you're celebrating, here are some of the best places in Southern California and points north for getting in tune with nature. Santa Monica Mountains : Bring the kids to one (or both) of these Adventure in Nature: Let's G.O. play dates on Saturday. Learn about the mountains in your backyard through two hours of stories, music, art and exploration at 11 a.m. at Temescal Gateway Park (15601 W. Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades)

Two apps that feature national parks have arrived just in time for Earth Day. And they're free, which goes nicely with the Saturday start of fee-free National Park Week . So download the app, pick a park to visit and go. The deal: These apps are available to download to an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch (sorry, Android users and others, you're out of luck). Fotopedia National Parks features photos taken with a large-format camera (which means super-sharp images)

Earth Day's message of conserving resources and protecting our environment is particularly timely this year as scientists report increased global warming, Californians grapple with an energy crisis and oil drilling is proposed in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Learn about the history of Earth Day, April 22, and find out what you can do to help the environment through these direct links on The Times Launch Point Web site: http://www.latimes.

As Earth Day directs our attention to how to live more gently, here are 10 tips for greener travel, gathered with the help of David Owen, author of the recently released book “The Conundrum,” and with eco-destination operators, hoteliers, travel experts and environmentalists from the Natural Resources Defense Council. 1. Make every trip count. “The environmental key to travel is not how you go, but how much you go and how far you go,” says Owen, whose book is subtitled, “How Scientific Innovation, Increased Efficiency and Good Intentions Can Make Our Energy and Climate Problems Worse.” Owen notes that trains aren't necessarily greener than planes.

Two apps that feature national parks have arrived just in time for Earth Day. And they're free, which goes nicely with the Saturday start of fee-free National Park Week . So download the app, pick a park to visit and go. The deal: These apps are available to download to an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch (sorry, Android users and others, you're out of luck). Fotopedia National Parks features photos taken with a large-format camera (which means super-sharp images)

Earth Day , marked each year on April 22, has mushroomed into a longer outdoorsy celebration with the advent of National Park Week , John Muir 's birthday and National Junior Ranger Day. Whatever you're celebrating, here are some of the best places in Southern California and points north for getting in tune with nature. Santa Monica Mountains : Bring the kids to one (or both) of these Adventure in Nature: Let's G.O. play dates on Saturday. Learn about the mountains in your backyard through two hours of stories, music, art and exploration at 11 a.m. at Temescal Gateway Park (15601 W. Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades)

Nationally known yoga instructors, organic food and top-shelf world music could be part of any given Sunday in Los Angeles, much less Earth Day. But this year these globally conscious perks will be collected in one place as part of the Tadasana International Festival of Yoga & Music, happening this weekend on the beach in Santa Monica. The first festival of its kind, this "zero waste" event pairs more than 75 yoga classes and workshops from famed instructors such as Shiva Rea and Seane Corn with live performances by musicians such as Cheb I Sabbah, Karsh Kale and the Toure-Raichel Collective, as well as lectures, eco-conscious shopping, a spa area and more.

After turning dates like Mother's Day into consumer bonanzas and elevating Black Friday into a bona fide holiday, retailers have recently embraced Earth Day as yet another reason to shop. But Earth Day, founded by in 1970 by Gaylord Nelson, a former Wisconsin governor and senator, has a save-the-planet ethos that doesn't jibe well with the shop-till-you drop ads marking traditional holidays like Christmas. So some retailers are giving away eco-friendly items instead. Below is a list of some April 22 freebies and deals culled by dealnews.com: 1. Target Corp.

MUSIC Prince This month, Prince phoned in to "Lopez Tonight" to announce that he would be taking over the Forum for a 21-night residency that would begin April 14 — certainly causing a panic for fans who had already committed to Coachella. Prince previously played successful residencies in the New York area in December and January, which received tremendous acclaim each night. The Forum, 3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood. Fri. and various dates. $25-$205. http://www.ticketmaster.com Lil' Wayne He may not be the first rapper to boast of wanting to literally eat his rivals, but in 2008 Wayne was the top chef in rap's kitchen.

You might expect Earth Day to be trumpeted with pictures of melting ice packs, disappearing glaciers and sad-looking polar bears. But that's so 47 seconds ago. Instead, we bring you a stunning photo gallery documenting the ways in which the world's explosive population growth has aggressively changed the landscape. The aerial photos above are just one example. They illustrate deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon between 1992 and 2006; the clearing in the Mato Grosso state in southwest Brazil is occurring at a rate of about 22,000 square kilometers per year.

Earth could use a biography. Tim Flannery has delivered a provocative one in time for Earth Day. Despite the rising level of greenhouse gases warming the Blue Planet and the failure to unite governments behind efforts to arrest the trend, Flannery is optimistic for Earth's future and that of its most destructive inhabitants: you and me. That's not to say there aren't reasons to fall into a funk while reading "Here on Earth," the latest work...

The historic bohemian enclave of Topanga pays homage to Mother Earth at the 12th Annual Topanga Earth Day, a three-day community festivity. The emphasis is on sustainability, with a gallery of ecological artists, information on biodegradable and sustainable solutions, composting, water conservation and native plants. Additional perks include organic food and drink, live music and a free bio-diesel shuttle. Topanga Community House Fair Grounds, 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. 10 a.m.-Sunset.