Earth Day

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.

Although it contains its moments of doom and gloom about the potential effects of climate change, the excellent documentary "Carbon Nation" is an inspiring look at the many recent advances in clean energy and green technologies. Director Peter Byck covers an impressively wide range of ground within his film's compact running time as he introduces us to a stirring cross-section of pioneers, researchers and innovators committed to helping the world reduce its carbon footprint. Byck hopscotches across America and beyond interviewing such notables as Richard Branson, former CIA Director R. James Woolsey, Earth Day founder Denis Hayes and charismatic environmental advocate Van Jones, among many others, who weigh in on the issues, problems and solutions surrounding the climate change phenomenon.

Were it not for the setting in a stately Romanesque cathedral near downtown Los Angeles, the gathering might have been mistaken for a political rally. Many of the 90 people present signed cards to California's two U.S. senators urging them to support legislation to roll back greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Others pledged to oppose efforts by oil companies and conservative activists in California to suspend the state's landmark Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.

You'd think that if you had an up-with-the-environment family movie in the can, you would have tied it to Earth Day and opened it last weekend. Unless, of course, that movie is "Furry Vengeance," a film so exhausting in its mean-spirited unfunny business that it would prompt Al Gore to empty his recycling bin and light a match to the contents — and the plastic bin itself — in full view of news camera crews. "Furry Vengeance" fashions itself as a green movie, but given its single-minded focus on bodily functions and the area of the anatomy that headliner Brendan Fraser calls the "no-no zone," the film is awash in an entirely different color, if you get my drift.

April 22 marked four decadent decades since the declaration of Earth Day, and the cartoon footprints were everywhere. Signe Wilkinson penned a simple but sharp, small-is-beautiful sentiment. (Less is always more in cartoons; I'm green with envy.) Nate Beeler aired his anti-regulatory grievances as political fallout kept coming from the Eyjafjallajokull eruption. And I pictured the anthropomorphic laments of songbirds and bees, great apes and big cats. After 40 years, we're still debating the fate of the Earth rather than doing much about it. Which means these cartoons could all be recycled for years to come.

The Early Show Breakup etiquette. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS Today Chevy Chase; Erik Estrada. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. KTLA Good Morning America Earth Day. (N) 7 a.m. KABC Good Day L.A. (N) 7 a.m. KTTV Live With Regis and Kelly Zoe Saldana. (N) 9 a.m. KABC The View Vice President Joe Biden. (N) 10 a.m. KABC Rachael Ray Chris Rock. (N) 2 p.m. KCBS The Martha Stewart Show Earth Day. (N) 2 p.m. KNBC The Bonnie Hunt Show Ed Begley Jr. (N)