It’s time to think green again with the dawn of the annual Earth Day celebrations.

This week, the Student Environmental Council will sponsor Earth Week and the annual Earth Day with several evening programs and speakers.

The week began with showings of The Lorax, a short film based on the book by Dr. Seuss. The film is the story of a businessman who cuts down a forest of trees without regard to the future, then loses his business when there are no trees left, said SEC Adviser Michael Bell.

The film is named after a character, who tries to reason with the business owner at various points in the film and views himself as the voice of the trees, said SEC Treasurer and Earth Week organizer Ron Trimmer. The film was shown on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Lynn Fuhrer Lodge of the YMCA Outdoor Center.

On Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., the group will feature a speaker who will focus on a Native American perspective of the environment. The perspective will come through the eyes of Maria Pearson, a member of the Dakota Sioux tribe, during her speech in the South Ballroom of the Memorial Union.

Pearson has been a long-time activist in the areas of the environment and Native American traditions, Trimmer said.

Pearson initially became involved in the political field when she went to the governor in full traditional regalia to protest the state selling Indian bones to a museum, which the state had accidentally unearthed. As a result, Pearson was made one of the first liaisons to a governor on Indian affairs.

“We are very lucky to have her come speak. She has much information to share with the world,” Trimmer said.

Wednesday evening will feature Rise Up!, a slide presentation by Dave Danstrom in the Pioneer Room of the Memorial Union. This presentation focuses on the efforts by Danstrom and other activists to save the largest temperate rain forest in North America.

On Sunday, the group will be hosting an Earth Day Bike Ride with the theme “One Less Car.” A reservation for the tour costs $12 with a t-shirt and $7 without one. The ride is scheduled to begin at noon at Brookside Park.

On April 28, former Ames representative to the Iowa Legislature, Ralph Rosenberg, will give a lecture on the environment at 7 p.m. in the Gallery Room of the Memorial Union.

One of the factors that will affect the turnout to the event is its proximity to the Veishea celebrations. Bell said that Earth Day has been overshadowed by the other celebration in past years.

“I think it would be nice to have a Veishea centered around environmental themes some year,” Bell said.

He said he hoped to see a change in the public’s attitude toward the environment.

“The environment is something we should celebrate, not something we need to be afraid of,” Bell said.

“In the end, we have to change the hearts and minds of the people to change their attitude,” Trimmer said.

Bell and Trimmer said they saw Earth Week as something that celebrates both the environment and the rebirth of nature that comes with spring.

“We are here to celebrate the biggest community that we are all a part of and to remind us of our responsibilities to it,” Bell said. “When we are indoors during the winter, we forget about what is out there and this is a good chance for people to get out and celebrate the Earth.”

All of the events, with the exception of the bike ride, are free and open to the public.