Earth Day is celebrated this year on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, PBS SoCal and KCET channels will host special shows throughout the month of April featuring environ-mental programming.
Since 1970, Earth Day has increased awareness of the planet we live on, pollution, climate change, endangered species and many other environmental issues that are particularly relevant to Southern California audiences.
New series and specials for local viewers will feature content that spotlights the best of Earth’s natural world while other shows weigh potential solutions to combat climate change.
PBS SoCal and KCET’s Earth Month content and experiences are part of a commitment to addressing the global issues that impact the planet to open people’s minds, lift spirits and connect people to each other and the world.
SCHEDULE
Pre- Earth Day Shows
NATURE: “Naledi: One Little Elephant” – Wed., April 15 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
The heartwarming journey from tragedy to triumph, baby elephant Naledi faces loss and rejection in the wilderness of Botswana. A team of guardians save her life, urge her to survive and help find her place in the herd.
NATURE’S GREATEST DANCERS: “The Dance For Life” – Sun., April 19 9 p.m. on KCET
The second episode of the two-part special takes a look at some of the extraordinary dance-like moves that animals perform to survive all aspects of life – whether to get around, find a meal or escape from predators.
INDEPENDENT LENS: “The Hottest August” – Mon., April 20 at 10 p.m. PBS SoCal
During one sweltering month in New York in 2017, the film seeks out New Yorkers across the five boroughs and records conversations about skyrocketing rents and rates of homelessness, mass shootings and marching white supremacists, economic crisis and political corruption.
THE MAN WHO TRIED TO FEED THE WORLD: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE – Tues., April 21 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
This film recounts the story of the man who would not only solve India’s famine problem but would go on to lead a “Green Revolution” of worldwide agriculture programs estimated to have saved one billion lives and win the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for his work.
Earth Day Shows
SPY IN THE WILD, A NATURE MINISERIES: “Friendship” – Wed., April 22 EARTH DAY at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Among the featured Spy Creatures in this episode are a Crocodile, Meerkat, and Cobra as viewers witness how the animals rely on each other to look out for predators. These robotic, uncanny look-alikes infiltrate the natural world to film surprising behavior among wildlife from around the globe.
CLIMATE CHANGE – THE FACTS – Wed., April 22 EARTH DAY at 8 p.m. and Thurs., April 23 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal
After one of the hottest years on record, Sir David Attenborough looks at the science of climate change and potential solutions to this global threat.
H20: THE MOLECULE THAT MADE US: “Flow” – Wed., April 22 EARTH DAY at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sun., April 26 at 10 p.m. on KCET
This three-part series tells the human story through our relationship to water. The debut episode examines how water underpins every aspect of existence, but that the growth of civilization has also created a dangerous dependence on the precious resource.
NOVA: “Killer Floods” – Wed., April 22 EARTH DAY at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal
All over the world, scientists are discovering traces of ancient floods on a scale that dwarfs even the most severe flood disasters of recent times. Geologists study these strange features and reconstruct catastrophic Ice Age floods more powerful than all the world’s top ten rivers combined.
NOVA: “Japan’s Killer Quake” – Wed., April 22 EARTH DAY at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal
In its worst crisis since World War II, Japan faces disaster on an epic scale: a death toll likely in the tens of thousands, massive destruction of homes and businesses, shortages of water and power as well as the threat of nuclear meltdown. With exclusive footage, NOVA captures the unfolding human drama and offers a clear-headed investigation of what triggered the earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear crisis.
After Earth Day Shows
SINKING CITIES: “New York” – Thurs., April 23 at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
A four-part series on the threat of climate change that explores how engineers and scientists build defenses to save the world’s great cities. This four-hour, back-to-back marathon on PBS SoCal offers striking simulations of what would happen in four major cities – New York, Miami, London and Tokyo when the next super-storm hits.
TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: “Birds of East Africa” – Sun., April 26 at 8 p.m. on KCET
Introduced by esteemed conservationist Jane Goodall, narrated by National Geographic’s Bill Jones and photographed by professional wildlife photographer Todd Gustafson captures stories of competition, courtship, family, hunting and flight to illustrate the hidden life of East African birds.
GORILLA FAMILY AND ME: “Episode One” – Sun., April 26 at 9 p.m. on KCET
Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan ventures deep into the Congo to find out more about the largest gorillas in the world living in the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes.
NOVA: “Poisoned Water” – Wed., April 29 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal
In this special report, NOVA investigates the water disaster in Flint and unravels a disturbing truth about the vulnerabilities of water systems across the country. Discover the delicate intricacies of water chemistry, the biology of lead poisoning and the engineering challenge of replacing this ravaged infrastructure.
Learn more about the April Earth Day Programming at
https://www.pbssocal.org/earth-day/celebrate-50th-anniversary-earth-day-throughout-month-april/
https://www.kcet.org/tv-talk/celebrate-the-50th-anniversary-of-earth-day-throughout-the-month-of-april
