*foot notes

Americans will celebrate Earth Day 2000 on Saturday. The theme this year is “Clean Energy Now.”

* Earth Day celebrations started in 1970, an outgrowth of the social activism of the 1960s. It was originally thought that a healthy environment with clean air and water was one subject that all people worldwide--east, west, liberal, conservative, young, old, rich, poor--could easily agree on.

But unfortunately, 30 years later, organizers still cannot agree on exactly when to celebrate Earth Day, so there are two. International Earth Day, organized by the United Nations, coincides with the vernal equinox and was celebrated this year on March 20. The American Earth Day celebration, which grew out of former U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson’s 1969 call for a national teach-in on the environment, is April 22. Check out https://www.earthday.net.

* Locally, Tree People will plant 500 oaks and sycamores Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at Hansen Dam Park, 11850 Foothill Blvd., Pacoima. (818) 753-4600.

* An Earth Day bluegrass concert featuring Dean Thomas and Friends will be presented by Actors Conservatory Ensemble, Saturday, 2-4 p.m. at Coldwater Canyon Park/S. Mark Taper Foundation Amphitheatre, 12601 Mulholland Drive, Studio City. For reservations, call (888) 922-3846.

* An Earth Day celebration, featuring bands, booths and contests, starts Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at the Topanga Community House, 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. $10 admission, proceeds benefit environmental programs. (310) 455-2497.

* Some people want to make Earth Day mean more than just a concert or a tree planting. Attempting to benefit Mother Nature immediately, the Earth Day Energy Fast organization is urging people to go without or cut back on using man-made energy that day.

So, turn off that TV, don’t drive the car and don’t check out their Website at www.earthdayenergyfast.org Saturday.