For an hour today, a band will be playing without electricity.
To celebrate Earth Day, a large solar panel donated by Sacred Power will give Five Minute Sin enough energy to play from noon until 1 p.m.
The mid-day entertainment will be accompanied by information on environmental issues like clean air, alternative energy sources and ways to sustain Mother Earth.
"I think it's important that people show up tomorrow to see what there is on campus, and to see all of the groups trying to make a difference for the Earth in a positive way," said Adrienne Tongate, secretary for Students Organizing Action for Peace.
The event will start at 11:30 a.m. at Zimmerman Library's cactus garden and will end at 2 p.m.
Earth Day is an annual nationwide event focused on environmental issues and has been celebrated since 1962 when it was founded by Sen. Gaylord Nelson.
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According to the Envirolink Web site, Nelson wanted students to turn their anti-war energy during the Vietnam War into a huge grass-roots protest to force environmental issues into politics.
Chris Patchett, tribal mediator for SOAP, said one of the things that has to come up at UNM is to use cleaner energy resources like solar panels.
He said the state is full of dirty power plants that are "not conducive to the earth and its ability to sustain life."
He said the infrastructure would probably be the biggest problem in implementing solar panels onto UNM buildings, and also said it is just a matter of getting it done.
Among the groups will be the College Greens, Students for Clean Energy, the New Voters Project and the Public Interest Research group.
We just want people to come out and have fun, nothing extravagant, Tongate said.
Poetry and speakers will also be incorporated into the event, and possibly a solar oven so students can try out solar cookies, Patchett said.
"It is Earth Day, and we just want to raise awareness," he said.
