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Link TV Presents Cutting-Edge Environmental On-Air and Online Programming with Earth Day Lineup April 22
Includes Sneak Preview of Upcoming EARTH FOCUS Event Investigating Elephant Poaching Titled Ivory: Crime, Corruption and Terrorism
M*A*S*H Actor Mike Farrell Talks Climate Change and His Role in
DR. KEELINGS CURVE
San Francisco - Apr. 8, 2015 - This Earth Day, Link TV, a national independent public satellite television network broadcasting programs that engage, educate and activate viewers to become involved in the world, will demonstrate its commitment to the environment by hosting a comprehensive lineup of planet-friendly programming that inspires viewers to take action. A special Earth Day primetime television schedule will air on Link TV (DirecTV channel 375 and DISH Network channel 9410) from 8-11 p.m. PT/ET on April 22 kicking off with a sneak peek of a groundbreaking upcoming edition of the critically acclaimed series EARTH FOCUS titled Ivory: Crime, Corruption and Terrorism which will debut on Link TV later in May.
The May programming event uncovers the devastating effects of the illegal ivory trade, its impact on the dwindling African elephant population, and the link between this illicit activity with insurgency groups and organized crime. EARTH FOCUS Ivory: Crime, Corruption and Terrorism is slated to be telecast on Wednesday, May 28 at 9 p.m. PT/ET on Link TV.
In addition to the EARTH FOCUS Sneak Peek on April 22, Link TV marks the 45th anniversary of Earth Day with programming that includes the first television presentation of actor/activist Mike Farrell (M*A*S*H) in the one-man play DR. KEELINGS CURVE, about the scientist whose research on atmospheric carbon dioxide levels gave the world its first early warnings of global warming. Also in the primetime spotlight on Earth Day is the documentary EARTH AT RISK: DERRICK JENSEN, which gives viewers a front row seat for the environmentalist authors keynote address at the Earth at Risk conference in San Francisco.
Starting today, a dedicated online hub will launch at www.linktv.org/earthday featuring popular films, documentaries and news series proving that ordinary citizens can make a difference for the world. A new original short about rhinos in South Africas Kruger National Park will premiere as part of the online programming.
Highlights from the Earth Day on-air/online April 22 lineup include:
Broadcast
EARTH FOCUS Sneak Peek at Ivory: Crime, Corruption and Terrorism
8 p.m. PT/ET
The longest-running environmental series on American television presents a special sneak peek at the upcoming installment titled Ivory: Crime, Corruption and Terrorism airing in May. This investigative report comes during a pivotal time when an elephant is killed every 20 minutes to feed an insatiable demand for ivory. African elephants may be gone in as little as ten years as a result of organized crime syndicates, rebel groups, militias and insurgents.
DR. KEELINGS CURVE
8 p.m. PT/ET
Link TV Founder Kim Spencer speaks with actor Mike Farrell (M*A*S*H) about his one-man performance as Dr. Charles David Keeling in Dr. Keelings Curve. The play chronicles the scientist whose research on atmospheric carbon dioxide levels gave the world its first early warnings of global warming -- now known as the Keeling Curve. The importance of Dr. Keelings work is intercut with extended scenes from the full show that Farrell performed at CalTech in 2014.
Many scientists credit Dr. Keelings research with first bringing the worlds attention to the ongoing increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Keelings Curve is the most well-known graphed image in all of Earth Science history. No single set of measurements demonstrates more clearly how humans are influencing our planet. Dr. Keelings worldwide measurements showed the first significant evidence of rapidly increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, from 310 parts per million (ppm) in the 1950s to over 400 ppm today.
EARTH AT RISK: DERRICK JENSEN
9:30 pm PT/ET
Derrick Jensen is an activist, author, and philosopher of the environmental movement. He is known as a strong voice on the topics of ecocide, misogyny, racism, and what he calls human supremacism. In his keynote address at the Earth at Risk 2014 conference in San Francisco, California, he focuses on the ailing ocean, how various global movements are being infiltrated, and the amount of species going extinct daily.
Online
Launching today, a dedicated Earth Day online hub at www.linktv.org/earthday will aggregate an array of online programming to highlight environmentally oriented content, with special emphasis on animal conservation and elephant ivory, in particular the upcoming EARTH FOCUS episode. Included will be a new original web-only piece from the team at EARTH FOCUS about rhinos in South Africas Kruger National Park from reporter on the ground Jeff Barbee as well as journalist and EARTH FOCUS correspondent Miles Bensons blog posting titled Kiss The Elephants Goodbye.
Online visitors can also find programming with an eye toward worldwide environmental efforts such as a previously aired FULL FRAME episode featuring basketball star Yao Ming, an EARTH FOCUS web clip exposing baby elephant smuggling, and bestselling author and environmentalist Bill McKibbens challenge to the fossil fuel industry, DO THE MATH.
For a full slate of online installments aimed to educate viewers about key facets of Earth Day, please visit www.linktv.org/earthday
Link TV offers additional social engagement @LinkTV on Twitter and Facebook.org/LinkTV using the hashtags: #earthday and #earthfocus
ABOUT LINK TV
Link TV is a viewer-supported 501(c)(3) organization, distributed nationally via satellite on DirecTV channel 375 and DISH Network channel 9410 -- reaching more than 34
