Fossil Fools Day

Last updated
Fossil Fools Day
Date1 April
Next time1 April 2026 (2026-04-01)
Frequencyannual

Fossil Fools Day is an international environmental demonstration day on April 1 annually. The name is a play on the terms "Fossil Fuels" and "April Fools' Day." [1]

Contents

Fossil Fools Days have been held in many cities around the world. Larger demonstrations have been organized by environmental organizations such as Energy Action Coalition and Rising Tide. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] These events oppose energy derived from fossil fuels, promote education about alternative sources of energy, and encourage support for climate justice, strong legislation, corporate responsibility and a clean renewable energy future. Protests may also encourage citizens to do their part with lifestyle changes such as riding bikes, reducing electricity usage, and investing in solar or wind energy for their homes.

Origin

Fossil Fools Day began in 2004 with coordinated actions across American and Canadian high schools and universities where they played over 125 coordinated April Fools' Day pranks centered around the dangers from using and harvesting fossil fuels. [7] [8] Pranks included "a mock oil spill at a public fountain, and meandering an inflatable black pipe" to oppose a proposed oil pipeline between the United States and Canada. [9] Other demonstrations were focused on education, such as the use of stationary bikes attached to generators to show the difference in power use between incandescent and fluorescent bulbs on the campus of the University of North Carolina. [10]

Fossil Fools Day activities

Subsequent Fossil Fools Day activities garnered additional international attention. In 2008, with 35 actions targeting the fossil fuel industry across Britain, 100 in North America, and some in South Africa and Australia, April 1 became an established day for climate activism. The international Rising Tide network joined by Earth First!, Rainforest Action Network, the Energy Action Coalition, the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, the Australian Student Environment Network and others called for action on Fossil Fools' Day through street blockades and satirical signage. [11] Activists temporarily blocked construction at a North Carolina coal plant, created disruptive blockades of fossil fuel infrastructure in Britain, and displayed a banner in Newcastle Australia that asked, "How does buying stuff fuel climate change?" [12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Fossil Fools Day". AP Planner. The Associated Press. 4 May 2024.
  2. ↑ Energy Action: What we do
  3. ↑ "Don't be 'fossil fools' on April 1st urge Rising Tide campaigners", Leamington Spa Courier, March 27, 2008, online.
  4. ↑ Sandy Cullen, "Tires 'Fossil Fools' Targets More than 100 Vehicles in Madison Had Tires Deflated in What Some Call 'Eco-Terrorism'", The Wisconsin State Journal, April 2, 2008, [https://web.archive.org/web/20160309184551/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-177397917.html online.
  5. ↑ Jay Fletcher, "First Fossil Fools' Day in Australia", Green Left, April 5, 2008.
  6. ↑ Leah Gillen, "Fossil Fools day brings protesters", The Daily Collegian, Pennsylvania State University, April 2, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Climate activists rally to mark Fossil Fools Day in Newmarket". NewmarketToday.ca. 2023-04-02. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  8. ↑ Kim Teplitzky (October 25, 2004), “Declaring Independence from Dirty Energy.” Wiretap Magazine. "WireTap Magazine - Declaring Independence from Dirty Energy". Archived from the original on 2008-10-29. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
  9. ↑ "Climate activists rally to mark Fossil Fools Day in Newmarket". NewmarketToday.ca. 2023-04-02. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  10. ↑ Egan, Bruce (4 April 2004). "A gas gauge of social awareness". Chapel Hill Herald. p. 2. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  11. ↑ "Fossil Fools Day of Action!". Earth First!. Vol. 28, no. 4. June 2008. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  12. ↑ Carbon Town Cryer (June 2008). "Fossil Foolery". New Internationalist. Vol. 412. p. 27. Retrieved 3 December 2025.


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