On its 39th anniversary, Earth Day still feels vital to me, but I know that some of you out there think that its time has passed. Everyday should be Earth Day, you say. Choosing just one, single day to say you care about the planet we call home -- what good is that?
The first Earth Day came at the end of a decade in which social activism drove this nation's political agenda. Moved by a desire to create that better world, we got together to fight for change the only way a large group of like-minded people could: we laced up our shoes and walked side-by-side. When you have to get together in person, well, you obviously need a specific day to meet up. And that day turned out to be Wednesday, April 29, 1970.
Some of us who fought for this country's first environmental protections make the mistake of assuming that because young people today are less likely to be found marching down the National Mall as the shopping mall, that they must not care as deeply as we did when we were young. But apathy has not replaced idealism. Idealism just looks a little different these days.
This generation uses new tools to express itself and influence political decisions. They connect with one another in more ways than we could have imagined back in 1970: blogs, email petitions, YouTube videos, Twitter and Facebook. They're finding new ways to express their political views, and they do it every second of every day.
Lately, I've come around to their way of thinking. I'm still standing up for environmental protections for the places I hold dear, but like so many of today's new activists, I've hung up my marching boots and taken to the blogosphere: You'll find me expressing my views at the Huffington Post, NRDC's Greenlight, and the Sundance Channel.
So what good is Earth Day? It's a day that reminds us to take a stand every day and fight for the places we hold dear. So today, pause for a moment and take full advantage of the unprecedented array of tools we have for connecting with others and expressing our views. Speak up on Facebook, or Twitter, or go one step further and join me at NRDC's Greenlight. In today's world, you're a reporter too. Stand up for the people, creatures, and lands that inspire you to protect the environment. Reach out and tell the world about what's happening in the places you hold dear. Make your voices heard.
Earth Day - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
'Green jobs' at heart of Obama's Earth Day push on energy
I do not mean to belittle your suggestion, but what do you think of making every day "everything" day?
There are after all, so many immediate crises facing the wold we live in - poverty, war, hunger, social strife for example - that many would argue deserve more attention than the vaguely abstract idea of "protecting the earth".
We cannot possibly expect to solve all the problems of the world in our lifetimes. All we can do is prioritise, and then do our best.
Since then, I'm impressed with what you are accomplishing and what Paul has accomplished for the environment. NRDC is the best charity because they actually get things done and make progress.
I am so thrilled to think that you may be reading my comments one day when you are perusing HP.
That, dear sir, is what is so great about this age....we are all on a level playing field with one degree of separation. Anyways, Bob, keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing you more on HP!
Love Always,
CherokeeGirl
Greenguy
http://www.smartgreenhelp.com
We have an opportunity now to educate, invest and empower many to conserve. m
the quality of life in 2009 ought puzzle most.
we are taught from earliest consciousness to consume. we have and we continue with no end in sight.
there is a growing awareness that all is not well. how that will play out does not for the most part look pleasant unless people come to terms with their own limitations.
Haven't had the opportunity to travel to many places, but certainly grateful that I have access to a little piece of God's treasure. And grateful for powerpoint as I've received some beautiful photos of environmental masterpieces that just take your breathe away!
I like prayer and pray in daily doses that God enlighten each of us and exponentially expand the simple awareness of just how powerful we are in permitting our little pieces of earth to be rich and pregnant with evolutionary possibilities.
If there's one place to which the influence needs to be extended, it's China. The precedent of the Great Wall doesn't serve China well. Attempts to regulate or block Internet communication don't serve China's longer-term interests.
The plain fact of the matter is there are about 4 billion people too many on this planet. Unless we control our population and reduce our consumption of resources down to that level voluntarily, the Earth will shortly do it for us.
Given the choice between doing something meaningful and not doing anything, most people will continue to do meaningless things like turning off their lights for a day and recycling aluminum cans while having 3-4 children and driving them around in an SUV to get their Big Macs and shop at the mall for more cheap consumer goods manufactured in China and shipped to the US.
As long as that's the paradigm, better build your bunker and stockpile food. Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones to ride out the shitstorm.
I also agree that population growth is the fundamental problem. BUT - population growth is at its worst in sub-Saharan Africa (ie Chad doubling its population in app. 13 years), where the economy is still primarily agriculture-based. So, while I agree that it is a population growth is a major problem, N. Americans per capita still consume more fossil fuels (and stuff - that creates heaps of garbage) than anyone else. So, hayness, as skeptical as you are about how meaningless turning off the lights and recycling aluminum cans may be, if we all did it, it would make a difference. And then for the population problem, contribute to a charity offering education to girls in 3rd world countries - it appears to be the N. 1 factor in slowing population growth.
The good news is that it pays to be green, you can save the planet and your financial future, by living a green lifestyle. Try the Green Calculator and see how reducing your consumption benefits the planet and your finances. http://www.iplanretirement.com/retiregreen.html
http://www.livinggreenmag.com/
I have no idea if this is a novel idea, but on a particular blog, I found a post that questioned why we have a day that celebrates Christopher Columbus, a man who many consider a genocidal murderer. Yet we only designate one day for Mother Earth.
It is mind boggling to me that this is the case.
Again, I have no idea if this is a novel idea (it's probably not), but I think it is something that we all need to think about.
Here is a link:
http://progressnotcongress.org/blog/?p=421
AND IT'S AGAINST THE LAW!
All the power that people need to run their lives could be inexpensively, abundantly and safely provided by the type of power that was advocated by the Sierra Club - NUCLEAR POWER.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg_zw38G7Ms