Happy Earth Day to You!

Earth Day 1970 was irrefutable evidence that the American people understood the environmental threat and wanted action to resolve it.
Barry Commoner

Lighthouse

This is the first time ever (to my knowledge) that Earth Day and Good Friday coincide! It’s perfect for a lot of people who may not have been able to find out what Earth Day is all about (myself included). To take advantage of having the day off (if they’re lucky enough to work somewhere that acknowledges Good Friday) and get out there and enjoy all of the gifts that the Earth has to offer.

I did some extensive research into the topic of Earth Day (about 20 minutes) and I think many of us know that we celebrate Good Friday because Jesus got turned in by Judas for 30 pieces of silver, the High Priest condemns him, Pilate turns allows him to be crucified to avoid a riot, and the cruel and unusual punishment begins. Maybe if it weren’t for that Martyrdom Christianity wouldn’t have gotten so popular? I never really thought too much about it, I was always just happy for the long weekend and the eminent return of the fluffy white, chocoholic adored, and sometimes clucking, Easter bunny.

What I Learned About Earth Day

In 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson got a look at a horrific oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. The political inertia about the situation inspired him to propose a national teach-in and on April 22 of 1970 Earth Day was born. Here’s a quote from one of the organizors:

“We’re going to be focusing an enormous amount of public interest on a whole, wide range of environmental events, hopefully in such a manner that it’s going to be drawing the interrelationships between them and, getting people to look at the whole thing as one consistent kind of picture, a picture of a society that’s rapidly going in the wrong direction that has to be stopped and turned around.

“It’s going to be an enormous affair, I think. We have groups operating now in about 12,000 high schools, 2,000 colleges and universities and a couple of thousand other community groups. It’s safe to say I think that the number of people who will be participating in one way or another is going to be ranging in the millions.”

I think that since social networking is so widespread organizing events that help people feel connected to the cause of a better tomorrow for the Earth and every part of it (including its inhabitants). For me, I can write a some thank you’s and have a few conversations, I don’t know if I’ll be able to get to any rallies with so much going on today, but maybe.

Thank you Earth, for:

1. Clean water
2. The ability to recycle
3. The trend of environmental awareness (hopefully it’ll never fade)
4. The brilliant minds at work on alternative energy
5. The brave souls who are lobbying to make them more widely known, available, and affordable
6. The Air we breathe (in my province it’s thankfully smog-free)
7. The absence of war within my country, here’s hoping the rest of the world can soon have that luxury.

Here are some more great ideas at “whatsupfamilies” & Earthday.ca.

Earth Day Freebies?

I heard that participating Starbucks locations will be giving out free coffee and tea to people with reusable containers today. What an awesome opportunity for this well-known coffee house to get some new customers and spread the word about a great cause. I’ve never had Starbucks coffee before (I’m a coffee virgin) but I may try to see if I can get a green tea there if I happen to pass by there today.

So if you have any Earth Day ideas, I’d love to hear them. What’s your favorite way to be Earth-friendly? Me, I’m going to try use a little bit less electricity today, so see ya!