April 22 is Earth Day

#Investinourplanet

Quote: every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world. -Dolores Huerta

The day was hot, yet a welcome breeze blew, rippling through the Earth Day flags. There were hundreds of them as far as Annie could see in every direction. The energy of the march was palpable. All around her were people carrying signs. She pointed out one to LJ, “do you see what that says? There’s a way to do it better — find it. By Thomas Edison. I love it.”

LJ nodded at another, “look at that one; it’s my favorite quote.” There is no planet B. “I think people are starting to realize it’s up to all of us; we are our only solution to save the earth.”

“Yes, seeing this many people out for this year’s Earth Day does give me hope. Did you know the first Earth Day took place in 1970? The catalyst for the movement was three-fold. First, in 1962, Silent Spring by Rachel Carson was published. It was an alarming indictment of the Industrial Revolution’s damage to our air, water, and land. The book further pointed out the link between pollution and the rise in public health issues. Second, in 1969 a massive oil spill took place off Santa Barbara, California; over 4 million gallons of oil destroyed the shoreline and killed thousands of birds, marine animals, sea lions, dolphins, and elephant seals. The spill was the stimulus for our modern-day environmental movement. Third, this was also a time when the Vietnam war protests were at their height, so for many marching and protesting to force the federal government to enact regulations and laws to protect earth was not a difficult pivot.”

“I remember those days,” said LJ. “The first Earth Day saw 20 million Americans demonstrate in organized rallies. Today, over a billion people around the world participate annually. The creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency is one of Earth Day supporters’ early achievements. Laws such as the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Water Act are also the result of Earth Day activism. Two years later, in 1973, the Endangered Species Act became law. These laws have saved millions of humans, species, and animals.”