Earth Day: Is it enough?

Our Earth, Our Heart

The celebration of Earth Day has come and gone, in which over 170 countries participate in some form.
But is that enough? Just one day to cherish our home?

And do the citizens of our planet (read that as: you) realize what is at stake?

Perhaps Robert Redford said it best: “I think the environment should be put in the category of our [U.S.] national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise, what is there to defend?”

Each leader around the world should be asking this for his country.

Why?

Despite the recent discoveries of Gliese 581 and related planets in another solar system, at present, this Earth is the only inhabitable planet in our solar system. If we don’t start to care for it, then we sow the seeds for our own destruction, not to mention the many other millions of species with us. The protection of the Earth, its resources, and its inhabitants is the responsibility of humankind

Every day needs to be Earth Day in our hearts and minds.
Ask yourself (individuals and businesses) if what you are doing is beneficial for the planet?

Remember, the planet doesn’t belong to any country, group, or person. It is not ours to waste or do as we wish with reckless abandon, like some vacation hotel room. This mindset of humans has predominated for hundreds of years, perhaps longer. However, such short-sighted thinking was not the approach of most native cultures and people. And most of those natives would gladly die in protecting this land. Many of them did in fact die.

From new archeological evidence found at Jamestown it was the ‘civilized’ Europeans who began to wreak havoc on the natural systems in place in the New World (now the United States). The Europeans brought the hoofed animals and erected fences to corral them. They divided land into personal plots and failed to rotate crops properly.

Obviously, we can’t change the past. Yet, we can ensure our future.

The fact remains that the planet does not NEED humans, just one species of millions. But we NEED the Earth.

What should we do?

I suggest a shift from the conditioned modern medical model thinking of waiting until one is sick to seek treatment or give attention to a more prevention oriented model.

For instance, let us stop waiting for the numbers of a species to drop so low that its survival in the wild is questionable, such as with Javan Rhinoceros (only 60 remain), Cross River Gorilla (only 300 remain), or North Pacific Right Whale (population uncertain, but less than 500).

Let s cease waiting for chemical levels in water tables to become so toxic that fresh water for drinking is untenable, such as the Anacostia River watershed. This is beginning to occur in several places in the U.S. and Europe.

Such actions on our part are less than visionary and overly selfish.
The care and responsibility we show today for the planet is a legacy we can then pass along to our children, and our children’s children.

Protecting the Earth and its inhabitants may be as important to our spirits as proper nutrition is to a healthy body.



Suggestions to Be More Aware and Spare the Planet:
1. Recycling is good. Consuming Less is Better.
Do you really need that item? Can you find it used?

2. At all costs, try to avoid buying and using Styrofoam (unless made from biodegradable substances). It never breaks down. Never ever.

3. Replace high wattage bulbs with low wattage, energy conserving ones. One friend of mine saved over $1000 per year from doing this. It lessens the demand on our antiquated energy grids.

4. Try to live more in harmony with nature, rather than bending it to our wishes. In other words, flow with the seasons, such as eating vegetables and fruits that ripen during that time of year.



Happy and Wonderful Blessings to You and Your Family on Earth Every Day!


www.earthactionrightnow.org