By Liz Belilovskaya
In a man-made world consumed by technology and media, we seldom think about how the objects and utilities we use on a daily bases came into their existence. We forget that everything we use initially came from the earth. Today, April 22, 2011 is International Mother Earth Day and it’s our time to give back. But how did this holiday come into existence?
Earth Day’s origin was a response to a horrific oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara in 1969. Gaylord Nelson, a US Senator from Wisconsin, proposed Earth Day in 1970 after witnessing the horrific effects of the 1969 spill and the government’s less than stellar response. Nelson was aware of the pollution caused by the massive factories, automobiles, and the mass production of the 1970’s, as well as the need for education regarding the damaging effects on the environment.
Nelson proposed a day to be dedicated to discussion on environmental issues across all educational facilities throughout the country. He conceived of a national teach-in that would inform and inspire appreciation of Earths natural wonders and inspire action to preserve them. Initially, the government suggested a top down approach for Earth Day but Nelson objected to this notion, opting for a community based approach. Some government support was needed, so he enlisted Republican Representative Paul N “Pete” McCloskey to serve as his co-chair and they incorporated a new non-profit organization.
Nelson believed that this day would serve as a way for individual communities to gather and work in improving the environmental conditions that are most pertinent to that community. With very little government organization behind the concept, Nelson realized he would need a little more help, he enlisted Denis Hayes. Denis was a Harvard studentwho traveled down to Washington D.C. to help the cause after reading an article about the proposed teach-ins. Needless to say the first Earth Day was massively successful. It was Hayes who made International Earth Day an official holiday in 1990.
Earth Day is a day for all of us to remember that we are part of the global community whether we are city dwellers or tree huggers. We all need the earth, its beauty, and its resources. Do the right thing and throw away your garbage in the right container, be considerate towards your children’s future and save the planet, one simple move at a time. Nelson believed that it was crucial to cultivate the youth into becoming environmentally responsible adults. Yet somehow, based on the depleting forests, the polluted air, the melting ice caps, the massive ozone hole and general pollution, that may not be going so well. Have we learned anything in the last 40 years? Probably not. Can we still have a future? Probably, but that’s something we all need to decide, today.
We want to do our part, so here are a couple suggestions to help you shrink your carbon footprint.
The Scosche solBAT II is a solar powered lithium charger that fits most of your handheld devices via USB connection. Why waste (and pay for) electricity when you can use the the Sun? If you are in a rush there is a fast-charging USB option, but that would defeat the purpose, right? Get charged.
If you want to get your kids into emvironmentally conscious adults, the stepleless stapler is a good start. Why spend money on staples or keep using metal that will probably never be recycled to fasten paper? These staple-free staplers cut a small flap and a notch in the paper, then it folds the flap back into the notch which keeps the paper stuck together. No worries about the baby stapling their finger. You can find this nifty number here.
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