A New Day: Earth Day, EVERYday! Alternate Title: We Must Improve Before its Too Late

4.22.2015

Earth Day, EVERYday! Alternate Title: We Must Improve Before its Too Late

I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues,

And I'm asking you sir, at the top of my lungs...

Ever since I was a little girl, I have had a deep and abiding love of the outdoors. I thank my parents, consummate hippies, for helping me to truly appreciate this earth for what it is... the sustainer of life. It might sound a little "Earth Mama" to say it that way, but its the truth. We have no where else to go, and right now, we are not being good stewards of this earth or its resources.

We are consuming, destroying, cutting, burning, and melting at an alarming rate. The Amazon rainforest is disappearing at a rate of 200 football fields in the time it takes you to read this post! During the past 40 years, close to 20 percent of the Amazon rain forest has been cut down.(1) Forty out of fifty states are expecting to experience water shortages in the next decade.(2) It was 5 years ago this week that the BP oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico spewing 210 MILLION gallons of oil... which is still not completely cleaned up today. Wildlife are still struggling there, as are the human residents.

Earth Day is Every Day. We have to make conservation a part of our everyday routine. We have to make small changes, take baby steps, to eventually lead to big results. The way we, as a species, are living right now, is NOT sustainable. But its not too late!

How do you make Earth Day part of your Every Day?

For me this means doing my best to reduce my consumption, to compost, recycle, reduce waste (cloth napkins and cloth "paper" towels, switching to a menstrual cup), collecting rainwater to use on our plants and garden, supporting organizations and companies that use environmentally forward practices, and numerous other little things.

But this one particular day is important too.

Its a chance to raise awareness and help those who want to change, but don't know how or where to start. So lets celebrate this day!

How do you celebrate Earth Day?

Gwen and I plan to go on a trash collecting walk. We talk about ways to be "greener" including shorter showers and less water waste in general. We talk about the importance of bees. And once we finally find that new house of ours, I hope to plant a belated Earth Day tree.

I've collected a variety of things to share with you.

This scary and inspiring video:

Links to some great ideas for ways to help:
7 Ways to Reduce our Daily Water Consumption
5 Ways to Reduce Unnecessary Consumption
8 Practices for Creating a Zero-Waste Society

Or organizations for you to support:
Stand for Trees
Sierra Club
Environmental Defense Fund
Humane Society
World Wildlife Foundation
Or click here for a more comprehensive list: A Guide to Environmental Non-Profits

There are so many little things that we can do, on this day, and everyday. Share yours with me!

Unless someone like you
cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better.

It's not.

- The Lorax