Why Do We Celebrate Earth Day
Ten Steps to Help Protect Mother Earth
We find ourselves at the precipice of Earth Day 2021. It is celebrated on April 22nd every year. The day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement which occurred in 1970. Boomers, we were a big part of that movement, choosing platforms to improve our lives not destroy them.
“In every walk with nature, one receives for more than he seeks”
John Muir 1838-1914
John Muir was perhaps this country’s most famous and influential naturalist and environmentalist. If it wasn’t for John Muir and his writings, we probably would not have Yosemite National Park as we know it today. He was involved in the creation of the Grand Canyon, Kings Canyon, Petrified Forest and Mt. Rainier National Parks.
He was born in Glasgow, Scotland April 21, 1838 and arrived in New York at 8 years old. His family decided to settle in Wisconsin where he attended the University of Wisconsin. After only three years of university studies, he was feeling adrift and left to travel the northern United States and Canada odd-jobbing his way through unspoiled land. In 1867 he had a serious eye injury related to one of his odd jobs that left him totally blind for a month. After he regained his sight he took to California’s Sierra Nevada’s and Yosemite with his walking stick, meager funds and his two feet. He made California his home until death on December 24, 1914 at age 76 in Los Angeles.
If you’re interested, please read up on John Muir. His life was fascinating and he was truly our pioneer for the environment and the true beauty of our country.
I am a native Californian and love the beauty of our state, but not the free- and road-ways that have become littered with trash and disrepair. There is a lack of regard for the beauty of our natural landscapes. As my BoomerGuy and I have lived in a number of different states around our wonderful country, it has become a common theme there also.
We Baby Boomers were the start of the recycling movement and reusing. We were simply trying to do our part. Now, unfortunately, I hear very little about those practices.
For all of us, here’s a little refresher on how to protect our very valuable planet.
- Reduce, reuse, recycle. Cut down on what we throw away.
- Volunteer for cleanups in your community.
- Educate your grandchildren; I hope we taught our children well.
- Conserve water.
- Choose sustainable.
- Shop wisely.
- Use long-lasting products.
- Plant a small tree if you have the space.
Remember the song by Crosby Stills and Nash; “Teach Your Children Well” released in May 1970. I wonder if it would even get airplay today.
As a Boomer who has seen the glory of America, I have also seen the destruction of cities and the countryside. My BoomerGuy and I always try to practice what we blog. Let’s do our small part to help our environment each and every day and throughout the year, until we blog about Earth Day 2022 which will be here before we know it.
Happy Earth Day, make the day and the week special. Be relevant and kind to one another and to Mother Earth.
“Love the earth as you would love yourself”
John Denver, 1943-1997
To all of you joining us here in the USA and from around the globe, check out this twitter feed from NASA, Our Planet Our Home #Connected by Earth. So impactful. Thank you NASA.
Join us next week on our journey of enlightenment and inspiration.
Your Number One BoomerGal, Connie.