This Friday is Earth Day 2016, and marks the 46th year of the Earth Day movement. What exactly is it? Here’s a tiny blurb from the official site –
The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. The passage of the landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other groundbreaking environmental laws soon followed. Twenty years later, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.
Last year, I did a few small things to commemorate the day. This year, I’m hoping to do something a little more definitive, but I haven’t quite decided what. I figure I’ll spend some time this week, poking around the interwebz, and see what pops up.
I’ve recreated the graphic I did last year, based on the Earth Day Blessing written by Gerina Dunwich on April 22, 2001.
Do you do anything to celebrate Earth Day? Have any ideas for a good project? Be sure to shout out in the comment section below.
“Not sure what #MicroblogMondays is?
Read the inaugural post which explains
the idea and how you can participate too.”
~ Melissa S. Ford, Stirrup Queens
Nope… I do absolutely nothing to celebrate Earth Day. In fat, it would have come and gone had I not read this post. Now I am thinking if I can so anything that day to celebrate….
Coolness, Ankita – please be sure to shout out again if you come up with something. I’d be interested in hearing all about it. 🙂
Haven’t celebrated Earth day yet. Maybe I will change that this year! 🙂
That would be cool, Shail! 🙂
I was actually thinking about what to do for Earth Day, as well. So let me know if you come up with a good project!
Will do, Stephanie! 🙂
I am now inspired to just go out and lay on my grass, contemplating this amazingly complex and nourishing place that hosts us humans. And offering my thanks.
That sounds like an amazing way to commemorate the occasion, Lori.
Honor and respect, on this day, as those before and after.
Excellent choice, Middle Girl.
My son and I are going to an Earth Day celebration at a local park on Saturday with his cub scout pack. We are definitely going on a hike, but I’m not sure what else to expect. Should be fun!
That sounds awesome, Cyn! We’ve done Earth Day activities with scouts before, when the kids were younger, and it was great fun. Hope you both have a blast!
Given that I’m immobile at the moment, I doubt I’ll be doing anything. Maybe I’ll blog about it. Thanks for the heads up!
You’re welcome, Mali. Hope your leg heals up quick!
I’ll go to the park down the street, which is basically pinata & birthday central, and pick up garbage. It’s not much, but I figure it’s better than nothin’.
That’s a great idea, Em. I’d thought about walking the neighborhood with a bag, but we have a couple of neighbors who do it on a regular basis. I might just have to brainstorm a good place to do the same.
We have an “earth day”-like holiday called Tu B’shvat, which usually falls in February, so I don’t do things for the secular Earth Day. BUT I do love the one-day, nature Disney films. We’ve gone to see them on Earth Day the last few years.
I hadn’t heard about the one-day Disney films – sounds like a cool event. I’ll have to check to see if there’s anything like that in my area – thanks for the idea, Mel. 🙂
For Earth Day at minimum I at least thank the earth for allowing me to live here. I usually spend it in my “Weed Garden” planting bee food.
That sounds like a great way to spend it, Lovely – thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the beautiful thoughts about Earth Day. I had read years ago (not sure if it’s true) that April 22nd was designated as Earth Day because it’s the American actor, Eddie Albert’s birthday. Apparently when he was on the 1970’s show Green Acres, he got more and more interested in agriculture and started doing green things even back then, and growing his own vegetables including corn in his front lawn in Beverly Hills which must have pleased his neighbors no end. I think of that every year. I try to appreciate nature as much as I can all the time. It’s always brought me such peace. This year, I’ll probably also be shoving bread and other leavened objects in my mouth in a panicked haste since it’s the last hurrah before Passover begins at sundown. xo
How cool! I hadn’t heard that before about Eddie Albert (I grew up watching Green Acres!), and a quick search on Wikipedia says Eddie, “participated in the creation of Earth Day and spoke at its inaugural ceremony in 1970.” I’m going to have to look more into this – thanks for the tip, Lori! And early, Chag Sameach to you!
Beautiful graphic and prayer. I was disappointed that this year it felt like Earth Day came and went without much fanfare… I had to ask someone at school yesterday, “Is it Earth Day? Or did I miss it?” So important to honor this place we call home.
I completely agree. Funny, though – it seemed like I couldn’t go anywhere on social media without seeing, “Earth Day” mentions, which seemed to be a step up from last year. Hopefully, as each year goes by, it will become a bigger and bigger deal – not out of necessity (which it really is), but because we all recognize the importance. That’s my rose-colored glasses wish. 😀
I love your posts and found you thanks to the recognition for a comment left on another blog. I wanted you to know that your definition of a writer tickled my soul. Love your sense of humor. Best of luck to you in all your artistic ventures.
Thank you so much, Linda! I wish I could take credit for that definition, but that’s something that has been floating around the interwebz for ages. Appreciate you stopping by!