What do you think the people who started the first Earth Day would have thought about our celebration and work yesterday and about the progress we’ve made in regards to caring for our Earth? After all it’s been over 50 years now since that first Earth Day and there’s a ton that can (and did!) happen in 50 years. We now have cell phones and internet, we have planes and trains that go super fast, we’ve learned so much about science and medicine, we’ve worked through another world-wide health crisis, the music and entertainment world continues to thrive and captivate, and we’ve raised a ton of money for really awesome causes. But what about our planet? How well have we used those 50+ years and 50+ Earth Days?
On one level I think the founders of Earth Day would be disappointed. Most people could tell you that there’s more that could and should be done on a regular basis to better manage our resources and give more consideration to the future of our planet and quality of life for future generations. They thought things were serious 50+ years ago and they shared that message and clearly we didn’t pick up on it to the degree that we should have because if we had maybe our world would be a different place in terms of some of the climate related issues we have like flooding and air pollution. So yes, I do expect that they would be frustrated and disappointed with us.
But on the other hand I think they would be proud that Earth Day is still something that people get involved in each year, that it has become a much more global and recognized event than it was when it was started. I think they would be proud of all the people who have brought cases to court to fight polluters and make responsible parties pay for damage they’ve caused to our planet. They would be proud of all the creative technology and resources that we’re trying to get a better handle on what we use and how we dispose of what we use. And most of all I think they would be proud that more people are involved in caring for our planet in between Earth Days. We may not have successfully saved the planet for future generations yet, but we haven’t given up and more people are making an effort on a daily basis to both care for our planet and enjoy it. What steps have you done to help care for and show love to our planet?