Critter Alley

Critter Alley

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Happy Earth Day














Earth Day 2012 website

In 1970, the very first Earth Day occurred. Senator Gaylord Nelson  from Wisconsin, horrified by a terrible oil spill, had the idea of galvanizing students and communities to recognize the fact that we needed to do something about the pollution of our air and water. Inspired by the anti-war movement, he figured that Earth Day could become a similar teachable moment.

If you want to get a message out, who better to choose for that task than students? They're energetic, passionate, and idealistic...and always ready to protest any injustice. Images of the first Earth Day filled newscasts and print media.

I was in high school for the first Earth Day (yes, I'm that old) and vividly remember making posters and participating in a peaceable "sit-in" outside the school building. At the end of the day we felt good about what we'd done, but never dreamed that Earth Day would grow and spread and become the true movement it has become.

The word did get out. People really do care about the treatment of our precious planet. That meant politicians began to see environmental issues as something they needed to address (or else), and is now a platform for study, debate, and legislation.

Isn't it amazing what a simple idea that speaks to the heart can accomplish?
 
Here's a request for your inner student. On this Earth Day, give the world a message. Choose one new habit to reduce, reuse, or recycle. Power to the people...
 
AND (I dare not forget to say) power to the pets. Hey, it's their world, too!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

16 comments:

Stewey said...

Cute photo!
Happy Earth Day!
Stewey

Mariodacat said...

Thanks for the reminder of how it started. We tend to forget over time,

Two French Bulldogs said...

Happy Earth Day!
Benny & Lily

Anonymous said...

The motorcycle club I belong to, Gateway Norton Owner's Association of Greater St. Louis, adopted a strech of road last year. I just got back from picking up trash on our mile of Hwy 79. There were 8 of us and it took a little less than 2 hours. Oh, the stuff we found....especially at the intersection with a stoplight!! Well, at least that mile of God's green earth is clean now.

madx2

STELLA and RORY from Down Under said...

Howdy Everybuddy, we popped over from Stewey's blog to say hello. Happy Earth Day to you too. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory

The Joke Puppy said...

Happy Earth Day to you also. Hmmm, in high school in 1970,,,huh,,,well, you're not old,,,you're earthy. Thanks,,,you've inspired me to try to recycle even more than I already do.

Fireblossom said...

Yes! Power to the pets!

bichonpawz said...

What a GREAT photo!!! Happy Earth Day!
xoxo Chloe and LadyBug

Sketching with Dogs said...

Happy Earth Day to you all!
You are right, it is the pets world - we just live in it, lol!
Lynne x

Debbie said...

We reduce, recycle reuse everything we can here...Happy earth day all!

Ryker said...

We do as much organic as possible!

Lassiter Chase and Benjamin said...

Great photo and thanks for sharing your story about Earth Day. Is that why humans are always teaching dogs to sit -- maybe we will stage a peaceful dog sit-in someday.

Flynn said...

cool photo!
stop by for a visit and consider following?
destructivepuppy.blogspot.com.au

Tammy said...

Great message!

Ann Summerville said...

I always try to use everything at least twice before discarding. There was a time when I "washed" aluminum foil and reused it, but then there's the dilemma of using more water than necessary. What strange times we live in.
Ann

Pup Fan said...

Great photo!