Earth Day and Hob-Nobbing with a Famous Author

May we nurture and cultivate our soil.
May we foster clear and clean skies.
May we conserve and  purify streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans.
May we support and sustain our plants.
May we defend and protect our animals.
May we care for our planet forever.

Whether you pick up a piece of trash, recycle an item, or turn off the water faucet while you brush your teeth, I hope everyone does at least one thing today in honor of Earth Day. And wouldn't it be awesome if each of us could do just one thing every day? I plan to try, and hope you will, too.

On another note, here's a follow-up report on my author/book library visit last week. Susanna Kearsley is a funny, gracious and fascinating woman. I loved listening to her speak about the research she does for her historical novels.

I'm now reading her latest book, The Desperate Fortune, and am totally engrossed by the story. It's on the way to becoming another best seller for her. Congrats to Susanna.

Here's a photo of me hanging out with a famous author. What a fun evening for a book lover!

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!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Book Blurb Friday

It's Book Blurb Friday at Writing in the Buff. Here's my suggestion at a mere 78 words, written in honor of Earth Day.

Storms and Sunshine

Acclaimed environmentalist, Stanley Greene, writes a compelling account of his secret twenty-year relationship with Mother Nature.

Greene's frank and down-to-earth expose finally puts to rest the rumors surrounding this enigmatic lady. Is she saint or sinner?  A breath of fresh air or a whirlwind? And what does she really think about the impact of the human race on her domain? 

Discover it all for yourself, including Mother Nature's eye-opening opinion of Greene's crowning achievement, the Stan Greene Movement.

Happy Earth Day 2010

It's hard to believe that today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. It's even harder to believe that I participated in the very first Earth Day back in 1970. We've come a long way since then, but there is still much to do.


Sometimes, it's the little things that make a difference. For example:

We can pick up litter...




















We can recycle...

We can conserve water...

We can go green...

And we can love the plants. We can love the animals. We can love the earth.

What are you doing to protect our planet?

Happy Belated Earth Day

Yesterday was Earth Day. I'm old enough to remember the first one back in 1970, when I celebrated it with the optimistic energy of youth. This year I didn't do much more than read about it. I'm not proud of that.

So today I resolve to do something good for our beautiful blue planet. Perhaps I'll pick up some roadside trash (ugly and often dangerous for wildlife), do a better job of recycling paper and plastic, and make my yard a bit more flora and fauna friendly. If we each make just a little change here, and put forth a little more effort there...

Won't that make earth a better place for us all?