What is going on guys? Let me take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Kira Little. You have probably already seen a lot of my content all over TONS of social networking sites, i.e. myspace, facebook, twitter, etc. When I personally met the founder of www.GetGreenMusic.Org  I was BLOWN away!! Combining all the best ways to stay within social networking; downloading videos, writing blogs, having discussions, staying connected with your friends, family and groups! The BEST part of this entire global changing site is the online music store. Providing you with TONS of downloadable music, at a cheaper price than other online music stores!! But are you ready for the KICKER?? 10% of ALL proceeds from the downloaded music go back into eco-friendly, green movement charities of the consumers’ choice. How amazing is that? Something we do every day, such as downloading our favorite tunes, turns into “HELPING SAVE THE PLANET ONE DOWNLOAD AT A TIME.”

This morning around 7:30 am, my son comes barging into my room shouting, “Tomorrow’s my birthday!” I corrected him by explaining, “No, it’s not. Your birthday is not until Wednesday!” He looked at me with his gator knot wrinkled face, crossed his arm and argued by grunting, “Yes it is!!” In his mind his birthday is for an entire 2 weeks prior to the actual date.

I then began thinking about another special day that we celebrate once a year called “Earth Day.” One day a year, just like one’s birthday, Earth Day is celebrated on April 22^nd! In all actuality this was not an overnight process, nor was it a 2 week process! The idea for Earth Day evolved over a period of 7 years, starting in 1962. The founder, Senator Gaylord Nelson, decided that the state of our environment was in need of COMPLETE attention, but sadly it was a non-issue in the politics of the country. The summer of 1969, a well known time with anti-Vietnam war demonstrations called “teach ins” were spreading all over college campuses across the nation. It then became apparent that Gaylord needed a huge impact to thrust the environment into the political mainstream. Grassroots protest was the answer! For those of you not familiar with the meaning of “grassroots”, it implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it, is natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences, this and a movement that is organized by traditional power structures. “Grassroots” movements are usually at a LOCAL level. Meaning, as many volunteers in the community give their time to support the local party, this in turn can lead to helping the national party. Because “grassroots” activities had ballooned so rapidly our planet had its first Earth Day, April 22^nd 1979.

Every year we celebrate the birth of Earth Day. But is one day of the year enough? Sure we only celebrate OUR birthdays once a year but for such an apparent problem with our daily activities that lack the consideration of our earth, environment and well being how can we only celebrate our earth, planet, Mother Nature, etc. only one day a year? Shouldn’t every day be an “Earth Day Birthday?”

Shouldn’t we be aware every single day about this planet we live on and depend on for the air we breathe, the soil to grow the food we eat and the water we drink? So ask yourself, “How are YOU celebrating the mother earth on a daily basis? Are you recycling? Are you using the proper energy efficient lighting? Not being wasteful, but mindful? There are SO many things we can do and change to make a difference. Every week I will post a top 10 things list titled, “Kira’s 10 GIANT steps for GREENKIND.” Every week, each one of you can do your part. It’s all about the small things we do that add up to something even BIGGER! Its your world, and my its my world! Where would we be without it??

So what comes to mind now when you think about April 22^nd? I think about April 22^nd as “Earth Days” BIG surprise party celebration and every day something must be done in order to keep it alive leading up to the big day! The big day I like to call “EARTH DAY BIRTHDAY!”

Written by: Kira Little

http://www.getgreenmusic.us/profile/KiraLittle

Is The Earth Any Different Now Then When the Crew of Apollo 17 Took This Photo?

April 22, 1970

Yesterday was Earth Day.  While you may have missed it yesterday, Earth Day has a history that stretches back to 1970.  But, if you read below, you will find that there was a battle between Earth Days at that time, sorta like the battle between Beta and VHS.  The video battle  for home use was won by VHS and the Earth Day battle was won by the April 22 crowd and not the United Nations.  But, now we have Earth Week.  Where did this come from?  Apparently, several cities began taking up the time from April 16 to April 22 as an opportunity to promote energy saving ideas, recycling and other stuff that will save the world.  However, it seems that there may be a battle brewing over this as well.  Seems that UC Berkley, has designated the calendar week for its activities and I hear Oprah promoting Earth Week. Something tells me that Earth Week of the calendar week of April 22 will win out over April 16-April 22. 

Facts or Fiction?

Here is something I bet none of the Earth Week festivities will tell you about.  Below are links to a story that aired on TV last year. Now,  I was under the impression that documentaries were about truth but this one points out that ”An Inconvenient Truth” inconveniently didn’t tell anyone that the producers (Al Gore?)  used computer generated visuals, in at least one instance, to enhance its point.  It makes me wonder how many other images were doctored or how much of a grain of salt needs to be taken when considering the verbiage.  I mean, you do remember the ”hockey stick graph” used in the movie was determined to be wrong or fraudulent, depending on your point of view.  Is it the real inconvenient truth that “Inconvenient Truth” has lies of omission?  Anyway, you be the judge.

http://media.newsbusters.org/stories/al_gore_used_fictional_video_inconvenient_truth.html?q=blogs/noel-sheppard/2008/04/22/abc-s-20-20-gore-used-fictional-film-clip-inconvenient-truth

Earth Day

The image from above was from Apollo 17, the final moon mission. I like it because it’s not some doctored up picture and shows the earth as it really is (was).

Pres. Clinton Gave Nelson The Presidential Medal of Freedom

Earth Day is rather interesting because there are two people who get credit for its invention.   If you look up International Earth Day, you will find that John McConnell claims to have introduced the idea to the UN in September of 1969.  He said that nature provided the perfect day on the Spring Equinox.  The first UN sanctioned Earth day was on March 21, 1970.  The UN Peace Bell is rung on every UN earth day.  Their website says that the purpose of Earth Day is “to celebrate Earth’s life and beauty and to alert earthlings to the need for preserving and renewing the threatened ecological balances upon which all life on Earth depends.”

But, the media has grabbed on to another Earth Day, April 22.  This first Earth Day was held on this date in 1970. This was the brainchild of Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson who said, “The objective was to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake the political establishment out of its lethargy and, finally, force this issue permanently onto the national political agenda.”  I guess he had the most juice because most people think of April 22 as Earth Day and political aims seem to have been met in July of 1970, when President Nixon by Executive Order established the Environmental Protection Agency, which some would find ironic.  But there are several ironies regarding Earth Day with one including Nixon himself.

Ironic historical notes about Earth Day:

Happy Earth Day?

April 22, 1915:  The German Army first introduced the use of poison gas on the battlefield as they fired 150 tons of Chlorine into Allied lines. Happy Earth Day.

April 22, 1992: More than 200 people were killed and 1000 buildings damaged when the sewers exploded in Guadalajara, Mexico after natural gas filled the lines.  The warning signs were there but

Created EPA

apparently the government nor the government controlled national oil company did anything about it. Happy Earth Day.

April 22, 1994: The guy who was perhaps spurred by the first Earth Day, President Nixon, to create the Environmental Protection Agency….died.

BTW…I still think we should be focusing the attention on water pollution more than climate change…but alas…there doesn’t seem to be any money in that.

SPC Storms SW Thur? I don't get it

Weather Bottom Line:  Weather story is still on track.  Look for low to mid 70’s on Thursday.  Friday through Monday, look for highs in the low to mid 80’s.  As you can see above, the SPC is advertising possible thunderstorm activity just to our west and southwest…in fact they have the threat area in part of the viewing area.  I personally don’t get it.  There is some ridging showing up in the afternoon through the evening into early Friday.  This is on both the NAM and GFS.  Even if you don’t get that, I don’t think that the moisture return will be getting going well enough.  I do wonder about airmass stuff this weekend with temps so warm but the next real chance for rain doesn’t seem to show up until something like Tuesday.

http://alphainventions.com/

alphainventions

Earth Day - April 22, 2009, marks the 39th anniversary of this environmental movement. Founded by Wisconsin U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson and spearheaded by Denis Hayes in 1970, Earth Day has been credited with the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of earth-protecting legislation such as the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts.

I have to admit, I usually don’t do anything special for Earth Day. I’m usually working. But I believe that my work, keeping drinking water systems and wastewater treatment plants running, is just as important to the environment as staging a rally. After all, every life form needs water–clean water.

And despite all the doom and gloom talk of bad carbon footprints, pharmaceuticals in the water, and water wars, I think we’re doing a pretty good job overall of keeping the planet safe for future generations.

Could we do more? Sure. But the point is, we have to use our brains and common sense–not emotion–to figure out what works best for sustainability.

Really, every day is Earth Day, isn’t it?

NASA image of Michigan and the Great Lakes, and some other stuff

Here in Michigan the sun is getting ready to set on April 22.
The designated Earth Day is almost over. The good news is,
tomorrow is another Earth Day. And there will be one after that.
Still, it’s nice to have a special time to stop and appreciate the
beauty and wonder of the planet. Afterall, if we can make room
on the calendar for National Jelly Bean Day (also April 22) we
should have an annual 24 hours of recognition for our world and environmental issues.

Did you know that Earth Day is a product of the Great Lakes Region? U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisconsin) launched it in 1970 as an “environmental teach-in” on college campuses. He wanted “to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda.” He succeeded.

April 22 is supposed to be an occasion to celebrate and promote the care of Mother Earth. Sounds lovely. But if you look at a lot of the messages, materials, and activities it seems more like an opportunity for a scolding than a lovefest. The Web site EarthDay.gov barks at us to “Save energy…Use less water…Reduce/reuse/recycle..Commute smart…Use green buildings…Reduce energy use…” And don’t overlook the Web site’s games and puzzles designed to engage our youth, including crossword puzzles themed Ozone depletion and Ultraviolet radiation. Sounds like a blast! 

Of course it’s important to conserve and protect our environment. We’ve learned a lot about being good stewards of the earth since 1970.

But can’t the message be positive, not one of doom-and-gloom? The pervasive negativity might explain why one in three kids ages 6 to 11 are anxious and believe the planet will disappear before they grow up. If Earth survives, according to a survey by an organization called Habitat Heroes (conducted by Opinion Research), a 56% majority of these impressionable youngsters are convinced that it will be a worse place to live when they’re older. And this is the dismal outlook of grade schoolers whose parents (95% of them) dutifully recycle, conserve water and energy, etc. I imagine the other 5% live in blissful ignorance.

Let’s find a happy medium. Emphasis on happy.

Tomorrow is another Earth Day

There was a flurry of organized Earth Day-related activity around the state last weekend, and a handful happenings scheduled for the coming days. But if you miss the official events, just make up your own. Remember, every day is Earth Day.

Friday, April 24
Lansing
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. State Arbor Day event at Potter Park Zoo

Saturday, April 25
Bad Axe
10 a.m.-4 p.m., Embracing Our Earth V at Bad Axe High School

Grand Haven
10 a.m.-4 p.m., Earth Day at Pine Bend, part two of the Fourth Annual Earth Day Celebration

Sunday, April 26
Ann Arbor
Noon-4 p.m., Earth Day Festival at Leslie Science and Nature Center 

Caseville Township
1 p.m., Workday sponsored by Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy at Sand Point Nature Preserve

Today is “Earth Day.”  The day to be green…even though I thought that was on Monday.

My son is all about some Earth Day.  He started to tell me about the three R’s — reduce, reuse and recycle.  He also tried to convince me that the planet is sick.

I called him an idiot.  What kind of garbage is that?  Reduce?  Reuse?  Recycle!?  That sounds Canadian!  I told him that there is a better thing that we can do for the planet — give back.

Giving back to the planet; a beautiful sight!

We have a bunch of paper and cardboard that he has been trying to get us to recycle has been stacking up in a corner.  It seems to be a health hazard to me…and it is a flammable item.  We should take all of this paper and throw it into a wooded area.  Where does paper initially come from?  TREES!!!  Let’s give it back.  We are borrowing it from the trees.  I am sure that newspaper is getting lonely and misses its family…its family of trees!

So, today, we drove down the highway and tossed paper out of the windows.  It was great and liberating!  Other drivers were honking their horns and screaming, apparently in approval.  Based on that reaction, I think this has a chance to catch on throughout the country!

Next up, plastics!  Well, we did reuse some plastic bags.  I mean, we needed to organize and carry those soon-to-be liberated papers somehow!  But that does not solve all of the plastics we have.  Now, I know that some plastics are petroleum-based.  Where does petroleum come from?  Dead dinosaurs, buried deep in the earth.  So it seemed only natural that we take that milk jug and water bottle and bury it.  I decided we could do the same thing with aluminum cans, but instead of burying those we just tossed them on some green space.  The earth will know what to do with it.

A great surprise for some lucky kid!

Lastly, glass!  Now glass’s primary ingredient is silica, which is derived from sand.  What better place to give glass back to Mother Earth than at a beach.  However, we were starting to run out of time, so I decided to just use our neighborhood sandbox where all the wonderful children play.  Unfortunately, we dropped the jars on the sidewalk and they all shattered.  But fear not!!  We swept up the pieces and dumped all of it into the sandbox!  The jagged shards will blend in better.  Plus, the larger pieces can act as discovered “jewels” and treasure for the kids!  See, saving the planet AND entertaining the munchkins!  What a glorious Earth Day!!!

I think this is a great idea!  By giving back to the planet, we are recycling right back into the planet.  And I am sure the planet appreciates it!  Plus, the newspapers get to hangout with their tree-friends (hopefully not with the flowering savages, though) while little kids get to discover great surprises in the sandbox!  Excellent!  I feel greener already…and closer with Mother Earth!  Thank you Gaylord Nelson, for coming up with this wonderful day!

Now, we need to stop with this “the planet is sick” nonsense.  That insinuates that humans are a disease…and we cannot have that!  We are the cure and must dominate the planet!  It should feel blessed that we are willing to give it back the plastics that make our lives better!!!

Happy Earth Day y’all.  Since we only have one planet, and migration to Mars or Venus is highly unlikely, let’s try not to fuck Earth up too much, ya know?

Entrada un poco fuera de la temática, pero me parece interesante.
Hoy, 22 de abril, se celebra el día de la tierra, nacido en 1970 y promovido por el estadounidense Gaylord Nelson. Este buen hombre, licenciado en filosofía y letras y abogado a mayores, fue senador y posteriormente gobernador de Wisconsin y, como como supondréis, estaba bastante interesado en el medio ambiente y era amigo de J.F. Kennedy, con quien viajó en el World Conservation Tour.

Un gran tío con un gran nombre. (lo siento, es que tenía que hacer el chiste)

Durante su vida política, se preocupó de mejorar las relaciones entre la Casa Blanca y las pequeñas empresas, convocando congresos y toda la pesca.

Se supone que en este día debemos de ser lo más cuidadosos y respetuosos posibles con nuestro planeta, para hacernos ver que no es tan difícil cuidarlo y concienciarnos de que al ritmo de que llevamos, no nos quedará planeta en cincuenta años del que cuidar, así que con esto espero que a alguno le pique la curiosidad o algo y lea sobre esto.

Y después de esta introducción, vamos a ver como se apoya el día de la tierra de una manera eficaz, gracias a la idea que sugirió e-raven.

El amigo Devin Townsend ,del que encontraréis una entrada bastante mejor de la que podría hacer yo en su videoblog, Ælegría, tiene una canción en la que parte de felicitarte el cumpleaños se lo felicita a la Tierra, y con eso pienso despedirme en esta mini-entrada que he hecho hoy.

¡Saludos!

I’m sure this is just one small part of a barrage of Earth Day messages you are going to see today, but who says that’s a bad thing? Today marks the 39th Earth Day ever officially celebrated. The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970 and originated as a “teach-in” about the environment. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson and is now celebrated in countries throughout the world.

As someone who has been in the business of energy efficiency for some time now, I think Earth Day is great for bringing awareness to environmental issues, but don’t make the common mistake of thinking that Earth Day is the only day you should do something great for the planet. Take the tools, tips and tricks that you learn today along with the knowledge you gain about the Earth and apply it to your everyday life! And don’t freak out about having to be green head to toe; make the effort to make small changes each day, week and month, and before you know it, you will be greener than you ever thought you could be.

There are a lot of Earth Day promotions going on right now, and I have picked out a few of my favorites that I thought that you should know about, particularly if you live in California or Arizona.

-At Sears, you can get a home energy audit for only $99 between April 20 and April 26. An energy audit is the best way to find out how you can save energy in your home. They will send someone to do a walk-through in your house and find out where you can save energy by insulating, replacing/fixing appliances and many other factors that improve energy efficiency.

-Solar City is offering a “Think Half” promotion, where they will install solar panels at your home for half price, which includes services, monitoring, installation and guarantee. This offer is good for those who live in California and Arizona, and you could potentially save even more if you factor in utility rebates. I did a post awhile back on this company and they are doing some really great things with making solar energy options available to a wider population.

-This offer isn’t necessarily restricted to today, this week or this month, but I had to throw in a plug for my company, Equity Thru Energy, which has special energy saving programs for commercial properties, specifically restaurants, hotels/motels and mutli-family properties with pools and spas.

Happy Earth Day everyone! Earth Day can really be every day, if you make the effort!

Ella solía ser mi único enemigo, quien nunca me dejaba ser libre, atrapándome en todos los lugares que sabía no debía estar.  Cada día que cruzaba la línea nunca pensé ser tan malo, ni menos pensé que sería una amiga que nunca tuve. En ese entonces no sabía por qué siempre era mal entendida, pero ahora veo en sus ojos que lo único que hacía era amar.

Para mi madre querida, ¡Te amo!

La Madre Tierra

Pero hoy es un día para recordar a nuestra madre olvidada, sepultada entre nuestras creaciones, postergada por nuestro egoísmo, pero que, al igual que nuestras madres, nunca nos deja: la Tierra. Aquella vieja milenaria con su vestido sucio por nuestros deshechos, con su sangre transparente envenenada, cansada y agotada de sus porfiados hijos pródigos, pero que aún nos quiere. La vieja a la que, como buenos cuervos, le comemos los ojos, siendo ella quien nos alimenta. Hoy 22 de Abril celebramos su día, el Día de la Tierra, por 39º vez. Pero, ¿De dónde surgió esta celebración tan poco difundida en nuestro país, pero que sin embargo es conmemorada año a año por las Naciones Unidas?

Corre Septiembre de 1969. El Senador americano Gaylord Nelson anunció en una conferencia en Seattle, Washington que en la primavera (acá otoño) de 1970 se realizaría una demostración a nivel nacional por el medio ambiente. Desde el Atlántico al Pacífico, colegios y universidades organizaron protestas contra el deterioro del medio ambiente, por los derrames de petróleos, pesticidas, la pérdida de naturaleza, contaminación de ríos y campos, la extinción de especies, etc. Abril 22, 1970: 20 millones de americanos se movilizaron por un medio ambiente sustentable y saludable.

Con el tiempo, el Día de la Tierra fue tomando fuerza, con 200 millones de personas en 141 países movilizándose por el medio ambiente el 22 de Abril de 1990, pavimentando el camino para la Cumbre de la Tierra de las Naciones Unidas en Río de Janeiro, 1992 (también conocida como Eco ‘92). En ella, 172 países se reunieron para definir directrices de desarrollo respetuosas para con el medio ambiente. De ella surgieron novedosas y significativas resoluciones como el Protocolo de Kyoto, la Declaración de Río sobre Desarrollo y Medio Ambiente, la Agenda 21, los “Principios de los Bosques”, la Convención sobre Diversidad Biológica y la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático, teniendo estas dos últimas carácter vinculante para quienes la firmaren.

El Día de la Tierra 2000, con el apoyo de Internet, fue un grito de la humanidad por el medio ambiente, convocando actos, demostraciones y protestas alrededor de todo el mundo, ésta vez por el cambio climático y las energías limpias. Abril 22, ‘00: 5000 grupos medioambientalistas a bordo, con un récord de 184 países participando. Siete años después, en el Día de la Tierra ‘07, aproximadamente un billón de personas se movilizaron por el medio ambiente.

Nuestro planeta

Simbólicamente, el Día de la Tierra es un recordatorio de cuidar a la vieja madre que nos acoge. Lentamente, nosotros, como buenos hijos pródigos, derrochamos su belleza y vitalidad por nuestra ambición. La vieja se nos está muriendo, ¿Qué hacemos nosotros por ella? Mal que mal, si se nos muere la vieja, la Pacha Mama, perderemos nuestro futuro. Pues bien, luchemos por nuestro futuro. Tal como lo dijo Severn Suzuki, de sólo 13 años, en la Cumbre de la Tierra ‘92, “perder mi futuro no es como perder unas elecciones o unos puntos en la Bolsa de Comercio“. Mientras nosotros nos quedamos sentados sin hacer nada, alimentados por nuestra ambición y egoísmo, nuestro mundo desaparece a pasos agigantados.

Como siempre, Chile se queda atrás. En nuestro Congreso o el Gobierno, nadie hablará por los millones de niños que mueren desnutridos por no tener qué comer, mientras acá los índices de sobrepeso y obesidad día a día se catapultan hacia niveles riesgosos de la mano de tanta comida chatarra, la misma que se sobreproduce y termina en basureros pudiendo alimentar a la África (y otros países, claro) que se mueren de hambre ante nuestros ojos indiferentes. Tampoco escucharemos un exhorto a la conciencia social, por los miles de animales cuyos hábitat se ven destruidos “por el progreso”, sin tener más dónde ir, ni por los animales en peligro de extinción extraídos de la naturaleza para nuestro placer lujurioso, en circos y zoológicos. Ni mucho menos por el daño que el hoyo de la capa de ozono nos produce ni por los químicos que respiramos sin saber qué son.

¿Puedes repararlo?

¿Tenemos nosotros acaso solución para lo que como humanidad hemos hecho? Seamos francos, no tengo yo una solución, pero nuestros políticos tampoco. Ellos no saben cómo reparar el hoyo en la capa de ozono, para poder salir a la calle sin el riesgo de que nos de cáncer. Tampoco saben cómo resucitar a los cisnes muertos del río Cruces, los peces del Mataquito, ni los pingüinos de Queule, ni mucho menos sabrán devolver el cauce a los ríos bloqueados por centrales hidroeléctricas, a los que se les sumarán nuestro río Maipo y la Patagonia. No saben cómo devolver los bosques que alguna vez vivos fueron y ahora son sólo arena de desierto. No devolverán la majestuosidad de los géisers del Tatío cuando éstos sean una central térmica, ni devolverán la vida al valle del Huasco cuando éste muera contaminado por Pascua Lama.

Si no saben cómo reparar todo el daño que le han hecho a nuestro medio ambiente, tan madre suya como mía y de todos los chilenos, ¡DEJEN DE DESTRUIRLO!

De: foy valencia <foyv_2000@yahoo.es>
CC: edmond.jordan@gmail.com, mba-usmp-2008@hotmail.com
Fecha: Mié, 22 de Abr, 2009 1:15 am
Asunto: El Día de la Tierra (Miércoles 22 de Abril)

93.              El Día de la Tierra  (Miércoles  22 de Abril) 

Diez entretenidas maneras de celebrar el dia de la Tierra en el 2009

http://ecosofia.org/2009/04/diez_entretenidas_maneras_de_celebrar_el_dia_de_la_tierra.html

El día 22 de abril se celebra mundialmente el “Día de la Tierra”, que más que un sólo día al año, debiera celebrarse cotidianamente para hacer más por nosotros mismos y por el planeta que sustenta nuestra vida. Por eso, en este post quiero sugerir diez maneras entretenidas para celebrar el Día de la Tierra, no sólo el 22 sino cada día que nos sea posible… Si tienes tu propias propuestas, no dudes en dejarlas en los comentarios al artículo!

22 de abril ¿QUE ES EL DÍA DE LA TIERRA?

Desde hace 37 años, el día 22 de abril se celebra el ignorado y poco vistoso Día de la Tierra. Nunca estamos bien enterados de qué va todo esto, y tendemos a pensar que es otra ocasión para que los pesados de los medio ambientalistas nos fustiguen con sus preocupaciones… ¿cómo empezó todo esto?

El año 1962, el senador norteamericano Gaylord Nelson comienza a hacer lobby político para que el tema medio ambiental forme parte de la agenda gubernamental del presidente John Kennedy. Después de varios años de trabajo social y político, en 1969 aprovecha los ímpetus de la airada protesta civil contra la guerra de Vietnam, y convoca a una gran manifestación popular donde las personas de todo el país expresan su preocupación por el manejo del tema medio ambiental a nivel nacional. En noviembre de ese año, el New York Times en palabras de Gladwin Hill, publica:

“La conciencia sobre la crisis medioambiental está arrasando los campus universitarios con una intensidad sólo comparable con el descontento con la Guerra de Vietnam… por ello las oficinas del senador Gaylord Nelson planifican un día nacional para conversar sobre los problemas medio ambientales. .. para la próxima primavera.”

Así, el año 1970, el dia 22 de abril (equinoccio de primavera en el hemisferio norte) se celebró por primera vez el Día de la Tierra. Más de 20 millones de personas respondieron a la convocatoria, estableciendo en sus comunidades, universidades y colegios, una plataforma de difusión y discusión sobre el medio ambiente y sus principales problemas. 

La presión social tuvo sus frutos, y ese mismo año el gobierno de Richard Nixon crea la Agencia de Protección Medio Ambiental(EPA en sus siglas en inglés), con la misión de proteger el medio ambiente y la salud pública. En el mismo año, el congreso norteamericano promulga el Acta del Aire Limpio (Clean Air Act) con el objetivo de establecer estándares seguros sobre calidad del aire, emisiones y polución contaminante. .También en 1970 el senador Nelson y los organizadores de ese primer acto en 1970 crearon Earth Day Network (EDN), que como institución de carácter global, promueve la celebración del día de la Tierra como una instancia de reflexión y acción en favor del medio ambiente. Esta red busca favorecer el compromiso cívico de los escolares, educar a los ciudadanos como consumidores responsables y movilizar a los medios de comunicación, a las escuelas y a los gobiernos locales en torno a acciones de protección medio ambiental. En su web puedes consultar los eventos preparados para este año a lo largo del globo, participar actívamente y muchas cosas más .

El Día de la Tierra de 1972 tuvo lugar la primera cumbre mundial sobre medio ambiente: la Conferencia de Estocolmo.  El “espíritu de Estocolmo” sirvió para sensibilizar, aunque insuficientemente, a los gobiernos y a la sociedad civil sobre la magnitud de los problemas que afectan al medio ambiente.

En 1990 se organiza de nuevo el Día de la Tierra, esta vez en todo el mundo. La celebración contó con la colaboración de más de 1.000 ONG, se organizaron actos en 140 países y se estima que participaron del orden de 200 millones de personas.  

Dos años después tenía lugar la llamada Cumbre de la Tierra en Río de Janeiro, la Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo, siendo el evento de estas características con mayor número de participantes y de asistencia de jefes de gobierno.

Los cambios de rumbo propuestos en estas conferencias están aún lejos de hacerse realidad, a la vista está; pero, gracias a ellas y lo que generaron, el mundo ha entendido la necesidad de cuidar del planeta en el que vivimos todos.

Ya hace 39 años de esa primera movilización, una buena parte de la población mundial es consciente de que el problema que nos acecha tiene una magnitud incomparable a cualquier otro con el que la humanidad haya tenido que enfrentarse.  Por desgracia, hay otra parte, que engloba a una gran mayoría de las personas que realmente marcan los designios del planeta, que no lo están o, simplemente, sus intereses divergen de las soluciones que sólo ellos pueden acometer.  Pero como decía al principio, nosotros sólos tenemos muy poca capacidad de presionar a estos últimos, pero juntos…, juntos tenemos más fuerza que nadie.  La unión, hace la fuerza.  Y nuestros gobernantes y políticos lo saben.  ¡Unámonos!. El objetivo final es algún día celebrar el “Día de la Tierra”, todos los días del año.

http://ecosofia. org/

http://aragonsosten ible.blogia. com/

 Autora: Miriam Coronado

Comparte Marinela Ramírez

http://espanol. groups.yahoo. com/group/ buscadoresdelalu z

http://buscadores. superforos. com/

Pierre Foy Valencia

Hoy 22 de abril celebramos el Día de la Tierra. El primer Earth Day se remonta a 1970 cuando el senador Gaylord Nelson organizó una manifestación por la indiferencia ecológica.  Con el paso del tiempo esta manifestación se ha ido transformando en una celebración la cual tiene como finalidad hacer que las personas tomen conciencia de los recursos naturales de la tierra y la forma en la que los manejamos. Pero esto no es posible si no existe una adecuada educación ambiental y un involucramiento de las personas.

Celebremos hoy su día a la tierra, como ustedes decidan; pueden apagar sus aparatos eléctricos 1 hora, llevar sus bolsas de tela al super, evitar el uso del coche, o simplemente planear cómo cambiarás tus hábitos de consumo. Lo más importante es celebrar HOY y hacerlo SIEMPRE.

No podemos continuar con la actitud de celebrar las cosas 1 día y olvidarlas el resto del año. La indiferencia en la que vivimos nos ha llevado al punto de mayor decadencia de nuestro ecosistema. Es tiempo de preocuparnos por hacer sanar a nuestro agonizante planeta; y bien, hoy que lo celebramos, me parece un excelente día para empezar a ayudar.

¿Cómo podemos ayudar al planeta?

En casa, separen la basura. Muchas veces he escuchado que no vale la pena separar la basura, ya que de cualquier forma va toda al mismo camión. Es cierto todas las bolsas van al mismo camión, y es más fácil para ellos separar las latas, PET, plastico, cartón si ya vienen separados. Las personas de los camiones y los  pepenadores viven de vender los productos que se pueden reciclar, así que tus mínimos esfuerzos ayudan al medio ambiente y a las personas.

Cambien de productos no de hábitos. En la oficina compren papel reciclado, es igual de blanco y más barato. En comidas como parrilladas usen platos y cubiertos biodegradables.

Ahora que si quieres cambiar los hábitos. Los fines de semana desempolva la bicicleta para ir al supercito, eso si ciudado con los perros. En el supercito NO pidas bolsa cuando compraste una coca y unos cigarros.

Al final del día te darás cuanta que estás teniendo un impacto positivo sobre tu entorno. El ser ecológico no forzosamente significa ir a la Sierra a reforestar; haciendo mínimos cambios crearás una diferencia. Así que bandita, recuerden que el ser ecológico no sólo es fashion si no es sentido común.

We get forgetful or jaded, but my son, at 21, asked me to write something on Earth Day this morning.

I have been around a relatively long time, and do, vaguely….remember the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970.  In those years I have forgotten the origin and history but some things stick or become part of the conduct of our daily life.

(NPR just started playing Copeland’s “Appalachian Spring”. Can there be a better theme song for Earth Day?  An American composer who was steeped in the beauty of the New England environment.)

The 60’s had cheap gas and acid rain.  Perhaps it was a hard slog to get the attention of the public as to what was happening to the environment.  The eco movement was barely born, only in isolated concerns.

Perhaps the first ‘wake up’ call was Rachel Carson’s  “Silent Spring” published in 1962.  A wake up call indeed, for she writes about a world without birds, killed off by common pesticides and chemical agents.

People started to wake up.

Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson had been concerned about the environment for a while, and in 1962 proposed some ideas to then-President Kennedy.  But things didn’t go very far.

Senator Nelson pursued with his ideas, and had two young staffers to work on a proposed Earth Day.  He picked April 22 because he thought it would be embraced by college students, then a key element for social change, with SDS and SNCC and many campus organizations. It was past Easter and Passover, and on a weekday, it would not be disturbing the weekend activities of students.  Exams would have been over.

Spring was the season of the Earth’s rebirth and our environment needed a rebirth.

The moon walk of 1968 also helped the world’s consciousness with pix of the Earth, a big blue marble, being broadcast back from the moon.

Twenty million people participated in the first Earth Day, 1970. As Senator Nelson said:  “Earth Day organized itself”.  No one was prepared for the mass embracing of this first Earth Day.

In NYC, 5th Avenue was closed to traffic and people picknicked on the sidewalks. In Indiana, women dressed as witches threw birth control pills at gathered spectators.  In Virginia students handed out bags of dirt, symbolizing “The Good Earth”.

The then Nixon administration had no comment on the celebration of 20,000,000 people in this  country.  But within 3 months after this first Earth Day, Nixon signed in the EPA, the Clean Wather Act, the Pesticide Controll Act and other legislation.  Someone up there was noticing the mass appeal of Earth Day.

We vary in our consciousness and intent since then.  other legislation have come into law, but perhaps what is the legacy of that first Earth Day in 1970 is a tremendous national consciousness about our environment.  The ecological movement was born from then and the fruits are ripening each year.

Sometimes it seems a drop in the proverbial bucket, as we read of species disappearing every day and issues of rainforest/global warming/ other ecological concerns.

Our consciusness is ragged, and our attention spans are, too.  However, the Green Movement gathers strength and conviction and each of us has become more aware of our ‘footprint’ and also what we can daily do.  Recycling, birthed from that first few years after 1970, and composting are things we can do easily from our homes.  There aer many magazines and sources to educate us now where before the ‘green movement’ was marginalized.

I planted an apple tree this morning, bought for this purpose to celebrate Earth Day, 2009.  I very small drop in the sea, but an attempt towards mindfulness for the future.

Lady Nyo

SPRING CAN’T WAIT

Sharp brittle wind
Sailing like clipper glass
Cutting the skin razor thin,
Flaying off winter’s covering.

This spring can ‘t wait.
It lies, promising comforting warmth,
Yet delivers the opposite.

I hear the laughter in the pines.
They moan, or echo an evil chuckle.

No matter.
This argument will be over
Once the earth
Pirouettes  on point.

Jane Kohut-Bartels
Copyrighted, 2009

I took this picture of the eastern sky April 21, 2009 at 7am in the morning, here in Atlanta.  Gorgeous sky after a storm the night before.

If you are not aware, today is EARTH DAY! Founder Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day as an initiative to create a healthy, and livable environment.  It has been within the past few years that pop culture has caught on to the Earth Day trend and supported environment-friendly products: cleaning utensils, light bulbs, food and automobiles. This raises a good question, “Can fashion be Environment-friendly and stylish at the same time?” What do you think?

Eco-friendly shoes by Georgina Goodman

Eco-friendly shoes by Georgina Goodman

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican announced that the Pope received an angelic visit confirming that today, April 22nd, is in fact the anniversary of the creation of Earth.

Early this morning, the Pope went on to the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver an impromptu mass to a crowd of surprised spectators.  The Pope seemed somewhat disheveled and clearly jittery.  He went on to explain that his angelic visitor had kept him up all night and he was running on holy espresso.

In the sermon of his mass, Pope Benedict explained that the night before an angelic messenger had come to him.  The angel confirmed that today is the anniversary of Earth’s creation and stressed the importance of mankind’s role as the planet’s caretakers.

The Angel then went on explaining these points for the next 7 hours.  The Pope said he had tried to write everything down, but the Angel was speaking quickly and it was very late.

The Angel explained the science of the Earth’s creation, and how pre-creation relativity affected measurement of time.  The pope said, “It involved a lot of science that I couldn’t follow, so you’ll have to trust me.  But hey, I’m the Pope!”

The crowd in Saint Peter’s square was shocked to hear such joviality out of the Holy Father.  Three nuns in attendance fainted straight away.

“Then he went on to explain how we are stewards of the Earth”, said the Pope.  “And he kept explaining it, over and over.  I told him ‘I understand’ but he kept on going saying the same things.  So I tried saying it in Greek, and Hebrew ‘I understand.  I understand.’ I thought he couldn’t hear me so I said it louder, and he said, ‘Excuse me, I’m not finished.’ So I tried to pay attention but he just kept talking for four more hours.”

The Pope concluded his sermon and finished out the mass to a small but enraptured crowd outside The Vatican.  How the Catholic world will react is still uncertain, but it is expected that the Feast of Saint Juan, patron saint of coffee and college students, will be moved to April 21st.

The Pope wishes the world a happy Earth Day.

If you’re busy celebrating Earth Day and you’re curious about the history of it, here’s a little background on it.

Earth Day was created by Gaylord Nelson, a Wisconsin Senator in 1962. Mr. Nelson wanted to create awareness about our environment in a time when these concerns weren’t a focus in the political arena.

Despite presenting his thoughts and ideas, his “Earth Day” didn’t immediately take off. A grass roots movement in 1970 brought this day into the collective of Americans. Mr. Nelson said:

“Our goal is an environment of decency, quality, and mutual respect for all other human creatures and for all…

See the full post at Gaylord Nelson – Creator Of \’Earth Day\’