As I write this post, I hear a duck flying toward the park and smaller birds singing in the trees. I walked with a friend and her dog this morning through beautiful Willow Glen, a neighborhood known for it’s established trees, beautiful gardens and eclectic homes. Some days I pinch myself that I live in such a beautiful place. You live here too. It’s called Earth.
Origins of Earth Day
The idea came to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, he realized that if he could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution, it would force environmental protection onto the national political agenda. Senator Nelson announced the idea for a “national teach-in on the environment” to the national media; persuaded Pete McCloskey, a conservation-minded Republican Congressman, to serve as his co-chair; and recruited Denis Hayes as national coordinator. Hayes built a national staff of 85 to promote events across the land.
As a result, on the 22nd of April, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values. – Source: Earth Day Network
It’s hard to ignore climate change, the recent oil spills and the growing list of extinct animals and plants. Our local news informed today that San Jose just passed the second-driest winter on record since the 1800s Gold Rush.
That said, knowledge brings power, and in an age of broad social media, the masses will no longer be silenced. I strive to honor this place we call home, by using less, staying informed, educating others and raising my boys to be stewards of the earth.
Rainbow?
No rain means no rainbows, so I’ve created a garden rainbow instead.
Strawberries, California Poppies, Yellow Day Lilly, Cat Mint, Crocus, Lavender
How will you celebrate Earth Day?
Gardening Nirvana 
We’ve had plenty of rain here in Chicago, so I much prefer your garden rainbow at the moment. Just got back from a sunny run with Eko, the Earth looks and feels great!
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I’ve heard that Chicago has had quite the deluge. I’m glad the sun came out and that the two of you got in a run.
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I like your dry version of a rainbow. It would be wonderful if we could get everyone on board to take care of our planet better.
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Thank you, Marlene!
Yes it would. It seems a handful of people still think they’re entitled to do whatever they want, without regard for those around them. I wish, more than anything, that we could all get on the same page as far as a healthier planet is concerned.
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We have to start them really young. I watched youngsters ripping leaves and branches from trees then beating the trees with sticks. I told them the trees had feelings and they were hurting them. Then I took them to a jasmine vine and showed them the milky liquid that came when you removed a leaf. I told them the vine was bleeding. How would they feel if someone did that to them. It made me nuts to see children hurt anything and parents turn a blind eye. I’m a little militant on the subject.:(
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🙂
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Somewhere over the rainbow, my dreams will come true 😀 Cute idea Alys, love that. I can’t imagine how dry it must be getting. That’s a little worrisome isn’t it? Do they start to restrict usage of water? In the county we lived in, they did an odd/even watering days based on your house number. Luckily we had plenty of moisture this winter. I missed the boat on Earth Day, dang! I must be living under a rock. PS, You’re giving your boys the blessing of knowledge that they’ll carry with them their whole lives, BRAVO my dear.
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Thank you for that! It’s amazing as a parent to see the dawning of your children’s own self awareness and views on the world. They both have strong opinions and an understanding of their place in the world. For that I am grateful.
San Jose went through a 7-year drought in the 80s and we had a similar odd/even watering schedule. It stressed a lot of mature tress that were used to drinking from the water tables.
Wildfires will be a real problem this year: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/25/california-wildfires-2013_n_3158005.html
So far this year State fire crews have responded to more than 680 wildfires, 200 more than average for the period. Scary.
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We’ve had very hot summers for the past several years too. More 30 degree days than ever. We did have a massive amount of snow this year, so hopefully it will help. Sorry to hear about the fire danger being so extreme. I hope citizens will take extra cautions as the article says, 90% of the fires are started by careless humans. I really worry about the wildlife both in draughts and fires, I can’t imagine how scary for them. They’re actually predicting a thunderstorm here tonight with winds up to 90 km. We may just be blown down to San Jose 😀
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Wow! What crazy weather you’re having. Thunderstorms are rare in our area. Once in a blue moon we’ll have one. I remember them from my day in Canada, though, especially in the summer.
So much carelessness about fire. I don’t get it. Tossed cigarettes, illegal camp fires, and some arson. I too feel so badly for the animals trapped in it all.
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I saw a guy toss a smoke out of his red neck pick up truck just a couple of days ago. The ‘me/myself and I’ club is alive and well in Alberta. I hope karma bites him back.
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LOL. Not to his actions, but your ‘me, myself and I club.’
What do people think happens to all those butts?
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They must think their mother works EVERYWHERE. Do you know the type?
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Oh yes I do.
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Really lovely, thoughtful post. We, too, are in need of some decent rain. I do worry a lot about climate change and about how some treat other creatures with whom we share this beautiful planet. It’s posts like this that really help to remind us all to tread lightly and teach our children well. Thank-you. I’m highlighting your blog and others I really like in my next post.
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I’m answering in reverse here, so thanks once again for the link back and special mention. It made my day.
There is a wonderful quote by Ghandi that speaks to this issue. Let me go find it and I’ll share in the next comment.
It is worrying the way some treat our animals, our earth. I believe it comes down to one word: respect. I have no formal religious upbringing, but we were raised with the Golden Rule: do unto others, as they would do unto you. It’s the simplest rule to live by.
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“One can measure the greatness and the moral progress of a nation by looking at how it treats her animals.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
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Aren’t you the sweetest. Thank you! xox
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We need more beautiful people like you Alys to be caretakers for the future. I fear that a lot of people have lost respect for themselves and others so the planet doesn’t stand a chance unless the ones that still care speak out. I love your rainbow pictures… especially the orange flower whatever that is!
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What a kind and lovely thing to say, PJ. You realize that you are also describing yourself. We are small but mighty. I’m choosing hope, then passing it on.
The orange flower is a California Poppy. It’s the official state flower, and can be seen growing all over the place this time of year. I planted seeds two years ago, but they didn’t flower the first year. Last year they were brilliant. I’ve planted several more this season. Stay tuned!
Mwaaaaa…
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That’s certainly a beautiful rainbow!
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🙂
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Hey Alys, lovely post as always! Have a super weekend with your boys xxxxx
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Thanks so much! I hope your weekend is fab as well.
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