Happy Earth Day

By John McDaid | Tuesday, 22 April 2008

Earth image by NASAAs relevant now as it was in 1970, Earth Day is an opportunity to reflect on (and act for) the precious and delicate planet we all share. Even taking the Drake Equation as a given, this Earth is still the only inhabitable biosphere we will able to reach with any technology accessible to us before we destroy it. Let's not do that. Today is a day to celebrate our planet — and here in Portsmouth, the victories for Open Space and Wind Energy are worth cheering — and to recommit to make change happen. (Even if it's just changing your light bulbs to compact fluorescents.)

Want to hear some inspiring chat? The local StepItUp folks will be appearing on Art Berluti's show on WADK at 11 AM.

Feeling politically active? The Environment Council of RI is sponsoring Earth Day Lobby Day, at the State House, 3 to 4:30 PM. Stop by to raise awareness among legislators about clean, affordable transportation alternatives. For more information, check out the Sierra Club of RI.

And tonight, the Earth Month film series continues at Empire Empire Teas & Coffee, 22 Broadway, Newport, with the 7 pm showing of A Boy Among Polar Bears. The film offers a look at Inuit culture, following father teaching his son traditional tribal survival skills, showing a culture at risk from global warming. Following the film, environmental educator Susan Adie will present and discuss a slide show covering her 13 years as an expedition leader in Greenland, highlighting the progressive effects of warming in that country. We care INTENSELY about Greenland. If those ice sheets melt, Rhode Island will be the "Under the Ocean State." (Hail, Atlantis!)

Visit the Earth Day Network to learn more about things you can do. One very simple thing is to wear blue.

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Comments

Wernerlll

Sat, 04/26/2008 - 8:34pm

We do not seem to need any more Earth Days other than to clean up after the trashy citizens and raise awareness that life on earth is all there is. We have all the information we need, but ever since Rachel Carson's warnings in the 1960, we have done little. We need premium action. Premium, because it is so rare inside the Washington Beltway.

We had the momentum until the end of 2000 when we could have really made a difference in saving the planet by continuing to engage with the rest of the industrialized nations to the point of even providing the leadership to advance in technology insertion programs for the betterment and longevity of civilization as we know it. However, no, big oil, coal, Detroit, and other clubs wanted to hold on to tradition and hired an accomplished cheerleader to serve their cause.

We had the world behind us after September 11, but the neocons already had designs on the oil fields of Iraq. Now that we have energy security, how is that working out for us here in the US? But, I do not want to pile onto the tragedy that represents our current administration. I am just sad and feel helpless to make a difference. Letters to the editors, Congress, local communities, and friends are pretty much for naught, as most people feel ineffective in "making a difference". It takes huge sums of money to get access and be heard. Enough said.

John McDaid

Sun, 04/27/2008 - 9:58am

Hi, Werner...
There is no minimizing these challenges. And I've learned better than to be the glass-half-full Polyanna about new technology, but I still have to say that the generation growing up with digital reality sees things differently. Not most importantly, perhaps, because they experience the world as the interconnected web that McLuhan and Ervin Laszlo foresaw forty years ago, but because their Here Comes Everyone existence has immunized them against uncritical acceptance of the status quo. Twitter and YouTube and Jon Stewart are far more powerful change agents than letters to the editor ever were. One can hope.

Best,
-j