Ask Wednesday: How can we mark this Earth Day?

Some practical suggestions

By Paul Clark, aka motomynd

[Editor's Note: Originally published on April 15, 2013 as "Mark the day," in the motomynd's monthly column, "Third Monday Random."]

Today is the 45th Earth Day. Do you remember the first one—how old does that make you feel? More importantly, do you remember the idealism of that first Earth Day, and all the things you resolved to do to help save the planet? So how have you done—does your resume make you an eco warrior, or just another backslider?
    This is your reminder to again strike a blow for the cause. To help you do more, or finally do something, here are some suggestions for you to mark the day:
    If the modern “corporate” spin is what gets you motivated, check out the official “Earth Day” website to see what has become of Earth Day over the decades. You may have been slacking, but other people have been busy.
    To re-connect with the bohemian, activist idealism of that most likely long-forgotten first Earth Day, click here. Believe it or not, this was a time when people actually turned out in the streets to protest our invading foreign countries, and when folks got really worked up over horrific oil spills instead of trusting the suits and politicians to sort out the mess.

Now that you are motivated, try this:

• Leave the car at home. Surely you can plan one day where you can make your way around on foot, on a bike, or on public transit.
• Send an email to someone who wants your vote and tell them what you want them to do to help the environment, and why.
• Go vegan for a day. By all accounts, a vegetarian diet saves resources—to say nothing of saving animals. It even works for former wild-man boxer Mike Tyson, so it might work for you. If not, at least you will save some resources for one day. [See the citation at the end of the article^*.]
• Set up that recycling station you have been procrastinating about for years. You finally did that last year? Great—set one up for someone else.
• Ditch the spray bottles of chemical-laden glass and counter cleaner and either use a commercial “green” alternative, or learn about some simple substitutes. Vinegar and oil is for salad; vinegar and water is a potent cleaning mix.
• Build a rain barrel. To learn how to design a complicated, fancy one, click here. For something simpler, ad lib. Just remember to put a top on it to block evaporation, keep out leaves, and save birds and small animals from drowning.
• Find a place to hang your reusable shopping bags by the door so you will actually use them next time instead of collecting yet more plastic bags.
• Start composting. You can begin with a D-I-Y simple setup or go a bit crazy with it.

If you just can’t get it together to do anything at all complicated, then the simplest, best thing you can do to commemorate Earth Day and help the environment is to stop buying drinks in plastic bottles—and especially quit buying bottled water. Considering all the loopholes in the testing of bottled water, making that move might save your health, not just landfill space.
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* "Going green by eating a different way" [Aaron Mosher, Burlington Times-News, April 20, 2015]:

Just in time for the 45th anniversary of Earth Day this Wednesday, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has made it official: consumption of animal products is not environmentally sustainable. Their conclusions match those of a massive 2010 United Nations report, which concluded that a global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty and climate change.
    Carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, is emitted by burning forests to create animal pastures and by combustion of fossil fuels to operate farm machinery, trucks, refrigeration equipment, factory farms, and slaughterhouses. The much more damaging methane and nitrous oxide are released from digestive tracts of cattle and from animal waste cesspools.
    Moreover, animal agriculture contributes more pollutants to our waterways than other human activities combined. Principal sources are animal wastes, soil particles, minerals, crop debris, fertilizers, and pesticides from feed croplands. It is also the driving force in world-wide deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction.
    In an environmentally sustainable world, just as fossil fuels are replaced by wind, solar, and other sustainable energy sources, animal foods must be replaced by vegetables, fruits, and grains. Our next trip to the supermarket is a great starting point.

Copyright © 2015 by Paul Clark, aka motomynd