April Showers Bring May FlowersRemember that old rhyme? Childhood...its wonderful, isn't it? A time for growing and playing, for not caring about the world, but just the immediate needs you have, a time for instant gratification, and playing with dolls.
Our children also need to know that we care and are doing all we can to improve the world as it is now. It's time to take action. April is the month of planting, of getting ready for the summer when Mother Earth helps our gardens to grow. It is the month when people all over the world celebrate Earth Day, on April 22nd. It is a time for tree hugging and for caring about this planet we have been given as a gift to live on, to cherish, and to show that we care enough to keep it growing, so it will be here for the next generations. April is the time to be consciencious about what we are doing and how we are harming our natural resources. Its time to take stock of what is happening around us. We need to protect the animals, the endangered species, the rainforests that house some of them, the arctic regions that provides for others. It is time to let our children know we care about their future. I hope you take a conscious step backwards and see what you can do for our earth and for all of the beings on it that were given to us as gifts. My goal is to put some ideas in this month's zine that you can use in a practical every day way to improve the conditions around you. I have put together three pages on being green. You can find them here:
There are many more links about how to live a greener life. You will find them as you read through this opening page. Enjoy your stay.
Sincerely,
 A message from Senator Gaylord Nelson, Founder of Earth DayFebruary 2001 -- Sen. Gaylord Nelson, Founder, Earth Day April 22nd will be the 31st Anniversary of Earth Day. In the largest demonstration of its kind in history, millions expressed their dismay over what was happening to the environment around them and their alarm over the indifference to it by the political leaders of the country. We are all in debt to that 70's generation of young folks--grade school, high school, and college--who supplied the energy, enthusiasm, and idealism that forced environmental concerns into the political arena for the first time. A Challenge for the 21st Century What a legacy that 70's generation left us! And now, what a wonderful opportunity the current generation of students has to build and expand on that legacy. Indeed, if this new generation of students can persuade the political establishment to initiate a national dialogue on sustainability it will mark another turning point in our history because only such a dialogue will provide the information and public understanding necessary to guide us on a path to sustainability. No modern society is currently sustainable over the long-term because all are consuming capital and counting it on the profit side of the ledger. Any business that spends its capital and counts it as profit is headed for bankruptcy. A nation is no different. After all, a nation's capital (its wealth, so to speak) is the air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats and bio-diversity. Take this away and all that is left is a wasteland. As we pollute, erode and degrade our resource base we are spending capital. Obviously, this is not a sustainable situation in the long term. Forging a Sustainable Society Forging a sustainable society is our first and most important order of business. The third international conference on sustainability is scheduled for June 2002. Although it will soon be 10 years since the first international conference, we have not yet begun a national discussion on what sustainability means and why it is important. That is a failure of past congresses and presidents. Here's what must happen to set our country on the path of sustainability: 1. The President must begin a national dialogue on the issue of sustainability by beginning a tradition of a biennial "State of the Environment" address. This biennial message would be in addition to the traditional State of the Union address. 2. The Congress must undertake a comprehensive series of educational hearings on the concept and significance of sustainability. 3. The public must encourage serious Presidential and congressional attention to the issue of sustainability. 4. The youth of America are also involved, making it clear to the President and Congress that sustainability is essential to the security of our nation. Since sustainability is everyone's concern, we should all be actively involved, particularly the youth of America who will inherit whatever environment we leave behind. You can make a difference - write to The President and your Congressional Representative. Ask the President to give a biennial message on the State of the Environment; and ask the Congress to begin hearings on sustainability. This Earth Day 2001 message is brought to you by Gaylord Nelson, Founder of Earth Day, and the North American Coalition on Religion and Ecology.
Some Earth Day Links:
We've all heard of El Nino and remember how it was a few years ago when we experienced warmer temperatures. Now there is another El Nino forming in the Pacific Ocean. Much of this is due to global warming. The greenhouse effect is a serious issue. Admittedly we need SOME greenhouse effect to survive or this earth would be too cold for us to survive on, but it has gotten worse and its too much for us. Many plants and animals are adjusting their habitats due to global warming and many are losing their source of food. Below you will find some informative sites about Global Warming and what we can do to help protect our environment, including writing to public officials and calling on them for help in policies. Feel free to browse the sites I list and do your part.
Another small, but helpful way, to help our environment is to send e-cards from Care2.com. On that site, too, are ways to click to save the big cats, the pandas and areas of our earth. I invite you to check it out. |
Unfortunately, because of world events our kids are faced with fear and worry. They worry that they or their parents could be the next ones killed by a terrorist or a stray bomb, or an incurable disease. It is sad. Will our grandchildren grow up in a world where there are no trees, or where many of the animal species are no longer here? Will our grandchildren ask their parents some day what a tree looks like? Or will they just see a picture in a book of ancient history? Will this world be able to sustain life as we see it today? Will there be enough food? Shelter? Water? How about Oxygen? Will they be damaged by rays that travel through the air unprotected by the ozone layer? What does the world have in store for our grandchildren and great grandchildren, for the generations to come? Look how it has changed in the past 100 years, when our great grandparents were children. It can only change again. Unfortunately because of our current policies and the people in office, we can not hope for a better earth for our future generations. We need to do something about this and let them know we need a safer place for our kids and that we want the world to be a liveable place in the future.
