Guest editorial: What does Earth Day mean to you?
One of Kolon’s favorite places in the soon-to-open Iron Creek Preserve is a bit of a plateau on the ridge, October 2022. Photo courtesy of Sybil Kolon.
Editor’s note: Guest editorials are by local leaders or experts with specific knowledge of a topic and may contain opinions. Views expressed in any editorial are always exclusively those of the author.
by Sybil Kolon
Earth Day is supposed to be a day of awareness and action for the Earth. It is the one day we are encouraged to appreciate the gifts the Earth provides and help it to heal old wounds. In truth, the Earth is here for us every day. We have moved from Earth Day to Earth Week to Earth Month. Now we even say, “Earth Day is every day.” But can we really find time to do that?
Our busy lives usually take us away from nature. But when it’s time for vacation, we often go to places that surround us in nature. You don’t have to go on vacation to get the boost you need from nature. All you need to do is make an appointment with the great outdoors a few times a week. Take a walk by yourself or with a friend. Be an observer of nature. Even a few minutes can calm your mind when your busy day goes awry.
While you’re out there, don’t forget to let your mind wander. You will likely come up with new ideas. Without a doubt you will be in a better mood than when you started.
Earth Day started on April 22, 1970, after numerous events made it apparent that our Earth was suffering. In 1969 the Cuyahoga River in Ohio was so polluted with flammable industrial liquids that it caught on fire. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin is credited with starting the first Earth Day, when 20 million Americans participated in Earth Day activities around the country. It has grown into a worldwide event.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was created a few months later and the Clean Air Act was passed in December 1970. Two years later the Clean Water Act was passed. Other important regulations followed over the years. Permits now limit the amount of discharges into waterways to safe levels. Many sites of contamination have been discovered and cleaned up; others remain.
The need to protect our air, water, and soil must remain an ongoing effort. Each of us makes many choices every day about what we do and what we buy. And we each have the ability to influence our circle of friends and families. I hope you will join me this Earth Day in making a pledge to spend more time in nature and to be more thoughtful about your actions. Together we really can make a difference!
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