Happy Earth Day
Today is Earth Day 2009 and it marks the beginning of The Green Generation Campaign with hopes of a carbon-free future and a new green economy. The Center for a Livable Future would like to share with you resources to help you build a healthy and sustainable world not only today, but for decades to come. History The very first Earth Day was founded by Gaylord Nelson, a United States Senator from Wisconsin, on April 22, 1970, who proposed the first nationwide environmental protest in order to put the environment on the national agenda. On that day, 20 million Americans took to the streets to demonstrate for a sustainable environment. This eye-opening day revealed the support that Americans had for the environment and led to the creation of not only the US Environmental Protection Agency, but key legislation that still exists today, like the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts. It was not until 1990 that Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries to put the environment on the world’s agenda. Earth Day 2000 marked another impressive demonstration when 5,000 environmental groups around the world reached out to millions of people in 184 countries to focus on global warming and clean energy. What You Can Do - Make Earth Day 2009 a meatless day. The meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gases that are accelerating climate change worldwide, far more than transportation. Going meatless for just one day can make an impact on the world. To read more about the energy impact of eating meat, check out Dr. Lawrence’s most recent article in The Huffington Post.
- Follow Grist’s advice and “ignore Earth Day” because it’s not about one day, it’s about living green all year round. Grist is one of the most recognizable voices in environmental journalism. Register for a free Grist account today and you will receive a free download for Grist’s book entitled Wake Up and Smell the Planet.
- Take a trip (preferably a walk) to the nearest theater to see Earth, a movie narrated by James Earl Jones and directed by Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield that tells the story of three animal families and their amazing journey across the planet.
- Watch The Ballad of Thoreau a play that reflects a conversation between Thoreau and Emerson set during the final days before Thoreau left his cabin. The play will be broadcasted nationwide.
- Simplify your cleaning routine by tossing out toxic sprays and scrubs and sticking to more basic and less expensive supplies like white vinegar, castile soap, baking soda, and water. Many cleaners can be contributors to indoor air pollution and health problems. Check out the video for more information on how to make your own cleaning products.
- Make the “No Coal Call” to your member of Congress in order to keep coal out of any agreement.
- Make sure you (and your friends) avoid bottled water. Plastic water bottles require three times the water for production than the amount of water that the bottle holds. Additionally, plastic bottle production requires 17 million barrels of oil and releases 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide. (Watch a video about water production)
- Visit the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Environmental Stewardship Committee’s website to learn more about reducing your carbon footprint.
- Check out the Baltimore Green Living Guide for year-round tips on transportation, recycling, clean energy options, energy conservation, composting, farmers' markets and farms, organic/local grocery stores and restaurants, camping, canoeing, and cycling. The Baltimore Green Living Guide is produced by the Bloomberg School's Environmental Health Sciences Student Organization, the Center for a Livable Future and the Environmental Stewardship Committee.
- Learn about unhealthy school food and what you can do to make sure your child eats healthy in school.
- Cut down your electricity bills by unplugging your appliances. 75% of the energy used by our home appliances is drawn while we think they are “off.”
- Recycle your e-waste. For those in the Baltimore community, Towson’s Immaculate Conception parish will be holding a drive.
- Turn your car off while idling. Idling for less than 60 seconds is worse than turning your car’s engine off.
- Participate in one of Baltimore’s Earth Day events going on all month,from an urban gardening party to book-signing events.
- Get out your shovel and prepare for Arbor Day 2009 on April 24. Arbor Day is a nationally celebrated observance that encourages tree-planning and care.
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