Earth Day is April 22 – and 2012 will be the 42nd year we have celebrated Planet Earth. Each Earth Day we remember everything Mother Earth has given us, how thankful we are, and how committed we must remain to keep our environment clean and inviting.
The national theme this year is “Mobilize the Earth.” According to the website www.earthday.org , this year events will be hosted at the National Mall in Washington, D.C… The website says: “People of all nationalities and backgrounds will voice their appreciation for the planet and demand its protection. Together we will stand united for a sustainable future and call upon individuals, organizations, and governments to do their part.”
Participation this year is expected to top the one billion mark. A large part of that will take place on the National Mall, which has been called “monumental green space at the heart of civic America.” The park property is two miles south of the White House. Its boundaries are the U.S. Capitol Building on the east, the Lincoln Memorial and the Potomac River to the west and south. The National Mall is home to the Smithsonian Institute and other museums, as well as the country’s most famous memorials and monuments.
In the Midwest, we are blessed to enjoy beautiful park systems and natural settings where wildlife — both flora and fauna – can be seen and appreciated. From city parks that offer some green space in urban areas, to the large national forests that are home to wild animals, these open spaces are testimony to what Earth Day is really all about.
Flower-children and hippies may have taken the first real steps in the advancement of environmental causes awakened by author Rachel Carson whose epic work “Silent Spring” was first published in 1962. The first Earth Day celebration was marked April 22, 1970 – and has been hailed as the birth of the modern environmental movement. According to Earthday.org , “Earth Day 1970 capitalized on the emerging consciousness, channeling the energy of the anti-war protest movement and putting environmental concerns front and center.” U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin founded Earth Day and chaired the first event, with the assistance of his co-chair, Congressman Pete McCloskey. They recruited Denis Hayes as the national coordinator. The website states “Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city slickers and farmers, tycoons and labor leaders. The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts.”
This year, the goal is One Billion Acts of Green. It’s not too late, all of us, including YOU, can still be part of it. Whether you add recycling to your routine, or help reach the goal of one million new trees planted. Whatever you do, it’s all about sustainability… and Home Energy LLC can help you achieve your goals with renewable energy from solar electric, solar thermal, and wind power systems. For more information, email us through our contact page, or call us at 574-825-4600 for a free solar energy consultation.
