I’m late to the party for Earth Day. It snuck up on me last Sunday, and I didn’t have much of a celebration planned. Here’s a fun fact: actor and activist Eddie Albert co-founded Earth Day. Every year, it’s on his birthday, April 22. His son, Edward, once laughed that Earth Day was kind of a family inside joke. Having a holiday on Eddie’s birthday made up for their irritated neighbors; unlike most of the chic Pacific Palisades residents, he was constantly digging up the front yard to plant crops.
If you’re looking to be a little more green in your yard this year, try the Fiskars reel mower. It’s working well for me, and it’s how I solved my lawn problem.
If your kind of celebration is a little more passive, try an eco friendly vacation. Some of these destinations sounded really cool.
I’ll close with the 10 Voluntary Initiatives list from Ted Turner. These ideas sound pretty reasonable to me. Enjoy!
- I promise to have love and respect for the planet earth and living things thereon, especially my fellow species – humankind.
- I promise to treat all persons everywhere with dignity, respect, and friendliness.
- I promise to have no more than two children, or no more than my nation suggests.
- I promise to use my best efforts to save what is left of our natural world in its untouched state and to restore damaged or destroyed areas, where practical.
- I pledge to use as little non-renewable resources as possible.
- I pledge to use as little toxic chemicals, pesticides, and other poisons as possible, and to work for their reduction by others.
- I promise to contribute to those less fortunate than myself, to help them become self-sufficient and enjoy the benefits of a decent life, including clean air and water, adequate food and health care, housing, education, and individual rights.
- I reject the use of force, in particular military force, and back United Nations arbitration of international disputes.
- I support the total elimination of all nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons of mass destruction.
- I support the United Nations and its efforts to collectively improve the conditions of the planet.
