Why Celebrate Earth Day?
Sally Van Vleck
The first Earth Day in 1970 is regarded as the beginning of the environmental movement. Congress closed for the day so that legislators could participate in teach-ins and clean-ups. In a symbolic act, a student group buried a car. Millions of people participated in one way or another. Legislation such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act were longer term outcomes of the first Earth Day. Twenty years later, in1990, Earth Day was resurrected, and people around the world have been honoring April 22nd each year since then.
Locally, Earth Day has become an annual celebration marked by the All Species Parade followed by a rally with speakers, entertainment and informational tables. After 10 years in downtown Traverse City, this year we are moving the gathering to the Shielding Tree Nature Center to be in a more natural setting and to bring attention to Shielding Tree's new home in the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore.
What's the big deal about Earth Day anyway? Why go to all the trouble of planning such an event?
The most obvious answer is that Earth Day serves to raise awareness about the many environmental issues that need our attention. From needed legislative initiatives to demanding that responsible parties clean up toxic waste sites, Earth Day is used to rally support and encourage collective action.
Earth Day is also a chance to highlight past environmental successes. It's important to recognize the progress we have made in improving the environment. It is also a time to gather as a community to celebrate the diversity of life. We need to remember what it is we are trying to save. Locally, and in other cities, the All Species Parade is a fun and creative reminder that we share this planet with many other beings. This year, in addition to an All Species Processional around the farm at Shielding Tree we will conduct a Council of All Beings. This is a ceremony which offers us a chance to speak from the perspective of another species about the condition of the Earth.
I feel that the most important reason to celebrate Earth Day is to use this day as a public demonstration of concern for the environment. Whether we clean up a beach or a wetland, whether we dress up as another species, or gather to listen to speakers and music, by showing up we are demonstrating our interest and concern for the condition of the planet. On a Saturday in April when leaves need to be raked, screens put on windows, and cars washed, and all the other demands of our busy lives, we put all that aside and we say, with our presence at the Earth Day Celebration, "This is the most important thing that I could do today."
See you there.
http://www.nrec.org/eday2000