Earth Day is in April Why not celebrate it every day?

In 1970, a man named John McConnell, who lived in the United States, started the first Earth Day. It was originally held on the day of the annual celebration of the March Equinox.  Today some people still celebrate Earth Day on this day.  The first Earth Day featured environmental “teach-ins,” which were peaceful demonstrations designed to educate the public and bring an understanding of the planet’s peril to people all over America.  By the1990s, 200 million people worldwide took part in Earth Day celebrations and activities. Each community or group making Earth Day plans that are created around their communities needs and organizations. Today, Earth Day is usually celebrated on April 22, and Earth day is now always celebrated worldwide. Earth Day is a very special day designed for all of us to think about our Mother Earth and Earth issues. It is a special day that the whole world participates in! Often there are celebrations, events or campaigns that have to do with us and Earth matters.

Some towns have Earth Day celebrations, and some people and groups participate in Earth Day projects. Earth Day began as a day that linked environmentalists who previously worked as individual groups.  These groups consist of opponents of deforestation, the extinction of animals, pollution, oil spills, the devastation of the Rain Forest, and more. Earth Day found them in an enormous extended family with collected resources and volunteer power. I remember that, Mary Key a family friend and member of the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club in Dutchess County in Poughkeepsie, New York, gave me the first ever made Earth Day pin back button. I still have it in my treasure box. Today we hear and see the phrases: “go green,” “eco-friendly,” and “environmentally conscious.”  It is hoped that people worldwide will see the need to participate in reducing pollution to help save the environment. Many things done in the past without thought to future generations are damaging the air we breathe and clean water that all life needs to survive. There is a great book you can read called “The Green Book”, by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen.

Everyone can learn ways to begin to live a healthy and green lifestyle. The following are some suggestions: (1). You can switch from paper and plastic bags to using reusable bags and totes when you shop. Here is a great site showing how to make things from tote bags to used plastic bags: http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2007/08/plastic_bag_crafts.html (2). You can recycle junk mail, plastic bags, paper products, cans, glass, cell phones, and more. (3). You can save water by shortening your shower time - or take a bath, which uses less water. You can get into the habit of brushing your teeth without having to have the water running. (4). When the weather allows, dry your clothes outside on a clothesline - they will smell really good, and the sun can help whiten your whites. (5) Switch to online paperless banking statements to reduce paper usage. (6) Try your hand at composting your fruit and veggie scraps, and coffee grinds. The result will create a mixture that will enhance the soil and there will be less landfill waste. (7) Keep one set of dishes at the office, which should include a cup, utensils, a bowl, and a plate. This will help you to refrain from using disposable cups, plates, and utensils. (8) Save old clothing to use for dusting and cleaning. If you look online there are even ways to turn old clothing into rugs. Here is a Website that will show you how to braid rugs from rags: http://www.supereco.com/how-to/how-to-make-a-braided-rag-rug/  - and here is another link to show you how to crochet a rug from rags: http://www.ehow.com/how_4819254_rag-rug-easy-way.html (9). Unplug all of the appliances you can when you leave the house. This will save energy and prevent fire. (10). If you can, walk rather than drive short distances. This is great for your health, too. (11). Shop more at stores selling used items or at yard sales. Rather than throw things away, donate to these places or to schools who can especially use unwanted craft items. (12). Rent movies and borrow books rather than purchasing them new. (13) Buy products, when available, that are made from recycled materials. (14). Try to buy items that use less packaging materials. (15). Buy groceries in bulk - it will save on the number of trips you have to make, and it will save on the packaging. (16). Purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and less canned, frozen or jarred items. (17). Purchase organic foods they do not contain harmful pesticides and other harmful chemicals. (18) Use cloth diapers rather than disposable ones. They add to landfill waste, and the cloth ones are healthier next to your baby’s delicate skin. (19) buy and use soy or beeswax candles, instead of paraffin candles. (20) Use healthy and environmentally friendly cosmetics, like mineral-based cosmetics and natural bath products. No matter what you decide to do to pamper the planet this Earth Day, aim to learn things that you can integrate into your every day lifestyle. A small collection of simple acts adds up to a large change for the planet.

You can participate in projects, or start one of your own. Perhaps a small project with your mom or dad such as planting a tree, or have a family craft evening or day with your family using recyclable items, or try a larger project with your classroom or neighborhood friends such as a roadside clean up, or even cleaning up an elders grounds. The possibilities are endless. Try to think of something you would like to do because everyone can make a difference! Many cities extend the Earth Day celebration to be an entire week, which usually starts on April 16th and ends on Earth Day, April 22nd.  I think we, as our Creator instructed, should do things to help Mother Earth every single day (365 days a year)! Why not celebrate it every day? If everyone does just a tiny little part, it will make such a big difference. Encourage your family to recycle on a regular basis. It is a good way to help the Earth! Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs in your house to help reduce the effects of global warming. Did you know that every glass bottle recycled saves enough energy to run a TV for an hour and a half, and recycling an aluminum can saves enough energy to run your TV for three hours! You could also get into the habit of turning off the lights when you leave a room. You can even create or use re-useable containers for your school or work day lunches and snacks.

Earth Day proved popular in the United States and around the world. The first Earth Day had participants and celebrants in two thousand colleges and universities, roughly ten thousand primary and secondary schools, and hundreds of communities across the United States. It brought 20 million Americans out into the spring sunshine for peaceful demonstrations in favor of environmental reform. Earth Day “worked” because of the spontaneous response at grassroots levels. Twenty million demonstrators and thousands of schools and local communities participated.  Congress passed many important laws in the wake of the 1970 Earth Day, which included the clean air act, and it began the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Earth Day is now observed in 175 countries, and the nonprofit Earth Day Network is its coordinator. According to spokes people from this organization, Earth Day is now “the largest secular holiday in the world. It is celebrated by more than a half billion people every year. Environmental groups have sought to make Earth Day into a day of action to hopefully change human behavior and provoke policy changes. April 22nd is also the birthday of Julius Sterling Morton, the founder of Arbor Day, a national tree-planting holiday started in 1872.  Arbor Day became a legal holiday in Nebraska in 1885. In Nebraska it was designated to be permanently observed on April 22nd every year. According to the National Arbor Day Foundation “the most common day for the state observances is the last Friday in April, but a number of state Arbor Days are at other times to coincide with the best tree planting weather. Arbor Day has since been largely shadowed over by the more widely observed Earth Day, except in Nebraska, where it originated. April 21st was the birthday of John Muir who founded the Sierra Club. Organizers of Earth Day wrongly thought John Muir’s birthday was on the 22nd, but when they found out it was not, they were at least happy it is in the same week.

According to Flags of the World, the Ecology Flag was created by cartoonist Ron Cobb, and was published for the first time in October 25, 1969. The flag was patterned after the flag of the United States, and had thirteen stripes alternating green and white.  A 16-year-old high school student, Betsy Vogel, an environmental advocate and social activist that enjoyed sewing costumes and unique gifts, made a 4 x 6-foot green and white  ecology flag to commemorate the first Earth Day celebration at the, C. E. Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. The school was initially denied permission to fly the flag, but the flag’s maker, Betsy Vogel sought and received authorization from the Louisiana State Legislature and Louisiana Governor, John McKeithen in time to display the flag for Earth Day. Now that you know what Earth Day is all about, start thinking of things that you and your family can do together to help Mother Earth. The following is one way to recycle egg cartons.

My brother John and I would use empty cardboard egg cartons to make fun things. If you Google egg carton crafts, you will find many items you can create from spiders and flowers to animal noses masks. Our favorite thing to make was caterpillars. I will list the instructions for you below:

Egg Carton Caterpillar:

Young children will love painting the caterpillar, but may need help adding the antenna.

Materials that are needed:

1. Cardboard egg carton

2. Scissors

3. Non toxic paint (any color or colors you like)

4. A paint brush

5. Pipe cleaners (chenille)

6. A sharp pencil

7. Wiggly/googly eyes bought at crafts store or at Walmarts, or 2 cheerios or 2 fruit loops

8. Glue

Instructions:

1. Cut one strip of cups (6 cups) from an egg carton -- adults can do this for young children before craft time.

2. Paint the cups and let them dry.

3. Use a sharp pencil to poke two holes in the top of the first cup -- again, adults should do this step for small children.

4. From inside the cup, poke both ends of the pipe cleaner through the pencil holes (one end through each hole).

5. Wrap the ends of the pipe cleaner around the pencil or your finger then gently slide it off to make it curly.

6. Glue the wiggly eyes onto the caterpillar’s head or (you could substitute 2 cheerios or 2 fruit loops - anything that is round - even buttons or small cut out circles).

If you have enough cartons you can make a whole family of caterpillars.