I was taught
from early childhood not to waste, to make good use of my resources, and to not
just flippantly discard refuse. Not realizing until years later these early
principles would influence me in ways that now resemble earth friendly
practices. As a result, I now appreciate events that help raise awareness
of the state of this home called earth. I know we are purposed to be good
stewards of what we have been entrusted.
The
first Earth Day was the result of ongoing discussion for several years prior to
actually declaring an Earth Day. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin is
accredited for the first Earth Day held in 1970. The event was planned on
a Wednesday, which happened to be April 22. They wanted a day where most
people would be at work, so it would be more impactful. The current estimate
is that nearly 20 million people participated on this first day, walking out of
their offices into the streets. They gathered in parks, streets, and
auditoriums to demonstrate a need for our country to address environmental
issues. The unique rarity of this event was how the protestors encompassed
every facet of America. This group included democrats, republicans, rich,
poor, city residents, and farmers uniting on this one issue. Most likely,
in response to this surprisingly enormous turnout, the Environmental Protection
Agency was created in 1970. Earth Day has continued to be observed every year
since. Being born in America, Earth Day is now celebrated in over 257
countries - it is now a worldwide event with an estimated one billion people
participating.
Saying
all that brings me to the point I would like to share. Tanya Underwood, Special
Events Coordinator for the City of Lumberton, and I are planning an Earth Day
Celebration, “Bein’ Green in 2016.” The date for the celebration has been
set for Saturday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The location has been
selected but not yet confirmed. Check the Cooperative Extension website
(robeson.ces.ncsu.edu) at a later date for a confirmed location. We plan to
focus on earth-friendly activities and offer educational booths or areas hosted
by agencies that offer good stewardship practices and ideas. There will be
something for all ages, from the young to the young at heart.
There
are endless ways we can each incorporate small changes in our daily lives that
will have a positive influence on the world around us. We can turn the light
off when we leave the room. Even better, we can transition to replacing our
bulbs with LED (light emitting diode) or CFL (compact fluorescent lights) bulbs
that use a fraction of the energy. What if we take the stairs instead of
an elevator? We can walk or ride a bike on a short trip instead of
driving everywhere. Is it possible to turn the water off while you brush
your teeth? The water we remove from an underground aquifer will be
years, if not decades, before it can be recharged into the aquifer. I hope you
plan to join us, but if you can’t, please consider taking a green pledge in
2016 to adopt environmentally sustainable practices that will make our world a
little “greener.”
For
more information, please contact Mack Johnson, Extension Horticultural Agent
with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center, at
910-671-3276 or by E-mail at mack_johnson@ncsu.edu. North Carolina State
University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to
positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed,
national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all
persons without regard to sexual orientation.
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