Celebrate Earth Day today
Erin McCarthy
Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: Opinion
Today is Earth Day!
Just 39 years ago, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson founded this inspiring holiday as an environmental teach-in. It all came about in a time when rivers were catching on fire, overpopulation was becoming a greater concern and cities were being smothered by smog.
According to www.earthday.gov, nearly 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day, marking the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Colleges and universities nationwide organized rallies and protests to bring a plethora of environmental concerns into a new light.
Fast forward to today, and Earth Day is celebrated all over the globe to spread awareness and appreciation for a healthy, sustainable environment. The Earth Day Network (www.earthday.net) now exists to connect more than a half billion people around the globe in coordinating millions of community development and environmental protection activities.
For those members of the Western Illinois University community who do not have the time or energy to devote themselves to worldwide networks of Earth Day activism, it's OK. This is why I'm here.
I've put together a list of ways in which anyone can observe Earth Day, ranging from the simplest task to the most involved celebration. However you choose to spend your Earth Day, please, do not forget why it exists.
Ditch the car keys.
If you are more prone to driving to campus, take the day off. Just for the day, give yourself a little extra time to get to class, put on a comfortable pair of sneakers, and walk. It has been proven that active transportation (walking, bicycling) is beneficial to air quality, better for health and easier on the wallet than driving a vehicle. It's also nice to know that it produces no carbon emissions. And if you really enjoy riding your bike, participate in Critical Mass this Friday. Cyclists of all levels will meet at 5:30 at the fountain in Chandler Park for a leisurely ride.
Take one for the team.
Just 39 years ago, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson founded this inspiring holiday as an environmental teach-in. It all came about in a time when rivers were catching on fire, overpopulation was becoming a greater concern and cities were being smothered by smog.
According to www.earthday.gov, nearly 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day, marking the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Colleges and universities nationwide organized rallies and protests to bring a plethora of environmental concerns into a new light.
Fast forward to today, and Earth Day is celebrated all over the globe to spread awareness and appreciation for a healthy, sustainable environment. The Earth Day Network (www.earthday.net) now exists to connect more than a half billion people around the globe in coordinating millions of community development and environmental protection activities.
For those members of the Western Illinois University community who do not have the time or energy to devote themselves to worldwide networks of Earth Day activism, it's OK. This is why I'm here.
I've put together a list of ways in which anyone can observe Earth Day, ranging from the simplest task to the most involved celebration. However you choose to spend your Earth Day, please, do not forget why it exists.
Ditch the car keys.
If you are more prone to driving to campus, take the day off. Just for the day, give yourself a little extra time to get to class, put on a comfortable pair of sneakers, and walk. It has been proven that active transportation (walking, bicycling) is beneficial to air quality, better for health and easier on the wallet than driving a vehicle. It's also nice to know that it produces no carbon emissions. And if you really enjoy riding your bike, participate in Critical Mass this Friday. Cyclists of all levels will meet at 5:30 at the fountain in Chandler Park for a leisurely ride.
Take one for the team.
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