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April 18, 2008
EARTH DAY BIRTHDAY: One Billion Guests Expected
By Meryl Ann Butler
Earth Day is "thirty-something", and the whole world is invited! On April 22, 1970, 20 million people across America celebrated the first Earth Day in a flurry of coast-to-coast grassroots events often credited with launching the modern American environmental movement.
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Earth Day is “thirty-something,” and the whole world is invited!
On April 22, 1970, 20 million people across America celebrated the first Earth Day in a flurry of coast-to-coast grassroots events often credited with launching the modern American environmental movement.
1970:[1] It was the year of the introduction of the AMC Gremlin and the Ford Pinto, of Apollo 13, and of increased plane hijackings, notably in Japan, Europe and New York. And it was the year that Ohio National Guardsmen killed four college students at Kent State University.
The Grateful Dead played at the Fillmore East, music icons Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin both died at age 27, and the Beatles’ Long and Winding Road was their last number one song. It was also the year of the meltdown of fuel rods in the Savannah River nuclear plant near Aiken, South Carolina, an incident that went unacknowledged for 18 years.[2]
The ‘60s had brought a flowering of personal identity, a sense of self-empowerment, and the idea that individuals could indeed, effect change. Nearly 100,000 war protestors peacefully demonstrated at the White House, and finally, the Viet Nam war began to wind down. Heralded by the rock musical, Hair,[3] the Aquarian Age had begun.
Earth Day Beginnings
What started as a day of national environmental recognition has evolved through the combined efforts of the U.S. government, grassroots organizations, and individuals, into a worldwide celebration honoring the Earth.
At a conference in Seattle Washington, in September, 1969, U. S. Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-WI) announced that in the spring of 1970, there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration for the environment.
Senator Nelson (1916-2005) had been an early voice rejecting the suggestion that economic development should take precedence over environmental protection, stating that, “The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment, not the other way around.”[4] When the former senator was awarded the Medal of Freedom in 1995, President Clinton said, “As the father of Earth Day, (Nelson) is the grandfather of all that grew out of that event: the Environmental Protection Act, the Clean Air Act, (and) the Safe Drinking Water Act.”[5]
In order to prepare for the event he had announced, Senator Nelson hired a youthful Denis Hayes[6] to coordinate coast-to-coast events for the first Earth Day. Later, Time magazine would select Hayes as one of its "Heroes of the Planet," and Look magazine would name him one of the 100 most influential Americans of the 20th Century. Today, Hayes is Honorary Chair of the Earth Day Network.[7]
American Heritage Magazine[8] called the first Earth Day, “one of the most remarkable happenings in the history of democracy …”
Senator Nelson said, "(The concept) was a gamble, but it worked,” and Earth Day thrust environmental issues squarely into the national agenda.
Thousands of colleges and universities participated, rallies were held throughout the nation, and Congress was shut down so members could speak at local events. A new, ecology flag was designed and flown.[9] Folksinger, Pete Seeger, was a keynote speaker and performer at the event held in Washington, D.C. Movie stars, Paul Newman and McGraw made headlines when they attended the event held in New York City.[10]
The outcry from the heart of America was heard, and heeded. Just a couple of months later, in July, 1970, President Nixon submitted the Environmental Protection Agency[11] plan to Congress; and the new agency came into being on December 2, 1970.
Earth Day 2008
This year’s international Earth Day boasts events from Barcelona to Buenos Aires, from Tokyo to Caracas to Durban. In the U.S., the flagship event is on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with others in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Denver and San Francisco. One billion participants are expected this year.[12] Events are scheduled throughout the month of April, and are listed on these sites:
http://ww2.earthday.net/all_events for a list of Earth Day events.
http://earthday.envirolink.org/calendar.html compiles a comprehensive list of Earth Day events occurring in 2008, regardless of size, geographic location or organizational affiliation.
But, if you don’t happen to be in Buenos Aries, New York, or Tokyo, or if you want to celebrate more than one day a year, what can you do?
Here are a few choices:
Save Big Money on Household Cleaners and Help the Planet at the Same Time
Pollutants, found in many common cleaners and even air fresheners, are 2 to 5 times higher inside your home than outside of it, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. And a person who spends 15 minutes cleaning scale off shower walls could inhale three times the "acute one-hour exposure limit" set by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment for glycol ether-containing products.[13] All of these toxic exposures can eventually be measured in health-related expenses for humans and their planet.
Shaklee’s Basic H organic household cleaner, an Official Earth Day product, was America’s first, nontoxic, fully biodegradable household cleaner. The Shaklee Corporation has completely offset its CO2 emissions, resulting in a net zero impact on the environment, and was the first in the world to be certified as a climate neutral company by The Climate Neutral Network. In addition, the Shaklee Corporation partnered with 2004 Nobel Peace laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai, in planting over 320,000 trees, to date.
In 2007, the Shaklee Corporation added another "first" to its list of environmental achievements, when it became the first consumer products company to offset 100 percent of its U.S. CO2 emissions, through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Climate Leaders program. Shaklee buys 100 percent green or renewable power to meet its purchased electricity needs.
Bill Wehrum, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s office of Air and Radiation said, “EPA applauds Shaklee for its environmental efforts through our Climate Leaders and Green Power Partnership programs. By committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and purchase renewable energy, they are leading by example.”[14]
I like a company like that, and Oprah does, too. She recommends their ecologically sound Get Clean Kit of household cleaners,[15] which she has featured five times on her show. Shaklee products have also been featured in Time Magazine,[16] Woman’s Day,[17] O at Home, [18] Better Homes and Gardens, [19] Family Circle,[20] Natural Health,[21] and others.
I figured that Oprah and all those magazines couldn’t be wrong, so I got myself a Get Clean Kit to try for about $150.[22] The Shaklee Corporation says this kit takes the place of over $3,400[23] worth of the ready-to-use, supermarket variety cleaners we are all familiar with! That’s not a typo. Three thousand, four hundred dollars. Wow! This is partly due to the fact that, when buying ready-to-use, supermarket cleaners, consumers are paying for the high content of water in the product to be both packaged and shipped.
Replacing the standard household fare with the Get Clean Kit of highly concentrated products keeps 108 pounds of packaging waste from entering the landfill, and it also eliminates 248 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. What a win-win solution: easy on the pocketbook, effective products (lots of national brands are out-cleaned by Get Clean Products),[24] and what a gift for the planet. And the products actually work: I was even successful with using the Basic H2 product to remove an old bloodstain from fabric!
[25]
Choose a Culinary Strategy that Supports Personal and Planetary Health
Gail Davis Rhamy, author of So Now What Do I Eat? The Complete Guide to Vegetarian Convenience Foods and Vegetarian Food for Thought, and the gastronomic mastermind behind Vegan Culinary Creations,[26] teaches both restaurants and individuals how to "green their cuisine."
Gail notes that a 2006 report, released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), concluded that animal farming presents a major threat to the environment, with such deep and wide-ranging impacts that it should rank as a leading focus for environmental policy. The report calls the livestock sector a major player in affecting climate change through greenhouse-gas production, and found that the industry generates an estimated 18 percent of total human-induced, greenhouse-gas emissions, globally.
If you currently eat meat, Gail points out that by giving up just one hamburger, you will save: 55 square feet of rainforest, 12 pounds of grain, and 2,500 gallons of water. In terms of the amount of CO2 released, producing just one pound of hamburger creates more than 165 pounds of CO2—that is more than what is produced by driving your car for three weeks!
A recent report in Restaurant Business underscores the fact that more and more people are seeking to eat in a way that responds to their concerns for issues of global warming, deforestation, air and water pollution, and the overall impact their food choices have on the planet.
"Clearly," says Gail, "giving up meat is the single greatest step anyone can take to reduce their own carbon footprint. And it inspires me to know that people are cutting back on their meat consumption as they learn more about the relationships between what they eat, their health, and the well-being of the planet."
[27]
Gail emphasizes that the choice to eat more plant-based foods is not about deprivation. "Nothing could be further from the truth!" She explains, "Green cuisine is a celebration of color, taste, and texture. And knowing you are eating in harmony with Mother Earth makes the food taste better, too!"
So, whether you are already a full-time vegetarian or you are just beginning to explore green cuisine, you'll enjoy Gail's delicious recipes for Sassy Baked Barbecue Tempeh and Enticing Enchiladas, at the end of this article. What a great way to celebrate Earth Day, any day of the year!
Take a Hint from the Girls in Green
I talked to Christy Porterfield, a Girl Scout[28] leader in Newport, VA, about green activities with her scouts. The rural farming community she lives in is already naturally environmentally conservative. And, Christy is a Human Resources Manager at nearby Virginia Tech, a university that is active in promoting recycling, green living, and integrating environmental topics into their curriculum. (VT offers a unique Green Engineering Program,[29] an innovative Earth Sustainability Program,[30] and sponsors Sustainability Week and a Sustainable Home and Transportation Fair.)
The Girl Scouts have several ecologically-themed badges. For their 2008 Earth Day project, Christy’s troop of ten girls, ages 10 – 12, will be cleaning up an area of their local creek, and promoting energy saving light bulbs in the Girl Scouts pilot ITSCOOL promotion of Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs.[31] The troop has recently gotten involved in quilting, too. So far this year, these girls have made and donated 15 quilts to Project Linus,[32] with more on the way. Project Linus is a non-profit group that provides love, and a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need, through the gifts of new, handmade blankets.
Christy’s scouts were very excited when they recently discovered Fairfield’s Bamboo Batting,[33] an ecologically sound, sustainable product, which they now plan to use in their upcoming quilts. The unusually soft quilt batting is 50% organic cotton, and 50% bamboo. (It is made from a different type of bamboo than the variety that Pandas depend on for food.)
According to the Fairfield Processing company, bamboo is Earth’s fastest growing timber plant, it requires no fertilizers, and it can grow 47 inches in 24 hours! And it regenerates: when one stalk is cut, two grow back in its place. Bamboo absorbs 2/3 more carbon dioxide and releases 2/3 more oxygen than any other plant. And, the bamboo plant is used for watershed protection and soil remediation, reducing runoff and sustaining riverbanks. It also helps to mitigate water pollution due to its high nitrogen consumption!
So when these scouts choose bamboo batting for their community service quilts, they are contributing to the wellness of the planet, utilizing natural fibers to enhance overall health, supplying a beautiful quilt to a needy child, and fulfilling criteria for their scout badges, all at once. What a great “win-win” example they are setting for their elders!
Whether you are involved in chores, crafts, or culinary delights, the creativity of green options continues to beckon. As we answer the call, we can pat ourselves on the back, because since that first Earth Day, “We’ve come a long way, baby!”
It’s fun and easy to celebrate Earth Day’s birthday, everyday. Additional activities and info, as well as Gail’s recipes, are listed below.
Practical tips for greening your lifestyle:
Score yourself on the nature conservancy’s carbon footprint calculator:
http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/
Vehicles that run on sunshine:
http://www.sierraclub.org/wecandoit/home/electric_cars.asp
Solar projects that cost less than $1000, including a solar iPod charger for $44:
www.sierraclub.org/wecandoit/home/solar.asp
Build an energy efficient dome home:
http://static.monolithic.com/plan-design/renewable/index.html
Save on gas and reduce pollution with a clean fuel microchip:
Get fun, environmental widgets:
The EPA’s Environmental Tips Widget automatically shows a new tip each day. Get one here: www.epa.gov/earthday/widgets/index.htm Get a perpetual Earthday Countdown Widget at www.epa.gov/widgets/daystoearthday.htm
Go to http://www.widgetbox.com/tag/environmental for a choice of 33 environmental widgets.
TWO FAVORITE EARTH DAY RECIPES FROM VEGAN CULINARY CREATIONS:
Sassy Baked Barbecue Tempeh*
1 cup sweet potato cut into 1 inch cubes
1 cup white potato cut into 1 inch cubes
1 red onion, cut into quarters
2 - 8 oz. packages multigrain tempeh, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. tamari
2 cups BBQ sauce
Lightly oil (or spray with oil) a large baking dish (9x13-inch or larger). Place the sliced onions and peppers in the prepared pan. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes to slightly roast the vegetables. Remove the pan from the oven, transfer the vegetables to a plate, and set aside. Place the tempeh into the same baking pan. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and tamari. Pour the tamari mixture over the tempeh. Bake the tempeh at 375° for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, stir the tempeh, and return the pan to the oven. Bake the tempeh an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the tempeh is lightly browned and the liquid is absorbed. Remove the pan from the oven. Add the reserved vegetables along with BBQ sauce, and toss gently to combine. Return the pan to the oven, bake an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly. Serve as a main dish or side dish or open-faced on a toasted whole-grain bun.
Serves 2-4
*Tempeh is a high-protein soy food of Indonesian origin. Unlike tofu, it is firm and chewy and has a nutty flavor.
Enticing Enchiladas
1/2 package frozen corn
1/2 package frozen peas
1 stalk broccoli chopped fine
4 med. carrots chopped fine
1/2 container Tofutti non-hydrogenated cream cheese alternative
1 package IMEarthKind cheddar-style vegan cheese
1 can vegetarian refried beans
1 can enchilada sauce
1 small package corn tortillas
Preheat oven to 350°. Grate cheddar cheese and set aside. Heat carrots, frozen corn and peas in a pan. Add broccoli when carrots are lightly cooked. Turn off heat after broccoli is lightly cooked and mix in cream cheese. Heat a tortilla in a small pan over medium heat until soft and pliable. Remove from pan, move to a plate, and spread 1 tablespoon of refried beans over lower 1/4 section of tortilla. Add 1 tablespoon of veggie mixture on top of beans. Roll tortilla. Continue filling tortillas with remaining ingredients. Pour a thin layer of enchilada sauce in bottom of baking pan. Add rolled tortillas. Sprinkle grated cheese on top and ladle remaining sauce over tortillas. Cover pan with tin foil and make several cuts in foil to allow steam to escape. Bake for 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serves 6.
[4] Nelson, Gaylord (November 2002). Beyond Earth Day: Fulfilling the Promise. Wisconsin Press.
[7] The National Audubon Society included Hayes in its list of the 100 Environmental Heroes of the 20th Century. He is also the President & CEO of the Bullitt Foundation, a $100 million environmental foundation located in Seattle. An environmental lawyer by training, Hayes has published more than 100 articles, books, and papers on energy and the environment.
[8] American Heritage Magazine, October 1993.
[9] The well-known Ecology Flag was created by cartoonist Ron Cobb. The flag was patterned after the flag of the United States, and had thirteen stripes alternating green and white. Its canton was green with a yellow Theta. It originally had a symbol that was a combination of the letters "E" and "O" taken from the words "Environment" and "Organism", respectively. 16-year-old high school student, Betsy Vogel (now, Boze), an environmental advocate and social activist, stitched a 4 x 6 foot copy of the ecology flag to commemorate the first Earth Day. Initially denied permission to fly the flag at C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, Vogel sought and received authorization from the Louisiana Legislature and Louisiana Governor John McKeithen in time to display the flag for Earth Day.
[11] See EPA’s Earth Day Timeline: http://www.epa.gov/earthday/history.htm
[12] http://ww2.earthday.net/ Founded by the organizers of the first April 22 Earth Day in 1970
[13] News-Medical.Net; University of California at Berkeley
[15] Putting the Green into Clean, by Amanda Bower, Time, Nov. 19, 2007. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1685676,00.html?iid=chix-sphere “Oprah Winfrey, showcased a number of environmentally friendly products on her Earth Day show. She waved toward the other products, saying ‘You know, I haven't tried those products. But I have tried this [the Get Clean dishwasher powder]. I use this now ... I love the packaging.’ Winfrey then raved about Shaklee's Basic H2, an improved, more concentrated version of the cleaner that Forrest Shaklee introduced in 1960. ‘It's amazing,’ she said. ‘You can clean the windows. You can clean the counters. You can clean the floors. You can clean the dishes. You can clean everything ... Love it. Love that H2." See Oprah video at http://myopinion.ireporter.tv/category/oprah-winfrey-show.htm On Oprah's 11/5 show all about "Staying Young," Oprah and health consultant Dr. Mehmet Oz enthusiastically discuss the benefits of the non-toxic, biodegradable Basic H2 and other Shaklee Get Clean products!
[16] The Winter 2007 issue of TIME Style and Design features a three-page article on the Shaklee Corporation, Chairman & CEO Roger Barnett, his wife Sloan Barnett’s Real Dirt on Clean parties, and the entire Get Clean line.
[17] Woman’s Day magazine featured the Get Clean Starter Kit in a giveaway in its Christmas 2007 issue.
[18] Shaklee Get Clean™ Fresh Laundry Concentrate and Shaklee Get Clean™ Soft Fabric Fragrance Free Dryer Sheets were featured in O at Home’s Fall 2007 makeover of a two-bedroom apartment.
[19] Shaklee's Get Clean products were featured in "Stocking Up On The Green", in the August 2007 issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine.
[20] Family Circle, April 18, 2007, mentions Shaklee Get Clean Automatic Concentrate as an earth-friendly idea in the home that makes a big impact
[21]Natural Health, March 2007, magazine reviews eco-friendly laundry products and features Get Clean Soft Fabric fragrance-free dryer sheets.
[22] Shaklee products are not available in stores, only from independent Shaklee dealers. I live in LA, so I got my Get Clean Kit from the Shaklee Products Store at 3701 Cahuenga Boulevard in Studio City, CA. They ship anywhere. Toll free: 1-800-530-3305. Locally, call (818) 752-2185. Or email: maryanton@earthlink.net You can purchase products at retail prices, or sign up to get member prices.
[23] According to the Shaklee Corporation: Based on number of uses per label directions of ready-to-use cleaners. For example, when mixed with water, one bottle of highly concentrated Get Clean Basic H2 makes 5,824 bottles of window cleaner, each one equivalent to a 28 oz. bottle of Windex. Do the math!
[24] For example, Get Clean Basic H2 has been tested to have equivalent cleaning performance, non-streaking and filming, as compared to Windex Glass Cleaner with Ammonia-D. And Basic H2 has no harsh fumes, it’s non-toxic, and costs a fraction of the price of Windex. The Get Clean Dish Wash Concentrate [24] has been tested as being 85% more effective than Ecover Dishwashing Liquid, 17% more effective than Palmolive, 72% more effective than Method Dish Soap, 98% more effective than Seventh Generation Dishwashing Liquid, and 102% more effective than Whole Foods 365 Dishwashing Liquid, on grease-cutting. www.ShakleeGetClean.com
[25] Carl Warner is a London-based photographer who creates amazing landscape images from food. He begins with a drawing of the scene, and photographs the scene in layers to avoid wilting, combining the various elements in post production. Prints are available of his work. www.carlwarner.com
[26] Vegan Culinary Creations, Eugene, OR. (541) 688-8809 vegiegail@gmail.com Ask about the free phone consultation.
[27] Carl Warner is a London-based photographer who creates amazing landscape images from food. He begins with a drawing of the scene, and photographs the scene in layers to avoid wilting, combining the various elements in post production. Prints are available of his work. www.carlwarner.com
[31] www.gsvsc.org/itscool/
[32] Project Linus www.projectlinus.org is a 501(c)3 organization. An estimated 50,000 volunteer "blanketeers" in 400 chapters have donated over 2 million lovingly sewn, quilted and crocheted blankets since the inception of the project in 1995.
[33] www.poly-fil.com Fairfield processes their bamboo into luxurious fiber using pollution-free methods with little waste & without losing the bamboo fiber’s natural antibacterial properties. As a batting, it gives quilts & clothing a breathability that is toasty in colder climates & comfortably cool in warm climates. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Fairfield’s Bamboo Batting is used to support environmental and ecological initiatives.
Authors Website: http://www.OceanViewArts.com
Authors Bio:
Meryl Ann Butler is an artist, author, educator and OpedNews Managing Editor who has been actively engaged in utilizing the arts as stepping-stones toward joy-filled wellbeing since she was a hippie. She began writing for OpEdNews in Feb, 2004. She became a Senior Editor in August 2012 and Managing Editor in January, 2013. In June, 2015, the combined views on her articles, diaries and quick link contributions topped one million. She was particularly happy that her article about Bree Newsome removing the Confederate flag was the one that put her past the million mark.
Her art in a wide variety of media can be seen on her YouTube video, "Visionary Artist Meryl Ann Butler on Creativity and Joy" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcGs2r_66QE
A NYC native, her response to 9-11 was to pen an invitation to healing through creativity, entitled, "90-Minute Quilts: 15+ Projects You Can Stitch in an Afternoon" (Krause 2006), which is a bestseller in the craft field. The sequel, MORE 90-Minute Quilts: 20+ Quick and Easy Projects With Triangles and Squares was released in April, 2011. Her popular video, How to Stitch a Quilt in 90 Minutes with Meryl Ann Butler can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrShGOQaJQ8
She has been active in a number of international, arts-related projects as a citizen diplomat, and was arts advisor to Baltimore's CIUSSR (Center for Improving US-Soviet Relations), 1987-89. She made two trips to the former USSR in 1987 and 1988 to speak to artists, craftpeople and fashion designers on the topic of utilizing the arts as a tool for global wellbeing. She created the historical "First US-Soviet Children's Peace Quilt Exchange Project" in 1987-88, which was the first time a reciprocal quilt was given to the US from the former USSR.
Her artwork is in collections across the globe.
Meryl Ann is a founding member of The Labyrinth Society and has been building labyrinths since 1992. She publishes an annual article about the topic on OpEdNews on World Labyrinth Day, the first Saturday in May.
OpEdNews Senior Editor Joan Brunwasser interviewed Meryl Ann in "Beyond Surviving: How to Thrive in Challenging Times" at https://www.opednews.com/articles/Beyond-Surviving--How-to-by-Joan-Brunwasser-Anxiety_Appreciation_Coronavirus_Creativity-200318-988.html
Find out more about Meryl Ann's artistic life in "OEN Managing Ed, Meryl Ann Butler, Featured on the Other Side of the Byline" at https://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/OEN-Managing-Ed-Meryl-Ann-in-Life_Arts-Artistic_Artists_Quilt-170917-615.html
On Feb 11, 2017, Senior Editor Joan Brunwasser interviewed Meryl Ann in Pink Power: Sister March, Norfolk, VA at http://www.opednews.com/articles/Pink-Power-Sister-March--by-Joan-Brunwasser-Pussy-Hats-170212-681.html
"Creativity and Healing: The Work of Meryl Ann Butler" by Burl Hall is at
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Creativity-and-Healing--T-by-Burl-Hall-130414-18.html
Burl and Merry Hall interviewed Meryl Ann on their BlogTalk radio show, "Envision This," at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/envision-this/2013/04/11/meryl-ann-butler-art-as-a-medicine-for-the-soul
Archived articles www.opednews.com/author/author1820.html
Older archived articles, from before May 2005 are here.