Earth Day 2026

 

It's Earth Day.  What have you done for our planet?

Now in its 56th year, what are we doing to promote conservation, and encourage action against pollution, deforestation, and climate change?

While we've made several strides forward since its inception in 1970, it seems, at least to me, that in recent years, we've been going backwards.  There is too much focus on the now and not on the future.  

Why should we care?  Why should I care?  After all I'm reaching old age and who cares what happens after I am gone.

Well, I care.  I care about the consequences that my actions (and the actions of others) will have on the planet that my son and his friends will live on long after I am going.  I care about their children and their children's child....And yes, I'm being a sap here.

As (supposed) intelligent human beings, we don't seem to take the care of earth very seriously.  Or at least some do not as we drill and fight for more oil.  (And I say this as a person who uses oil to heat her home...so I admit to being a bit hypocritical here.)  Wind power and sun power are seemingly discouraged.  WHY?  (You don't have to answer that.) 

Not to get too religious (uh oh...you know that I'm going to start quoting the Bible here), but :  "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."  (Genesis 2:15) ‘Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.  Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the Lord, dwell among the Israelites.’ (Numbers 35:33-34).  And that's just Old Testament.  There's always: "The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small— and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” (Revelation 11:  18...what I consider the scariest and most confusing book of all.)  (Please note that I have purposely "bolded" phrases that speak clearly to me.)  Clearly, we are instructed by God to care for the planet and we're not doing the best that we could.  (I don't want to be part of that group who are destroyed because they destroyed the earth.  I mean, I don't know if I qualify for "the Good Place" or not, but I surely don't want to end up in "the Bad Place."  Those of you who are concerned with Heaven and Hell should take note and act accordingly.)

Whether you believe in any of the above or not, it IS important to care for our world and not just for "our own world." I believe we were created to care for each other and for the world that sustains us.  So that is what I TRY to do.  

Am I perfect?  Hardly.  I've already admitted that I heat my home with oil.  (Although I do keep researching solar option.)  I drive a car that is fueled by gas. (Although I try to be purposeful in my driving...to not just drive for the heck of it but to do so wisely, which is also economic for me. I also use public transportation when I can; not just for the planet but also for my purse.)  I purchase items that come in plastic containers.  (Although if I can find an alternative I will.  Plastic is EVERYWHERE.  I long for the days of glass jars and bottles and when I do find them I use them instead.)

The one thing that we can all do is relatively simple.  THINK.  Before doing or buying, THINK.  Make informed decisions.  THINK about the planet and what we each can do to nourish and nurture it.  THINK.  Don't just do.  THINK and then act with wisdom.

This is OUR planet.  Each and every one of us needs air to breath and water to drink.  If we want clean air and fresh water, we need to think and act with wisdom.  We need to CARE for this earth and for each other.  Because if we don't...