Everyday is Earth Day, Especially Today
Posted on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
So, today is Earth Day. That means more neighborhood clean-ups, more discussions, more lectures, more films, more free canvas bags at the grocery store, more articles. Than usual.
Here in Jackson, we do a ton, but sometimes none. My friends and I write postcards on the back of cereal boxes because we can’t recycle them here. But, we still drive 20 minutes up to Teton Pass to ski and 20 minutes back to our hot showers. We still heat our homes with baseboard heaters and fly back and forth to the east coast for multiple family visits a year. We still buy Organic salad mix in nonrecyclable plastic containers and mix it with avocados shipped in from Mexico.
But we also treasure the Tetons and our healthy mountain life. We switch all lightbulbs to CFs in our homes, we carpool, we bring our own bags and mugs. And we support the people in our community that have dedicated their lives to creating a better world.
People like Dane Buk of Terrafirma Organics, who is bringing composting to the valley. And Kit DesLauriers’ Pursue Balance that is sponsoring Earth Week and the 10×10 initiative. And Jonathan Schechter’s 1% for the Tetons.
And many more.
We’re trying. We cart the things we can recycle to the tireless workers of Jackson Hole Community Recycling. We do care, and we are working. Slowly, steadily.
So, for this Earth Day, I’ve compiled some sites, some activities, some Interesting Tid Bits. Let’s continue to make everyday Earth Day by changing our lifestyle, or even just tweaking it a tiny bit. My personal pledge is going to be to only eat organic meat. And to eat meat only half the time. Yes, it’s a small step. No, I’m not committing to a vegetarian lifestyle. But, as Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh said, even if meat eaters committed to eating meat for 15 days a month instead of 30, they will not only feel better, but they will contribute 50% less to their carbon footprint.
For today, munch on these Tid Bits:
President Obama’s Earth Day Address and read about his ambitious climate agenda.
Local events, compiled by JHUndeground.com.
Turning Earth Day Into Every Day.
Greenerschnitzels: Funny Way to Talk About Serious Stuff.
Rick Bass: We Need Earth Day More Than Ever.
Earth Day Meh: Losing Earth Day in the Eco-Babble.
Go see Disney’s new film Earth today!
Bill McKibben’s Waste Not Want Not.
