It's bEARTHday

Today is Earth Day the world over, but in my world it's bEARTHday.  I hope you've at least heard of Earth Day, because it's an environmental movement, first celebrated 50 years ago today.  Although every day should be Earth Day, this is the day we celebrate and show our respect for the earth. It's the day we call attention to all the "R" words like recycle, recover, rethink, re-invent, repurpose, remake, redesign, reuse, reclaim, and recraft, while we reduce waste going to our landfills and recycle centers.


In case you don't live in one of more than 192 countries that celebrate Earth Day, here is a reminder of what Earth Day is all about.

Back in 1969, while America was in the throes of the Vietnam War, which some may remember, a group of anti-war movement students got together, and decided, with the help of then Senator Gaylord Nelson (June 4, 1916 – July 3, 2005), to have an environmental teach-in.  Before the event, the name was changed to Earth Day and was first held on April 22, 1970.   It was decided at that time to hold the event every year on April 22.

The time seemed right to Nelson, because of the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill and the deterioration of the environment in general.  

Santa Barbara oil spill as reported by NBC News.

After all, many groups had already been fighting against oil spills, toxic waste and sewage, polluting power plants and factories, pesticides, a growing ozone, air pollution, massive freeways, timber cuts beyond control, loss of wildlife, and a shrinking wilderness.  It was time to bring all those groups together, since there always seems to be safety in numbers.  And the numbers were there, too, since many web sites claim over 20 million people in the United States celebrated the first Earth Day.

After that, it didn't take the United States Congress long to create the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), pass the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, and several laws to protect wilderness areas.  According to Earth Day Org:

These laws have protected millions of men, women and children from disease and death and have protected hundreds of species from extinction.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) was created within three years after Nelson’s April 22, 1970 Earth Day celebration.   (Image from AP Environmental Science)

Fast forward to 1990.  That was the first day Earth Day went global.  Also according to Earth Day Org:

This time, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. Earth Day 1990 gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It also prompted President Bill Clinton to award Senator Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest honor given to civilians in the United States — for his role as Earth Day founder.

For Earth Day 2000, the power of the internet was used to persuade people from all nations to understand and recognize global warming and to promote ways to produce clean energy.

Earth Day 2010 saw a genuine shift in attitudes.  Further, according to Earth Day Org:

As in 1970, Earth Day 2010 came at a time of great challenge for the environmental community to combat the cynicism of climate change deniers, well-funded oil lobbyists, reticent politicians, a disinterested public, and a divided environmental community with the collective power of global environmental activism.

It was time to ignore the platitudes and nay-sayers.  It was time to once again engage the public and get people interested in the environment again. It was time to do something about climate change.

Fast forward to 2020.  Although we are all stuck in our own homes, Earth Day 2020 must be far more than a day.  It's amazing how the air is cleaner, the earth beneath our feet (the seismic shift) is settling less, and our rivers are getting cleaner.  However, that is ONLY because of the lock down most of us are experiencing.  Once we go back to our new normal, will this all be for naught?

Although I don't like to publicly rail against the president, the leader of our country, there are certain things I absolutely cannot sit still for.  Here is what he has done to our country in the way of environmental concerns over the past three years.

After 47 plus years of clean water, clean air, limited off-shore drilling, protected wildlife areas, protected forests, and reduced toxic substances, the Trump administration has effectively removed or greatly reduced the protections that have been in place all these years.  In fact, Trump and his administration have made eliminating federal regulations a priority.  In case you are interested in learning more about these numbers, please go here or here to learn the complete analysis and information about the rollbacks.  If Senator Nelson were alive, he would be appalled.

EDIT:  I just found this tonight on the internet.  I think it's timely.

Some people aren't taking it lying down, though.  For example automakers who were given wide latitudes on emissions are fighting back, saying they prefer the lower emission rates instead of being allowed more latitude on emissions.

Let me just say, I am not now, nor have I ever been a tree huger, although I've been known to put my arms around a tree or two in my lifetime.  You won't catch me wearing Birkenstock.  Nor will I join PETA.  However, I will do my part to keep my little corner of the world clean, while attempting to lower and eventually eliminate my global carbon footprint.

Today is also a good time to reflect on my own love of, and respect for, the environment.   I've been known to stand up for my parks, the two rivers that define my neighborhood, and the fact that I try to use what I buy, rather than tossing it in the trash or recycle bin.  The fact that I was born on this great day we celebrate our Earth, and that people call me "Dr. E, Queen of Free," adds to my resolve.

Do I have you motivated yet?  Are you watching from the sidelines, or actively taking part in climate change and doing your part for the environment?  Are you turning off lights when you leave the room?  Are you turning off the water when you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds (and every time you brush your teeth)?  If so, it's definitely time to party and you are invited to mine!!

Today is my bEARTHday party.  There are hats,

cake, and balloons.  I'll even be taking a few photos

The words I wrote are a disaster.   Not just because I hate my handwriting,

but because I used a green metallic gel pen that definitely didn't show the sentiment: It's bEARTHday.

At least the globe, a clear cling stamp, which was gifted me by Valerie, who is also our host this month at Art Journal Journey is a Geometric Shape.  I'm sure she'll find several more Geometric Shapes, too. 

Everyone is having a good time.

I suspect this represents a birthday in the 1950s.  I didn't check the caption before I cut the cover photos from a gifted Reminisce Magazine, but it looks like pictures I've seen from that era.

Some of the globes stamped better than others.

It appears the father was not having as much fun as the two mothers seemed to be having.

There was lots of laughter and mischief by a few of the boys.

 
Wasn't this a fun party.  The first party I remember having was in the early 1980s, but I had as much fun as these children did, too.

For Day 22 of 22 that I created in my Stress Free altered book, I started this two page spread by laying down a sheet of recycled tissue paper that came as part of a gift sent to me last month by Jeanie.  While it was drying, I cut the images from a recent Reminisce Magazine my friend Sally saved for me instead of sending it to a charity shop like she does most of her magazines.  I then taped the images behind five security envelopes.  I didn't account for the fact these images would be extremely difficult to photograph.  Once the envelopes were cut to size, I stamped the globe on four of the five envelopes.  I then added the balloons and the washi tape (camera and happy day).  Next, I stamped three globes on the tissue paper, which was harder than I originally realized.  Finally, I wrote the words you can't read using a green metallic gel pen.

Thank you for joining me during these 22 days of recycling.  I am grateful for your visits and your thoughtful comments.  I'm also thrilled so many of you visited daily.  I hope I have given you a few ideas of items you can recycle that don't cost a lot of money in the end.  Today I recycled a partial sheet of tissue paper, five security envelopes, and images from a gifted magazine.  Not recycled were the inks I used to stamp the globe, three balloon stickers, and two washi tapes.

I hope you will also join us at Art Journal Journey with your own art inspired by Geometric Shapes