Our Green World

Happy Earth Day!  With spring at our doorstep, there is no better time of year to stop and honor our beautiful earth.  As communities and schools begin to plan their festivities for April 22nd, I decided to do a little research as to how this global day of celebration came to be.  According to former Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day’s founder, the idea evolved over a period of several years starting in 1962.  Senator Nelson as well as many concerned Americans were troubled over the state of the environment and were amazed that it was simply a non-issue in the politics of our country at that time.  In 1963, Senator Nelson counseled President Kennedy to go on a conservation tour across America.  The eleven-state tour had moderate success but according to Senator Nelson, “it was the germ of the idea that ultimately flowered into Earth Day.”  In late 1969, he decided to organize a grassroots demonstration over what was happening to our environment.  He designated April 22, 1970 as “Earth Day” and invited everyone across the country to participate.  “The wire services carried the story from coast to coast and the response was electric.”  Twenty million people all over the country turned out to support the environment on that fateful day and thus Earth Day was born.

This amazing story of what began as one person’s concern for our earth grew into something so much bigger.  The potential to shape our world at the grassroots level is not only doable but I think a necessity.  Yes, sometimes it does just take one person to plant the seeds of change.

In my community, the seeds of change are happening even in my own back yard.  Every year at my daughters’ school, several parents put together environmentally friendly activities for the kids to celebrate this special day.  We have poster contests, reading activities and recycling awareness programs.  Last year, I volunteered to read to my daughter’s 5th grade class.  I watched their wide-eyed faces as I read, soaking up information about the environment like tiny sponges.  These children are our future. 

I wonder what they will do with their seeds?

In honor of Our Green World, this month’s cover features John Batdorf, Executive Director of Upland Hills Ecological Awareness Center.  We support the UHEAC and John’s efforts to help Michigan become a leader in “sustainability.”  And to further support Michigan’s renewal, check out our new page, Positively Michigan, where we highlight positive aspects of our great state.  Oh, and don’t forget to mark your calendars for the UHEAC’s 4th Annual Earth Day Expo on the streets of downtown Rochester, April 18th-19th.  We’ll be there, so come by our booth and say hello – We hope to see you!

Linda Hasley
Managing Editor