Our opinion

The sun in shining, the birds are singing. Spring is upon us and what better time is there to show appreciation for our planet than by participating in Earth Day?
Earth Day was born in the 1960s as the brainchild of frustrated United States Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. Nelson had tried, unsuccessfully, to campaign for the environment when, in 1969, he decided to hold a Vietnam-esque teach-in protest for the environment.
"It took off like gangbusters," Nelson said before his death in 2005. "Telegrams, letters and telephone inquiries poured in from all across the county. The American people finally had a forum to express [their] concern about what was happening to the land, rivers, lakes and air and they did so with spectacular exuberance."
Nelson, along with activist Denis Hayes, held the teach-in April 22, 1970 with 20 million participants. Shortly thereafter, the United States Environmental Protection Agency was born and politicians started taking notice of environmental issues.
Since 1970, Earth Day has grown by leaps and bounds. According to the Earth Day Network, in 1990, Earth Day went global with 200 million people in 141 countries participating. The event helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. In 2000, the internet helped to link activists around the world with 5,000 environmental groups and hundreds of millions of people in 184 countries participating. Then in 2007, one billion people participated all over the world.
This year will be no different. It is estimated that over 100,000 people attended an Earth Day celebrated held Saturday on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The event, sponsored by the Earth Day Network and the Green Apple Network, was just one of several similar events held in cities throughout the country plus events are being held in countries all over the globe. Earth Day is the only event celebrated around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities.
There are also many simple things which one can do at home to participate in Earth Day. Simple things like carpooling and walking instead of driving save gas and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests saving energy, conserving water and reducing, reusing and recycling.
To save energy, they suggest turning off appliances and lights when leaving the room and cutting back on heating and cooling. To conserve water, they suggest turning off the faucet while brushing teeth, taking short showers instead of baths, use the dishwasher only when full and repairing leaks. To reduce, they suggest only buying what you need and buying permanent items instead of disposables, like utensils, cups and plates. To reuse, they suggest repairing items when possible, using durable coffee mugs instead of disposable cups and donating extras to people you know or to charity. They also suggest recycling everything possible by placing it in the proper receptacle at a recycling center.
So in the spirit of Earth Day, turn off the faucet, walk to work, recycle, plant a tree or use your mug at Sheetz instead of grabbing a Styrofoam cup for your coffee. The Earth offers us so much, why not give back?
For more information on Earth Day and ways to participate, visit the Earth Day Network at earthday.net or http://www.epa.gov/epahome/home.htm.