The first Earth Day, the brain child of Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, was celebrated in 1970.  It’s purpose was to focus attention of what we were doing to our planet.  We were thoughtless about it back then.  It had yet to dawn on us that with our daily damage to the earth, it couldn’t sustain us forever.  Earth Day first opened our eyes to the possibility that we have an obligation to care for our planet.

Green has suddenly become the “in” word, with corporations promoting their “greeness”.  We have a public service announcement where Nancy Pelosi and New Gingrich sit side by side, in film noir style, to inform that they both agree that we need to deal with our climate. 

As oil prices increase, we recognize conservation as a fiscal necessity.  But more importantly, our water, our air, our land, have all become accepted parts of our culture.  No longer are conservationists and environmentalists ridiculed as “tree huggers” and oddballs. 

But the fact that th big picture is coming into focus, a mere 38 years after the first Earth Day, isn’t enough.  Too many neglect to do the little things that they can in their daily lives to be part of the solution.  It’s not that they aren’t concerned, and don’t support, the cause.  It’s that they can’t be bothered to recycle themselves, or find a garbage can rather than throw their trash out their car window.

Despite the cost of gasoline, many still love their SUVs with 12 miles to the gallon.  “But I need a bigger car for the kids,” they say.  The kids need air to breath too.  They still don’t connect that beautiful green lawn with the poison leaching into drinking water and the oceans.   

While it wouldn’t hurt for everyone to decide to take a giant step forward, but it’s inexcusable that so many still don’t do the minimum to help.  Recycle.  Plant a tree.  Don’t litter.  And when the Hummer comes off lease, get a hybrid.  They’re pretty good and get you to the same place just as fast.  Be part of the solution.