Earth Day is coming upon us. Do you know what that means? April 22 marks the day we get to focus on the environment, learn more about conservation, be out in nature, and promote a healthy, sustainable environment.
Earth Day started on April 22, 1970 when a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and Earth Day founder, Gaylord Nelson witnessed devastation caused by the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Senator Nelson and his co-chair, Congressman Pete McCloskey recruited Denis Hayes from Harvard to coordinate a national staff of 85 who promoted events across the United States.
On the first Earth Day, 20 million Americans rallied together to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment and protest against the deterioration of the environment. This became the start of the environmental movement and led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts.Â
In 1990, Denis Hayes organized an Earth Day that went global with 200 million people in 141 countries taking part and addressing environmental issues.
Earth Day is now a celebration of the environment and an opportunity to raise awareness on conservation and sustainability on all forefronts of environmental topics such as water, energy, air and wildlife. This year’s Earth Day theme is plastic pollution.
We all know plastics have been a blessing and a curse. They are durable, low cost and easily shaped. They show up consistently in our daily lives and can range from, a candy wrapper to a computer monitor. Plastics are all around us.
But with their permanent characteristics, single-use plastics have become increasingly in the spotlight for being litter on our beaches, creeks, streams, landfills and landscapes. Single-use plastics that we use in our daily lives, such as plastic cups and bottles, bags and straws have become some of the biggest polluters and have been found to injure and poison marine life.
Although plastics seem like a mammoth polluter, there are things you can do in your daily life and on Earth Day to decrease single-use plastic pollution. Here are some tips:
National Skip the Straw Day was Feb. 23 but that doesn’t mean you can’t continue to take part. 500 million straws are used and discarded every day, which adds up to 175 billion straws per year in the United States alone. Say no to plastic straws at restaurants or bring your own reusable straws.
Say no to disposable plastic cutlery. These will last much longer than your take-out dinner.
Bring your own cup. Do you love your local coffee house and your morning coffee or frappe? Buy one of their reusables thermoses or bottles. Those plastic lids and cups will last much longer than your day use.
Save money and carry a reusable water bottle.
Buy local; when buying local, less packaging is used to get your goods to you.
Carry your own shopping bag. Whether you are in the grocery store or the mall, use your own shopping bag to cut down on your waste.
Participate in a clean-up. There are many beach, creek, and park cleanups that occur every week, month, and year.
Recycle when you can — Waste management agencies are increasing the types of trash that can be recycled. Check with your local agency to see what you can recycle.
Take part. This year there are many events occurring in Sonoma and Mendocino County. See below to find events in your community.
Earth Day Bike Path Cleanup (April 22) with Sonoma County Regional Parks and Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition www.bikesonoma.org.
Noyo Food Forest — April 21, 2018 from 12 to 5 p.m. in Fort Bragg: A benefit for the learning garden at Fort Bragg High School Campus noyofoodforest.org/earth-day/.
Earth Day on Stage — April 21, 2018 from 12 to 4 p.m. in Santa Rosa: free family-friendly event with live performances, local and earth friendly products and eco-friendly crafts and activities for kids. www.sonomacounty.com/sonoma-events/santa-rosa-earth-day-festival
Windsor Earth Day and Wellness Festival — April 22, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Windsor: Bike to the Town Green for live music, wellness and environmentally-focused booths, famer’s market, children crafts, and more.
