Eco-Friendly Can Be Eco-Crazy
By ARYN CORLEY
What kind of gift am I supposed to give to someone for Earth Day?I suppose that a small glob of plutonium would be terribly inappropriate. Maybe a more acceptable gift would be one that is not only environmentally friendly, but would not leave any long-term detrimental effects.
Cow dung comes to mind.
Gaylord Nelson, a US senator from Wisconsin, created Earth Day to address the concern of global overpopulation and the detrimental effect that it can have on the environment. The environment, like everything else, gets really messed up when you start adding more people to it. Like every great idea that came out of the 60’s, it gave folk singers more material.
While I’m neither an opponent of responsible environmentalism nor an opponent of well-reasoned conservation of our natural resources, there are aspects of the Earth Day phenomenon/craze, which makes me turn a little “green.”
During the week of April 22, every year, we get treated to a media blitz of “green” public service announcements, news, and shows with an environmental spin. I refuse to believe that Matt Lauer going “commando” on the Today show is somehow saving the environment. Whether it kills baby seals or not, deodorant made from chemicals is usually always a good thing.
Madison Avenue is even getting in on the craze. Product logos and wrappers are green along with the money that goes into the pockets of companies touting themselves as “Earth safe.” Consumers will pay extra for something if they feel like their money is being used for a worthy cause. Frankly, I don’t care for “green” toilet paper.
I like white, thank you very much.
So if being the most environmentally conscientious earthling only lasts for 24 hours, what happens during the remaining 8,736 hours of the year (non-Leap)? It’s during this large hunk of time that people love to dump their trash in the national forest or dump motor oil and unused appliances into local creeks. Responsible stewardship of our natural resources should be every day. However, I suppose that if we had Earth Year we’d come up with an Apathy Day to break up the monotony.
Finally, there is much debate about the existence of global warming. Some arguments claim that it is an actual phenomenon while others think it’s the environmentalists pushing forward their agenda. The thought of being able to wear shorts in the dead of winter in Minnesota is actually appealing to me. If polar bears can live in the Texas heat, then why can’t the rest of the globe?
Not everything organic is good for the earth or the people on it. Sunlight is heralded as a wonderful source of alternative energy, plus it gives George Hamilton spooky caramel luster. It also gives us the pleasure of fighting skin cancer if we don’t use sunscreen. By the way, sunscreen is topical and not oral. Rub it on yourself, but not on your bagel.
To really make an environmental impact, we have to make a yearlong commitment for a lifetime. Not just for one day. Use a broom instead of a leaf blower, or skip to work instead of driving.
I guess the best gift for Earth Day that anyone can give is a willingness to look past the hype and to do what he or she can within reasonable limits.
Celebrate Earth Day the best way you know how.
I think I’m going to give a cow a nice big plate of beans.
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