Another reason living in McLean was cool was that we adjoined Washington DC. We were a small town, with a small town feel and comfort, and yet, nearly on top of the city that is home to the head of the free world.
Perhaps these juxtapositions went unnoticed in 1970, but maybe that's because we participated. So "NIMBY" became "RIMBY," Right In My Back Yard. And, for a number of us that was true. I probably lived as close to DC as I did to downtown McLean, which I think was 3 miles.
On April 22, 1970 I think we planted trees and some went to the rally in DC, and we talked about ecology, and had great dreams of a clean future.
Created by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, Earth Day was a (shall I really say it...) grass roots organization. After living through big, polluting cars and combustible rivers (Cuyahoga River caught fire 10 times in the 1960s), we thought it was time to take action. So high schools, elementary schools, mothers, and others began making changes. Main Street, USA became involved. There were rallies, speakers, and small groups nationwide that realized and told us that we needed to reevaluate our relationship with Mother Earth.
Conservation was the topic of conversation - save the trees!!!
"Conserve Water, Shower with a Friend!"
The first Earth Day, April 22, 1970, came in my Senior year at Langley HS in McLean. And although I was too shy to participate in many school activities, I did go to DC.
In the decade that followed people began trying to take action. By the end of 1970 the EPA was created. The Clean Air Act had modifications. The Superfund was established to clean us toxic waste. The 20 million people who participated in 1970 just got the ball rolling. According to the Earth Day Network, More than 1 BILLION people world-wide will be involved in some way with Earth Day 2009. (The Earth Day Network is located at 1616 P St. NW, Washington DC.)
We now have Green Products of all kinds, Green Homes, Green Schools and a Green Network on TV. Even your grandmother talks about Global Warming and Sustainability.
I am not going to make this controversial and discuss the pros and cons of who's doing or not doing what. I just want to Remember that Day in 1970 and know that it changed the way I live.
I am lucky to live in another wonderful community where Green is really important to almost everyone, and a frequent topic of conversation in relation to construction of homes and schools, water runoff, and preservation of local creeks. Reusable shopping bags are commonplace in grocery stores. And one of the latest projects is planting Sequoias in Blacksburg. It has been proven that they will live here and there are some up for adoption to be relocated to proper environments and cared for by local residents.
We all know that we're just custodians of the earth, we should do a good job and leave it better than when we arrived.
Happy Earth Day!!!
Do something good for the earth.
Do something good for yourself!!
1 comment:
I watched Oprah for earth day as i was home on vacation and wished i could be doing something good. I do think about waste all the time. I recycle plastic water bottles at work. And think of everyone's kids all the time. My husband has a large garden so that is good. I plant trees and flowers and am a member of the Arbor Day Foundation. I guess that would make me a tree hugger. I would love a sequoia on my 17 acres of woods. Oprah was very informative for someone who had totally forgotten about earth day. Thanks for your memories. I wish we could all go back to the easy days, it probably wouldnt be as hard as we think. I also do not buy bottled water or drink sodas. I fill my own plastic glass every a.m. with ice and water to drink throughout the day and reuse the cup. Easy and no cost. Let's all do that.
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