Does Earth Day Matter?

huddlstn

In my blog, I posted about this article I found on Treehugger today, and I thought it would spark a good discussion here.  Do you think that Earth Day really matters?  Here's the link:

http://www.treehugger.com/galleries/2010/04/environmentalists-answer-does-earth-day-matter.php

Jen&Joe06

Well I think it does matter because it raises awareness of our current state, the impact people are having and solutions to make change. BUT I think that it is just a day. In the grand scheme of things if people don't continue to live green the rest of the year then does one day really have that big of an impact?

Alisha_A

I wasn't really sure about this...I mean, its just one day, for something that should be every day. But then I thought about things like the UPS carbon-offset option, which I didn't even know about and now do -- and I am a greenie and work in an industry based on shipping, that uses UPS!! And then look at all topics up for discussion just on MM - peak oil, the beef industry...

So yes, I think Earth Day does matter.

daisygirl17

I try really hard to be an optimist, and I really do believe that even the slightest thing makes a difference....if Earth Day can raise awareness to just ONE person, then it's worth it...and yes it does matter. My whole purpose of my blog is to inspire others to try out living green...and even if I just make a difference to one person, then I'll be happy Yes, we need to implement green living 365 days a year, but it has to start somewhere...and so many people just don't KNOW the facts.

CDMay2006

Unfortunately i don't have time to read the article now, but...

It matters and has mattered for all 40 years it has been around.  The celebration (and, to a degree, uproar) associated with the first Earth Day incided Pres. NIXON to begin efforts toward regulating and reducing industrial pollutants, and resulted in the formation of the EPA (which, regardless of how one may look upon it presently, has done major things in the past).

Individually, earth day is a day when individuals can take a step from interest toward knowledge and action without feeling judged/dumb/etc., which is a concern for everyone everytime they step outside their comfort zone (especially in the midst of experts and even more so in the heavily value-based and often judgement-laden arena of environmentally sound living).  It is also a time when communities can gain momentum for more earthy friendly efforts every day.

CutesBoots

It matters because it's my birthday. 

In all seriousness, I remember it being my first real introduction to environmentalism as a kid.  I'm not sure my family even recycled anything until I learned about reduce-reuse-recycle by watching an earth day video.

Alisha_A

Happy birthday Cutes!!!

Dang, FB is really letting me down on telling me about bdays!! I hope you do something fun and have a great day!

SuperGreen

Yes I think it matters.  It brings awareness to the entire environmental movement, and brings all sorts of people together to fight for the environment in ways a normal day doesn't do.

Even if people only do something green for ONE DAY, worldwide that still has a huge impact.  Just from my action, and the action of the people with me alone, a local park is free of trash; a habitat was restored with over 40 trees, shrubs, and invasive plants were removed; and a large group of people in my subdivision ate local food at new restaurant in town, who had a special Earth Day menu on top of their regular organic local meats and produce.  Think of how many species the habitat restoration saved, or how much pollution those local meals prevented.  Now multiple that times all the people doing similar things for Earth Day worldwide.  It's a huge impact.  Think of the percentage of those people who felt so good being outside planting trees (like I did) that they started doing more green things in their everyday life.  That's an even bigger impact.