Reflections began as I started my 74th orbit around the sun.
On April 22, 2014, I sketched out the outline of an Earth Day Blog I was developing. The links and videos are worth revisiting even today.
Revisit Carl Sagan’s classic “Pale Blue Dot”
1) Earth Day concerns should be a unifying every-day concern.
2) We must do more than merely virtually explore the wonders of our precious planet.
3) Preserving, savoring, celebrating, protecting, and nurturing Mother Earth should be a super-ordinate, cross-national, unifying effort of international concern.
5) Things haven’t changed much or the better since five years ago!:
And, a few “thoughts” from ChatGPT:
Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22nd, is a day when people around the world come together to reflect on the importance of environmental protection and sustainability. The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, and since then it has grown to become a global event with millions of participants and activities focused on creating awareness and promoting actions to protect our planet.
The history of Earth Day dates back to the 1960s when environmental awareness was still in its infancy. A major oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, in 1969 was a tipping point for many people, sparking protests and demands for stronger environmental protections. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin recognized the need for a national day of action and proposed Earth Day as a way to unite people around the issue of environmental protection. The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, drew millions of Americans to rallies, speeches, and community events, making it the largest public demonstration in U.S. history at the time.
Since then, Earth Day has continued to grow in significance and impact. Governments and organizations around the world have used the occasion to launch new initiatives and policies to address environmental challenges. The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, for example, led to the creation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which has since become the main international forum for addressing global climate change.
Despite the progress that has been made since the first Earth Day, significant challenges remain. Climate change, pollution, and loss of biodiversity continue to threaten our planet and its inhabitants. The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) highlighted the urgent need for action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and for countries to work together to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
To address these challenges, it is essential that individuals, organizations, and governments work together to promote sustainable practices and reduce our environmental footprint. This can involve everything from reducing our use of single-use plastics to supporting policies that promote renewable energy and conservation efforts.
In conclusion, Earth Day is a time to reflect on the progress that has been made in protecting our planet and to renew our commitment to creating a sustainable future. While there is much work to be done, the growing awareness and global commitment to environmental protection offer reasons for hope. By working together, we can build a brighter, cleaner, and more sustainable future for ourselves and for generations to come.
