Earth Day:Let’s Celebrate 

 
Today is Earth Day. Are you doing anything special today to celebrate? Is Earth Day something you can celebrate, you might wonder? I think yes! Read on for suggestions on how to celebrate and reasons you should...

First, What is Earth Day?

This year marks 50 years since Earth Day began on April 2022, 1970. Senator Nelson, of Wisconsin, was inspired by the student anti-war movement of the time and wanted to infuse the energy of student anti-war protests with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution which he had long been concerned about. He “announced the idea for a teach-in on college campuses to the national media, and persuaded Pete McCloskey, a conservation-minded Republican Congressman, to serve as his co-chair.  They recruited Denis Hayes, a young activist, to organize the campus teach-ins and they choose April 22, a weekday falling between Spring Break and Final Exams, to maximize the greatest student participation.” - the earthday.org

Why Celebrate Earth Day? What is the Cause for Celebration?

“Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, urban dwellers and farmers, business and labor leaders.”- earthday.org
That seems like something to celebrate right there! What Earth Day accomplished is even more cause for celebration!
 

• By the end of 1970, the first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of other first of their kind environmental laws, including the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act.
• Two years later Congress passed the Clean Water Act.
• A year after that, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act and soon after the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

These laws have protected millions of men, women and children from disease and death and have protected hundreds of species from extinction.

• In 1990, Earth Day went global mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage
• Earth Day 2000 had 184 environmental groups across the world sending leaders a clear message that climate change and clean energy needed to be a priority and action needed to be taken
• Today, “the social and cultural environments we saw in 1970 are rising up again today — a fresh and frustrated generation of young people are refusing to settle for platitudes, instead taking to the streets by the millions to demand a new way forward. Digital and social media are bringing these conversations, protests, strikes and mobilizations to a global audience, uniting a concerned citizenry as never before and catalyzing generations to join together to take on the greatest challenge that humankind has faced.”- earthday.org

I say Hooray!

I believe we can all recognize this incredible Earth is what provides us the air we breathe, the food we eat, the materials that shelter and clothe us regardless of your race, religion, gender, or political beliefs. You cannot deny that our planet does all of those things.

 So, How Can We Celebrate Earth Day?

Well, when we celebrate someone's birthday or a special occasion, it's usually gathering to show your gratitude for that person or the event. And, I believe we can do the same today to celebrate Earth Day. You might find an Earth Day event and participate that way. Here's a list of events you can check out.

On your own? Here are some of my suggestions:

Connect to nature in some way.

• Take a walk. Get outdoors. You can always see my beach walks on Instagram if you really can’t get outside. But get outside. Even if it’s just for a moment, just look up at the sky and breathe

Have a great meal

• I offer this suggestion to you because my favorite way to celebrate a birthday is with great food and drink, and I think today would be a great day to have a beautiful farm-to-table organic meal. Take it up a notch an go plant-based. I always look to Earthy Andy for her amazing "plants over processed" inspiration. If you want to know more about how plant-based eating is good for the planet, check out her recipe book. She has a great chapter on it.

Do Something Good for the Earth

• Plant a tree
• Buy organic
• Take public transportation instead of driving
• Use renewable resources (that means recycled products, clean energy, etc.)
• Donate to environmental/ sustainable organizations
• Educate yourself about the Earth and ways you can make decisions that better support the health of the planet. It's always better for you, too!

Mainly, I think the best way to celebrate today is to appreciate Earth and all that it provides us and to recognize that we are all connected to it and because of it. Then, do something good for it. Let that be the gift you bring to the celebration.

My perfect Earth Day celebration would be to take a long beach walk, followed by an acai bowl, while watching the Earth Day Live Stream to educate myself about environmental issues and get inspired about actions I can take a decisions I can make that are better for the Earth.
I'd end the day with some beautiful, yummy plant-based meal prepared by someone else because it's always great to have a professionally prepared meal! And, a glass of organic wine!
Today, Sea Green Designs is offering 22% off today in celebration of Earth Day. Our Spring Sale is happening now through the 24^th. Just mention Earth Day in the shop today or enter code 42222 on the website (exclusions apply) for your Earth Day discount.
Let me know how you celebrate today. There are so many ways we can show our appreciation for the Earth! I would love to start a growing list to share.
Happy Earth Day!
Shannon