Give Thanks to the Earth This
Earth Day, April 22nd
April 19, 2005 — By EcoMall.com
WOODSTOCK, NY — "The fate of the living planet is the most important
issue facing mankind". - Gaylord Nelson (founder of Earth Day)
April 22nd marks the 35th anniversary of Earth Day. Earth Day offers a great
opportunity for us, the human caretakers of this beautiful planet, to appreciate
and celebrate our connection with the Earth. There are many meaningful ways you
can commemorate Earth Day and make it your own special event. The environmental
website EcoMall.com (www.ecomall.com)
offers the following ideas:
- Spend quality time in a natural environment: Visit a park or garden, ride
your bike, meditate outside, take a nature walk, or go on a spontaneous
adventure through the woods. Make an effort to consciously connect with and
experience the beauty of the Earth: watch the sunrise or sunset, lean down
to smell a flower, hug a tree, lie down on the soft grass and watch the
clouds as they pass in the sky. Enjoy and contemplate the living nature
around you: observe the birds and all the wildlife that also call the Earth
home. Feel your interconnection and realize the Earth is a living thing.
- Enjoy the benefits of plant life: Buy a plant or start a garden. Plants
help clean the air, are visual expressions of nature's beauty, and uplift
the soul and spirit.
- Do earth and nature-inspired art: Dance barefoot outside, write a poem or
song about the earth, paint or draw a landscape or flower. Use earth
materials for a small sculpture or have your kids create an art project out
of a tactile collection of nature's offerings such as moss, berries,
feathers, twigs, rocks, and leaves.
- Take action: Earth Day is a wake-up call to enlighten and energize
environmentally-aware citizens to get involved. Now is the time to even take
a small step - bring your own mug to work for coffee or your own bags to the
supermarket, take pleasure in recycling your plastic water bottles and
bundling up the newspapers for the recycling bin. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
You can become a part of the larger efforts to heal and protect our
environment by becoming a member of a local, national or global
environmental organization of your choice, getting involved in your own
community, or participating in a neighborhood clean-up.
- Think green, shop green to help protect the Earth: Vote for the
environment with your consumer dollars and make wiser and healthier choices
for you and your family by buying natural, environmentally-friendly
products: buy an organic version of one of your favorite food items, try a
natural cleaner, support recycled paper products, buy a compact fluorescent
light bulb. Consider buying a hybrid for your next car purchase. To find
links to earth-friendly companies offering everything from organic and hemp
clothing, recycled products, natural body care, toys and crafts, energy
efficient products, organic food and more, visit the EcoMall web site (www.ecomall.com).
- Be concerned and give thanks: Take the time to recognize our powerful
influence on the health of Mother Earth and understand that it is a critical
time where our efforts can contribute to increasing the health of the
oceans, the healing of the ozone layer, the strengthening of all the
intricate ecosystems, decreasing pollution of our air, water and food,
creating safer zones for all species, and sustaining and protecting the
Earth's natural resources. Always remember that humanity's health is
interconnected with that of the Earth. Find your own way to contribute to
the healing of the Earth. Even sitting for three minutes and feeling the
gratitude of being alive on such a beautiful planet, and sending your heart
full of gratitude back to Mother Earth, will surely begin the process of
strengthening and nourishing her.
Let Earth Day inspire you and help you realize you CAN do your part to show your
appreciation and love for the Earth, by acting locally and thinking globally -
every day.
"Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the people of the earth. Man did not
weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it." - Chief Seattle
EcoMall.com (www.ecomall.com) is one of
leading environmental portals of earth-friendly companies and resources. 2005
marks the EcoMall.com's 11th year on the Internet.