Earth Day 2013: shouldn't it be EVERY day?

Tomorrow, 192 countries around the world will be celebrating Earth Day, a day where we join together to debate possible solutions to global warming while promoting positive examples of community action.

The Earth Day Network will be spotlighting a recycling drive, a special NASA exhibit, as well as a rural farmer’s market. The theme of Earth Day 2013 is “the face of climate change,” said Bryan Buchanan, a spokesperson for the network. They’ll be televising inspirational stories and photos submitted online by users who want to ensure their voices and efforts are given the platform they deserve.

Global warming “has real consequences for real people,” said Buchanan. “We want to bring this massive problem down to size. It makes everyone who’s doing their little part feel connected to the bigger environmental movement.”

Amongst the photographs featured, one should expect a portfolio’s-worth of snapshots from Hurricane Sandy and the heroic relief efforts that followed. The storm, which ravaged the east coast of the United States, was simply one in a distributing new trend of “superstorms” resulting from the melting icecaps and variations in ocean currents.

Another issue expected to be addressed is deforestation. Groups such as The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management need public support to continue to defend our forests. From the Amazonian rain-forest to the Californian redwoods, trees absorb carbon dioxide out of our atmosphere. Carbon levels are already out of control. Cutting down more trees will only escalate the rate of global warming. Not to mention, protecting our forests means protecting the ecosystems on which we rely. The wildlife. The water. All aspects of life are interconnected, and it’s up to us to shepherd the network.

Unfortunately, due to the global economic crisis, governments are beginning to sacrifice the environment in order to stimulate job creation and consumer spending. The state of Oregon, for example, was once lush with beautiful prehistoric forests. Today, thanks to over-logging and inadequate re-planting, the land is dying – both physically and fiscally.

Local communities, even the government, should take it upon themselves to create stable streams of revenue that do not require stripping the Earth of its natural resources. I think we can all agree – a livable planet is equally important, if not more so, than one’s livelihood.

So tomorrow, consider it your responsibility to do the research. Read about recycling drives sponsored by your local community. Learn more about politicians’ stances on green energy. Visit nrglab.asia and check out the SH-Box, a carbon-free electrical generator capable of bringing power to the third world. But first and foremost, consider what you can do on a day-to-day basis to help make the Earth a better place. Because EVERY day should be Earth Day. Not just April 22nd.