2008 Woodie Awards
Rethinking Earth Day: We need more than one
Politics and Law Forum
Anna McGeehan
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: Opinion
This is the second of three commentaries from the PLF that will appear in The Pacific Index this spring.
April 22 marks the 38th annual Earth Day, a day meant to inspire awareness and appreciation for the surrounding natural environment and to make environmental issues more salient in our daily lives.
On this level, Earth Day has succeeded. Turn on the television and you will see advertisements for green cleaning products, fuel-efficient cars and chips produced with solar energy. While this so called 'go green' momentum is a step in the right direction, on a deeper level, it is sad to have to declare a day to remind society about environmental appreciation.
After decades of abuse and neglect, society has become so far removed from the earth itself that we no longer appreciate the purpose it serves. Our daily tool of survival has been reduced to a debit card, alienating us from the natural surroundings that sustain life on this planet.
This is not to say that Earth Day serves a menial purpose. On the contrary, it is important to push environmental issues into the spotlight and encourage eco-friendly practices. The problem is that Earth Day is a once-a-year reminder of responsible stewardship and appreciation for the environment. We need to go beyond an annual celebration and integrate change directly into our daily lives.
It is easy to ignore the environmental crisis. At Pacific, we see recycling boxes in every corner, local and organic food in our dining hall, and a move towards green buildings. This progress has been supplemented by Students for Environmental Action who bring sustainable ideas to the forefront through their work at the B Street Farm, activism in climate change and energy issues and activities like clothing swaps and clothing lines.
It is easy to become isolated from the very real environmental problems that will impact our lives in the near future. It is important to remember that Pacific is exceptionally environmentally friendly, but even we have a lot of room for improvement.
So this Earth Day, when you see the advertisements for organic body lotion or the green logo on NBC, remember that appreciation of the earth is not simply an annual celebration; responsible stewardship and environmentally-friendly practices need to become part of our everyday thought process and routine.
April 22 marks the 38th annual Earth Day, a day meant to inspire awareness and appreciation for the surrounding natural environment and to make environmental issues more salient in our daily lives.
On this level, Earth Day has succeeded. Turn on the television and you will see advertisements for green cleaning products, fuel-efficient cars and chips produced with solar energy. While this so called 'go green' momentum is a step in the right direction, on a deeper level, it is sad to have to declare a day to remind society about environmental appreciation.
After decades of abuse and neglect, society has become so far removed from the earth itself that we no longer appreciate the purpose it serves. Our daily tool of survival has been reduced to a debit card, alienating us from the natural surroundings that sustain life on this planet.
This is not to say that Earth Day serves a menial purpose. On the contrary, it is important to push environmental issues into the spotlight and encourage eco-friendly practices. The problem is that Earth Day is a once-a-year reminder of responsible stewardship and appreciation for the environment. We need to go beyond an annual celebration and integrate change directly into our daily lives.
It is easy to ignore the environmental crisis. At Pacific, we see recycling boxes in every corner, local and organic food in our dining hall, and a move towards green buildings. This progress has been supplemented by Students for Environmental Action who bring sustainable ideas to the forefront through their work at the B Street Farm, activism in climate change and energy issues and activities like clothing swaps and clothing lines.
It is easy to become isolated from the very real environmental problems that will impact our lives in the near future. It is important to remember that Pacific is exceptionally environmentally friendly, but even we have a lot of room for improvement.
So this Earth Day, when you see the advertisements for organic body lotion or the green logo on NBC, remember that appreciation of the earth is not simply an annual celebration; responsible stewardship and environmentally-friendly practices need to become part of our everyday thought process and routine.
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