Ten Days Left to Plan Local Action

This year there are two Earthdays. The forty-year old one on April 22 was a resounding success. Earthweek activities this spring involved millions of Americans in grassroots action and programs designed to build relationships between humans and the environment, educate the public about sustainabuility and foster attitudes of solidarity within the ecological movement. Now, with our elected leaders letting people, as well as the planet down, environmental groups from around the country are calling for a show of public support for proven sustainable practices that protect the earth and her people.
Corporate interests have once again superseded our need for clean air and water. This bad decision on the part of our "leaders" must not be allowed to stand. The events scheduled for October Tenth range from tree planting to trash clean up and from environmental networking and educational events to ecologically themed movie nights. Across the country people are being asked to make their ecological actions known through the press, television and radio. To maximize our efforts, send out a press release beforehand, calling attention to the recently abandoned cap and trade bill that would have, for the first time, assigned a true cost to pollution. Let the media know that we are still waiting for our leaders to reign in polluters and finally address these pressing problems.
It has been said that when the people lead, the leaders will follow. We need to hold those in Congress who are responsible for killing environmental laws accountable. With the mid-term elections just five weeks away, it is time to show the public through a demonstration, a national day of support for Mother Earth and her ecological systems, that we are ready to finally have our right to clean air and water upheld by our elected officials. Forty years ago, many were cynical about whether demanding positive ecological change would make any difference at all. My own parents did not allow me to attend events that first Earthday. Luckily, I still felt that I was part of it in my own way. This October Tenth we are starting a new tradition. Second Earthday, which is not as much about standing up for our right to clean air and water, but pointing out the need to, once again, become leaders in creating environmentally sustainable systems that assure our children and their children a chance to prosper without destroying the environment.
ECO-Tours of Wisconsin Inc. will be planting trees as usual. Day trips to plant trees will be followed by an evening screening of an environmentally themed movie. Their commitment to living lightly on the Earth remains unchanged. It has taken their group just six years to plant over seventy thousand native trees across Northeast Wisconsin. Before they organized formally it had taken them over fifteen years to plant their first sixty-thousand native trees. They are a small local non-profit that operates with all-volunteer staff. If you would like to donate to their tree planting efforts, you can now use Paypal their account is: tnsaladino42@hotmail.com.
No effort should go unnoticed and for that to happen we all need to write local media outlets so that they can cover the story. This national day of action is meant to show our legislators that we are serious about the need to pass legislation that attaches realistic costs to pollution. The river that flows past my house is too dirty to swim in, the fish that live in it are not safe to eat. Wetlands in the headwaters are being drained and filled to make way for more fossil fuel guzzling vehicles, for planting more genetically modified corn and soybeans, and for three thousand square foot drywall castles and the Earth is already out of balance. Ask around or check local listings about actions in your area through 350.org. If you can find nothing planned, take it upon yourself to do something for Mother Earth this October Tenth. The Earth and her people will thank you!