Twilight Earth isn’t about gimmicks, dog and pony shows or green-washing. It’s for this reason that we almost decided to boycott Earth Day, by not writing an article about it.
Click Here For Twilight Earth’s – Earth Day Podcast
Believe me, we’ve had a lot of time to think about it. Leading up to today, we’ve received over 300 Earth Day related E-mails, press releases and requests to write articles. The sheer volume of Earth Day related hoopla is what gave us pause.
I’m afraid that the reason I don’t really care for Earth Day is that it has become another gimmick. Another way for corporate sponsors to peddle their wares and another way to make up for our environmental sins. It has also become a day where politicians can grab some green spotlight and pass environmentally friendly legislation.
Earth Day has become a day where, like good church goer’s, we can take a day and give homage, and return to our normal lives tomorrow, having been baptized from our environmental sins. Say Hallelujah!
Today, Washington DC Mayor Adrian Fenty is promising increased tree cover, more energy-efficient buildings, cleaner streams and a larger bike-rental program. President Obama is speaking to Green business owners. Macey’s is giving away 10% off coupons for a $5.00 donation to a green charity. Disney’s Planet Earth movie is planting a tree for every ticket that is purchased, The Price is Right TV show is giving away a Toyota Prius and TV soaps will have a “green theme.”
Don’t get me wrong, this is all great stuff, but what about tomorrow? Earth day is every day. You don’t stop caring about your life because it’s not your birthday. You don’t stop loving your spouse because it’s not your wedding day. You don’t start treating your employee’s bad because it’s not secretary’s day.
In fact, all of those celebrations pale in comparison to the earth and the environment. We live in a world where clean air is hard to come by. We live in a place where clean water is almost non-existent. We live in a time where GMO food is made in laboratories and patented by large corporations. Air, Water, Soil, these are the things that the Earth gives us. These are the things that we abuse. These are the things we rely on for life. Earth day is not enough.
Grist did an excellent job putting today into perspective with it’s post “Does Earth Day Still Matter?”
From the article:
- Nature writer Rick Bass says we need Earth Day more than ever.
- Professional contrarian Dan Akst says Earth Day has become a haven for smug hypocrites.
- Journalist Jennifer Oladipo worries that the Earth Day brand has lost its luster.
- Urban educator Mike Cermak urges greens to look beyond themselves for inspiration.
- Procter & Gamble Sustainability VP Len Sauers says Earth Day is no time for business as usual.
- Gaylord Nelson biographer Bill Christofferson says the Earth Day founder wouldn’t be surprised by the criticism leveled at the holiday—but environmentalists’ work is far from done.
Don’t forget to come back and visit us tomorrow. We’ll still be talking about our shared environment and the earth.
photo credit: woodleywonderworks
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Earth Day is for my kid. We’re an environmentally aware family (of 2), doing what we can to conscious about our relationship with our world. At 10, he’s got a pretty good understanding about why businesses pay to advertise “Earth Day Deals”. We just ignore it and enjoy the celebration.
I think celebrations are about human beings coming together for a moment to acknowledge a shared value. The commercialism can be taken as background noise.
Mothers Day is very much like that, too. A million commercials… and my kid, making me a little drawing that he thinks I’ll like.
Great article Adam. It is a shame that so many organizations use Earth Day only to promote their own version of a “green agenda”, only to forget it quickly tomorrow. We can only hope that more people see through this each year, and eventually most care every day and not just on this one single day.
oh wow you hit it right on the head on what I’ve felt and continue to feel!
I didn’t do a big Earth Day blog today, I just did my every day daily green tip blog just like every other day…I didn’t do a big earth day giveaway on another blog of mine, I did the normal weekly green giveaway.
I, too, think earth day is EVERY DAY!
A life time commitment to do what’s right, what’s green and not fall into the ‘novelty’ of it…
The downside is for many they’ll ‘make a change’ for ONE DAY…and yet not realize they need to make changes EVERY SINGLE DAY, make an effort every single day, change their lifestyle.
Likewise on all the companies offering free earth day this, earth day that, advertising (more like greenwashing) is abundant today
anyhooooooooooo Adam, I’m in total agreement and grateful for people like you!!!!
It’s a tradition. Like going to church on Christmas Eve.
Love the podcast! I know where you are coming from with your message but I think you and your commentors are sounding a teeny bit bitter and curmudgeony. Isn’t part of the point of all your writing and blogging and pontificating to make the average person aware of the challenges that we face? Earth Hour, Earth Day, Turnoff Week, Green Hour and any other ways that people can be educated about our earth, that’s a good thing… right? We need to encourage everyone toward their own aha moment and then we will truly be changing the world!
I see exactly what you’re saying and certainly, Earth Day isn’t the first “event” type of day that deals, promotions and incentives begin popping up.
And while I see your point, I’ll go to the other side of the buffet line. People – large numbers of them – have ignored the planet, from their own community to the larger world around them, for decades. Only now are those same numbers of large people beginning to wake up.
What’s the old adage that says i.e. “…if we can save one (fill in the blank), we’ve made progress…”
Maybe Earth Day is a bit gimmicky. Perhaps companies and individuals do have their own self-serving agendas. But what if – just what if – those gimmicks and self-serving agendas turn a few heads? What if a few people get on board…for good? What if those companies and individuals see an amazing response and REALLY wake up to the extent their promotional agenda becomes…a legitimate agenda putting environment first.
I’m just sayin’.
This reminds me of what happened after Inauguration Day and Election Day last year. I got the sense that people were content to the point that their jobs were done. But the stinging reality came and hit them in the face. There’s still lots more to do.
I’m glad your so in love with saving the planet and hope you don’t mine paying the extra $3,100. each year to do it. When the Global Warming Carbon Cap and Trade deal get’s started by the EPA it’ going to take Trillions from the consumers who buy the products of the big corperations and state and local governments. But even Obama said that the electric rate are going up and is going to hurt the littje guys. But there’s a new welfare plan for the poor to offset their added fuel and electric costs so don’t worry. The EPA said the other day that 40% would be returned to the public and only cost $150. at most. You believe them don’t you, yes they aren’t going to take that money and spend it on other things and leave you hanging paying all the $3,100. each year by yourself…Have you checked your Social Security trust fund lately it’s 13 Trillion in the Red. The US Gov. owes 66 Trillion in unfunded obligations and has no plans of paying any of it off. No your in fine shape if you have lot’s of hope. How is the construction coming along on the new Clintons house in Costa Rica?.
Bcooper,
I don’t mind paying the extra $3,100.00 a year. That’s money I’m not spending on bottled water, fast food, soda, and Walmart junk anyway. $3,100.00, to save the planet? That’s cheap. My children and Grand Children are worth that. You must be saying that yours aren’t?