Are occasions such as Earth Day really necessary for people to show support for the environment? . After all, what good is it for the world to give lip service respect to nature one day out of the year and then trash it the rest of the time?
To be sure, the intent that led to the beginning of this celebration as an annual affair was honorable, even noble. But as I look around and read about the ongoing degradation of our planet on both an individual and institutional basis, I feel that this day has become meaningless.
For the same reason, last month my wife and I did not bother to shut off our electrical usage in observance of Earth Hour (Come to think of it, the only "light" that was on anyway was our television). Why should we? When it comes to conservation, we walk the talk daily. So for those who like us live a modest life style there's no need to guild the lily with a symbolic gesture.
If advocates of Earth Day really care about nature and the environment there are so many ways to express this concern, and to rehash them here item by item is unnecessary. Suffice to say that using common sense and prudence in daily living and refraining from materialistic overindulgence are a start. (As for the various festivals that will mark Earth Day, I wonder how many people will drive to these events in SUV's and leave a mountain of litter behind when they depart.)
The key to making a better world of course is action. Those individuals who are self- motivated to make an effort to improve their surroundings know in their hearts why doing so is vital, and not just once a year at that.. It is people such as these who are likely already making a contribution to the world and who make everyday "Earth Day".
I suppose that the argument can be made that Earth Day as a consciousness raising occasion can inculcate these very values in others, especially the uncommitted. However, it seems to me that unless a sense of concern about the planet is already a part of one's character, then special days that focus on the future of our planet won't begin to make a bit of difference to people whose world begins and ends only with themselves.
2 comments:
Rick,
Earth Day is a feel-good sham if people continue to waste resources the rest of the year. I agree, it's that one-day-a-year mentality, like Valentine's Day or Yom Kippur, that excuses a lot of (in this case, enivronmentally) destructive behavior.
Al Gore's carbon footprint must be enormous.
Wasting resources, as we do, has traditionally been a sign of sacrifice to a god. Now it's a sign of cluelessness and self-destructiveness.
Alan,
Thanks for your response. "One-day-a year mentality" is the phrase that I was groping for when I wrote the post. Very succinct and reflects my sentiments to a "T".
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