The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22nd in 1970. Rallies and environmental education programs took place across the country and the response was so huge that President Richard Nixon and the U.S. government created the Environmental Protection Agency. Earth Day was recognized as the grass roots birth of the environmental movement in our country and spurred a dramatic rise in awareness by the public concerns about protecting our Earth.

I attended the Earth Day celebrations in Union Square in New York City and it was a wonderful festival and thousands of people were in the streets celebrating along with millions of communities across the country. It was during the Vietnam War era, so we as young people were used to being out there in the streets protesting and some of that went on at Earth Day but there were also educational films, famous speakers, and celebrities (I was thrilled to see the Mamas and Papas being driven around in a horse drawn carriage decorated with flowers) and music, food and vendors of all sorts. The educational aspect of Earth Day wasn’t lost on me as I saw a film about beef slaughtering the details of which I can clearly recall today years later. At that point in my young life, I don’t think I had ever seen a live cow in Boston where I grew up let alone have any clear concept of how it ultimately landed in my mother’s meatloaf. Even with an extremely unpopular Vietnam War Raging-It was a gentler kinder time. and we held no fear in our hearts and the thuggery we witness today was non-existent. 

The question is how are we doing these days with our treatment of Mother Earth? To find out I researched the Happy Planet Index (HPI) score listing. The HPI tracks how effectively countries use their natural resource materials and financial wealth as sustainable resources for their citizens to live long healthy lives. Despite its aggregate wealth, USA ranks a dismal 102^nd  ( a notch above Bolivia) out of 147 countries suggesting that our material and financial resources need to be better managed to benefit our 349 million citizens. This ranking is an improvement of seven spots since the 2019 HPI- but for the world’s third largest country- its not the best news. 

As Earth Day approaches, there are numerous ways to contribute to environmental sustainability. Consider participating in community clean-up efforts, donating to reputable environmental charities (verify their ratings via Charity Navigator), reducing garbage waste, conserving energy, and thoughtfully limiting consumption choices. Even small actions such as these can have a significant positive impact on the environment and help reduce costs.

Next Saturday, April 18^th, The Town of Lumberland Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring An Earth Day celebration in Circle Park from 9-12pm featuring environmental demonstrations, information booths, free seedling giveaways, and lots of activities for kids. Circle Park is a beautifully landscaped jewel in the Town of Lumberland which has several playgrounds, a mini-golf course, a children’s Little Library, hiking trails and a basketball court and sponsors a full program of free family-friendly events throughout the year. The Park is located at 1025 Proctor Road in Glen Spey right next to the Lumberland Town Hall. For more information go to townoflumberland.gov.