Happy Earth Day

"Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect."
~Chief Seattle, 1855

Preserving our planet needs to take front stage in the way we live on a daily basis. For example, global warming is an increasing concern that could exponentially worsen if we continue to ignore the harmful effects of fossil fuels. Although our trees absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and this helps to slow down global warming, by ignoring recycling campaigns and choosing to cut down trees for paper production, we contribute directly to climate change. Irresponsible deforestation is contributing greatly to deaths resulting from floods and landslides. In 2004, as many as 1700 Haitians died as a direct result of illegal logging and deforestation. Cars and other vehicles are the primary culprits behind smog. According to the web site of the Environmental Protection Agency, one in three people is at risk of experiencing respiratory ailments due to smog.

Should we choose to ignore preservation and conservation, our planet’s resources will suffer from mismanagement. The consequences are critical:
-Pollution (air, land and water) from smog, acid rain, animal wastes seeping into our drinking water
-Disease and pandemics such as SARS, bird flu, asthma and other respiratory diseases
-Food shortage impacted by breakage in the food chain
-Poverty - a larger rift will emerge dividing the rich and powerful from the working class
-Homelessness becomes a natural consequence of poverty
-Extinction will accelerate ending forms of life on our planet
Such consequences affect our daily lives in terms of transportation, heating, housing concerns, etc. To minimize their effects an important first step is to become an advocate for the issues that are important to your community.

It is easy to keep up-to-date with the issues that affect our environment. The web provides a wealth of information ranging from the laws before Congress to practical information for home owners and businesses. It also provides many forums where you can not only share information but meet people and be part of organizations that help you to become an advocate for the environmental issues that are important to you. I would encourage everyone to use this day as a starting point for change in your own life. Whether it's by going down to Sawyer Point to meet up with some of the things going on in our city, riding your bike today, researching recycling in your neighborhood, taking your own bag to the grocery store, your own mug to your favorite coffee shop, or just educating yourself on the issues we currently face. It is our responsibility to be good stewards of the land we have inherited. Not everything we do needs to be on a grand scale but the old saying is true, "every little bit helps."
Happy Earth Day from Hawaii!