We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors,
we borrow it from our children. 
~Native American Proverb
 

Earth Day Poem

by Hillol Ray

We are all puppets to cheer on this Earth,
While joy and sorrow always come since our birth !
Daylights follow dusk towards the gloomy nights,
And bring us such a joy to renew our sights !
Fresh air and clean water nourish our souls,
Without them, we suffer, and pay the heavy tolls !

To put a stop to these tolls, EPA was formed -
Over two decades ago, and brains were stormed !
For protection of nature, EPA took the vow -
To offer simple tips, let me tell 'em now !
Banning pesticides and lead in gasoline -
Made the giant move to make the nature clean !
Recycling became a daily household chore -
To reduce costs and protect the seashore !
Reduction of emissions created the flow -
Of cleaner air, and polluters took a blow !
Dumping of sewage into lakes and streams -
Was banned to prevent leery public screams !
Pollution of water became a salient issue -
To protect human health and aquatic tissue !

The situation has changed over twenty-five years,
And laws are in place to remove our fears !
Now an annual event hangs around us -
To recognize Earth Day without any fuss!
So let's all sing Save the Earth songs,
And do things right to hear loud gongs !

Now, always think "Earth Is In Your Hands",
Here at home or in foreign lands !
So let us follow these few simple roles,
To avoid the agonies of all future souls !
Conserve the water as much as you can,
While you are bathing or washing the van !
Recycle and prevent pollution at the source,
While care should be motive and the hidden force !
Plant the trees in open private space,
To create the shade and cool your face !
Try the carpool with a friend, or share a ride -
To control the air and emission ebb tide !

Dispose off pesticides in a real safe manner,
And label before you bury 'em under a banner !
Organize all efforts to discard the waste,
EPA may be called to quench any quest !
Invite friends to attend the Earth Day Acts,
And define each role to convey all facts !
Reward the guys for a job well done -
To share the benefits and all the fun !

Well, now you really know what you have to do -
And celebrate "Earth Day" without further woo !!!

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History of Earth Day

In the early 1960s, Senator Gaylord Nelson began a movement to bring environmental problems to the forefront of the political arena. He persuaded President John Kennedy to go on a "national conservation tour". They traveled over eleven states in five days. Although it did not exactly bring the critical issues into the political limelight as hoped, it was the beginning of what is now know as Earth Day.
 

The Senator spoke on the issues to a variety of audiences throughout most of the states. He found the people in general to be concerned, but not the politicians. I took six years of Senator Nelson speaking to come up with the idea of Earth Day - a grassroots protest. In September of 1970, taking the idea from the anti-war demonstrations and "teach-ins",  he organized a demonstration on behalf of the environment and invited everyone to participate. The story traveled and the response was exciting. The American people finally had a forum to bring environmental concerns to the forefront where the media could generate interest.

According to Senator Nelson, Earth Day over 20 million demonstrators  and thousands of schools and communities participated. Earth Day virtually organized itself.

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Earth Day Facts & Tips

* American swimming pools contain enough water to cover the city of San Francisco with a layer of water about seven feet deep.

* Tune it up! Keeping your car tuned up is an easy way to help the environment. A well-tuned car uses up to 9% less gasoline than a poorly tuned car

* In one year, we generate enough hazardous waste to fill the New Orleans Superdome 1,500 times over.

* Recycled glass uses only 2/3 the energy needed to manufacture glass from scratch. That means for every soft drink bottle you recycle, you save enough energy to run a television set for an hour and a half.

* Increasing herbicide use has created a jungle of at least 48 "super-weeds" that are resistant to chemicals.

* Ceiling fans consume as little energy as a 60-watt bulb- which is about 98% less energy than most central air conditioners use. And ceiling fans can save energy in the winter as well as the summer. The secret: running their motors in reverse (there should be a switch on your fan). This pushes warm air caught near the ceiling down to where you can feel it.

*Installing the most efficient tire available on the market today would improve the fuel economy of most cars by 1 to 3 miles per gallon.