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
Nearly four decades ago, Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, proposed the first nationwide environmental protest “to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda.”
On April 22, 1970 more than 20 million Americans responded to his call and demonstrated for a healthy and sustainable environment in what many call the birth of the modern environmental movement. For his efforts as the founder of Earth Day, Sen. Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest honor awarded to civilians in the United States.
The movement continued to grow and in 1990 Earth Day went global with more than 200 million people in 141 countries participating, elevating the environmental issues to the world stage. By 2000, Earth Day was being celebrated in a record 184 countries and reached out to hundreds of millions of people. And on April 22 this year, Earth Day will once again be celebrated to raise awareness of local, national and international environmental issues.
While the event has become an international celebration, its success depends on participation at the local level. We each must do what we can to ensure an healthy and vibrant environment. That may involve demanding that our elected officials focus more on environmental issues, or changing the way we do things in our everyday lives.
In Marysville, an Earth Day celebration is slated for April 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Ebey Waterfront Park. The Earth Day Walk and Fair is a family event that will feature water-themed exhibits and hands-on activities . At the free event , participants will have the opportunity to learn about preventing water pollution, where rainwater goes, the Great Marsh Restoration Project at the Snohomish River estuary, what is being done to protect salmon in the Snohomish River watershed, native plants used in restoration, how you can help keep forests and the Puget Sound healthy, and the efforts to restore the local marine shoreline and protect marine water quality. Tours of the Marysville Water Treatment Plant will be offered at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. For more information about the event, visit the Web site www.stillysnofish.org.
All of us can make a difference in the quality of our environment. The are a number of simple things, such as turning off the lights in an unoccupied room or using a low-flow shower-head, that we can all do to make a difference. For some simple tips on what you can do at home, in the classroom or while at work to protect the environment, visit www.earthday.gov. Get involve and help leave a better world for our children and future generations to come.
To contact a member of The Marysville Globe/Arlington Times editorial board — Stuart Chernis or Scott Frank — e-mail forum@marysvilleglobe.com.
