Earth Day was first officially celebrated in 1970, and marks the start of the modern environmental movement. But as the global warming crisis grows, no one can afford to limit their attention to our planet to just a single day. Consider that the summer of 2006 was the hottest year on record in the U.S….that enough Arctic sea ice to fill the state Texas has melted in the last 30 years…that as many as 37% of plant and animal species could be wiped out by 2050 due to climate change.

It’s scary, but there ARE things we can do, both as individuals and in our communities. Here are some simple changes one person can make right now…

1) Replace light bulbs with long-lasting compact fluorescent bulbs…
2) …and turn off the lights when you leave a room!
3) Don’t charge your cell phone overnight
4) Bring your own coffee mug to your favorite java joint
5) Turn OFF your office computer at the end of the day and on the weekend
6) Whenever possible, use washable micro-fiber cloths in place of paper towels
7) Cancel the phone book delivery (use an online one!)
8) Collect rainwater and use it for watering outdoor plants
9) Turn off your dishwasher’s “dry” cycle
10) Sign up for online banking to eliminate paper statements.

Groups or Families: celebrate Earth Day by…

1) Planting trees
2) Creating a community garden
3) Going for a hike in an endangered area
4) Coordinating a household hazardous waste collection with your town
5) Donating old cell phones to save African gorillas (eco-cell.org)
6) Cleaning up a nearby pond, river, stream, etc.

There are small things you can do every day to reverse the effect that climate change is having on our world. One person CAN make a difference! Make every day an “Earth Day”!