Celebrating Earth Day saves land for our children

Today is the 48th anniversary of Earth Day. We have been trying to clean up and preserve our environment since 1970. I admit to being somewhat of a tree-hugger. 

Recycling has become such a habit for many of us over the past few decades that we automatically recycle plastic, newspapers and aluminum cans. Another way to preserve our environment is by washing our clothes in cold water. I have been doing that for years because I wanted to avoid fading and shrinking not because I was being eco-friendly.

Everyone can agree we need to be aware of how we treat our portion of the planet.  But sometimes I wonder if we haven’t gone a little too far with this green stuff.

I can’t be the only person who hates those expensive curly fluorescent light bulbs. If you really want a scare, put a couple in your bathroom. At my age, looking in the mirror is never a pleasant experience. But one of those light bulbs will show every wrinkle, blemish and pore as if you were under a microscope.

And, although 2018’s theme is End Plastic Pollution, I still don’t like the concept of reusable grocery bags. The number of bacteria, including E.coli, which grows in the bottom of those bags is amazing. Yes, I understand you have to wash them. But isn’t that defeating the purpose by wasting more water?

I have probably done more than my share of destroying the o-zone by using aerosol hair spray all of my life. In fact, it may have been my bee-hive up-do in the 1960s that made Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, decide to create the first Earth Day.

Nevertheless, I am going to try to change my ways and become more of an environmentalist. I am literally turning over a new leaf. Rather than raking and burning leaves in the fall, I will allow them to decompose and return to the ground.

And there is no need to use gasoline to run my lawnmower. The grass will eventually die out in the cold weather when winter comes. I have always loved dandelions anyway.

I am going to reduce my carbon footprint by turning out the lights and using candles to watch television. I will also reduce dish washing to save water by using disposable paper plates and cups. Wait, is Styrofoam bad for the environment too?

Of course, I am poking fun at Earth Day. But it is seriously a good ideal to try and achieve environmental awareness. Besides, all the recycling, reusing and conserving is a great way to help you save money. 
  
The Native Americans knew all about conservation. They valued the land and all its inhabitants. To quote an old Native American proverb, “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”

Sis Bowman can be reached at eebowman@columbus.rr.com.