40 Years Of Earth Day - What now?

Today marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson on April 22, 1970. Since Earth Day’s formation many other similar observances like Earth Hour, Earth Week and World Environment Day have been formed. These organized events have all raised awareness to environmental issues and the struggle to find a sustainable balance of life on Earth. Over 20 million people participated in the first Earth Day in 1970. Today there will be over a billion people across the globe taking part in the 40 anniversary of Earth Day. This event was born out of grass roots organizing and is largely attributed to the birth of the modern day environmental movement. The Earth Day Network has since stepped in to promote and spread the reach of the movement.

After 4 decades of people around the world observing and acknowledging a day dedicated to the Earth, where are we now. That is the real question…isn’t it?

For 40 years environmentalists have been calling attention to the impact that polluting factories, oil spills, toxic waste, pesticides, polluted water ways and oceans, and wildlife extinction are having on our environment. Global warming, water shortage, and food supply issues are hot topics at the forefront of discussions around the globe. It would seem that the majority of the world developed or not have recognized the impact, and many are feeling the impact first hand. Air quality, water quality and food/water shortages are becoming serious issues in many areas with limited or no solutions currently available.

Sadly the environmental movement has yet to be able to turn conversation into serious action. The lack of strategy and organization has been a major thorn in the side of the movement. Building an effective movement to change and reverse the course we are on should be paramount. The major enemy of the Earth, and the movement to save it, has been and will continue to be the “capitalism at any cost” attitude.

In the last decade the green or sustainable movement has become a billion dollar industry. This has drawn interest from many major corporations to “go green”. This has without a doubt helped to bring more sustainable living into many households, but at what cost? Many of these corporations are some of the most offending polluters in the world. This has allowed “green washing” to dilute and dismiss the more serious root causes of the environmental issues we have at hand. Stringent regulations must be put in place to curb industry pollution at all costs, regardless of the bottom line. When this happens industries will be forced to reinvent themselves in a cleaner more sustainable image. Money can still be made without destroying the place we call home, Earth.

New green technology is being developed in the private sector as available capital will allow, but this simply is not enough. The governments of the world must make green technology and sustainable development a top priority. Once governments provide incentives and infuse capital into these markets, similar to the oil industry, amazing new clean technologies will finally become a reality in our daily lives. This is the only way we will be able slow or reverse the effects we have made on the planet. People around the world have been frustrated and dismayed to see the Kyoto Protocol and the Copenhagen Climate Conference produce dismal results.

There has been enough talk. The time of action is upon us.