Happy Earth Day to You!

It's Earth Day. What the hell does that mean, anyway?

U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin announced his idea for a nationwide teach-in day on the environment in a speech to a fledgling conservation group in Seattle on 20 September 1969, and then again six days later in Atlantic City to a meeting of the United Auto Workers. Senator Nelson hoped that a grassroots outcry about environmental issues might prove to Washington, D.C. just how distressed Americans were in every constituency.

So, the concept of Earth Day was born about the same time I was, and the first Earth Day was held 40 years ago on this very day, on April 22, 1970. Today, some 175 countries observe Earth Day, and according to the nonprofit Earth Day Network, it's now "the largest secular holiday in the world, celebrated by more than a half billion people every year."

So, what am I supposed to do on Earth Day?
Here's the best part about it: you don't have to DO anything. You gifts to buy, no cards to sign, no special meals to prepare. Hey, I like this holiday more and more! As mentioned above, Earth Day is a day of teaching and awareness about the environment. It's a day... just one day mind you... that you can give some thought to the planet on which you spend your entire life. Perhaps more important than what you do on Earth Day is what you don't do.

• Don't litter
• Don't add to air or water pollution
• Don't throw stuff away that could be recycled

Let's say you're just too lazy to even bother with those things. Hey, I understand. But at least spend a couple of seconds thinking about the fact that your kids (or your friends kids, or random other kids) and their kids and the kids those kids make will be living on this hunk of rock long after you're gone. Don't be an asshole to those kids. Leave them a nice place where they can live and breathe and enjoy life.

Do humans really affect the environment? Can humans kill the Earth?
Sure, humans have a bigger effect on the environment than any other species on this planet. Can we kill the Earth? No, the Earth is a huge ball of iron and stuff that will be around long after the people are gone. We're not killing the Earth with our thoughtless activities. No, we're just killing each other and the other animals who live here. Probably no big loss, but I rather enjoy living and hope that future generations have that opportunity.

Oh, and come to my show tonight.
I'm doing a special themed show of music tonight at Free Bird Music & Love Lounge in SL at 7PM SLT. I'll be including some environmentally-friendly tunes, as well as some hippieish stuff that seems appropriate for the occasion. Coming to my show won't save the planet, but it'll give you something fun to do that probably doesn't involve hurting it much either.