This column was co-written with Kim Hainge, who for many years wrote an informative and much enjoyed column for The Graham Star.
Her insights expanded our understanding in a most delightful way about the natural beauty that surrounded us. What could be better than to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with her thoughts on appreciating nature in a time of social distancing.
Earth Day was conceived in 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. The first Earth Day was implemented by 25-year-old Denis Hayes. The public and media response was enormous, with crowds gathering for rallies around the country.
As always, a public outcry resulted in legislation. Blinding air pollution in some cities resulted in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970.
The Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act and many other progressive pieces of legislation followed.
There have been 24 new National Parks established since 1970. To some, this is governmental over-reach. To most – including people who lived along the burning Cuyahoga River or the poisonous Love Canal – the planet is being saved.
Kim’s observations are cogent and timely, as usual. She has noticed that more and more people are enjoying themselves outdoors.
It is as if we have been given new eyes.
People are noticing the flowers, trees, birds and animals around them for the first time in years. As the smog dissipates from big cities, we are awestruck with the beauty of the night. You can imagine that Mother Earth is working with us by providing one of the most stunning springs in years.
The threat of COVID-19 has humbled us to an extent. The cornucopia of products – from basic necessities to luxury goods available in our local Ingles – has become limited. Our summer visitor friends are being kept away.
Many of our restaurant workers and other service business employees are without work in order to flatten the curve.
Governments will struggle to meet expanded needs due to the economic disaster necessary to fight the disease while having less money.
Kim’s hope is that we will share the experience of seeing our environment through awakened eyes. Let us be careful that opportunists are checked in their effort to roll-back the legislation that keeps our lake, streams and forests in their extraordinary condition. We need to get people back to work and help them to survive until that occurs.
Balancing the budgets in light of diminished resources and increased demands will be the challenge.
Some of us old-timers remember the Whole Earth Catalog with its iconic NASA cover picture showing the Earth from outer space.
The catalog was a massive compendium of resources, commentary and pictures that inspired the environmental movement. Millions of $5 copies were sold.
As we thank so many people who are helping us through the COVID-19 pandemic at their own great risk, let us all remember Helen Keller’s words, “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it.”
Roger Carlton is a columnist for The Graham Star.