It’s Earth Day. So Why Hate… Anything?
I woke up this morning and automatically reached for my cell phone to check my email. And then I remembered: It’s Earth Day! I should be taking it slow. Meditating. Stepping outside for a breath of air. Taking a walk in sunshine. Appreciating the Earth instead of being glued to technology once again. And then I remembered something else:
My cell phone IS the Earth. That’s where all its parts came from… the metal, both toxic and non, and even the plastic. Yes, all that plastic I’ve collected and stored in boxes under my dining room table? It’s part of the Earth too.
This week, I was happy to be included in Sarah Newman’s list of Ten Anti-Plastic Heroes on the Huffington Post. But really, I’m not anti-plastic. I’m pro-living beings. Plastic is not destroying the Earth. The Earth will be around long after we and all the other living creatures have ceased to exist. And the plastic will have become just another geological layer. But the creatures on the Earth now… we are all suffering because of the misuse of the materials available to us, and that’s why I do my work.
Suffering is part of the Earth too. I work to alleviate it because I’m human, and that’s one of the things that humans do. This Earth Day, remember that everything on this planet IS planet Earth. Even the American Chemistry Council. We eschew plastic out of love, so why hate?
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Thanks for this article, I was told about you by Kitchen stewardship, I have a lot to learn about plastics and other better things to use, I’m learning, thanks.
babeigotanidea.com
“The Earth will be around long after we and all the other living creatures have ceased to exist. And the plastic will have become just another geological layer. But the creatures on the Earth now we are all suffering because of the misuse of the materials available to us, and that’s why I do my work. ”
This is so well said. We humans need to both step up to the plate in conservation and get off our “Save the Earth” falsehood.
Because of your blog my plastic consciousness has gone into hyper awareness. I am so much more careful about plastic use now.
Thank you for doing what you do!
Well said. George Carlin use to say “the Earth doen’t need saving, The earth will be here for years after all the humans are gone”. I can’t agree more
Thank you, I needed this.
Earth Day this year was apparently a day for people to admit how much they hate greenies, around here.
Very true. And that layer…ack!
Love & RRRevolution to you, Beth.
PS The most ridiculous Earth Day offer I received in my Inbox was for “recyclable” plastic tea light cups. *sigh*
Love it Beth. Love it. Thank you.
Oldnovice – don’t despair about the seed starting pots! You can use folded origami news paper to make pots, just make sure it’s soy based inks and not glossy. There’s lots of links if you google “origami seed pots”. Better luck next year! (hey, maybe it’s an opportunity to support a local nursery and buy seedlings to replace what would have grown?).
Beth – I love your message of love. But I admit, I don’t love plastic. I’ll work on not hating it quite so much, though ;)
Just had another hope “splatted” today. Had found a great “deal” on peat seed-starting pots for my garden, so got 300 and planted seeds in them. Watered them (because seeds need water) and one-by-one they started to grow white mold … on the dirt, outside the pot … everywhere.
Reading about this problem today, I learned that experienced gardeners don’t use the peat pots for three reasons: 1) They mold, 2) They do NOT break down once put in the ground … at least not quickly enough to allow the plant’s roots to spread outside the pot, and 3) peat moss isn’t a renewable resource.
http://findarticles.com/read/philadelphia.cbslocal.com?pa=2012%2F10%2F31%2Farea-gardeners-may-soon-find-peat-moss-hard-to-come-by%2F&noadc=1&q=peat%20moss%20&pid=638947914360249470&ssq=1
Recommended by experienced gardeners: plastic containers.
1 step forward; 2 steps back.
I love love, and I LOVE Earth and her natural materials (in their raw form)…but admittedly am all about plastic hate. But good thought-provoking post.
One Love!!! Free the Land!!
Love love it Beth! Will be reminding my friends and family too.
I hate plastic and the great big garbage dump of it in the ocean. It is not destroying the earth but it does kill wildlife.
What a lovely reminder for today… love.