Monday, October 15, 2007

Blog Action Day


Today over 15,000 blogs are focusing on a single topic: The Environment. The goal of Blog Action Day is awareness, and there is no better way to do that than to get everybody to flood the Internet with posts on the environment. There are no rules. It's talk about what you know or feel in whatever way fits you the best. The hope is that by talking today new insights, ideas and inspirations might emerge making our corner of the universe worth talking about tomorrow.

I'm not going to take the time today to tell you to turn off the lights when you aren't in the room, unplug stuff you aren't using or change your old Thomas Edison-era light bulbs to more energy efficient models because I know that you're smart people and I'm going to assume that you're doing that already. I'm not going to tell you to recycle everything you possibly can because I'm going to assume you're already doing that too. Hopefully these baby steps have become the norm, not the exception in our nation. If you aren't doing these things, you should. Immediately. Yesterday. Hurry up and get on board.

My focus today is on an activity that is easier than sorting tin from cloudy plastic from cardboard, and much more fun than switching light bulbs.

I want you to go outside.

On the surface, it's easy to say, "The environment is good." Because it is. It's air and water and essential things that we all need, but deep down I think we take for granted because, well, it's air and it's water and it's always there.

But the environment is so much more than that. It's also the billions and billions of species of plants and animals, and how our lifestyle makes an impact on other living things.

And it's so much easier to fight for something when it's something you know and love.

Today I encourage you to discover an outside place in your community. A place where you can walk. A place where you can think. A place where you can leave behind the traffic and the noise, if only for a little while.

And when you go outside, take time to look. Take the time to reflect. Take time to appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds you every day. Take time to wonder and marvel.

Most importantly -- if you can -- take a child with you. You will have no better tour guide in this world than a curious youngster. They spot the most interesting bugs and rocks and sticks and tiny pieces of dirt. They will gather the most beautiful leaves. If you can take a walk in the woods with a child you will not only be doing yourself a favor, you will be planting the seeds for future generations. Nature is fun. Nature is important. Nature is our future, and we, as current caretakers owe it to our children to give them the most beautiful planet possible.

So go outside today. Even if it's just your own back yard. Go outside and breathe the air and walk amongst the trees. Look at the beautiful colors. Sit quietly and watch for animals. Be thankful for the beauty that surrounds you, and then roll up your sleeves and make a commitment not only to protecting what we have today, but improving it for tomorrow.

This post dedicated to PhotoTuna,
who worked tirelessly for
the preservation and appreciation of
nature and the environment.
And, if he were here today,
he'd most likely tell me
(over his bowl of oatmeal with raisins)
to shut up already
and just go outside.
And as for me?
I would think that was very good advice, indeed.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this, GreenTuna. Your name is apt and you "learned your lessons well." PhotoTuna would be (or maybe is) pleased and proud. Me, too.

PeaceTuna