April 22 is the official Earth Day celebration, but the Earth Day Network and others believe that protecting the earth should be an everyday priority.”It’s Earth Day every day, and we need to strive to find solutions to solve climate change issues on a daily basis, not just once a year,” said Adam Ratliff, communications associate for the EDN.Earth Day was founded in 1970 by then Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson. On April 22 of that year, 20 million Americans embraced the Earth Day philosophy to create a healthy, sustainable environment, Ratliff said.Ratliff said Denis Hayes, the national Earth Day coordinator, organized rallies that year to protest against the deterioration of the environment because of oil spills, air pollution, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness and the extinction of wildlife.”The beginning of Earth Day was very grass roots because nobody expected it would become what it is,” Ratliff said. Earth Day today is globally recognized.Citizens can participate in Earth Day, Ratliff said, by changing old habits to ones that have less of an environmental impact. Using public transportation, buying organic products and switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, which are more energy efficient, are just a few of the good habits that are positive for Mother Earth.”Since 1970, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement. It was the year that political activism helped gain recognition from the federal government and the general public,” Ratliff said.He also mentioned that the first Earth Day celebration led to the creation of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Act.Christine Vigil, regional environmental education coordinator for the EPA, said Earth Day was partly organized because “people started becoming aware of pesticides and what we were doing to the environment. The bald eagle was also becoming endangered at that time.”EDN provides a registry of 10,000 nationwide Earth Day events at www.ednetwork.com, as well as tips on organizing an Earth Day event and information on how to contact government representatives.The 2006 EDN theme is “climate change solutions.” A Web-streamed video can be viewed on the network Web site and used in classrooms as an educational tool, Ratliff said.Vigil said the EPA Web site also offers information on how to be environmentally responsible at school, at home and at work.Judy Bloom, EPA co-manager of the federal women’s program, said the EPA plans to combine Earth Day this year with National Bring Your Kids to Work Day. Activities for kids and parents include a clean up at the Platte River, which is located at the EPA regional office.”It’s something for us to do during the day to recognize that we need to take care of the earth and our environment,” Bloom said. “We encourage parents and students to get involved in local events and activities in their area.”Jane Gasko, volunteer coordinator at Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, encourages area residents to participate in their eighth Earth Day celebration, along with an Arbor Day celebration at Rock Ledge Ranch.”It really is a big day, and it is free for the community. We will have the events rain or shine,” Gasko said.She expects between 3,000 and 5,000 people to participate in the Earth Day events at the Garden of the Gods.Events scheduled throughout the day include a park and trail clean up, arts and crafts for kids, a performance by the Sweet Water American Indian dancers, a demonstration by the Air Force Academy Falcon and Birds of Prey, a chemical magic show, guided nature walks and attendance by the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard.Although Arbor Day is April 28, Rock Ledge Ranch will recognize Arbor Day in conjunction with the Garden of the Gods festivities.All activities at Rock Ledge Ranch are free and include a tree planting in the morning, an Arbor Day ceremony, living history demonstrations and erosion control projects.Gasko said the events scheduled are a way to “help people recognize we need to protect the environment.”Debbie Anderson, office manager at Bulbs Plus and Recycle Depot, said they will host an Earth Day event April 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is the third year the business has recognized Earth Day within the community.”Our industry is all about energy efficiency and to get people to change to more energy efficient lighting,” Anderson said. “Earth Day seems to be the appropriate time to do that.”She said Colorado Springs Utilities also encourages residents and businesses to take steps to help the environment. Anderson said the utility company offers businesses a rebate toward consumer energy bills if a company changes its lighting to energy-efficient lighting. Rebates are awarded residents who modify their homes to include energy-efficient lighting, insulation, windows and furnaces.Businesses can also take advantage of tax credits by converting a building into an energy-efficient space, she said.The goal of hosting an Earth Day event is to educate customers on how and what to recycle, discuss changes in the industry and promote lighting and energy efficient products, Anderson said. Lunch is provided and a drawing for a prize will be held.”It’s a way for us to get people involved.”
