This week many communities and colleges will be celebrating Earth Day. The annual celebration began as a grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment in the spring of 1970. Now a national effort, people and communities across the nation conduct events geared toward teaching others how to help conserve and protect our planet.
“Earth Day encourages people to be participants in conserving the environment and the animals in it. We face bigger challenges today because people are disconnected from the natural world and their part in the web of life. Helping people to reconnect in simple but effective ways can have a global impact.” Said author Diana L. Guerrero.
Guerrero is the author of “What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality.” The book teaches people how to connect with both wild and domestic creatures.
“People are motivated by animals. That interest and drive can be channeled into efforts that will help those critters and the environment. It is critical that we all do something for our planet on a daily or weekly basis.” Guerrero stated.
The animal behaviorist and author publishes an online magazine about animals and the environment and is taking a group to the Costa Rican rainforest in August. Rainforest and local forest hardships catalyzed Guerrero to teach a comparative animal science course.
She said, “The course draws parallels between the local San Bernardino forest and the Costa Rican rainforest. Rainforests once covered more about 14% if the Earth’s surface. Today less than half that amount remains (about 6%). Human impact on this specialized environment comes from clearing for development, ranching and farming, and directly from our urban lifestyles. Locally, we are in a draught and dealing with environmentally triggered challenges. Visitors need to learn to pay attention to their daily actions and take steps that will impact our communities and other parts of the globe because we are all connected.”
Guerrero suggests ten simple steps to make every day an Earth Day:
- Carry a trash bag when you travel and take home your waste.
- Pick up any litter you see around you on walks and in your neighborhood.
- Clean up after your pet on walks and trips.
- Take public transportation, commute with a coworker, or ride a bike once a week.
- Recycle your waste so you reduce trash buildup.
- Reduce your use of throw away products.
- Use old fashioned and less toxic cleaning solutions.
- Plant native plant species in your garden.
- Use electronic technology options to cut down or eliminate paper billing statements.
- Take action to reduce junk mail.
Guerrero suggests the following resources for further information:
Ecological Footprint Quiz: http://www.earthday.net
Invasive Plant Information: http://www.invasivespecies.gov
California Plant Info: http://www.cal-ipc.orgm,
http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu, http://www.cdfa.ca.gov,
Stop Junk Mail: http://www.obviously.com/junkmail/,
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs4-junk.htm,
Haley’s Handy Hints: http://www.haleyshints.com
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Guerrero is available for interviews. Contact Shelly Angers at (802) 457-4000.
