Greetings, subscribers. This post—and a few more to come—offers some wonderful information about caring for Mother Nature from my dear friend, Peggy Sias Lantz, a nature lover who cares deeply about our Mother Earth.
Peg is a Florida Master Naturalist whose family has lived in Florida for more than 100 years, the author of ten books related to nature (visit her website), a music major from Rollins College, a retired music teacher & choir director, and a dedicated speaker, sharing her knowledge of Florida plants, in particular. Presently, she’s enjoying her ninth decade of life on Mother Earth. Yes, Peg turns 90 years old this summer.
Her passion for protecting this planet is like a gentle but strong wave at the beach—a push to action. Recently, Peg began publishing a series of short essays about Earth Care for publication in her church’s newsletter. I asked her permission to share some them here for you, my subscribers, to enjoy. Boy, am I happy she said yes.
Caring for Mother Nature
Peggy’s introduction to the series…
“… I do my best to treat Mother Nature with care. So, I would like to share some of the things I have learned and done over many years, with the hope that I might find something that you are willing and able to do to join in caring for our hurting planet.”
Earth Day
To honor Earth Day, Peg wrote the following about its history.
Earth Day occurs on Saturday, April 22, this year, 2023. The first Earth Day was Wednesday, April 22, 1970. This is how it happened.
Industry had been freely polluting air and water for many years, and Rachel Carson addressed the damage they were doing in her 1962 book, Silent Spring. (If you haven’t read it, please do.) A huge oil spill in California in 1969 raised more concerns about pollution, and students were rallying against war.
A Wisconsin senator, Gaylord Nelson, had his own concerns about the environment and decided to try to organize the student anti-war energy into a protest against air and water pollution to bring it to public attention. He announced a national college teach-in, and set the date for it between spring break and final exams – April 22.
His efforts inspired thousands of colleges and universities and 20 million Americans to rally against the damages occurring in the environment. By the end of that year, the first Earth Day led to Congress passing environmental laws – the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Air Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Two years later, the Clean Water Act, and in another year, the Endangered Species Act.
Earth Day goes global
In 1990, Earth Day went global, with 141 countries joining. In 1992, the United Nations met in Rio de Janeiro for the first Earth Summit. In 2000, global warming and clean energy became the rallying cry.
Today, Earth Day is a well-organized entity, promoting events and activities for the day and the week. Take a look at the Earth Day website — https://www.earthday.org
—END—
Next time from Peg: TREES
For the story of how I know Peg, click here.
Thanks for reading!
Your writer on the wing,
Charlene
Kathleen Brandt
I am heartened by this: a wise, mature, caring voice coming from the State of Florida! Or rather, two, counting Charlene. Thank you.
Charlene Edge
Thank you, Kathleen.
Peg reminds me about things like this: it would be nice if more people thought about little actions they could do everyday to at least NOT clutter up or dirty-up the environment. I saw one person at the beach recently walking along with a bag, picking up trash. And she was NOT an employee of the Parks Department or something like that. Just a caring person IN FLORIDA!
Nylda Dieppa
I am a hundred percent with you, Kathleen! I guess ” it takes one to know one” and “birds of a feather…” etc. Yay for Florida sanity in the middle of madness!
Charlene
Thanks, Nylda. Sanity, sanity, we can always use more sanity.
Steve Muratore
Long live Peg Sias Lantz! ??✊❤️
Charlene
Indeed! Cheers to Peg!