Last weekend, I was to give 2 presentations about Social Responsibility and wanted to use some Earth Day decorations.  I was confident that I would find a generous supply of globes and various trinkets with earth designs since this was the weekend immediately prior to Earth Day.  Stop 1: Michaels.  I roamed the store for 20 minutes and didn't find a single earth-oriented thing.  I finally found a clerk and asked him if they had any Earth Day items - he looked at me with a totally blank stare and asked what I meant?  I clarified that I was looking for items with an earth on them.  No, he said, we don't have anything like that.  OK I thought - I know that Party City will have cool earth chotsky's - I've seen them there before.  As I walked in the store, I expected a big display.  Unfortunately, after another 15-20 minutes stroll, I again found nothing.

 

I was shocked!  Maybe I shouldn't have been, but I was.  I know, or at least believe, that America is becoming more environmentally aware.  I see it in the media - magazines with 'going green' cover stories; TV stations and networks with green themed programming.  Yet, our neighborhood retailers haven't received the word.

 

So, what can we do to help spread the word?  To quote Arthur Ashe, you "start where you are; use what you have; and do what you can".  I believe it's as simple as that to get started.  Discover what you WILL DO and start there:  buy compact florescent bulbs, promote earth-friendly actions and attitudes to your friends and neighbors in an open and tolerant way; print on both sides of your paper, and buy organic or recycled products when you can. 

 

View "The Story of Stuff" movie - the link is below - to gain a better understanding of how and why our stuff is made, then make a decision to be a part of the solution rather than the problem!

 

Happy Earth Day!