“Earth Days” Review and Tales of Pesticides & Good Reads

So last night I watched the Sundance acclaimed Earth Days film by Robert Stone on PBS. 

The main point I learned was that we Green Thinkers are definitely not reinventing the wheel in the new millennium.  The thought of lowering our carbon emissions started long ago, and pesticides seems to be one key factor that clued everyone in, but “green-washing” seems to be where most efforts were lost. 

Some images that remained in my mind were that pesticides were being blown on a school playground. While kids were eating their lunches, the smog of ‘cides was amidst their table, and it didn’t seem to phase them. Pesticides is a very covered topic today through the Environmental Protection Agency.  With summer just around the corner, use this resource to find the least invasive insect repellent for your outdoor gatherings.

“Green-washing” is a term to describe an effort or a person who is standing up for environmental protection, without really believing in the cause. It can also describe a product that is trying to make claims they are using all natural products or are Eco-friendly, when in fact, their whole process is not. It is because of this lack of real commitment to the cause that so many issues have been carried over from the 1960s to present day. 

Another interesting thought that came out of this movie was the idea that the rally of the first Earth Day in 1970 got all of its participation through written letters and fliers or face to face communication.  Clearly, the communication attempts did what they were intended and did not end up in the “junk” mail pile, but what a homage to pre-Internet days!  All the teamwork and time that must have went into that campaign is unfathomable this day and age, so there is no reason we can’t rally again using all available resources!

Here are a few life-changing books that were featured in the documentary, feel free to pick them up at your local library for a little enviornmental history lesson!

Silence of Spring by Rachel Carson

This book inspired the nation about the impact of pesticides, pollution, and the preservation of our environment.  Ms. Carson was given quote a bit of grief for speaking her voice, but it worked!

The Population Bomb by Dr. Paul Erlich

This book warned about overpopulation of the planet and how that would effect our resources and food.  While his exact predictions from 1968 haven’t come to fruition, the basic principles are still very relevant for today.

Whole Earth Catalog by Stewart Brand

This catalog listed products for the then-modern hippie. Everything from organic growing supplies to solar powered inventions was listed.   Prior to the catalog, Brand also inquired to the world through a button, Why haven’t we seen a photograph of the whole earth yet?  This button invoked the Nasa photo to help all mankind gauge what we were destroying – completely revolutionary.

Tagged as: 1970, Community, Earth Day, Earth Month, global