Earth Day 2020

Today is the 50th annual Earth Day, and the Earth has quieted. One impact of this awful time has been a reduction in seismic activity and noise, on the Earth and in the oceans. In Wuhan, Rome, Boston, and New York City, residents are hearing birdsong in the streets. With cruise ships out of the water, oceans are taking a pause. Researchers today expect to confirm findings made after 9/11: when ship traffic in North American waters came to a halt, right whales already being studied in Canada’s Bay of Fundy were found to have a drop in stress-level hormones.

Air pollution has dropped significantly, too. You may have seen photos of the Himalaya Mountains, now visible from India and Pakistan for the first time in 30 years. Here’s one:


 View from Jalandhar (Punjab,) April 3, 2020
(Photo credit: Diksha Wallia)

The theme for this year’s Earth Day is “Climate Action.” On this most unusual of Earth Days, there are three ways to get involved as the planet’s largest civic event goes digital: Join the Global Digital Surge, Watch Earth Day Live, or Take 24 Hours of Action. Details are here: Earth Day 2020 You can add your voice on social media with #EarthDay2020, and tune in today at earthday.org for messages, performances, and calls to action from Zac Efron, Dr. Sylvia Earle, John Kerry, Van Jones, Christiana Figueres, Al Gore, Licypriya Kangujam, Zdeno Chara, Paul Nicklen, Nhako, and Arizona Muse. Earth Day Live

In this time of darkness, there are still glimmers of light. One of them is that Earth is healing. We are getting a glimpse of what could be. What can be, with our help. As Cornell University marine ecologist Dr. Michelle Fournet puts it, “Nature is taking a breath when the rest of us are holding ours.” What if we all took a break from holding our collective breath to speak and sing and share our support for Mother Earth? And then to make choices and take action to further Earth’s healing? Today’s a good day to start.

Until tomorrow, stay safe and stay healthy. And please join me in celebrating and honoring our shared home, today and every day.

Love,
Nancie/Mom/Mimi/Grandma

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