Earth Day!

Earth Day is upon us, and while I usually gloss over holidays, occasions, and anniversaries, I feel this one is specifically noteworthy, especially considering the need for a global shift in environmental policy. I'm not incredibly radical in this issue, not going so far as saying we all have to completely change the way we eat, produce, supply, or live. At least not yet, maybe. I think. We do have to begin making changes that are easier and simple, while making some bigger strides in our personal/community lives. But organizing on local, regional, and global scales has become a necessity.
Political action is crucial to resolving, or even making strides towards resolving, our ecological issues; here our old friend explains why.
More than changing the exposure politicians give to environmental issues, or invoking the participation of the US in international environmental agreements, the politicization of this "agenda" will lead to better public transportation, transit laws, alternative energy funding, zoning/code changes to allow more green roofs and urban gardens. These and other political moves will set up an infrastructure of progress and sustainability, from which people will comfortably change the way they live. But then the question becomes: if people are not willing to change the way they live within the status quo, why would they fight to create a situation for change? There's less personal investment necessary in the latter, I would argue, and it is almost universally accepted that a crisis is at hand. Some people have no sense of urgency about the situation, some people are just plain selfish, while others just don't know what to do about it. What needs to happen is that those of us with some more information about the situation need to take positions of leadership on all scales (local, regional, global), and share this information. Figure out how to give someone a personal stake, an immediate interest in the situation. We need to find out how to best petition our political representatives to make sure they include the environment on their agenda. We must insert global warming and other environmental issues into the presidential and other political campaign dialog. We must to mobilize the global citizenry to alter the course of the world. Every day shall be Earth Day if we follow with this declaration.

My commitment is renewed today.