Today, April 22, (in addition to being Good Friday), is Earth Day, a people-powered campaign that hopes to generate a billion acts of environment service and advocacy before Rio, 2012.  Hence, this year’s theme is “A Billion Acts of Green.”  The U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June, 2012.  You can become involved by pledging an act of green – you could organize an Earth Day Event in your community, or take part by attending an Earth Day celebration near you.

According to Earth Day.org, here’s a list of the other elements of the Earth Day campaign:

• The Canopy Project: Help fight deforestation, we will plant a tree for every $1 you donate
• Green Schools: Greening America’s Schools within a Generation
• Women and Green Economy: Engaging women leaders in the creation and development of a global green economy
• Athletes for the Earth:  Bringing the voices of Olympic and professional athletes to the environmental movement
• Creating the Common Wealth: Convening 200 of the world’s entrepreneurs to solve climate change and create a new green economy, as well as:
• Arts for the Earth: Celebrating the work of environmental artists in all media, including Arts for the Earth
• Design
• Music
• Museums

We all should appreciate the beauty of the world around us.  There are many simple and easy things we can do to keep it pristine, or when it is not in good shape, each person should do their part to restore it back to the way nature intended it.  Here are some ways you can be a part of the world’s largest environmental advocacy and service project:

•          Use safe household and personal care products;
•          Recycle;
•          Save energy – unplug any appliances, as they still use electricity if they are plugged in.
•          Turn lights off when you aren’t using them.
•          Turn your thermostat up a degree or two during the summer; use ceiling fans to circulate air.
•          Conserve gasoline – walk, carpool, or ride a bike. 
•          Turn off the water faucet while brushing your teeth, or lathering up in the shower.  You’d be surprised how much water runs while you aren’t    actually using it.
•          Purchase a water filter pitcher.  Water bottles (plastics) are bad for the environment.
•          Don’t discard electronics, sell them or give them to someone who can use them. Waste from these products causes numerous problems in the environment, including mercury contamination.

Each year, we are adding more and more “green jobs,” with the purpose of improving our environment.  Alternate ways of creating clean energy are being developed, and automobiles can run on electricity instead of gasoline.  Other sources of alternate fuels are ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas, propane, and hydrogen (for fuel cell vehicles.)  These products have fewer emissions and pollutants.  Other Green jobs involve developing wind energy, green roofs, geo-thermal energy, solar energy, recycling, weather insulating/sealing, in addition to the alternate fuels mentioned before.

 Along with parents, schools can teach children to be good stewards of the planet.    By all working toward a better environment, we are making our world a safer place.  By “going green,”  you may also save some “green!”  Let’s do all we can to keep Mother Earth beautiful.