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Every Day is Earth Day
-- Andrew Snow -- 04/15/2008
Earth Day is upon us once again, bringing renewed media focus to the ‘green’ movement and ensuring that the public hears the message of sustainability and eco-friendliness. Here in Iowa, the next week is full of events, giving average Iowans a chance to come out to have a good time, learn something, and go home feeling a little better about themselves and their world. The question, though, is whether or not people will change their habits and expect more from their leaders once the media spotlight dies down. Right now is a good time for environmentalism - public attention is as high as it’s been in years, and many people are changing to live more sustainable lives. I believe we’re seeing the start of true ‘grassroots leadership’, which is to say that the people are starting to lead, and the leaders are starting to follow.
Unfortunately, we don’t seem to have reached the ‘tipping point’ quite yet, where the public is demanding better answers and leaders are providing them. This session of the Iowa Legislature has been a disappointment to many, as we have seen good proposals (including a worthy energy bill from Gov. Culver) killed before reaching the floor or watered down until they no longer matter. In short, we need more than a few days of media attention and public involvement. And that’s where your help can make a difference: take a minute to write a letter to the editor (Earth Week is a great time to get published!), call your representative, share your feelings with friends and co-workers, and of course attend an Earth Day event. I’ll be posting a list of events that the Iowa Global Warming Campaign will be participating in - don’t forget to stop by our booth and say hi, we’d love to talk to you!
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by Andrew Snow