Earth Day isn't just another greeting card-created holiday

Earth Day, created 41 years ago on April 22, isn't just another greeting card-created holiday.The inaugural Earth Day in 1970 "activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement," according to the Earth Day Network.Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the nonprofit organization promotes Earth Day and environmental education and policy activities every day of the year, not just every April 22.The Earth Day Network works with 25,000-plus partners in 192 countries "to broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement. More than one billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world," according to the network's website.How important is celebrating the day?"Everyone should observe it, in part because it's an acknowledgement we have a responsibility and it's an opportunity to give back," said the organization's president Kathleen Rogers. "It seems downright crazy not to take one day and say this is what the Earth provides for us and we need to honor it."In Northern California cities I've lived in, Earth Day doesn't attract a lot of attention.But that's not true elsewhere."Beyond the United States, Earth Day is an enormous sunrise or moment of awakening for people," Rogers said. "We had, in Iraq last year, landmine children victims planting trees at their schools and in towns. One-thousand children rode bikes in Delhi to the prime minister to ask the government to do something about water and sewage treatment problems. There are so many events, thousands of events. It's the biggest service day in the world."Closer to home, according to Rogers, "about 60 million or one in five Americans just in school are doing more than just cleanups. The kids have moved to putting on community events, changing lightbulbs, building gardens, recycling, meeting with school administrators to become more green and doing energy audits."And for Lincoln Open Space Committee members, Earth Day is celebrated throughout the year.The committee's mission is "the identification, preservation and protection of open space, wetlands and woodlands in the Lincoln area so that these ecosystems can serve as permanent native plant and wildlife habitats for the enjoyment of all."Anyone in Lincoln with a concern or interest in open space can join the open space committee, which meets at 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at the Twelve Bridges Library (lincolnopenspace.org). Up to two-dozen regulars attend the monthly meetings and about 100 volunteers work at the spring and fall creek cleanups, according to committee president John Williams. The Lincoln Open Space Committee expanded from the Markham Ravine neighborhood committee a few years ago to include all of the city. "We're restoring the habitat by introducting native species (trees and shrubs) and eradicating the invasive species," Williams said. "Grants for this fall are to plant 240 trees at the Auburn Ravine nature preserve. We're working on a grant to eradicate invasive species from Highway 193 to Joiner Parkway along the Auburn Ravine."Last November, committee members planted 50 native trees, including oak, sycamore and redbud, around the Lincoln Dog Park.For prospective members who don't know what native species are, the group will help them. "I do that for a living. We can offer that expertise to beginners, educating the public. We get speakers to come to our group," said Williams, a restoration ecologist. "We celebrate Earth Day every year by cleaning up the creek and enjoying the open space," Williams said.While Lincoln Open Space Committee's ninth annual cleanup day of area sites was held last Saturday, residents can assist in 12-year-old Madeline Huttie's inaugural efforts this weekend. She is asking the community to help her in removing trash from the preserves near Brentford Circle and Stansbury Lane in Lincoln Crossings. Bags for the clean up can be picked up at the Lincoln Crossing Clubhouse (830 Groveland Lane) this weekend.Lincoln residents can also contribute to the nonprofit Fluid Life Project by donating cans and plastic bottles year-round. Proceeds will go to build wells in underdeveloped countries. To kick off the drive, nonprofit volunteers will recycle these materials at Twelve Bridges Elementary School on April 29 and April 30. For more information, see the front-page's related story.Earth Day doesn't have to fall on just one day this month. Submit your own "Acts of Green" yearround on the Earth Day Network's website at earthday.org. These acts can be as simple as "pick up trash laying on my street" to "ride bus from Lincoln one out of every four trips to the Galleria Mall."It's easy to give back to the Earth in our everyday lifes.Carol Feineman can be reached at carolf@goldcountrymedia.com