Earth Day 2015: the good, the bad and the silenced

In the spring of 2014, it was reported that an "ice plug" that holds back the ice sheet of East Antarctica might melt away in coming centuries if ocean waters warm. If it disappears, the result would be a global sea-level rise of nine to thirteen feet. ©Ted Martens

Environmental writer Candice Gaukal Andrews is not sure that we will have an Earth Day in 50 years

April 22, is Earth Day 2015, the 45th celebration of what started out as a true grassroots movement—the environmental likes of which we haven’t seen since.

Writes Candice: "Last year, on Earth Day 2014, I wrote about Americans’ declining concerns about natural resource issues and the slackening of our environmental laws. I questioned whether we still have the intestinal fortitude to take to the streets today in support of our environment. I asked what Earth Day 2064 would look like."

"I think I may have been a little optimistic. I’m not sure 50 years from now there will be an Earth Day. So instead of looking far into the future this year, let’s gaze back into the recent past—just since Earth Day 2014—and see what the planet has endured in the past 12 months and if there is cause to have hope for the future."

Candice’s  bad news since Earth Day 2014 includes quickening human-caused climate change, reduction in financial support, the dramatic loss of biodiversity and increase in poaching.

Her good news includes climate change deniers losing their case, new generations respect the environment more, natural places are being respected more for our health and co-operative conservation is working.

On the other hand… says Candice: "Unfortunately, this past year saw something we never had to contend with before: those in positions of legal power who wish to stop us from even publicly talking about the condition of our Earth.

Just a month ago, I wrote about the governor of Florida, who allegedly banned the words "climate change" from the language of state officials while on duty. It sounded outrageous, until something similar happened in my own state of Wisconsin. Just a week ago, Tia Nelson, the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands executive director, was put under orders not to discuss "global warming" on state time. To me, that seems odd, to stop someone who is responsible for our public lands from talking about what may be the most important issue facing them. But according to the board, working on climate change—or even mentioning it while at work—is a waste of public funds.

Read the full article HERE

Valere Tjolle

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