Children and Nature

I think everyone will agree that in the last two decades television, computers, and video games have replaced outdoor play as the primary recreation for a majority of children in the developed nations. If children are not reconnected to nature and encouraged to establish a bond with their environment, then the future of our planet is indeed in jeopardy.

Their are a number of organizations that are dedicated to educating children about environmental issues. But education alone is not enough. Children must feel empowered to make positive changes in their environment. By allowing them to devise solutions to the problems, and engaging them in the planning and execution of those solutions, we empower them to become more involved in the preservation of the planet.

Parents, teachers, adult family members can all contribute to this process. There are a number of things they can do:


1. Walk in nature with children. Find hiking trails, walk in a park or other greenspace.
2. Plant a children's garden. Take a small plot of ground and help them plant flowers, or vegetables. Show them how to care for the plants and then watch what happens.
3. Watch nature documentaries together. Let the time in front of the television be meaningful.
4. Create outdoor learning games. Teach them how to observe their environment.



It is unfortunate that the burden of solving these issues - created by past generations - falls to our children and their descendants. Ultimately, our success in educating and empowering children will affect the future of our world.

Until next time....become the change you imagine.

World Environment Day 2008

Hot on the heels of Earth Day, the world will celebrate World Environment day on June 5th.

New Zealand is hosting World Environment Day 2008 in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on June 5. The Ministry for the Environment is the lead government agency coordinating the event alongside UNEP.

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of UNEP.

The World Environment Day Alphabet - 80 Ways to Celebrate

World Environment Day can be celebrated in many ways, including street rallies, bicycles parades, green concerts, essay and poster competitions in schools, tree planting, recycling efforts, clean-up campaigns and much more. In many countries, this annual event is used to enhance political attention and action.

Heads of State, Prime Ministers and Ministers of Environment deliver statements and commit themselves to care for the Earth. Serious pledges are made which lead to the establishment of permanent governmental structures dealing with environmental management and economic planning. This observance also provides an opportunity to sign or ratify international environmental conventions.

Until next time...become the change you imagine.

Earth Day 2008

Earth Day is April 22nd and although most people are familiar with the day, they are not familiar with the history behind it.

Gaylord Nelson, the former U.S. senator from Wisconsin, is widely credited for starting Earth Day in 1970. An estimated 20 million people nationwide attended festivities resulting in the largest grassroots environmental movement in U.S. history. It became the impetus for national legislation like the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. By 1990, more than 200 million people in 141 countries participated in Earth Day celebrations.

Earth Day is not without historical precedent. Both Arbor Day and Bird Day were established in the late 1800s to support forestation, conservation, and the appreciation of nature. Native American peoples have long recognized and celebrated in story and song the interdependence of the earth and all her creatures.

Envirolink Earth Day Calendar has a list of national and international events for 2008.

The Earth Day Network has event lists, and interactive map of the world, as well as a section for contacting governmental officials on current environmental issues.

Participate in local events if available, or better yet, start one of your own! And remember to live Earth Day every day through conservation, recycling, and restoration.

Click on the photo to the right to

shop for Earth Day tees and gifts.

Until next time....become the change you imagine.

Earth Hour 2008

On 31 March 2007, 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour. If the greenhouse reduction achieved in the Sydney CBD during Earth Hour was sustained for a year, it would be equivalent to taking 48,616 cars off the road for a year.

With Sydney icons like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House turning their lights off, and unique events such as weddings by candlelight, the world took notice. Inspired by the collective effort of millions of Sydneysiders, many major global cities are joining Earth Hour in 2008, turning a symbolic event into a global movement.



As of today, 24 cities have joined together to make this year's Earth Hour event truly inspiring. Individuals from other cities all over the world have signed up to participate. Kudos to the people of Sydney for leading the way! Sign up, get involved...this year's event takes place on Saturday, March 29th at 8:00pm.

Until next time...become the change you imagine.

Wildflower Rhapsody

Spring is on the way, and with it comes visions of trees "greening up", flowers blooming, and birds singing. Gardener's begin to ready their tools for a brand new season of weeding, tilling, and planting. Homeowners begin to visualize their landscapes full of color and texture.

But what of the neglected spaces? "What neglected spaces", you ask? The vacant lots full of weeds and trash, the medians of divided highways within the city limits, the easements between the sidewalk and the street. These are all places that present opportunities for beautification and a restoration. What a wonderful project for student service clubs, civic organizations, gardening clubs, or just interested individuals! Everyone knows of such places in their cities and neighborhoods.

The first step is getting permission. Many county property appraisers have websites where you can get information on the owners of the property in question. If a highway median is something you'd like to improve, then usually your state Dept. of Transportation office would be the one to contact. Once permission has been obtained, the next step is to do a little research.

Most of these types of areas have no irrigation, so the best type of plants are wildflowers. They are more likely to be drought-tolerant, pest- and disease-resistant. Always choose varieties that are going to grow well in the USDA hardiness zone you are located in. Find out about invasive plant species in your area and what plants are prohibited, or banned in your state.

What is a wildflower?

By expert estimates, there are over 20,000 species of flowering plants in North America, belonging to about 300 different families. Those that grow in the wild or on their own, without cultivation, are called wildflowers. Wildflowers indigenous to the continent are called “natives”. Others, which may be quite common, but not indigenous, have been introduced from some other part of the world and are referred to as “naturalized.” Both types share one common distinction: They are equipped to grow on their own in nature.

Wildflowers.org has good information on noxious weeds and invasives, as well as very complete information on wildflowers for each area of the country. Their recommended wildflower seed supplier is American Meadows, and it also has an excellent website with great information.

This spring let's all do our part to get outside and get involved!

Until next time...become the change you imagine!