a day for the earth

Today is Earth Day (just in case you were unaware). For some, it's a date that gets little, if any, attention. For others, it's a clarion call to action. And for still others, including myself, it's an occasion with more than a bit of irony. If we see it as the one day in which we really pay attention to planet Earth, "irony" would hardly suffice. Maybe "absurd" would be a better term! I suppose similar comments could be made about designating February as African-American History Month, or the 8th of March as International Women's Day. I suppose it's people who have the least connection with the earth who need to be reminded of it.

Joseph Romm is only half-joking when he suggests that we "dump Earth Day." I can see his point about Earth surviving whatever damage we foolish humans do. I predict that when civilizations collapse, there will still be a human remnant somewhere, engaged in the lofty cultural pursuits as envisioned in Mad Max or the stirring opening sequence of 2001: A Space Odyssey.