We are arriving at the season of redemption and renewal. Not only are the religious holidays of Easter and Passover observed over the next two weeks, but people from all walks of life will soon be coming together to celebrate Earth Day and its related activities. This year, Passover begins at sunset Friday, April 6, while Easter falls on Sunday, April 8. Earth Day is observed Sunday, April 22. It’s in the Easter and Passover spirit of redemption and renewal that people should also honor Earth Day.
As governments and businesses continue to increase their green initiatives — kudos to Wellington for its recent “green government” designation by the Florida Green Building Coalition — individuals would do well to follow their lead. Thanks to the growing popularity of mainstream environmentalism, being eco-conscious is now considered the norm. Hybrid cars aren’t considered as “elitist” as they once were, and it’s possible to say things are green without using quotation marks. And with gas prices on the rise, there’s extra motive to cut back on unnecessary driving trips and start thinking about more earth-friendly alternatives to oil.
However, there is still much progress to be made in changing old attitudes and bad habits. No one is expected to radically change their lifestyle overnight. Instead, there are small changes that can be made in everyday situations. For instance, if you buy bottled water, consider purchasing it in larger containers to cut back on the number of bottles you’ll go through — ditto for soft drinks and other beverages that come in different size containers. Another simple change you can make as a consumer is to reuse shopping bags, and if you’re purchasing only one item, tell the cashier you don’t need a bag at all.
These little things may not seem like much when looking at the bigger picture, and it’s easy to be cynical and say, “Well, what can one person do anyway?” But that’s just how people convince themselves it’s OK to carry on their wasteful ways. These things add up over time, and if more people made a conscious effort to be less wasteful, the results could be significant. Little things do matter.
To celebrate Earth Day, this year’s Great American Cleanup will take place Saturday, April 21. Local cleanups will be held in Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Loxahatchee Groves and The Acreage.
In Wellington, call Community Programs Manager Kim Henghold at (561) 791-4137 or visit www.wellingtonfl.gov and go to the Events section to download a volunteer application form. In Royal Palm Beach, call Michael Cheatham at (561) 790-5199. In The Acreage, call Autumn Oliveras at the Indian Trail Improvement District office at (561) 793-0874. And in Loxahatchee Groves, call Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association President Marge Herzog at (561) 818-9114.
To learn more about Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful, visit www.keeppbcbeautiful.org.
