In the 21st century, not every day in San Jose is Earth Day. Most days our spent driving around in our private cars, with the AC turned up and no one in the back or passenger seats to tell us the short route, while we cruise up and down San Tomas Expressway or Stevens Creek Blvd. We smoke our cigarettes, tease our hair with Big Sexy Hairspray, take hour long showers, and nearly always forget to bring a recyclable bag to the grocery store (paper bags are only 10 cents!)
But on Earth Day people try to do things a little differently. Whether it’s walking to the grocery store instead of driving, cutting our smoking habit for the day, or maybe picking up a carpool buddy, Earth Day is one of the few days each year that some of San Jose residents reflect on their environmental foot print and try to give Earth a fighting chance.
At San Jose State University, Earth Day is a day-long celebration filled with entertainment, arts and cultural awakening. Performances from Native Americans are always a reminder of the relationship people once shared with Earth — a relationship that has been given the short end of the stick in the 21st century. SJSU students put together a “Trashion Fashion” show which shows eco-friendly styles. And myriads of activists are always eager to share with you their environmental passion – a cause that you might not have even heard of.
As fabulous as Earth Day in San Jose is, it’s easy to forget how fortunate we are to have a community that is thriving and isn’t plagued by the atrocities that are realities to millions of people around world. Here in the Bay Area we are somewhat conscious about the damage we are doing to our environment and that is usually what we pay homage to on Earth Day, but I think that it’s time to spend more time helping humanity as well.
So, on this Earth Day, I chose to sign up to volunteer for Oxfam in order to support their efforts to fight hunger, thirst, and poverty all over the world. By strengthening global communities, we will be better prepared to take care of our Earth.
In order to sustain a healthy planet we need to educate people on what they can do to minimize their environmental footprint and reverse some of the damage already done. But how can people teach a person fighting for their life to fight for their planet? After fighting for each other, we will have more people to take action in keeping our planet green. I’m not suggesting that people should stop taking action in ameliorating our environment. Instead, I suggest that on Earth Day people broaden their scope to supporting the environment and humanity.
Penned by Alina K. A. 