Endangered New Jersey: Earth Day #40 is April 22

Forty years after the first Earth Day, the world is in greater peril than ever. Will
2010 be a turning point to advance climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs?

The Earth Day Network is trying to galvanize millions to make personal commitments to sustainability.

Earth Day 2010 is a pivotal opportunity for individuals, corporations and governments to join together and create a global green economy.

You can join the more than one billion people in 190 countries that are taking action for Earth Day. Your actions don't have to be big or gobal or political.

Some personal pledges on the Earth day website include simple things like:

I will collect plastic bottles when I see them on the ground and recyle them.
Stop using plastic water bottles and get your water from the tap and carry it in a reusable bottle.
Go out on your own or with friends & family and pick up garbage around your community for 3 hours.

If you think it's time to stop protecting polluters and enact comprehensive climate legislation that will create American jobs, cap carbon emissions and secure our nation’s future, then look at next Sunday, April 25, when Earth Day Network will organize a massive climate rally on The National Mall to demand Congress pass strong legislation.

The Climate Rally will include notable speakers Reverend Jesse Jackson, film director, James Cameron, AFL-CIO President, Richard Trumka, Olympic gold medalist, Billy Demong, producer, Trudie Styler, author, Margaret Atwood, NFL player and television personality, Dhani Jones, environmental photographer Sebastian Copeland and many more.

The Climate Rally will also feature live music from Sting, John Legend, The Roots, Jimmy Cliff, Passion Pit, Bob Weir, Willie Colón, Joss Stone, Robert Randolph, Patrick Stump, Mavis Staples, Booker T, Honor Society and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger.

The first Earth Day was a success because 20 million Americans demonstrated their outrage for the state of the environment. Climate change is only one of about a dozen core issues that Earth Day hopes to address, including conservation and biodiversity, clean water, green schools and environmental education.

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