April 2014 Ritual: Earth Day Praise
By Diann L. Neu
Earth Day is an annual event held worldwide that demonstrates support for environmental protection.
Earth Praise
Praise Earth, our planet home,
For abundance of life.
Praise to you!
Blue sky and flowing waters,
Birds of the air and fish of the sea,
Praise to you!
Sun and moon, stars and planets,
Nights and days, years and centuries,
Praise to you!
Rain and dew, winds and breezes,
Frost and snow, lightning and thunder,
Praise to you!
Green plants and ancient forests,
Mountains and hills, lakes and rivers,
Praise to you!
Winged, and not,
Multi-legged, and two legged creatures,
Praise to you!
Earth Pledge
Let us join with Earth and with each other:
To bring new life to land
To restore waters
To refresh air
To protect animals
To treasure trees
To gaze at stars
To cherish human community
To heal Earth
To remember children
Shop smart:
•Buy what you need, not what you want.
•Borrow or rent things that you use occasionally.
•Go/give to garage sales and second-hand stores.
•Replace incandescent light bulbs with LEDs.
•Wash full loads of clothes in cold water and hang to air dry.
•Weatherstrip windows and doors.
•Install ceiling fans and programmable thermostats.Use transportation alternatives:
•Walk, bike, car pool, and use public transportation.
•When driving, reduce idling and maintain correct tire pressure.
•Car-share or rent.
•Buy local and organic foods in season, and support local food producers.
•Eliminate/eat less meat and eat food that is not packaged.
•Save your seeds from tomatoes, peppers, peas, and beans to plant.
•Make simple, natural cleaners with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and water.
•Donate, reuse, and recycle items before throwing them into the trash.
•Take harmful chemicals, batteries, and electronics to local hazardous waste depots or recyclers.
•Put a separate container next to your trashcan or printer for bottles, cans, and paper.
•Go paperless when you can.Turn off lights:
•During bright daylight, or whenever you will be away for an extended period of time.Use tap water:
•Fill up your glasses and reusable water bottles with water from the sink.
Turn down the heat:
•Turn down your thermostat when you leave for work, or use a programmable thermostat to control your heating settings.
Compost and plant a garden:
•Plant herbs and lettuce in a window box.
•Plant trees to keep your neighborhood cool. Earth Agrees!
