Posts Tagged ‘Earth Day’

Next Up: Arbor Day, a Day for the Trees

Monday, April 26th, 2010

Last week it was Earth Day and next week it’s another day to remember the environment and go green – it’s Arbor Day. Arbor Day is April 30th and has a bit more of a narrow focus (and lately people argue – a less political message). It’s about the trees and conserving our forests. Here’s some of the history of Arbor Day from http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/natbltn/200-299/nb227.htm

“Most holidays remind us of past events, but Arbor Day, set aside for
the planting of trees, looks toward the future. That is truly
conservation. Conservation may be defined as the wise use of all our
natural resources for the permanent good of all the people . It is a way
of living that looks toward the future.

The idea of Arbor Day started on January 4, 1872, when J. Sterling
Morton, then a member of the Nebraska Board of Agriculture,
introduced a resolution that:

“Wednesday, the tenth day of April, 1872, be and the same is hereby
especially set apart and consecrated for the planting of trees in the
State of Nebraska and the State Board of Agriculture hereby name it
Arbor Day; and to urge upon the people of the State the vital
importance of tree planting …. ”

Over a million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day.
Later the state was nicknamed “The Tree Planters State”. In 1893, Morton
became the third U. S. Secretary of Agriculture, on the cabinet of President Grover
Cleveland.

Arbor Day gave impetus to the swing of public opinion, from
acquiescence in forest destruction, toward forest conservation, At first
it was observed only by agricultural organizations and by towns, to
encourage the planting of shade and forest trees, shrubs and vines
along highways and about homes and public property.”

In 1884 the National Education Association its approval. Arbor Day is now observed in every state and in other countries too.

Here’s how we celebrated – rather than planting trees – we saved them. We donated rubber mulch for a playground in New Jersey. Read about the project and how we replaced wood chips with a new rubber mulch surface.

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Earth Day: Happy 40 Year Anniversary

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Today is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Rubberecycle encourages you to think about how you contribute to the conservation of the earth’s resources. A big part of Earth Day is choosing to recycle and to buy recycled products.

Here are 5 simple tips to celebrating Earth Day with actions that preserve resources:

1. unplug electronics when they aren’t in use (like your computer)
2. turn out lights to conserve energy (and use low energy light bulbs)
3. recycle (this one is our favorite!)
4. ride your bike, bus or carpool to reduce air pollution
5. Support alternative energy sources – some states are offering incentives with tax rebates for going green.

As part of the Billion Acts of Green, an initiative organized by the Earth Day Network’s Green Generation campaign, more than 30 million people will use social media to encourage green activities. But the real changes come from changing lifestyle habits and supporting recycling by choosing products that are made with recycled materials.

Not only citizens, but companies should look for ways to lessen their impact on the earth. We’re trying to do our part by recycling tires that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Rubberecycle manufactures a unique rubber granule product recycled from 100% scrap tires. Consumers love our rubber mulch because it’s safe, economical, long-lasting and most importantly, environment-friendly.

We encourage you to use Rubber Mulch for you landscaping. Don’t cut down the trees for wood chips! Rubber Mulch is softer and safer! In honor of Earthday!

Also, teach your kids and family about what they can do. Here are some ideas on how to celebrate Earth Day at home: http://holidays.kaboose.com/earthday-activities.html

However you celebrate we hope you’ll go green this Earth Day – and not just for the day – but for the rest of the year too.

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3 Ways to Looking at Environmental Problems on Earth Day

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Tomorrow is Earth Day, so happy Earth Day to you and to our earth. It’s been forty years since the first Earth Day and we’ve learned a lot since then. Here are some rules to living a life that is guided by science and not by myths from the book “Whole Earth Discipline.”

1. Climate change is a huge issue today. When Earth Day was established we weren’t good climate models. We didn’t then predict it. People thought the bigger issues would be overpopulation and that this would lead to our being wiped out.

2. New technology can have side effects. Anti-nuclear power “led to more reliance on electricity generated by coal plants spewing carbon.” We got “industrial agriculture” but that “led to the lower-yield farms that require more acreage, leaving less woodland to protect wildlife and absorb carbon.”

3. Organic food – food for the rich? Organic food hasn’t been shown to be any healthier or more nutritious than non organic. If people eat organic they spend more on food and have to make tough choices. When green marketers tried to get people in Zambia to choose organic, they did — at a cost. Their children eat fewer fruits and vegetables — and sometimes nothing at all. Zambia rejected emergency food for starving citizens because the grain had been genetically engineered.

“Total reliance on organic farming would force African countries to devote twice as much land per crop as we do in the United States,” he writes. “An organic universe sounds delightful, but it could consign millions of people in Africa and throughout much of Asia to malnutrition and death.”

Want more tips for a better environment? Check out this story in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/science/20tier.html

Happy Earth Day from Rubberecycle! We turn recycled tires into practical and safe solutions for playgrounds, landscaping and more.

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