Earth Day 2011 -- Taking it Personal

On April 22 we will all celebrate Earth Day. This is a day when the entire world focuses on our planet's health, and each of us has the opportunity - and the responsibility - to make a difference. In my opinion, there is no worthier a cause than fighting to maintain a healthy planet. Let's face it - It will not matter which US political party has power in Congress or if we balance our trade deficit if our planet's ability to sustain human life ceases to exist. Some would argue that this is not probable; I however, know that it is.

I know it so well and believe it so passionately that I do many things in my everyday life that some think are fanatical. However, there are other things I do that easily can be practiced by anyone, without much inconvenience at all. Turning off the water while brushing your teeth or lathering your hair, using a fan in the room you're in rather than turning on the air conditioning in the whole house, or simply refusing plastic bags at the supermarket, are just a few examples of the dozens of things everyone can do to help ensure a healthy planet.

My personal New Year's resolution for 2011 was to dramatically reduce the amount of trash I produce. This includes things such as being more vigilant about recycling, making packaging a primary determinant for purchases, and delaying the replacement of a product until it either no longer has value or is donated to someone/someplace where its value can continue to be utilized. A real life example of this is when choosing between one brand and another, such as with pet food. If one brand is packaged in plastic and the other in "tin" cans, I choose the can, which can be recycled much more efficiently. Imagine the impact it would have if everyone in the developed world implemented just a few of these personal practices.

This year, on Earth Day, I will be at EarthFest LA 2011 in Los Angeles, helping to coordinate that event and ensure a healthy planet for generations to come. What will you be doing? If you have no plans, we'd love to see you there - I might even put you to work!