Earth Day every day

 Mother Earth: humans are guests, not masters

Today marks the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day! Adhering to the theme of climate action, Ben & Jerry encourage us to celebrate by taking 3 steps:

• Support the youth led climate movement,
• Vote for climate aware candidates up and down ballot, and
• Promote climate justice like the UN’s global Green New Deal proposal.

I would like to add responsible consumerism to the list, along with perennial favorites reduce, reuse, rebuild, reclaim, recover, reevaluate, reflect, refuse, reinvent, repair, repurpose, respect, rethink, and recycle.

Below are links to tips to help you get started or up your game to the next level:

• GreenMountainEnergy.com
• RethinkRecycling.com
• WastelandRebel.com

Earth Day every day

Statista analysts report climate change awareness is growing. Despite stubborn climate deniers in the US (mostly older conservatives), 60% of Americans believe climate change is a major threat. In the UK, 80% of people are concerned about climate change. Climate related headlines recently in the news include:

• Animals enjoy break from humans while parks remain closed.
• Faced with evidence linking pollution to coronavirus deaths, Trump administration still determined to roll back regulations, prompting coalition of environmental groups to sue the EPA.  
• Great Barrier Reef suffers third mass bleaching event in five years
• Green future of booze:  wine and vodka made from CO2.
• Himalayas visible for first time in 30 years as pollution levels in India drop.
• Jellyfish was seen swimming in Venice canal.
• Judge canceled permit for Keystone Pipeline from Canada.
• Kangaroo hops around downtown Adelaide, Australia.
• Natural world is thriving while more than 1/3 of human population stays at home.
• Oil industry is running out of places to store unwanted product; prices plunge below zero as demand collapses. 
• UConn alumnus Josh Cohen founded successful Junkluggers business. 
• The UN is concerned about multiple nations lowering environmental standards.
• Virginia is first southern state to mandate clean energy standard.
• Wildlife destruction is a series of cliff edges rather than a slippery slope.

In the spirit of spreading happy, positive, and/or silly vibes:

• Bodega cat works from home.
• Jon Pomper sings Kokomo parody.
• Squirrel Week photos accessible via Google search regardless of WaPo pay wall.

Daily pandemic update:  

Dozens of protesters in Lebanon poured onto the streets of Beirut, protesting in their cars to maintain physical distance as the country combats the coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile the number of people facing acute food insecurity could double, jumping to 265 million according to a new report by the UN World Food Programme (WFP). Aljazeera.com timeline

22 Apr 2020	Cases		Deaths		Recovered
11:31 GMT*	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today
World	2,501,898	2,575,875	171,735	178,669	658,561	704,142
US	792,938	819,175	42,518	45,343	72,389	82,973
NY	253,311	258,589	18,822	19,470	29,593	29,826
CT	19,815	20,360	1,331	1,423	63	63
NC	6,981	7,137	220	245	1,247	1,302

*Documenting time of day because real time data updates continuously.
Tracking specific states:  NY is US epicenter, son Reid lives in CT, and I live in NC. 
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/     https://www.coronainusa.com/  

A moment of silence for those we’ve lost to coronavirus, including the first 100 in the US.

In the news:  

• Senate approved $480 billion for businesses, hospitals, and testing; House to vote Thursday.
• Trump coronavirus timeline: what he said, when he said it and what he actually did.
• Trump 60 day immigration ban halts green cards but not temporary visas.
• Veterans Administration hydroxychloroquine study found no benefit, higher death rate in patients.  
• WI election led to 7 confirmed cases so far; additional linked infections possible.
• CDC warned second wave this winter expected to be worse.
• DE medical supplier said FEMA seized 400,000 N95 masks.
• GA, SC, TN easing restrictions early; GA Gov Kemp faces criticism for moving too fast.
• NY Gov Cuomo announced rolling regional plan to reopen NY.
• TX Lt Gov Dan Patrick doubled down; said there are better things than living.
• NC expanding food benefits for 800,000+ children impacted by pandemic.
• Gov Cooper provided update: NC not yet ready to reopen, help coming for furloughed workers.
• Winston Salem announced Mask the City initiative; 40 day extension of stay at home order.
• Former UK PM Gordon Brown and others urge global coordination in pandemic response. 
• Holocaust memorial event Zoom bombed with Hitler images.
• Trudeau wants stricter gun laws in Canada following Nova Scotia shooting.
• How to: extend the life of vegetables.
• How to: make anniversaries special when you can’t leave the house.

Following Kenny Beck’s lead to share a few signs of hope:

• 40+ employees spent 28 days at PA plant making polypropylene for PPE.
• Boston hospital harpist plays daily for long time volunteer.
• CA family leaves flowers on doorsteps to bring cheer during pandemic.
• Coronavirus patient with severe lung injuries makes miraculous recovery.
• Hallmark is giving away greeting cards to help people thank front line workers.
• OH man and family make and deliver 5,000 sandwiches to thank hospital staff.
• Parade of vehicles helps celebrate teen’s adoption.

In my personal life:

The current administration’s public land and energy policies snap my beans (Southern for make me mad). I consider myself a conservationist and environmentalist in the spirit of Teddy Roosevelt, but not a conservative. What exactly are they conserving, beyond their personal financial assets and “traditional” values? Such a shame the word conservative, defined as marked by moderation or caution, has been hijacked by radicals.

My parents were not at all politically active during my childhood, though my dad eventually became a Fox News republican. I don’t remember my mom talking much about politics. She might have cast a few ballots over the course of her lifetime but not many. Bless their hearts.

One grandpa considered himself a Harry Truman democrat and occasionally wrote letters to the editor. The other grands were disinterested in politics and rarely if ever voted. However, they had in common the cultural marker of the Great Depression. Their generation learned to be thrifty to survive and thrive. I am blessed to live in a world of abundance (more than enough food, clean water, money, etc. to live comfortably) though I still practice some of the frugal habits learned from my grandparents. I save everything that I think could be useful in some way: bags, rubber bands from asparagus and broccoli, twist ties, etc. Greg makes fun of me for having bags full of bags. We live in a small home so I try to minimize clutter, donating surplus items to charity or giving away. But still, we do have a lot of bags saved. I just can’t bear to throw them away, or anything else that could be reused or repurposed. Bless my heart.

In addition to the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day, today is also the birthday of Greg’s Aunt Debbie! Ordinarily the Dorsett family would celebrate with a big family dinner, lots of hugs and gut busting laughter but this year phone calls, text messages and perhaps a group video chat will be our new normal. We check in with Aunt Debbie periodically to see if she sneed anything but do not risk visiting during the stay at home order. Cousin Johnna lives with Aunt Debbie and Uncle John. Fortunately they are able to take care of one another, able to get food and supplies as needed. 

Aunt Debbie