Another thought, instead of looking at the Amish communities as if they are strange, maybe we should take a few lessons from them as to how to respect Mother Nature and the laws of the land. This would be a true act of going green.

I am sorry but the sense of urgency should have been from day one when we were all invited as guests to reside on this place called Earth. We are all visitors here, and have pretty much overstayed our welcome. No one deserves credit for being a founder of a green group or a going green society, we all should have had this inate desire to preserve from day one. But no, as evolution has proven, we are a society of "I deserve more", and this has what's gotten us into a desparate situation. I am not worried about Miss Earth, she will take care of herself, she has before. Noah better start building his arc once again. We are the ones who are going to perish from our selfishness, the Earth will re-create herself.

Again, watch the Story of Stuff, and pass it on. If Americans stop buying all this unneeded stuff made in China, - stop importing tonsandtonsandtons of cheap lead filled plastic junk that is designed to break, their factories will all but close down, eliminating a good portion of the environmental pollution, both from the manufacturing standpoint, and the waste point. If we stop buying so much crap, we won't have to throw away so much crap. It's a win/win. I also think that for every container coming to the US from China, we should be sending one back to them...filled with all the broken and discarded gabage they manufactured - let them deal with it in their landfills - then maybe they will be more aware of the toxins they are adding to products.

A little over a year ago, I switched from driving to and from Madison to work every day to riding a state vanpool. My wife and I have switched almost all our light bulbs to compact fluorescents. We try to recycle as much as possible (she even brings plastic bottles home from work because they don't recycle them). If everyone could just do some of these simple things, we could at the very least slow the effects on our planet. Global warming isn't a myth, or something from a sci-fi film. It's really happening. We can all help slow it down, maybe even stop it. Someone mentioned that until laws are changed, not much else will change. To a point, that's true. But, we can contact lawmakers to let them know how we feel. If enough people act, they'll have to start listening.

Now if you can convince China ( whose country is one gigantic outdoor bong) to cut their pollution, perhaps we will get somewhere! Many olympians may not even attend the olympics in China this summer, because the air is so polluted in Beijing.

nemesis makes THE most pertinent point ...CHINA

For those that believe this "global warming" stuff, you need to take your focus off the U.S. and focus on CHINA.

Every day is Earth Day. We don't have an alternative biosphere to move to when things go wrong here. Too many critics, not enough soldiers....

Optimism, you need a name change to pessimism. TCB, TONS of laws need changing - like allowing industry to dump 4 billion pounds of toxic chemicals per year in the US. And Nemesis, look at that "story of stuff" link - it may change your mind - it did mine.

Ok. I am super upset about these people that are introducing "green products", "green power" and taking credit for bringing these conditions to the attention of the nation. In a sense it reminds me of an abusive spouse who beats you down, and then comes carrying a dozen roses to smooth things over. The damage has been done and the people who have done this damage knew from day one the products they were selling and/or using were destructive. Now, the consequences are evident, and you think this can be reversed?? We are just guests on this planet, and we definately have over stayed our welcome, and the earth will take care of herself, we are the ones who are going to perish.

“Until you change the laws … nothing’s going to change, We have to create a sense of urgency.” The only people who can change the laws are politicians-and politicians are swayed by every feel-good emotion there is in order to gain votes. The idea that the earth is a fragile organism needing mankind to protect it and clean it up is hogwash. China is building two coal fired polution belching electrical plants a week to keep up with their electrical needs. Does anyone really think simply installing a flourescent lightbulb will make a difference? Get away from any emotion and look at the facts - facts not based on any EPA or sierra club propaganda. Those groups are typical political agendas and skewed computer models and not based in actual facts.

"Until you change the laws … nothing’s going to change,” Backenkeller"

What laws need changing? What time bomb is ticking?

Does anyone here remember the First earth day when our esteemed congressman and all of his esteemed allies in the scientific community said that the pollution we were putting into the air was causing global cooling?

I hope everyone watches The Story of Stuff. Also, go to Congress.org and sign up for emails - they will send you alerts when your representatives vote on issues - like the "National Landscape Conservation System Act" - Vote Passed (278-140, 12 Not Voting)

The House voted in favor of giving permanent statutory protection to the Department of Interior’s National Landscape Conservation System, a 26 million-acre network of monuments, scenic trails, and conservation and wildlife areas.

Our representative Paul Ryan voted "NO". This is why everyone needs to get involved. E-mail Paul and ask him why he voted no to protect our environment.

I watched the Story of Stuff Balancepoint, and it was enlightening.( To say the least).
If we all did at least one thing a day to help conserve, what harm can it do?

That does seem to be a common trait of elitists.

Billnewbie:

"Why is it that people who suggest such a thing are never in the group that must be sacrificed? What a disgusting suggestion."

Your quote reminds me of almost every law that Congress sends to the President (every President)...congress exempts themselves from the laws they create....

Go to this website http://www.storyofstuff.com/ and watch the 20 minute video.

Don't give poor nations antibiotics? No one has more right to live than anyone else, regardless of their social, economic, or geographical situation. Who among us is qualified to decide who has to die for the benefit of the rest? Why is it that people who suggest such a thing are never in the group that must be sacrificed? What a disgusting suggestion.

The Chinese reportedly already like their goodies. Report off of MSN.com this morning about how the auto industry is expecting a 40-45% increase in SUV and luxury car sales this year in China. GM even showcased the Escalade at a Chinese auto show recently. And yes, the earth is going through a cycle. Its interesting that the earths warming trend, (a whole degree 'x' amount of years), is at the same time that scientists have noticed that the sun is burning hotter. Hmmmm....And what about the polar ice caps that are melting on Mars, (according to reports), is that because of our greenhouse gasses too?? Better blame Bush for this too!!!

You can save, and recycle all you want, which is good, but that will just prolong the inevitable. Quit making babies already! STOP! Wrap that rascal! Don't give poor nations antibiotics, and wonder why there's 10 million babies starving! What in the world are we going to do when a 1 billion Chinese, and another billion Indians decide they like cars, and all the other goodies Americans take for granted? That's another topic all together, and if you think the Chinese want to conserve, and continue to ride their bikes for the good of the world, you're sadly mistaken. They want theirs, too, and I don't blame them.

"Realizing what is Obvious" Really?

What is obvious is climate change is a natural and age-old phenomenon on this planet, predating humanity by millions of years. Ice ages have come and gone, long before industrialization and SUVs.

Yes, there's been a modest increase in mean global temperatures over the last hundred years, about 1 degree Fahrenheit. Big deal. And most of the warming in the 20th century occurred from 1900-1940, when man-made greenhouse gases were even less of a factor. The impact of human activity continues to be overwhelmed by myriad other variables, most of which we don't fully understand or have the ability to accurately predict.

Solar activity dwarfs all other factors. Picture a huge medicine ball side by side with a BB gun pellet. That's the relative size of the sun to the Earth. It's a grand conceit that the activity of relatively microscopic humans on that BB has any significant impact on climate change. And who says today's climate is the optimal one? As it changes, we'll adapt. Marginally warmer may be better.

So count me among the skeptics. Of course, I'm no scientist. But neither is Al Gore, a politician looking for a new career and a new cause.

There are qualified climatologists, meteorologists and astrophysicists who've had the courage to take on the so-called consensus, just as Galileo and Copernicus took on the conventional wisdom of their day

Happy Earth Day!

These are great points that all of us can do. Many of these groups will be at the Evansville Earth Day Energy Fair on Friday, April 25th from 4:30 to 8:30 pm at the field house. You can get more information about what's happening on the "Green Front" in Evansville at www.evansville-wi.net Thanks for keeping these articles coming.

More, please! Gazette, please keep up with this group of groups, and please let us know when there are issues before local government in which green solutions could play a part. Please permit this group to continue to speak out on where citizen involvement could be useful. This is an excellent start. Keep us apprised of when green ideas come forth. There's hardly any aspect of local life and government where the green choice isn't the right choice. Please don't let this be a one-time nod to Earth day.