“The world is not our facility
We have a responsibility
To use our abilities to keep this place alive…”
— Fugazi, “Burning Too”
On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day demonstrations were held. As the record recalls, “20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.”*
Nearly fifty years have passed since the first Earth Day, and yet our environment still dances on the brink of a global collapse. For every proposed wind farm, there is a hoard of NIMBY protestors who care only for their room with a beautiful view. For every small step taken towards forming a global coalition to protect the environment, there’s a jackass president waiting in the wings, scheming to take America backwards a century through hubris and deliberate deception.
So, what are we suggesting here?
That we can’t trust our politicians?
Well, certainly not the ones we have in office now, that is for sure.
Can we not count on our neighbors?
Honestly, that’s probably not your best bet.
No, friends, our best bet is on the devil we know the best: ourselves. Acceptance of one’s individual responsibility to the Earth is really all we have right now, especially at a time where the clock is ticking, yet there’s no clear collective path in sight.
This is why Earth Day is so important. It’s a fully transparent reminder that collective apathy is tough to beat—but a far more complicated battle is the one that occurs in our minds.
Am I doing enough to protect this habitat that I cherish so much?
Am I being led by fear, or by fact?
Am I doing my part?
The only way to answer these questions is to stand up and say, “I’m going to do something to make a difference today, and I don’t care who’s coming with me.”
The following is a list of Earth Day 2019 Clean Up events throughout the New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia regions.
New York City Locations
Clean Up: Bronx
Location: 2530 Jerome Avenue, The Bronx, NY 10468
Date and Time: Monday, April 22, 11 am
Information: https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2019/04/22/earth-day-2019
Clean Up: Canarsie Rockaway Parkway L train
Location: Canarsie Rockaway Parkway L Train Station, Brooklyn, New York, 12236
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 23, 5 pm
Information: This project is entitled from litter to glitter and will be held in partnership with the NYPD 69th Precinct NCO Program and the Youth Officers
https://www.facebook.com/events/275376056725965/?ti=icl
Clean Up: Brooklyn
Location: Cobble Hill Park, 264 Clinton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 24, 7 am
Information: https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2019/04/24/its-my-park-at-cobble-hill-park
Clean Up: Charles Memorial Park (Gateway National Recreation Area)
Location: Howard Beach, NY 11414
Date and Time: Saturday, April 27, 12 pm
Information: https://ecotalknewyork.wixsite.com/ecotalk
Clean Up: Chinatown
Location: 1 Mott St, New York, NY 10013
Date and Time: Saturday, April 27, 10 am
Information: Pace students will meet at 1 Pace Plaza and walk over to Mott Street together; public volunteers will meet at 1 Mott Street.
Clean Up: Stewarding Bronx Street Trees
Location: Wilkinson Ave and Bruckner Blvd. Pelham Bay Station, Bronx, New York, 10461
Date and Time: Saturday, April 27, 10 am
Information: https://treesny.org/civicrm/?page=CiviCRM&q=civicrm%2Fevent%2Finfo&reset=1&id=108
Clean Up: Brighton Beach
Location: Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York
Date and Time: Saturday, April 27, 12 pm
Information: http://euphoriainlife.com/
Clean Up: East River State Park
Location: 90 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Date and Time: Saturday, May 4, 10 am
Information: https://ptny.wufoo.com/forms/z1aneg3g19qe7f7/
Clean Up: Gantry Plaza State Park
Location: 4-09 47th Road, Long Island City, NY 10007
Date and Time: Saturday, May 4, 10 am
Information: https://ptny.wufoo.com/forms/z1aneg3g19qe7f7/
Clean Up: Gateway National Recreation Area
Location: Canarsie Pier, Brooklyn, NY 11236
Date and Time: Saturday, May 4, 11 am
Information: https://ptny.wufoo.com/forms/z1aneg3g19qe7f7/
Clean Up: General Grant National Memorial
Location: W 122nd St & Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10027
Date and Time: Saturday, May 4, 10 am
Information: https://ptny.wufoo.com/forms/z1aneg3g19qe7f7/
Clean Up: Mount Loretto Unique Area
Location: 20 Kenny Rd, Staten Island, NY 10309
Date and Time: Saturday, May 4, 11 am
Information: https://ptny.wufoo.com/forms/z1aneg3g19qe7f7/
Clean Up: Roberto Clemente State Park
Location: 301 W Tremont Ave, The Bronx, NY 10453
Date and Time: Saturday, May 4, 10 am
Information: https://ptny.wufoo.com/forms/z1aneg3g19qe7f7/
New Jersey Locations
Clean Up: Manasquan Beach
Location: Whiting Ave & Beach Front, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Date and Time: Saturday, April 20, 9 am
Information: http://www.onelightagency.com/earth-day/
Philadelphia Locations
Clean Up: Lardner’s Point Park
Location: 5202 Levick St., Philadelphia, PA 19135
Date and Time: Saturday, April 20, 10 am
More Information: https://riverfrontnorth.org/event/earth-day-cleanup-volunteer-day/?sd=1555718400&ed=1200&ad=n
*The History of Earth Day (www.earthday.org)
