Which does more to improve our environment, carrying a sign or planting a tree?
Of all the questions which can come before this nation, there is none which compares in importance to the great central task of leaving this land an even better land for our descendants than it is for us, and training them into a better race to inhabit the land and pass it on. Conservation is a great moral issue, for it involves the patriotic duty of insuring the safety and continuation of the nation.…
- Theodore Roosevelt, 1908







Article comments
26 - Scott Butki
This is a great piece, Dave.
We often disagree on issues but I'm with you on arbor day being a more valuable, meaningful day than Earth Day thogh I don't see why they can't both exist.
27 - Lumpy
Its arbor day right now and I sure haven't seen anyone out plamting trees.
28 - Mark Edward Manning
Dave, good column, and it's so true that Earth Day is an empty gesture. How many of these Earth Day observants attend concerts or other events, leaving tons of trash behind? Thanks for celebrating Earth Day - yeah, you people are really serious about saving the earth!
It all comes down to few basic things: plant a tree, take public transportation (if you can), turn off electrical appliances when they're not being used, conserve water - and, for Gaia's sake, recycle! I'm amazed at the morons here in Britain who put six bags of trash on the curb every damn week yet ask, "I wonder when America's going to ratify the Kyoto Treaty?"
29 - billy
how is earth day the same as arbor day. also how can i help the environment during earth day and arbor day
30 - britanie
well you see earth day is very important to our environment because people try to recycle or plant a tree. but the thing i don't get is how after earth day everyone doesn't care about our plant anymore!!