Do something on Earth Day

Saturday is Earth Day, the brainchild of the late Gaylord Nelson. It will be the 37th Earth Day observance, and the first without Nelson, who left us last July 3.

It's a day to stop for a moment, to remind ourselves that we are the stewards of our natural environment and resources, and to take some positive action to do something nice for Mother Earth.

A lot of activity has already taken place this past week, observed as Earth Week in thousands of schools across the country.

Worldwide, last year more than 500 million people in more than 200 countries took part in some sort of Earth Day activity.

So what are you going to do?

There are a wide variety of events planned on Saturday. The Gaylord A. Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies lists many on its calendar, which is comprehensive but certainly not exhaustive. There are no doubt other things happening in your community, too. Here's a Milwaukee-area list.

If you don't want to follow someone else's program or schedule, do your own thing. Plant a tree. Pick up some trash in the park. Sign a petition. Order a hybrid car. Take a hike. Buy a book.Turn down your heat. Order a rain barrel. Earth Day observances can be large or small. But do something.

Personally, I'm going to take part in the Wisconsin Literary Bash, described as a non-urban book festival, in Plainfield. It coincides with the nearby Prairie Chicken Festival, so you will find details for both on that link. (No, I will not be wearing a prairie chicken suit for my reading, but you are welcome to do so if you so desire. Use the photo as a guideline.)

MORE IDEAS: from World Wildlife Fund.

The First Earth Day.