April is Earth Month. The North Georgia Conservation Coalition is celebrating our planet on April 23 at the Bowen Art Center in Dawsonville. This celebration will be happening all over the world and will include an urgent message. Our planet is very sick. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, which is when we began the use of fossil fuels for energy, our planet's temperature has gone up nearly 1.5 degrees Celsius. In some parts of the world, it has increased even more. That may not seem like much, but there is more carbon in the air than there was 20 million years ago when there were no humans and very little life on the planet. This is happening because of the increase of carbon in our atmosphere which is caused by burning fossil fuels.
Some carbon is good—it encourages growth. But when it is too much, it puts a blanket over our planet which causes it to heat up. This heating has caused damage that has rippled to every corner of the earth and every living thing on it. Our oceans, the coral reefs, the kelp forests, and the animals that live in the oceans are dying. Without oceans, there can be no Earth. Our glaciers are melting at accelerating rates because the planet is hot. We need those glaciers to help cool the planet. Extreme heat and droughts, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and cyclones are causing so much damage that it is affecting our food and water supply. And all this is happening while the population of the planet continues to grow and will be at 9 BILLION by 2050.
There is no planet B. BUT WE CAN SAVE PLANET A—OUR HOME!
The Earth Day celebration at the Bowen Art Center on Saturday, April 23 at 334 Hwy 9, Dawsonville from 10 am to 2 pm will help you see how you can help. The first thing we must do is cut the use of fossil fuels by switching to renewables. New jobs in the renewable energy field are being created faster than jobs in dirty energy. New materials and methods are making renewables more efficient and cheaper. Science is developing ways to store this energy.
At the Earth Day program, you can talk to experts and get information for yourself on how to cut your energy costs, cut the use of single-use plastics, and cut food waste. You’ll see demonstrations about new and exciting ways to cut carbon pollution through the way we grow our food and care for our rivers and forests. Mountain Honey will show you the importance of honeybees and other insects. There will be Electric cars to see and the posters of children telling you how important it is that you listen to the scientists. Fun crafts, face painting, and food will entertain the children you bring!! Please join us!
Bette Holland, Director
North Georgia Conservation Coalition
Dawsonville
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