Page 12 - web Summer 2018

Entertainment

By Bill Domjan

The First Earth Day

As you read this, it is summer. Maybe you will go out to play golf today or maybe sit around our heated pool
and gossip with your friends. As I write this it is early April – offi cially spring - but with snow on the ground and a
chill in the air. It does not feel like spring. However, in another few weeks, April 22 to be exact, it will be the 48th
anniversary of Earth Day and it got me thinking of what I did on that fi rst Earth Day.
The event that triggered this environmental movement was the 3 million gallon oil spill in 1969 that fouled the
beaches and decimated marine life along the coast of Santa Barbara, California.
As a result of this and his awareness of the countryʼs growing air and water pollution, Senator Gaylord Nelson of
Wisconsin proclaimed, “We only have one earth, so we need to take care of her”. He was concerned that our en-
vironmental problems were not being addressed so he created the fi rst Earth Day, to be celebrated on April 22,
1970. It was later reported 20 million people took place in related activities. Now I am not what you would call a
tree hugger but I am concerned about the environment and I like to ride my bike. This would be a way to combine
both interests. So I decided to join the 20 million folks in the event.

Riding my bicycle to work that day I expected to be surrounded by other riders, all proclaiming to be “one with
the earth”, dedicated to a “Green” way of life. Automobile drivers
the earth”, dedicated to a “Green” way of life. Automobile drivers would be embarrassed at their wastefulness of
the earthʼs limited resources, scorned by the endless hordes
the earthʼs limited resources, scorned by the endless hordes
of folks going to work under their own power, ridiculed for
of folks going to work under their own power, ridiculed for
their insensitivity to the environment. After all it was
their insensitivity to the environment. After all it was
April 22nd, 1970, the very fi rst Earth Day.
April 22nd, 1970, the very fi rst Earth Day.
It was later reported that two thousand
colleges and universities, ten thousand
primary and secondary schools, and
hundreds of communities across the United
hundreds of communities across the United
States took part in that fi rst Earth Day. For
me it was a little different
On that early spring morning in 1970 as
I rode my bike 13 miles on the shoulders
of Jericho Turnpike and Pulaski, Oak-
wood, and Round Swamp roads, heading for
wood, and Round Swamp roads, heading for
my job at Grumman Aviation, none of those
my job at Grumman Aviation, none of those
tens of thousands of Earth Day support-
ers were on the road with me. (Maybe
they were all in California – or the South
Shore). Cars whizzed by me with mere
inches to spare, I was obviously an
intruder on their territory. I was the
threat to their environment.
The dayʼs round trip was eventually
without mishap but with much trep-
completed without mishap but with much trep-
idation; I never rode my bike to work again.
idation; I never rode my bike to work again.
Although I still bike on Long Island (it has many
Although I still bike on Long Island (it has many
scenic and safe roads) I never ride anywhere, on
scenic and safe roads) I never ride anywhere, on
any road, during the morning and evening peak
any road, during the morning and evening peak
traffi c periods. I drive my car.

12 2018 • SUMMER | LIFE A T THE GREENS