This post comes at a very solemn time. It's hard to put out the usual food and recipe posts when I have so much more than food on my mind.
What is on my mind is the future of our country, our species and our planet.
Yesterday, I spent most of my day avoiding all sources of news and social media, which means it wasn't until evening that I learned about the explosions that went off during the Boston Marathon. Needless to say, I was shocked by this news and also felt very isolated having learned it so late in the day.
I went to Emerson College in Boston; the main campus and the dorms that I lived in for four years are located on Boylston Street. I worked at the long ago closed TGI Friday's at Copley Square (yeah, not the healthiest of places to work). I would walk past the site of the bombings on a near daily basis. Boston Marathon is always on Patriot's Day, and always a local holiday in Boston; no work, no school. It is frightening to think that if this tragedy had occurred 12 years ago instead of yesterday, many of my friends could very well have been standing where the bombs went off, and maybe I would have even been with them. It reminds me of learning the news of September 11, 2001 in a similar manner to how I learned about the marathon explosions (albeit learning that news early in the day).
My heart goes out to all those who have lost their lives, their limbs, their loved ones, and their sense of safety and security.
Acts of terrorism, whether homegrown or foreign, are a tangible reminder that our planet and our lives are in jeopardy.
How does this all tie in to Earth Day? Well, these instances are not the only threat that we face on a daily basis. April is Earth month; April 22 is Earth Day and a time to raise awareness for the future of our life on this planet.
On April 22, people will come together to mobilize for environmental change. In light of this recent tragedy, I view events that create a sense of community as needed more than ever. Community gives people an outlet to share ideas, to rally towards a common goal, and to feel a sense of strength in numbers against all that tries to break us down.
There will be Earth Day events around the country and around the globe, so I encourage you to seek them out and join with others for a cause that we have control over -- to make change for our planet, our safety and our future.
Here are just a few of the events going on in the next few weeks in the Los Angeles area:
April 17 thru 19
Going Green Film Festival - Downtown LA
Saturday, April 20
Topanga Earth Day Festival (two day event) - Topanga
Earth Day Festival and Bike Ride - Monterey Park
Earth Day Celebration at Descansco Gardens - La Canada
Sunday, April 21
STAR Children's Earth Day - Culver City
Venice Beach Pier Earth Day Beach Clean Up - Marina Del Rey
Sunday, May 19
WorldFest - Lake Balboa (Woodley Park)
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