Good Sports

Reprinted with permission from the Zionsville Times Sentinel on March 7, 2007

by Budd Glassberg

Mother Earth Has Her Day

"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children." - Ancient Indian Proverb

Native Americans were great stewards of the land we now inhabit. For thousands of years they lived in harmony with their surroundings assuring generation after generation with opportunities to appreciate the wonders around them. They believed that the earth and that which lived on it were sacred. This they taught to their children. We have them to thank for the bountiful treasures that have been left to our generation. No matter where you lie on the political spectrum of ecological beliefs, you have a responsibility and obligation to do what you can to provide future generations with the same opportunities that were given to you.

Each of us is born with a body. Some work diligently to take care of it with proper exercise, diet and rest. Others abuse their body, counting on modern medicine and science to come up with answers to combat years of mistreatment. This same argument may be made for the earth. Some people are working hard to make our environment safer and stronger for the next generation while others are using it for all the pleasure they might attain in their lifetimes hoping science will find a way to solve problems such as air and water pollution and climate change. Those who choose to stick their heads in the sand seem to seek justification for their selfish behavior and find it in pundits who assure them that today’s scientists are Chicken Littles claiming the sky is falling. Sacrifice is what others did for them, not what they choose to do for others.

For those who believe that the earth’s environment is in need of saving, there is an opportunity to begin raising awareness and taking steps to assure the planet’s continued ability to provide a livable environment. Please mark your calendars to reserve the afternoon of Sunday, April 22 to attend Zionsville’s first Earth/Arbor day called Z’GreenFest.

This special community event has been cooperatively planned in partnership with local interested groups to create a keener awareness, understanding, and appreciation for all aspects of our community’s natural landscapes, waterways, greenways, and neighborhoods so that a more conscious effort is achieved to steward, protect, and enjoy our unique city within a park. The festival, which is to be an annual event that is family oriented and free to all friends of the earth, will be held in the space adjoining the Zion Nature Center and Eagle Elementary School. The festival will have a children’s cross-country fun run, informational nature and recycling exhibits, nature walks, crafts, music, entertainment, great food and many activities for children and adults. In a future column, I will provide more details of the events surrounding this festival.

The festival is geared to give ideas to those who wish to get involved in saving the planet. It is planned to raise the awareness of our children, who will given the task of solving many of the problems that abuse of the earth has begun. Most of all, it will help those same children learn to love the natural world which surrounds us and in doing so make them want to protect it for future generations. In this way it is a most important day. We have a day for Mothers and Fathers and Presidents and even ground hogs. April 22^nd is a day for our Mother Earth. She deserves it.

If you are interested in helping with the event or providing an exhibit, please contact Therese Burkhard at www.zionnaturecenter.org or 873-8950.

Budd Glassberg is a resident of Zionsville who is active in the local running community. Visit www.runz.com for reprints of all his columns. You can reach him by email at budd@runz.com.