I went to Reno yesterday for the Earth Day celebration at the Park next to the Truckee River. I have been going to this event for 45 years including the first one in 1970 at the Washington Monument grounds. Some people seem to still equate the event with recycling, cleaning up public spaces, walking on trails. It is heartening to see that more and more people have started to see the consequences of their everyday decision making. The choices they make affect the environment in many ways. What size house you have, how you heat it, how you use water, what type of car you drive etc. I talked with many people from land and conservation non-profits like Great Basin Institute, Friends of the Black Rock Desert, Nevada Wilderness Coalition. They were all very clear on their missions and very friendly in telling people about them. People are much better informed than they used to be. They were all cordial. I talked with only one group that thinks that "poverty is an extreme of form of violence." They thought that the US was a Fascist government and that the US exports capitalism which enslaves people in poverty. Even these wild eyed guys were patient and friendly. I suggested to them that they all needed to travel outside the US and look around and get back to me. There were a lot more solar companies than there used to be. Great local food, craft beers, and trade goods. People care more about where their food comes from. They vote with their wallets more. The River is now the highlight of downtown. Forty years ago it was hard to access it. All in all there was a festival atmosphere, and it was easy to make friends everywhere. People wanted to take my picture, and offered free beers. I met lots of nice dogs and cute girls. The day was even better than I expected. We have come a long way in the last 45 years.
I've never attended an Earth Day function. It always seemed to me that air quality, power sources, and food should merit more than one day a year for contemplation and learning. I grew up on a farm and in the woods and learned about function and the need to renew at a very basic level. As a result, I ended up living as I do. I've been off the grid for the entirety of this millennium. It distresses me that a large contingent of this next generation does not seem to be able to think as far ahead as their next meal which will undoubtedly be prepared at a fast food franchise. But then, I'm just a dumb redneck.
Young people seem to become less and less connected to food production and the outdoors in general. This is going to have grave consequences. I see them undoing some of the progress that has been made. They seem more flexible than the older folks about embracing public transportation and electric cars for instance. The Millennials seem to like living in urban environments. Economics is likely to overcome a lot of people's personal opinions.
