green day

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

anais here is going to grace the cover of a "georgia straight" style paper, the weekender, here in the kootenays. and it's the relaunch of the papers new format. very exciting!

i've been having some recent success with freelance journalism and photojournalism. i'm working for 3 papers that send me out to cover rossland activities/events. no way to get rich but a great way to get out there and meet some people!

The View From Up Here: Celebrating Earth Day in Rossland
By Carmen Adams

Green is in! It’s in the movie theatre, on magazine covers, in car commercials and now on Oprah. With an international platform on Friday’s show, Oprah Winfrey challenged everyone to implement one green idea to help combat global warming; with national news of Ontario’s ban on incandescent lightbulbs within 5 years; and with local awareness peeked with Rossland’s attempt to go plastic bag-free, the stage was set for an Earth Day like none other. But was I ready for the assignment?

At Earth Day festivities at the Miner’s Hall, I was pleased to meet novice green-people and find out they’re not as ‘alien’ as I may have imagined. In fact, they’re kind of like me. Although I am no eco-campaigner, I am a recent emigrant from the big city. And living in Rossland, I can’t help but think green…er. I’m living in a natural wonderland, having seen wild turkeys, big horn sheep, Canadian geese, Blue Jay and bear in our mountains within a matter of weeks. I’m surrounded by eco-enthusiasts whose desire and actions for positive change is infectious. I can’t help but feel like I am back in some version of high school where it is actually cool to make a difference.

And then it happened. I found myself starting to notice the plastic bags strung in trees lining the highway, noting how many plastic bags I was given for even the smallest grocery order, and just how much my children like to drink out of pre-packaged juice boxes. Is this what they refer to as “raising awareness”? Can I ever, in good conscience, go back? and would I ever want to?

Before I even got to the Earth Day celebrations venue, I saw dozens of kids collecting trash…willingly. I saw families picking up garbage together. The 4 year old exclaiming he was participating “so animals won’t die!” I had to ask myself, am I smarter than a 4 year old?

What struck me, over the course of these Earth Day events, is that no matter ones’ religious persuasion, political aspirations, or record of charitable givings, participating in Earth Day ideologies throughout the year benefit us all. Since when can taking such small steps contribute to the welfare of individuals, a community and the global community simultaneously? All this and make you look cool too!