Happy Earth Day! Happy New Year!

One year ago, I was at the Earth Day Rally/Concert on the National Mall. This Earth Day, I've attended UC Berkeley Earthweek events and went to San Francisco's Earth Day Festival today at Civic Center Plaza.

Now, a lot of people criticize Earth Day. It's just one day- why don't we push to make every day "Earth Day"? And isn't it a little bit ironic that a lot of Earth Day festivals are associated with a lot of energy, resources, and waste that wouldn't be there if the festivals just didn't happen?




Those are valid claims. We should be working all day, every day, toward a sustainable future. And yes, Earth Day festivals can be a bit wasteful. But they are meaningful. They mean a lot to me as an environmental activist. It's almost a reward, a validation of our efforts. They have Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthdays, and other commemorative holidays. I see Earth Day as a commemoration of the work that outstanding people are doing around the world constantly. I see Earth Day as a way for them to voice their messages even louder, in hopes of reaching someone who might have missed the call before. I see Earth Day as a joyous celebration, reminding ourselves that we're in this together, we're gaining momentum, and each year, we do make progress.

I also treat Earth Day as New Years for environmentalists. It's a day of celebration, but also a day to look back at the past year and think "What have we accomplished?" and "What are our resolutions; what can we accomplish in the next year?"

So what have we accomplished in the past year?

• The climate movement has gained momentum. 350.org 's 10/10/10 work party was huge, and it was ALL over the world. Some beautiful and inspiring moments and photos came out of that glorious day. 
• The EPA was threatened, but at the end of the day, the government pulled through and protected one of the most important organizations we have fighting with us. So we do have support! 
• Clean energy has gotten cheaper. Solar and wind energy are growing exponentially; green jobs are growing while most sectors of the economy are not. New technology is emerging- every single minute. 
• Obama is working toward the phasing out coal-fired power plants. Thank goodness. 
• Electric cars are back from the dead! Tesla and Nissan have released their models, and other companies are sure to follow. 
• On the local front, UC Berkeley's Student Food Collective has gained a lot of ground; they opened a storefront on Bancroft Ave in the fall. It's an amazing feat, and it makes local, sustainable, and organic food easily accessible to the student body. 
• There is a proposed ban on the sale of shark fins in California! We're going to have to work to make sure it passes, and I hope with all my heart that it does. 
• California SHUT DOWN Prop 23! By a landslide! 62% of California voters voted NO- and THAT is inspiring. 
• 10,000 young people met last week at Powershift 2011, and this one was even more energized, and more politically effective than the last one! Obama actually met with ten young activists to hear their concerns, really showing that he's in it with us to win this fight. 

That list inspires me. I'm impressed with my movement. So what about resolutions for the new year? Well, my personal resolutions are: 

• Continue to green my own life, especially now that I'll be living in an apartment. Constantly look for ways to save energy, through energy efficient technology and conscious actions. 
• Eat less meat. Buy from the Berkeley Student Food Collective or from farmer's markets. 
• Fly less. Minimize the number of trips I take across the country by plane. 
• Rally the Berkeley student body to pass the ban on shark fins. Work on implementing this measure in San Francisco's Chinatown. 
• Get the campus involved with 350's September 24th "Moving Earth" campaign
• Start the process to get Berkeley completely running on clean energy. 
• Improve next year's Earthweek- make it VISIBLE! There needs to be a big, passionate, energized rally! And teach-ins in all of the departments. 

I know there are many, many more things I hope to do, that I just can't think of right now. But what about the environmental movement as a whole? What do I hope it gets accomplished? 

• International consensus, INCLUDING the U.S., on mandatory emissions reductions. 
• Green jobs. Green jobs. Green jobs. The green economy will pull us out of the recession, once and for all. The green economy is the future. 
• More wind turbines. More solar panels. More research on making green technology greener. 
• Preservation of forests as a priority. 
• Charging stations for electric vehicles- everywhere. 
• The end of the incandescent light bulb. Please! 
• Stronger fisheries regulations- we need sustainable fisheries that will carry our growing population into the future. 

And much, much more! I've barely scratched the surface of what needs to be done. But that's the gist of what I think Earth Day is all about. Celebrating accomplishments, and making goals for the future. So happy new year, environmentalists and climate hawks!