Earth Day? 2012 Version

As I look at my calendar, I see that April 22 has been labeled “Earth Day”.  Whatever.  If you have been reading my blog for a long time, like for a couple of years, you might recall that I usually have a cynical, pessimistic view of “Earth Day”, http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/blogs/2010/04/earth-day/ .  Why would a pointy-headed fisheries biologist who works for a state fish & wildlife agency do that?  Here, let me show you one reason why:

Take a walk around any of our public waters and I am betting you will find scenes like the one pictured above.  Earth Day?  Folks care about and respect our natural resources?  Baloney.

Or how about the lack of water for some of our fisheries or poor water quality in some of our lakes, reservoirs, pits and ponds.  Earth Day?  Folks care about and respect our natural resources?  Baloney.

Or how about the lack of pheasant habitat or the fish hogs that continue to harvest every fish they can just to fill their freezer?  Earth Day?  Folks care about and respect our natural resources?  Baloney.

There I go again . . . around the office I am sometimes sarcastically referred to as the “bluebird of happiness”.  So, I guess I better come up with some positive comments about “Earth Day”. . . .

I have said before that I have no solutions to people’s lack of respect for our natural resources.  The only thing I can suggest is that we all do our part, that we try to pick up and clean up after others where we can, that we make sure to practice respect for our natural resources and that we share that with others.  We all should set the example, and also get involved and speak up.  For example, previously I have suggested that you follow the example of “Recycled Fish”, http://www.recycledfish.org/index.htm and take their stewardship pledge, http://www.recycledfish.org/lifestyle-of-stewardship/sportsmans-stewardship-pledge.htm ; that would be a good place to start .

Or here’s another idea, find a copy of Aldo Leopold’s, A Sand County Almanac, and read it.  Here is what my old copy looks like:

If you decide you want to learn even more about Aldo Leopold and his message, be sure to check this out, http://www.aldoleopold.org/ .

Now, before I finish, let me make one more reading suggestion.  When you see this one, you will wonder again if I have gone “off the edge”.  The author of this piece would be considered by some to be a “radical right-winger”.  You might even think that of me after suggesting you read this.  I found this article a year or two ago after “Earth Day” and have been saving it; I am not sure the author got all the facts exactly right, in fact, I am sure that he did not because he changed some of them, but I am sure the message is right on.  Read this if you dare, http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/04/next_earth_day_thank_a_hunter.html .

I do believe that hunters, trappers and anglers were and continue to be the original conservationists!  For “Earth Day” let’s keep setting the example for everyone else!