DIANE'S CORNER .. Celebrate Earth Day

Earth, due to human activity, is in trouble. The ozone layer is depleting, ecosystems are being lost and people are starving and dying of dehydration. Endangered species are disappearing rapidly, our water and air is becoming increasingly polluted, and weather systems are being pushed to the extreme.

A scary picture indeed, but thankfully one we can all do something about! Earth Day, one of the first global initiatives to protect and conserve the earth, has become an annual event that strives for positive change on a global scale. It aims to inspire individuals, communities, businesses and governments all over the world to take action and help preserve the planet.

History of Earth Day

As the world’s largest environmental movement and the most widely celebrated secular occasion, with over 1 billion people and more than 75,000 partners involved each year across almost 200 countries, Earth Day has gone from strength to strength over the course of its history.

Founder Gaylord Nelson, a former US senator, thought of the idea after witnessing the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the vigor of the student anti-war movement, he believed it was essential that energy was shifted to concerns about air and water pollution.

Originally envisioned as a campus teach-in event, Senator Nelson enlisted youth activist Denis Hayes to help organize the first Earth Day in 1970, and the pair opted for 22 April due to where it fell in the academic year, ensuring that the maximum number of students would be able to take part.

Nelson, Hayes and their team were able to spread the message far and wide, including to the national media, and promote events across the US. The occasion was a massive success, with 20 million Americans taking to the streets to celebrate the first Earth Day. They demonstrated in support of the cause, and groups that had previously been rallying around environmental issues separately came together on the day due to their shared values.

The first Earth Day helped put environmental protection on the political agenda and bring about change. That same year the United States Environmental Protection Agency was set up, and soon after various legislation was passed, including the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts.

It wasn’t until 1990 that Earth Day went global, spreading the message to 200 million people in over 140 countries. By the millennium it had reached more than 180 countries and involved hundreds of millions of participants worldwide. And of course the year 2020 marked the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day.

2016’s Earth Day was a particularly special year, as it heralded the United Nations’ adoption of the Paris Agreement. Signed by 175 countries, this international treaty established legally binding targets for tackling the climate emergency, ensuring that as many nations as possible are working together to cut emissions and prevent global warming.

As a day of action, Earth Day aims to promote environmentalism through engagement, activism, education, policy changes and peaceful protest. It has focused on various themes over the years, such as climate change, trees, clean water and a healthy environment for children, and multiple organizations and venues host events that showcase the importance of caring for the environment.

This vital day teaches people about the consequences of their behavior on the places and ecosystems in which they live. And it’s not just about the damaging effects on the environment itself, but also about the impact on people’s health, access to food and water, safety and livelihoods. To get involved, people choose to make conscientious changes such as recycling more, using renewable fuel and conserving water.

JOKE OF THE DAY

TODAY'S ARTIST
thanks, Natalie

Zhou Fang (Chinese: 周昉; Wade–Giles: Chou Fang; c. 730–800), courtesy name Zhonglang (仲朗),
was a Chinese painter during the Tang dynasty.

IDIOM OF THE DAY

What does the saying 'Bird's eye view' mean?

Meaning: If you have a bird's eye view of something, you can see it perfectly clearly.

thanks, Patsy

(Not So) TOTALLY USELESS FACTS OF THE DAY
A whale's penis is called a dork.

To "testify" was based on men in the Roman court swearing to a statement made by swearing on their testicles.

A barnacle has the largest penis of any other animal in the world in relation to its size.

READERS INFO
Coronavirus Style by Sylvia, CAN DO Correspondent
It doesn’t take much to be the change in someone’s life
Change For A Dollar

PATTERN BOOK FRIDAY
Crochet in color colorful crochet patterns

COFFEE thanks, Ella

PICTURES OF THE DAY

Beautiful Timelapse of the Night Sky Over the Mojave Desert

Okay, now I need to go there.

"Panic in the Pan"

A dazzle of zebras approaching a waterhole to quench their thirst. Every few minutes the zebras will enter the water to drink, just to panic and scatter out of the water again. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

knit
thanks, Vicky

New Biscotte's Slippers pattern by Louise Robert

knit
thanks, Jennifer

Queen's Crown pattern by Becky Greene

knit

Johanne

knit

Rosemary August Cardigan

knit

Snowy Dreams Hooded Colourwork Cardigan

CROCHET PATTERNS OF THE DAY

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Baby Toy G arden

How to make a Heirloom Crochet Doll

crochet
thanks, Jessica

Embroidered Crochet Coasters

crochet
thanks, Marge

Ancel Wrap

crochet

Wanderlust Chevron Backpack

crochet

DUCK AFGHAN SQUARE

crochet

Woven Baby Blanket

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Lobster Mac and Cheese Recipe

PANTRY RECIPE

thanks, Debbie

Pantry Pasta with Anchovies, Olives, Capers

CROCKPOT RECIPE

thanks, Natalie

Crockpot Meatloaf

VEGAN/ VEGETARIAN RECIPE

Both vegetarian and vegan diets may provide health benefits, including reduced body weight, lower cholesterol levels, and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, it is important for vegetarians and vegans to ensure that they are meeting all of their nutritional requirements.

thanks, Alice

Crispy Vegan Bacon

COPYCAT RECIPE

thanks, Jenny

Duncan Hines Copycat Yellow Cake

RETRO RECIPE

thanks, Ann

SWEETS RECIPE

thanks, Stacy

Apple Cake (Gina’s Hubba Hubba Apple Cake)

COOKBOOK FRIDAY

American Cookery

ADULT COLORING

FUN

thanks, Lori

This optical illusion has had pasty lovers scratching their heads - and rubbing their stomachs .. Can you spot the difference in pastries?

answer:

CRAFTS

thanks, Kay

DIY Macrame Yarn Garland

CHILDREN'S CORNER

thanks, Lana

Yarn Wrapped Stick Teepee

PUZZLE

Going Paddle Boarding Jigsaw Puzzle

WORD SEARCH

awkward

camera
caution
consonant

fiber
fiction
field

fifteen
fortune

gentle
glade

imperfect

journey

leap
liberty
lone
lore

nose
nutrition

photo
promise
protein
pumpkin

reality
reef
ripe

smile
smooch
structure
stun
sugar

tore
uniform

whatever

SUDOKU .. hard

solution:

ICE BREAKER

thanks, Kris

You can use 'ice breaker questions' to build a rapport, enabling strangers to engage in back and forth conversion. With a little practice and possibly a beer or two, you’ll be breaking more ice than the Titanic.