Happy 40th Birthday for Earth Day

Its Earth Day and if you live in NS and its not raining too hard for you, Click Here to find out what events are planned for today.
Like any other forty year old, Earth Day has shifted its focus somewhat over the years. When I was a teenager, Earth Day emphasized global sustainability and was centered around issues like overpopulation. But, celebrating Earth Day was still something done by those darned hippies and people out in BC and California.
By the time I was heading for forty, concern for the environment was much more mainstream and Earth Day was more about practical solutions such as recycling.
As Earth Day itself headed for forty, the emphasis shifted again to the newfound concern about global warming.
One of my all time favourite quotes is Marshall McLuhan's "There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth - We are all crew". In the space of forty years, concern for the environment has certainly come a long, long way. Activities that were once branded as 'radical', such as organic gardening and being vegetarian are now considered to be more than 'lifestyle choices" and are being actively campaigned for.
And this is how I know that getting to No Kill Nova Scotia is an achievable objective. Genuine No Kill .... not hoarding and stockpiling .... not cherry picking the most adoptable animals to rescue .... but an educated environment where it is socially unacceptable to be an irresponsible pet owner. Honest to Gawd No Kill .... with the appropriate legislation to protect both the animals and the pet owners.
Think that can't happen? Take a look at the whole tobacco issue. When I was a teenager, it was a rare thing to meet someone who DIDN'T smoke. Now its more socially ... and in many cases legally ... acceptable to light up a joint in public than to smoke a cigarette.
Think its inconceivable? Look at the amazing progress that has been made in the space on one calendar year here in Nova Scotia. Last September, I did a blog post that listed the changes that I would need to see to believe that the society was truly on New Path
I'll believe they are on a new path when:

• appropriate apologies are issued for revoking memberships of long time members for voicing their differences
• use of the gas chamber by the Cape Breton Branch is no longer acceptable-
• partnerships with AC do not inhibit the society's ability to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves,-
• and when monthly branch statistics are readily available to the public.

Well, the apologies have been issued, the Cape Breton Branch has been given a non negotiable deadline for removal of their gas chamber, the new board didn't hesitate to speak up for the Harbourville Cats and the branch stats are available online.

We might not get there next week .... but at this rate its not going to take us forty years to get to No Kill Nova Scotia