The Earth Month Ecochallenge attracted thousands of participants this year, helping translate “Earth Day intentions into impactful actions and lasting habits.” During the challenge, people and organizations committed to foster and reinforce #ecofriendly habits. While those Earth Month challenges are nearly complete, you can join the challenge at any time in an effort to spur collective behavior that secures a better future. One easy action to launch your efforts is to #recycle used goods by making a tax-deductible #donation to ClothingDonations.org, which will resell them to fund valuable #veterans programs. #EarthDay2025
Tag: donate used stuff
Recommended Reading for Earth Month
To celebrate Earth Month, Yale Climate Connections recommends several books that build upon Rachel Carson’s seminal tome, Silent Spring. Waste Wars, for example, exposes how garbage has spawned a multibillion-dollar global business. Close to Home takes a backyard approach to climate science, showing how everyone can contribute to science and sustainability. And The Moral Circle asks humans to consider the needs of all species affected by human activity and technology. Check out any or all of the titles at your local library or download them to an e-reader or tablet to save a tree! #EarthDay2025
Earth Day Accomplishments to Remember
Earth Day 2025 is April 22! This year’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet,” emphasizing a call to triple global renewable energy generation by 2030 through solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal and geothermal power. But let’s take a step back to see where the #environmental movement has been in its 55-year history.
While it may be difficult to believe in today’s political environment, the idea behind Earth Day is credited to Sen. Gaylord Nelson (R-Wis.). He enlisted the help of campus activist Denis Hayes to bring grass-roots energy and involvement to #conservation. They choose April 22 — a weekday between spring break and final exams — to maximize student participation.
When they named the new event Earth Day, it attracted widespread media attention. More than 20 million Americans — 10% of the total U.S. population at the time — participated in the first Earth Day in 1970 to demonstrate against the environmental impacts of industrial development and #pollution. The modern environmental movement was born.
The initial Earth Days led quickly to the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The growing movement inspired similar legislation worldwide, and the United Nations chose Earth Day 2016 to sign the Paris Climate Agreement.
Now the world’s largest annual civic event, Earth Day has championed #climate literacy and education throughout the world. EarthDay.org initiatives have helped plant hundreds of millions of trees, spread #sustainable agricultural practices to small farms, and reduced plastic pollution in waterways.
This Earth Day and every day, you can find ways in which you and your family can #reduce, #reuse and #recycle to lower your personal impact on the #environment. One way is to #donate the things you don’t need to ClothingDonations.org to keep more high-quality, used #stuff out of landfills.
And to join in protecting the planet, participate in an Earth Day 2025 event near you!
The Meaning Behind Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras — a.k.a. Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday — is the final day of the Carnival festival season. In the Christian tradition, Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, a penitential season of abstinence and sacrifice.
Mardi Gras is the “last hurrah,” in effect, before 40 days of abstinence from foods such as meat, eggs, dairy and alcoholic beverages. Most people are familiar with the local fish fry on Fridays, held to serve Catholic families and others abstaining from meat.
Observant Christians also often pick an indulgence of their own to give up. Similar to a New Year’s resolution, such personal challenges might mean eschewing alcohol or sweets, or trying to break a bad habit such as smoking or gossiping.
Whatever your faith, the Organizing Blog suggests that you spend the season abstaining from #clutter. It will be a test of your will, to be sure, but you will be better off and maybe even a bit more righteous if you can do it. Here’s how:
Cut the clutter. Over the next 40 days, dedicate a set amount of time to #decluttering and #organizing a space in your home. As little as 10 minutes per day spent rearranging a drawer or shelf can add up to real improvements over time.
Avoid spending. If you want a real challenge, simultaneously abstain from buying anything new; any attempt to #organize will be easier if you don’t add to your #stuff. If something urgently needs replacement, vow to eliminate twice as many like items as you bring in.
Exercise charity. Set aside any castoff clothing and household items that might have some useful life left in them and contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup. Quality, lightly used goods will be resold to benefit programs that help the nation’s #veterans.
Today, celebrate! Have a paczki, a big bowl of gumbo or an adult beverage. Tomorrow, make good on your vow get rid of #clutter and get #orgnaized. By the time Easter rolls around, you and your home will be unburdened by excess #stuff.
Decorating to Be Clutter-Free
The first step in #decorating a room that’s #clutter-free in the long term is to pick a good paint color, says The Simplicity Habit — a calm tone if you need a space to relax or a more vibrant one if you want to feel energized. Less is more when it comes to artwork; better one large piece than a mishmash “gallery wall.” A right-sized rug really can tie the room together, along with pillows and throws. Be patient when decorating; find the colors you like and the pieces you want rather than decorating for decorating’s sake, and you’ll be happier with the end result. #DeclutteringDécor