Sunday event showed reasons to celebrate

Another year, another springtime in North Idaho (hopefully it will arrive soon) and another Earth Day. We are still alive here on the planet, the old cynic in me would have said “That’s a great reason to celebrate.”

I’m happy to say I’ve let that cynic go and there are still lots of reasons to celebrate. At the moment, I’m thinking of the awesome “gathering of the tribe” last Sunday. Sandpoint hosted a great Earth Day Festival, dubbed a “Party for the Planet”

Our Community Hall here was filled (and overflowing) with local folks coming together to share possibilities for a sustainable future. The air was filled with optimism and good will for all. Representatives from every conservation group in our area where there to share their knowledge along with local farmers, green merchants and architects. Outside there was a lively collection of youngsters celebrating Earth Day the original way; (playing on the Earth). A splendid time was had by all.

It was very satisfying for me to realize that survival or sustainability (whatever you want to call it) is simply a matter of sharing what we have with the rest of our global family. We have the technology, we have the resources, and we have the will to survive and flourish. What is left (in my opinion) is making the evolutionary shift from being competitive consumers to becoming cooperative global citizens.

Giving just credits to all the wonderful groups and individuals who contributed to this event would be impossible in this editorial.  Special thanks are due to Susan Drumheller of the Idaho Conservation League, local growers and great cooks and servers who brought us a wonderful cuisine 99.9 percent local grown and to the city of Sandpoint for donating the space for this event.

Let’s all remember to celebrate Earth Day  — every day.

KEN CASLER

Sandpoint