Earth Day 2023 - In Memory and Hope
By Ali Roberts
Judy Hancock was a passionate public lands chairperson for the Sierra Club’s Florida chapter and a dedicated environmental activist for over 30 years in North Florida, where she spent her days defending the Okefenokee Swamp and the Osceola National Forest from mining and development projects. She won numerous awards for her conservation work and was even featured in National Geographic Magazine’s 1995 Earth Day issue. Judy was a significant figure in Florida conservation work, but I didn’t know this about her for years, because I first knew her first as my grandma. Some of my favorite childhood memories are riding around in her truck and spinning the wooden beads on her seat covers with my fingers while asking endless questions about all the critters and plants around us with an insatiable curiosity. Gram, as my family called her, had such a calm and patient way of responding that always impressed me. It wasn’t until long after she passed in 2004 that I would realize how many more questions I would long to be able to ask her.
Thanks to Gram, conservation is something that has always been at the forefront of my values. From a young age, she always suggested more sustainable alternatives in a judgment-free way. Her method of “converting” people to more sustainable thinking always started by emphasizing the importance of respect for the environment and all the creatures living around us. Gram was one among countless incredible women who have been advocating for the protection of the environment and all its ecosystems throughout history and today. Many people credit Rachel Carson with the origins of the modern environmental movement with the publishing of her book Silent Spring in 1962. Silent Spring brought attention to the harms of the indiscriminate use of pesticides, opening up a conversation and bringing awareness to the harm already caused and what might happen if pesticide pollution continues. Eight years later, the first Earth Day was held in the United States on April 22, 1970.
The first Earth Day was a series of protests by many different groups in the United States against the environmental harm that had been caused by industry and development. In 1990, Earth Day was scaled up to include efforts from people from 141 countries. The focus of Earth Day in 2000 shifted to global warming and a large-scale push for clean energy, which has become increasingly urgent in recent years. Ideas of “conquering” nature and the prioritization of industry have had devastating impacts on the environment. For Earth Day 2023, the focus is on climate literacy, eliminating single-use plastics, planting trees, voting to protect the environment, cleaning up litter, and making more sustainable clothing choices. April 22 is just one day to spread awareness about these issues, but we should be thinking about conservation every day. Women have long been the leading voices in conservation efforts and environmental movements. Here is a great resource highlighting some of them:
Join me this Earth Day in celebration and recognition of the efforts of all the environmental advocates in the world. I will also be remembering my Gram and honoring the parts of her that I can see in myself.
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