Happy Earth Day

To celebrate Earth Day, I thought of a few things we can do that can help the earth and that may also help prevent cancer. 1. Stop smoking to improve your chances of not getting lung cancer, to minimize exposure of second-hand smoke on your loved ones, and to reduce the impact of smoking on our environment. 2. Walk or ride your bike instead of driving your car to reduce emissions. That extra exercise helps reduce your risk of getting certain cancers and helps to maintain weight. 3. Eat more veggies and fruits, and choose local produce. While the jury is still out on their direct impact on cancer, research has shown that diets high in fruits and vegetables can have a preventive effect against obesity, which can raise your risk of getting some cancers. Not only do local foods taste better because they are fresher, you are also helping the environment by not supporting shipped foods that result in burning fuels during transportation. The first official Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970. Then U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson first proposed the idea of Earth Day in 1969 as a "teach-in" to involve students in a movement of environmental awareness. On that day, Nelson said to the Earth Day crowd in Denver, Colorado, "Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human beings and all other living creatures." And while Nelson passed away in 2005, the work continues toward achieving his noble goal and I hope one day soon we do. What is your Earth Day hope?