Earth Citizen Walk
Rockland County proclaimed the first Earth Citizen Walk Day last Saturday, May, 1, 2010. The Earth Citizen Walk took place at the beautiful Rockland Lake State Park as one of the initiatives of the Earth Citizen Movement – a global, grassroots campaign, which has set out to create a healthier, happier, and more peaceful world. The proceeds collected from this event were donated to UNICEF, helping children all over the world who are in need.
About 200 people came together, regardless of age, occupation and gender, to identify themselves as Earth Citizens. Janet Winston, a coordinator of the Earth Citizen Walk, commented that we are all connected to the earth and we have to take care of the earth for the next generation. Janet quoted the African proverb, “If you want to go quickly, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.” Youna Kim, one of the participants, age 21, said, “Walking with other Earth Citizens on such a wonderful sunny day makes me happy and I really feel like I am a part of the earth as an Earth Citizen.”
The Earth Citizens joined in stretching exercises with YEHA before embarking on the 3 mile walk around the park lake. When they finished walking, participants were served refreshments such as bagels, donuts, coffee, vegetable and other snacks, which were donated by the participants themselves.
Walking for the earth helped everyone to realize how important the earth is to them and to future generations, and how beautiful the world can be when we all come together. As it is written in the Proclamation of the “Earth Citizen Walk Day” in Rockland County, our role as an Earth Citizen is to make our community and our neighbors aware of the immeasurable value of a better humanity and a more peaceful world.