Earth Day is celebrated throughout the month of April and environmentally conscious people and groups in our community organize local events to promote environmental protection and ensure a healthy and sustainable future for us all. Our article entitled "Mobilize for Earth" (page 41), includes a wide-ranging summary of Earth Day actions scheduled right here in the Bay Area this month. From fun events, and arts and crafts, to enlightening exhibits on green-friendly building, gardening, energy-water conservation, and more, our community continues to shine in its own uniquely inspired ways.

Earth Day activities have flourished since the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970. Since then, the Earth Day Network (EDN) has broadened, diversified and mobilized people from all walks of life, here at home and across the planet. The Network’s cyberspace headquarters, at earthday.org, offers a wealth of information on the whats, whys and wherefores of the movement in communities planetwide and gives insight and encouragement for actions with real potential that can be taken locally.

In our Wise Words department this month, writer Linda Sechrist conducts a revealing conversation with Frances Moore Lappé, respected author of Diet for a Small Planet. Entitled "Eco-Mind: Creating the World We Want," this interview suggests some entirely doable things to confront today’s "eco-crises" successfully and make a healthy difference in the promise of the future. And the list goes on.

Life is good here on the beautiful Gulf Coast. Easter arrives on the 8^th. Spring is in the air. The trees are blooming. We live in the perfect place and time to enjoy life. As always, open your mind and read on.