Feeling feelings and listening to birds: An Earth Day message from Amy

After more than a half-century of Earth Days, it feels increasingly hard for any individual person to absorb all that’s taking place on our planet and in our communities. 

On this 55th Earth Day, we’re feeling both the pain and the privilege of reporting on the natural world—and then “pulling ourselves back up and getting back to work,” as Amy says.

Listen to Amy’s reflection on feeling and responding to humans' impact on this planet, and why listening to birds is helpful to moving forward. 

Photo taken by Sam Moore

Today, we’re also appreciating a vintage glimpse at the state of the planet in the decade that produced Earth Day, courtesy of the Documerica Project. From 1971 to 1977, the EPA hired photographers to capture thousands of images of the environmental crisis all over America, and in doing so, they also produced a remarkable portrait of everyday life. 

The collection features the stark images of pollution that you might expect, but other highlights include “The First House Made Completely from Empty Steel Beer and Soft Drink Cans” and bumper stickers with slogans like “Fight Smog! Ride a horse” and “Save the Tallgrass Prairie.”