"I am the Earth And the Earth is me. Each blade of grass, Each honey tree, Each bit of mud, And stick and stone Is blood and muscle, Skin and bone. And just as I Need every bit Of me to make My body fit, So Earth needs Grass and stone and tree And things that grow here Naturally. That's why we Celebrate this day. That's why across The world we say: As long as life, As dear, as free, I am the Earth And the Earth is me." ~ Earth Day Poem by Jane Yolen

Reflection or shadow? Or both? Cropped, levels/hues adjusted, resized and slightly diffused to enhance the water ripples. Sometimes you just have to look at things differently. I could have gone with the standard nature shot of this heron, but wanted to be a little unique. Does it work? HAPPY EARTH DAY 2008! From Wikipedia: "In September 1969, at a conference in Seattle, Washington, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin announced that in the spring of 1970 there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on the environment. Senator Nelson first proposed the nationwide environmental protest to thrust the environment onto the national agenda. "It was a gamble," he recalls, "but it worked." Each year, the April 22 Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Earth Day 2000 sent the message loud and clear that citizens the world 'round wanted quick and decisive action on clean energy. Earth Day 2007 was one of the largest Earth Days to date. Some environmentalists have grown critical of Earth Day, particularly those in the Bright green environmentalism camp. They charge that Earth Day has come to symbolize the marginalization of environmental sustainability, and that the celebration itself has outlived its usefulness." Natural land is being cleared so that huge fields of corn can be grown for hybrid car fuel. Standard incandescence light bulbs are giving way to more efficent yet dangerous compact flourescent bulbs that are much worse for the enviroment when disposed of. While I support Earth Day and what it stands for, I too think that "Going Green" has become a bit too commercial/political, and that many have lost sight of what it really means to be enviromentally responsible. We should not trade one 'evil' for another and label it progress. Okay, enough of that my soapbox rant... ;'] -----

Thanks for your coy (groan) comments on my previous upload, Beneath ----- Olympus C8080wz & PhotoshopCS. (1124) Morikami Japanese Gardens, Boca Raton, FL, USA 2008 Sponsored by: Kramer Kreations