Viewers look skyward during the eclipse Monday.
The April 8 total solar eclipse gave millions in the U.S., Mexico and Canada the rare opportunity to view the beauty of the sun’s corona against the darkened sky, caused when the moon passed between earth and the sun. Those in the path of totality thrilled to this wondrous sight.
Much of the eclipse coverage focused on two key concepts – the deepened appreciation for the awesome (in its truest sense) beauty of our natural world, and a greater understanding of being part of something larger than oneself; the fact that we’re all in this together. Both are heartfelt and indisputable sentiments. What would be great is if we could maintain them.
The earth provides incredible sights and features no less wondrous than the eclipse we just witnessed.
A great case in point is the ocean. We here in New Jersey are fortunate to enjoy our beautiful beaches. When we realize that the ocean provides 50% of the oxygen we need and absorbs 25% of carbon dioxide emissions and captures 90% of the excess heat generated by these emissions, we understand why the ocean is considered “the lungs of the planet”; a vital protection against climate change. Sadly, increased greenhouse gas emissions have eroded the ocean’s health by warming and acidifying seawater. The result has been disastrous to life on earth. New Jersey has experienced this firsthand with our extreme and dangerous storms and hurricanes.
We can work together to turn this around. Make sure your state and federal legislators realize that fighting climate change is a critical priority for their constituents. Explore local organizations and activities you can engage in that will have a direct impact in healing our planet.
As we learned (and re-learned) on April 8, we’re all in this together.
Laura Coyne
Hillsborough