Milestones Archives - Page 3 of 3

THURSDAY, APRIL 22: Do your part to help our planet on Earth Day, which grew from an idea by U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson 40 years ago. Since then, many countries have joined in Earth Day, although dates vary around the world.

In ReadTheSpirit’s Top Article for Monday this week, you’ll find a link to Earth Day Network, the nonprofit coordinating hub of activities on Earth Day—and you’ll learn about 3 important new books to help you sprout fresh insights this spring!

In ReadTheSpirit’s NEW Environmental Religious Resources Page, you’ll find more terrific books, films—and interviews with activists you should know in the realm of religion! Four decades after its founding, Earth Day depends on the actions of average citizens—as was urged by Sen. Nelson. He said that Earth Day could “work” as a global concept, because of this grassroots level of response. So, will you be one of the Earth Day activists this year, promoting a climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable agency and green jobs?

Email us at [email protected] or add “Post a Comment” below to share fresh ideas with us!

(By ReadTheSpirit columnist Stephanie Fenton)

(NOTE: To see more short articles about upcoming holidays, festivals and anniversaries, click the “RTS Magazines” tab at the top of this page and select “Religious Holidays.”)

THURSDAY, APRIL 15: Make sure your numbers are accurate—it’s Tax Day for Americans! Want your voice to be heard, this year? All this week, OurValues.org is inviting readers to talk about taxes! Do you know how many reasons Americans may be protesting taxes this week? OurValues.org will touch on a wide range.

This year also has been unofficially dubbed the First Annual Cyber Tax Day, since the Internal Revenue Service anticipates that more than 66 percent of taxpayers will file their taxes electronically! Yet even with cyber taxes, pushing the deadline is still a popular activity. The IRS also predicts that April 15, 2010, will continue to be the busiest filing day of the year.

Also active on April 15 will be the War Resisters League, a group formed in 1923 in the wake of WWI. (Wikipedia has a history, as well as modern activities.) This organization is a section of the London-based War Resisters’ International. Many founders of the War Resisters League were thrown in jail for refusing to serve in the military, and today, its mission remains to object to war and the abundant number of American tax dollars spent on military expenses. According to the War Resisters League, more than $1 trillion has been spent on military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan since October 2001. The War Resisters League publishes a detailed pie chart each year on American tax dollars, indicating where the money is spent.

Will you be part of some tax-related protest this week? Are you aware of one near where you live? Click on over to OurValues and tell us what you think!

(By ReadTheSpirit columnist Stephanie Fenton)

(NOTE: To see more short articles about upcoming holidays, festivals and anniversaries, you can click the “Our Magazines” tab at the top of this page and select “Religious Holidays.”)