On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, as economies are shut down by the COVID-19 virus, Mother Earth is recovering from the pandemic of man-made environmental destruction for profit. The air and water are clearer; light pollution, habitat loss, and smog have been reduced; and animal populations have rebounded. This is a glimpse into the environmental progress we can make when we place people, planet, and peace over profit.

Mother Earth has a fever, her lungs are failing and she has little clean water to maintain her ecosystems. Her condition is critical. We must flatten the curve on climate change and the sixth mass extinction.

If she is to recover, we cannot go back to our unhealthy habits - burning fossil fuels and polluting our air, water and food. Virginia and the United States have an abundance of wind, water and solar potential to rapidly transition to renewable energy. Yet, politicians paid off by fossil fuel companies continue to place corporate interests over those of the people. It does not have to be this way. The actions taken across the planet to address the present pandemic demonstrate that collective action on environmental catastrophe is possible, if we are bold enough to demand it.

You can be a part of the solution! Tell Governor Ralph Northam to immediately stop all fossil fuel, pipeline and compressor station expansion under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (https://www.governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-wit...). Demand a real Green New Deal for a healthy future for life on the planet and for our children. Fund, run and vote for the party of the original Green New Deal, the Green Party #GreenEnter