Even though we should be aware of the environment everyday, considering, you know, its all around us, we still choose but one day a the year to come together and celebrate it.  So every Earth Day thousands of first graders go out and plant a tree or set a butterfly loose.  This year Barack Obama did a little bit more.

President Obama marked Earth Day Wednesday by announcing a new initiative to lease federal waters for the purpose of generating electricity from wind and ocean currents.

The president announced the initiative, to be administered by the Interior Department, while reiterating his pledge to push for a comprehensive energy plan that encourages the development of alternative fuel sources, cuts dependence on foreign oil, addresses climate change, and creates new jobs.

Wind power can generate 20 percent of the country’s electricity by 2030 and support 250,000 jobs…

Now, while it annoys me that we judge whether or not to pursue a more environmental road by how costly or job creative it is (in the end, none of that will matter), I suppose it needs to be stressed considering this rather shocking study by Rasmussen.

Just one-out-of-three voters (34%) now believe global warming is caused by human activity, the lowest finding yet in Rasmussen Reports national surveying.

Sixty-two percent (62%) of all Americans believe global warming is at least a somewhat serious problem, with 33% who say it’s Very Serious. Thirty-five percent (35%) say it’s a not a serious problem.

Half (49%) of Americans think the president believes climate change is caused primarily by human activity. This is the first time that belief has fallen below 50% since the president took office.  19% say Obama attributes global warming to long-term planetary trends.

Glacier in Patagonia, Argentina 1928 & 2004. Photo: Greenpeace

That shirt that reads “mankind” should probably just read “Americans.”  Our inability to take blame, or even responsibility, for anything is remarkable.  As is our tendency to ignore and forget.  So as a result, our president must take the steps for us, even if the majority of us don’t believe there’s a problem.  And he must lead by example.  And he, unlike so many of us, must be willing admit that he is wrong.