We all know that most politicians have plenty of hot air to contribute to “global warming,” but it is interesting how on Earth Day the political stunts are seen as some good example to the country for taking care of our environment.

This morning, I asked myself, “What’s the environmental impact of politicians on Earth Day?”

Let’s see… according to this article, the Obamas and Bidens decided to hold their publicity opportunity at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, which is 7.1 miles away from the White House. There is no indication on how the President, Vice President, their families, and their security details all went those 7.1 miles, but I’m inclined to think they didn’t use the DC Metro.

Those in attendance were wearing screen-printed T-shirts especially for this year’s Earth Day event. I’m not sure if they used green screen printing on unbleached material, but the photo on that web page does show some very bright white T-shirts. I’m inclined to think the Student Conservation Association chose whoever could put together the shirts in the fastest and cheapest way possible, like any good businessperson would do.

The article also does not indicate where the trees came from that were planted. If they did not already exist at that location, then they must have been grown somewhere. Typically, such trees would be grown at a tree farm. I did find several tree farm results in the DC area, mostly local vendors that resell trees, but I’m inclined to think the trees described in the article were trucked in from further into Maryland or Virginia. Either way, they were brought in from somewhere, and most likely by a large carbon-emitting vehicle.

Of course, nationwide, there have been plenty of other politicians and municipal groups putting on their own tree-planting publicity stunts for Earth Day 2009, too, complete with T-shirts and fliers and politicians and trees, all trucked about from place-to-place to smile for the cameras.

Is Earth Day just for the benefit of politicians and tree farmers?
I’m inclined to think… yes.