Hon. Ellen Edwards (left) alongside Carmen Baez. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Earth Day, the annual event focusing on raising awareness and promoting action to protect the environment, apparently has a significant impact in the courthouse as well.
This is an event designed to call attention to plants, flowers and the overall beautification of the interior of 141 Livingston Street, according to Hon. Ellen Edwards, the mastermind behind the 141 Horticulture Committee’s inaugural “Earth Day Celebration.”
Respecting the Earth
Edwards, along with members of the Horticulture Committee and the Kings County Subcommittee of the Equal Justice Implementation Committee — which strives to build diversity and inclusion in the courts — came together with other members of the Unified Court System on the afternoon of April 22, in honor of Earth Day’s 55th anniversary, to exchange plants, propagate cuttings, replant larger plants and repurpose containers. The plants are slated to reside in various locations, including courtrooms, jury rooms, offices and chambers.
“There are a lot of people in this building who simply are into plants,” Edwards told the Brooklyn Eagle, “So we decided this would be a great way to acknowledge Earth Day.”
Edwards pointed out that this is strictly about the greening of spaces and nothing political whatsoever. “We just wanted to bring more life in the building, clean the air, and at the same time, respect the Earth.”
While the botanical event room was relatively small, there were quite a number of courthouse employees coming and going with an interest in plants and bettering the planet throughout the two-hour exhibition.
A better overall experience in the courtroom
Hon. Carmen Pacheco explained that it is not only important to maintain the Earth’s purity as much as possible but also to remind people that the courthouse is about more than just justice.
“You want to make people feel at ease, welcome and comfortable,” Pacheco said. “It’s hard enough to enter a courtroom, as many people tend to already be a bit nervous. A plant can drastically change someone’s mood, putting them at ease for a better overall experience in the courtroom.”
Valery Manetta, a senior court clerk also in attendance, noted that planting is important therapeutically. “It’s a great way to de-stress from the courtroom, sustain life and also build community — not to mention it’s our job as stewards of the Earth,” she said.
The first Earth Day was held in 1970, sparked by growing concerns about environmental damage and pollution. It is observed in over 193 countries and engages over a billion people worldwide, making it a global event. Earth Day motivates people to take concrete steps to protect the environment, such as reducing waste, conserving energy and advocating for policy changes. It aims to educate the public about environmental issues and encourage a sense of responsibility for the planet.
