Celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd

With all of the information on how to live a greener lifestyle and the constant talk of global warming, it is nearly impossible not to think about our individual impact on the environment. Earth Day is April 22, which gives us an opportunity to ponder what we, as a community, can do to help change the environment.

Earth Day was the idea of Gaylord Nelson, a Senator from Wisconsin who saw the state of the environment and wanted to bring it to the forefront of politics. Through the 1960s, Senator Nelson spoke across the country about environmental concerns and discovered that the people of America were noticing and caring, but the politicians were not. While speaking at a Seattle conference in November 1969, Senator Nelson announced that a grassroots demonstration would be held in Washington, D.C. “on behalf of the environment.” This demonstration would later be known as the first Earth Day.

The response to the Senator’s announcement was overwhelming; people from across the country wanted a chance to participate in this event. On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans flooded the streets of Washington, D.C. to protest the state of the environment and urge government officials to take action to protect the future of the planet. In addition to the demonstrators in Washington, D.C., schools and communities across the country showed their concern about the environment by participating in local Earth Day events.

The easiest and most common way to help the environment is to recycle. Recycling reduces the amount of waste in landfills and lessens the amount of hazardous materials that end up in soil and water. In recent years, the rate of recycling has increased tremendously, with approximately 8,660 curbside recycling programs across the country. Even though recycling is becoming more common, we are still throwing a majority of our waste into landfills. The EPA estimates that 75% of solid waste is recyclable; however, only 30% is actually recycled.

Earth Day gives us a day to reflect on our individual and collective impacts on the environment. It is also a day to explore opportunities in how we can help make the planet a cleaner and safer place. A great place to learn about these opportunities is by attending one of the many Earth Day events taking place throughout the country.

Earth Day Events

Each year the EarthDay Network, a group founded by organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, organizes Earth Day on the Hill at the nation’s capital. The purpose of the event is to education the public, as well as lobby members of Congress to take action towards protecting the environment. This year’s theme is A Call for Climate, with demands including economic friendly solutions to global warming and the establishment of a fund that will help lower-income neighborhoods and communities move toward a greener lifestyle.

EarthDay Network is also sponsoring its third annual Green Apple Festival in eight cities across the country, including Chicago. The festival is an interactive and free event that features environmental groups, speakers, seminars, and live music. The exact vendor and band list is still in the works, but in past years the festival had such artists as the Decemberists, the Kaiser Chiefs, Taylor Hicks, and Stephen Marley. Organizers ask the artists to speak about environmental issues on stage and to make a donation to a charity aimed at helping the environment.

Approximately 50,000 people are expected to attend the eight festivals, making it one of the largest Earth Day events in the country. The Green Apple Festival is being held at Chicago’s Lincoln Park on April 20 at 11:00 a.m. It is a free event and is open to the public.

To learn more about these events visit www.earthday.net.

In an event closer to home and in honor of Earth Day, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Great Lakes office is holding the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge during the week of April 19-27. The challenge was created with the goal of recycling one million pounds of electronic waste (e-waste) and one million pounds of pharmaceuticals, with the challenge being directed towards states that border the Great Lakes.

Electronic waste is anything mechanical and electrical that is no longer needed, such as old televisions, cell phones, computers, monitors, and mp3 players. Americans discarded 2 million tons of e-waste in 2005. These items may contain harmful and hazardous materials that, if disposed of improperly, may make it into the soil and water supply.

Authorized agencies can refurbish and reuse e-waste, salvage parts from nonfunctional electronics, or recycle the materials in a responsible manner. Dropping off e-waste at authorized locations ensures that potential hazardous materials will not harm human health or pollute the environment. Best Buy, Staples, and Goodwill are e-waste drop-off points; please contact each store to learn what kinds of electronics are welcome. Additionally, Retro-Tech Electronics is a local organization that recycles basically anything with a cord. Visit www.retro-tech.org or call 309-682-3209 for more information.

The EPA has found traces of medicine in waterways where the Great Lakes region gets its drinking water. Such contamination of useful fresh water can lead to harmful reproductive and development issues in fish and other water-dwelling animals. Additionally, traces of medication in water, especially water used as drinking water, may potentially threaten human health and safety.

It’s estimated that over half of the population disposes of old medication by flushing it down the drain, while the next most common method of disposal is throwing it in the trashcan. Instead of flushing old medications or discarding them in the normal trash, please dispose of them properly at an authorized location.

Please visit www.earth911.org or www.epa.gov/greatlakes/earthday2008 for more information.

The Illinois EPA is holding a household hazardous waste collection on May 3 from 8 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Exposition Gardens. The event is co-sponsored by the City of Peoria and the County of Peoria Recycling and Resource Conservation.

The Peoria Park District is sponsoring its 4th annual Earth Day Festival at the Nature Center. This family-friendly event, held in the parking lot of the Nature Center, will feature numerous vendors and organizations, all educating attendees on how to protect Earth and her inhabitants. The purpose of this event is to educate the public about how to live greener and be more earth conscious.

Vendors include Global Village, Prairie Woods Farm (they will be selling native plants), Retro-Tech, and the American Chemical Society, along with a myriad of local artists who will be selling such wares as walking sticks, blown glass, and nature photos. There will also be live music, as well as crafts, face painting, and other activities for kids. Plenty of food and drink from local businesses will available, along with vegetarian options.

The Festival is Saturday, April 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event is free, but the center appreciates donations to help cover costs of the event. For more information, contact the nature center at 309-686-3360.