Carol Fisher-Linn
Earth Week is April 21-25. Why bother?
Who remembers learning about the Santa Anna oil spill or the Cuyahoga River (Cleveland, Ohio) fires in 1969? Yes, a river that burned, repeatedly, for over a century. Or who remembers growing up hearing about not being able to swim in Lake Erie, or the Allegheny River? As a kid going to Lake Erie’s Sunset Beach, I dared not enter the water. My husband, living in Portville, next to the river, could not swim in the river because there were no septic systems and all their family’s waste (and others along the river), toilet paper and all, went into the river.
can do to help it. Gaylord Nelson, a junior senator from
Wisconsin established the fi rst Earth Day on April 22, 1970,
to bring light to the issue of environmental responsibility and
transforming the public’s attitude. He organized a “teach-in”
on college campuses along with congressman Pete McCloskey
and activist Denis Hayes (pictured). The group chose
April 22, a weekday falling between Spring Break and Final
Exams, to maximize the greatest student participation.
What’s my point? Simply this. Over the years, things have changed. Much of it had to do with government stepping in and forcing changes. Naturally, things often went government rogue, going too far in their demands and eventually putting farmers and manufacturing companies in a bind. But, the offshoot of these environmental disasters also brought citizens to the forefront, looking for ways to help mitigate the harm and help the struggling environment. Earth Week helps us to become more conscious about our environment and what humans do to damage it, and what humans can do to help it.
Do you know that our water runoff here in Ellicottville is part of the Allegheny River Watershed which means that everything in our aquifer goes from this side of West Valley into Pennsylvania via the Allegheny down into Pittsburgh where it meets the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers which then travel to the Mississippi River, then down to the Mississippi Delta/ Gulf of Mexico. Alternately, if you are standing on Route 242 near West Valley, you will find a sign telling you that water from that point onward is part of the Niagara/Lake Erie Watershed which goes on to the Lakes Erie/Ontario, the Niagara River, over the Falls on to the St. Lawrence River and into the Atlantic Ocean. FOLKS, WE ARE ALL CONNECTED.
Bottom line, it is important for all of us to realize that what we do in our little part of the world, whether fertilizing our lawns or crops, using insecticides, even on our insignificant patch of flowers, paving a driveway with non-porous materials (which would cut down runoff), cutting down carbon dioxide trapping trees that also prevent erosion and whose soil helps to clean the runoff water, or not recycling our oils or toxic cleaning/shop materials, etc., doesn’t just affect us. Also, it may surprise you to discover that leaving dog waste in your yard to decompose thinking it is good for the lawn is wrong. Unlike beneficial cow manure, doggie doo is made acidic through natural digestive processes and the microbiome is enough to destroy the grass undeath it. Don’t use it as compost. It is an environmental pollutant. The EPA says it has 2 types of pollutants: nutrients and pathogens. Dog waste that gets washed into waterways may carry pathogens that affect living things in the water and can make people sick that are in contact. Also, nutrients released from dog poop can stimulate the growth of algae and other plant life, making the water unsuitable for recreational uses.
Inspired by these environmental disasters, Gaylord Nelson, a junior senator from Wisconsin established the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, to bring light to the issue of environmental responsibility and transforming the public’s attitude. He organized a “teach-in” on college campuses along with congressman Pete McCloskey and activist Denis Hayes. The group chose April 22, a weekday falling between Spring Break and Final Exams, to maximize the greatest student participation.
Of that first Earth Day, Nelson wrote in an article for the April 1980 issue of the EPA Journal, “It was on that day that Americans made it clear that they understood and were deeply concerned over the deterioration of our environment and the mindless dissipation of our resources.” It was about time. Now to do your part …
Let’s Get Involved!
Some suggestions for Earth Week: Chautauqua County has put out a call to action for recycling to reduce waste, prevent pollution, conserve natural resources and energy, and to create jobs. www.Chqgov.com “Chautauqua County Commemorates Earth Day with a Call to Action for Recycling.” On April 19, celebrate Earth Day at Audubon Community Nature Center by joining staff and other volunteers as they work on projects to maintain and improve the Nature Center building and grounds. In Cattaraugus County choose from several options (and more online): April 26, Nannen Arboretum celebration, April 27, Cleanup Day at Nannen Arboretum, Volunteer Day at Griffis Sculpture Park (Ashford), and Earth and Arbor Day Celebration at Canticle Farms (Allegany). The Ellicottville Rotary will again be out on April 26, along with REA Realty, cleaning up the Village and creek area. Find a way to do your part.