| As Earth Day 2006 approaches, there seems to be | | | | was actually hazardous to breathe during "code red" |
| good news on the environmental scene, which should | | | | days. |
| come as welcome change to anyone concerned | | | | The interesting thing is that the environmental |
| about the state of our Earth. That's in stark contrast | | | | improvements took place in spite of increased |
| to the first Earth Day, back in 1970. | | | | pressure in America. For instance, EPA statistics show |
| Earth Day 2006 sees lakes in New England beginning | | | | that the total emissions of the six major air pollutants |
| to rebound from their sorry condition after being | | | | dropped by more than 50 percent, even though |
| bombarded by acid rain for decades. The acid rain | | | | America's population increased by 40 percent and |
| itself has decreased, as well, and the sulfur dioxide | | | | energy consumption increased by 47 percent. |
| and nitrogen oxides that comprise most of our air | | | | Automobile hydrocarbon emissions also decreased |
| pollution have diminished by some 50 percent--due in | | | | during that time, despite the fact that both the |
| no small part to the fact that the burning of leaded | | | | number of vehicles and amount of miles driven more |
| gas is virtually a thing of the past. | | | | than doubled. |
| Environmentalists have also been encouraged to | | | | All in all, it appears as if America is headed in the right |
| discover that a number of endangered species, | | | | direction in regard to the environment. It's been a |
| including America's national symbol, the bald eagle, as | | | | fierce, hand-to-hand battle, but the country is moving |
| well as wolves and grizzly bears, have begun making | | | | forward, thanks to dedicated environmentalists and |
| a promising comeback. All of that good news is even | | | | bureaucrats at all levels of government. |
| more significant when you compare today's | | | | However, even though American rivers don't catch |
| environment to the way things were on the first | | | | fire anymore and the smog levels have decreased in |
| Earth Day. | | | | most major cities, there's still a long way to go. Urban |
| In Ohio, the Cuyahoga River was so polluted that it | | | | sprawl is still endangering woodlands, prairies, and |
| actually caught fire. In New York, all of the residents | | | | farmland, and global warming is still on the rise. Even |
| of a neighborhood called Love Canal were forced to | | | | so, the overall trend is positive. But we must all work |
| move away forever when it was discovered that | | | | to continue the momentum set in motion by the first |
| their homes had been built upon a toxic chemical | | | | Earth Day in 1970. |
| waste dump. Pollution in cities was so bad that | | | | Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. |
| residents were told to stay inside because the air | | | | |