Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, continues to grow in importance every year.

Although much legislation has been passed to restrict chemical pollution and regulate emissions, there are new examples of harmful contaminants seemingly every day. In our own region, the integrity of drinking water became a very real and terrifying issue in 2018 when it was discovered that Chemours had been polluting the water supply with a dangerous new chemical compound labeled Gen-X. The resultant cost of investigations, lawsuits, cleanup and new water treatments plants will be with us all for many years.  

Along the beautiful beaches of Brunswick County, there is clear evidence of the harmful effects that litter and plastics pose to fish, turtles and sea birds. Our neighborhoods and local governments also continue to struggle with the issue of recycling, as processing costs increase and disposal options decline.

Damage to our shorelines from rising seas, intense hurricanes and more frequent tornadoes suggest that we heed warnings about climate change from scientists who have studied the issue for decades.

All of these issues drive the need for meaningful changes in the behavior of industries, governments, and individuals.  If we are all called to be “stewards of the Earth,” then we should contribute to the work needed to repair the damage we’ve done and to look for practical solutions and alternative behaviors to sustain our beautiful planet.

Book Recommendations to Inspire Your Earth Day Celebration:
Check out these books for children and young adults, available through the Brunswick County Library System:

• Let’s Celebrate Earth Day! By Connie & Peter Roop
• Ants in Your Pants, Worms in Your Plants by Diane DeGroat
• The Lorax by Dr. Suess
• The Final Warning: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson (YA-fiction)

Image: courtesy freepik.com