Since I live blocks away from one of the Great Lakes (Lake Erie) it seems appropriate I talk about the effect we have on our water. This article on Yahoo mentions how before the first Earth Day pollution was very evident, like the Cuyahoga River catching fire. Living in/near Cleveland I see the Cuyahoga River a lot and thankfully I can say that it has turned into a very vibrant, healthy river.
The Cuyahoga River dumps right into Lake Erie along with many other rivers near my home. Although the beaches and water along the shores of Lake Erie are not as clean as we would like them to be they are much better than when I was growing up. There are many efforts and organizations helping keep our beaches and water clean. Our homeschool Roots & Shoots group participates in beach clean-ups through the Alliance for the Great Lakes. We pick up the beach than do various water tests. It's nice knowing that we are helping make the beaches and the lake a better place for future generations.
Lake Erie right before a summer storm
One way we can all help the watershed in our local communities (which helps our local streams, rivers, lakes, etc.) is using Organic Land Care and not use pesticides. For more information on it you can check out the NOFA Organic Land Care website. The rain washes these chemicals into our streams, rivers, lakes, etc. Also, learn about your local water system and storm drains. Some of our storm drains dump into the lake which is not good, in my opinion. Chemicals from our cars such as gasoline and oil that may drip end up on our roads than washed down the storm drain which ends up in the lake. Another area is prescription medicine. I know when I was growing up we were told to empty the pills into the toilet than flush them. Well, where do you think that ends up? In our water system. An advanced level of prescription drugs is a problem in our water system. So throw them out in the trash then immediately take the bag out of the house so your little ones don't get them. Don't forget to recycle the bottle.
My oldest gets to see Disney's Oceans movie with her Girl Scout troop and I hope to take all of us to see it this weekend, it looks really good.You should see it with your family, anyone who goes the first week, Disney is donating money to help save the coral reefs. Also, any homeschoolers or educators (even parents) should check out the webpage under educators and download the Activity Guide and/or the Educator's Guide.
Have a great Earth Day! Enjoy our planet! Give thanks to God for this gift!
You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. Nehemiah 9:6 (NIV)
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