We only have one so let's protect it
Have you ever stopped to think about the world we live in, taking a look back at what it was like 10, 20 years ago and thought about what it may be like 10 for 20 years from now?
Perhaps we should because it seems we take for granted the world in which we live. And we shouldn't. It's the only one we have, the one planet God gave us to live on, in harmony with all His creatures.
Today is Earth Day, and it's no better time to start thinking seriously about our environment and the harmful effects man has had upon it.
We continue to ravage our landscapes, clear-cutting forest land, polluting streams and filling our air each and every day with manufacturing wastes as well as transportation emissions.
And for many of us, it's just a part of our daily lives.
But what happens when we continue to excessively abuse our environment? The answer is simple. We lose it and all its valuable resources.
Is that what we want for ourselves, our children and grandchildren? I certainly hope not, but at our current rate, we're headed in that direction.
Now is the time to take a stand, to do our part to make a difference. And it can be the simplest of things that will help.
Practicing water conservation is one way to aid our environment. Planting a tree to replace one cut down is another way. Being more mindful of our streams and land, and appreciating their beauty and benefits rather than depositing our trash in the water or on roadsides is another way. We can turn off appliances and lights to conserve energy and reduce carbon monoxide levels.
We can be more involved in recycling efforts. There is a move in this county to be more conscious of recycling, and there are numerous ways to do so. It's up to us to take advantage of them.
Modifying our driving behaviors and running all our errands at once instead of making multiple trips is another simple way to help protect the environment. Carpooling or riding bikes to destinations will help.
We need to be more friendly to our planet and protect it. We've done enough damage throughout our history, and if we keep on, the environment we know now will cease to exist, leaving us and our children with a barren wasteland in the future.
Be mindful of the air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, wildlife habitats and all the scenic beauty around you. We have polluted and degraded our resources far too long.
It's time we all stepped up to the challenge of preserving what we have. We certainly wouldn't want to get a scratch on that shiny new car, so why should we toss trash on the sides of the road? No one would want to have a hole in that nice leather sofa, but we think it's OK to contaminate our soils and streams with pollutants.
It has got to stop. And since it is Earth Day, today is the day to make a commitment to better protecting our environment. We all need to be actively involved in doing that. The environment we leave behind is the one our children and grandchildren will inherit.
Managing Editor