Environmental Lent

              April 22^nd, Earth Day, 2019

                      Environmental Lent

When we see the word “Lent” we connect it to the days leading up to Easter. As you know, Lent comes with the giving up of something, and that’s the key I want us to consider.

This is why I think we should look at our environment in that manner, and consider a link with Lent as we do so. But remember, Lent is not just about giving up something; it’s a lot more than that. If you have participated in actually giving up something for Lent, you will understand the purpose of Lent, which is not to do without, but to remind you of Easter. For example, you love to chew gum, and you have given it up for Lent. Then every time you think about chewing a piece of gum, you think about “Why?”…and then Easter.

Giving up something that has a negative effect on our environment is a very personal environmental reminder every time you do it, and each time you give up something for the environment, you become a partner in improving our environment. In my opinion, it’s not the big items such as a giant, coal-fired plant shutting down, it’s thousands upon thousands of individuals who help with the smallest of improvements.

This is our family’s simple, recent involvement in making a positive improvement in our environment. About 6 months ago, Vertis and I started turning down plastic straws when we dined out. Yes, I know you’re shaking your head at the reduction of maybe 50 or 60 straws a month that won’t end up in a landfill, or float around in the Pacific Ocean ending up in a mass of plastic six feet deep as big as the state of Texas. But back to plastic straws. Vertis and I are doing two things when we turn down using a plastic straw; we are making a very simple statement; “Plastic straws are bad for the environment.” But even more important than taking away a few plastic straws from a landfill, that act reminds us why we’re giving them up. It’s being a part of a grassroots coalition to save the environment that will actually accomplish something, and another speech from Al Gore won’t do the job as well as thousands of grassroots citizens around your town who give up something in order to help improve or prevent environment destruction.

This is the key: in order to have an environmental attitude, you must be involved. The reason we picked plastic straws was to remind us every time we sit down to order anything, and we turn down a plastic straw, whether we comment on it or not, we have an environmental awareness that stays with us, and those little nudges that come from turning down a plastic straw makes tiny pricks in our conscious, which help us to focus on other environmental problems and not be indifferent.

The idea that our environment will steadily be improved by grassroots actions, depends upon a commitment that will make a difference. It seems to me that we either take away something that is bad for the environment or add something good. First, let’s look at taking away the additions to our environment that have a negative impact.  We’ve already mentioned plastic straws, so let’s move on from there. The next obvious items in the dining area are the one-use eating utensils. Those are the plastic (again) forks, spoons, and knives. Giving up those for the environment does take a little more effort than plastic straws, but the bulk associated with those plastic items makes the effort worthwhile. 

Yes, plastic straws are only the tip of the huge problem we have with non-recyclables, mostly plastic waste. Plastic is non-biodegradable, which means a plastic straw could easily be a part of a landfill, or on the side of the road for centuries.

 Now let’s move into the vast plastic bag operation, and see if we can help reduce the number of plastic bags that end up scattered around our planet, or in the belly of a whale such as the one that recently beached and died with fifty pounds of plastic grocery sacks in its stomach. Of course it would be better if we all shopped with reusable bags and never used another plastic sack, but we know that’s hard to manage. However, what is manageable is to return those bags and drop them in the recycle box. But get ready to see them go, because New York is considering banning them, and several towns on the west coast have already done so.

If we resolve to stop using anything that is a one-use item, we will be making a giant step forward, but it would mean we would insist all drinks of any kind be in reusable containers. That is a big step, but one that will happen over the next few years. The idea that we will drink from a single use cup in the year 2025 will be almost unheard of. So why don’t we get started and make the reusable drinking cups and bottles standard fare?

Taking away the negative items that degrade our environment doesn’t have to be small items. In fact, as we get environmentally active, we will naturally interact with our elected officials, and as we make our voices heard, it will compel them to act on major items. Grassroots pressure to convert coal fired generating plants can close those plants down quicker than anything, and the consumer will get lower utility bills and the earth will have cleaner air. It’s a win-win situation unless you are trying to win over coal miner votes. The combination of low cost natural gas, wind, and solar power along with grassroots support has closed well over 270 coal fired plants since 2010, and more are set to close. Coal fired plant retirements have saved more than 7000 lives and 3.4 billion dollars in health care costs.

Adding to instead of taking away is just as important, and we can easily add to our environment especially here in Arkansas where, with just a little effort, any town or city can make a tremendous environmental improvement just by planting trees. A study by the US Forestry Service gives a value to the money a town spends to maintain and keep urban trees. For every $1 spent the city will get back $5.82, and over the life of the tree the values for heat removal, noise reduction, reducing air pollution and ecstatic value adds up to $57,151. That’s the worth of one tree.  

Of course, maintaining out National Forests and adding to our wilderness areas are positive ways to help the earth survive the onslaught of those who would try to make money at any cost to the environment. Opposing Congressman’s Westerman’s Sustainable Forestry Bill is a pro-environmental way to react. If that bill becomes law up to 10,000 acres could be clear-cut in our National Forest without any public input.

I know we are already doing some positive environmental activities, but we rank 44^th in Clean State rankings; so roll up your sleeves, get involved, and have a great Earth Day?