Today is Earth Day nationwide, a special event.

I think we often overlook the importance of the Earth and the environment in general. Many politicians and business leaders don’t see that we have to start thinking of the future for our children and our children’s children. I hope that changes as the years unfold.

My own children, Savannah and Sierra, have both made me think more frequently about how fragile the Earth and its atmosphere is today. Thanks to my girls, I am more conscious about recycling. The other day, I tried to throw a milk carton away, and Savannah wouldn’t let me. She said, “Dad, we need to recycle it.” She was already in the process of pouring out what remained of the milk in the sink and rinsing the carton. I thought for a second and replied, “You are right.”

I am proud that I now recycle all discarded paper in my office. The two city editors that work with me do the same. Between the three of us, we generate a lot of recycled paper each week.

We have started using a logo for stories about the environment called “Environment and Nature.” We have been averaging about a story or two a week under this heading, led by reporter Jill Moon. I admire Moon’s concern for the environment and nature, and she is doing an excellent job covering these issues. Moon has been a leader on The Telegraph staff in this regard, and I think her efforts are paying off with the staff and in the region. I also think there is a lot of interest in these issues in our area.

Alton became a “Cool City” last week, when the Alton City Council gave approval at its meeting for Mayor Don Sandidge to sign the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Alton became the first city in the Metro East and the 31st in Illinois to sign the agreement, which calls for the city to adopt more green practices.

The goal in the Sierra Club’s national “Cool Cities” plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. I think we have to start moving in that direction, or the Earth as we know it won’t exist in another 100 years.

We have the technology in place to develop automobiles that would reduce emissions and also operate more on battery power. I hope that move comes in full force from here on, especially with gasoline prices hitting record highs.

What are your thoughts about Earth Day and the environment? Please respond.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 21st, 2008 at 4:33 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.