Illinoisans Urged to Make Every Day Earth Day
Thursday, April 19, 2012
CHICAGO - As Illinoisans plant trees, clean parks and participate in Earth Day events on Sunday, environmentalists are urging all state residents to care for the Earth every day of the year.
Howard Learner, president of the Environmental Law and Policy Center, says he understands how people intend to make changes and then get sidetracked.
" 'Yeah, I'll get around to replacing that old incandescent light bulb,' or 'Yeah, I ought to change the filters on my furnace' and 'Yeah, I was going to put in a little more insulation.' Get it done!"
Learner says Earth Day gives people an opportunity to reflect on lifestyle changes they might consider, such as how they get around.
"You like to walk, or you have a bike. It's healthy and there's no pollution. A lot of us could stand to lose a couple of pounds, and getting on that bicycle or doing a little more walking is good for us. It's healthier for us."
Learner thinks the nation is headed in the right direction but urges Congress to resist rolling back important regulations on clean air and water.
"Lake Michigan and our beaches and shorelines are cleaner and better. There's less mercury pollution going into the lake. There's less other pollution going into the atmosphere. Do we have a ways to go for clean air and better public health? Absolutely."
Illinois has made progress since that first Earth Day 42 years ago, Learner says. The state is a leader in wind power production, he says, and Lake Michigan is much cleaner. But everyone can continue the progress, he adds, by making small changes such as biking or walking sometimes instead of driving, using more energy-efficient appliances and recycling on a regular basis.
get more stories like this via email
Health and Wellness
A recent report examined how some rural Tennessee hospitals have managed to stay afloat despite financial challenges. The report includes interviews …
Social Issues
Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …
Social Issues
Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…
Social Issues
A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are …
Social Issues
Colorado is working to boost the state's agricultural communities by getting more fresh, nutritious foods into school cafeterias - and a new online …
Social Issues
Missouri lawmakers are concerned with protecting people from the potential risks of the increasing accessibility of AI-generated images and videos…