The Spectrum

Issue date: 4/14/05 Section: Features

Media Credit: AP Photo/ KATHLEEN GALLIGAN Earth Day is held on April 22 of each year and it was started back in 1970 to help people realize they need to keep the environment clean.

FLIK goes through countless plastic take out containers each semester. Papers and bottles tumble out of trashcans while recycle bins sit rarely used next to them. And students that may live minutes away drive to campus everyday. With Earth Day just a week away, are Sacred Heart students doing their part?
April 22 will mark the 35 Anniversary of the modern environmental movement known as Earth Day. According to Earth Day's official website at www.earthday.net, "On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment."
During a time of complete turmoil, assassinations, a war, the civil rights movement, and the Kent State shootings. Earth Day brought the country together receiving support from rich and poor, Republicans and Democrats, and rural and urban communities alike.
It also led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts.
But the fight for a clean environment continues today and one of the most famous activities during Earth Day and throughout the spring is The Great American Cleanup.
"We would be delighted to have Sacred Heart students join our effort," says Rick Myers, Director of Operations for Keep Stamford Beautiful Inc.
For the past six years, residents, students, and business owners in Stamford have taken part in The Great American Cleanup.
"They are committed to a cleaner environment," says Myers, "The city wide initiative focuses on litter abatement (cleanup) projects, with a special emphasis on the neighborhoods of the South End, Waterside, Springdale, Glenbrook, the West Side, East Main Street and the Cove."
Keep Stamford Beautiful Inc. will host the two-day event on May 7th for the major cleanup, and May 21st for the planting of more than 150 planters in Stamford neighborhoods.
While Stamford has made The Great American Cleanup an annual tradition, Norwalk engages in the event for the first time this year.
"We are in the process of engaging over 20 neighborhood associations in this event," says David Shockley, Neighborhood Improvement Coordinator of Norwalk, "Local businesses are donating gloves and bags and Public Works is conducting the trucking process for pick up."
Norwalk residents, students, boy and girl scouts, and corporate employees will help with litter removal, cleaning school yards and parks, perennial pruning, grooming of garden beds, household and yard cleanup for senior citizens, and painting over graffiti.
Shockley says that the response has been favorable but new volunteers are always welcome.
"Sacred Heart students could help by volunteering to assist with cleanup," says Shockley, "Just do what fits your interests."
To volunteer your time, take part in Earth Day, and help to build a clean and healthy world for generations to come, contact Rick Myers of Stamford or David Shockley of Norwalk with the information provided:
Keep Stamford Beautiful, Inc. Five Landmark Square, Ste 110 Stamford, CT 06901 Email: Keepstamfordbeautiful@erols.com Phone: 203.358.8268 Or contact City of Norwalk125 East Avenue Norwalk, CT 06856 Email: dshockley@norwalkct.org. Phone: 203.854.7701.

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