On Earth Day, the world celebrates the environment and the ways it can be protected.
University of Idaho students and Moscow residents tend to have a unique connection with the wilderness.
To protect that connection, it is vital that people band together to make a difference. No one person can single-handedly save the environment, but every individual can incorporate small, eco-friendly practices into their everyday lives and advocate for legislation that decreases the production of environmental pollutants.
Small ways to be kind to the Earth include recycling more, driving less and finding ways to repurpose everyday materials.
While few people intentionally pollute the Earth, most people don”t think they leave a substantial carbon footprint.
UI offers several programs that are aimed at making students more environmentally aware. There are recycling options around campus, and Moscow also has a recycling program for residents. Recycling is a small act that over time can make a big difference.
Moscow is a bike-friendly town as well. There is little need to drive anywhere in town or on campus with the exception of large shopping trips. In addition to having bike lanes and paths, Moscow is also small enough that it is easy to walk downtown from just about anywhere.
Not only does it help limit pollution, it also helps people exercise and enjoy the environment around them.
As the days get hotter and there is less rain, thinking of the environment is even more important. The heat and sun dry out the forests and prairies all around Moscow and can lead to a terrible fire season later in the year, as was evident in September of last year.
Not all forest fires can be prevented. Some of them are caused by natural elements, such as lightning. However, people who go camping or hiking can increase their awareness of the state of the wilderness around them. Campfires and sleeping under the stars is fun, but keep in mind that the undergrowth is dried out and don”t go to sleep while the fire is still burning, even if it”s just embers.
With greenhouse gases and the rising global temperature, it may seem that actions in Moscow won”t make a huge difference in the grand scheme of things, but sometimes it is the culmination of the small things that makes the largest difference.
Everyone can make an impact, just so long as everyone cares. Our campus and community is beautiful. Let”s work to keep it that way.
– CW