Earth Day Column 1990!

            In 1990 I started writing a Keep Fremont Beautiful column for the Fremont Tribune, that appeared weekly, leading up to the 20th Anniversary of Earth Day. After the anniversary date and activities, the Fremont Tribune allowed Keep Fremont Beautiful the column space to continue promoting and providing information on the KFB program and special projects. 
            Since retiring from Keep Fremont Beautiful in 2017, I have often thought of looking through the accumulation of files containing all the columns I had written from January of 1990 through March of 2017, but I hadn’t done so until today. The very first box I opened contained the very first columns I had written – I must say they weren’t all that impressive, but all writers have to start somewhere…
            Those first columns, as were most of the hundreds of other columns, were utilitarian in nature.  Providing specific information and asking our citizens to become involved.  The column featured below, is the second column I wrote. This column appeared in the Fremont Tribune sometime in February of 1990, during the weeks leading up to April 22, 1990. The column is a historic reminder of how KFB celebrated the 20th Anniversary of Earth Day – the 50th Anniversary is coming up in 2020.  How will you celebrate Earth Day, April 22, 2020?

Earth Week and Keep America Beautiful Month
            In April 1970, millions of people gathered across the country to celebrate Earth Day.  Much of the day’s activities involved peaceful demonstrations, environmental lectures, garbage clean-ups, tree planting celebrations, etc. The fundamental message of Earth Day 1970 was simply that the American people were becoming increasingly outraged by the degradation of their air, water and earth!
            Twenty years later, pollution and environmental problems still plague the world. Earth Day 1990 will not be a victory celebration – although we have made certain advances in the past two decades, we must recognize that the world is simply not in better shape today. We must educate ourselves to the world environmental problems such as acid rain, ozone depletion, the mounting garbage crisis and disposal problems, air pollution, groundwater contamination – it is the responsibility of each and everyone of us to “think globally and act locally”!
            Please don’t think that there isn’t anything you can do to improve the world environment – you can reduce acid rain, you can protect the ozone, you can reduce the burgeoning burden on our landfills, you can help protect the ground water and help clean the air.
            In preparing to celebrate Keep America Beautiful Month and Earth Week in April 1990, KFB has planned many activities designed to improve our local environment.  There will be cleanups, tree planting celebrations, a composting workshop, distribution of a household hazardous waste brochure to all Fremont households, elementary school workshops, environmental displays, distribution of the new KFB Recycling Brochure and a metal recycling drop site.  KAB Month and Earth Week activities will be highlighted in this column in the weeks ahead.  Please keep informed and plan to participate!
KFB & ALL METALS MARKET RECYCLING DROP SITE
Saturday April 28, 1990
9:00 AM to Noon
City Parking Lot – 725 North Park
            Please bring your tin cans (rinse thoroughly, remove label and flatten), cast iron sinks, car batteries and parts, pipes, metal tubing, aluminum doors and window frames, lawn mowers, old swing sets, metal fencing, etc.  Hot water heaters are the only appliance that can be recycled at this time.  Absolutely no other appliances or fluorescent lights will be accepted.  
 
            Recap:  Looking back at that particular 1990 column, I find that in 2019 I am “feeling” even greater concern regarding the degradation of our environment, as well as, the devasting weather events relating to global warming.  We, collectively, have done great harm to our air, land and water through negligence and misguided greed. Collectively, we must look past politics and embrace a strategy that deals with the scientific realities of climate change. Collectively we must act to preserve our diverse eco-systems that allow for life to thrive on this planet.  
            ​The message from that first Earth Day in 1970 through Earth Day 2019, is the same – at least for me!   We must all work together to keep our home beautiful, clean and green.    Think Globally and Act Locally.  (And Earth Day is Every Day)
Educate yourself - Learn more at www.keepfremontbeautiful.org– 
www.KNB.org  - www.KAB.org