Image provided by: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Warm Springs, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 1990)
Warm Springs, Oregon April 6, 1990 PACE 5 Earth requires protection, concern for survival SpilyayTymoo What on "Think globally, act locally." The people of Warm Springs can make a difference on this planet by helping to create biological diversity, by protecting human health and by working for sustainable resources. They can be working for protection of the planet from their own backyard. Simple activities such as recycling, protecting strcambanks, conserving energy, snaring concerns lor me cann wun ! What a marvel the third planet from the sun is, perfect for creating and maintaining life. It is crucial, therefore, that the planet's inhabitants realize the importance of ecological balance Earth Day activities set Dear Tribal Leader: On behalf of the Earth Day Oregon Coordinating Committee I am writing to invite your tribe to participate in the Earth Day cele bration in Portland, Oregon to be held on April 22, 1990. This will be a day of celebration for our Mother Earth and a day when people wil gather to express their love and caring for the planet. In Portland, a large celebration is being planned. The intent of the celebration is to bring people to gether to work for a sustainable future. There are a number of ways that your tribe may want to get involved, and I am listing a few of them and who the contact person is: Reserve a booth and offer some thing of your tribe which you feel is important in expressing love to the Earth at this time and which can help bring all of us together as one unified family. Call 1-228-1 134 if you have questions. Consider being involved in the early morning sacred service that will kick off Earth Day. From 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Pioneer Square (located between Morrison and Yamhill streets and between Broad way and Sixth streets in Down town Portland) there will be an Plastics do Plastic waste threatens marine and beach environments, wildlife, and continuously grows in land fills. It totals seven percent of the waste stream or 1 ,000 pounds from each U.S. citizen per year. A plastic container remains un changed for several hundred years. It is difficult to compress, toxic to burn and does not decay. Plastic does float. Six pack ring binders are frequently found on the muzzles of seals, and plastic bags result in the death of turtles and other marine animals that try to ingest them. It is estimated that one million tons of garbage is dumped in the ocean worldwide each year. Com mercial fishing fleets lose about 1 2 miles of plastic drift nets every day during a five month fishing season. earth can :-v ' ' ' ' v ' i .1 y , . f "Ecumenical Service and Native American Ceremony." If you wish to be involved in this please contact Tom Traphagen at 1 -230-6944 or Ellen Lowe at 1-223-3056. Consider being involved in the noon 'til 1:00 p.m. opening cerem ony. The ceremony will take place at the World Trade Center(located between Taylor and Main streets and between Second and Front streets in Downtown Portland). If you are interested in being involved please call Linda Neal at 1-628-2428 or Janelle Schmidt at 1-228-1134. Consider being involved in a drumming ceremony that is roughly scheduled between 12:00 and 12:30 p.m. and 4-5:00 p.m., also at the World Trade Center. The intent of the ceremony is to send love to the Earth. With than in mind I ask you to inform your most powerful spir itual tribal members to participate in this ceremony and also at the early morning service. If you are intereted in the drumming cerem ony please contact Pete Mesteth at 1-289-0680, or Rita McNoble at 1-643-1718. All my relations, Gary Spanovich not decay Plastic foam cups, plastic caps, rings, toys and disposable razors have been found in the gullets of dead sea birds, fish and mammals. On land the plastic crises occurs in landfills. Waste of all types totals l.l oinion pounds per day. Grow ing populations and increasing waste adds to landfill problems. Within the next decade it is esti mated that waste will total 13,500 pounds per person annually. Recycling is part of the answer to waste problems. Research con tinues in recycling technology. In dustry, which creates plastic con tainers and conveniences, funds some recycling technology but it is accused of not pulling its fair share. One solution other nations have found practical is packaging in containers that do drrsv we do? children, and getting involved are ways to counteract the effects of ozone depletion, the Greenhouse Effect, increasing waste, depiction of natural resource and the decline of many species of birds and animals. Citizen awareness of the problems present on the planet Earth are becoming more pronounced as Earth Day 1990 approaches. Twenty years ago the first Earth Day, proclaimed "iivjwwr,j!!" and not foul the planet with wastes, or climate changes or pollu tion which could eventually lead to the extinction of the human species. Celebrate Earth Enviornmental The 1990's will become known as the "Decade of the Environ ment." In 20 years, since the first Earth Day was celebrated, many changes have taken place some good, some not so good for the environment. As a point of reference, listed are some worldwide statistics about the environment in which we live. World human population in billions in 1970: 3.72 . Projected for 1990: 5.32. Number of species on the official U.S. endangered and threatened list in 1970: 92. In 1989: 539. Estimated global pesticide sales in 1975: $5 billion. Pro jected for 1990: $50 billion. Number of national wildlife refuges in the United States in 1970: 331. In 1989: 452. Number of whooping cranes in existence in 1 970: 7 1 . 1 n 1 989: 217. Number of California con dors in 1986: 60. In 1989: 30. Number of dusky seaside sparrows in 1970: about 1,000. in 1989: 0. Number of beverage cans used in America in 1963: 1 1.5 billion (mostly steel), in 1985: 70 billion (mostly aluminum). Of every federal dollar spent, the amount directed toward natural resourcesand thcenviron ment in 1976: 1.5 cents. In 1978: ' K 1 4 I 1 ( . 4 r changes have 3 cents: in 1989: 1.5 cents. World military expenditures (in 1984 dollars) in 1970: $450 billion. Projected for 1990: $750 billion. , Estimated number of U.S. wetland acres lost in 1970: 500,000. Projected for 1990: 300,000. Miles of designated U.S. Wild and Scenic rivers in 1970: 868. In 1989: 9,278. Billions of board-feet of timber harvested from US. Forest Service lands in 1970: 11.5. In 1988: 12.6. Median age of U.S. popula tion in 1970: 27.9. Projected for 1990: 33. U.S. population served by minicipal wastewater systems providing secondary treatment or better in 1960: fewer than 10 million. In 1984: more than 125 million. Millions of tons of solid waste generated in the United States in 1970: 10. In 1986: 158. Millions of dollars approp riated by Congress from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to buy parkland and wild life habitat in 1970: 48. In 1986: 45.9. In 1989: 207. Parts per million of DDT in human adipose tissue in the United States in 1970: 8. In 1983:2. North American population of breeding mallards in 1970: 10.379,000. In 1989: 6.1 19.000. Number of states with for mal, funded nongamc wildlife by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, made millions ot people conscious that the quality of life on this planet was diminishing. Twenty million people participated in activities that day. Soon after Earth Day 1970, laws that are now taken for granted were enacted including the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Environmental Protection Agency. In the 20 years since the first Earth Day, the far-reaching consequences of human activities have been observed. And even with that, human activities have not taken into account the fragile nature of the planet. This year the Earth Day celebration is an international activity. The interrelationship of all the planet's inhabitants has become more obvious since Voyager II reminded us with photographs that we are all a part of the same world. We arc also reminded of the influence we have on each other when acid rain from United States industry is killing the maple tree crop of Canada and fouling lakes and streams throughout the country. We arc reminded of our interrelationship when fish populations are declining because of pollutants. Our influence on every facet of life is apparent as concern by the scientific community is expressed for the health of the planet because of chemicals emitted into the atmosphere. Because of human activities scientists inform the world's citizens that the atmosphere surrounding the planet is changing. Chemical pollution threatens to alter the climate and expose populations to higher levels of ultraviolet radiation. The Greenhouse Effect is resulting from increased temperature on the planet. Industry is producing gases which are released into the atmosphere. These gases, such as carbon dioxide, absorb more of the radiation produced by the earth and then return it rather than letting it escape. Prcdictiont indicate that the Greenhouse Effect will increase the Earth's temperature between 1.5 and 4.5 degrees centigrade by the year 2030 if chemical emissions continue at the present rate. This rising temperature will affect the climate. The earth's protection against ultraviolet radiation is diminishing at a rapid pace. Ozone, a molecule found in the atmosphere, is produced naturally. It breaks down and is created continuously. Chemicals can influence the speed at which the reactions occur, speeding up the process while increasing the amount of chemicals in the atmosphere. Several chemicals produced industrially affect the speed at which the ozone is broken down. Chlorofluorcarbons (CFCs) are used as propellants in aerosals, in refrigeration technology, as foam-blowing agents in plastic production and as solvents in electronics. Other gases that speed up ozone breakdown are nitrous oxide and gases containing chlorine, fluorine and bromine. On the surface of the Earth, human activities are responsible for declining species. Wetlands are being developed into urban centers and agriculture plots, forests are being removed from the landscape, waste is accumulating and water is being contaminated by pesticides and industrial pollutants. Humans are only one of approximately 37 million species inhabiting the Earth today. Habitats of these species are being destroyed at an amazing rate. The extinction of one species may lead to the extinction of another species. The human population cannot exist as a single species on this planet. We are part of a complex ecosystem and we must mainatain a balance. As organizer of the first Earth Day celebration, Denis Hayes expresses, "Think globally, act locally" Everytime the heat is kept a few degrees lower than normal, or cans are recycled or a leaky faucet is repaired, resources are being conserved. It's easy to make every day, Earth Day. Day on April 22 occurred since programs in 1970: 2. In 1989: 50. Total U.S. energy consump tion (excluding wood) in quad rillion BTUs in 1970: 3,934. In 1986: 5,225. Number of whales killed worldwide in 1970: 42,105. In 1989: 300 (estimated). Number of U.S. homes using passive or active solar energy in 1970: 35,000. In 1987: 1,700,000. Millions of tons of sulfur dioxides emmitted into Ameri ca's air in 1970: 27. In 1985:21. Thousands of metric tons of lead polluting America's air in 1970: 204.1n 1985:21. Number of states with work ing bottle bills in 1971: 1. In 1989: 9. By the year Scientists estimate that by the "ear 2000: Nearly 70 percent of the world's tropical rainforests will be gone; Fifty percent of the landfills now operating in tne united States will be closed; As much as one-fourth of he world's reliable water supply :ould be rendered unsafe for JSC A free guide is available w hich .uggests effective ways to help :ure specific environmental lilments. The citizen action uide. available through the National Wildlife Federation, las personal solutions to prob the 1970's Number ol catalogued pie ces of artificial space debris (sofball-sized or larger) counted by Space Command in 1970: about 2,000. In 1987: 6,985. Millions of acres of U.S. agricultural land transformed into urgan areas between 1970 and 1980: 13. According to analyses of government reports, the amount of federal rangeland that was overgrazed and in "poor to fair' condition in 1977: 70 percent. In 1989: 70 percent. Estimated number of Afri can elephants in 1970: 4.5 mil ion. In 1989: 500,000-650,000. Information taken from the National Wildlife magazine published by the National Wildlife Federation. Statis tic gathered hv Chrj WHIe. 2000... lems such as: overtiowing land fills and toxic trash; water shor tages and pollution; ozone de pletion; and air pollution and global warming. Your Choices Count contains a chart telling how to dispose ol household toxics, and it lists ways the workplace can become more earth-friendly. Also listed are ways to get involved in the political process and w here more information can be obtained. For the free guide write: Publication 770 1 2. Educationa I Publications Coordinator, CO School Programs, National Wild life Federation, 1400 16th St. NW. Washington, D.C 20036 2266.