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
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"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
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1
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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.