Today, April 22, marks the 29th anniversary of the first Earth Day and Senator Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg said the occasion offers us the opportunity to renew our commitment to conserving and preserving the territory's natural resources.
"Earth Day reminds us to reexamine our relationship to the environment," Donastorg said. "There are things we all can do to make a positive difference. But we can't just plant trees and pick up trash today — we need to think about ways to incorporate good environmental practices and awareness into our daily lives."
Donastorg said that if everyone did a little bit, many of our current problems would not be so overwhelming. He cited the landfills as a prime example.
"Almost half of what is going into our landfills could be composted," he said. " If families, neighborhoods and businesses composted more of their trash we could lighten the burden on our landfills in a tremendous way while creating nourishing new soil for trees and plants."
Donastorg, who chairs the 23rd Legislature's Committee on Planning and Environmental Protection, acknowledged that not everyone is willing or able to take on that kind of project, but said there are many ways to help.
"And here in the Virgin Islands there are several groups dedicated to
environmental education and activism — S.E.A, E.A.S.T., Friends of the Park,
Reef Rangers, Nature Conservancy, the Save Magens Bay Committee and others are always in need of community support and assistance."
The senator said that he is hopeful despite the Virgin Islands' numerous problems with litter, landfill fires, sewage spills, air pollution, coral degradation and over development.
"People are finally talking about these things," he said. "They have become important to our daily lives. We need to do much more than talk, but getting people interested in these issues is an important first step."
Donastorg urged the community to take a few minutes out today in
order to determine how they could better protect the beauty and health of the
Virgin Islands.
"I have said so many times that clean air and clean water are basic human rights and I mean it," Donastorg said. "But it takes all of us, today and every day."
Earth Day was organized in 1969 primarily by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson in response to growing concerns in the United States about environmental protection. Earth Day is now celebrated throughout the world.
For more information on environmental issues and resources, call
Donastorg's office at 693-3665.
