Up & Coming Weekly

Earth Day: We Each Make A Difference a STAFF REPORT Millions of people from Poughkeepsie, N.Y, to Papua, New Guinea, will take part in events to mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day this April 22. But the story behind the fi rst Earth Day begins with a single individual. In the early 1960s, when Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, a Senator from Wisconsin, fi rst hatched the idea that began the modern environmental movement, there was little public awareness about the damage being done to the planet. Nelson had been working to bring attention to environmental issues for several years. He even persuaded President John F. Kennedy to go on a fi ve-day, 11-state “conservation tour” in 1963. In 1969, while he was a U.S. Senator, Nelson came up with the idea for a “teach- in” on environmental issues. The idea caught on, and the fi rst Earth Day was coordinated by Nelson and Denis Hayes and held on April 22, 1970. In 1995, Nelson (who also served as Governor of Wisconsin) was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest honor given to U.S. civilians — in recognition of his role as the founder of Earth Day. One person — like Gaylord Nelson — can make a difference! More and more people are making earth-friendly habits, like recycling, part of their daily lives. Through the joint efforts of the U.S. government, organizations and citizens, what started as a day of national environmental recognition has evolved into a worldwide campaign to protect our global environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, we are all making a difference. In fact, the nation’s air and water are much cleaner today than they were 40 years ago. Arbor Day: Add More Green by JOY KIRKPATRICK Arbor Day is a nationally celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. Founded by J. Sterling Morton in 1872, it’s celebrated internationally on the last Friday in April. This year, that day is April 30. Some states celebrate Arbor Day on other days of the year, based on when it is a good time to plant in their area. Arbor Day in N.C. is the fi rst Friday after March 15, or this year was March 19. J. Sterling Morton moved to Nebraska in the 1800s, but there were not many trees there. He started a campaign to plant trees. Not only did he love trees, but he knew they were important as windbreaks for fi elds to keep soil in place and for shade and for building materials. More than a million trees were planted in Nebraska on that fi rst Arbor Day, April 10, 1872. It has been over 135 years since J. Sterling Morton founded Arbor Day. His simple idea of setting aside a special day for tree planting is now more important than ever. There are many ways that you can celebrate Arbor Day with your friends and family. But of course the most obvious is by planting a tree. If you plant a tree, be sure to follow the these guidelines provided by the Arbor Day Foundation: • Call before you dig - Several days before planting, call the nation 811 hotline to have underground utilities located. • Handle with care - Always lift your tree by the root ball. Keep roots moist until planting. • Digging a proper hole - Dig two to fi ve times wider than the diameter of the root ball with sloping sides toa llow for proper root growth. • Planting depth - The trunk fl are should sit slightly above the ground level and the top most roots should be buried 1 to 2 inches. • Filling the hole - Backfi ll with native soil unless it’s all clay. Tamp in soil gently to fi ll larger air space. • Mulch - Allow 1 to 2 inche clearance between the trunk and the mulch. Mulch should be 20 to 3 inches deep. Earn 18 units of college credit in a curriculum designed for working adults. Begin in fall 2010. • Improve your writing and editing skills. • Master desktop publishing software. • Expand your career opportunities. As we build our program, we are seeking feedback from prospective students. Please take a few minutes to complete our online survey at www.methodist.edu/ir/writers.htm For more information, contact Dr. Kelly Walter- Carney, Chair of the Department of English and Writing, at kwaltercarney@methodist.edu WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MARCH 31 - APRIL 6, 2010 UCW 9

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