Thirty-four years ago this month, former U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, a champion of environmental

Thirty-four years ago this month, former U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, a champion of environmental causes, organized the first national observance of Earth Day. Originally, Earth Day focused heavily on social activism and colorful political demonstrations to heighten awareness of the need to keep our land, air and water clean.
Thirty-four years later, much of the hype and hubbub of those early years have ebbed. What has not eroded, however, has been the commitment to the original Earth Day ideals. Today, many of those ideals have become mainstreamed into the American consciousness and etched into our political priorities and daily routines.
To the early movement's credit, the foundation of many contemporary environmental standards took root in such landmark legislation as The Clean Air Act of 1970, The Clean Water Act of 1972 and the Hazardous Substances Act of 1973. As a result, our planet is a much cleaner, healthier and safer place today than it was April 22, 1970.
Challenges abound
But many challenges remain, challenges that continue to need year-round attention and unwavering conviction to address.
As for the quality of our air, a report released last week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency noted that about 159 million people, more than half the U.S. population, live in counties that have dirty air. In our region, for example, Columbiana, Mahoning, Mercer and Trumbull counties are slightly out of compliance with new clean-air regulations. But officials are confident that compliance will be reached within the next few years.
As for the quality of our water, the still-polluted Mahoning River remains a formidable challenge. Taking the lead to address that challenge has been the Mahoning River Consortium, which is continuing its mission to transform the river from the butt of jokes to a tool of economic development. Toward that end, the group is meeting at 6 tonight in the Ohio Room of Kilcawley Center at Youngstown State University in an Earth Day forum open to the public. According to James Petuch, a member of the consortium and manager of YSU's recycling program, tonight's meeting is critical in that the group will solicit firm commitments from local, state and federal representatives to move aggressively to rescue the river.
As for the land, there is good news and bad news, too. Recycling was largely unheard of among the masses in the early 1970s. Today, Americans are recycling 28 percent of their wastes. But at the same time, Americans are creating disproportionately large amounts of new waste. According to the EPA, the average American now generates 5 pounds of solid waste per day. Canada ranks a distant second on the list at 3.5 pounds per capita.
Festival at YSU
Clearly then, the goals of the original Earth-Day movement still have merit. At YSU, the Youngstown Environmental Studies Society sponsors an Earth Day Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday inside and outside of Kilcawley Center. A highlight will be displays from the NASA Glenn Research Center and a hybrid car. The group also plans a massive litter cleanup throughout the university area Thursday, the day officially pegged as Earth Day.
Such cleanups and other organized activities to heighten awareness of protecting our air, water and land continue to make Earth Day a viable observance one day or two each year in late April. But for meaningful and long-term success, Earth Day must be every day.