2020 Earth Day Week
50 years of Protecting our Water, Air and Endangered Species
Earth Day
Some thought the Solution to Pollution was Dilution. Industry used those rivers to dump a lot of waste. Rivers caught fire.
We were less people on less land.
A new solution limited discharges. That worked for a while.
Starting in the 1960's
To many, the Cuyahoga River fire on June 22, 1969 represents a turning point for environmental regulation. This river caught the attention of a nation due to excessive water pollution. Certainly not the worst, it was thrust to the forefront as a symbol of environmental degradation. With the formation of the U.S. EPA in 1970 and passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, changes were in store for all waterways in the United States. In addition to the Clean Water Act, the Cuyahoga River was one of 43 Areas of Concern identified by the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. These programs and regulations were focused on improving the lives of those both in and near the water. Now 50 years later, how is this river doing in its recovery “fueled” by local, state and federal partners?
Cuyahoga River
Where is the Cuyahoga River 50 years later?
Celebrating the Comeback of the Burning River, 1969-2019
This lead to Earth Day April 22, 1970
1970: The first Earth Day in Philadelphia
Sparked A Grassroots Movement
Earth Day: A Grassroots Moment That Sparked a Movement
What we can do?
Today, a throw-away society use the rivers for waste. Those rivers became overwhelmed with plastics.
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The backhoe takes down trees and replaces them with concrete.
We forget to look at nature for clues of what to do.
Earth Day 1970 - 2019: No Time To Waste
What we can do as BCEQ?
Virtual Interactive sessions on dates and times below:
BCEQ Earth Day Week 2020: Because Our Planet Needs More Than a Day, and We’re Home Anyway
Monday 4.20.2020
10 am Earth Day 50 Years
Tuesday 4.21.2020
BCEQ Environmental Education Forum
Wednesday 4.22.2020
10 am - Harlem and Bronx Rivers
Noon - Green Chemistry and Community Building
2 pm - Macro-invertebrates in Van Cortlandt Park
Thursday 4.23.2020
2 pm – Pollution Goes Where the River Flows - Protecting the Bronx River
Friday 4.24.2020
10 am - Green Infrastructure
11:15 am – BCEQ Goals for Earth Day 2030; Student Presentations
Program Listing
Earth Day 50 Years (Karen Argenti, BCEQ) Monday 4.20 - 10 am
BCEQ Environmental Education Forum (Mark Stern and Ira Charles Levenberg-Engel, BCEQ) Tuesday, 4-5 PM
Harlem River Watershed Management Plan, the Fishway on the Bronx River, and the Urban Waters Federal Partnership (Katie Friedman NYC Parks and Sara Powell Bronx and Harlem River Ambassador) Wednesday 4.22 - 10 am
Green Chemistry and Community Building from Beyond Benign Lecture (Dr. John Warner, Director of Science and Innovation, Beyond Benign & Co-Founder of the field of Green Chemistry) Register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/13500209740558860 Wednesday 4.22 - noon
Macro-invertebrates in Van Cortlandt Park (Alex Byrne, Van Cortlandt Park Alliance) Wednesday 4.22 – 2 pm
Pollution Goes Where the River Flows – History of the Bronx River (Amber Plaksin, Michelle Luebke, and Christian Murphy, Bronx River Alliance). Thursday 4.23 – 2 pm
Green Infrastructure (Karen Argenti, BCEQ) Friday 4.24 – 10 am
BCEQ Goals for Earth Day 2030 (Robert Fanuzzi, BCEQ) & 7 Manhattan College Enviro Students 3 minutes each Friday 4.24 – 11:15 am