Earth Day 2001

By Debbie Ellison

I am Earth,

And I beg you,

Let me breathe

Fully and deeply

Without polluting my lungs

And poisoning my veins.

Let me drink pure water

With no threat of asphyxiation.

Feed me nontoxic foods

That nourish my spirit

And satisfy my hunger.

Love and treasure me,

Honor and respect me,

For I am Father and Mother,

Providing what you need to sustain life.

Treat me with kindness,

And I will give back
The goodness tenfold.

Squeeze not the life

Out of my bones,

Lest I have no life

To return to you.

Walk upon my back

Gently with care.
Lie in my arms

Tenderly with love.

Snuff me out, and you are

Annihilated with me.

The Pro Earth Group
of Atlanta

by Angie Razney

Many people know about Earth Day, celebrated each April 22nd. What many people may not know is that there are several local organizations who try to make every day Earth Day. The Pro-Earth Group, founded in 1995, is one such organization. Mrs. Pat Plant, President and Founder of the non-profit PEG, organizes community activities aimed at making Forsyth County a cleaner, better place to live. The Re-Mag program - a plan in which used magazines in good condition are distributed as learning tools, information sources, and sometimes art supplies for inner-city or disadvantaged schools or community programs - was begun by Pat in 1997 and continues strong to this day. Plans are being proposed for a "Re" center: a site where unused or obsolete materials from local businesses can be gathered and used by local teachers, recreation directors or other interested educational professionals for free: all the better to keep the items out of a landfill! The annual Shore Sweep: a fall clean-up of the areas surrounding Lake Lanier after the busy summer season.

And of course, Earth Day! The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, but the cause was hardly a reason for celebration: 20 million people organized to protest the abuse and deterioration of the environment. Air pollution was rampant: industrialization, fume-belching autos, oil spills, toxic waste, and worst of all, no one to speak out about the severe damage to ourselves and our Earth. Once the different environmental groups participating in the Earth Day celebrations began to realize they were all fighting for the common environmental good, they galvanized their forces to affect many beneficial changes. The Environmental Protection Agency was formed, and the Clear Air and Water Act was passed.

As things began to change, so did the emphasis for Earth Day. Instead of a time for protest and gloomy Global warnings, it became a time to truly celebrate the accomplishments of the environmental movement. Such is the case for the Pro Earth Group's Earth Day celebration: a time to examine environmental success stories.

This year's Earth Day celebration will be held at the Cumming Fairground. There will be representatives from not only the Pro Earth Group, but also Keep Forsyth County Beautiful, Partners for a Smog-Free Georgia, and The Forsyth County Planning and Development Office. All will be sharing their own environmental success stories, as well as providing information and guidance for those wanting to write their own success stories.

Earth day will also be the culmination of The Great American Clean-Up. This is the part in which you write your own chapter in Forsyth County's ecological success story! Beginning the Saturday before Easter, trash and recycling bags will be available from the Transfer and Recycling centers in the county. For each bag that is brought back full, you will be given a ticket. At the Earth Day celebration, these tickets will be drawn for prizes.

Also taking place will be the granddaddy of all recycling ventures: a Yard Sale! Not to be left out, there will be plenty for the kids to do, too: a wildlife show, a Giant Slide and much more. Make plans to be there: Saturday, April 21st from 8am to 1pm at the Fairgrounds in Cumming, GA. The Earth Day Expo is free to all, and will be held rain or shine. Yard sale will be held only in good weather.

Remember: Let every day be Earth Day!

For information on the Pro Earth Group, call 770.886.9377.
For Keep Forsyth County Beautiful, call 770.205.4573.
Volunteers are needed and appreciated.