Ecological Education Articles
#10.Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge
An Environmental Assessment (EA) was completed for the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge in 1989 with a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) in 1994. It protects, in Pike and Gibson Counties, one of the few Midwest bottomland forested wetlands, and one of two floodplain forests in Indiana. In 2024, the Refuge celebrated its 30 th anniversary.
#9.Caring for Our Mother Earth
Did you know celebrating September 1 as a Day of Prayer for Creation begins the Season of Creation? The season goes through October 4, the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. It is an annual celebration uniting everyone in prayer and action for the protection of our common home.
#8.Will We Prevent the Sixth Mass Extinction on Earth?
Do you know what former Vice President Al Gore said about how we can stop climate change? “We can do this,” he said, “if we just overcome the greed and political power of the big fossil fuel polluters who have been trying to control this process. It’s time for people at the grassroots level in every country to speak up, and the good news is, that’s happening too.” To hear him, please visit the YouTube video, a link provided near the end of this article.
#7.The Sun
Rhett Herman, Ph.D., physics professor at Radford University in Virginia (Scientific American, 10/26/1998, How fast is the Earth moving) says, the Earth revolves around the sun in 365 days at a speed of nearly 67,000 mph, and rotates on its axis, at the equator at 1,000 mph. In addition, the sun is a yellow star made of hydrogen and helium, 93 million miles from earth, and its volume would need 1.3 million earths to fill it (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
#6.Earth Day and the Catholic Church
Gaylord Nelson, who founded Earth Day, saw, in the 1960’s, a deteriorating environment and Anti-Vietnam War protests. Both gave him the idea for a “teach-in” about environmental issues on April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day. It’s estimated that 20 million people participated in this event, according to “The History of Earth Day, Adirondack Council.” The first two websites under “What can we do!” give ideas for Earth Day on April 22, 2023.
#5.Righting Wrongs Through Legislation
Historically, we’ve learned much about righting wrongs to promote environmental protection. Two notable authors are Aldo Leopold (“A Sand County Almanac”) and Rachel Carson (“Silent Spring”). Both were helpful in passing legislation like:
#4.Only You Can Prevent Wildfires
Did you know that nearly 85% of wildfires in the United States are caused by humans (2000-2017 data based on Wildland Fire Management Information, and U.S. Forest Service Research Data Archive), while others by lightning? Human-caused fires result from campfires left unattended, burning of debris, equipment use and malfunctions, negligently discarded cigarettes and intentional acts of arson (National Park Service, Wildfire Causes and Evaluations). Smokey Bear’s fire prevention message today is, “Only you can prevent wildfires.”
#3.Do Trees Make You Healthier?
Have you heard about the Louisville, Kentucky, “Green Heart” project －“Do trees make you healthier?” This 6-year study (the first of its kind) will transform four neighborhoods in South Louisville with 8,000 trees. Trees, shrubs and other plants will be placed where they can best soak up lung-damaging pollution (James Bruggers, 10/26/17, Courier Journal). Trees give us oxygen to breathe; shade; sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; and filter pollutants.
#2.Bees, Butterflies and Earthworms
In 1963, Peter, Paul and Mary (an American folk group) released their version of the Bob Dylan song “Blowin’ in the Wind.” In it, they sing, “Where have all the flowers gone?” Today, these lyrics could easily become, “Where have all the bees, butterflies and earthworms gone?” These animals may be considered sentinel species used to detect risks to humans, very much like a canary sent into a coal mine. If it died, that was an early warning.
#1.A Team Effort of Love
Did you know that in 1970, President Richard Nixon signed the National Environmental Policy Act, which required some federal agencies to take part in certain regulations, policies, projects, licensing, and permitting? The NEPA has been a blessing for 50 years because it requires projects to realize their impacts on the environment, and be held accountable. It was developed to avoid, minimize, and mitigate/lessen our impacts upon Earth’s air, water and soil.