The status of the earth's environment undoubtedly depends on the perspective of the person making the evaluation. A lot of people will be doing just that as Earth Day celebrates its 30th anniversary today with a variety of events in more than100 nations.
Some environmentalists are preachers of gloom and doom, proclaiming that man is basically destroying earth's resources and ecosystems.
For example, at the first Earth Day celebration, environmentalist Nigel Calder warned, "The threat of a new ice age must now stand alongside nuclear war as a likely source of wholesale death and misery for mankind." And in 1975, the Environmental Fund took out full-page ads warning: "The world as we know it will likely be ruined by the year 2000. World food production cannot keep pace with the galloping population."
Such extremist rhetoric tends to shift the focus away from the real problems in the environment and what can be done to solve them.
In actuality, significant progress has been made in cleaning up the environment in the past 30 years, particularly in the United States. That partly is due to more stringent regulations. Whatever the reasons, the air is cleaner today than it was in 1980, lead emissions have declined by more than 90 percent since 1976 and the water supply is virtually free from toxic discharges today.
Much still needs to be done, however, and at the very minimum, Earth Day should raise the consciousness of each individual.
Everybody can do something to promote a cleaner and better environment. True environmentalism might best be described as a respect for the earth and all its living creatures. That respect is manifest by personal habits, ranging from not littering to planting and caring for flowers and trees to recycling waste where practical.
A National Science Foundation poll taken five years ago shows that 75 percent of Americans identify themselves as environmentalists while membership in environmental activist groups is falling.
That trend is toward an optimistic, common sense respect for the planet and away from the fringe crowds that feed on shock and hysteria.
Utah features a variety of natural wonders. Each person should do his or her part to keep them that way — Earth Day and every day.