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Scott AFB marks 34th anniversary of Earth Day

  • Published
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILL. --  April 22 marked the 34th anniversary of Earth Day, an international celebration designed to promote awareness about the condition of the environment and to highlight environmental achievements.

The first Earth Day in 1970 began as a grassroots effort by then Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and Harvard University student Denis Hayes to draw national attention to the pollution of the environment. Nearly 20 million Americans participated in activities that year.

In addition to the large-turn out, events of that day led to greater success with the passage of the clear air and water acts in 1970 and 1977, respectively, and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Since then, public awareness of concern for the environment continue to grow along with significant advances in environmentally friendly technology, such as energy-efficient home appliances and fuel-efficient aircraft.

These breakthroughs in education and technology contribute to key reductions in environmental pollutants, while enhancing the conservation of natural resources. For example, according to a 2001 EPA report on national air quality, aggregate emissions of six principal air pollutants have been cut by 25 percent. Another 2001 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration adds that energy consumption per dollar of the gross domestic product declined at an average annual rate of 1.7 percent during the last 25 years.

Today, more than 500 million people from more than 180 countries participate in a variety of Earth Day activities promoting the protection and preservation of the environment. These participants include many servicemembers and their families at Scott AFB.

One annual Earth Day activity at Scott AFB included the ceremonial planting of a new tree, April 16 behind the Air Mobility Command headquarters building. Participants included Lt. Gen. John Baker, AMC vice commander; Lt. Gen. William Welser, 18th Air Force commander; Col. Mark Sime, 375th Airlift Wing vice commander; Col. Larry Hammond, 126th Air Refueling Wing commander; and Col. Michael Hayes, 932nd Operations Group commander.

The "Earth Day tree" is just one among many planted here every year. According to Andreas Rodriguez, 375th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental compliance chief, the base planted 85 trees in 2003. Additionally, 565 trees were pruned, 415 mulched, and 450 fertilized.

Scott's continued commitment to the management and care of its trees has earned the base recognition as a Tree City USA community for the past 11 years.

In addition to planting new trees, Scott AFB also celebrated Earth Day this week with special Earth Day readings at the base library and with essay, picture and poetry contests for students at Scott Elementary School.