The Earth Clean up day was inspired by a United Church of Canada’s Campaign called for the “Love of Creation: A Faith in Action Justice Campaign”. One of the action items was a pledge to reduce personal and household gas emissions. We invited church and community members to join us for the earth day clean up. We were grateful to have our councillor, David Hendsbee assist us. For the weeks of Lent we shared environmental issues to consider how we perhaps could address climate change instead of taking from our environment. We as United Church members and adherents were also asked to write to our members of parliament to express our concerns for the present and future care of our environment.
While looking around the community, some of our Earth Day Committee members noticed that there was a great deal of trash at the arena, the Peace Park, the two baseball fields, and Tim Hortons. So we decided to concentrate on those areas for a clean up; 11 people spent almost 2 hours cleaning the various areas and more cleaning is needed. We collected 12 garbage bags and 4 recyclable bags. The bags, gloves and vests were supplied through HRM.
If we all put our garbage where it should go then it would not be necessary to have a clean up day. Items that were picked up: paper cups and plates, clothes, diapers, pop and beer cans, tires, household items, cigarette butts, candy wrappers, make up... It’s hard to believe that people leave these things wherever they are at the time and do not properly dispose of them. We also planted 25 tree seedlings in the surrounding community.
Some of the participants of Earth Day Clean Up, from left to right: Rev. Joan Griffin, Olga Kidston, Christine Deleseleuc, Jeanne Manning Stright, Anita Day, Marcel Deleseleuc, Monica Fraser, Councillor David Hendsbee and Mike Griffin kneeling.
Marcel and Christine Deleseleuc and Jeanne Manning Stright plant seedlings.
