Environment
11
Day sprouted from a
grass-roots
movement in the United States
movement in the United States in 1970.
effort to change bad habits. One hundred
people in 120 countries may
take part in events
recycling, tree planting,
bicycling and hiking.
Knight-Ridder TriState News / BILL BAKER and MARTY WESTMAN
A toxic landscape
Factories, cars, nuclear plants, defense industries and pesticides all contribute to pollution. Here's the cost:
Ozone depletion
20,000 cases of skin cancer for every 1% decrease in ozone
Global warming Earth could be 4-9 degrees hotter by 2050
The United States leads the world in generation of hazardous waste, with an estimated 250 million metrics tons in 1985. Hungary was in second place, with 7.1 million metric tons.
How green are you?
There is more to being green than recycling newspapers and using unleaded fuel. Test your ecological intelligence:
1. Which of the following does not pollute indoor air?
not pollute indoor air?
a) Carpets made of artificial fiber
b) Electrical equipment
c) Household solvents
d) Chipboard furniture
2. Which uses the most energy?
a) Refrigerator
b) Stove
c) Washing machine
3. What is the best way to reduce auto emissions?
a) Install a catalytic converter
reduce auto emissions?
a) Install a catalytic converter
b) Use unleaded fuel
c) Dive into a fuel tank
c) Buy a fuel-efficient car
c) Buy a fuel-efficient car
4. Which uses the most water in your home?
your home a) Toilet
a) Toilet
b) Bath
c) Washing machine
d) Dishwasher
5. Which of the following is not associated with destruction of the Amazon rain forest?
a) Cattle ranchers
b) Western paper-consumption
c) soft drink cans
d) Greenhouse effect
5. Which is the most
8. Which is the most environmentally friendly form of energy?
a) nuclear power
b) Coal
c) Natural gas
d) Oil
7. Which of the following has not been associated
has not been associated with increased rates of miscarriage?
a) Sleeping under electric blankets
b) Working with x-rays
c) Too much sex
d) VDTs (visual display terminals)
e) Coffee consumption
8. Which of the following statements about plastic cling-wrap is untrue?
a) May cause cancer
b) Soaks into fatty foods like cheese and meat
c) Is less harmful at lower temperatures
d) Contains bacteria which can cause salmonella
1 a. Electrical equipment can produce formaldehyde. 2. b. But gas is more efficient than electricity. 3. a. Cuts some emissions by 90%. 4. a. B. Must be destroyed to raise air or convert buatie to raise air. 6. c. 7. b. 8. d.
Answers
Awareness 7-8-Dark Green
level: 5-6-Light Green
3-4-Transparent Green
0-2-Head in the sand
SOURCE: The New Internationalist
SOURCES: World Resources Institute; Worldwatch institute; Council on Environmental Quality; Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory; Paul and Anne Ehrlich; Peter Vitusek; "Biodiversity" edited by E.O. Wilson; Scientific American; Earth Day 1990; staff reports.
Festival celebrates Earth Day
By Eric Gorski
Kansan staff writer
Lawrence will be a little greener Sunday when an Earth Day festival including environmental speakers, informational booths and live music fills South Park.
Environs, a KU environmental group, is working with the city in organizing the festival, said Mike Horan. Environs president. Forty organizations and businesses, such as Greenpeace and the Sierra Club, will set up exhibitions and distribute environmental literature.
The festival, which will be from noon to 5 p.m., marks the 20th anniversary of Earth Day, an environmental awareness day.
"There will be a lot of learning going on." Horan said. "Hopefully, people who aren't aware of environmental issues will come away from this and see that something has to be done."
Youth In Action, an environmental group of Hillcrest School students, and the KU Recycling Task Force will speak about recycling at noon in South Park Center, adjacent to the park. At 4 p.m., Victor Papanek, professor of architecture and urban design, will speak about architecture and the environment.
Other speakers will discuss composting and mushrooms. Ten musical groups will perform throughout the day in the park.
Marvin said the city would set up information booths, including recycling and water-treatment displays.
Patricia Marvin, Lawrence recycling coordinator, said Earth Day should be a time when people improve their living habits. If people turned off unnecessary lights and did not throw out recyclable goods, the environment would benefit.
Steven Hamburg, assistant professor of environmental studies, said he hoped that Earth Day would be a catalyst for action.
"The problems are real, and we can't avoid them," Hamburg said. "Hopefully, this will put some pressure on people who have the power to make some changes."
Europa
1