Another Earth Day without much change

Another Earth Day is upon us. Strange that a planet that gives us life and sustains the beauty of nature is celebrated but one day per year.

The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 at the height of the Vietnam War. It has become a global effort to save animal species from extinction (including humans) and protect the planet from climate change.

Of nations who have pledged to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, the United States gets a big fat F on its report card. We are burning more fossil fuels now than we did when we made the pledge to reduce emissions back on Earth Day 2016.

It appears that most Americans want to drive as inefficiently as they can, driving vehicles much larger than required 98% of the time. Also one of the most significant impacts on changing the climate is our processing of meat (aka the slaughter of millions of chickens, cattle, pigs, turkeys, ducks and sheep to eat). Americans love animals!

America can claim the number one spot again for the nation that produces the most fossil fuels per person (USA! USA! USA!). This is an accomplishment children in K-12 can remember us for! For example, how we voted to stop a clean energy project here in Maine.

This is not a letter to shame, as people are ashamed of nothing these days. But if one person is motivated to reduce their carbon footprint on Earth, it’s well worth the time to write.

Tom Turner

Augusta