VOLUME 33, NUMBER 27 THURSDAY, May 2, 2002
ReporterElectronic Highways

Earth Day is every day on the Web

send this article to a friend

 

While you may have let Earth Day slip by without participating in any of the special events, it's not too late to become informed about environmental issues. Earth Day officially was April 22, but why not embrace the slogan, "Earth Day is Every Day?" The World Wide Web offers a great introduction to crucial environmental concerns that affect our daily lives and future.

Not sure where to begin? Start with the Yahoo! Directory-Environment and Nature at http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Environment_and_Nature/. Besides providing links to the latest environment and nature news, the directory covers a range of topics, including conservation, global change, pollution, ozone depletion and recycling.

To learn more about critical environmental topics, visit the Earth Day Network at http://www.earthday.net. Headed by the initiators of the first Earth Day in 1970, Gaylord Nelson and Denis Hayes, this nonprofit organization is devoted to spreading environmental awareness through educational materials and publications. Included on this site are suggestions on how to involve your work, school or community in environmental protection. Biodiversity loss; depleted and polluted water; vanishing forests; energy, pollution and climate change, and equity and environment are among the many topics addressed. You also can subscribe to their email service intended to keep you up to date on environmental issues and Earth Day activities around the world. For assistance in planning future Earth Day events, download the "Earth Day Organizers Guide" for free at http://www.earthday.net/howto/downloads.stm.

There is an endless number of resources available on the Web that can help you become involved in environmental policies. Friends of the Earth, a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the planet from environmental degradation, has a Legislative Resources Web page http://www.foe.org/legis/index.html that links you to federal legislation in the current and past congressional sessions, as well as environmental codes and government agencies.

Environmental awareness can be taught at almost any age. Introduce a young person to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Student Center at http://www.epa.gov/students/. This Web site provides detailed explanations about conservation, waste, recycling, ecosystems and human health that may be of interest to both parents and children. A special section highlights information on career, internship and scholarship opportunities in the environmental field. Activities and games, such as the EPA Inspector and interactive books and puzzles, also are available.

For a history of Earth Day and additional information on how to promote a healthy and sustainable future, visit The EnviroLink Network http://envirolink.netforchange.com/, which has served as the online clearinghouse for environmental information since 1991.

And remember—every bit counts toward a cleaner and safer tomorrow!

—Stewart Brower and Laura Taddeo, University Libraries

Front Page | Top Stories | Briefly
Electronic Highways | Kudos | Mail | Q&A | Sports | Transitions
Exhibits, Notices, Jobs
| Events | Current Issue | Comments? | Archives
Search | UB Home | UB News Services | UB Today