My post today is to honor Earth Day.
A day that is celebrated annually all over the world every year to support environmental protection, this year it is a political statement supporting science and opposing the policies of Donald J. Trump, President of the United States.
A day doesn't go by that the new President doesn't create controversy over some new appointment to his administration, or a change of policy that is detrimental to the people's well-being, The disturbing aspect of anything the President does or says, is his constant practice of saying one thing but doing another.
His changes to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is a huge testament to this behavior pattern.
President Trump replaced the head of the EPA with Scott Pruitt who was funded by oil industry lobbyists. Here is a man who is a disbeliever in climate change. A man who has tried to sue the EPA. A man who believes the EPA oversteps its boundaries. A man whose LinkedIn page describes him as an advocate against the EPA.
President Trump signed an executive order to roll back clean water regulations and to roll back regulations imposed on energy companies to protect the environment. He refused to ban a pesticide in food that is known to harm children's brains. He's allowed the use of lead ammunition on Federal lands and waters. The word 'science' was removed from the EPA's mission statement, etc. etc. etc...
And yet...today President Trump had this to say about his support of Earth Day:
"My Administration is committed to keeping our air and water clean, to preserving our forests, lakes, and open spaces, and to protecting endangered species."
and went on to say:
"We should remember that rigorous science depends not on ideology, but on a spirit of honest inquiry and robust debate."
My heart is heavy on this Earth Day. Our global planet does not recognize borders, what happens in one country affects us all. Clearly we've learned as President Trump reaches is first 100 days, that we don't listen to what he says, but instead watch what he does.
As a novelist whose writing is inspired by nature and whose stories always include mother nature in its tale, I was heartened by the Earth Day protests. We are all witnessing that people can make a difference. Voices can be heard. If we persist and educate, awareness will win out.
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