To the Editor:

Fifty-five years ago on April 22, 1970, the largest, the cleanest, most peaceful demonstration, that ever occurred in America’s history, HAPPENED! My generation created a new kind of movement. A movement which aligned high school students, college campus militants, wilderness lovers, wildlife watchers, and a whole host of colorful intelligent characters, came out and raised their voices for the protection of the Natural World!

This year’s Earth Day theme: Our Power, Our Planet (earthday.org), this theme is focusing on the significance of renewable energy and to end our reliance on fossil fuels. Human-caused climate change is real and each and every one of us, especially here in America is contributing to it. This I know is contrary to what some of our anti-environmental leaders are saying! Alternatives to the internal combustion engine have existed for a long time. Some of these innovative ideas have been squashed or dismissed by the government, auto-makers, and the fossil fuel industry! For example: I met an immigrant back in 1974 when I was riding my bicycle to the Environmental World’s Fair in Spokane, Washington. He had an engine that ran on castor bean oil. He was turned down by the U.S. Patent Office multiple times, he told me, almost in tears. I’ve always heard of components for cars that will allow you to go 100 miles or more on a gallon of gas!

Here in Pure Michigan, the stench of diesel fumes is sickening. I walk out of my home on a calm day quite often and immediately smell truck exhaust. Wherever I walk or ride on my bicycle, that toxic air seems prevalent. I’ve inhaled it on Isle Royale while hiking a shoreline trail as the Ranger III turns the corner to dock at Mott Island. All my life I’ve heard people complaining about the cost of gas or traffic congestion, etc., but not about how these gas-guzzlers are harming their health! One of the worst things anyone can do to this thin veil of atmosphere that surrounds this planet is to allow your car to idle more than 30 seconds.

It’s harmful to you, your car, but more importantly, this beautiful planet! Stop the drilling for oil in pristine wildlands!! The anniversary of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill was this past Sunday 4/20/10, an environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. An unprecedented marine oil spill, may it never happen again! As I sit here today hearing the sad news of the death of Pope Francis, I think of what he stated, that climate change is a moral and spiritual issue and he pleaded to the world’s leaders to take “radical decisions” to protect the environment! Celebrate Earth Day every day.

Stephen G. Lesiak

Houghton