Grateful for EPA.

Quote from Aldous Huxley: IT IS A LITTLE EMBARASSING THAT, AFTER FORTY-FIVE YEARS OF RESEARCH AND STUDY, THE BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE TO PEOPLE IS TO BE A LITTLE KINDER TO EACH OTHER.

What I LEARNED today.

I'm concerned about our environment and the future of our planet. I learned a lot this morning about the environment while reading an article by Jessica Buchberger in the Cedar Rapids Gazette. It was forty years ago today that Congress created the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As a result within three years Congress passed the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. They were all signed into law by President Nixon.They form the basis of the environmental protections we enjoy today.

In 1969 the movement to improve our environment was given a boost when the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio, caught on fire. It was due to massive amounts of waste and oil contaminants from unregulated dumping. The fire drew national attention to the pollution problems in the U.S. In 1970, the first Earth Day brought together 20 million Americans demanding a cleaner and healthier environment. As a result of these demands Congress created the EPA on December 2, 1970 and the U.S. was off and running in improving our environment.

How has our environment improved in the last 40 years? Author Jessica listed some remarkable improvements.

- The Clear Air Act has led to a 60 per cent cut in dangerous air pollutants that cause smog, acid rain, and lead poisoning and has prevented 228,000 people from dying prematurely. In 2010 alone, this law will save 23,000 lives, while preventing 1.7 million asthma attacks and more than 68,000 hospitalizations and visits to the emergency room.

- As a result of the Clean Water Act more than two-thirds of our waterways are considered safe for both drinking and swimming. In 1972, two-thirds of our waterways were NOT safe to use. Ninety two percent of Americans now enjoy drinking water that meets government health standards. In 1993 it was 79 percent.

This article was interesting for me to read and to learn some actual facts about the progress the EPA has made in improving America's environment. The author says we have made much progress in forty years and now is not the time for Congress to cut funding to the EPA.

HUMOR: A little humor today about turning age 70. My source is the book, "IF IGNORANCE IS BLISS, Why Aren't There More Happy People."

Maurice Chevalier said - Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternative.
Konrad Adenauer said - I do not ask to be young again; all I want is to go on getting older.
Robert Orben said - Old people shouldn't eat health foods. They need all the preservatives they can get.
Cora Armstrong said - Inside every woman is a young girl wondering what the hell happened.
Luis Bunuel said - Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese.
Colette said - You must not pity me because my seventieth year finds me still astonished. To be astonished is one of the ways of NOT growing old too quickly