‘Earth’ event raises awareness

Vendors set up in quad to inspire

Suzzanne Sperry, Staff Writer|May 1, 2014

Mike Furnary, a BART representative, talks to student Justine Banayan about how she can use her bus pass more economically.
Mike Furnary, a BART representative, talks to student Justine Banayan about how she can use her bus pass more economically.
Josh Kohl is helping sell plants and trees to raise money for the Nature Preserve.
Josh Kohl is helping sell plants and trees to raise money for the Nature Preserve.

Photos by Cathie Lawrence

 

Earth Day is an annual event that is celebrated on April 22. Los Medanos College held an event in the outside quad to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Three tables were set up which included representatives from Tri Delta Transit, City of Pittsburg Environmental Affairs Division and The Sierra Club. Students from LMC lined the tables to acquire tips on how to help protect the earth and also recieved free recycled bags to for shopping use. Brochures and flyers were also given out along with flower seeds and free plants. “I brought my daycare kids to this event because it is a fun way to educate them on the importance of protecting the earth. Plus we got a lot of cool things,” said LMC student Jenna Rutchinson. Volunteers from the City of Pittsburg handed out brochures to inform attendees of the things they can do at home to help protect the environment. A few of the tips included minimizing water usage, lowering energy costs, carpooling and recycling. “We encourage people not to put oil or fat down their sink drain because it blocks up the pipes and ruins the piping system,” said Melissa Reeds, an event volunteer from the City of Pittsburg. According to their website, Tri Delta Transit believes that riding public transportation is a great way to help the environment. Not only do you save money with commuter benefits but you also help limit the gas emissions put in the air from motor vehicles. Commuter schedules, fares and routes are provided on their website, TriDeltaTransit.com Matthew Dervin, a representative from the Sierra Club said, “I am here to bring awareness to the crude-oil from WesPac that is being dumped into the Bay Area from oil refineries. We need to get together as a community and request that they stop pouring their waste into our bays because it is very hazardous. Earth Day is about creating a world with less waste.” Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year. For more information on the WesPac terminal, visit sanfranciscobay.sierraclub.org