Clean Ocean Action has been holding Beach Sweeps for 35 years, like this one in 1987, to clean up the beaches and provide documentation of the pollution that exists at the Jersey Shore. This spring’s sweeps will be virtual.
By Elizabeth Wulfhorst
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, forcing most of the world’s population to stay at home, an unexpected side effect has emerged: The environment is getting a chance to breathe.
It’s been 58 years since the publication of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” which began raising public awareness about the links among the environment, pollution and health and 50 years since Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin came up with the idea for Earth Day, which became a bipartisan effort to reverse the damaging impacts of over a hundred years of industrialization. Nearly 20 million Americans participated in that first Earth Day in 1970, demonstrating at rallies in streets, parks and universities across the country. That momentum led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the passing of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, among others. In 1990 the celebration became global.
And this year it became virtual.
While people were not able to gather together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day Wednesday, April 22, environmental organizations throughout the area offered virtual programs designed to observe the significance of the occasion and highlight the strides made to reduce pollution and increase conservation.
After 35 years of cleaning the beach through sun and rain, Clean Ocean Action (COA) in Long Branch had to cancel spring Beach Sweeps this year. But starting April 22 and continuing through Saturday, April 25, COA is hosting a Virtual Vintage Beach Sweeps on its website and social media, highlighting favorite moments from the past 35 years. Past beach sweepers are encouraged to share their own memories with photos and stories and answer challenge questions for the chance to win a limited edition 35th Annual Beach Sweeps shirt.
“These are certainly challenging, unchartered times due to the pandemic,” said Cindy Zipf, executive director of COA. “But there is comfort in that our world is an extraordinary natural wonder unlike any other, filled with special places and ecological treasures.”
Zipf called Mother Nature “the boss” and warned of the consequences of not treating the environment well. “Whether the pandemic, devastation from climate change, the plastic plague or other misuses of chemicals, we are ultimately at her disposal,” she said. “The good news is that Mother Nature is healing, nurturing, benevolent, and very flexible.
“In 1985, trash on the beach was ankle deep in some areas along the shore,” Zipf noted. COA started doing Beach Sweeps to “prove the seriousness of the problem.
“From that mighty yet humble start, tens of thousands have now participated in the Beach Sweeps and significant progress has been made,” Zipf continued, but to ensure a healthy planet in the future, “Earth Day should be our constant state of mind and purpose,” not just a single day.
“There’s still work to be done,” she said.
More information can be found on the COA website at cleanoceanaction.org.
The Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) is asking people to donate to its Stand with Monmouth Earth Day Campaign to celebrate the milestone anniversary. All gifts will be doubled up to $5,000 thanks to a grant from MCF board member Valerie Montecalvo.
“In these recent weeks, our world has felt especially fragile,” wrote William D. Kasting, MCF executive director, in a letter. “On Earth Day and every day, we will make it stronger together.”
The Lincroft chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby will participate in a Zoom video conferencing event April 25 called “Uniting from Home.” The event features climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, creator of the educational show “Global Weirding” on PBS. Those attending will learn simple actions they can take to help fight climate change right now and have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions to learn how to advocate for climate legislation in Congress and how to respectfully talk about climate change with people who might not share their beliefs.
According to Lynn Dash and Sarah Fischell, co-chairs of the Lincroft chapter, they and other local environmental advocates have been meeting regularly with New Jersey congressional representatives to encourage support for major climate legislation.
Registration for the event is available at unitingfromhome.eventbrite.com.
On Mondays, since April 20, Rutgers Cooperative Extension will host 11 live, one-hour interactive sessions as part of an “Earth Day at Home” webinar series which will teach people sustainability steps they can take at home to help the environment. The sessions begin at 6:30 p.m. and are free. More information is available at events.rutgers.edu/njaes.
The Monmouth County Division of Planning, in conjunction with the Monmouth County Environmental Council hosted a webinar April 22 about the changing fish species in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New Jersey. The event was moderated by Karl Vilacoba of the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute; Chris Bruce and Marta Ribera of The Nature Conservancy and Laura McKay of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean/Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program discussed data recently published on the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal and held a question and answer session.
And for those just missing being out in nature, the Monmouth County Park System, celebrating its 60th year, offers their Green Heritage Newsletter online with information and seasonal projects, a Nature Now blog which highlights flora and fauna in the parks, and a nature calendar showing wildlife activity this time of year.
This article originally appeared in the April 23rd, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
