With Earth Day upon us, we look at the history, how it is still
a very important movement today, and how one local has made
his impact on the world.
It began with Gaylord Nelson, the father of Earth Day. In the 1960s, there
were no laws that protected our lands and water, let alone an Environmental
Protection Agency. As Nelson earned his position and was elected to the
US Senate in 1962, he worked for nearly two consecutive decades to raise
awareness on a greater scale about the impending damage if we didn’t take
better care of the environment. On April 22, 1970, Americans came together
in a march to protest for a better and more sustainable environment all
across the US.
PHOTO CREDIT: AMERY FREE PRESS
Living in the Smokies, we are truly surrounded by the most beautiful hues of blues and
greens. We are known for the views, beautiful trails, and clean water. In fact, Haywood
County is a headwaters county - meaning there isn’t a river or stream that fl ows into
the county, gifting us with the highest quality of water. Th ese characteristics and traits
have attracted businesses and tourists alike. It is imperative that we preserve these things for
our future - certainly not just for economic prosperity, but because once they are gone or
destroyed, it will take decades to restore, if they can be restored at all.
#TrashTag - You’re it!
Something Steven Reinhold and Gaylord Nelson have in common
is the will to take action and make change happen. Th e diff erence is
that Reinhold is local to Haywood County and one of the original
creators of the #TrashTag challenge that has gone viral. It encourages
people to post before and after pictures of littered areas in their communities
and natural areas. People all over the world have been posting
photos of their clean up eff orts and using the hashtag #TrashTag.
As a result, they have made a huge impact on a global level.
Gaylord Nelson
Steven Reinhold
PHOTO: STEVE REINHOLD
At the time of print, there are well over 50,000 posts on Instagram alone with the #TrashTag. For those who have been distraught
over the lack of respect for our lands and water, this acts as a very welcomed movement and restoration of faith in humanity.
What are we and how we will survive if we destroy our natural resources? We salute you, Steven Reinhold, and encourage our
readers to do their part, too. Even if it’s a single piece of trash, we encourage you to pick it up and dispose of it properly. Reuse,
recycle, and upcycle whenever you can and fi nd alternatives to materials such as plastic. As consumers in a supply and demand
economy, we do have a choice and a voice.
Natali Dougherty & Molly Boyce 17