On Earth Day, remember to “Clean the Bay”
By JR Hoeft | Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 | Catch-AllOn this Earth Day, we should look to the water.
Two of the biggest Earth “cleaners” are in the water. Algae, coral, and underwater vegetation accounts for 93% of carbon dioxide storage, according to the Worldwatch Institute. And, Chesapeake Bay oysters, at one point, were said to be able to filter the entire bay daily.
Unfortunately, largely because of pollution, oceans appear to be absorbing about 10% less CO2 since 2000; and, due to overharvesting and disease, oysters have fallen to the point where there is now a major restoration effort underway by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
As conservatives – and following in the legacy of one of the greatest conservatives and conservationists, Pres. Theodore Roosevelt – it’s important not only to respect and understand our regional ecology, but to do things to preserve it.
While I don’t believe that man is the sole cause of depleting the ozone layer (after all, more Co2 has been emitted by the recent volcanic eruption than probably the entire history of the automobile), I do believe we have had a role in reducing those things that absorb and transform Co2 and pollution.
That’s why I’m pleased to announce that on June 5, Bearing Drift will participate in the 22nd Annual “Clean the Bay Day.”
From the Chesapeake Bay Foundation:
“Cigarette butts, plastic bottles and bags, tires, paper, furniture, bikes, construction materials, are just a sample of the types of debris that pollute our shorelines and waterways, kill marine and other wildlife, and degrade our communities and the water quality of the bay. As rain falls onto our streets, roofs, parking lots, and lawns, the stormwater runoff collects debris and other pollutants, travels through the storm drains and ditches and ultimately deposits this pollution in our waterways and along our shorelines. The debris is a visible and pervasive reminder that the Chesapeake Bay needs restoration and improved stewardship.”
Almost all of Virginia is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed – so whether you’re in Shenandoah, Richmond, or Emporia, you’re affected by the bay. However, if you’re interested in joining like-minded conservatives for a couple hours on a Saturday morning in Hampton Roads to do at least a small part in helping make our environment a little cleaner and more enjoyable, then go to our Bearing Drift Insiders page on Facebook and register to attend!
I hope you’ll consider participating in this worthwhile endeavor. See you on June 5th!
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About the author
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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14 Responses to "On Earth Day, remember to “Clean the Bay”"
This will be a fun and worthwhile project. I’ve invited all my friends on Facebook that live here in Hampton Roads. See you on June 5th!
That’s great, Kathy! Also, at the picnic afterwards, we’re thinking of getting a dunking booth – and putting Kirwin in it. Three tosses for $5 and the proceeds go to CBF.
I 100% support efforts to clean the Bay. My family and I will be there with you on the 5th. But I have to take issue with referring to Teddy Roosevelt as “one of the greatest conservatives or conservationists”. Conservationist? Yessir. Republican? Undoubtedly. Conservative? Not a chance.
Some choice quotes from Uncle Teddy:
Taxation should “be aimed merely at the inheritance or transmission in their entirety of those fortunes swollen beyond all healthy limits” (1907). Swollen beyond all healthy limits? In whose opinion?
“Every man holds his property subject to the general right of the community to regulate its use to whatever degree the public welfare may require it” (1910).
“We wish to control big business so as to secure among other things good wages for the wage-workers and reasonable prices for the consumers. Wherever in any business the prosperity of the businessman is obtained by lowering the wages of his workmen and charging an excessive price to the consumers we wish to interfere and stop such practices” (1912). Gulp.
“The ‘greatest good for the greatest number’ applies to the number within the womb of time, compared to which those now alive form but an insignificant fraction” (1916).
I would be very interested to hear from someone here how Teddy was a great conservative, especially in his later years.
Oh, and can you set up a PayPal account so we can pre-pay for the dunking booth?
I’m a huge fan of cleaning the Bay! Definitely coming out and definitely inviting friends!
Terrific event- thanks JD! Looking forward to it!
Love it, Jim! I’m in and I’ll bring my kids.
If I can dunk Kirwin it will make my day!!! I’ll practice before I come with my swinging arm!!!
The Global Warming CO2 Scam
Rising temperatures will cause rising CO2 levels with a 800 YEAR LAG.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsjRn5iQRZA&feature=related
been a typo, Your web site looks beneficial. Employ a great evening.
Don’t forget the Bay’s other filter feeder, the Menhaden. Menhaden are not nearly so sensitive to pollution and disease as oysters and are also capable of cleaning the bay to the point that the oysters could come back. They can flourish eating the pollution that chokes off everything else.
The problem there is overfishing, as permitted by the VA General Assembly, which again this year refused to turn over regulation of this base of the Bay’s food chain to scientific management.
Put me down for $20.00, as long as “Actor” is in the tank. We will do our part to share the shore and then some more. Remember the first word in conservative, is Conserve, not con, as our liberal friends would pretend. We all should do our part to protect the environment because it’s good for the community. We should lead by example to create a lean green economy but not by regressive taxation. Innovation and efficiency should be incentivized. Policy should be crafted that rewards progress and taxes inefficiency.
5 bucks? Nooooo way. Horribly underpriced.
I’ll pay $5 bucks only if Brian is guaranteed to be dunked and only if he has to swim in the slime he often seems to be in favor of.
I am not going to count on my own aim. Three chances for $5 with me doing the throwing means Brian escapes. I am too frugal for that. I do not want to waste my money.
I’m just trying to join in the fun. I respect Brian’s input. But I would pay five bucks for the opportunity to be armed with the certainty of a magic marker and the ability to draw horns on his forehead.
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