Earth Day is a fairly new commemorative celebration. It is an annual day on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection and is observed on April 22 each year. The April 22 date was designated as International Mother Earth Day by a consensus resolution adopted by the United Nations in 2009. Earth Day is now celebrated in more than 192 countries every year.

It is timely that Clean Rivers Day, held locally this year on Saturday, April 20, coincides. Spearheaded by Jeff Turner, Riverkeeper for the Blackwater and Nottoway Rivers, the event is an effort to clean up area waterways, ditches and areas relative to the two rivers’ watersheds.

In Jeff’s column here in this paper, he regularly laments about the inordinate amount of trash he finds floating in the local rivers.

Blatantly littering or throwing junk in ditches, rivers and streams is a travesty. As stewards of the earth, we should all make a conscience effort to do whatever we can to look after the natural resources in our own back yard and support those in the community who work tirelessly to create a public venue to spur public awareness. The Blackwater and Nottoway Rivers are beautiful – offer a wealth of recreation for boating and fishing. All should do whatever they can to keep these waters as pristine as possible.