The ongoing quarantine and social distancing measures brought about by COVID-19 have put a hold on many planned activities, but that did not stop The Detroit River Coalition from pushing forward to honor Earth Day in a unique way. Enter “eEarth Day,” an online activity in which individuals are invited to choose one single-use plastic item that they use on a day-to-day basis and replace it with recycled or reusable items.
The Detroit River Coalition is made up of a diverse group of organizations that include, the Belle Isle Conservancy, Detroit River Canadian Cleanup, Essex Region Conservation Authority, Friends of the Rouge, Friends of the Detroit River, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Milliken State Park and Harbor (Michigan Department of Natural Resources), The Outdoor Adventure Center (Michigan Department of Natural Resources) and Green Living Science.
THE DETROIT RIVER COALITION eEARTH DAY
“The Great Lakes water system is arguably the largest source of surface freshwater on the planet and with this historic partnership we all have a chance to preserve it for our shared use and enjoyment,” shared Genevieve Nowak, director of environmental initiatives and affairs for the Belle Isle Conservancy in a press release put out by the Detroit River Coalition. “eEarth Day is a powerful tool to show how small acts by many people can have a huge impact.”
Those taking part in the “eEarth Day” are asked to sign the pledge to replace one single-use item, such as plastic water bottles or plastic utensils, with an alternative that is reusable. After they should share the promise online with the end goal being to reduce plastic pollution in and around the Detroit River, and the communities that make up our region.
The online event will apparently feature a virtual global collaboration as individuals share pictures of their “swap” on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, using the hashtag #eEarthDay.
“We encourage everyone to join us online this spring in this tremendous effort to reduce the harmful effects of pollution and trash impacting the river’s ecosystem and, together, help keep the Detroit River healthy,” added Jacqueline Serran, remedial action plan coordinator for Detroit River Canadian Cleanup. “And most importantly, we will meet new friends, build our communities, and enjoy our natural treasures together.”
Robert Burns, Riverkeeper for Friends of the Detroit River, also shared, “It’s vital right now that our natural resources like the river remain a clean haven for visitors. We’re proud to be part of the Detroit River Binational Coalition.”
To learn more about the Detroit River Coalition, the volunteer projects offered as well as to take the pledge to reduce plastics, please visit www.detroitrivercoalition.com.
