Earth Day: A Sustainable Reminder

Tower Editorial
April 26, 2012
Filed under Quill

For a nation that has so many holidays and memorials, it is easy to dismiss the upcoming celebration of Earth Day as just another day on the calendar. But as Sunday approaches, we ought to pause and consider our impact on the earth in which we live. As members of a Catholic university, we are called to uphold the pillar of Catholic Social

Teaching that affirms man’s stewardship over the planet.

Members of the campus community have proved their stewardship with a tree planting this week. Starbucks is offering customers free coffee if they bring in a reusable mug on Earth Day. The national mall is hosting events and a concert in celebration of the earth.

But our stewardship over the planet extends far beyond what we do for

Earth Day once a year. It serves as a reminder to all students to do their part to preserve the planet we have been given. It serves as a reminder that what we do affects not only our immediate sphere, but also the future of the world around us.

But what can an average student at CUA do to help the earth on an average day of the year? How can we help preserve the beauty and wonder of the planet in our daily lives? As with anything, small changes build up to make a big difference. Avoiding Styrofoam takeout boxes, eating all the food we serve ourselves, even using the solar powered picnic table outside the Pryz are small efforts that, if done together, can make a difference in the way we take care of the earth.

CUA’s efforts for a more sustainable campus environment have earned us recognition among our peers, but there is always more that we can do as individuals and as a University community to help our planet. This Sunday, what will you do to promote preservation of the Earth?