1
UN.
by MICK MORIARTY
1 Nebraskan Staff Writer
It would be the irony of all
time if our industrial society
would go out, not with a bang,
but with a cough and a
whimper.
So on April 22, 1970, there
was an Earth Day. It began
early and ended late with a
candlelight march.
Regardless of the attempts to
inform people of the problems
of pollution, starvation and, in
general, the destruction of the
earth, an aura of futility was in
the minds of many of the about
200 students who participated
in the candlelight march to the
Capitol.
As the students stood on the
steps of the Capitol, one of them
read some words from Albert
Schw eitzer. The words were not
consoling. They were
pessimistic and painted a
gloomy picture of the destruc
lion of the world by man. But
that same student reiterated,
“it looks even worse if we don’t
try to save our earth.”
The students were angry but
not ready for violence. Instead,
they voiced what might be
termed “jovial cynicism.”
Before they left the Capitol
the sang happy birthday to the
earth and added a few bars for
Mayor Sam Schwartzkopf.
They were pessimistic, but
not without cause. Earlier in
the day Mayor Schwartzkopf
indicated that industries
recognize their responsibilities
for pollution cleamup and are
doing their share in “saving the
earth.”
Earlier, Mark M. Hammer,
associate professor of civil
engineering destroyed the myth
that no pollution problems ex
isted in Nebraska.
Hammer predicted that in 10
15 years Lake McConaughy will
be unsuitable for recreational
use. Hammer said this would
be caused by the upstream v
usage of herbicides and
pesticides.
During the panel discussion 9§
on statewide ETV stations. ^B
Robert Roselle, entomology u|
professor said that most
pesticides used in Nebraska are flj
not pollutants. s&j
Roselle went on to justify the S|
use of DDT and, in effect, said »|
there is nothing to worry about.
Things look so bright for the
future that Roselle could laugh W|§
and smile about everything he
Paul Johnsgard, zoology
professor said the levels of B
mercury in pheasant and quail A
were so high in Aiberta, B
Canada, that hunting season on 1
these birds was closed because I
they were unfit to eat. I
No one knows what will come 1
of Earth Day. The question re- A
mains, “Will there be an earth m
suitable for life?” mt
Daily \ebraskan
April 24, 1970
The Sower is a supplement to the Daily Nebraskan. Editor, Amy Edwards; Graphics Editor,
John Bruce; Cover illustration, Brian Shellito. Special thanks to Jana Pederson and Diane
Brayton.