Earth Day 2024: Planet vs Plastics
Joanne Huskey | Published on 4/24/2024
This year’s Earth Day International theme was Planet vs Plastics and the League of Women Voters of Collier County Environment Committee and Plastics Task Force were there to greet the many visitors who attended the event at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida on Saturday April 20. League members passed out literature on voting, environmental issues, and on how to reduce single use plastics. LWVCC members circulated the park with colorful posters and talked with visitors about using their own water bottles, rather than buying plastic bottles of water, and bringing reusable bags to the grocery stores, rather than taking the thin plastic ones that are not recyclable.
The LWCC table was one of the most active ones at the park, due to the colorful roulette wheel that attracted many young families. Kids tried to answer questions like, “Who is running for President?” “How old do you have to be to vote?” and “What day is U.S. Independence Day?” Lots of U.S. history was learned that day, and families went away armed with plenty of information on how to vote, why we need to preserve our land, and how to reduce the use of plastics in their daily lives. Young leaders of the “Engage Young Voters” team of the Voter Services Committee interviewed park visitors on video about whether they intended to vote and discussed the issues they were most concerned about. These videos will be shared on social media in the coming days and weeks to encourage young people to vote. Overall the League of Women Voters of Collier County was one of the most visible and active booths at the fair and a fun Earth Day was had by all.