April 22, Earth Day, is just around the corner. Earth Day is a great way to start getting involved in efforts to clean up and protect our environment especially here in East Tennessee right next to the Great Smoky Mountains. There are many opportunities locally to help clean up our environment such as the Little River Round-up sponsored by Keep Blount Beautiful.
Because this region is so beautiful, but also so polluted, President Bush has chosen the Smoky Mountains as his destination for Earth Day. On Friday, April 22, President Bush will travel to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along with local Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr., possibly to discuss his current environmental legislation to reduce air pollution called the Clear Air Interstate Rule.
According to the EPA’s website, Bush’s proposal, CAIR, will “achieve the largest reduction in air pollution in more than a decade.” However, considering the president’s recent attempt to pass his “Clear Skies” legislation, it seems Congress members are skeptical; “Clear Skies” was deadlocked and failed to pass.
“The air quality situation at the Smokies points to the inadequacies of the administration's policy on clean air," said Don Barger, a spokesman for the National Parks Conservation Association.
According to many democrats, President Bush is not doing enough for the environment. Since President Bush took office in 2001, his administration has engineered some of the most environmentally unfriendly policies. Over the past year alone, the Bush administration has weakened Clean Water Act requirements for power plants, cut federal funding by nearly $2 billion for environmental programs, threatened the viability of wetlands across the country and led the push to drill in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge.
The Maryville College Democrats want to advocate to all residents living close to the Smokies, environmental policies need to be taken seriously. It is important to be aware of the current legislation concerning air and water pollution and ensure that this country’s leaders are doing everything possible to preserve this beautiful area. As an organization, the MC Democrats are wary of President Bush’s environmental record. In light of Bush’s impending visit to the region, the MC Democrats invite all East Tennesseans to become informed about environmental legislation and to get involved in environmental politics.
--Anna Benson, Vice President
Maryville College Democrats
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