With the mounting evidence of the many negative human impacts on the health of our planet, it has become increasing evident that Earth Day, and everything that it represents, must be in the forefront of our minds not just for one day each April, but must become a part of our lives each day of each year.

Developing awareness of the issues, backed by the knowledge of how we as individuals and communities can make positive choices that will impact our environment is essential to the future of our planet.

Today, we will begin the first part of an Environmental Speakers Series held during the months of April and May, focusing on the issues that impact our home in Leelanau County, Michigan and the greater world. Peter Wolcott a long time Docent at the Leelanau Conservancy will be on campus to speak about microplastics in water and how pollution affects remote areas.

Peter is a retired American Foreign Service Officer who has lived in Australia since 1979 where he has worked as an economist for the Victorian State Government. A third-generation Leelanau summer person, his Grandfather built in Leland in 1908. A life-long environmentalist, he studied ornithology at Kalamazoo College (BA 1961), International Relations at Syracuse University (MA 1962), and Public Policy at the University of Melbourne, Australia (MA 1987). A career highlight was a year he spent as a staff member of the White House Council on Environmental Quality in 1972-73 when the National Environmental Quality Act was launched. Peter has developed and supervised overseas programs on energy and environment for the United States Information Agency, is active with Birds Australia (National Audubon Society equivalent), and when in Australia, develops public policy positions and comments on major projects which impact birds.

Photo credits: NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association)

 

 

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