Hundreds turned out for Marietta’s Earth Day Celebrations at the Armory on Saturday.

The youngsters with parents, grandparents and friends seemed engaged and happy.

But what future have we left for them on our planet?

We are pumping millions of gallons of poisoning chemicals into Washington County from fracking wastes.

Marietta is spending millions on a new drinking water processing plant, but not protecting our precious aquifer next to the Muskingum River in Indian Acres and the Washington County Fairgrounds.

City and state laws are violated and not enforced prohibiting motor vehicles from being parked over the unprotected aquifer and leaking chemicals despite hundreds of empty parking spaces provided nearby.

Everyday, we place mountains of trash and garbage at the curbs, alleys and streets to be whisked away by massive trucks crushing our historic brick streets and alleys.

The governments at local, state and national levels are missing in action or promoting the earth’s destruction.

It is up to those who turned out for Earth Day and others who care to keep stepping into the abyss making the effort for future generations and the Earth’s survival.

Planting and caring for trees, planting pollinator gardens, vegetable gardens, reducing plastics and other destructive consumption are actions individuals, families, neighborhoods and civic groups all can take daily.

There is no planet B. There are only those who care enough about children, animals and trees to step up with creativity, kindness and love to fight for a livable Earth.

Roger G Kalter

Marietta, OH