Earth Day features Bass Labs talk, events in Cedar Point
Earth Day is Monday, April 22 this year. This year’s theme is “Planet vs. Plastics,” which casts a spotlight on the issue of plastic pollution. Organizers are calling for a 60-percent reduction in plastic production by 2040.
Locally, there are a number of events. Cedar Point Environmental Park will have an assortment of speakers and events from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 20. The highlight is John Bass IV, who will talk about the history of Englewood’s “Cookie House” and the legacy of the Bass Biological Labs, the predecessor to the Cape Haze research work of Mote Marine. John Foster Bass (1897-1939) was a pioneer in marine research.
Other highlights include a guided nature walk of Cedar Point with Greg Brezicki and a gopher tortoise walk with Pamela Defouw, executive director of the Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida. Sandra Lubchecko will read from her book “Where is Irwin? It will end with a talk by Maddie Gonzalez on burrowing owls, courtesy of the Peace River Audubon CLI Mentoring Project. Since 1970, people around the world have been working to protect the environment through Earth Day. As a reaction to environmental disasters that became public during the late ‘60s, Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson created an educational program for college students and others.
