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About this episode

For 30 years, I have been a TV, radio and newspaper reporter in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and in Augusta, GA.For the past three years, I have been the volunteer media advisor for the Earth Keeper Initiative in northern Michigan because this eclectic hardworking group gets things done - in a big way.I am not opposed to people who protect the environment by protesting or holding groups discussions - but I believe people who truly care should get up off the chairs and act.In other words: Don't just talk, do something.On Earth Day 2006 - for the third year in a row - residents in Michigan's Upper Peninsula did just that.Northern Michigan residents turned in one ton of drugs plus additional narcotics worth estimated $500,000 at 19 free collections sites across the Upper Peninsula.Yes - over one ton - that's a lot of pills - and the Upper Peninsula is a very remote area. Ask anyone.Some of the 400 volunteers - many students - drove six hours round trip to man the free (no charge) collection sites at 19 locations.The Earth Day 2007 project targeted all old and unwanted pharmaceuticals and personal care products like shampoos, lotions and perfumes.The third annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep was sponsored by nine faith communities (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, and Zen Buddhist), the Superior Watershed Partnership, the Cedar Tree Institute, and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC).The bishops/faith leaders of the nine faith communities (140 churches and temples) signed the Earth Keeper Covenant four years ago pledging to actively protect the environment and reach out to American Indians.The Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper Student Team - which sent out 40 volunteers with two at each collection site - was formed last year as the youth arm.The students have many of their own endeavors including setting up chapters are three other U.P. universities and the adopt-a-watershed project involving the cleaning, testing, monitoring and developing plans for six tributaries (rivers) to three of the Great Lakes (Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and pristine, cold and deep Lake Superior).On Earth Day 2007 - about 2,000 people turned in drugs that many collected from family and friends.Assistance was provided by the Michigan Pharmacists Association and numerous law enforcement agencies including the DEA and Michigan Sheriff's Association.Funded by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Thrivent Financial, the EPA says pharmaceutical collections are important because when flushed or dumped down the drain trace amounts of the medicines return in drinking water and rivers because water treatment plants are not designed to remove those chemicals that are harmful to wildlife and possibly humans.Northern Michigan religious leaders says the results show their environmental message is being heard.Previous collections netted nearly 400 tons of household poisons, vehicle batteries, old computers and cells phones - all recycled or properly disposed.The 2006 clean sweep saw 10,000 people drop off over 320 tons of electronic waste like old and broken computers and cell phones.By the way, the Cedar Tree Institute and the Superior Watershed Partnership have several other ongoing faith-based environmental programs including the Manoomin Project.Manoomin means wild rice in Ojibwa.For the fourth summer in a row, the Manoomin Project will teach at-risk teens (sentenced for minor crimes in juvenile court) respect for themselves and nature by planting and restoring once-native wild rice at numerous remote lakes and streams with help from KBIC American Indian guides.For more information contact the Superior Watershed Partnership at 906-228-6095 or The Cedar Tree Institute at 906-228-5494 or Greg at 906-475-5068, or email: earthkeeper@charter.netEarth Keeper TV:http://earthkeepers.blip.tv/Earth Keeper related website addresses are:The Superior Watershed Partnership:http://www.superiorwatersheds.orgThe Cedar Tree Institute:http://www.cedartreeinstitute.com/The Lake Superior Interfaith Communication Network:http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com/Ecumenical Good News Site - long version of release:http://www.goodnewsdaily.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4853Short version of story with photos of 100-year-old medicines:http://www.prweb.com//releases/2007/4/prweb522589.htmMarquette, MI paper - Day After Event story:http://www.miningjournal.net/stories/articles.asp?articleID=14005Marquette paper - AP story:http://www.miningjournal.net/stories/articles.asp?articleID=14185Lake Superior Interfaith Communication Network - Cedar Tree Institute:http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com/cleansweep2007.htmlEnvironment News Service - story line up - scroll down:http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2007/2007-05-07-09.asp#anchor6Good News Network:http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/content/view/1981/248/Great News Network:http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/over_a_ton_of_drugs_500000_in_narcotics_collected_in_2007_earth_keeper_pharCaption: Episcopal church volunteers Gail Baravetto and Gert Corrigan, talk with volunteer Lucy Shampo during the 2007 Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep in Iron Mountain..All three are veteran Earth keeper volunteers. Also pictured are other volunteers, pharmacists and participants. The collection site is Salvation Army Bread of Life Center in Iron Mountain.Photo by Charlie Piper, Episcopal volunteer

• Release Date

  May 12, 2007

• Runtime

  05:41