United Methodists target 'clean sweep' on Earth Day

By Greg Peterson*

MARQUETTE, Mich. (UMNS) - For the third straight year, thousands of northern Michigan United Methodists are being asked to protect the planet by participating in a hazardous materials clean sweep on Earth Day.

This year, the target is out-of-date and unwanted pharmaceuticals.

Upper Peninsula United Methodists are part of an environmental army that includes the vast majority of the northern Michigan religious community, university students, several environmental groups and an American Indian tribe. The previous two clean sweeps collected almost 400 tons of hazardous waste for recycling or proper disposal.

Collecting old medicines will not require a lot of heavy lifting, according to the Rev. Grant Lobb, Marquette District superintendent for The United Methodist Church, "but the result will be cleaner rivers, streams, lakes and tap water for all."

For Lobb, the clean sweep is much more personal this year. "I learned recently that I am going to be a grandfather," he explained. "May our efforts help in providing a clean, healthy future for my grandchild's entire generation."

Common concern
The third annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep on April 21 is sponsored by nine faith communities with 130,000 members - about 40 percent of Upper Peninsula residents - along with the Superior Watershed Partnership, the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC).

"I am so pleased that the United Methodists in Northern Michigan can once again join with other faith communities and concerned citizens of all ages by putting our words into action in the constant fight against pollution," said Lobb.

KBIC Tribal Council President Susan LaFernier is asking all tribe members to join fellow residents in dropping off old or unwanted pharmaceuticals.

"We are all responsible for taking care of the precious environment that has been given to us from our Creator," said LaFernier, a long-time member of the 175-year-old Zeba Indian Mission United Methodist Church.

The proud great-great-granddaughter of a Methodist missionary during the 1800s, LaFernier said the Earth Keeper Initiative has forged a stronger bond between the tribe and religious communities. Besides United Methodists, the other faith communities are Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish and Zen Buddhist.

"The stories about deformed frogs or abnormalities in fish ought to really trouble us," said the Rev. Charlie West, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Marquette and project director of the first clean sweep. "These chemicals just keep building up in our environment. It's nice that the churches are helping keep some of them out of the water."

Targeting medicines
Carl Lindquist, executive director of the Superior Watershed Partnership, says this year's clean sweep is targeting medicines because trace amounts of pharmaceuticals are turning up in America's drinking water. Most water treatment plants are not designed to filter out these medications, he said.

When pills or liquid medicines are poured down the sink or flushed down the toilet, they remain diluted in the water supply after treatment and these trace amounts are suspected of causing a range of health problems, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

"As leftover and waste pharmaceuticals get flushed down drains, research is showing that they are increasingly being detected in our lakes and rivers at levels that could be causing harm to the environment and ecosystem," said Elizabeth LaPlante, senior manager for the EPA Great Lakes National Programs Office in Chicago.

"Specifically, reproductive and development problems in aquatic species, hormonal disruption and antibiotic resistance are some concerns associated with pharmaceuticals in our wastewater," she explained.

The 2007 clean sweep is backed by many pharmacists and numerous law enforcement agencies including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Michigan Sheriff's Association.

Pharmacists and law enforcement officers will be present on April 21 at all collection sites, which will be open from 9 a.m. to noon local time, to ensure security and proper collection of the pharmaceuticals, according to Lindquist.

For a complete list of participating communities and Earth Keeper collection sites, visit www.superiorwatersheds.org and click on Earth Keepers. For more information, call the Superior Watershed Partnership at (906) 228-6095 or e-mail earthkeeper@charter.net.

*Peterson is a local news reporter and volunteer media adviser for Earth Keeper.