by Douglas White, Rotary Club of St-John, U.S.V.I.


During his annual visit to the U. S. Virgin Islands, DG Vic asked me to chair the District "PRESERVE PLANET EARTH" Initiative. He has asked that I write a monthly column on environmental issues for the district newsletter. What an honor and a privilege!

As an American trained architect, 30 year resident of the Virgin Islands and charter member of the Rotary Club of St. John, an incredibly beautiful island that is 50% National Park, environmental preservation and education are subjects very dear to my heart.

A prominent environmentalist once said that when the general public realizes that the environmental movement is really a human rights movement, then maybe we will begin to take better care of our home, planet Earth.

As the indigenous people of Planet Earth, humans have a right to drink clean water, breath clean air and live a healthy life. If people do not have these basic essentials, then what else really matters? These are also basic Rotary issues and the focus of much of our work and monetary contributions! Why then do we as individuals in the 1st world society seem to be so focused on our daily routines and on "doing good in the World for others" as Rotarians that we often forget that our over-consumption of natural resources and our "faster, bigger, better" life styles are creating a long term negative impact on these basic human rights?

In the Caribbean and in our District, environmental preservation and education should be even more important. For the majority of us, the pristine environment is also our basic economic resource and the source of a major portion of our income and economic well-being. If we did not have clean air, pure water, healthy reefs (?) and beautiful pristine beaches what would happen to our economies? Do not the tragic conditions in Haiti reflect, in part, the vital link between the environment and the economy?

In 1917, RI Foundation founder, Arch Klump said, "We should think.in terms of years and generations. Rotary is a movement for centuries." We, as Rotarians are in a unique position to have a major, long term environmental/human rights impact through our Stewardship of Planet Earth.

In upcoming articles for the District monthly newsletter and for the District website, we will look at practical, positive, proactive ways and resources that we can help ourselves, as Caribbean Rotarians, live in balance and harmony with planet Earth. Each subsequent article will be devoted to individual topics that can help us create positive impacts relating to, water pollution, erosion control, reef preservation, renewable energy, biological waste disposal systems, clean air, green cars, green buildings, waste minimization, composting, recycling, environmental education and more!
These articles will also be available by clicking on the yellow left pane of this page.

Preserve Planet Earth! Is that not really at the heart of our work as Rotarians?