As I’ve remarked so many times, McLeansboro is a town possessing some beautiful homes and buildings; our McCoy Library and the old Peoples National Bank building would be the envy of any community.
But I do see one thing around our town that I don’t like — all the trash that is so thoughtlessly tossed out vehicle windows by passers-by or dropped by pedestrians. And the most distressing of all is the plastic that litters our streets and empty lots.
We live in a plastic society, and plastic has made our lives better in so many ways. Even this computer at which I’m typing this morning is largely composed of plastic.
But did you know that plastic water bottle you dropped so carelessly as you walked or drove around will take anywhere from 100 to 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill (or on our streets)?
Yet we toss them away at the rate of 2.5 million bottles every hour! If that doesn’t boggle your mind, your mind is beyond boggling.
Production of plastic in the United States alone requires 200,000 barrels of oil a day. We complain about the waste of oil from BP’s enormous oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, yet we toss away without a thought thousands of barrels of oil every day in the form of nearly indestructible plastic bottles — not to mention plastic shopping bags, plastic rings from soda packs, plastic cups, plastic wrappers and on and on and on.
One hundred thousand mammals die every year from trying to eat plastic bags. Thousands of birds die from getting entangled in plastic line.
So think about it the next time someone asks you “Paper or plastic?” Two good reponses to that question are planning ahead to reuse or recycle plastic products and taking your own reusable bags whenever you go shopping.
As in so many other areas of life, if we do not choose to be part of the solution, we are going to be part of the problem.
God has given us a beautiful world. Let’s pass it on in the best possible shape we can to our children and grandchildren.
• The Rev. Jim Peak is the pastor of First United Methodist Church of McLeansboro.
Opinion
Wasted oil? Look at plastic bottles
- Opinion
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Justice requires retrial of Blagojevich
As the trial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich enters a new chapter, I am struck by the claim that a retrial would be a waste of taxpayer dollars and the government’s resources.
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Letter: Maybe everyone has a little bit of ‘Blago’ in them
To the editor:
I wish to offer my congratulations to disgraced former Illinois Gov. Milorad “Rod” Blagojevich for mostly “beating the rap” in his recent trial. -
Letter: Join the Komen team to help fight cancer
To the editor:
As Fairfield Memorial Hospital and others begin fundraising for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, I would like to share some of my own personal experiences as to why this race is so important for this and other surrounding communities. -
Letter: Clear road in Dale area was a welcome sight
To the editor:
I want to express my appreciation to Twigg Township and especially to Randy Price for a job well done. -
Letter: Reunion trip brought back fond memories
To the editor,
I drove from Tennessee to McLeansboro to attend my 45th class reunion. The images along the way brought memories of my days growing up in this terrific small town with talented, hard-working and caring classmates. -
Supporting our nation’s veterans
Last week, we celebrated Independence Day, our nation's 234th birthday.
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Wasted oil? Look at plastic bottles
As I’ve remarked so many times, McLeansboro is a town possessing some beautiful homes and buildings; our McCoy Library and the old Peoples National Bank building would be the envy of any community.
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Cuts in new state budget significant
As the end of the fiscal year came to a close last week, the governor signed the new Illinois state budget into law.
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Letter: Policy issues are hurting kids
To the editor:
Mr. Mitchell, in reference to your answer in the Times-Leader (“Ham. Co. Schools to change policy,” Page 1A, June 10), you still just don’t get it. I thought you, as an administrator, would at least have a clue as to the facts at hand. -
Letter: McLeansboro 1958 frozen in time for former resident
To the editor:
Growing up in McLeansboro during the 1940s and ’50s imprinted upon me the value of friends and keeping alive the memories of times and places now a part of McLeansboro’s history. - More Opinion Headlines
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Justice requires retrial of Blagojevich
