To mark Earth Day this year, District 7070 Rotarians were very active on April 26 in cleanups as part of the 2025 Rotary Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup. Clubs and community groups were also engaged in other environmental actions during the week. Rotary District 7070 reinforced this positive impact of all these actions, when the District Environmental Action Committee is hosted a Virtual Symposium on April 24, 2025. The symposium featured expert speakers who raised awareness of the character and scale of accumulating debris around the world and in the Great Lakes Watershed, highlighting the hazards this accumulation poses to human and ecological health. It was an opportunity to find out what we can do beyond single cleanup events and build partnerships with community groups who share our interest in improving the natural environment. Be sure to watch the video on the Rotary District 7070 You Tube Channel.....
Speakers
Karen Wisrig is Senior Manager, Plastics, with Environmental Defence, which is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to safeguard our freshwater, create livable communities, decrease Canadians’ exposure to toxic chemicals, end plastic pollution and build a clean economy.
Dr. Chelsea Rochman is an Assistant Professor in Ecology at the University of Toronto and a Scientific Advisor to Ocean Conservancy. She has been researching the sources, sinks and ecological implications of plastic debris in marine and freshwater habitats for more than fifteen years. In addition to her research, Chelsea leads international working groups about plastic pollution, presents her work in policy-related conferences and forums, and co-founded an outreach organization called the U of T Trash Team.
Here is the link: https://youtu.be/3dw87_rWfa8?si=rGwTLrC4wEsRVQ0F