Today is Earth Day.

Since 1970, Earth Day has been observed on April 22 to bring awareness that the earth is fragile and needs protection.Various events are planned in connection with Earth Day, although some of them won't occur until later in the week.Jim Thorpe borough kicks off its summer festival season with a spectacular Earth Day celebration Saturday (rain date Sunday) which will include bands, demonstrations, workshops and other activities.It's great that Earth Day brings awareness to the problems confronting the environment, and that so many people get involved with it. But it can't be a one-day-a-year event. It has to be observed year-round to be truly effective.Drive along many of our local highways, such as Route 902 between Lansford and Summit Hill, and you'll see the disregard too many people have for Mother Nature.People toss fast-food containers, iced tea cartons and other debris from vehicles into the woods.In rural areas, people discard mattresses, furniture, yard debris and even truckloads of construction materials as a lazy way of disposing it.Certainly we should celebrate Earth Day. But true environmental protection has to be practiced all the time.Little things like people tossing cigarette butts from their car windows is an infringement on the environment. People seldom use the ashtrays in their vehicles anymore. Instead of having their cars smell from the smokes, they discard the cigarette portions by throwing them wherever they land.Recycling is a big part of protecting our environment. Most municipalities have some sort of recycling for cans, plastics, and newspapers.Government agencies are somewhat to blame for the shortcomings. They've made it difficult for people to get rid of their garbage.For example, most municipal trash collectors no longer will pick up such things as TVs or even some old appliances because of the strict rules of disposing them. Some individuals don't have the space in their homes to keep such items until proper recycling is made available.Earth Day creates environmental awareness. Most schools get involved by having educational programs for students. Organizations round-up volunteers for special environmental projects.Unlike other observances, it can't be observed just one day out of the year.The environment is too fragile to be ignored and abused.By RON GOWERrgower@tnonline.com