This coming Thursday, April 22, is designated Earth Day, a day created to inspire awareness of the environment. It was founded in 1970 by U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson.

And 40 years after the first Earth Day, the world is in greater peril than ever.

Climate change is a great challenge, but it can also be a great opportunity to build healthy, prosperous and clean energy economy for now and in the future.

Keep St. John Beautiful begins its environmental campaign for the week today with Clean Sweep 2010. Supplies can be picked up at the U.S. Highway 51 park this morning at 8:30, and groups as well as individuals will be out cleaning our communities until 11:30 a.m.

At that time participants will return to the park for live music, food and refreshments.

On Saturday, L’Observateur will publish a special Earth Day section featuring a coloring contest for our children and tips that we can use to help our environment.

All of us need to do everything we can to protect the Earth. It is the only one we have.