Coming together in community...

October, 2004

Southern Maryland Peace was invited to participate at the annual Patuxent River Appreciation Days (PRAD) celebration at Solomons Island, Md. Our table included activities for children as well as information about the health of the Patuxent.

Children and adults were asked to name something about their connection to the river, and then leave a message or picture on 8 inch raindrops. Parents, grandparents and children interacted, sharing their water stories.

Information was available on practical ways to stop our assault on the life of the river, creating a more peaceable relationship. The Patuxent River has been given a D+ grade by scientists who sum up the effects of pollutants pouring into the river from raw and treated sewage, from septic systems, run-off from streets and fields, and from the mercury pouring out of stacks at coal-powered electric plants.

The hope is that those who visited the SMP table and read the materials will begin to see that we need to make peace, not only with people, but with the planet as well.