Participants display hope and uncertainty about the long term effects Earth Week will have in the daily lives of mankind.

“I think awareness will last beyond this week,” said Recycling Center Director Dave Broustis. However, Broustis said the week’s effects could diminish through the years.

Broustis said many people “are paying attention” to Earth Week more so than last year. “It’s amazing how much more interest there is this year,” he said.

“I certainly believe we can’t accomplish much in a week,” said geography assistant professor Ken Bowden. “But this is good for educating people.”

Bowden said since the first Earth Day in 1970, society has become more actively concerned about environmental problems. But, “we have more problems today than in 1970,” he said.

“As we go along we learn a lot,” Bowden said. “I would say it (Earth Week) would have a long-lasting affect, but I’m not certain we’ll win the war.”

Part of the war to save the environment starts with recycling.

Broustis said he believes there will be more activity at the Recycling Center after Earth Week and it will continue into the fall. “It’s going to be a big thing,” he said. “People are going to be aware of it.”

Geology Department Chairman Donald Davidson agreed that Earth Week and recycling programs are good steps in the environmental fight, but are only first steps and “we need to go further in many, many areas” with wide-scale improvements made worldwide.

“What it seems to me we’re dealing with is a week of Public Awareness in regards to the environment,” Davidson said.

Davidson said although he “cannot imagine” people not wanting to improve their environment, it is difficult to tell who will and will not remain concerned.