Earth Day

April 19, 2018

Earth Day

The Earth, its ecosystems and all of it's beauties are our home. In order to help promote the importance of looking after our Earth in a sustainable fashion for both present and future generations, Earth Day is held every year on April 22

Founded by United State Senator Gaylord Nelson on April 22, 1970, Earth Day events are now held to demonstrate support for environmental protection in more than 193 countries around the world.

 In lead up to the first Earth Day in 1970, millions of people took to the streets to protest the negative impacts of 150 years of industrial development. Around the world smog was becoming deadly, with evidence growing that the pollution led to developmental delays in children. Biodiversity was also in decline as a result of the heavy use of pesticides and other pollutants.

The first Earth Day celebrations took place in two thousand colleges and universities, around ten thousand primary and secondary schools, and hundreds of communities across the United States. It brought approximately 20 million Americans out into the spring sunshine in support of a healthier ecosystem.

Fast-forward to 2018 and it is now believed that more than 1 billion people take part in what is the largest environmental day of action in the world. Common Earth Day activities that both individuals and entire families participate in include:

  • Rubbish collection
  • Planting trees
  • Minimizing or avoiding the use of electricity and gas
  • Avoiding consumption of meat
  • Volunteering at an eco-friendly charity
  • Attending educational festivals or seminars

 Earth Day for 2018 will be held on Sunday, April 22, and will focus on ending plastic pollution due to the devastating impact this is having within our ecosystems - particularly on marine environments.

Plastic pollution is poisoning our oceans and land, injuring marine life, and affecting our health. Earth Day Network, the organization that leads Earth Day worldwide, is working to secure a future free of plastic pollution by promoting 100 percent recycling of plastics and changing human behavior when it comes to the use (and mis-use) of plastic products.

Earth Day provides an opportunity to raise public awareness around the world about the challenges that face the future well-being of our planet. So re-use that empty water bottle, dine in candlelight over the weekend or even switch to an eco-friendly cup of coffee from your regular cup of joe.

As famous philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "The Earth laughs in flowers." 

Give it a reason to smile this weekend.

Written by Steve Connors

steve@beyondbeanie.org




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