Earth Day
Celebrated on April 22nd each year, Earth Day is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about the various environmental challenges that face our planet. Coordinated by the EarthDay.org, 193 countries around the world have their own version of celebrations. In many places, Earth Day forms part of Earth Week: a longer period of climate awareness that includes activities and campaigns to drive positive action for our planet.
The idea of Earth Day first originated among the people fighting the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. It is said that American senator Gaylord Nelson, one of the main proponents of the event, was flying over the disaster in an airplane and was so shocked by the scale of it that he decided to create a day to help prevent future cases.
The first Earth Day, held in 1970, saw millions of people around the world roam the streets with the desire to make a stand for environmental change. Many think of this as being the beginning of modern environmental activism. Since then, the day has gone from strength to strength, with the internet helping to distribute its message further than was ever possible before.
Its crowning achievement perhaps came in 2016, when the Paris Agreement came into force for the majority of the World's countries, ensuring increased environmental protection. Earth Day is now the world's largest civic event.
Earth Day, in general, is one of the most important days in the year as it not only introduces a new generation of learners to the environment and Earth but also how Humans can be better. Celebrating Earth Day each year helps recognize the harm humans are capable of causing, while showing the massive amounts of support across the globe for protecting the Earth and the environment.
Earth Day is important for many reasons, but the first reason is to educate others on environmental issues affecting our planet every year. Another reason would be how national policies can be a vital way of helping influence change in the most positive way possible, such as creating a signal to our representatives in government how important action is on our planet and others.
One final way as to why Earth Day is important is that it allows everyone to reflect on their lives and how they can be better, as they discover facts about our planet such as the health and welfare of our Earth.
Each year, Earth Day has a variety of themes, signifying a new focus on a particular environmental concern.
Earth Day can be celebrated in many different ways. Celebrations can vary between limiting your waste and carbon footprint on Earth Day. Giving our Earth a break by not using plastics might not sound a big deal in terms of helping our planet, but it does go a long way in making progress in society doing more for Earth.
Some people celebrate this holiday by doing their research on climate change. Looking at policies, as well as different ways of making real change, is a great way to keep the celebrations flowing when it comes to Earth Day.
Earth Day activities include:
- Volunteering:Â Millions of people will take part in Earth Day, and it is hoped that many will volunteer to improve the environments where they live. This could involve anything from cleaning up litter to helping plant new trees.
- Artists for the Earth:Â To help spread the message of environmental urgency, art can play a huge part in capturing the public's imagination.
- Education:Â It is only by focusing on the next generation that the environment fight can continue to be fought.
- Events:Â Awareness events, such as street rallies and marches, will bring the causes of Earth Day to the doorstep of homes throughout the world.
| World Wildlife Fund (WWF) |
| Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) |
| Conservation International |
| 350.org |
The above list is not intended as an endorsement by DoDEA, but serves as a starting point for students who want to learn how they can get involved in environmental causes.
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