April is the time of the year when our news feeds and social media walls get crowded with videos and posts related to the World Earth Day campaigns. While it might seem to be a largely fresh idea, the Earth Day celebrations have actually been around for the last 48 years! Right from the year 1970, every 22nd April is ear-marked as the World Earth Day.
The Significance of Earth Day
The annual Earth Day event is all about devoting a special day to the planet we live in. It intends to spread awareness among the masses about the need for the conservation of natural resources and the protection of the environment. The Earth Day celebrations have an extensive global reach with recognition from about 193 countries in the world. The leaders and rulers from different parts of the globe express their solidarity over preservation and protection of the planet. The Earth Day is celebrated to remind us of the importance of our world and its ecosystems and the need to promote harmony between man and nature.
The Origin Story of Earth Day
The first thoughts on a concept similar to Earth Day came into the reckoning after the disastrous Saint Barbara oil spill back in 1969. Peace activist John McConnell advanced the idea in the 1969 San Francisco UNESCO conference and the event was scooped-up by US college students and environmentalists. The United States Senator Gaylord Nelson is credited as the organizer of the first Earth Day event on 22nd April 1970.
Earth Day Theme for 2020
The theme of Earth Day this year is Climate Action. The activities include raising awareness about the accelerating rate of extinction of millions of species and the causes and consequences of this phenomenon. Other activities include building a global movement to embrace nature and encourage individuals to adopt eco-friendly habits.
Last year the theme was ‘Protect Our Species’. The 2018 theme was ‘End Plastic Pollution’. The events and campaigns organized were focused on encouraging people to reduce plastic consumption and to urge them to use other eco-friendly substitutes. People across the globe are advised to use reusable bags, bottles, and cups and to avoid the usage of plastic straws and other disposable containers.
How to do your bit for the Earth Day?
It doesn’t seem to be too hard to contribute to the cause! You can play a part in the campaign by simply planting a tree or making a friend aware of the need to replace plastic with other bio-degradable alternatives. Tidying up your surroundings and trying to save resources are a few other options you could go for. But, the Earth Day isn’t just about spreading awareness and the key is in taking some solid action to protect it as well.
