Earth Day is celebrating its fifty fifth anniversary this 12 months.
The environmental occasion is marked by an estimated one billion individuals throughout greater than 190 international locations, based on the Earth Day Organisation.
However what really is Earth Day and why ought to we care about it?
When is Earth Day and is there a theme?
Earth Day is widely known yearly on 22 April.
This 12 months’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet”, with campaigners calling on “everyone to unite around renewable energy” to assist triple clear electrical energy by 2030.
Serving to to stipulate the motion’s targets, Denis Hayes, the organiser of the very first Earth Day, mentioned: “For years we have been fed the lie that only fossil fuels can power the planet, that is not true.
“By the 2030’s, the most important supply of electrical energy technology on the planet can be solar energy.”
Kathleen Rogers, president of the Earth Day Organisation, added: “We want individuals energy to assist the large swap to renewable power.
“We encourage everyone to talk to your local mayor, boss, neighbors, community leaders, and local and national legislators, to explore and to champion switching to renewables.”
Final 12 months, the theme was “Planet vs Plastics”, with campaigners pushing for a 60% discount within the manufacturing of plastics by 2040.
When did Earth Day first start?
Earth Day is an idea first led to by Gaylord Nelson, a politician and environmentalist who served as a senator and governor in the US.
The senator had many considerations concerning the broken atmosphere within the US, together with the big oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, in 1969.
He was additionally impressed by pupil anti-war protests and their ardour for change throughout the Vietnam Struggle, in addition to the impacts the battle had on spending priorities within the nation.
Within the hope of increasing public consciousness about air and water air pollution, Senator Nelson led environmental teach-ins on campuses throughout the nation – backed by activist Denis Hayes and co-chair Pete McCloskey.
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Gaylord Nelson talking earlier than the primary Earth Day. Pic: Screenshot from Nelson Institute
‘If our cities do not work, America will not work’
The primary Earth Day was marked in 1970 and have become an enormous success, with 20 million individuals collaborating nationwide within the US.
On the time, individuals took half by demonstrating in parks, streets and auditoriums in opposition to oil spills, energy crops, sewage, poisonous dumps, lack of wilderness and extra.
The primary Earth Day additionally got here at a time when a wave of laws was being handed within the US, together with the Clear Water Act, Clear Air Act and Endangered Species Act – the following 10 years had been seen because the “environmental decade” due to such measures and the concentrate on inexperienced points.
Talking to a crowd in Milwaukee earlier than the primary local weather occasion, Senator Nelson mentioned: “I don’t think there’s any other issue, viewed in its broadest stance, which is as critical to mankind, as the issue of the quality of the environment in which we live.”
Throughout that first Earth Day speech, Senator Nelson added the “environment is all of America and its problems”.
He highlighted the environmental drawback was heightened by the federal government spending billions of {dollars} on the struggle in Vietnam.
Senator Nelson argued the federal government ought to have invested again into the US as a substitute. He mentioned the US was a rustic that was “decaying, crowded, congested, polluted”.
Impressed and decided to make a distinction, Senator Nelson added: “If our cities don’t work, America won’t work.”
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Anti-war protesters marched in NY city in 1970. Pic: AP
Earth Day goes world
In 1990, Earth Day grew to become a world occasion with 200 million individuals and 141 international locations collaborating.
Throughout that 12 months, the occasion additionally helped increase recycling efforts worldwide and in 1992, it paved the best way for the United Nations Earth Summit.
In 1995, former US President Invoice Clinton awarded Senator Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, for his position because the Earth Day founder.
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United Nations Earth Summit opening ceremony in 1992. Pic: AP
How can individuals take part?
The Earth Day Community says the day is to mark the significance of dedicating time, assets, and power to fixing the local weather disaster.
There are a lot of methods to take part, and the motion says these are actions that may be taken all 12 months spherical, fairly than simply on the day:
Educate – It says anybody, whether or not they’re an educator, pupil, religion chief, or normal member of the general public, can study the details, unfold consciousness, and encourage actionAdvocate – You may write to your political leaders, signal petitions and demand motion within the title of the movementMobilise – The group suggests becoming a member of or organising city halls and rallies in your native communityPledge – It says you possibly can pledge your assist on social media and encourage others to become involved.
‘Elevate our collective voice to name for motion’
“The important thing for this Earth Day, and each day after, is to raise our collective voice to call for action to ensure every generation to come has a safer, fairer, greener future to look forward to,” Ms Smith-Thomas added.
