It’s April, which means Earth Day is coming up! So what better time than now to discuss the very special day, its importance, and its history? Every year on April 22, people around the world recognize and celebrate Earth Day. Earth Day is dedicated to environmental protection and raising awareness about the importance of preserving our planet.
It began as a movement here in the United States. In the 1960s, there were many issues with our planet and its health due to things like pollution and declining air quality. Because of this, Rachel Carson wrote a book called Silent Spring in 1962, which sparked an environmental movement. Later, on April 22, 1970, the very first Earth Day happened.
On the first Earth Day, more than 20 million Americans went onto streets, parks, monuments, etc, to protest, which demonstrated sustainable energy. This united many people and encouraged others for a healthier way of life.
Earth Day in the United States was such an excess that it became a global holiday. In 1990 under Denis Hayes, an environmental advocate and an advocate for solar power, Earth Day went global. On that day, 200 million people in 141 different countries put environmental issues up front and looked for effective ways to resolve them. Since then, Earth Day has grown and flourished more and more every single year. Earth Day brings people together to focus on solving evolving problems each year. Examples of past themes are: “Add climate to the curriculum”, “End plastic pollution”, and “Protect our species”. This year, Earth Day’s theme will be “Our Power, Our Planet”, which focuses on and encourages renewable energy. The end goal is to triple renewable energy generation by 2030. The idea focuses on businesses, governments and people taking action to make it happen.
This year on Earth Day, there are many ways you and others can get involved in the theme. Some of these ways include: participating in Earth Day action, attending or even organizing events, and supporting Earth Day initiatives.
As we grow older, so does the planet, and so does the population. Earth is being threatened by many man-made factors that are preventable. This Earth Day, I encourage you to help spread awareness and make a difference.
