Earth Day
Earth Day is celebrated every April 22 to draw attention to the earth’s environment, its status, and its problems. It was launched in 1970 when US Senator Gaylord Nelson organized a nationwide demonstration aimed at pushing the environment into the national consciousness. It worked. Thirty-nine years later, it is still being celebrated, and it has gone far beyond the boundaries of the United States.
Twenty million Americans participated in the first Earth Day. Today, an estimated 500 people spread over 175 countries celebrate the event. This points to the success of Senator Nelson’s movement, and the growing awareness of environmental issues among the people, all over the world.
There are plenty of ways of celebrating Earth Day. Some groups organize sports activities like running or mountain biking to raise funds for environmental projects and to direct the people’s attention towards environmental issues. Others settle for a trek, hike, or a walk around town. Still others invite celebrities to music festivals where they perform songs with environmental messages while the audience can join in the singing or dance. Those who prefer to celebrate on their own can plant trees, install solar panels on their roofs, construct (and promise to use) a compost pit, or simply discuss with their neighbors and town officials what they could collectively do to help the environment.
You too can do something. You may not be able to make a perceptible dent on the woes of mother earth, but if small contributions are taken collectively, they spell a big difference.
