Today (April 22) is Earth Day, an international event celebrated around the world to pledge support for environmental protection. The year 2021 marks the 51st anniversary of the annual celebrations. This year’s theme for Earth Day is ‘Restore Our Earth’.
In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22 as ‘International Mother Earth Day’.
Earth Day was first observed in 1970, when 20 million took to the streets to protest against environmental degradation. The event was triggered by the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, as well as other issues such as smog and polluted rivers.
For over the next half century, Earth Day continued to play an important role in environmental activism.
The landmark Paris Agreement, which brings almost 200 countries together in setting a common target to reduce global greenhouse emissions, was signed on Earth Day 2016.
What We Can Do?
✓Make every day Earth Day by choosing to eat a plant-based diet. You have the power to help conserve land and resources, clean up the planet, end world hunger, and spare animals from agonizing slaughter… with every bite you take!
✓Practice sustainable fashion! Donate your old clothes and home goods instead of throwing them out. When you need something, consider buying used items. Used does not always mean unfashionable!
✓Always read labels! Use environmentally-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products to avoid washing toxic chemicals down the drain!
✓Integrate a simple act of green into your daily routine. Take a shorter shower and use a water-saving shower head.
✓Save electricity and turn off lights when you leave the room.
✓Shop Down to Earth Organic & Natural to explore and adopt an eco-friendly, compassionate, and wholesome vegetarian diet.
✓Advocate for governments to make climate change and climate literacy a core feature of school curriculum across the globe.
✓It’s time to start plogging aka picking up trash while jogging! This is a fun and effective way to get a workout in while cleaning the community.
✓Plastic pollution can create big problems for human and ecosystem health. Everyday actions, however, can lessen the problem.
✓Stop deforestation by supporting companies that take an active role against it.
Mother Earth is clearly urging a call to action. Together, we can make a change and restore the Earth in all its beauty. This Earth Day, let’s make it green again.